Confessions

My friend, Megan, wrote a post of her confessions. I wanted to leave a comment on her blog about some of my own, but realized that the list was way too long for a comment.
So, here we go:

1. Although the endless blathering about the environment makes me want to go bury plastic jugs in my backyard and chop down a tree, I feel guilty throwing a ziploc bag away. We reused everything possible growing up, and it just does not seem right to waste things that can be reused. However, sometimes laziness overcomes me... or maybe it's just exhaustion!

2. I am slightly offended on a permanent basis that my husband does not think my eyes are my best feature. He does, however, love the one part of my body that I have spent most of my time loathing, which leads to confession number three...

3. Until I got married, my butt was the bane of my existence (or so I thought)! Every outfit I ever wore was concocted to create the illusion of a smaller derriere.

4. I, like my friend Megan, always correct people's English in my head. I can't help it - it is automatic. I can't stand it when I am writing and can't seem to remember a rule of grammar or punctuation. For example, I am always forgetting where the punctuation marks go when using parentheses. This REALLY bothers me.
As a side note, I knew it was time to come home from my Spanish-speaking mission when I heard myself ask the question, "did they went yet?" Even writing that makes me shutter.

5. Once in a while when Weston is doing something naughty, I pretend not to notice so that I don't have to deal with the screaming and flailing that usually accompanies punishment. I know that if he knows that I know (did you follow that?), then I MUST punish him so that he learns. But, if he thinks I never even saw... well, then at least I wasn't inconsistent in his mind!

6. If I think I may have hurt someone's feelings or said something to offend them, I will stew about it for days.

7. I enjoy watching iCarly with Weston. I know it's a tween show, but I think it's both clever and cute, and even downright funny!

8. Sometimes when those emails go around where you sign your name in petition of some new horrid political initiative, I get all squeamish. I have actually wondered if the government is going to collect my name and information and store it on some secret enemy list, then come after me and my family one day. I know, this is absurd.
Or is it?

Beautiful Baby Lady

Oh how we adore this precious little lady! Here she is looking very serious as she models a darling sweater that my mom's cousin knitted for her. Isn't it perfect on her?The kidletsWeston can't seem to get enough of his little sister... sometimes he has to contain his excitement to avoid hurting her. I thought this picture pretty well captured that dynamic!Nothing like a swing to produce sweet dreams...Look at those cutely pursed lips!Sophie is a sheer pleasure... I often wish I had nothing else to do but hold her and love her all day!

Only a Man...

Imagine taking a large mirror, and throwing it from the roof of your house. Think of the sound created by that mirror as it hits your driveway, shattering into a million pieces.

Now, add a few fingernails scratching a chalk board.

Add a very LOUD clap of symbols to the mix, and turn up the volume on all three.

That is pretty much the sound that Weston's new toy sword makes. Who, you ask, would purchase such an offensive toy?

A man - of course!

Jason got it at the San Gennaro Feast, an Italian Festival that is really just an overpriced carnival with overpriced Italian Food. He was there selling sparklers, poppers, and other such novelty items.

On the last night of the Festival Jason returned home sometime around 1:00 AM. He was SO excited to show me the cool toy that he had for Weston - he just had to get it out and demonstrate right then and there (I was half asleep, mind you).

I almost had a heart attack when I heard the noise it made! I wasn't just worried that it had awakened one (or both) of the kids, but that they were terrified - or worse yet, deaf!

Now, in defence of my husband, I have to say that he had no idea how loud it really was since he got it at a carnival.

Fortunately, Weston LOVES the sword, so it keeps him occupied for long periods of time...

It was difficult to get any clear pictures since I couldn't get Weston to pose for me... he was too busy chasing the dog around the back yard with that silly, deafening, plastic sword! The poor dog has nightmares, I'm sure.

My Proud Pooper

I am so proud of this little guy! (Not just because he is a sweet big brother.) For months we have been working on potty training. Yes, I know. Some of you are thinking I am a moron for dragging it out. But hard core is not my style. I know Weston not just because I'm his mom... but because he is just like me! And one thing I know about us is that we WILL NOT be pushed!!

So, I've taken a laid back approach to potty training. When Weston's interested in using the potty, we do. When he's not, I just put a diaper on. Don't get me wrong, I've done a little pushing. But for the most part, I've let him progress at his own pace. He pooped in the toilet like a big boy for the first time about 3 weeks ago. We made a huge deal of it, but then it seemed like he still didn't quite get it.

This week he has seemed to turn a corner. He has pooped in the potty every day (not to say that we also haven't had several accidents too)!

But today was the best of all. Why, you ask? Over the past months I have told him almost every day (and on some days, many times) that when he needs to go, he should come to me and say "poop!" (He doesn't say a lot yet, so I figured this would suffice) Today, it FINALLY happened! He came up to me saying "poop," over and over again. We quickly went to the bathroom, where he hopped up on the toilet using the brand new red wooden stool we got last night, and sat there while I frantically started cleaning the bathroom. (You've got to make the most of each moment, right?) I didn't know if anything would really happen, maybe just a tinkle. (By the way, it does occur to me that those of you without kids are tuning out about now - that is if you even began reading this post to begin with!)

But to my pleasant surprise, and probably for the first time in my life, I was thrilled to smell POOP! Hallelujah! He did such a good job. It was a satisfying moment as a mom. Months of teaching him what to do with virtually no result, and suddenly, ka-bam! It finally sunk in!!

Here he is with his long promised and much anticipated reward... jelly beans - 5 to be exact. He is holding on to them with an iron grip!Weston was elated, too. He bounced gleefully around the house for at least a half an hour... which is why this is the only non-blurry picture I was able to get. What a proud pooper!

Loving Sophie - One Whole Month!

Here is my sweet, perfect Sophie, now one whole month old! Resting peacefully - look how long those fingers are! Do we have another piano player in the family?Weston is a sweet big brother. Every time Sophie cries, he gives her kisses and says "aaaawwww" over and over again in the most comforting, sing-songey way.Sometimes he tries to pick her up too... something I have to be very vigilant about! He is allowed to hold her... just as long as I am there to help. I love this picture! If you look closely, you can see the chubby rolls on her legs. She is always so attentive and alert- even right after birth. I love looking into those big, beautiful eyes.

Getting Sleepy!

Such a peaceful sleeper

Sophie's favorite place to sleep...

My little love bug

A Grand Reward

I have been impressed with how well Weston has picked up on the concept of, um, "tinkling" in the toilet. For some reason, however, the whole pooping thing has been difficult to grasp. So, Jason and I came up with a special reward for the first time he pooped in the toilet like a big boy. The much anticipated occasion came about a week ago... so, here he is with the grand prize! Do you think he likes it?

The Lizard

This morning Jason found a fun little surprise curled up in the corner of the bathroom. We thought it would be fun to put in a jar for a few minutes so Weston could see it up close without it running away.After a few minutes of observation, Weston took it in the back yard to let it go find its family. He carried the jar ever so carefully until...

the lizard made a sudden movement - which startled Weston, who dropped the jar!

Upon release, it ran happily (and VERY quickly) away. It probably had post traumatic stress syndrome after being dropped to the ground in a glass jar! (Don't call PETA anyone)