The Poop Post

(I should probably preface this post with an apology for possibly - all right, definitely embarrassing my child in the future)

So it was inevitable. 

I can sense your excited anticipation of wanting to know what the heck I'm talking about...okay, maybe not, but I'll tell you anyways.

It was inevitable that I write a post about poop.  How could I not?  I'm a parent.  And as with a lot of other parents out there, poop can sometimes rule our lives.  It's been ruling mine for a while now.  For those without kids...well, you're probably not reading this blog, but if you are (glad to have you) and if you see kidlets in your future, let me just say...it will definitely for sure without a doubt could possibly happen to you.

Of course everybody's poop story varies somewhat, but all have one thing in common.  There's a lot of it and sometimes it seems like it will never end.

Have I lost you yet?

Anyhoo, our poop story is ongoing with our boys...we're forever cleaning someone's bum.  It particularly revolves around Big T, however.  Put simply, he holds it...or trys to.  If there was a category in the Guiness Book of World Records for poop withholding, Big T's name would be there, undefeated.  I've discovered that it's pretty common...especially with boys.  Other than the fact that it's always on our minds, it's frustrating because he was potty-trained pretty easily...really only took a day if I remember correctly.  We never had to night train him either.  In fact, I remember telling Hubby that we should save money on pull-ups and not use them at night because he never wet the bed! 

But it's the 'ol #2 that my 'lil man has a problem with.  He just does not want to do it!  And if there's a couple things I know about kids (or my kids) ... you can't make them eat and you can't make them poop. 

No amount of bribing ("I will take you to the toy store RIGHT NOW!") or encouraging ("Come on buddy, I know you can do it!") or forcing ("You ARE sitting on this potty") or ignoring ("Oh, you pooped?  I had no idea.") will make him go.  He's capable; he's done it before, but he just doesn't like it, plain and simple.  I really want him to get over this before he hits Kindergarten in September because afterall, kids can be cruel.

This has been going on for a good couple of years, but I'm happy to say that the other day, HE DID IT!  And, wow, was he proud...and I was proud...and Hubby was proud.  We were so proud that out came the camera (I know, gross, but tell me you haven't done the same thing) and the pic was emailed to Hubby at work.  (Sorry for ruining your lunch, babe.) 

But don't worry, I won't be uploading a poop pic here.  It's enough that I'm writing about it and will probably get chastised by Big T when he's old enough to read this.  But I've just gotta say...you would be shocked to see it.  For a kid who holds it in for a good week, there's no wonder it freaks him out.  Nothing that big has ever come out of me!  It's all I can do from letting out a blood-curdling scream and calling 911, but I've gotta keep it together for his sake.  (Are you getting a good visual?  Sorry.)

Wow, it's pretty shocking how much poop is involved in my day-to-day life.  Never would've thunk it.  And I've never talked so much about poop in my life...and to complete strangers.  Of course if the person I'm talking with is also a parent, they're not offended and they happily share their poop stories with me. 

And do you want to know the wierdest thing of all?  I'm actually interested! 

And in case you're interested, I've just typed the word "poop" 13 times. 

Ah, just another day in my life. 

Now, excuse me while I go clean some poop...14.

Speechless Sunday

Pay It Forward With Compliments

Paying it forward usually relates to good deeds, as in a good deed done for someone and then another done for someone else.

What about paying it forward with compliments?

I don't know what's come over me, but I'm really into giving compliments these days.  If I see something nice about someone or something, whether it be something they're wearing, something nice they've done or just a nice smile on their face, I don't keep it to myself.  I've just got to mention it...to them!  I just can't let the moment go by.

It's been happening a lot at work lately.  For those who've just tuned in, I work about 20 hrs a week at a local Starbucks so it's really an ideal place for connecting with people...in fact, it's part of the job.  About 85% of our customers are regulars so I actually enjoy seeing them, continuing conversations and just joking around with them. I actually can't believe I'm saying this as in the past there was nothing worse than customer service in my mind.  How things change when you need dental benefits!

Where was I going with this?  Oh, yah...compliments, not letting moments go by...

It all started one night when an older lady came in to work...I'd say she was in her late 60s, early 70s...and she was/is the fittest woman of that age I've ever seen!  At first I didn't say anything, just your basic chit chat, then she went over to put cream in her coffee.  These days I really take notice of someone (especially women) who are fit because I'm struggling with fitness, wanting it to become a regular part of my life, yet not liking it all that much.

So I just HAD to say something to her.  I mean, she really looks great!  So I went up and asked her if she was a runner.  Of course she said yes.  I proceeded to let her know how great I thought she looked and that she was what I aspire to be.  Well, at least aspire to look like.  She could be a crazy person for all I know and in that case, forget about it!  But I don't think so.  I think she's a sweet and confident older lady who after spending years looking after the wants and needs of others, she now really cares for herself.  Something I struggle with daily.  She was so chuffed.  She thanked me for making her day.  She felt good and so did I.

It happened again not long after that...the same sort of genuine connection.  This time with a cute, old Greek lady (why they're all old ladies, I have no idea) who I started out talking about the weather with and ended up tearing up because of her thoughts on the awfulness of racism and how my darkest side is no more dark than her own, etc. She was so lovely and I told her so.

The compliments came back to me a couple nights later when talking with a guy about music ended up with him saying I was so much younger than he was, to which I asked him when he graduated from high school and I had 11 years on him!  He was generally taken aback and with widened eyes and a loud voice said (and I quote) "GET THE @#$! OUT OF HERE!"  Now that felt good..

My latest compliment came by way of  Bring Mommy The Vodka who gave me The Sunshine Blogger Award!

Thank you, Sarah!  Just when you think no one reads your blog...

And now for my acceptance speech (of sorts)...here are a few things you don't know about me:

1) I'm not much of a baker.  I tend to take the easy way out, opting for Duncan Hines before scratch.  These days I even make chocolate chip cookies from a mix 'cuz I can't have chocolate chips in the house or they won't make it to the bowl.

2) Dangerous Liasons with Glenn Close and John Malkovich is my all-time fave movie.

3) I knit...well, I can knit.  Every year I want to take a sock-making class and knit everyone socks for Christmas.  Maybe this year will be the year!

4) I used to be quite shy until one day I decided enough was enough and I was missing out on too many things.  It was as simple as that.  Now if I can only do that with exercise!

5) I like lizards and geckos and wouldn't mind having one as a pet.

Now I'm going to "pay it forward" and give a shout out and the Sunshine Award to some blogs that I enjoy.

1) The Mommy Therapy
2) The Surburban Princess Diaries
3) Wendy Can't Cook
4) Buried With Children
5) Hair Bows & Guitar Picks
6) The Good, The Bad, & The Family

So there you have it.  Wow, that was a long post.  And it only took 3 days to get done.  Wonder why that is? 

Also, make sure to check out these fabulous blogs by these fabulous mums! 

Day 1 of Summer!

Aaaah, it's finally here.  The 1st day of summer!  And the weather has cooperated FINALLY!  For those who don't know, we live on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada.  A Beeeeauuuuutiful place, but a rainy one!  We've had teaser days here and there where it looked like summer was upon us, but they were always short-lived and rarely were they more than one day in a row.  I've been saying for a while now that I want to complain that it's too hot!  (Not that I ever complain...wink, wink)

But today was beach weather!  And we headed down to it (the beach that is), with buckets, shovels, towels, sunscreen, umbrella and snacks in tow.  Basically anything "I" could carry because unfortunately my boys have yet to see the value in helping their mommie out.  (Helping Mommie = Treats!)

But I digress.

I LOVE SUMMERTIME!   I love everything about it.  In no particular order:

I love the morning when I can go out on my patio in my pajamas and enjoy a cup of coffee and all I can hear are the birdies chirping (because the boys are on the iPad and iPhone)

I love long, hot summer days going to the beach, my toes buried in the sand, the boys playing in the water.  The dirtier, stickier and the more tired they are the better because it means that they had a good time.

I love warm, summer nights with warm breezes, having a bbq with friends and a cold glass of wine or (better yet) sangria by my side.

I love bare feet and flip-flops and lovely painted toes!  Even though my feet take a beating every summer and are pretty much dirty all the time, anything more restricting than flip-flops or crocs is a definite no-no.

I love fresh fruit - especially watermelon!  I also tend to eat better in the summer, wanting crisp veggie salads and some salmon cooked on a bbq!  MMMMMM!

ICE CREAM! (I love it) 

I love day trips with the boys to local waterparks with their buddies, spending the day together and having a picnic.

I love how positive I feel.

I LOVE beach chairs.  I'm kind of obsessed with beach chairs.  I want a new one every year.  I should own a beach chair shop.  I'm always disappointed if I don't bring one along with me when I go to the beach and I always want to know where people got theirs.  My BFF in California always has great beach chairs and I'm always jealous of them.

Here's my current beach chair:

Found this near a dumpster...can't believe someone was throwing it away!

Little K and what he loves about summer!

I could go on and on. 

But what about YOU?  Tell me what YOU love about summer.

Big Man On Playground

Big T was the Big Man on Campus Playground today.  It was pretty cute actually.  When we first got to our local park there were quite a few kids there, mostly younger than my "Big" Big T.  Pretty much as soon as we arrived, Big T took out a few of the select Hot Wheels that he brought along with him, and pretty much as soon as he did that, he was swarmed by some other car enthusiasts.  This at first made him pretty anxious, screwing up his face and high-tailing it away from his pursuers.  But seeing as they were younger than him, they didn't get his blatant oh-so-subtle hint and kept on going after him...and if they did understand, they didn't care.  Gotta love their persistence!

Perhaps it was the 'ol "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude...or perhaps Big T finally stopped freaking out enough to recognize that these kids weren't trying to take his cars from him but just wanted to compliment him on his fine taste in automobiles, but he finally stopped and basked in their admiration of him and his stuff.  He told them what makes and models his cars were...told them how many he had at home.  He let them marvel at his brand-spankin' new Lightening McQueen runners and "Oooh" and "Aaah" over his McQueen t-shirt.  A couple of them came over with their Mom, wanting to know his name and if they could show her his stash and maybe even check out his bike.  He was very patient and sweet to all the 'lil guys and let them hold his cars and tried to teach them all about drifting, etc.  Things every wee lad should know.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who worries thinks about and hopes that their kids will have the confidence they need to deal with their peers and all that's coming their way when they get to kindergarten and beyond.  Big T is usually pretty confident in social situations, but he does have moments of angst, which always sort of breaks my heart.  I think we'd all like our kid to be popular, but also kind. 

Today my baby big boy was both. 


"So this is a Mustang, a Corvette, an El Camino ..."

"This is the way you drift ..."



Speechless Sunday

Desperately Seeking Willpower

“I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it”  - Mae West

Love this quote by Mae West.  Though when she said it, I highly doubt she was referring to this:

I've been bad.

And it tasted sooooo good!

I tell ya, when I was single and kid-less, I had willpower to burn.  So what is it about being a stay-at-home mom that makes me lack it so badly?  There are some days, like today, when I just simply cannot and actually do not want to resist temptation.  And it's not because it was a particularly trying day today.  In fact, it was a pretty good one, what with Big T having his 'lil preschool graduation ceremony, playing in the park, lunch with friends and a gorgeous sunny day (finally!), and the boys getting along for the most part.  All was as it should be. 

So why I just had to have peanut butter cups is beyond me. 

Some questions simply can't be answered.  And sometimes you've just gotta go with the flow. 

Don't resist...

Don't deny...

Don't regret...

...and most importantly...

Don't buy more than one pack!