If I'm Not Home...

...HERE is WHERE YOU WILL FIND ME:

I know I just posted a picture of Cranberry Lake, but this photo took my breath away! Rarely does a picture convey the exact mood of moment, but this one managed to do it, stopped in the middle of the road, camera hanging out the window, trying to keep my foot on the break and get the lens over the rear-view mirror. I love it so much it will be hanging in our living room soon. This place has captured me lately! We've been there three times in the last week, including today.

Yep! We've BEEn gone quite a bit!

Butt, while at home, Lawson's been roaming around sans pants rocking his big boy "wear!" He wears them all day long and all night long. We do not do diapers for this boy at all anymore. We threw them out the second day of potty training and I haven't looked back! Very easy to do now that I've found Hannah Andersson Training Unders. We have a small accident or two each day, but that only sends him running to the potty yelling "PEE!!! POTTY!!!! WEAR!!! DOWN!!!!". He wants to use the potty and he wants his "M'" (M n M) for doing it. I, for one, am happy to oblige for the next few weeks as he gets really good at this big boy business. I may have to wash the sheets on his bed a couple times a week, but I'd say he's doing a very good job at this!

As for me, I've been getting crafty while at home. Not normal for me, but I am determined to get this house looking like half of what I pictured it would be before we move. First room to tackle: the big boy's room. He loves trains (duh.) so I did the word "train", as well as a silhouette of an engine in frames above his bed. I painted the unfinished frames myself and even fabricated the stencils, and cut and glued the letters as well as the train myself! GASP! Kind of a big deal for someone who doesn't normally get crafty. I also bought a circle canvas and did a rudimentary Railroad Crossing sign (imperfect on purpose) for the head of his crib. I am loving the pop of color on the wall that ties in with his bedding and rug!

I've got one more painting project going at the moment, but that will be revealed tomorrow or the next day once it's hanging on the wall. I'm hoping it turns out the way I envisioned!

Yes, we've been busy these last few days; nesting, beach combing and running around with no pants on (well, at least one of us has... 1. 2. 3. NOT IT!). I'm hoping we keep the momentum up because it's feeling mighty good! Almost as good as it's going to feel to go put another coat of paint on my canvas. Is getting crafty addictive? It feels like it could be. There are still so many of unexplored isles at Michael's....

The Sun is Shining and There is Poop in the Potty!!!

This is the face of a boy who finally pooped in the potty! After an epic two hours spent on the potty, we are making good on all the bribes we conjured up to get him to deposit in the correct location. This is the first of many surprises today. A small bowl full of peanut M&Ms. It will be followed with a burger, a trip to the park, a balloon and a cookie. ALL worth it if it means no longer cleaning up poop from his waist to his toes along with spraying out a pair of undies and/or pants and scrubbing a trail from his pooping hide-out to the bathtub. Lucky for us, the sun is shining and it's a beautiful day to have a big, huge poop party!!!! Not exactly something that I'd imagined when I became a mom, but none-the-less, here we are embarking on this special celebration.

GOOD JOB, LAWSON! You are getting to be such a big boy and we are sooooo proud of you!

It's All About the Bowl

When you are only seven months old, all you need to entertain yourself is a bowl and a spoon. Naomi has been working hard at feeding herself. She can get her little veggie puffs in her mouth no problem and she's getting pretty good at using the spoon! Pears and carrots (not at the same time) are her favorite. It can get pretty messy, though and I am really glad I went ahead and sprung for this four sided, magnetic closure bib by bebe au lait! It's awesome.



The other little person in my life is also all about the bowls lately. He running for the bowl a few dozen times a day and making it nearly every time!



Bowls are pretty thrilling around here lately and I am having a great time being a part of all these new milestones and big steps.... except those that involve poop falling out the bottom of the britches. Those steps, I am not having fun being a part of. We're getting there though. One potty party at a time!!!

Potty Party or Party Pooper???

Something is missing in this picture. Can you tell what it is?

A diaper!

We're having a Potty Party!!! Mr. Lawson is becoming a big, big boy these last few days. At any given moment, you'd find him wandering around the house sans pants, ready to dash to the potty whenever he feels the need! The first day had me plum spoiled. I thought this was going to be a piece of cake! Out of the blue, he asked to go potty before nap time and I jumped all over it. He went, we clapped, jumped up and down and scared the pee out of Naomi as we made a big, huge deal out of the greatness of his peeing in the potty. He napped, woke up dry again, peed in the potty again, we scared Naomi again with our overzealous celebratory dancing and hollering and the rest of the day went about the same. He would yell out "potty!!!!" then dash to the bathroom and go. His excitement may have had a little something to do with him getting a treat after he peed... maybe just a little something to do with it, but it was going really well!

Anyway, the next morning he woke up dry again!!! I thought we were home free! We said bye bye to diapers and discussed his new status as a big boy. Morning was going smooth as can be and the beverages and treats were flowing. Told you it was a party around here! Then, he got hungry and grumpy. I can totally relate and I know his Aunt Kelly would, too. Stay out of our way when we're hungry. GRAAAARRRRRR!!!!!! So, the grumps started and the accidents began. Using the potty was no longer fun, it was a struggle for power and I was losing my patience. I really tried to keep it fun, but by the third pee puddle on the floor just outside of the bathroom as he refused to sit and potty, I was pissed. I also was very aware that he had to poop and he point blank refused. Flat out would not go. In fact, I heard him use the word "diaper" for the first time as he asked for one to poop in. Poop. Poop. Poop! This was all going so well... and then.........

it wasn't.

Naptime was eminent and I put an Imse Vimse on his bottom and crossed my fingers that he'd wake up dry again. Well, he didn't. He didn't wake up at all, actually because he never fell asleep. He bounced around in his bed for over and hour and I finally took him out to try to use the potty. He peed, we pulled up his trainer again and he took off running. No poop and no nap. We took a wrong turn somewhere back there at the corner of Hungry and Grumpy and were quickly approaching Messy. Lucky for me, the unavoidable mess was contained in his trainer as he hid behind my bed pretending to play with Naomi. As it turns out, pull-ups don't do so well with poop. The removal of the trainer off a wiggly two year old yields very undesirable results. Although, after we got his bottom, legs and feet all cleaned up in the tub, he was back at peeing in the potty like an old pro! There's something about pooping that is just not happening though. Any clues on this would be more than appreciated!

So, that's where we're at right now. Potty parties galore over here! A few "surprises," as he puts it, but we're making some serious progress! I'm so close to only diapering one set of buns, I can taste it! Well, maybe that's not the best way of putting it, but you know what I mean! Bring on the big boy boy undies!!!! And Lawson, keep them on. Okay? No more stripping in your bed before nap. Got it? Okay, good... On with the party!!!

Going pee while reading about peas. Very appropriate.

Always wash your hands after you use the potty!!!

Yep, we bribe.