I Did It

Ian loves to get praise when he does something so much that he often says, "I did it!"

Ian walks across the room.  "I did it!"

Ian picks up a toy.  "I did it!"

Ian throws himself off the couch and tumbles across the floor, then hops up in a little flourish.  "I did it!"

So it is my turn to say "I did it!"

I posted every single day for a whole month for the first time since I started this blog nearly 5 years ago.  That is a pretty big accomplishment for me, especially considering how chaotic work has been these last few months. 

So don't mind me while I take a little victory lap and pat myself on the back because...

I DID IT!

Thank you NaBloPoMo for the motivation.  I feel like I have really improved my story telling some, and I actually loved having a reason to post everyday. 

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might

There are many times most of us have said something along the lines of, "I wish I had a maid so I don't have to do this laundry" or "If only I had a cook to deal with dinner because I am so tired."

Yeah, I have those moments too.  Often.

There is one particular task that I just can't stop wishing I had someone to do for me: trimming Ian's nails.

Usually I save this task for when Ian is asleep, so that I can save myself the trouble of dealing with the wrath of a toddler being forced to do something he doesn't want to do.  However, the last few weeks Ian has been sleeping too lightly to sneak into his room with my flashlight and trimmers without being caught.  Last night I got kicked in the boob and then I had to soothe a crabby kid back to sleep after a failed attempt at trimming a nail.

No one wants to play with a kid that has nails so long they curl under at the end and scratch you when you walk past him too close.  So tonight we decided to go for it and get the trimming done hell or high water.

Holy Moly!  For a two year old he sure can put up a kicking, screaming, wiggling fight over getting his nails clipped.  Chaos I tell you!

I would give just about anything to never have to trim his nails ever again.

(Anyone want a slightly used kidney in exchange for cutting my kids nails until he is old enough to do it himself? If so, you just might have yourself a deal.)

I need to find a Toddler Whisperer who can woo Ian into complying with manicure time.

Until then, every other week you will find me in the corner rocking back and forth, clutching the kid nail trimmers and wishing I was the kind of person to keep liquor in the house.

Positive Thinking Sunday

"Fall seven times, stand up eight."

-Japanese Proverb

I need this reminder.  Sometimes I suck at stuff and I don't want to try anymore.  I have to remind myself that I have to fail to learn and that if I try again I AM doing "it" right!

Six Word Saturday

Christmas tree time! Let's get decorating!!!

To The Limit

Ian is enjoying the concept of the word "no" and using it to test his limits with Chris and I.

I am pretty sure that we heard "no," including a scrunched up and stern face, from Ian about twenty millions times today.

~~~~~
"Ian do you want to take a nap?"

"No."

"But you're tired and need a nap to get energy to play."

"NO."

"I'm sorry.  It is too bad that you don't want to because it is nap time."

"NOOOOOO!" [Insert tears and screaming here.]
~~~~~

"Look Ian, what a yummy dinner!  Please try a bite of the turkey."

"No. Yucky!"

"You haven't even tried it, how do you know it's yucky?"

"Yucky."

"Please take one bite."

"No. All done." [insert shoving plate across table in protest.]

~~~~~

I suppose at least you can say he is persistent.  Stubborn, but persistent.

Thankful

There are so many things for which I am thankful.  In honor of the big day of thanks, here is my list of some of the things I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving:

Being a mom to such an amazing little man.  Ian makes my life complete and his silly personality can brighten even may darkest days.

My partner, my love, my best friend Chris.  

My parents and in-laws who always love and support us through this life.

That my husband and I are employed and have wonderful benefits.  There are times, when work related things suck, that I forget to be thankful for being lucky enough to have a paycheck and excellent insurance coverage. 

That we have a house we can afford, and it is full of all the things that make a house a home.  Our possessions may not be the best of the best but we have all we need and then some.

My loved ones and myself are all healthy and mostly happy.  Not everyone can be happy all the time, but we have more happy than sad and I am so thankful for that.

My dear friends, in real like and in the Internet world...although I find that friendship is friendship no matter how it is gorged.  I am so thankful to have such a vast and interesting support group in my life.  You guys make me so thankful every day.

I am thankful for this blog, and those who take the time to read what I write.  Thank you for taking the time to share a little part of my world.


My hopes to you and your family, that this Thanksgiving weekend is full of delicious food, lots of family & friends, and save travels.  Happy Thanksgiving!

My Little Ladies Man

Last night we decided to go to IHOP for dinner.  We have enough cooking ahead of us Thursday that we decided to make the days leading up to the big meal easy as can be.

Ian of course wanted cake-cakes. duh!  Before we left Ian packed a little bag of toys to play with while we waited for our food.  The bag was a little lunch bag with a handle.  He carried it like a briefcase.

Beyond getting his cake-cakes, Ian made it his mission to dazzle everyone within earshot and visual range.

He exclaimed "thank you" when the waitress brought his food.  He told her "bye-bye" every time she left the table.  She came to the table a lot...I think just to see Ian again to see what he would say next.

A couple at a nearby table commented on how mature Ian seemed to be and about how good he was as we were leaving.  They asked him if he got enough to eat and Ian declared "Yeah" then he said "bye-bye" to them.

As he matched out of the restaurant holding his little bag of toys he waved and said "bye-bye" to everyone we passed.  Ian looked like a little celebrity waving to his fans.

I think he might have made a lot of peoples nights with his smiles and waves.

I know he made mine!

Life List: Post Secret

Today I sent a secret to Post Secret.

A while back I decided that I wanted to send in a post card to Post Secret because I have enjoyed looking though the Sunday secrets for a long time now.  Everyone has a secret, big or small, so why not share it and be creative in the process.

What is my secret you might ask?

I'll never tell!

What fun would that be?

Here Fishy Fishy

I don't know why but I kind of want to get a fish.  It is a pretty random want really.

My mom often had a Betta fish in a bowl in the kitchen.  We called it the kitchen fish.  Last year for Christmas my niece drew me the picture above of of our last kitchen fish.

I want a kitchen fish.

Except it will probably be a dining room fish instead because my kitchen counter is cold...I don't want the fish to freeze to death.

Positive Thinking Sunday

'Tis the set of the sail and not the gale which tells us the way to go.

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

My mom has a cross stitch excerpt of the poem "Winds of Fate" hanging in her hallway.  I have always loved it because it is a great reminder that what you want in life isn't just going to happen, you have to work to make it happen.

Time to set my sail.

Six Word Saturday

Ready to get my thanks on?

Hopefully I can pull it off and get everything together for Thanksgiving this weekend.  That is my goal anyway.  So far I have the turkey and a roaster.  So at the very least we will have something to eat, but now I have to get all the fixings and of course some delicious things to bake.  We are only having my in-laws as guests but I want to make sure we have a full dinner with plenty of left overs.   
Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  Do you have any special plans?   

Do It, Or Else

Dear everyone I know,

This is a public service announcement so pay attention!

Ladies, go do your self breast exam! I don't care if you did it yesterday, last week, last month, or never.  Stick your hand in your shirt and feel yourself up (don't forget under your arms)!  Know what you feel like so you know when something changes.  It might not seem like much but it is so very important.

Men, you're not left out in this!  Make sure your ladies are doing their self exams and consider checking your own chest and underarms as well.  Men can get breast cancer too!

Less than 1 in 8 women will have breast cancer at some point in their lives.  Think of 8 women you know, including yourself.  One of you could get breast cancer.  One of you could already have it!

When I think of eight women I know, who are my age (give or take a couple years), four of those women have already found a lump in their breast.  Four women have already taken their futures in their hands and made sure they are the ones in control.  Thankfully, for my friends, not all lumps are cancer but we can kick breast cancer...but only if we find it first.

So go! Go do your self breast exam.  Schedule and appointment and get a clinical breast exam or even a mammogram.  Do it or else I will punch you in the face!

Love and healthy thoughts,
Melinda

Sing No More

Last night I was laying with Ian in his bed, trying to get him to settle down to sleep. 

It wasn't working. 

He was really wound up and very wiggly.  So I thought maybe some "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" might getting him calming down.  It worked before, I had no reason to think it wouldn't work again.

I got about halfway through the song and Ian looked me straight in the face, put his finger to his nose and said, "Mom, shhh."

Ok, fine!  How about "You Are My Sunshine," the song I have been singing to him since his birth.

Nope! Again I got the "Mom, Shhh!"

I think he might have outgrown me singing to him.

Where did my baby go?



I love the way Ian points to his nose when he says "shhh."

 

Art Swap Ship Day

Today is ship day for Art Swap.  So I spent part of my lunch hour today at the post office shipping out my painting, "love is light."  Amazingly enough the line wasn't very long at all and I managed to get back to work on time.  Bonus.



Hopefully the recipient likes the painting, and painted bookmark that I included as a bonus.  I managed to put aside all that dark and come up with something I feel is much more positive.

In the middle of darkness, love can light your way.

I have to thank my husband, Chris, and my son, Ian, for the inspiration.  No matter how dark my day is they have a magical way of lighting my mood.  I love you both.

Photographer in the Making

The other night I was hanging out with Ian in my bedroom before bedtime, watching TV and snapping a few pictures.  Ian begged to try taking a few pictures so I held the camera out and showed him what button to push to take a picture. 

The result was about 30 pictures of our feet.  In each picture Ian posed his feet in a slightly different way: curled up toes, spread out toes, feet close together, feet far apart, feet touching mine, etc.  He had a great time and smiled each time the flash went off.  There may also have been a little meltdown when I finally said enough was enough and put the camera away.  Needless to say Ian loved getting to be the photographer.

Today my Dad called me to give me a heads up on what he has purchased for Ian for Christmas...a toddler tough camera.  How perfect is that!  Ian's very own camera.  Ian is going to love getting to play photographer once he gets a handle of that thing!

I can't wait to share what he takes pictures of in the coming year.

Life List: Mt. Pleasant Robot

This past spring I read about the Mt. Pleasant Robot and I was intrigued.  This guys dresses up in a homemade robot costume and wanders around town supposedly to spread cheer.

All summer I watched for him every time we were out around town.  I was determined to get my picture with him and even included my mission on my Life List.  I figured it was just a matter of time before I finally found the guy.

All summer went by and I didn't have one single sighting of the Mt. Pleasant Robot.

I was disappointed as fall came knowing that he would likely disappear for good.  I decided to write it off as something I just wouldn't be able to cross of my Life List. 

At least I tried to find him.

Then this Saturday I was downtown with my friends for a Ladies Night Out event and we spotted him!  The Mt. Pleasant Robot was up ahead with a group on women that were asking him interrogating questions.  I don't think he was answering them.

My friends didn't know what to think when I whipped out my phone in excitement and insisted they take my picture with the robot.  Being the good friends they are, they still took the picture even if they thought I was a little off my rocker.

So I marched right up to the group and interrupted, "May I please get a picture with you."  It was clear by the robots body language that he was eager to accept a photo opportunity.

So I did it, I got my picture with the Mt. Pleasant Robot.

I am so amused by the person who does this and I am filled with questions about who and why.  Even having had the chance I am glad I didn't ask any further questions than my request for a photo.

Some things are more fun when left a mystery. 

Thank you Mt. Pleasant Robot.

Positive Thinking Sunday

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond you grasp, but which, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you.

-Nathaniel Hawthorne

I am not sure that I fully believe in this quote but I do like the sentiment that if you try too hard to be happy you are just trying to hard. 

Six Word Saturday

Girl's Night Out! Fun with Friends.

Sharing Time

I thought I would post a few of my favorite things from my wanderings on the web this week.

First is a great painting idea highlighted by Ohdeedoh from Explanation Required. Spell out a phrase on canvas in stick on letters and have your child finger paint over them.  Peal the letters off to reveal your masterpiece.  If Ian gets over not wanting his hands dirty we are so doing this.

Adorable printable birdy cards mentioned on How About Orange.  I am going to have to make up a few of these when we get a color printer.

Lisa Leonard created a beautiful snowflake ornament for this year.  I love it and would very much love to get one to commemorate our year.

Vodkamom posted a video about what teachers make.  I think that sometimes we forget how important our children's teachers are and how much they (most of them) put into their work.  I loved this video and sent it on to one of my best teacher friends to remind her that what she is doing for children is so important and so very appreciated...at least by me.

A post at Girls Gone Child about teaching our children to love themselves really moved me.  My favorite part: "Give a child a compliment and she'll smile for a day.  Teach a child to compliment herself and she'll smile for a lifetime."

Finally a place for you to waste your time and laugh until you cry: Damn You Auto Correct! a sight dedicated to some of the worst best auto correct failures.  I could post a few on here myself because my phone is out to make me look like a fool.

Your turn!  What did you come across online this week that you thought was pretty cool?

It's Very Evil

Last night we went out and purchased on of those Tassimo disc coffee makers.  Due to a series of wonderful circumstances the machine will pretty much only cost us about a quarter of the original price.  (Yay for sales, discounts and rebates in one!)

Of course, the moment we got home Chris had to crack it out of the box and set it up.  Part of the set up process calls for running it a few times with just hot water.  While doing this there was all manner of hissing, gurgling and dripping noises coming from the kitchen.

So I tweeted this:

 

One of my online friends, @randomsideizzie, tweeted back:

For reference, here is a little clip I found of the scene Izzie referenced for those who may not have seen the movie Elf.  (If you haven't seen Elf, shame on you! Go rent it tonight!)

Now and forever, I will imagine cowering in the corner thinking the coffee maker is evil every time Chris makes one of his lattes.

Oh and by the way, the coffee maker has hot chocolate discs too, and they are divine.  Yum!

Art Swap

I signed up for Art Swap November 2010.  It is billed as a fun, and free, way to share and collect art with other artists.  Everyone creates a piece of art (see the rules for size limits and other info) and then on November 17th we will all mail our pieces to the person we are randomly matched with.  When all is said and done you email a photo of your piece of art to the Art Swap founder David Pringle to be included on the website and the Art Swap book, and you will have collected a piece of art from another artist somewhere in the world.

This is the first time I have created something to share with someone I don't know.  It makes me a little nervous that I won't be considered "good enough" of an artist for the person who gets my piece of art.  There are some pretty amazing people that participate.  I know I pour as much of myself into my creations as any of them but still I feel a little inadequate when compared head to head with some of the people who participated in the last Art Swap. 

I already painted something for Art Swap but I wasn't happy with how it turned out and don't want to share this one.  I painted it on a day I was feeling a little too dark inside and that really came out in the piece.  So I am working on something else. Something created with happy feelings.  Something I will be proud to send out into the unknown.

I am really excited to participate and I hope that whomever ends up getting my piece of art will like it, because I am pouring my all across the canvas for them.

If you want to participate in Art Swap you can still register until 11PM EST today!

Pocoyo

Turning off our cable has opened us up to new kids shows we never gave a chance before on PBS Kids.  PBS is where they "hide" some of the best and most educational shows for kids. Dinosaur Train and Sid the Science Kid are great, but Pocoyo has become a family favorite. 

Who wouldn't love this?



Every single time we play this episode for Ian on You Tube he gets up and dances or at the very least shakes his shoulder along with the music. 

Check it out, and if you like this one also check out Elly's New Shoes, which is my favorite episode.  Elly has such sass!  She is my kind of elephant. 

Goofy Goofy GOOSE

Nothing like starting out the week feeling awful.

Ian was running around the living room this morning while we all got ready for the day.  He would stand still in one spot for a moment and then yell "Go!" before running across the room to another spot.  Repeat.  It was adorable. 

One of his trips didn't turn out so well.  He stumbled and fell head first into a box that is waiting to go to storage.  His temple hit the corner of the box and he fell into a puddle of tears on the floor.

While he buried his face into my shirt I tried my best to get an ice pack, that Daddy delivered, onto Ian's boo-boo.  Ian would have none of it.  So, I was forced to give up and just give him a dose of Tylenol for the pain.

Then I had to deliver my tear streaked, hurting kid to day care with a bruise and a growing goose egg on his forehead.

I hate being the mom with the broken kid at day care.

Positive Thinking Sunday

I am going to try something new this month and write some positive thinking on Sunday.  Mostly it will be quotes meant to inspire me, and you, to adjust our attitudes and our thinking to achieve happiness.  I know I could use a little adjustment now and then to help me look on the bright side. 

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."
-Winston Churchill

Six Word Saturday

Spring forward, Fall back. Change Clock!

Friday Frustrations

This has been a challenging week.  I have been sick all week and just got into the doctor yesterday to find that I have sinus and ear infections.  That pretty much explains why I have felt so awful this week.  Thankfully the medications are already making me feel more normal.

While at the doctor they made me step on the scale of doom.  The number blinked at me and it suddenly clicked that I really need to make some changes, and now.  I have to take care of myself.  So I intended to start out by doing some yoga last night.  My intentions were quickly cut short when my son decided that it would be a good night to scream about how unfair life is for more than a hour.  I kept my cool with him, surprisingly, but had nothing left for myself when he finally zonked out.  I went straight to bed.

On top of being sick, work had to go and be just about the busiest week ever.  It seems that when the bills go out the callers just line up to take shots at me, our services and billing abilities.  I can barely keep up with them.  Until I worked in customer service I never really understood how you could get tired working a desk job.  Now I get it!  It is the abuse the callers heap upon you.  It is mentally exhausting to keep smiling and deliver the same explanation over and over again for days. 

But, all that doesn't matter today!  Today is Friday!  TGIF!!!  No matter how grumpy the callers are, how long the work day feels, or how many times I have to blow my nose...It is Friday and tomorrow is a day all my own.

Fridays make everything better.

Cake-cake

Last night Chris and I were discussing what to have for dinner.  I had a rough day at work and wasn't up for any meals that involved much effort.  Quickly the discussion turned to grabbing something out like Subway.

At this point Ian piped up, "I want cake-cake!" (cake-cake = pancakes)

Chris and I looked at each other stunned.  He never even wants or eats dinner, and here he is demanding pancakes.

Ian, "Cake-cake! Cake-cake! Cake-cake!!!"

So I asked, "Ian do you want to go to Cranker's for pancakes?"

(Cranker's is our favorite restaurant that we go to pretty much every weekend for breakfast.)

The noise he made can only be described as an affirmative in the range of 11 on the excitement scale.

So off to Cranker's we went for some cake-cakes.  How could we not when he actually wanted something for dinner so much.

When the waitress came to take our order I asked Ian what he wanted, he rambled something off to the waitress sounding very determined.  I am not sure what all he said but it sure sounded like and order.

The biggest shock of the night came when our waitress brought the food to the table.  She placed my plate first, then Ian's.

Ian looked up at her and gasped with a huge smile on his face and said... thank you!

My son said thank you without being prompted and at the exact right moment!

I am so proud.

A First and a Second

Tonight was not a bath night.  Ian only takes a bath every other night, unless there is a need for one thanks to some dirt a washcloth can't take care of.  He has some skin issues so too much time in the bath water is very drying for his skin.

So on our non-bath nights I just get Ian dressed in a clean diaper and his pajamas and we have one last chance to get any ya-ya's out before bed.

I managed to get through the diaper change but when it came to putting on his PJ's Ian flat out said "No!"

He wiggled off my bed and started to pull off his shirt.  I helped him to get the shirt off since it would have to come off anyway to put on his pajama shirt.

At this point Ian went running for the bathroom yelling, "I wanna ba" as he went.  This is the second time in his little life he has asked for a bath.  The child that just a few months ago practically needed a sedative to get in the bathtub is now demanding a bath.

My husband caught up with him in the hallway first and tried to explain that tonight was not a bath night and to go get dressed.

Ian just simply said "I wanna ba" again and in one swift motion took off his diaper and handed it to me.

He knows how to take off his diaper?  Oh no!  I knew this day could come but I am wholly unprepared for what is sure to come next.  I know you know what I mean...the spontaneous naked time.  Lord help us all!

I was in complete shock that I just ran the bath without even trying to reason with Ian.

Ian happily climbed in and played with his bath toys while I cleaned him up.  After the cleaning part of the bath was over he played for another couple minutes then handed me his bath toys one at a time.  "All done."

After the last toy was back into the basket, Ian stood up and reached out to me, "All done."

After a few laps around the house nude he submitted to put on his PJ's and that was that.

Chris took him to bed and I came to write this post still confused by the events of the evening, and amazed by how much my son is changing each and every day.


**I know this is my second post today, but it was a story too good not to share with you.

Yes, No, Maybe So

I don't think that Ian has gotten a handle on how to answer yes and no questions yet.  I feel like he has learned the concept of yes and no but not so much where it comes to using them to respond to a question.

For example, I asked him if he had a poopy diaper tonight even though I knew the answer was a resounding, "Yes, and it's a stinker!"

"Ian, do you have a poopy diaper?"

Ian looks up to me with those innocent eyes and says confidently, "No! OK."

I am pretty sure that that he meant to say, "Yeah, I have a poopy diaper but I plan to sit in it the rest of the night.  Thank you for asking."

Another example of Ian's inability to answer a yes or no question is when I am trying to figure out what he wants as he begs at the cupboard and attempts to shear cliff climb up the cabinets.

"Ian do you want a cereal bar?"

"No. OK."

So I open the cereal bar and hand it to him.  Instantly he throws himself to the ground in a fit of despair because I am now "forcing" him to eat the cereal bar that he just said he didn't want.  All I can do is stand there, and wonder how something that seems to have meant "yes" 20 minutes ago now means "no," as I put the cereal bar in a baggy for later.

Moments like this remind me how empty and pure babies are.  We have to fill them up with everything: nutrients, love and knowledge.  So we are going to keep working on answering yes and no questions because someday Ian will be asked an important question and I want to be sure I will have filled him up with the right stuff to answer.

Bath Time 180

If you have been reading this blog for a while you know about our struggles with bath time.  For a very long time Ian thought of bath time as torture and every bath included screaming and crying.  Some of that crying was me, I will admit it. Baths were always in and out as fast as possible.  They didn't dominate and entire evening. 

Not anymore!

Somewhere along the way Ian decided that baths are fun and he would like to stay in the bath forever.

It can still be hard to get him into the tub every once in a while.  I think he forgets about the toys that are for bath time only.  Once he is playing with his little boats and rubber ducks he has so much fun.  Oh, and let's not forget the splashing.  The tsunami splashing that needs a towel of it's own to clean up.  He loves the splashing, especially when it soaks Mommy. 

He will even tilt his head back for hair washing with the help of a Buzz Lightyear sticker on the ceiling.  most of the time anyway. 

Now my biggest problem with bath time is getting Ian OUT of the tub!

Not a bad problem to have if you ask me.  At least my floor is a lot cleaner now thanks to all those waves.

NaBloPoMo

I have decided to try and take part in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) this year.  It is actually one of the things on my Life List too so I will get to check off another item there too.

My biggest goal beyond just posting everyday is to get my writing mojo back.  Lately my posting has been few and far between and I really want to change that.  Hopefully, the motivation to post daily will help to bring out some stories I might have buried otherwise.  Also, I want to post my first video blog this month.

So I have a big month ahead.  I hope you will pop in a see what I come up with along the way.

To get started:



We took Ian out for his first time trick or treating last night.  He threw a huge fit when it came time to put on his costume.  A screaming, kicking, crying fit.

We bribed him with a peanut butter cup to get him out the door.  It works like a charm.

It only took getting candy at one house for him to get the idea of what was going on.  After that Ian would take the treat and check it out before putting it in his bucket.

When we got home it was a sugar free for all. Chris had to hide the candy to make him stop begging for more.  It's hiding in the plate cabinet if you care for some.  I feel like I can tell you this because Ian can't read and won't catch me offering up his bounty online.

It was a pretty good Halloween.