Moving -

I now am going to blog here:

http://motherhoodisnotfortheweak.blogspot.com/

Dear Winter:

Thank you for dropping by this year.  I know you always feel the need to dump an ungodly amount of snow around February 14 every year for the last 3 years.  Please pack your bags and go.  Your services are no longer required.

Sincerly,
NE Ohio

P.S. - If you are going to stick around - here are some pictures of my little one to amuse you with.



I think we got about 18-24 inches on Saturday.  It's currently snowing again now.





This is what had blown into the windows:

After Alan plowed:

The trees:

And of course - playing in it with the neighbors!

And walking home:

~B

The Open Door

Welcome to week 2 of the Blog Carnival!

This week's topic: What aspects of your parents' parenting do you want to continue in parenting your own kid(s)?

If I had to pick one aspect of my parents' parenting that I want to continue on - it would be their open door policy.  We were able to talk to my parents about anything, without risk of being in trouble.  In fact, we were often told that if we were somewhere and got ourselves into a situation, to please call them and they would get us.  I know my brother used this more than once.  I was more squeaky clean (as far as drinking was concerned) and never had to, but I appreciated the fact that it was there and I would not have been afraid to use it.


But unlike my brother, I was a little more *ahem* sexually active *ahem*  Yes it was with the same guy all thorugh high school and into early college, but still - My mom took me to the gyno to get on the pill.  She was there when I took the pregnancy test.  And while it wasn't what she wanted for me, she didn't judge.


As you saw from a prior post - Alan started talking to Connor about condoms at 6 weeks old.  Yeah, that's a bit young, but I think it shows that Alan and I are on the same page.


Do we want him out having sex all the time?  Of course not.  What parent does?  Do we want him drinking every weekend?  Um, no.  But can we stop it if he's not in our house?  No.  All we can do is keep an open door policy with him (and any future children).  Teach him to be responsible when it comes to sex, to call us if he's in a situation and can't get safely home.  To us, it seems not teaching him those things is irresponsible.


~B

Innappropriate conversations with my son

I have this horrid habit of sometimes talking to children like grownups.  Not always, but definetly inappropriate at times.

When Connor was six weeks old - Alan started telling him:

"Connor, wear your rubbers."

A good life lesson for sure, but not really needed before one can hold their head up.

It's winter time here in Northeast Ohio and as my dad says - you have to be strong to do an Ohio winter.  The other night it was bathtime and the following conversation took place:

B: Well, Connor, we made it through a January winter.  That's pretty tough.  Now, February is the shortest month, but it feels like the longest.  And March - well, March is a tease, much like some bitch you'll meet in a bar one day.
A: Did you really just say that?
B: Yes, yes I did and I stick by it.

Let's hope I outgrow such conversations.

~B

I sowwy

Connor is at that age where he repeats the last word you said.  Over and over and over.  I am seriously amazed at how much his vocabulary has grown in just the last 3 weeks.  (This does not include his infinite knowledge on all things Thomas and identifying all the trains correctly by name when they all look the same to me.).

Connor and I were playing yet another tackle, wresting, ball throwing, flying game (because what else do mom's of boys play?) and I almost dropped him.  I said "Oh, sorry Connor!"  He began repeating "I sowwy"  over and over and over.  I can honestly say it brought tears to my eyes it was so adorable.  I mean come on?  Really Brooke?  We're going to get teary over that?  Perhaps it was the lack of sleep.  Or perhaps having Connor has made me all sentimental.

~B

It's a carnival!

No, not my life, but surely that would qualify.

I don't know that I ever mentioned it, but a few years ago I met my friend Jen a few years ago through thebump.com when we were both trying to have a baby.  Through Jen, I met Dana, who introduced me to an online message board she had created for local Northeast Ohio moms.  I really like the board-  it's a great resource and I've met some good friends there.  One of the girls, Paige has set up a blog carnival with new topics every Wednesday.  This week's topic:

Your child's favorite and least favorite foods.

When Connor was younger - he would eat anything.  Seriously anything.  One of his favorites then was ground up meatloaf and green beans.  Now, he won't touch the stuff.  But the thing is - he would at least TRY things then - even if they did get everywhere:

and we did get some attitude:

Now, he's all about the ususal toddler foods: nuggets, PB&J, fish sticks and M&M's.  Surprisingly he does still love green beans.  He also eats foods we won't touch: olives, grape tomatos, yogurt.  On a rare occasion we can get him to try something new.  Last night we had Chicken Parm.  Wouldn't even try it.  But, I've stopped making him something separate.  I always said I would be one of those moms who at least made their child try something.  It's hard to get that to happen with a 22 month old.  Hopefully in a few more months he will understand at least trying something.  I think if he would just try stuff he would actually like it.  I normally wind up giving him extras - a piece of bread and butter, yogurt before bed.  Something so that he's not starving in the middle of the night.   So I guess the foods he hates - are 1) anything new and 2) eggs.  The child gags at the mere sight of them.  It's kind of funny, but frustrating at the same time.  His dad is the same way.  Alan gags over smells he doesn't like.  Ever want to see it - if you ever see Alan, just mention wet cat food and watch the fun ensue.

I will say though - at least with Connor being older we can take him out to restaurants now and he will at least pick at something.  Here's a pic of him at Bob Evans last week.  Yes, that is a DVD player on the table.  I'll do what I have to do get a hot meal.

Until next time -

~B

Baby Proofing, Part Deux

I really thought we were done with babyproofing.

Cabinet locks - check.
Baby gates - check.
General hazards picked up - check.

Electronic door lock - um, no.

We are now in the market for one of these:

Why you ask?  Well Connor decided to lock Alan out of the house today.  Apparantly it went down something like this - Alan went out the back patio door to take the dog out.  Connor promptly locked the sliding door behind him.  I got this message in an e-mail from Alan.  I promptly called home.  Not to make sure everyone was okay, but because I had to have the answer to the question - you know the question, you want to know yourself.

B: Okay, I just have to know.
A: Know what?
B: Did you try to get Connor to open the door? (Because obviously you can rationalize with a 21 month old toddler)
A: Oh.  Yeah, I did. (I guess it's worth a shot)
B: How'd that work out?
A: Um, not too well.  He tried, but he couldn't do it.  Then it was just funny to him.
B: Of course it was.  Okay, that's all I wanted, bye.

I just had to have the image of a grown man pleading through the patio door to a toddler to please unlock the door.  Well worth the phone call and the image.

So Alan went around to all the windows-  we just happened to leave one unlocked.  (Who doesn't do that in Ohio in January?)  So he was able to climb in the window. 

He also apparantely contemplated ripping the side door off the hinges.  Would have been funny since the hinges ae on the inside.  I guess he also thought about something with his truck and the door.  Not sure that'll work either. 

So, he wants to either hide a key somewhere (the neighbors have one but they're never home), or get the electronic lock.  Who knew in this house that was part of babyproofing.
~B