He Said/She Said {Toddler Edition}

She Said:  Jamie, look at these flowers! 
Aren't they beautiful??

He Said:  They are mommy! 

Just like you!

And then I died.
Looks like I've got a smooth talker on my hands!

The end of a {cloth diapering} era

This weekend I packed up the majority of Jamie's cloth diapers.

Other than one overnight, we've been officially diaper free for over a month!

And might I had, accident free!!

Yes folks, you heard it here first, my child is officially {daytime} potty trained!!

Our potty training journey was a {loooong} journey indeed.

Much longer than I had anticipated.

I laugh at the "three day" method.

They've obviously never met my stubborn kid.

More like "three month!"
It was right around Halloween that Jamie announced diapers were for babies and he was a big boy.
So we ran out and bought 109348932 pairs of underwear and never looked back.
He caught on to the pee part pretty quickly and I thought it was going to be a breeze!
Well the pee part was.  He pretty much trained himself.
The other part?  Well.  Let's just say it took a bit longer {and a lot of bribing} to figure out.
Months went by and I was convinced he would NEVER do his {ahem} business in the potty.

There were many a days I wanted to throw in the towel.

And believe me, if HE hadn't been the one to initiate it all in the first place, I probably would have.
But just like everything else, one day it just clicked and it's been smooth sailing ever since.

So here we are, finally at the end of the road.

And damn it feels good!

I figured now was as good as any to do one last {very quick} gratuitous cloth dipe wrap up.

I'm proud to say, especially to all those who sat there at my baby shower snickering, commenting that "it would NEVER last" and "just wait till the baby gets here," that with the exception of in the hospital and the few days we were out of town for my moms funeral services my child has been in cloth full time.  I never purchased one single disposable diaper.

In two and a half years.

Not one.

Apparently all those naysayers don't know that when I put my mind to something, I do not give up!

Sure we had our bumps in the road.  A few leaks here or there due to user error.  A few laundry mysteries to solve.  But overall?  I loved every minute of it.  Perhaps even a little obsessed with my sons fluffy butt.  Even a devout disposable user must admit they are way cuter!

Jamie spent the majority of his diapered days in a Bum Genius pocket diaper.

They're one size, so they fit from birth to potty training.

Don't believe me?  Even I was a bit skeptical how that could possibly work.

Well here he is at 1 month old and again at 2 1/2 in the same diaper.

Pretty amazing huh?

If you ever have ANY cloth diapering questions, don't hesitate to ask!
I love helping troubleshoot and have helped convert many a mom to the wonderful world of cloth.
But for now, it's time to close this chapter in our lives.
Hard to believe that for now we'll be diaper free.
And I'm going to enjoy every {laundry free} moment until there's another little fluffy bum at our house!
 

Happy HUMP Day peeps! 

The mom I want to be.

This morning was not one of my finer mom moments.

While trying to get Jamie ready and out the door he took a dive towards the dog bed.

The gross, slobbery, covered in hair, barely like to touch it to move it back to it's corner.....dog bed.

I went from 0-60 before his body even hit the pillow.

"AHHHHH! GET UP NOW!"

Had he hurt anything?  No.  Not really.  I was just pissed because now his clothes would be covered in dog hair.

So.  Freakin.  What.

He's 2.

Believe me.

His clothes are often covered in things way worse than dog hair.

But in that moment?

It ruined my world.

I let some silly dog hair sour my morning.

And I immediately didn't like it.

In fact.  Lately I don't like the mom I've become.

I'm quick to yell with the patience of, well, a two year old.

And it ain't pretty.

But I'm a work in progress.

So instead of beating myself up over the kind of mom I DON'T want to be.  I decided to come up with a list of mom things I DO want to be.

Because that sweet little cookie dough covered face deserves nothing less.

I want to be the kind of mom.....

Who always has cookies in the cookie jar.
Who doesn't care how big the mess was, as long as a good time was had.
Who can admit when they were wrong.
Who spends more quality time with her kids and less QT with her cell phone.
Who laughs more and yells less.
Who doesn't care if it takes more time to get something ready, than the actual activity itself.  Even if it only lasts 10 minutes.  It will be 10 minutes well spent.
Who lets my child color outside the lines.  Think outside the box.
Who doesn't mind if the train set isn't perfect.  Or the car tracks don't match.  That's not chaos.  It's creativity at it's best!
Who knows when to take a deep breath and walk away instead of screaming.  Sometimes moms need time outs too.
Who knows when to be a friend.  And when to be a parent.
Who lets their child try to things on their own, even if it takes 20 extra minutes to get something done.  How else will they ever learn.
Who lets their child fail.  Sometimes learning from your mistakes is the best way to learn.
Who doesn't care if they look "perfect" every time we leave the house.  You want to wear a cape 24/7?  Right on.
Who only picks battles that are worth fighting.
Who reads more and watches tv less.
Who let's their child jump on the dogs bed once in awhile. Because it's fun. And dog hair brushes off.
Who survives the terrible twos and comes out a better mom on the other side.


What kind of mom do you want to be?
Happy Monday peeps!

Two. The good. The bad. The {not so} Ugly.

What’s up Internet people?!  It’s been far too long, so I’m high jacking mom’s blog today!

I’ve been a pretty busy guy since I turned the terrible two in August.  Though honestly, two has proven to be not so terrible after all.  Sure I have my moments, but who doesn’t.  Even mommy puts herself in time out from time to time.  When I do act up, there not much a lecture and good old fashioned arm squeeze from mom can’t fix.  Man does she have the mean mom mug down.  Yikes!  And if there’s one thing I don’t like, it’s making mommy sad, so I try and stay on my best behavior!  Most of the time I’m a pretty sweet, lovable little guy!  Everything is such a BIG deal to me, and I get so ‘cited!!’ {excited} over the smallest things!  It’s been so much fun!  Mom often says if she could wrap me up and keep me this age forever she would!  Except for maybe that stage 5 clinger “I WANT MY MOMMY” phase I’ve been in lately.  That part she said she could do without.  You’d think she’d find it endearing that I want her to “HOOOLLLLDDD MMMEEEEE” 24 hours a day, but apparently there’s something called “personal space” she keeps blabbering on about.  Whatever, I know one day she’s going to miss it. 

I’m pretty much talk nonstop these days and amaze people how well I speak.  My teachers at school talk about what a little smartie pants I am all the time.  There’s even talk of moving me to the preschool room in January with all the BIG kids!  I’ll be super sad to leave Ms. Mary behind, she’s my favorite next to mommy these days, but I’m pretty excited about moving up to Ms. Bev’s “House.”  Mom can’t even believe how fast times flying.  Wasn’t she just dropping me off in the infant room like yesterday??  One day she woke up and I turned into a little boy!  I know all my colors.  Shapes.  Letters.  Numbers.  The entire K-State Fight song.  You know, the basics.  Mom said if it was possible to find a bigger “K-S-U WILDCATS!!!” fan than my Uncle Matt, it would be me.  I LOVE going to the games.  Watching the band.  Looking for Willy the Wildcat and pointing out Coach Bill every chance I get.  Every.single.morning I request my “GO CATS!” shirt and my “GO CATS!” socks.  Some days mommy says it’s dirty and I have to wear something else, but I’m pretty sure she’s lying.  Especially when I can clearly see it hanging in the closet which I’m always so eager to point out.  Nothing gets past me mom.  When are you going to figure that out?? 

The potty has been all the rage at our house lately.  It’s pretty funny to watch two grown people get so excited over where I choose to do my business, but hey, if it earns me a sucker and a high five I’m game for just about anything!  At my 2 year old check up my doctor said there probably wouldn’t be much interest in that area until 2 ½ or 3.  Mom had come to terms with the fact that she’d be changing my diapers for at least another year.  Fools.  All of them.  One day I just decided diapers were for babies and that was the end of that.  She’s even brave enough to finally let me leave the house in big boy undies and just this week I started wearing them to school.  Even during nap time!  I still wear my “nighttime undies” {aka a diaper} to sleep, but about half the time I wake up dry so mom doesn’t think it will be too long before I’m nighttime trained too!  I don’t want to toot my own horn or anything, but mom didn’t really have much to do with any of it.  It was all me.  It’s not all roses and rainbows though.  I still poo in my Thomas undies pretty much everyday.  Not sure what it is about that #2…..I KNOW it’s supposed to go in the potty.  When you ask me I will tell you it goes in the potty.  But it’s way more fun to hide in a corner somewhere and then tell mommy about my fun surprise.  Funny thing is, she never finds it as funny as I do.  What can I say, it’s still a work in progress.  Mom just hopes I figure it out before college.  But enough about that.

Remember Barney?  My BFF?  Well he’s been replaced by Caillou.  Much to mom’s dismay, it’s pretty much all I will watch.  All day.  Everyday.  I’ve picked up a few of his phrases, started calling mom Ms Pirate and will ask you what he’s doing no short of 100923485 times a day.  I’m even asking Santa for a Rexy dinosaur just like Caillou’s.  Joke’s on mom though.  He doesn’t exist.  I chuckle a little every night as she scours the internet looking for one.  I'm pretty sure come Christmas morning there will be an imposter Rexy sitting under the tree, mom's just praying I don't notice.  I also LOVE my Caillou books and request they be read multiple times a day.  All six of them.  Over.  And Over.  And Over again.  They NEVER get old, no matter how many times I read them.  Funny thing is, they’ve gone missing lately.  I have sneaking suspicion mom had something to do with that……

What’s that mom?  There’s a Caillou Holiday special on Sprout???  90 minutes of pure heaven!  Well I better get going.  There’s chocolate milk to drink and goldfish crackers to eat! 

Until next time!

FORE!

Happy Halloween from the future Tiger Woods.

Minus that whole cheating man whore part of course.

Trick or Treat Friends!

Day 1: Giving Thanks.... to Stop and Smell the Roses

Here I am already a day behind.

Oops!

This doesn't bode well for the next 30 days now does it....

Regardless I was still thankful for something yesterday.

My son.

Now I'm pretty sure this won't be the last time I'm thankful for him this month, but yesterday he really taught me a lesson.

Everyday I wake up and think, how is it October already.

Where has the year gone?

How is my son 2 already?

How has it almost been 2 years since we said goodbye to my mom.

How is time flying by so fast.

But I never do anything to try and slow it down.

In fact it's usually quite the opposite.

I wish the day away so it can be time to go home.

I count the minutes until my husband walks through the door, and most days it's never fast enough.

I look forward to bed time so I can finally have a moment to myself.

I'm literally wishing time away.

No wonder it's going by at the speed of light.

Yesterday my son got me to slow down.

As we walked out of daycare yesterday the fountain and garden area in the front of the building caught his eye.

 I kept pestering him that is was time to leave.

Let's go.

Come on.

Get in the car.

Hurry up.

But why.

We didn't have any plans.

We had no real reason to get home.

We actually had time to just sit.

So when he climbed up on the park bench and proclaimed he was going to sit and stay awhile.

I gave in.

I sat down right next to him and we talked.

He showed me the October calendar he made at school and pointed out all the colors he used.

He told me how he played with Hanna.

And Natalie pulled his hair. {Always quick to rat you out this one}

How Sam was scared during the fire drill {Which actually happened last week, but who's counting}

That he ate pancakes for breakfast and looked at pictures of  May-May's {Miss Mary's} granddaughter.

He filled me in on his entire little 2 year old day.

It was the best part of my entire day and to think it almost didn't even happen.

So today I'm saying thank you to my son.

It was nice to just stop and smell the roses.

The Negotiator

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a 2 year old had the power to negotiate.

Or at least they think they do.

Not sure when my child woke up and thought he was the boss, but the things that come out of his mouth never cease to amaze me.

Take last week for example.

I told Jamie it was time for bed.

He turned to me and said, "Two more minutes mommy, I'm still playing"

I turned to my husband and couldn't help but laugh.

I've never been a mom who throws out two minute warnings, so I have no idea where he even came up with that.

Then there's dinner time.

After inhaling his tator tots he promptly requested "Mo tots peas"

I told him no, he had to eat his green beans first.

Meaning ALL of them.

So he says, "Ok mama, ONE bite"

He then proceeds to take the worlds SMALLEST bite of green bean before proclaiming

"I did it mama!  Now, mo tots!"

Really kid?  I wasn't born yesterday.....

Last night however, this one takes the cake.

After mowing the grass for the 234th time I told him it was time to park his mower and go inside.

He turned around, waved at me and said, "No mama, I stay here and mow grass.  Bye-Bye.  See ya later."

Right.  As if I'm going to just leave you out here alone.

Seriously.

He's 2 going on 16.

If he's already negotiating now, we're in trouble come the teenage years.

Down on the Farm

Do you ever discover something new in your city and wonder how you lived there for so long without knowing about this little gem?!?

That was us on Sunday.

Kansas City has a children's farm and it's amazing.

First of all, on the weekends it's $2 a person and during the week it's free. FREE!

$6 for an entire morning of toddler friendly entertainment that resulted in a 4 hour nap?

You had me at hello.

Second of all it was HUGE!  Just when we thought we'd seen it all we'd turn the corner and there was more.

Goats, fishing, cows, horses, turkeys, chickens, pony rides,nature trails, butterfly gardens, tractors, more playgrounds than I could count.  My kid was in 2 year old heaven.

Except when the goat tried to eat his shirt.  Which of course when you ask him about going to the farm, is the only thing he talks about.  "Goat did it!  Goat eat Jamie's shirt!"

Sigh.  Toddlers.

Shirt eating aside we had a blast and will definitely be going back in a few weeks when they open up their Fall/Halloween exhibit for some pumpkin picking and hay rides!

And now for your viewing enjoyment, a bunch of pictures of my kids back and the side of his face, cause god forbid he LOOK at the camera.  That would be too easy.

Happy Monday peeps!

Quick like a bandaid

Yesterday morning I noticed the bumpers in Jamie's crib were all awry.

Obviously he had been up to something the night before.

He had already ripped one of the ties off awhile back, so I figured it was time to take them off before anymore damage was done.

They have to last at least one more baby after all.

So when I got home from work I untied all the ribbons and off it came.

Just like that.

The crib looked so empty and bare.

It was just one more sign my baby was no longer a baby.

Even the hubs commented when he got home that it looked weird.

So I casually mentioned {maybe} we should start thinking about turning it into a toddler bed.

Figuring he'd laugh at me and say "No way!  We're containing the beast as long as we can!!"

But that's not what he said.  He was all casual about it and like "How about right now?"

  And before I could even comprehend what was going on, this was happening.

I had a mini panic attack. 

OMG it's a Wednesday. 

We have to work tomorrow. 

What if this doesn't go well.

What if Jamie's not ready.

What if I AM not ready.

I haven't had time to stew and stress over this for weeks, preparing myself.

But we did it.  Ripped it off quick like a bandaid.

Jamie thought is "new" bed was the bees knees.

Jumping up and down.

Climbing in and out.

I just KNEW it was going to be a loooong, disaster of night.

But it wasn't.

When bedtime rolled around we followed the usual routine.

He ran into the nursery his big boy room, blankie trailing behind him, proclaiming he was tired.

So I sat in the rocking chair like I've done every.single.night for two years expecting to complete our bedtime ritual with some snuggles and goodnight songs, but he said "No mama, I tired.  I lay down."

And just like that he didn't need me anymore.

He climbed right up into bed an put his head down.

We played our night night songs and halfway through he kept saying "Goodnight" as if we were disturbing him.

So we all said our goodnights and shut the door.

He talked in his bed for a bit then I didn't hear a peep.

So I peaked in and there he was, sound asleep, where he staying until this morning.

No drama.  No crying.  No constant climbing out of bed.

I've said it before and I will say it again.

Sometimes I don't think we give our kids enough credit.

We anticipate the worst, when really it's US that have a harder time letting go.

Letting go of one of the few baby things left before fully resigning to the fact that I have a big boy.

Did I mention he also peed on the potty a few days ago?!

I can feel the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes already.

Before I know it we'll be dropping him off at college.

 

One last rodeo

Little belated, but whatever.  I didn't want to miss the final edition of Jamie's monthly updates and I was waiting for the big 2 year visit for his official stats.  Ummm, 36 1/2 inches.  Dude is just over 3 feet tall?!?  I happened to stumble across my baby book over the weekend and I didn't hit 36 inches until I was 3!  So he's either going to peak early, or we're going to have a giant on our hands!  Either way he's currently one healthy and growing little boy!!

Happy Monday peeps!

Barney Bash

So it was no cutesy vintage Mustache Bash as I'd originally hoped for,

but Jamie's 2nd Birthday Barney Bash went off without a hitch!

Compared to last years soiree, it was no muss no fuss.

Just immediate family and a few of my dad's lake neighbors.

Burgers, corn on the cob and fries.

As much as I missed the planning part of a big party this year,

I did not miss the stress {or cost} of the actual party one bit!

Thanks to Etsy seller Magical Memories Boutique I was able to get an adorable Barney shirt.

And thanks to Dairy Queen still having some purple dinosaurs in their cake archives I was able to make one little boys 2 year old dreams come true!

And that my friends, made for one great Birthday!

Cards on the mantel.  A family tradish!



This picture cracks me up.  As if he has ANY clue what just came out of the card!



BIG Truck just like Grandpa Jacks!



Clear winner as favorite gift!



Mama I go fast!

And just like that.

I have a two year old.

 Happy Thursday peeps!

Happy Birthday Bubbaloo!

Dear Jamie,

Two years old.  TWO.  On one hand it feels like you've been in our lives forever, on the other it's like we just brought you home.  So small and squishy.  I thought nothing could surpass the huge changes between birth and year one until I experienced year two.  Holy cow!  You've gone from a baby who could barely walk and talk to a full blown little boy who practically runs circles around me and never stops talking!  You are so smart, I can't believe some of the things you say and do.  You make me so proud to be your mama.  You amaze me more and more every day.  In true toddler fashion you're definitely testing your limits and can make mama laugh and cry all in the same minute.  While your stubbornness and strong willed personality push me, your sweet heart and infectious laugh melt me into a puddle of mush.  You're such a mamas boy.  Part of me hopes you stay that way forever.  The way you light up and come running when I pick you up from school.  The way you come up to me and say "hugs mama, hugs" or ask for a kiss when you have boo-boo.  And the way you still snuggle in your spot on my shoulder every night before bed like you have since the day you were born.  If I could bottle those moments up forever I would.  I can't wait to see what this next year brings.  I just know it's gonna be great!

Love you to the moon and back.
Happy Birthday Bubbaloo!

Kiss-kiss,
Mama

Almost 2

For the past 23 months I have taken a picture of Jamie on the 9th.

Every.single.month.

This morning I did it for the last time.

{With the exception of August 9th of course!}

From here on out we count ages in years.

How did that happen so fast!

How did my baby become "almost 2"

Exactly one year ago he wasn't even walking and yesterday he jumped off the side of the pool.

By himself.

And then proceeded to swim from one side of the pool to the other.

By himself.

Crazy.

Happy 23 months Bubbaloo!

Mama's Boy

On Saturday Jamie turned 22 months.

22.

Hard to believe the early birthday planning has begun!

Didn't he JUST turn 1??

We've officially moved to Toddler 2.  The last room before preschool.

Pardon me while I go cry in a corner.

Luckily all of Jamie's little friends made the change together, but he still had a little anxiety with the move.

Drop offs in the morning pretty much became the worst experience ever.

He even managed to bring his own mama to tears one day which hasn't happened since day 1 when he was 3 months old.

Knock on wood, things have been MUCH better and he seems to back to his old self.

They've also started VERY early potty training.

He has yet to actually go on the potty, but his teacher says asks all the time, so anytime he asks, on the potty he goes.

Here's to hoping as we get closer to 2 the peer pressure to catch up with his two older girlfriends kicks in.

If not?  That's ok too.  I'm pretty sure he won't be taking diapers to college.

He seems to do everything in his own time. 

He's starting to string more and more things together and talking in little 2-3 word phrases and asking LOTS of questions.  We're also pretty sure he said dammit on day.  So that's awesome.  {NOT}

Summer is in full swing with lots of trips to the park and the pool.

Not a day goes by he doesn't ask to ride his wagon and go "simmin"

I just love this age and finally getting to go and out and do things.

It can only get better from here!



Boys and their toys

 I just hope he's this excited about mowing the lawn in 10 years!

 

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday

I'm guessing the authorities might not find Jamie's new favorite play pen as funny as I did......

Happy Wednesday Friends!

Barely Legal

It's been a big month!  From a solo weekend with daddy to yet another long road trip to Ohio.

We said goodbye to the binky with little resistance.  Apparently mom and dad were more attached to it than he was!
We've graduated from mama and dada to mommy {sometimes just mom} and daddy {or Hun just like mommy calls him, which will always crack me up}

And everyday he seems to learn something new.
I love watching him learn and explore!

Everyday we get closer to two though my baby becomes less and less baby.

More and more little boy.

While I embrace all the new found independence I find myself grasping on to what little baby is left.
Like the fact that he's still in his crib and uses a sleep sack which he fondly calls "sacky."  I'm afraid we may need to find one big enough to send with him to college.
Or that he still lets me rock with him right before bed every night ans snuggles on my shoulder just like when he was itty bitty.

He makes me so glad to be a mom!

Happy 21 months little man!

Enjoying the small things

Yesterday I raced home from work so I would have time to hit the grocery store before picking up Jamie.

I raced through the store.

I raced to daycare so he wouldn't be the last one there.

We raced home.

I hurried to carry all the groceries upstairs so I could get the dog out ASAP.
By the time we got outside I was exhausted from all the running around.
I was exhausted from the day.

All I wanted to do was go back inside and breath.

Take a time out before the madness of our evening routine began.

Just as the thought of putting my feet up put my mind at ease, I saw a little 25 pound toddler race by, headed right for the swing.

I sighed.

I didn't want to swing.

I wondered if I could bribe him back inside without a tantrum.

And then I realized how in the blink of an eye he's not going to want to play with his mama.

I should slow down.

Enjoy these little moments.
So we swang.

We laughed. 
I soaked it all in.
I felt all the stress of the day melt away.
I was reminded that sometimes, you need to just stop and smell the roses.