A Silver Star

Last night, we took a trip to the Allegan Police Department. Officer Mel Brummel offered Jacob a trip to the station when he completed his potty training.

We tried to get Jacob to wear his POLICE hat, he insisted on Georgetown Fire with the big pumper on it (from Uncle David - my brother).

Sergeant Boysen gave Jacob an official police silver star for his accomplishment (it's the real deal folks - cold metal not plastic). Jacob is wearing it proudly on his coat - on the other side of his Jr. Wisconsin State Trooper badge which he proudly showed our Allegan officers! Our city police didn't have badges to add to Jacob's little collection (Wisconsin State as mentioned, 3 different Allegan County Sheriff, and Novi Police). Sergeant Boysen explained that police offices get those stars for doing good things so Jacob had to keep on being a big boy and doing that big boy thing. I think the silver star made a big impression!

Playing fetch with Ty - the police dog in the hallway at the station. Officer Brummel is the K-9 handler for Allegan PD.

Sergeant Boysen, Jacob, Ty and Officer Brummel.

I was so proud of my little boy. Before we left, he turned, shook the officer's hands and said "Thank you for having me!"

Thank you Sergeant Boysen and Officer Brummel!

It's official - No More Diapers!

I've been holding off on this post - waiting to be proven wrong but, I think I can comfortably say:

WE ARE DONE WITH DIAPERS!!!

It started with Jacob's 4 year check-up. He had to #2 at Dr. Greene's. Jeremy went to the car to get a diaper. Jacob had been #1 trained since last spring/summer and I've been dreading #2 training. It seemed no matter what I tried, I couldn't get him to sit on the pottie. We tried the big pottie, 3 different training potties, a frog pottie, a folding pottie seat, even a training seat - Nothing worked. I was terrified Jacob would withhold so I didn't push it. Dr. Greene reassured me that if Jacob did try to withhold - he'd make sure he couldn't!

Jacob knew full well when he had to go and how to go. He was asking for "a diaper to poop in". We began telling him that if he wanted to poop in a diaper that he had to get the diaper and put it on. So he did.

We tried the rational approach first - bribery!

We began taking away "fun stuff". No more trips to the sheriff, the police department, the airport or the fire station. Our whole city knew that Jacob wouldn't #2 on the pottie. Our local police even bribed him with a day at the station if he'd go. My little mule, he still refused.

Every morning, Jacob would ask for a diaper. I finally broke down and told Jeremy - we're just going to have to take the diapers away. I'll deal with the mess. Really, it was me. I didn't want to deal with poop.

Friday, February 12 - Jeremy pulled all of the diapers out of the house. And Jacob tried to hold in his #2 and it didn't work. That night, he had an 'accident' in his pants and we all had a big talk about going on the pottie. Jacob again asked for diapers. He also wet his bed that night.

Saturday, February 13 - Jacob and Jeremy went to the pool while 11 women showered my friend Ember and her baby with gifts. Jacob did a #2 on the pottie at the pool and came home to do it again with cheers and high fives from 12 women! He was so proud of himself! (And thank you ladies for your help!) We put a diaper on Jacob that night - hoping to avoid a wet bed again. Shame on us, for Sunday AM, he'd filled that diaper.

We had one more wet bed on Tuesday night but, we now don't give drinks after 6:30/7PM and we make Jacob 'practice' right before he goes to bed. We have had a dry bed since!

Jacob has been using "I have to poop!" to his advantage...much like the boy who cried wolf. If he thinks Jeremy or I should be doing what he wants, he'll cry out "I have to poop!" and we come running. Jacob starts to giggle and says - "I don't have to." We're talking through our way out of it and he's getting better.

We did have an accident on Friday of last week. I'm not really sure what happened. If he was testing or what.

Now, at a little over a week and many high-fives, poopy dances, 'come look at my poop', and "I pooped on the pottie, are you SO proud of me?" etc. I think, we're finally there!

:)

He likes older women

Jacob is in LOVE. 

Her name is Amber.  She works with Jeremy as a server - and has for quite awhile.  She's about 21.  She's a cute little blond.  She's baby-sat for Jacob once before.  She's really sweet.  And very patient with her little admirer...though her boyfriend was a little jealous.  Thankfully, he was cured after learning that his competition was only 4 years old.

The obsession started about a month ago at Jeremy's Christmas party for work.  Jacob saw her and he asked us, "Can I have that?" and pointed to Amber.  He spent the rest of the night all googly eyed and shying away from her everytime she waved to him.

A couple of weeks ago, we went and had lunch with Jeremy and Amber was our server.  Oh my!  Everytime she'd come to the table, Jacob would bury his face and play shy.  Amber would leave, and he'd stand on the seat and yell for her or ask anyone walking by, "Where's Amber?" 

We went to have lunch with Jeremy this past Saturday and again, Amber was our server.  Of course, Jacob started asking that morning if Amber would be there.  As soon as we were in the door, he made a beeline for her!  Jacob warmed up a little bit this time - he showed her his Jr. Wisconsin State Trooper pin on his coat (thanks Kate!) - yet I did hear Daddy whispering to him, "Buddy, if you like her, you need to talk to her!"  Advice?!  Sheesh!  Already?

As we were getting ready to leave the restaurant, Jacob leans in to me all mooney eyed and says, "Mommy?  I think Amber is a princess!"

Before bed, we called Jeremy to tell him good-night, and my little Casanova says, "Daddy, I hugged Amber two times!"

This crush has been the cutest thing I've ever seen.  I hope she lets him down easy!

Blogs We Like

I added another blog that I like to my list this morning and I was remembering back to when I first started out here and I had like one blog listed that I read.  As time passed, I added more and more.  I started with Ember, and after a little bit of blog-stalking, I added Kate, Aubrey, and Amanda.  I still blog-stalk a few folks out there and I have a few blogs that I read which are published to the masses authored by people made famous by their blogging.  In reality, I enjoy us regular people telling the stories of day to day life.

I always wonder about blog-stalkers (people who read without revealing themselves).  I know they exist.  I have had a few people confess to it - I do it myself.  I always wonder what keeps them from coming forward.  For me, I always feel as if I don't know this person well enough to reveal myself.  Or what if they don't want me here?  I have a similar aversion to requesting friends on social networking sites - I guess it's called 'fear of rejection'.

I struggle with inviting people to read about me.  Really, we all want someone to read about us, don't we?  Everyone wants that hint of popularity.  I'm not ashamed to admit that I do.  I like when I say something and I get a big ole bunch of comments.  You can't tell me you don't!  I'm always too embarassed to say 'Here I am!  Read me!"

I have linked a few of my posts to said popular social networking site but, I typically take them down out of fear or nervousness.  You know - the "what-if" game.  What if I offend someone?  What if they think I'm talking about them?  What if they think I just did this for attention?  What if they think I'm the suckiest sucky writer ever?

It's always a huge deal at my house to find out when I have another reader or someone requests me as a friend.  I typically will call Jeremy right away, "Guess what?  Guess what?  I have a new reader/friend request!"  and we have a big discussion on who they are, how I know them (not that he's upset, he's simply curious).  Most often, it's taken as an opportunity to know a piece of my past.

It's an interesting list of people I enjoy reading about (including those I blog-stalk that don't know that I read them) and I am curious to see what happens to this list over time - who gets added or deleted?  How big the list gets.  And how many blog-stalkers I really have???

As requested - Recipes from Ember's baby shower

Summertime Punch

3 quarts water
8 tea bags
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 can (12 ounces) frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 quart chilled ginger ale

Bring water to a boil. Steep tea in water for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags and combine with lemonade concentrate. Chill. Gently stir in ginger ale just before serving. Makes 12 to 16 servings.
 
Lavender Egg Salad
 
Chop 4 hard-boiled eggs, mix in one ounce of mayonaisse, and one ounce of plain yogurt.  Add one teaspoon of curry powder, and one tablespoon of dried lavender buds.  Spread on bread slices and top with a green olive.
 
Radish Sandwiches on Zucchini Basil Muffins
 
Cucumber Mint Tea Sandwiches

1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, rinsed, spun dry, and chopped fine
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons cream cheese
6 slices of whole-wheat bread
a 3-inch length of seedless cucumber, cut into thin slices

In a small bowl combine the mint, the butter, and the cream cheese and stir the mixture until it is combined well. Spread the bread slices with the butter mixture, top 3 of them with the cucumber, distributing the cucumber evenly and seasoning it with salt, and top the cucumber with the remaining bread slices. Cut off and discard the crusts and cut each sandwich diagonally into quarters.

Wonderful Chicken Curry Salad

5 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 cup mayonaisse
3/4 cup chutney
1 teaspoon currey powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2/3 cup chopped pecans
1 cup seedless grapes, halved
1/2 cup choppen onion

In a large saucepan, simmer chicken breasts in water for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until cooked through. Drain, cool and tear into small pieces with a fork.

In a large bowl, combine mayonaisse, chutney, curry powder, and pepper.  Stir in chicken, pecans, grapes, and onions.  Chill (I recommend chilling overnight).

Ham and Apricot Preserve Tea Sandwiches

4 thin slices raisin-pumpernickel bread (I used regular pumpernickel)
2 tablespoons apricot preserves
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 Virginia Ham, thinly sliced

Spread one bread slice with half of the preserves.  Spread another slice with half of the mustard.  Fill with half of the ham slices and close.

Lemon Blueberry Scones (I highly recommend these!)

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup lemon yogurt (I used Yoplait lemon blast - I have also used Yoplait light lemon pie)
1 egg
1/4 cup melted butter or margarine
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (if using frozen, do not thaw before adding)

Glaze:
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients.  In another bowl, combine the yogurt, egg, and butter.  Stir into dry ingredients until moistened.  Fold in blueberries.  Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto a greased baking sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned.  Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm scones.


Enjoy!

Learning something new

I learned how to make candies!  And I like it!

A little teapot and teacup/saucer made from chocolate.  I was amazed at how easy these were to do...once I learned to steady my hands to do the flower with the little squeeze bottle (the flower involved melting 3 different colors of candy and pouring each one, letting it cool, then pouring the next, etc.) and then again in learning how NOT to overfill the molds.

I did some for Jacob's daycare (and shame on me for not taking more pictures) Valentine's Day party and I'm hoping to make some for St. Patrick's Day as well as Easter, July 4, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas...you get the idea.

Clothes and shoes

I hate clothes. I hate buying clothes, I hate trying clothes.  I hate clothes!  Don't get me wrong here - I'm not saying I like to be naked either!

I especially hate pants.  I hate dress pants, I hate jeans, I hate capris.  I really hate pants.  And shorts - shorts do not exist.

The only thing I hate more than shorts are dresses and skirts.  With dresses and skirts come pantyhose.  Pantyhose were created by Satan himself.  They had to be created by a man - I mean really...what woman would make a device of torture for herself such as pantyhose?

My job is business casual dress.  Everyday.  Ironing pants.  I can never find dress pants or like a chino that fit right.  Too tight.  Too short.  Too shiney.  Too droopy.  Too bell-bottomed.  Too dressy.  Too casual.  No belt loops.  Too many pockets.  No pockets.  Or the ever dreaded - stretch!  The only thing I hate more than pants is pants made from stretch.  They don't stretch!  They cling!  They cling to every place that I want to HIDE!

I have braved away from "Mom Jeans".  The high-waisted, tapered leg, pleated, stonewashed jeans of the past.  I am now low rise (and it's a struggle to keep the undies covered here), straight leg, boyfriend cut, and dark washed.  I'm proud of myself for making the leap.  Yet, I couldn't get away from the stretch, so I am learning to live with it.

I don't have much trouble with shirts.  Typically, long sleeve blouses don't come home with me.  The arms are never long enough.  Sweaters don't give me issues.  Knits are typically okay but, then again, I do tend to gravitate to the men's department where the cut seems to work better for me. 

I'm also struggling with clothing for Jacob.  I used to find a sale and stock up on the next size for him.  My strategy is beginning to backfire.  Did I tell you that I had to buy 3 snowsuits this winter?  4T, 5T and ended up in a Boy's 4/5.  I cleaned out his closet yesterday afternoon and have many more things for the yard sale/consignment/popular on-line auction site pile.  Did I mention that many of these items do have the tags still on them?  He's a big boy - then again, his brother is/was too.  It's all in the genetics, I guess.

We also cleared out Jeremy's closet in the past couple of weeks.  I had to replace the shirts he had with a TALL.  I was tired of watching him reach for something and seeing his belly or his back.  He'd always tried to compensate for the tall by buying bigger.  As we know, most times, bigger is just bigger.

And shoes - I am a sucker for a pair of Nike's anyday.  I bought a pair last month when I was in Manistee.  I found a pair on Friday that I am now in love with and I HAVE to HAVE them.  This makes no sense.  I said earlier that my job is business casual - that doesn't include tennis shoes.  Though I have found that in cooking, cleaning, etc. around my house, I do need to wear shoes with good support or my back will hurt for a week.    I simply cannot justify purchasing another pair of tennis shoes.  (but, I really want them!)

Jacob has the littlest feet.  I swear his feet never grow.  He's still in a toddler 9.  Now the sad thing is, it's February.  And I have to think about buying his sandals for summer.  Now.  I have to think about sandals, while shoveling the snow in my driveway, in February.  If I don't buy sandals for him soon, I won't be able to find anything cute come spring.  I can't get his clothes right - how am I supposed to by sandals that he won't wear for 5 months from now.

Jeremy is the typical man.  1 pair of black shoes, 1 in brown.  1 pair for his suit.  1 for mowing the lawn.  1 pair white tennys, 1 pair of boots, and 1 pair of slippers.  And he'll keep these until either I throw them out or decide that they might as well be white patent leather with a giant buckle for they're so old - or they smell so bad I can't be in the same room with his shoes.

...to be so simple.

Momma's got a new toy!

I have always wanted a food processor. 

I had a little mini chopper thing once.  It died.  Something about a 2 cup capacity and trying to jam a whole head of shredded cabbage into it.  There was some smoke and hint of a burnt rubber smell in the air.  And then nothing.

I finally purchased a real food processor.  It arrived yesterday.  I even paid to have it shipped overnight!  So not me!  It's not like the Grand-daddy of all food processors but, it'll certainly do the job.  Meaning it just might fit that whole head of cabbage in the bowl. Considering the extra large loader chute and 14 cup capacity (AR, AR, AR), I think it'll do.

I can't wait for this summer - to make fresh homemade salsa with tomatoes from all my little farm stands.  To make my own coleslaw (did you know I really like cabbage?).  And hummus.  I keep thinking of all the things I can do with my new toy...

For fun

Puppies!

There has been a lot of talk about puppies here at Random thoughts.

We've tried on a few dogs.  First there was Jack, a beautiful Golden Retriever from the Humane Society - with a SEVERE separation anxiety disorder.  Yeah, the dog, was on Prozac.  He ate, and I mean ATE the screen off of our window.  Metal screen.  He ATE it!   Jack is now living with a wonderful grandma who is home most all of the time.  Then came Murray, a little terrier mix from a 'friend' of ours.  He was too clingy for her liking.  Murray was a teeny thing.  Only 9 lbs.  Murray didn't like Jacob.  He started spending all of his time upstairs, hiding from the baby.  Then the snapping started.  Murray is now the king of the castle, living with the parents of a gal that Jeremy works with.  We've overnighted a couple of dogs for the foster my sister volunteered with - and neither of them fit us either.

We're not traveling as much this year.  We're spending most of our time around home.  Now is a good time for a dog.  Jacob's 4.  He'll enjoy having a puppy now.  We'll enjoy him with a puppy now.

We bribed Jacob with a puppy to poop on the pottie.  It didn't work. 

We decided to get a Lab.  My brother is on his second female (Precious - black, and Daisy - golden), my sister Cindy, just lost her golden male - Skip and she's always had Labs (until she changed to Goldens).  My dad had them for hunting.  Call it a family thing.

We decided to get our own dog - a puppy.  We know that there are plenty of animals needing good homes in pounds and Humane Societies all over this country.  We know that type of dog, doesn't work for us.  Not because of the dog - it's the owner.  We seem to be magnets for undisclosed issues with these animals.  I don't want to get schnookered into that again.

We're not out to breed and make money off of puppies.  We'll spay/neuter at the appropriate age. 

We're (and by "we" from here on out, I mean "Me") debating a little over male vs. female...though I'm leaning towards a girl.  Really, I'm the only girl in our house, I need a relief from the testosterone!

We're also debating black or yellow.  I wanted chocolate but, at DOUBLE the price?  Nevermind!

I have a name for her.  I guess, I made that choice.

I don't want a new puppy in the winter.

Good news - the breeder we chose (and we have our reasons for choosing them) had a new litter of pups yesterday.  Mommy had 8 babies, 2 black females, 1 black male, 3 yellow females, and 2 yellow males.  They'll be available sometime in March.

I guess, I'm finally ready to admit it - I want a puppy!

Am I crazy?

As done as it's going to get...

for now.  I still need to paint and prime all the white but, there just isn't enough time before Valentine's day to get to it.  It's just going to have to do! 

The first thing Jacob said when John was done was, "I wanna get naked and play in the water!"  And he did!