houpley

While we are not crazy-granola-hippy parents, we don’t allow Jackson to watch TV. It isn't like a giant soap box that we stand on, it just isn't really an issue. It’s just not on the schedule. If one of us stayed home with Jackson during the day, I'm sure things would be different. TV would be most helpful when a parent has got to finally get to that shower, fix a meal, etc. But since Jackson is in school, the minute we all come home we spend our time visiting, playing, etc. All that being said, we do however let Jackson watch youtube.com. That's right. No T.V. We just let him troll the underbelly of the internet. Every now and then we will play a youtube video of a family member, a great song or of a Sesame Street character. Currently Eric has been trying to educate him on Michael Jackson's music. Youtube has a plethora of MJ as you can imagine. But his favorites are of course Fiest's 1234 Sesame Street song as I have mentioned here before, and anything Elmo re...

While getting Jackson ready for his bath, I noticed a pretty good size scratch on his right shoulder. I wrinkled my brow and asked him what happened. "Who scratched you?" I ask. He looks up at me and wrinkles his brow. "You did," he responds. I quickly review the day wondering if one of my nails had grazed him and couldn't recall a thing. "Me?," I reply. "No, not me!" Turning toward me again, he repeats a bit louder, "You." "No, I did not scratch you," I protest. "YOU!" he raises his voice getting a bit irritated with the line of questioning. I recount the days' events again, thinking there just can't be any way I did this. I am not taking the fall. "No way." I declare. "Wasn't me." "No! Yooooooouuuu!" he shouts, thrusting his chin so far forward I think his neck will pop out of place. "Youuuuuuuuu! Youuuuuuu!" he chants like a tiny ghost. Finally, he puts his t...

You know how crazy I am about Where the Wild Things Are? Right? Check it out: http://www.booooooom.com/sorted/projects/

During dinner everyone discusses their day. Highlights, recaps, funny moments etc. Jackson asks each of us how our days were. "How was your day, mama?" and after my short response he will turn to his left and ask, "How was your day, daddy?" and Eric will also partake in this bit of dinner-time small talk. But the best part is when we turn the question to him. Typically he mentions playing in the kitchen and how he cooked something like sour cream soup. Sometimes he acts as though he has been working at a construction site all day by having to "hammamer" at school. He sometimes makes up stories about jupiter jumps and maybe even adds a few tall tales about falling down or getting a boo-boo that doesn't even exist. Yesterday, they must have played in the gym because while devouring a pile of spaghetti he mentioned a new activity. Amanda: What did you do today, Jackson? Jackson: I played with balls. Eric doesn't miss a beat. Eric: Who's balls did ...

From Jupiter jumps to fire trucks, this weekend was packed with flashing lights, cookies, music and so much candy collecting that in the quiet darkness of his room as Jackson drifted off to sleep last night he said: "Let's go to another festival, mama." And so the festivus season has begun.

You might be a bad driver if on the way to school this morning your two-year-old says: "Slow down, mama! Not like a race car!"

We are currently in the throes of potty training. We seem to be nearing the other side as Jackson has total understanding of the process and every now and then the only issue is remembering to get to a potty in time - not just 5 seconds before, making mama and daddy nearly break their necks as everyone flings themselves down the hallway and into the potty. As I do for most parental undertakings, I read a lot of different resources about it and asked for advice from anyone who would give it. So I thought I would put together a timeline of tips and advice that worked for us in case any of my four readers were interested. (I see you taking notes, Cookie!) Timeline/tips: 18 months: Jackson displayed an interest and so we got him a potty chair of his own (from Target) and put it in the bathroom. Just so he would get used to seeing it. He loved it. Found it hilarious. Would sit on it. Giggled and pointed at it. BUT- he never "used" it if you get my drift. Not once. So that was a wa...