Potty Training Woes

My little boy never ceases to amaze me with his antics. It's so hard for me ever to get angry at him, even when I should be serious, because he just makes me laugh. The new source of comedic relief is this whole "potty training" thing. I went out and bought a mini-potty and have been consistently taking him to the potty during diaper changes. He sits on the potty willingly but like everything else it's a game for him. We count to 20 and after 20 seconds he can get up. Well, he likes to keep getting up during that 20 seconds and then quickly sits down. Up and down, up and down, until we get to 20. Then, when the 20 seconds is up and it's time to wipe, of course, he doesn't want to get up. In fact, he sometimes has to bring reading material or a toy with him.

Hilarious! How can I be serious when he does stuff like this. The worst part of the training so far is that he just takes his diaper off at will. He'll disappear for a couple minutes and then come back with diaper in hand like he just found some hidden treasure. Today, he went into our bedroom closet, closed the doors, and when I came in after him, he had taken off a poopy diaper and some of the pellets fell onto the carpet. Thank goodness they were solid and easily picked up. Again, I could do nothing but hold in my laughter because he looked so proud of himself.

I know potty training will take time and there will be some bumps along the way but I hope those bumps don't involve much more poop on my carpet. In the meantime, I'm buying some pull ups, cloth diapers and some new onesies in his size. I'm going to try everything and see what works.

Comfort Foods

When I think of comfort food I think of casserole...something warm and bubbly and preferably with cheese. Here's an easy recipe you may want to try. The best thing about it is that you can prepare and bake it in under an hour.

Tuna Noodle Casserole


Easy, fast, and inexpensive.

1 can Tuna (I like to use the big can because I love tuna but the small can is sufficient)
1 10 1/2 oz can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 bag Egg Noodles
1 cup Frozen Peas (you can also add frozen carrots if you like)
1 cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese + 1/2 cup more if you like to sprinkle it on top
1/2 cup Milk
2 Rolls or Slices of Bread (torn into crumbs)
1 1/2 tablespoons Butter
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat casserole dish with cooking spray. Cook egg noodles as directed on the bag. Once egg noodles are finished, combine noodles, tuna, frozen peas, cheese, and milk in a bowl. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Pour into casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. In a saute pan, melt the butter on low heat. Once melted, add the bread crumbs and saute for about 2 minutes or until slightly crispy. Sprinkle bread crumbs on tuna mixture. Bake uncovered for about 40 minutes or until bubbly and brown on top. You may also want to turn on the broiler for the last 5 minutes to brown the top.

A Star Is Born

The weather has been unseasonably warm in Indiana this Winter. So much so that I'm not longing to be back in Los Angeles again. Yesterday it reached a high of 54 degrees so Carter and I took the opportunity to get in some play time at the park. When we got there I noticed there was a camera crew filming but thought nothing of it and lifted Carter up into the baby swing. Next thing I know, the camera is filming the kids on the swings. The lawyer in me (and LA in me) questioned what they were filming because I may not authorize the use of my child's image. Turns out it was Indy Channel 13 News and they were doing a story on the warm weather. When the reporter asked if I would mind answering a few questions, I quickly answered "sure, I don't mind." So, there was a great shot of me pushing Carter on the swing saying how much I love this warm on the 5:30 pm news last night. In Indiana only a few months and I'm already starting to break into the spotlight. It felt so natural. :-) Jimmy said it looked like I was trying to steal the show. What can I say...the camera loves me. The video clip is below. The sound may not be great because I recorded it on my phone from the tv. I hope it works.

2012 Resolutions and To Do List

I don't usually do New Year Resolutions but there are definitely some things I'd like to work on in 2012. Here are my top 10 in no particular order:

1. Be less defensive
2. Get better at being thoughtful and doing "the little things" for my husband
3. Apply for Provisional Law License in IN
4. Finish decorating our house
5. Watch less TV/Read more
6. Don't take for granted the fact that I am able to be a stay-at-home mom
7. Find an organization or charity to volunteer with on a regular basis
8. Focus on developing a few good friendships
9. Find a church home
10. Compete in at least 4 athletic events (1/2 marathon, marathon, triathlon)

What's on your to-do list for 2012?