Boy or girl?

Leaving proof

Remember this post?

I kept my word and played with the timer function on our camera. And I am so glad I did.

As the mom, and chief photographer, I am not really in many pictures. And, usually, in the midst of the event, I don't want to be. But after the fact, when I'm flipping through the pictures, I'm pretty bummed that it looks like I wasn't even there.

So, last Wednesday, we had a gorgeous, sunny evening. And after eating our breakfast for dinner, I put my camera on auto, set the timer and got some (I think) pretty good shots.

But I think this one might be my favorite because Ben took it. Isn't it fun to see his perspective?

Egg in a hole

Wednesdays are breakfast for dinner at our house. 

Brian works his job as a police officer in Harrisburg, Ohio, so I pick up Ben from the sitter and we make a quick easy dinner. 

One of my go-tos for Wednesdays is "egg in a hole," something that I thought everyone knew about, until I mentioned it recently to a couple of different people and got quizzical looks. 

So here it is: Egg in hole. For each one, you'll need and egg and a piece of bread. 

Butter both sides of the bread, and cut out a circle from the center. 

Place the bread and the cutout into a hot pan and crack one egg into the hole. 

When the egg is set enough to turn, flip it and the cutout piece. Let the other side cook until the white is cooked but the yolk is still runny. 

Use the cutout for dipping. 

And enjoy!

As an aside, while I was preggo with Ben, I completely lost my appetite. It was miserable. I ate egg in a hole with steamed broccoli a lot because I figured it was a carb, a protein and a veg -- a quick, well-balanced meal.  

Potty training

First things first. I hear the thing now is to say that this is "potty learning." Pish-shaw.

Here's how potty training went down in my house.

First, begin reading Boys Potty Time every single night as soon as you possibly can. Convince yourself this book alone will train your child.

A few months after memorizing Boys Potty Time, begin collecting rewards. Buy Silly Bandz when they are full price because you are convinced your child is on the VERGE of being potty trained and these will be THE one and only thing that will motivate your child. Fill a grocery story bag with the. Kick yourself when the price falls to 25 cents a pack after Christmas... but buy more anyway.

Resist slapping every person who says, "He'll potty train when he's ready."

Get over it, then accept he will potty train when he's ready.

Any time your child wants to put on big boys undies, let him wear them. Brace yourself for cleaning up pee.

Encourage peer pressure from his peers at the sitter's house.

Now, your child has been on the VERGE of potty training for SIX MONTHS!

Convince yourself he actually will just do it when he's ready.

Begin showing your child the bag of prizes, then saying he can't have any 'til he goes pee pee on the potty.

Somehow work "potty" into every conversation. You will find yourself naming everyone you know who is potty trained (which, is everyone you know, by the way... and also includes characters on TV, Santa, the pets, etc.) and even making a big deal when your spouse pees on the potty. Resort to giving each other Silly Bandz.

Give up.

One week later, completely unprompted, unbribed and unperked, your child will demand putting on undies and march his own little butt to the potty and go. He'll then demand a Silly Bandz.

Your work is done.

The newly potty trained boy himself

Ben's Nuts

Tonight, I had planned on posting about our experience potty training. But, tonight, something far better happened. Thank goodness for cameras and for blogs, or memories like these would be forgotten...


Have I mentioned before that our family eats an insane amount of peanuts? Well, we do. We should buy stock in Planter's.


So tonight, as we waited for a friend to come by for dinner, Ben asked for some peanuts. And I put a few in a small bowl for him.


He decided to put them somewhere else.


Can you tell what that is? No? Now can you?


Still not sure (but maybe you have an idea...)?



That's right, I caught him eating peanuts directly out of his froggy potty.


More to come on potty training later...

Leave proof

I absolutely ADORE this blog, called Under the Sycamore.

The photography is beautiful, the ideas unique and attainable, but most importantly, the blogger makes me think -- just when I need it most.

Most of you know that I love kids -- and if our resources were unlimited, I'd have a houseful. In my dreamy dreams I would:
- have the comfy, hangout house. Where everyone feels welcome to come in and open the fridge.
- have a pile of shoes at the front door -- my kids', mine and our friends
- have a car with a trunk full of soccer balls, lacrosse sticks and baseball bats rolling around
- hear laughter and feet stomping all the time
- always have room for one (or two or three) more at the dinner table

I don't want perfect. I don't need spic and span. My fridge will never be fully organized.

But I do want busyness and fun and laughter and, yes, I know that comes with dirt and boo boos and drama.

And that's what the blogger, Ashley, has accomplished.

And she also has style and and eye for photography. And in this post she reminded those of us who are always behind the camera not to be shy. And in this post, she shares how she makes sure she gets in the shot.

I putting her tips to work. Like, literally, as soon as I hit "publish," I'm busting out the manual to figure out that time thing-a-ma-jig.

Thank you, Ashley, for reminding me to leave proof.

Homemade laundry soap

A good friend of mine and fellow mommy-to-be is on a quest to make more of her household items ... laundry soap, cleaning supplies, deodorant, etc.


She raved about this soap -- and I've heard similar reviews online.


I love this recipe because:
-- there are only three ingredients
-- you can whip up a batch in less time than clipping soap coupons and picking it up at the store
-- it's hypo-allergenic


You'll need:
Fels Naptha Soap
Borax
Washing powder


Everything can be found in the laundry aisle. Trust me, they are there -- just hiding on the very top shelves and towards the ends. The basic formula is:
1 part Fels Naptha : 2 parts Borax : 2 parts washing powder



Grate the Fels Naptha (I used the grater blade on my food processor) and it made 2 cups of grated soap.



Then add 4 cups each of the Borax and washing powder. This is about 10 cups of soap.



Luckily, it all fit in this Ziploc container.Even though it said it held only 9 1/2 cups.




Add 2 tablespoons per load of laundry -- and boost with Oxiclean if you like.


Now, for the real question: how does it work?


Unlucky for us (but lucky for you) Ben was the sickest he's ever been this weekend. I'll spare you the details, but let's just say there was LOTS of laundry. It was so bad, I couldn't stomach rinsing some of the, uh, soiled, sheets. So, I tossed everything in the machine and said a little prayer.


The review: worked like a dream! And smells great!Let me know if you give it a try.