Love & Logic...

So, this "Love & Logic" book has been talked about in several conversations held between my girlfriends and I. We all seem to have have unruly toddlers and soon to be preschoolers. We've heard this book has worked miracles and we're all itching to get our hands on it. So today, I took my VISA check card, headed to Borders, and vowed that even if this mystical book cost me $50, it would be give me back $100 + in happiness.

So in I marched. "Where is the Parenting Section please?" The nice lady, who seemed to know I was on a mission, pointed me towards the back of the store. I'm sure the "Parenting Section" was placed at the back of the store for a reason and I'm also positive that many parental breakdowns had to have occurred in this taboo section on a regular basis. But on I went...I scoured the shelves....nothing. I got down on my hands and knees...still nothing. And then. There it was! The only copy on the shelf! It frightened me that so many people needed this book to gain control over their children. It also frightened me that someone could swoop in behind me and steal the only copy on the shelf! So I grabbed it up and said a silent prayer: "God please let this help stop all the yelling in my house." And off I went to purchase my "Holy Grail."

Consider yourself warned Liam. I will soon know what makes you tick...what makes you un-tick, and how to get you to do what I want you to do without even asking you to do it! (insert evil laugh...muuuuaaahhh!). Game on short stuff.

The gym...

As many of you know, I've been working my tail off getting to the gym...It is painfully clear to me that I can slip back into my old habits if given the chance. Especially with all the Christmas cookies around! So after my last visit yesterday, I drove to the gym and realized I didn't bring my workout shoes. I drove home (18 miles), ate supper with my family and then drug myself back out into the cold. Yes, I went back out into the "deep freeze" even after I had cuddled up with Liam. I could have so easily said "screw it. I'll do better tomorrow." But I didn't. I drove another 18 miles, one way...and it felt sooooo good to put in the 4 miles on the treadmill...and I have to give myself a pat on the back because I'm succeeding. Not easy to do when motivation is low at times...but 'Here's to me!'

Collection of thoughts...

I have decided to start a collection of cute conversations Liam has with us...It amazes me what goes through his mind and he's only 3y/o! Here are a couple:

This morning:
Liam: “Momma. I don’t want a penis anymore.”
Me: “Why?”
Liam: “Because I just want to pee out of my butt like you.”
Me: “Well, when you’re outside you can’t pee on trees then. Daddy can, but I can’t.”
Liam: “I don’t care.”

Another conversation over a year ago:
Adam is in changing Liam's diaper and I hear the following conversation take place...

Liam: "I have a penis."
Adam: "Yes you do buddy."
Liam: "Do you have a penis?"
Adam: "Yes I do buddy."
Liam: "What does Momma have?"
Adam: "What do you think Momma has?"
Liam: "She has fur."

Oh lord...what am I in for.

Rosie Posie

Santa made a surprise visit to our house, about a month ago, and gave Liam an early Christmas present. Liam came home, immediately ripped of his pants "I have to pee sooooo bad" and headed to his bathroom. Inside the bathroom, in a large pet porter, lay Rosie. Tucked on top was a note from Santa that read:

Dear Liam,
I found this kitty and was hoping you could give her a good home. Her name is Rosie and she loves to be pet and carried around. She's a really nice girl that needs lots of love."
See you soon...
Love,
Santa

In the nude, Liam opened up the pet porter and out crawled the newest addition to our family. "Momma, can we keep her?" Of course I already knew the answer but to put on a good show the 3 of us "talked" about the huge resposiblity Rosie was going to be. "I can take care of her. Please?! I love her so much already!" Rosie had us at "hello."

Come to think of it...Liam never did go back and pee...at least for the next hour...

To Infinity and Beyond...

This past weekend Adam and I took Liam to see Disney Live Rockin Road Tour. As soon as we stepped in the door, not only did they soak us for $75/ticket, they sucked an extra $75 on all the miscellaneous crap every little boy has to have. We got him this twirling disco ball that had stars on it that lit up...I was sure it would either be wrapped up in my hair by the end of the show or Liam would be blinded by a stray star. Then there was the high gloss Buzz Light Year, with removable wings, that needed to be tucked into Liam's grip. And then let's not forget the photograph with a fake Mickey and Minnie and the snow cone with souvenir cup. Things got expensive.

I think my favorite quote from Liam that day was "We're coming Handy Manny! We're on our way!" He said this repeatedly on the way up to the Excel Center...Even though Handy Manny didn't make an appearance, as promised, we did get to see Woody and Buzz Light Year. He thought Buzz was "da bomb" and didn't mind that he wore purple tights and a fake backpack...one day it will bother him as much as it bothered me.

But Liam loves theater and I have to say that each of us adults (mom and dad went as well) even got into the show. It was fun to see the characters all dressed up, dancing, signing, and putting on a "talent show" for us. It felt magical and I got that warm fuzzy feeling in the bottom of my stomach knowing that we had gotten Liam the perfect gift for Christmas. He danced, he clapped, he smiled, and shouted...All good practice for the day he turns 21...

Some day, we need to plan a family trip to Disney World. I think he'll faint if he actually gets to touch Mickey.

I'm Ready...

To get the hell outta here! I feel like I haven't had a day off in months, if not years and tomorrow can't come soon enough. Adam and I are ditching Liam and heading to Door County for a couple of days to enjoy our 4th anniversary...Will I miss Liam? Certainly. Will I miss my cats and the comfort of my own home? For sure. Will I miss the constant: "Mama. Mama. MAMA!" No. How about the sound of Alyce hacking up yet another fur ball? Can't say I couldn't live without it...So I'm outta here! I'm not looking back! I'm going on a great adventure with one of my best friends, and I'm going to allow myself to lose touch with reality...I might even throw back some hard alcohol and do some karaoke...whatever I'm doing it's going to be AWESOME...sooo...See ya on the flip side!

Let It Snow...Let It Snow...Let It Snow...

This morning Adam went to volunteer at the Community Table...he woke me up before he left and told me there was snow outside! Immediately Liam and I had to take a peek...both of us looked at each other, squealed, and threw our winter clothes on. Snowball fights (which weren't really snowballs because we had to scrape the snow off of the cars because there wasn't really snow on the ground) and sorry to say, Jakie the dog lost the fight. It was very fun this morning and I can't wait for more snow!!!! Makes me think Christmas is right around the corner!