Potty Training to Potty Mouth

With a 2.25 year old & almost 5.5 year old, these are the milestones we are experiencing in our household.
Warning: post contains topics that many parents are used to discussing with benign frequency that non-parents might not find as nonchalant, mundane or remotely interesting. Some parents don't either! : )

I don't know if we're any earlier, definitely not later, with potty training with child #2. She has been talking about bathroom activities for months now; Jacqueline seems very interested which is part of the deal. We have friends/acquaintances with similar age, both genders, with potty trained children. However, consistency & practice is a big part of success. She has peed & pooped a few times in potty chair, toilet with surprise, & of course on the floor. Lately we have instituted the commando routine - saves steps, time, diapers. Jacqueline walks around inside & outside (back of house) wearing only a shirt. It's quite funny to see.
We all get SUPER excited, hoping it will continue to happen more frequently. PLEASE!

I guess what comes out, must have a beginning. Some of you might have seen Jai's FB post recently about Julia's dropping of the "F bomb." Yep, it finally happened. Personally I am glad it wasn't on my watch. If you know me, you know I enjoy that word. Until recently I could still say it if I only was around Jacqueline. Now I must confine it to my car when I am alone; occasionally if I am out with a friend & no children are around, it is an option. I didn't witness it, only heard Jai's description. He said once she used it incorrectly (or out of context). The other time she used it correctly in reference to her sister. "You little f ... " Yikes! The horror! Seriously not cool.

However, the comments/responses on FB were kind of funnier. I definitely don't want her to use that language until she is an adult. : ) Jai talked with her & explained that it is not appropriate, but it sounds like he didn't give it too much attention. It is a great opportunity to talk about behavior expectations & also what happens at home versus other places. We don't like her to use the words "stupid" or "hate." Other families might not have an issue with those words. We have conversations with her about body parts, food, skin color - what she hears, sees, thinks.

No doubt some of it is impacted by school attendance, but we saw similar kind of issues when she started going to Parent Day Out 2 days a week. Will she say it again? Probably. Lately both of the girls' favorite word/phrase is "darn it" ... do you know why? Jai & I say it now because we cannot say the other phrase. Do I like it? Not really, but it is dang funny to hear a 2 year old say it.

EW Bullseye

I love EW ... Entertainment Weekly. Jai got me a subscription soon after we got married, probably for my birthday, so I've been getting it for 8 years now probably.

I love reading most of it, especially since having children, as it is something quick to look at & pick up later & not be lost & confused ... like I am experiencing while reading my current books.

Anyway, I like the Star News best - wedding, babies, court issues, deaths even.
I am a closet star stalker. : )
I also like TV info, movie reviews, books that are popular.
1 favorite is back page ... Bullseye which is sharp sarcasm usually.

April 4 issue was spot on.
#OMGood Wife
So sad & devastated like everyone about Will Gardner's death.
Also sad that yummy Josh Charles is no longer being on show. JC, what is your next gig?

Then this was next best.
Next to photo of Lena Dunham from "Girls"
"Sorry Hannah, but at a time when lead characters are getting killed off their shows in the middle of the season, the possibility of unexpected adventure in Iowa does not a cliff-hanger make."
Uh, yeah, not even close to a cliff hanger!

Another favorite from 4/4/14 issue!
Next to photo of KB in his "Footloose" suit
"Ageless Kevin Bacon's dance performance on The Tonight Show celebrates the 30th anniversary of Footloose his deal with the devil."
 I actually saw this clip! Hilarious!

Texting 101

You know we don't text or didn't until recently. I don't know exactly why I changed my mind. Paranoid, impersonal, awkward social skills - all issues with texting. Too many police procedurals! Not sure why I think my messages are that interesting to be subpoenaed. I have email & a blog. I write a lot more in both of those mediums. Convenience factor alone makes texting awesome. Such fast & immediate communication.

Spring break trip to Atlanta on March 21 is when I activated the service - it was perfect timing.
Best decision I ever made!

QUITE a few people didn't understand what they were seeing when first text from me appeared! : )
"I choked on my lunch!"
"I almost fell down."
"I had to sit down!"
"WTF"

OK - the numbers!
I looked at our account today, wasn't looking for info about texts,but it was right there.
Crazy numbers!

Jai = 250 texts
Susie = 200 texts
TARA = 450 texts

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again BEST decision I ever made!

True Detective - 8 Episodes in 1 week

We did it. .We saw all 8 episodes in less than 7 days. Maybe it doesn't seem so hard for you single people or couples without kids, but with 2 small children, working all week, it is not an easy task.

Actually we didn't watch any episodes 2-3 days during week for various reasons so it was a race to get them watched by Sunday's deadline. Also these are HBO episodes so a full 55-59 minutes long, no 40 minutes like network TV.  We watched THREE on Saturday evening! THREE! That is like a VERY LONG movie. Thank goodness for PNO!! : )

OMG! So intense! I don't understand people going into dark, creepy places WITHOUT back up.
Come on! You know that is not smart. No way! No way! Not going to do it! I had to get up & leave the room a few times, I couldn't stand the fear. : )

Matthew Mc. & Woody H - y'all are some amazing actors. Good stuff!

No monkey, just books.

Last year I would tell people that Jacqueline wasn't as interested in books as Julia had been at the same age. Well, chalk that up to a flawed memory. Jacqueline wasn't interested yet...

I just asked "Jacqueline, where are you?"

From across the house she says "I'm reading my book."

Despite her "baby" and stuffed monkey the item she brings into her parents' bed is a stack of books. 1am or 2am I hear her pitter patter into my room, around to my side of the bed, she waits, tosses her books on the bed and then climbs in. Julia never did that.

Jacqueline quotes begin

Oh some good times are coming! These are priceless.

Over past 2 weeks (3/30-14-4/5/14)
"My new toothbrush" (even though it's not really new like yesterday, more like new a few weeks ago!) - heard 10,000 times a day
"my flip flops" (now that the weather is nice, she can wear them & likes letting others know!)
"that is mine" (for everything!)
"That is MY blanket. Not yours, mine!"

These are heard/said often! OMG!
She understands possessive pronouns! : )

3/31/14
"5 minutes, Julia" while pointing at clock in morning - first time I heard it.
Jai said it has been said before.
Wonder where she's heard that phrase before?! : )

4/1/14
"Stop, Julia. Stop yelling!"
This is said while we are listening to Kelly Clarkson or "Frozen" songs in van every weekend.
Julia really does shout as she sings with gusto!

Storytelling on Skype with Susie
I don't know if Jai got video, lots of gesticulating & articulating.
There is little understanding on my part or Jai's or Susie's! : )
It was HILARIOUS! This girl is a character.

Today's favorite
"No, ma'am. 5 minutes."
Apparently we say that a lot.
Maybe we should start saying 4 or 6 minutes! : )

True Detective

Free watchathon on Comcast - we're going to watch all 8 episodes this week! : )

Last line in episode 1
Matthew McC's character
"Well, start by asking the right f*&$ing questions."
Love it!

The flashback scenes are some yummy MM - not a fan of his character's "current" look.
Suggestion, MM. Please shave AND cut the hair! You are so pretty otherwise.

SB 2014 Staycation

This year was filled with lots of home activities, some 2-4 hours driving excursions, no flights.
We went to Main NPL 4x (twice with me, twice with Jai). We saw "Sky Bear" puppet show.
We went to Zoo 2x - once it was packed, one time it was afternoon, overcast, nicely not crowded.

We went to Sewanee for lunch, then Atlanta for quick overnight to see cousin Grace.
We ate at the yummy locally sourced Yeah Burger!
Girls & I drove to Smith County & visited a friend I hadn't seen in a year.

Jai & I both got massages.
I had a pedicure with a girlfriend as well as lunch at a new place with a Groupon.
Brunch with local Moms Club.

Cheaper than 4 tickets to Arizona like last year, less stressful.
One big bummer was the crappy weather. Chilly & rainy! It snowed!

Good times overall! Looking forward to Summer Break & lots of pool time. : )

Zoovie Nights in 2014

If you don't know about this event, it is awesome, ESPECIALLY if  you are a zoo member.
It is FREE as part of your membership. Super BONUS!
Yes, we've seen 2 of the 4 movies, Julia actually has seen "Croods" also, but it doesn't matter.
The other activities are SO worth it plus you can bring in picnic dinner and/or snacks.  Overall FUN!
Downside is Friday evening as we tend to be tired, but it's not every Friday so suck it up, Tara!

I copied & pasted this info below straight from Zoo's event page. Kind of proud of myself. : )

Join us for a fun family night under the stars!
Zoovie Nights include games, inflatables, music, and after hour access to the carousel! When the sun goes down the evening’s feature film will play on a large inflatable screen, so pack a blanket and head to the Zoo! Zoovie night is included with Zoo admission (on day of event), $5 after 6 p.m. and free for members.

Movies:
April 25: The Croods
May 16: Madagascar 2
June 27: Epic
Sept. 12: Monsters, Inc.

Timeline:
6 p.m. - Sunset

• Inflatables, DJ and games on Festival Field
• Face painting and concessions on Festival Field (additional fees apply)
• Carousel open (additional fees apply)

Sunset

• Movie time!

In the case of inclement weather, please check the Zoo's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nashvillezoo) for up-to-date information. Weather-influenced cancellations will be made by or before 4:30 p.m. on date of the event.

**Zoo animal trails will close at 6 p.m. and guests must stay in Festival Field area after Zoo closing time.

Leave me alone Julia

Yep, those words were said by Jacqueline & clearly understood by me, which honestly is a challenge for me. Both Jai & Julia are good at deciphering what Jac says, way better than me.
I suspect that future blog posts will have more funny comments by someone other than Julia! : )
Jacqueline is a live wire, much more than Julia which is not what we expected.

Of course Jac's statement followed Julia saying almost same thing to her as they played on couch.: )

Soon after we had another confrontation with words between mom & sisters.
Julia was using crayons on new Hello Kitty lunch box my sister sent to ME.
Yeah, like that's going to happen! My sister's note specified it, but I doubt it will last.
I told Julia to stop doing that with crayons - "paper only."
Of course she didn't stop - annoyed by this independent phase of both girls yet I know it is healthy part of their development, I don't like "no."

Jacqueline chimes in & semi repeats my instructions to Julia - "stop writing."
Tara: "Listen to her" I say to Julia.
Jac: "Listen to me."

HILARIOUS!!!!!!

Cornerstone Indoor Playground

Awesome Sauce! This place is fantastic!

Here's a link to more info about this awesome place that is FREE!
http://www.nashvillefunforfamilies.com/cornerstone-indoor-playground/

We went for first time this morning. We met another friend & her son & saw a bunch of other neighborhood folks from local Moms Club. FUN!!!

They're open 10:30a-3pm on M-F (except W because they clean the playground). I mentioned it is FREE! Going on Thursday is good idea since it's the cleanest it will be, but the fact that it's shut down for a cleaning day & still free is AMAZING! Also so close to us, super convenient.

I'd heard about it last year when I joined the Moms Club, but never went for various reasons, mainly because I didn't think Jacqueline was ready, then Julia started school & I forgot about it. There's an area for crawlers or new walkers that would have totally worked. It's all contained so feels more safe than other play gym places like Jungle Gym at zoo. It is perfect for hot, rainy, cold days or just need a quick place to burn off some energy. 

Jac is wiped out, asleep. I hoped Julia would do the same ... nope, coloring, singing, making usual amount of noise which is annoying. I bribed her with promise of treat if she'd go in guest room & leave me alone for an hour. 

UGH! I love breaks, but I'll be ready to go back to work on Monday. : ) Jai will be too as he totally gets thrown off routine when I'm home. Forgets to clean, cook, thinks since another adult is around that I'll just do it. I do some, but routine is good for everyone so keep to it I say. I still make breakfast smoothie & toast every morning M-F regardless of breaks.

Totally on a tangent, but I'm going to finish my thought. I cleaned the house thoroughly on Monday - couldn't stand it! I still need to clean blinds. I also cooked dinner last night & a few times last week. He's so funny, doesn't like confinements, rules, structure if he doesn't decide, doesn't get hungry like 3 females in house. We're adults - come on!

Anyway, Jai was supposed to come with us as I had dentist appointment & I would meet them there. But he misplaced his wallet, long story, so I came home & we were late to meet friend. I really wanted him to know where it is & hope he'll bring Jac once a week as it'd be a win-win for both of them. I think she'd take longer naps if he ran her around more too. : )

End note - this place is a total winner. Go as soon as you can!

Regal Summer Movie Express

Mark your calendar & get ready for some awesome summer FUN!

Regal Summer Movie Express starts soon.  There are 2 movie choices each week on Tuesday and Wednesday morning for $1!  This is a favorite activity to do with our kids in the summer. After hot days at the pool, park, playground, time in a cool movie theater is a welcome reprieve.

Some suggestions:

• Go Early! Daycares, camps & preschools attend these movies too. Theaters fill quickly. Be there by 9:45AM.
• Concessions are open; everything is standard concession price. I suggest packing a small snack.
• It is usually LOUD. Kids outnumber adults; most are not quiet. We, like lots of parents, have brought a young child that we would not bring to a movie usually.  Expect lots of bored toddler behavior. Whew last summer with Jacqueline was an up & down occasion, luckily I went with Jai or another adult friend so they watched Julia. Hopefully she'll sit still longer this summer.

We always have a great time! It is a deal to entertain your kids for $1, worth inconvenience!

You can participate in Regal’s Summer Movie Express at these locations:

Regal Clarksville Stadium 16

Regal Streets of Indian Lake Stadium 16 and IMAX

Regal Green Hills Stadium 16

Regal Providence Stadium 14

Opry Mills Stadium 20 and IMAX

June 3  is the start date for all these theaters.  Here is a complete list. So excited!

Week	Title	Rating	Start Time
1	Hotel Transylvania	PG	10am
1	The Smurfs 2	PG	10am
2	Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2	PG	10am
2	The Pirates: Band of Misfits	PG	10am
3	Arthur Christmas	PG	10am
3	Despicable Me 2	PG	10am
4	Lego	PG	10am
4	Free Birds	PG	10am
5	Adventures of TinTin	PG	10am
5	Rise of the Guardians	PG	10am
6	Kung Fu Panda 2	PG	10am
6	Madagascar 3	PG	10am
7	The Croods	PG	10am
7	Epic	PG	10am
8	Turbo	PG	10am
8	Walking with Dinosaurs	PG	10am
9	Mr. Peabody & Sherman	PG	10am
9	Rio 2	PG	10am

Couch Slip Cover

Best invention ever. We have a new couch for only $40 (or something like that). When cover gets dirty, we throw it in washing machine & voila, clean couch again! Love it! : )

Bedtime Reading - never boring!

Last few nights it is this cool book about seafaring adventures (I don't know the exact title!) where you search for different items in picture on each page, different theme on each page. 4 of this, 12 of that, 2 of this creature, etc. It's like a brainteaser. I love it almost as much as Julia does! We go through phases where we read it often, then put it away for awhile. We haven't read it in a few months.

Tonight as we're looking for each item, she says "let me show you something." She turns the pages to end of book where there are the answers! Seems like cheating, but it can be challenging to find everything even with 2 sets of eyes searching. It actually is really helpful & still fun. We both want to find everything, she definitely is competitive like me! : )

Another adult tooth on its way

It has been 2 weeks since Julia lost her first baby tooth & grew an adult one.
Remember this is how she describes it! : )
It is still really cool to see evidence of this adult tooth, the little tooth buds.
I hope I'm this excited when it happens for Jac.

This time we rounding out the first week of Spring Break, at the main NPL this morning, eating an apple on our way to puppet show performance of "Sky Bear." Then we drove to Sewanee for lunch & onto to Atlanta so the tooth fairy visited her there at cousin Grace's home.

Julia said that Grace is the Tooth Fairy. Of course we responded with how difficult that must be for Grace to travel lots of places with her having a day job in Atlanta. Not sure if Julia believes us. : )

amusing tidbits

Usually I write some description of funny comments Julia makes. Typically that is what you might expect from my title. I also try to not comment much about work - you know, want to keep my job. : )

Recently I was looking at some page on MNPS webpage, related to HR or something like that I think, where there are images of different staff people, I assume who work for the district.

1. Man leaning on a counter, not sure if he's in a classroom, smiling at camera, not sure what he's doing ... he looks Asian ... really? How many Asian men are working for MNPS?
I'm just saying. Maybe there are more than I realize.

2. Teacher writing on board ... using chalk ... really? Are there any chalkboards left?
Actually there is 1 in the community room at Julia's school. I wrote on it & it was so strange to use chalk!
So old school!

Gary Larson ... read by a 5 year old

Both girls LOVE to raid our bookshelves, especially the small inspirational books. That I don't like. However, Julia sometimes wants to look at my Laura Ingalls Wilder book set. That I do like. : ) 

Well, the last few days the popular book for Julia has been this OLD Gary Larson comic strip book. Most of the characters/stories are about animals so I get Julia's interest in it. She LOVES animals! However, as we read it each night before bed - yes, this is her bedtime story, her choice - we look at picture, read caption/description & discuss what it means. Usually I laugh as I haven't looked at this book in YEARS!

I really liked Gary Larson! Then Julia laughs along with me ... and she gets it. 

Come on, is that normal? Do most 5 year old kids read AND understand Gary Larson material? I doubt it. Jai & I laughed about it, kind of amazed, then look at each other as we typically do & remark "that's not right." Seriously something is wrong with her - maybe in a good way ... hopefully in a good way! : )

Julia's First Book Report

OK, it's actually copying the words from the book but hey, she's only 5.

Toddler Architecture

Julia didn't have access to legos and even now doesn't play with the ones she has. Jacqueline on the other hand has recently gone gangbusters for the legos. She is perpetually building towers and other things which she always presents to people when she is finished. Here is an example from this morning.

First Adult Tooth

Julia lost her first official baby tooth and now is growing an adult one!
That is what she says - " I am growing an adult tooth." : )
Julia legitimately lost her bottom one which was first tooth she got at 9-10 months old.

OK - this is either a weird geeky thing or parent thing or both, but I got so excited as I looked at her loose tooth. Not really the loose tooth, but what I saw BEHIND it! Evidence of this new adult tooth, these little tooth buds, it's SO neat. I don't know why it's cool, but it is. Proof of new life!

Julia has been a combination of fear and pain the past 2 weeks. I don't remember the pain of loose teeth, but it seems to be painful as I watch both girls throughout this teething process. When we talked about options, said we could pull the tooth out, but it might not be ready, might hurt more, Julia said no to that! Or we could wait, let it happen naturally, but not know when it will happen. "I am afraid" is what she said. Fear of unknown is so crippling, paralyzing.

This morning, on our 3rd snow day at home, Julia runs up to me & excitedly says "it's out, it came out!" She is smiling, beaming, so happy, so relieved!. Then she hands me the tooth - that I was NOT excited to receive. : )

Now we have to put it under her pillow & see what Tooth Fairy brings ...

Language of love

One of the best things I've heard...

Jacqueline stops where she last saw me and says "Where's my dad? Where's my dad?" I hear her feet trot back to Tara where she asks "Mommy, where's daddy?

Melt my heart. Her speech is improving so much and the thought processes that are behind that are amazing.

Just a proud daddy moment.

Oscar ballot reading

I love movies, especially enjoy watching the Oscars. I also love lists as mentioned in a previous post.

Therefore there is a copy of the Oscar ballot taped to kitchen cabinet. I check off which movies we've seen in anticipation of watching the ceremony which was last night. This morning while drinking breakfast smoothie, Julia stares at the ballot & reads.

"dallas buyers club"
"captain phillips"
"wolf of wall street" - "I haven't seen that one" [uh, yeah, I hope not! Actually neither have we! : )]
"12 years a slave"
"her" - that's an easy one!
"nebraska" - "it says Nebraska!" [not sure why that was significant]

Anyway, this is another reminder that I have to be careful of what is written also. She reads everything!

Downton Abbey's episode 8

much better ending this year!
I love Lady Edith being right, knowing what was best, finally having some peace related to her child & what is best for both of them. I like that tenant farmer, too bad he's married with tons of kids! : )

Throw-up Television

Julia got sick tonight. Julia threw up what looked like more than she's eaten all day. I won't go into the very gory details but after I had showered and shampooed her she said:

"I wish it was on TV." 

What do you mean, Julia? 

"I wish throwup was on TV."

I quizzically looked at her and asked why.

She said with a grin, "so you can see it happen."

I decided it might be time to introduce her to Captain Underpants books.

Tara's comment: It was like a crime scene, as I climbed the stairs, heard the sounds in bathroom as Jai helped Julia. I nervously walked down the hall, so slowly, approaching our bedroom as that is where Julia had fallen asleep. It was unbelievable, so disgusting ... our bedding was white this week too AND we'd just changed the sheets. UGH! Ironically I had been about to go to bed, but it was another 1.5 hours before I got to sleep. I stripped the bed & washed comforter, then sheets. The sheets are not going to make it, maybe I can dye them. The room smelled so bad so we slept in the guest room - thank goodness we have it.

Portraiture for Kindergarteners

I don't know how I learned to draw people but I'm pretty sure it didn't go like this ...

1. Draw the head and face
2. Look at your body to see that the neck is attached to the head, draw accordingly
3. Continue to the shoulders and you see that they are attached to the neck, draw accordingly
4. Look to see that your arms are attached to your shoulders and draw
5. Look at your own body all the way down with an end result of what you see below.

Tara's comment: the earrings are stickers ... also I thought this was supposed to be ME! : )