That's my boy!

More on Noah...


So the other night, at about 12:58 a.m., Barry and I awake to hear Noah moaning in his sleep...and we start giggling. Ya wanna know why? It's because of what he was saying...

"It's MY chocwut! It's MY chocwut!"

Yeah, so my husband thinks that is primarily my influence. Hmmmmmm... let me think about that...

I think he may be right! Now if only I can impress on him the difference between crappy chocolate and the really good stuff!

All in good time, people....ALL IN GOOD TIME!!!

Sinky Diaper, Part 2

So, in other Noah adventures...

Noah has also decided in the past week that if he desires not to be in his crib, he shouldn't be. I put him down for his nap earlier in the week, and sat down to check my email. About 1o minutes later, I saw a quick motion out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and saw my darling little boy standing there.

"Ah, what are YOU doing, little man?"

"I sit on couch."

"You sit on couch, eh? Well, I think it's time for your nap."

"No, Mama. I no nap. I sit on couch!"

Now, I'm no dummy. I knew if I put him back in his crib that he was just going to continue climbing out... and to be honest, I was pretty surprised it took him this long to figure out how to get out. So, I told him he could come out and sit down, but he had to lay down on the couch and watch a movie... and BE QUIET. Of course, he willingly agreed. And fell asleep within the first 15 minutes.

So, that is all just really background. The real story happened the next night. I had told Barry that Noah had started fleeing his crib, just so he was prepared for the nighttime ritual. About 8:15 or so, Kendall and I headed up to her room to read before bed, and Barry took Little Man in and got him all settled into bed. I could hear everything over the monitor that sits in the kitchen.

"Night-night, Noah. Have pretty dreams, ok?"

"Ok, Dad-dee. Night-night."

"I love you, Buddy."

"I wuf you too, Dad-dee."

Then I heard Barry come out and drop onto the couch to watch some TV. A couple of minutes later, I hear Noah babbling over the monitor.

"Dad-dee...what-a-doin'? Dad-dee...Dad-dee! I know you sit on couch! Come 'ere Dad-dee!"

Silence.

"Dad-dee! Come 'ere Dad-dee!! Pease! Come 'ere!"

Finally I hear an exasperated sigh as Barry heaves himself off the couch to see why Noah beckons. Kendall and I finish up her book, I kiss her goodnight and head downstairs...where I plop MY butt on the couch. A few minutes later Barry comes out, shaking his head and smiling a half grin mixed with confusion.

"Do you know what our son did? You'll never guess. Just guess!"

"I don't know...what?"

"I went in there, and he was standing in his crib...and he said "Here Daddy! Is for you!". So I put my hand out and he gave me something and stood there like he was totally proud of himself. I told him thank you and looked closely at it because I wasn't sure what it was. I thought it was a piece of caulk from one of the log walls...but it wasn't."

"Well, what was it?"

"Well, it was dark in there so I put my face closer to it, and as I got closer, I smelled it! It was a turd, Jenny! He handed me a turd!! I looked at him and said "Noah! Is this poop? Do you have a stinky diaper?" and he just stood there smiling and said "YES." Can you believe that??? He reached in his diaper and pulled out A TURD and handed it to me. THAT'S what he called me in there for!"

Now keep in mind, I am trying VERY hard not to laugh here because the next time something like this happens, it will surely happen to me. But seriously, folks! I could not keep it in. That was too funny to not have a complete belly-laugh over. I am still laughing with tears rolling down my face as I tell the story! I swear...this child is something else!

So needless to say, Barry washed both his and Noah's hands, changed Noah's diaper, and then got him back into bed...but not before telling him, "Dude, don't give people your poop!"

Sinky diaper!!!

So Noah's really into using the potty all of the sudden. Last Sunday, he woke up at 6:00 am moaning, " A sinky diaper! Its hurtin'!" So of course, I went in to change him. No "sinky diaper" after all...he was completely dry! Yet, he still complained when I pulled him into bed with me. "A sinky diaper, MAMA!!! Sinky diaper!"

Of course, while he's getting all upset, he's arching his back and stiffening up, all the while repeating his message of the "sinky diaper". This particular behavior led me to believe that he may possibly be constipated, so I asked him if he wanted me to rub his back. Yes, he did...so I did. And the complaining still continued..."Sinky diaper! S'a SINKY DIAPER, MAMA!!!"

Well, good ol' redirection is usually a good tactic, so I did the best my tired mind could do at 6:00 am on a Sunday morning. "Do you need to sit on the potty?"

"YES!!" Keep in mind this was said in such a way that I felt he was basically calling me an idiot. So, I took him into the bathroom, my eyes still not fully open...and took off his jammies and diaper and sat him down on the little potty. I had him lay his warm little head on my shoulder and I rubbed his back, thinking we may be here for a while. But no, that was not the case.

In about 6 seconds, I heard noise. A lot of noise. And then he said, "SEE! A sinky diaper! All done!" I couldn't believe it...I had to look. Yeah, that little booger was definitely not lying. He went and pooped in the potty like a big boy! And my, was he proud of himself! So, I went on and on about how proud we are of him and how grown-up he is getting...and he was just all smiles. And then he did the exact same thing at 6:00 am on Monday morning too...and that's great and all, but I really hope he doesn't get into a pattern of waking up at 6:00 am every morning to have his fun time on the potty! But the good thing is, we actually are now all on the same page that "sinky diaper" means "I have to go to the potty!" Don't know how I missed that one! HA!

So anyway, that's a big development around here. Lots of pottying. I actually have a part two to that story, but I'm so sleepy right now, I am saving it for tomorrow. Tune back in then, ladies and gents...it's a good one! 'Night!

Go Get 'em, Boys!!!

OH....

WE DON'T GIVE A DAMN FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN,
THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN!
WE DON'T GIVE A DAMN FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN!

WE'RE FROM O-HI-O!!!!!

Yep, that's right! Today's the day that every Buckeye sits glued to their TV or radio or makes the road trip to Ann Arbor. Today is the day that the entire state of Ohio is draped in scarlet and gray, and The Best Damn Band in the Land can be heard playing over every radio or CD player. Tailgating abounds. There are Buckeye parties aplenty.

Today the greatest rivalry in college football takes place...the Buckeyes take on the Wolverines in the Big House.

GO BUCKS!!

BEAT MICHIGAN!!!!

A Little Shopping!

Hey all! Sorry I've been a little lax in posting, but I've had things I've had to get done! So today, I was wondering what I should post about...and lo and behold, I had forgotten to share my recent purchases with you! Last week, I had a really light schedule at work, so I used my time wisely and went out running errands that I'd been meaning to get done for quite some time. Well, in the course of my errand-running, I happened to be in Target (I LOVE Target!) and ended up strolling past the bedding aisle. I couldn't believe my eyes! The bedding that I've had my eye on for Noah's room was on SALE!!!! I got the quilt and pillow sham for $59! Woo hoo!






The reason I love this quilt set so much is that Barry and I have had our eye on this bed for Noah, once he gets out of his crib . Won't it be so cute?












Then, I also noticed these flannel sheets, which were also on sale... for $15! So I picked up a pair of these for his bed in the winter.








Then, as I continued walking...JACKPOT! More accessories for Noah's room-to-be. And ALL ON SALE! These cute sheets, which have little bear pawprints all over them, a throw pillow, and my favorite find...the lantern bedside lamp! I got his entire bedroom decorated for $110! Ah, yes...and that is why I LOVE Target! Can I get an AMEN, Terri???







Also, good news on the progress of the deck. Barry was off yesterday and luckily for us, we were blessed with a BEAUTIFUL fall day...and were able to complete the first coat of staining. So at the very least, that has been taken off the "Critical" list. We would like to get the second coat on, but if we can't, we can't.

Also, Rudy from the tree farm where Barry bought all of his trees came out last night to dig the holes and drop the trees in. What a fun experience for the kids! He brought out a skid loader with a big hole-digger (yes, that's a technical term!) attachment on it. That thing would start spinning and dig the hole in like, 30 seconds! Then, when he'd lift it up out of the hole, he would shake it and the dirt would go flying off the blades. Noah squealed each and every time! Boy, it was so worth it to have him come and do the work. Barry paid him $15 per hole...can you believe that?!?! WELL WORTH IT!!!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I was reading Logzie's post about flaxseed, and I got to thinking. There are a lot of products out there that I have found through the last 10 years or so in my quest for eating more naturally and healthfully that have become staples around our house. And so, I was thinking maybe I would share some of my most favorite finds!

First off, we have Emergen-C drink. This stuff is awesome. It comes in a lot of different flavors, and is so easy to take with you, since it comes in a little packet. You just dump the packet in a small glass of water and it fizzes to life...tastes good too! Even the kiddos like it. We take this with us when we travel (especially on airplanes), and I keep it in my office. As soon as any of us start feeling run down or sick, the Emergen-C comes out.



Next up is Uncle Sam cereal. This cereal is soooo good for you. It is whole grain toasted oats and flaxseed, and comes plain or with dried mixed berries. You can eat it just as you would regular cereal, and it is also good to use in baking breads or cookies. No yucky sugary stuff in this box!












Stonyfield organic yogurts. YUM. We get the Yo-Baby whole milk yogurts for Noah and the large containers of plain yogurt for Barry and I. I also will buy boxes of the yogurt sticks to throw in the freezer and the kids will eat them like popsicles...no high-fructose corn syrup, and a healthier treat for sure!



Creamy Brown Rice Cereal. Oh my, this is the most wonderful breakfast. The kids ask for it nearly every morning, and it's a snap to make. If you don't know all the benefits of brown rice, you should check it out for sure. Brown rice is naturally sweet and is nearly a perfect food. This is sort of like oatmeal in consistentcy, but tastes so good. It takes about 6-8 minutes tops to cook and then we serve it with some milk, a bit of honey and some cinnamon on top. Mmmmmmmm!




Odwalla Superfood Drink. I used to pick these single-serving drinks up (a pound of fruit in each one!) when I didn't have time for a full meal at work. But, more importantly, when Noah was going through that rough time where he wouldn't eat any more than 3 specific foods, (and veggies were NOT in those 3), I decided to see if I could sneak them in some other way. So I started buying this superfood drink in a half-gallon jug (about $7). It has spinach, kelp, apples, pears and all kinds of good fruits and veggies in it. Yes, it is a dark green and looks a little yucky, but I just put it in a sippee cup that is not see-through and he sucked it right down. Now he requests "green juice" all the time. It is his favorite drink (besides milk) and I am happy to know he is getting some of the good leafy greens that he won't normally eat! And in case you're wondering...it IS good! The fruit makes it sweet!




Another of my sneaky ways to get Noah to eat green things. These snap-pea crisps are meant to go on salads, but we eat them for a snack. I don't like the Caesar ones...too weird tasting. But the regular ones are VERY TASTY. Noah will eat the whole bag!










Annie's Naturals Mac 'n Cheese. The kids like both the white cheddar and yellow cheddar varieties. And again, none of the crappy ingredients like the ones you find in Kraft. This we make with a 1/2 cup of plain yogurt instead of milk and butter. So creamy, and a healthier alternative! Also, I will add peas to the white cheddar to sneak in some green...and a can of white tuna into the yellow cheddar...it tastes so good and adds protein too!



This is my latest and greatest fave. Sheri turned me on to these tasty little numbers, darn her! All I need is another snack to obsess about. Anyway, these crackers are made with nut flour, so they are gluten free. They are crispy and light and oh-so-good. Barry and I will eat an entire box while watching The Office on Thursday nights. And at $2.49, they are a steal. They come in a variety of flavors, including Smokehouse Almond (my fave), Almond, Pecan, Hazelnut, Garden Ranch, and Cheddar Cheese. Try 'em...you'll like 'em!








Fisol. Enteric coated fish oil. Enteric coated means the coating won't break down until it hits your intestines...therefore you won't have a fish taste in your mouth or be burping up fish all day. Tasteless, good for your heart, joints and brain, and this brand is guaranteed mercury free. I was turned on to this at a seminar Sheri and I attended on pain. It was taught by a neurosurgeon who could not stop talking about it's benefits.







And last, but not least, Coconut Oil. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can use. I use it for baking and cooking. It has no taste, and a high amount of naturally occurring antioxidants as well as no trans fats. It is solid in the jar, which is actually really nice. Easy to measure, and not messy! Do a little Googling and you'll see that coconut oil is where it's at! So many health benefits...




That's it for today folks. I hope you've found this post interesting... and maybe, just MAYBE I've helped you to find some healthy alternatives that will end up being staples in YOUR pantry!

Updates!

Ok, now I finally have a few minutes to sit down and update this blog! But first, I have a question.

Why do men's razors always seem to work better than womens? SERIOUSLY. Occasionally, I'll accidentally leave my razor on the side of the tub and then when I'm in the shower the next day and need to shave, I'll just use Barry's. It always leaves my legs satiny and smooth, whether his blade has just been changed or not. Mine, even with a brand new blade, does a mediocre job. I always THOUGHT it was doing a good job....until I used Barry's!!! This has happened numerous times over the course of our relationship...don't you think by now I'd just go buy a men's razor???? Maybe I will today...

Ok, now that I've got that off my chest, on with the updates!

First of all, look what we found in our chicken coop:Barry was cleaning out the bedding, and when he poured the new shavings in, he saw a mouse run out. Then, as he was spreading the bedding around, he heard faint squeaking. He called me over...and of course, I called Kendall. Now this is where I sometimes don't think. I am all about the educational aspect of every situation, and am always happy to engage Kendall in learning and experience whenever possible. But sometimes I don't see the possible problems that can come out of these experiences. For instance...Kendall was, of course, totally interested in these little mice. She wanted to hold them, which we quickly shot down and explained why. She had a million questions about what mice eat and why the baby mice's mother would just run off and leave them. Then she wanted to find a way to feed them and keep them...and this is where the problem started. Because of course, Barry had every intention of killing them, or at the very least, just leaving them in the pile of chicken bedding to die. To those of you who think this is inhumane or cruel, I understand. I don't want to be involved in the killing of any kind of living thing, except spiders...I have NO problem with that. But you also have to understand what kind of problems mice cause. Lots of problems. And they reproduce like mad. So, they had to go. How on earth do you explain that to a 6 year old? We basically just told her that they wouldn't live without their mother...they were just too young. To put it lightly, she was upset and obsessed by the prospect of saving these baby mice. We are better now, thank goodness!

Secondly, after much deliberation, we decided to get Kendall's hair cut. See, Kendall has that typical tow-head, fly-away, fine-as-chicken-fuzz hair. And when that type of hair gets too long, it gets stringy and just plain messy looking. We decided it was time for an updated hairdo. So, Danniel took 2 1/2 inches off, and now we have this sleek little bob. She loves it! Then, of course, there's the progress on the deck. I swear, we will all be so happy when this is finally finished. You know how when you start a big exciting project and you're all gung-ho and totally into it...and then when it comes to all the little finishing touches you just can't wait to be finished??? Well, folks, that's where we are. And this staining needs to be finished before winter gets here. Soooo, here are the pics of Sheri and I gettin' the job done!

And this last one is of the ever-changing sky. Our weather is so flaky lately. One day it's gorgeous, the next it's cold and windy, the next we're under severe weather warnings. On Monday, when I took this particular picture, it had been sunny all morning, and then looked like this by afternoon...Looks like it's actually going to snow, doesn't it? Freaky weather. Oh well, you know what we say here in Ohio? If you don't like the weather, hang out a while and it will surely change.

Cleaning...

Yeah, I know I need to get on here and post. I even have some new pics to share...but alas, it has been so crazy around here that Noah and I have to devote today to CLEANING and ORGANIZING.

Yippee.

We will be going through toys, closets, and hopefully my pantry. We are throwing away, giving away, and cleaning up. I will be doing laundry, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, and also the dreaded fan blades.

Woo Hoo.

And then, when Barry gets home...we are back to staining those deck rails. Yes, folks...the pressure is on! It's getting darn cold outside and the staining has to be finished before winter! So, if I get time (yeah, right) later today, I will try to get on and get you all some updates. If not, well....I guess I'll have to try for tomorrow!

Wish me luck!

Cowboys and Indians...

Trick or Treat has come and gone for yet another year. The kids costumes were inspired by the book "The Indian in the Cupboard", which we read last month. Kendall wanted to be Little Bear, and she decided that Noah could be Boone the Crying Cowboy. Hope the little one didn't take that personally! The little monkeys brought in quite a haul and were real troopers, as we walked a VERY long way. Noah insisted on walking the entire time because he likes his new cowboy boots so much...and it's really funny because he shuffles when he wears them! My sister came out to join us in our quest for free candy...and the kids thought that was the greatest. And just look at that! She even came in costume! Because Jess was here to help, Barry opted to stay home and finish his railings on the deck, since after this weekend we will be extremely short on daylight. Yeah, and I'll bet it also had something to do with the fact that we were all dressed up, and he didn't want to.... ;0)
I'll post more pics later...my sis took her camera along with us, so I didn't take mine. Therefore, she has all the trick-or-treat shots. As soon as she emails them to me, I'll post some more! So for now, enjoy these! Hope you had a great Halloween everyone!