Art

"I dream my painting and then paint my dream" - Vincent Van Gogh

painting with cars- 13 months-ish

learning to use crayons at 15 months-ish

Custom Ornaments by Aiden

decorating or eating decorations with cousin Mason?

Aiden's frame painting

cousin Emma's 1st painted picture frame

decorating a grocery bag for Mommy

marble painting

"Ta-Da!"

marble painting part 2

The art-gallery laundry room

Potty-Learning Update Part 2

Our 1st potty in public success story this week! 

Here it is the fourth month now of our potty-learning journey and we are finally getting the hang of it. They say the earlier you start the longer it takes but I'd prefer that over having to still change nasty diapers at this point. This past week has been a completely accident-free week with no diapers used except for at nap and bedtime. It was also the first time we had a potty in public success at a local park where I took his potty chair along with us. For so long I had him about 90% trained at home but would still diaper him to go out in public using the excuse that I didn't have a cool car travel potty yet so I didn't want to bother. Then recently a friend said, "Well why don't you just take his potty from home and bring it with you in the car?" Sometimes it really takes talking over things with my friends for a simple idea to click! Why didn't I think of that? Maybe if I had he would have been fully trained a few months ago! :) The next morning I decided to try out the new idea of bringing the potty to the park. (I'm not ready to deal with nasty public restrooms and my pure baby's behind touching them yet!)  I stocked the car with an extra change of clothes, underwear, wipes, a wet bag and Clorox Wipes to clean out the potty should it get used. I was prepared for the worst. (I was traumatized from about 2 weeks ago when we had an ugly park poop accident that involved smearing down his legs, poop falling out all the way walking back to the house, and a total of 45 minutes spent cleaning up my kid, the tub, the carpet, his clothes, myself...you name it, I was scrubbing it!)
So there we are playing at the park and all of a sudden he runs up to me saying, "I hafta go on the potty!" I was shocked that he remembered to tell me even while at a different environment other than at home because it's so easy to get distracted... I sprinted to the car, grabbed the potty and set him on it while some other moms looked at us smiling, thankful that those days were over for them :) After he was done I just watered a thirsty tree with the potty contents, clorox wiped it out and we were good to go!
We continue to bring the potty with us where ever we go except for friends houses, (we trust your toilets!) :)
We are on a roll now and I couldn't be happier with the process. It really has been a lot easier than I expected. Of course there have been some very messy accidents and my poor carpet has been peed on SO MUCH, (I'm hoping to put in wood floors in the near future so it's ok) but it's all part of the process and it just keeps getting easier and easier the more we keep at it.
Two children's books that have really inspired Aiden to use the potty are You Can Go to the Potty and Everyone Poops. Both are fun reads, You Can Go on the Potty is a very through introduction to using the potty and even has a great parent's guide in the front to familiarize new parents with potty training concepts. Everyone Poops is just a hilarious addition to our home library and sure to make you laugh!

sometime in June 2011

If I Watched TV...

If I watched TV I would have missed out on playing the "Garbage man letter block game" with Aiden this morning.
I would have not finished the amazing novel,  The Help this month and gained the new perspective and wisdom this book brought to me.
I would not have taken the time to write this blog.
I would not have the pleasure of knowing it was I who taught my son to sing the "A B C's" perfectly because it may have been Elmo who taught him. 
I probably would never take the time to teach myself new songs on the piano. I'd probably just stick with the old ones because they are safe and easy. 
I would spend less time outdoors at night with my family and watching my son ride his bike.
I would most likely be less social because it would be much easier to turn on the TV than to persuade my friend to run out to the store with me at 8pm for some much needed girl time.
I wouldn't have discovered all the inspirational, amazing and talented blogs that I keep up with which give me new ideas for fun art projects and outings to do with my son while we are at home together.
I would be less motivated to attend my mother's group events and church events.
I would read less to my son at night and he probably wouldn't be able to pronounce, "Constitution" as well as he can. :)
I would probably consume more salt and vinegar kettle chips, (yumo!) than I should.
Speaking of food, I would probably be heavily influenced by all the junk food ads on TV like Jack N the Box and take up eating fast food again like I didn't know any better. 
Consequently, I would eat less healthier than I do.
I would cook less and get takeout more.
I would then need to loose 25lbs instead of the 15lbs I need to drop.
I might get caught up in all the petty, meaningless drama of a show and it would swallow me whole.
I'd probably not listen to music as much or get lost in it as I do sometimes.
I may end up like a robot, programmed each night to watch this show, then that one, without ever creating anything in my own life.
I would be more numb and less alive.
I'd start actually taking the Pull-Up's commercials seriously and end up with a three year old who is still in diapers! Oh wait! They're Pull-Ups! RIGHT. (My excellent potty-training karma is probably ruined for saying that out loud now but I couldn't resist!) :)
I would be teaching my son that there's nothing better to do than to watch TV.
I would spend less time talking with my husband.
If you think I'm bad at calling you on the phone now, sheesh! Imagine if I watched TV regularly! HA!
I wouldn't have time for all that Netflix has to offer :)

Puffy Paint Craft

Toddlers love things with cool textures. It's a proven fact. Give them a shoebox filled with flour and they'll allow you to cook dinner for 47 minutes... maybe longer. It works with un-cooked rice, pinto beans and a couple of cups for pouring. You may be cleaning rice out of your carpet for the next 2.5 years, but hey the kids had fun so don't sweat it. :)
The other night when I wanted some un-interrupted time to create culinary bliss, I set up this easy puffy paint station alongside me in the kitchen. He LOVED it! We even ended up painting each other's faces a little...
 
Puffy Paint
1 cup flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
food coloring

Mix everything together in a large bowl, (except food coloring). Then divide mixture into 4 small bowls and then add the food coloring. Ta Da!