Warning: the following video clip may be offensive to some viewers... Contains images of human poop.

So I thought I was a very clever mommy by potty training a boy so soon. I thought I would be even cleverer if I let him walk around the house naked to encourage him to take his own initiative. Oh do we learn the folly of our ways.

Original Balloons by E.P., arteest extrodinare

Oh E.P! You did it! You made my BALLOONS! It is so beautiful, so colorful, so perfect.
Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you
I gasped when all of a sudden I noticed a huge package outside with your name on it.
I tried not to peek as I carefully tore through the bubble wrap knowing what it must be.
Dakota sat with me on the floor looking at it saying "wow".....
He kept trying to touch the pretty balloons but I wouldn't let him.
I told him this was a special gift for him and we would put it straight on the wall.

I'm still not sure where it will end up exactly since we will soon be moving all his baby furniture out for the new little one and putting in big boy stuff. I also am not nearly finished with the walls. I have more balloons and scenery to paint but will wait until I decide just where the painting will go.

This special E.P. original has already been in two art shows!
Someday it will be worth zillions but I'm never parting with it you hear, Never!
Thank you so so so so much Em for making this for us.
I know it took a lot from you and is full of tricky details.
You are amazing! I love you.

Picnic on the waterfront

It's not very often that we can get together on a normal day for a regular dinner let alone a picnic out. Im starting to feel the urgent need to take advantage of our good weather while it lasts.
So we loaded up the wagon and headed to the lake front. I think there is something about being born in Oregon that makes one want to hug trees ;) Go on Dakota, kiss it!

Rough start to a beautiful day

I thought the horrible morning sickness(all day and worse in the evening for me) had gone away. Or at least, lightened up quite a bit.
I stopped needing medication anyway and that was a good sign.
But WAIT! Whats this? It comes back?
Yes, just like the spinach salad last night.
It's not fair! Nausea, you ruined my first trimester and most of the summer,
but I'm in level 2 now baby - can't you leave me alone?! I just want the freedom to be fatigued all day without the vomit or the queeze.
And as for you Dakota,
this whole waking up at 3am and crying for 5 hours wasn't cute when you were a newborn
and it isn't tolerable as a toddler.

OY VEY
(who knows if I spelled that one right?)

here was the nicest part of my morning so far......
winner of the Cannes film festival for shorts
http://www.historiadeunletrero.com/

Going POTTY!!!

Guess who's little baby is becoming a Big Boy?
Yes! Dakota made his first pee pee in the potty! Horray for us :)
Of course when he sat down in it just a trickle came out before he stood up and peed all over the floor but hey, it's a start.

Today's second pee was much more successful.
Reward: one gummi bear

Spaghetti Dreaming

What goes up must come down, right?

faux-hawk screaming

This is normal behavior for my kid, but is this behavior normal for kids?

funnier than a barrel full of monkeys, or at least one...

Ducks are one thing but watch out for those pesky geese

Afternoon by the dock