Potty Training Boot Camp?

At 6 :15 this morning, breeze blowing in my face, leftover rain clouds briskly rolling overhead, I couldn't help but feel exhilarated. I was out running, and wow, it felt good. I got back home, and felt more motivated then I had in days. So, I tried a new egg frittata recipe for the kids, from one of my new favorite web sites (weeliscious.com) and played with Jules for a little while. All seemed GREAT. This is the way to start a day, I thought! Then life began and no one would eat their yummy breakfast, Nate refused to go potty (kicking and screaming as I attempted to bring him to the bathroom) and then finally, 15 minutes later, he peed on the floor. And then Juliana bit Nate. Ohhhhh, can I please go back outside and start this day over again or at least run away for a little while?

So I have had it with the potty issue. We have been working on this for about a year now (he is three now) and I have decided that this is the do or die week. Okay, maybe that sounds a little harsh, but I am not buying any more pull ups. Not. One. More. (Please let me stay true to this). There is no more TV (for the time being) as it appears to be the biggest culprit of distraction for him. I will set a timer to go off every hour so that neither one of us gets too carried away and forgets that this is the PRIORITY this week. Any advice from all of you seasoned potty trainers?

Please pray for me, and of course, for Nate too....we really need it!!!!

Kate

Air Dried Clothes? Come on, that's so 1800's....

Well, I have given a lot of thought to my last posts and I've started making some good changes around here. I am going to begin posting often about the improvements we're making, so I might be able to share some of the discoveries and ideas with you! If there is something that you are doing that you would like to share, please do so! I am keenly interested in your Eco-friendly methods!


One of the biggest changes that I've made has been to stop using the dryer, unless necessary of course. Oddly enough, because of the unusually WARM temperatures (okay not so unusual) here in middle Georgia, our clothes, when hung outside on a drying rack are drying in about 30 minutes time! I have been pleasantly surprised to find just how much I can fit on our drying rack- just a small wooden one. In addition, I was afraid things would come out stiff and wrinkled. But so far, they have come out soft and not too terribly wrinkled. I did purchase some of Seventh Generation's fabric softener). If I have to iron, then so be it. In the mean time, I am contributing to a more Eco-friendly way of life, AND saving our family some of that super expensive energy derived oil! In all honesty, I can't believe I haven't done this before!

Click here to print off valuable coupons for Seventh Generation goods. They have products that range from baby wipes (use em!) diapers, cleaning supplies, detergents, and other household goods like toilet paper, paper towels and trash bags.

Hope you're well!
Love Kate

Green Living!

So in all of my mass concern and confusion, I sought to take a ten minute break and read a magazine...and wouldn't you know! The first thing I saw was this great article about living a better eco-smart life! I then came across this woman and her methods. Check this out, you'll be just as impressed and motivated to institute some changes as I am!

http://www.gorgeouslygreen.com/

Please listen to my heart speak....

After watching the nightly news last night, as Pete and I often aim to do, I was suddenly overcome in a way that I haven't been before. A sense of sadness that I haven't felt suddenly crept into my being and took hold of me. Sure, in all of my 34 years, I have seen many horrific world images, heard and read hundreds, if not thousands of stories about the incredible suffering and wrongdoing that occurs throughout our country and our world and have been very saddened by all of these things and more. But tonight, as they spoke of the equally awful events...Zimbabwe's rigged elections, and it's people being beaten and brutalized into voting for the current president....Issues of horrific child rape....and an environmental concern, our climate getting so out of control that a new study proves the outcomes to include life threatening changes in our ever-suffering world: Severe draught, starvation, rising ocean levels, climbing temperatures, and intensifying storm systems, are all just a small part of what the future holds for us, our children and so on and so forth. Then I read my friend Liz's blog and saw this....
Oh, how true you were, George Carlin!



And of course, there is the issue driving everyone (no pun intended) literally crazy....the never-ending, rising gasoline prices. Our insane addiction to oil has actually doubled over the past 30 years. That's it...just 30 years. In 1960, we only relied upon a small 30 % of outside oil sources, and now, today, we depend upon a whooping 60% from other countries. What are we doing? How did we get here and why can't we stop?



So, here I am feeling this intense sadness. It is the realization that I have brought two children into this world, who are completely unknowing, unaware of what their bleak future holds. I know this is shaky ground to walk on here. And in ABSOLUTELY NO WAY am I saying that I regret the decision to have had my beautiful children, only that I feel like we are continually doing them and all others an incredible INJUSTICE. I know that because they live in the land of opportunity, their future will most likely be brighter then other children's in other areas of the world. Yet they will still be faced with the dilemma of solving the inexcusable problems and dilemmas that we have helped and continue to help create for them.

Today as I write this, I feel a sense of anger accompanying the sadness. I am so angry that we live in such a naive and uneducated society, where it is always me, me, me. There is so often a sense of entitlement and laziness. I too, am guilty of acting this way on occasion. But I know that it can't continue, and today is the day that for me, it needs to stop. In order for me to travel into the future of our children's lives without a guilty conscious, it has to stop. No more excuses.

I want to ask any of you who are reading this (if there are any!) to stop here and contemplate what I've said and think about your impact as well. What changes can you make to help prevent the consequences our children will face due to our living so recklessly?

For me, I know that there are a few simple changes I can add to the ones I have already made. I can do anything and everything I can to recycle whatever I am able in this recycling-challenged community. And more importantly, I can begin to be more conscious about the products that I buy and what kind of packaging they come in. I can limit my driving time and gasoline use. I can raise the air conditioner temperature- having it set at 79 degrees is still way cooler than it is outside! I can try to buy more local products. I can ditch the chemicals under my kitchen sink and use more natural products. I can stop running the dishwasher every day! I know there are a ton of other things I can add to my efforts and today I am going to begin my mental list and get going on making them habitual.

Most importantly, I need to start teaching my children that these and many, many other life/planet saving changes are the very necessities that will help ensure that their future is a successful and happy one.

If you made it to the end, then I thank you for taking the time to listen and hear me out. I only hope that the opening of my mind and heart has and or will help to inspire you to do the same! Share your comments with me! I am really interested in what you have to say!

Thanks again, Kate

Luck or what!

So, today must be my lucky day....

While sitting in the dentist chair about to have a cavity filled, the dentist takes a good look at the x-ray and says, you know, this isn't as bad as I originally thought it was!

Therefore, NO novicane needed and just a tiny bit of drilling...who (in that position of course) could ask for more?!

Now I am waiting to see what else will go so greatly my way today!!! Maybe Pete will surprise me by walking in the door tonight with Japanese take out...okay, I know that's kind of pushing it....

Kate

Peanut Butter Head

Why is it that EVERY time Jules has any peanut butter she insists upon spreading it all throughout her hair. Seriously, every. single. time!!!! Must be a new trend that this old mom isn't quite cool enough to know about.....

Saving A Baby Bird & the ABC's

Betcha you'd never see all of this going on at the same time anywhere else!

I am happy to say that the baby bird was once again accepted back into his nest and grew up to be a strong bird who eventually (and thankfully) left my hanging fern on his own accord.

Lesson Learned

If putting your child's stroller on the roof rack while traveling this summer, don't even think about hitting the highway unless it is covered with lots and lots of plastic or cloth!!!!!

Yesterday, I spent about an hour cleaning about a thousand dead bug skeletons off of my beloved baby's stroller....not fun....

The Pressure is on!

I have always been a tad bit of a procrastinator, okay, maybe, a lot of a procrastinator. But I swear, most of the time, I still get everything accomplished and sometimes even better, as I think (stress the word think) that I work well under pressure. I finished classes in May, but haven't touched my thesis in two months (Krista don't be disappointed in me!) I started my first (hopefully not my last) novel oh, about five years ago and only have about 40 pages written- I haven't even looked at it in about ten months, maybe longer. And these things are supposed to be a big part of who I am...a big part of me and my ability to express through my writing...and yet, I choose to sit here and type this instead! I guess it is because I feel daunted by the overwhelming task of getting back into those two things. I would have to spend hours re-acquainting myself with characters and time lines, ideas and goals. But I know I need to do it. So, I am going to try and set some new goals for myself. The thesis has to be the priority, so I will try and get back into it this week, no, I will get back into it. Any suggestions from those of you who are always one step ahead of the game (Jenny/Krista!) on helping to set up a schedule for me?

I need help. Badly.

Thanks, Kate

Revived, once again!

Revived once again! We arrived home to Georgia last night after spending several days in Raleigh NC visiting with my mom, Kara and Robin. We had soooo much fun! Of course the main reason we went up there was to participate in the Susan G Koman Race for the Cure (breast cancer) and it was awesome!!!!!! I ran in the 5K race and completed my best time at 35 minutes. It was an exhilarating run as we raced through charming neighborhoods with hundreds of people out on their lawns shouting words of encouragement and spraying us with much appreciated hoses! After the run, we all participated in a one mile walk. Overall, I think everyone in my family, including Robin, raised a total of $500 toward the $2 million raised in Raleigh alone! Absolutely amazing!

Father's Day was really nice as well. Church, and a day at the park, riding the carousal and kiddie boats!

We also had a wonderful time visiting with everyone. The kids enjoyed the pool and we enjoyed simply being in a community with diversity and culture. It felt good to be getting more from life and to be enriching our children's lives as well.

As I'm sure everyone else is experiencing, we came home to dead grass! Ugh....summer in the south is brutal!

I'll write more...hope you are all well!

Love, Kate

Beautiful

I had to share this amazing shot I took of the sky last night. There was an intense lightening storm rolling in, and as you can see from the picture, I literally mean rolling. Watching this happen helped me to remember the immense power and awe inspiring creation of God and nature....

We are off to NC tonight to visit with my mom and Kara. Wish me luck in the Race for the Cure Saturday...and a special thanks to all of you who donated!!!!!

Kate

Nate's 3rd Birthday Party!

Video (kindly) created by Michael Jordan!

Nate's birthday party

We celebrated Nate's 3RD birthday yesterday! With the exception of the almost unbearable heat, iIt was so much fun! Fortunately, it was a water/beach themed party, so the kids had the chance to cool off in the kiddie pool and run in the really cool sprinkler I found. Nate had such a great time playing with everyone, and loved the hats that the kids got to make. I think everyone really enjoyed themselves.

I can't believe my little boy is about to turn three! Wow, has it gone by fast....it just feels like yesterday that I was lying in the hospital holding him for the first time. He has really blossomed into an incredible and (dare I say) sweet little boy...lucky us.

Chocolate Ants?

Nate at a "Bug" themed birthday party this weekend. Playing an "ant-eating" game with chocolate sprinkles, Nate says to me so very matter of factly: "Mama, these aren't ants...they're chocolate...."

Appreciating Life

So, it's been a while since my last post...life has kept me busy, which is always a good thing! This past weekend we had a wedding and a birthday to attend and had ourselves a great deal of fun playing games (okay, did that just at the birthday party) and of course gorging on cake! Nate ran around telling the girls how much he loved them and Jules, just tried to get anything and everything dirty all over her new white dress. We really did have a lot of fun though.

On Tuesday, we visited our dear friend Stephanie who has suffered from a severe debilitating illness since birth. Our friend Alice has been a caretaker of Stephanie's for many years and she introduced us to her when we moved into town a few years ago. Stephanie is my age and was told that she would not live past 18 years old. She is now 34 years old. Meeting Stephanie was a life changing event for me. I first went to see her because my friend Alice asked me to, telling me how much it would mean to Stephanie. But over the course of the years, it has turned around. I no longer go and see her with a sense of pity, or with the attitude that it is me who is giving of time and goodwill. No, it is in fact Stephanie who does this for me. She lets me into her life, and she provides for me and unbelievable amount of strength, and pure, simple love. With every visit we have, I feel overjoyed at the pure innocence and love of life (in whatever capacity she possesses) just emanating from her. Although she cannot speak, her smile is big enough to speak a thousand words. She literally makes me appreciate life in the greatest way I have ever known. And I feel so lucky to be able to share her with my children. I truly wish everyone out there could visit with this rare and incredible human being.

Stephanie, thank you.