Sometimes It Is Brown

We're working on potty training. Last week I went to a book sale at the library. R.E.M. is one of our favorite groups. You may be asking what do these things have in common?

Well, besides the fact that my brain can be very random like that, I'll tell you. I've been wanting to get this book for Buttons to read while she's going to the potty and lo and behold it was on sale for fifty cents at the library. After reading the book, Hubby begins singing "Everyone Poops" to the R.E.M. song "Everybody Hurts". We took "poetic license" and began singing "Everyone poops...sometimes. Sometimes it is brown. Sometimes it is soft. Sometimes..." Well, you get the idea. The book is fairly explicit with poop content and we were singing in the spirit of the book. Hubby and I have always made up new lyrics to old songs on the spot for various occasions.

The next time Buttons sat on the potty, she wanted me to read "Everyone Poops" and after the final page was read, she implored me to "sing it". So, it's now become a musical staple in our house. This morning was no different. After we all read the book together and sang the song, she sat on the potty and although she didn't poop, she did sing "Everyone poooops". Sometimes.

Wordless Wednesday (Now with pictures!)

No Pics

I am a visual person. I like my posts to have at least one picture. We did some update to our computer and it now believes that all pop-up windows are Satan and must be stopped. So, I haven't been able to post pictures and I realize that's a problem for me. I'm typing this right before lunch, so I'm not able to give you anything but an apology for not posting. Will workk this out and then I hope to be very bloggy.

(Not so) Wordless Wednesday

I'm waiting for Blogger to get their act together so I can post photos. Aaargh! Well, we're off to the library in the meantime...

Caillou and Footessa

TV. I am a bit of a junkie. My hope for Buttons is that she will be selective in her viewing. We kept her away from the tube for pretty much her first 2 years. When she had bronchitis and needed a nebulizer we took advantage of a Barney DVD given to us by a friend. Yes. Barney. But you know what? Not so bad. Good lessons, pretty slow pace, certainly not flashy. We started enjoying Sesame Street on occasion and when hubby is not home, the TV is my best buddy when I need a shower. (She sits on our bed which is about 7 steps from the shower.)

Her favorite shows right now are Caillou and The Barefoot Contessa. Yes, that's right. My daughter likes to watch "Footessa" which is a (great) cooking show on the food network. How did my daughter find a love for Ina Garten? Well, it started several weeks ago at 5 pm whenI was jonesin' for some grown-up TV, but wanted Buttons to be able to stay in the room with me. I turned on the Food Network and there she was, a heavenly haven of adult conversation with no adult themes. No explosions, no French-kissing, no fighting. Just food and Ina. My girl loves to cook in her kitchen, so it's no surprise really. But when she asks if we can watch "Footessa" it still makes me laugh a little.

As for Caillou? I really like that show as well. It's animated but it has that Mr. Rogers feel. Slow-paced, good values like sharing and helping others and it's real. Oh, after only seeing Mr. Rogers Neighborhood a couple of times, she dubbed him Neighbor Rogers. I like that.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head off to The Food Network's web-site to print a recipe for Footessa's coconut macaroons.

Thanks Easter Bunny (Actually my SP9!)

Here's the short version of the long post I want to write, but I'm in a fretful week. The Easter Bunny came to me last week in the form of my SP9 (that's right, the Secret Pal from last time). I had company and it's taken me awhile to get back into the swing of things, but I could wait no longer to post about this since I was incredibly surprised and thankful. "Tart Diva" from Bread and Circulars was my SP9 and she sent me wonderful, wonderful things during SP9, so imagine my surprise when this package arrived at my doorstep last Thursday. (Yes, the guilt about not posting about this earlier is eating me alive, but I'm consoling myself with the perfect tea and delicious chocolates she sent.) I will take pictures of everything and give you the run down on the items. However, I must go to playgroup with Buttons. First, a big thank you to my not-so-secret-now Secret Pal 9. THANK YOU! You are amazing, you have wonderful taste and I swear I can hear your voice in your e-mails and notes to me. What a gift you have.

Wordless Wednesday

Nuk-Less & Fancy-Free

It was the best invention, it was the worst invention. Ask any parent whose child has been addicted to pacifiers and they'll tell you. There are the joys of being able to stop a cry in one small movement...put the binkie into the baby's mouth and a calm falls over the earth. On the flip side, little nuk junkies who lose their silicone buddies in the middle of the night will scream out until it's placed back in their needy mouths. This can happen SEVERAL times in one night. Then comes the day every parent dreads, the end of the nipple-shaped calming device. It's not the end per say that's the problem, but the beginning of the end. Mums and Dads all over the world know it's coming, but the thought of it is a little like going to see a horror movie. You may enjoy the ending, but there may be some seriously scary times before that.

For us it began with a trip to the library. Buttons and I went to the parent-child workshop where there are toys, books, crafts and also a professional from the area to answer questions. Well, after talking with the child psychologist about the pacifier, I knew it was time to begin the horror. Our pediatrician had told us the later you wait, the worse it gets. But when do you stop? So, yesterday Buttons went without her precious nuk for her nap. I put one in the crib just in case, but she never needed it. After her nap, we talked about what the doctor had told me that day and I asked her what she would like to substitute for the nuk. I had started this conversation a few weeks ago and she cried at the thought of loosing the binkie. However, she's been asking to have a book in her crib with her over the past few weeks, and she decided that would be a good replacement.

Last night, after dinner, during playtime and before any bed time routines, the three of us talked about going nuk-less for the night. She told us she would try it and that would make her a big girl. You know what? She slept all night without one wake-up! She started off crabby before coming into bed with us at 6:30 am, but went right back to sleep with a little hand holding. I know it's one day and I can't bring myself to throw them out cold turkey, but perhaps I could just keep a few around now for that just-in-case time. I know this probably means potty training is going to be off for a while, but that's ok.

Buttons came to us with a pacifier in her mouth, a love of warm milk in a bottle, and short spiky hair. She now loves orange juice first thing in the morning, has enough hair for pig tails and who knows what a nuk-less mouth will crave. I know parenting is all about change, but it's hard to see it happen so fast right before your eyes. All the things making her a baby are disappearing. However, the things making her my baby will never change.

Happy Easter!

Wordless Wednesday (er, Thursday)

Happy Birthday Heath Ledger

I like Heath Ledger. During an IVF cycle, I saw Monster's Ball and thought "what a great actor". When I miscarried I began watching very innocuous movies to take the edge off the pain. I watched 10 Things I Hate About You and a school girl crush developed in a thirty-something woman. I don't think I've seen everything he's been in, but my first E-Bay experience was to purchase a movie very difficult to find and a couple of magazines with articles about him. So, I obsessed on him for a good while. Looking back on it I think it was a way to escape some very difficult emotions by stepping back to being 16 and having a wonderful crush on some boy who I could never date, but admire from afar. Don't worry, I dealt with the pain and the issues involved, but there is a special place in my heart for Heath. Happy Birthday to one of the guys to get me through those difficult times. (My hubby being the main and most important.) Buttons and I sang Happy Birthday to Heath Ledger today and it felt good to come full circle.