(these [Nine] moments)

 So here is a little bit of Thursday for Friday. 

All of the following photos were taken in one day. It was a great day indeed!!

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. 

 ~Thornton Wilder

Excitement with a side of nerves :: Riding the city bus.

I bit of outdoor water play :: Colorado winters.

 "A drink of water for you snail"  :: I love his kind heart.

 A fun find after all the snowmelt :: He was loving this beat up ol' football.

We've been doing a lot of this around here :: and he likes his privacy. 

 Slowing down :: Noticing beauty all around.

 A little weathered but they work just the same :: I love hanging laundry.

 And I have the best helper in the world :: "We are doing work Ema.

I am in love with this little man!!!

Contemplations: Potty Training.

 Yesterday's post clued you into what's been happening in our home these past few weeks. 

Here are my accompanying contemplations. 

When Avi was 1 and 1/2 years old, I felt on top of the potty training thing. We had been doing Elimination Communication with him since he was just 8 weeks old.  I was confident that we were making good decisions and what we were doing was working. Now that Avi is 2 and 1/2, I look back and realize a few mistakes I made that caused a little bit of a halt in being diaper free. (And sure, I know that I could have done "everything right" and we might still be where we are, but nonetheless, maybe my experience could help someone else).

My biggest regret is that we first purchased a toilet seat (which sits atop the toilet) instead of a freestanding potty chair. Now, I had gotten to know Avi's cues pretty quickly. Seeing him begin to grunt and become red faced, I would pick him up and carry him to the bathroom and lift him onto the toilet. This worked fine until he began walking and didn't want me to pick him up and carry him to the toilet. He began to say something to the tune of, "Avi walk himself". And then I would hold his hand and we would walk to the bathroom together. But still, he was dependent on me to help him onto the toilet. "Avi walk himself" was soon replaced with, "No, no, no".  It wasn't long before he began to prefer to poop in his diaper. I felt horrible. Hadn't we come so far? Sometimes I'd go 10 weeks without having to change a poopy diaper. And now he was pooping in his diaper??? Where had a I gone wrong? In the moment it wasn't completely clear, but I also wasn't completely oblivious. So I finally bought the freestanding potty. In hindsight it's easy to see -- of course, a child needs a potty chair that is his size. One that he can sit down on without any help.  

And then when Avi turned two, I got a little over zealous in my own efforts and created a paradigm for him to "hurry up and grow up". More about that here. I put on my own breaks and just left the matter of potty training well alone. Though he did continue to sit on the potty (the potty chair and the big toilet) every now and then.

After about a month of slowing down, I began to communicate even more with Avi. We talked about him growing bigger and that someday he wouldn't have nee-nee (breast milk) anymore. And in the process of three months of talking, Avi, at 28 months, was ready to be done with nursing (and so was I)! That was last October. It was a beautiful ending to nursing that we did together via discussions. And over the last two months, we have been talking again... this time about the potty.  

In that time, I did more research, talked with other mamas, and read books (I like Diaper Free Before Three the best). Last week, I went on a potty training supply/readiness binge:

•  I ordered another bjorn potty (got sick of carrying the one we had upstairs and downstairs) and even let Avi pick which color he wanted.
• I ordered a travel potty for the car.
• I ordered two mattress covers for his bed.
• I bought a new wet bag and dug out our two old ones (for wet/soiled underwear on the go).
• I set up the diaper pail again (for wet/soiled underwear). 
• I bought a dozen or so more cotton trainers and unders. 
• I got about a 1/2 dozen waterproof training pants (which we wear over the cotton underwear when we go out of the house). These are a godsend!
• And I arranged a meeting with Jenn, myself, and our nanny so that we could all be on the same page about our approach. 

He likes his privacy. Thus I'm often checking in on him through the crack beneath the door. 

So Avi is no longer wearing a diaper, (except for nap and bed), and we are all finding our new rhythm which includes using the potty (a lot!). Our first outings without diapers were hugely successful which helps me as much as it helps him. I can see how this gentler shift is so much better for Avi and for me/us (and my patience). And I can also see how this is, indeed, a shift and see him testing his boundaries a little too. All part of the process. 

I'm grateful for the place we are in, for the communication that is happening (amongst us all) and for the milestones we are reaching. I feel like we are finding our way again. 

Last night:
Ema: When the timer goes off, it will be time to head upstairs to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.
Avi: And sit on the potty.
Ema: Yes, and sit on the potty.

then.and.now

number.sixteen

 But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day. 

Benjamin Disraeli

April 2011

 February 2013

 Inviting you to join me in my Monday ritual ::: link up with your own then.and.now 

(this moment)

A Friday ritual. A single few photos - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.

Joining Soulemama

(this moment)

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. 

A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, link your 'moment' in the comments for all to find & see.

Joining Soulemama

Nine: Halloween Edition

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

This weeks treasures and random musings are dedicated to Halloween. 

Some time ago, Avi had decided to be a black and white Kitty Cat for Halloween. Then, out of the blue, he announced he wanted to dress as a "Balloon Party" (we still are stumped where he even got this vocabulary). When he woke on Saturday, he wanted to be a Monkey and so dressed the part for our pal, Harrison's 1st birthday/halloween party. And between Saturday and Halloween, Avi juggled Kitty Cat, Trash Can (??), Balloon Party, and Monkey. Halloween morning he was back to the Kitty Cat. So, I finished my lecture, let my students out 15 minutes early, and raced home to get in front of the sewing machine before our nanny had to leave. I had about 30 minutes - and Voila - sometimes, it's all you need! Who cares if he is mistaken for a cow or skunk, he knew he was a Kitty Cat! (As I sit here and write this, Jenn is sweetly giving me some feedback about the round spots making it seem more cow and less cat... and if I had only...    I cut her off, smile sweetly and remind her that I had less than a half hour. He looked great)! I also texted my mom to tell her thanks for making my 3rd grade nun halloween costume the night before because I now understand how she was sure I would change my mind. A new insight as a parent!

A little bit of Halloween make-up makes the nose (which he rubbed off) and whiskers!

Now, if you remember from this post on the 1st of October, Avi's inspiration for his costume came from our neighbor's black and white cat named Boomer. Avi gets on his costume and a few minutes later who should appear? None other than Boomer.

 He was in the far corner of our backyard when Avi opened the door and said, "Boomer, I'm a kitty cat." Boomer, who is sometimes shy and stand-offish, leapt over the brown stalks that were once black-eyed-susans, ran through the grass, came up the stairs and right up to Avi...

...and into our home. Avi was in heaven! The boy and his inspiration!

 It wasn't long before Boomer was bounding up the stairs and into our bathroom shower. Avi was quick to follow.

 The two of them hung out for a bit in the shower and Boomer meowed up quite the conversation which Avi seemed to take in without hesitation. Maybe some pointers on being a feline?!

Avi showed off his tail to Boomer before we led him back downstairs to head outside.

Soon we noticed yet another friend outside. Avi joined Forrest in his kitty cat ways out on the deck. Who knew our son was the cat whisperer.

And finally an evening of trick-or-treating* with our neighbors, Carter, the monkey and his baby sister, Kate, dressed as a bear (who isn't in the picture because she was being worn by her mama). These boys had quite the night!

*A note on trick-or-treating: I struggle with the whole candy aspect of Halloween -- partially hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, and sugar. Avi still doesn't completely know what candy is. He knows about chocolate and knows he can have it when he is older. So in effort to keep Halloween from becoming this candy focused holiday, we brought along Lara Bars and other healthier snacks to sneak to the eager candy givers to give to Avi. This lasted for a few homes, but seeing his friend get to pick candy, Avi wanted to as well. In comes the wonderful story of the Sugar Sprite. I came across this idea from other bloggers (sorry, I don't remember who and where). Children collect candy on Halloween and leave it by their bed. The Sugar Sprite comes in the night and takes the candy leaving behind another small gift (stickers, for example) as a thank you. Then the Sugar Sprite uses all that sweetness to sprinkle into kiddos dreams - keeping their dreams sweet. I love this. The Sugar Sprite was mildly introduced to Avi this year... but we will definitely be continuing with this tradition!!  

I wonder how you all handle Halloween. 

The case of the missing veggies: a (mild) wednesday rant

But there are a few things about food and kids in our society that irk me and YES, I'm using my own space to mention them.

Recently, we were out to eat and I ordered a buffalo burger plain with a side of roasted veggies for Avi. It came with french fries. "They all do," the waiter said. We took the burger and veggies and sent the fries back. "It's included in the price, you can keep them. It's not an extra charge." he insisted. I felt bad for this guy -- just trying to do his job and calm my fears of an extra charge on the bill. Poor bugger hadn't a clue that I couldn't give a shit about the money. He had no idea that this brief exchange got my blood boiling on a societal level. Why are raising kids parents to believe that kids will only eat french fries (or chicken nuggets or everything dipped in ketchup).

What I -- Jenn and I -- have noticed about children's menus at most restaurants (even healthier minded places - and we have lots of those in Boulder) they have two common denominators: fried and cheese. Really? (Didn't I read in the news that even the worst of the worst, McDonalds, has added veggie sticks to their happy meals)? 

Further, I'm a bit disgusted saddened disgusted that many children's books that I come across insinuate that children don't like veggies. Whether it's blatantly saying it or showing it in the illustration with a character's tongue sticking out. And these are books with otherwise pretty forward thinking messages.

Sharing Broccoli with his cow friend.

Snap peas and blueberry snack in the sandbox.

Helping make dinner :: spinning the salad. 

Enjoying the aroma of a fresh picked tomato :: he didn't eat this one.

A chat about cucumbers with our lovely neighbor Sahand.

Now, anytime we make smoothies, he reminds me we have to add kale and avocado. 

Carrots to share with the goats, but since there weren't any takers on this day, Avi ate them himself. 

I love that our boy loves his veggies. Carrots, cabbage, kale, broccoli, peas, tomatoes picked from the vine, purple beans, lemon cucumbers, and many many more. We have raised him eating a variety of foods and that doesn't mean he likes everyone of them all the time. But we keep re-introducing him to veggies in a variety of ways -- Steamed, roasted, mashed, baked (into a chip - think kale chips), fresh, or mixed into soups, smoothies, casseroles, rice, eggs, etc. -- and he keeps trying them, eating them.

And at our neighborhood picnic this past weekend, I was chatting with a neighbor from up the street. "Well, you know what it's like," he (the Dad of a three year old) said. I was happy to reply,  "No, [I don't know what it's like to have a kid that only will eat chicken nuggets and ketchup]. Avi's never had either."

I leave you with a statistic: "Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese." source


And I ask you: What choices are you making to help your kidlet eat healthier? What have you avoided? What have you caved in on? What do you keep re-introducing? What do other's say/think about your choices?

Making Friends: Here Kitty Cat

Meet our neighbor's cat. We knew it's name once, but I haven't been able to remember for some time. These neighbor's live behind us and our fence prevents daily interactions like those we have with our neighbors next to and across the street. But we have daily interactions with this cat... from afar. Every morning while Avi is snuggled on the couch waiting for me to finish making his breakfast or at the table finishing off his eggs or french toast, he sees this black and white cat walking along the wooden fence. This week we got a different kind of interaction and Avi tried his hardest to make friends.

 She came close once (before I had the camera out) and let Avi pet her and then she retreated and he tried his hardest -- squatting down and calling to her -- to make friends. After a bit he became impatient as she just looked at him and he tried, in vain, to follow her.

 He retreated and tried again to call her, once again, squatting low and clucking his tongue best he could. She ran off and we played in the yard together until....

...we saw that she came back and brought with her Forrest, our other neighbor's cat. 

As you can see, Forrest is fluffy, huge, and very friendly. He's a different kind of friend -- always ready for pets, snuggles and...

... an occasional KISS!

AND all of this happened after Avi decided he wanted to be a kitty cat for halloween. I wonder if he will change his mind about being a black and white cat and want instead to be an orange cat.