There's Nothing Worse Than....

Here's a few ways I've ended this sentence lately:

There's Nothing Worse Than...

...picking up a forgotten cold, heavy, wet diaper

...soaking your fresh clean socks you just put on by stepping in a camouflaged puddle of water on your kitchen floor. (did that 5 minutes ago)

..."2012" (I actually didn't see it, but I heard it was bru-tal).


Obviously I'm hyperbolising here. These circumstances aren't tragic by an means. I do realize that war, hunger, cancer, and being on an over crowded train when someone expels gas are all considerably worse than anything I've listed.

But how would you end this sentence? What gets your goat?

(I'm aware I am completely setting myself up by asking this question. eg ...reading Kim's blog).

Assimilation

As my residency here in the USofA continues to lengthen, I'm starting to observe certain political influences trickling into my home. This is a frightening thing - I know.

For my first example, I think I can split the blame between Obama and Henry's sudden obsession with Bob the Builder, but I seem to be saying "Yes We Can!" more than I'd care to admit. I can't decide who to blame more for this one, both are obviously powerful and highly influential men. Anyways, you'd be surprised at the randomness of moments this phrase slips out. It's definitely bizarre.

Only moments ago is when I discovered my second example. As I was making, my now second night in a row, pan of late-night nachos (you can hear my butt get bigger as I say that can't you?), I was incredibly careful, as probably most of you are, to ensure that each chip was warmly dressed with a sufficient amount of cheese. I guess I wasn't careful enough because as I was placing the pan into the broiling oven, I saw I had missed a spot and immediately reversed my motion to make my corrections. It was then that former president George W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" policy came to my mind. However I altered it slightly to fit my situation as "No Nacho Left Behind". I think we can all agree that both phrases are probably equal in their importance. No nacho should go without.

Maybe my forthcoming visit back home to Canada over the holidays will cure this curious case of mine. I'm just grateful that it hasn't escalated to the point where I've started talking about how "rogue" I am when I don't do the dishes one night, or start replacing my friend's names with "Joe the Plumber".

Our Home And Native Land

We just returned home from our new annual tradition of heading up to Ontario for the American Thanksgiving weekend (that we turn into a week). It's a good thing we only do this once a year because I think we need the other 51 weeks to recover from the fast-paced almost drive-through visiting we cram in and the long journey there and back. Henry was a super champion baby for the drive even though out of the 9 hours of just driving (one way) he slept for only 1 of those hours. I'd like to give a special shout out to Thomas the train and his friends: James, Percy, Sir Topham Hatt, and all the others for helping us all get through that final hour. You were there for us when we needed you the most. Another shout out goes out to Mark for putting up with listening the whole way there, the romantic tale and over-emotional thoughts of a dramatic teenage girl in "New Moon". (Although I think you secretly enjoyed it so it wouldn't really be "putting up with it" would it?).

As much as we are settling in to our lives here in NY, we really do love our friends and miss the time we spent in Ontario. I'm positive we'll feel the same way when we eventually leave NY...but I don't feel the need to think about that right now as it is a ways away.

Thank you Cheryl and Eujean for putting roofs over our heads and food into our mouths and everyone else for fitting us in your busy schedules. Oh and Happy Birthday Cheryl! Try and get all the freebees you can today.

Peer Pressure Works!

The picture you see above is a desperate attempt from a mother to try and teach her son that diaper changes are not a form of torture... water boarding - yes, diaper changes - no.

I'd noticed that Henry would often eat, drink from his sippy cup, get into his high chair and do many other things much better if he saw fellow tots doing those things. So I took this observation of mine and tried to apply it to our currently struggling diaper changes. And no, giving him something to play with wasn't working any more. When it was time to change Henry, I would first say "It's time to change Jake's diaper Henry. Can you help Mommy?" He would usually come closer at least to watch what I was doing to his stuffed friend. I would then talk Jake/Henry through the diaper change. "Okay, let's lay down." "Jake, lay still please. No moving. Good boy!" "Oh, you've pooped!" "Almost done!" Of course being very gentle the whole time. I would also invite Henry to help me wipe Jake's bum (but Henry would always just wipe his foot). Then once Jake was done, and we had all given each other our high fives and 'pounds', I would say, "Now it's your turn Henry!" (then I would try and mimic the same routine as he had just seen). Occasionally, I would get a peaceful, pin-free diaper change from him but more often than not, my ploy did not work... Or at least I thought.

I continued to do this for a few weeks. I can't say for sure what it was that finally convinced Henry that it wasn't cool to kick and roll in your own feces but for the past few days he's been great. I no longer feel my blood pressure rising when I hear those unmistakable grunts coming from my little boy.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I think I must be compensating for last year where lack of space and not even being home for several weeks over the holidays made it next to impossible for me to deck out my halls. So yesterday, we found the storage bin, got rid of the spiders that had found their way into our tree, and turned on only a token round of Chipmunks Christmas music and started trimming away. I feel like it's been forever since I've really dived into the spirit of the season. Hopefully I can keep this momentum going.

Parent of the Week Photo

Without an explanation, I'm sure social services would be at my door step in no time. But please believe me when I tell you that the hand you see in the above photo is a loving and gentle hand. One that is in the process of urgently taking the mousse away from the unknowing child and not offering him that potentially dangerous (but necessary) hair care product as a mid-afternoon snack.

And also please believe me when I also tell you that Henry has never himself, nor is accustomed to witnessing, the consumption of whipping cream from a can. I know, I see it too...he looks like a natural. I guess I can't speak for the times Mark watches him...but at least on my watch, he's clean.

D-O for the B-O

By the look on Henry's face, I probably should have taught him
how to stick the pit a little earlier.