It's Potty Time

Cameron is over 2 and a half years old now. He has shown some of those signs that apparently mean he's ready for potty training. So we've been having discussions about pull ups, underwear, and how diapers are for babies, not big kids. But what kind of a come back can I give when my kid tells me that "diapers are cool, Mom."?

So today we've decided to really start giving it a shot. This morning Cameron and I went to the dollar store to buy some stickers (fishes and cars) and Smarties. When we got home he asked for them, and I reminded him of the rules. 1 sticker for at least sitting on the potty, and 1 Smartie if he actually goes in the potty. He immediately said "I want to go pee in the potty". So up the stairs we marched, me somewhat skeptical. Lo and behold, he actually went pee in the potty!

After his nap we're going to make an aquarium for his fish stickers, and a road for his car stickers to hang on the wall behind his potty.

Anyone have any other tips on how to make this work?

How Canadian of us.

This past weekend we went to the Maple Syrup Festival at Bruce's Mill. Having grown up in Southern Alberta where we don't have maple trees, it was quite an interesting event. I had the idea I would be seeing a bunch of trees being tapped with buckets hanging underneath.

Apparently, maple syrup technology has come a long way. They tap into the trees and run lines out of it that connects to one large main line. The forest looked like a spider web of tubing running through it.

Plus, I found out maple syrup tastes a lot better when it's fresh. A whole lot better.

Tree being tapped.

If you look above Cameron, you can see some of the lines running through the forest.

Cameron was also interested in watching the fire they had going to demonstrate the way maple syrup was made by the Natives.




Cameron with his stick.

They also had a petting zoo, which Cameron liked watching, but was a little wary of the animals when they got too close.

And of course his absolute favourite....

PONY RIDES!!!

First go at the pony rides. He absolutely loved it. It was so cute. If I could keep a pony in our backyard for him to ride every day, I would.

He was not a happy camper getting off the pony when it was done.

So of course we had to have another ride before we left for the day.

Signs of Spring

Ah, Spring. The weather is finally warming up. I can tell because the snow has melted, birds are out, I don't need my duvet anymore.

And about 3 solicitors have come to our door within the last 5 days. Maybe the bitter winter cold that kept them away wasn't so bad after all.

Yes, Spring truly is on it's way.

My Mom Thinks I'm Cool.

I've come to a realization that many people probably already have known.

I'm a nerd.

And I owe it all to my husband who gradually brought out his nerdiness after we were married, and is now bringing the inner nerdiness out of me. Examples? Well, I had no idea until after we were married that my husband liked to play Dungeons and Dragons when he was younger. And, waiting at his parents house (again, after we were married) were stacks of comic books and graphic novels ready to find a new home in our blissful, newly wed apartment. I thought to myself upon this discovery, how could someone so hot be so nerdy?

And then he started watching this little show called Battlestar Galactica. Not the original 70's version with Lorne Greene, but the remake with better costumes and scarier Cylon's. When he first started watching it and asked if I wanted to watch it too, I snubbed my nose at it. Then I watched the first episode and was hooked. Now, I am so frakin excited for the series finally on Friday. We've even gotten a few of our other friends into the show. (Seriously, it's good. Stop reading this and go watch it right now.)

Then for his birthday last year, he asked for the entire series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was on sale. Again, I looked at him and asked him if he was serious. He was. And that started my obsession with the Buffy series. We burned through 7 seasons of Buffy and 5 seasons of Angel in about 6 months.

Enter Ash's birthday in 2009. What does he want to do? Go see the movie "Watchmen". So what am I doing now? Reading the graphic novel.

I feel like that Simpson's episode when Bart has to get glasses, platform shoes, and hair gunk. He looks into Milhouse's glasses at his reflection, gasps and says "I'm a nerd!". Milhouse looks at his reflection in Bart's glasses and says "So am I!".

At least I can take comfort in the fact that the sci-fi stuff I like is all critically acclaimed. And that I'm not a Trekie. That's just crossing a certain line that you can never come back from.

Things You Don't Want to Hear Your Dentist Say.

Ash had a cavity filled at the dentist the other week. The dentist came in and started to swab his mouth with the freezing stuff.

Ash: Um, isn't the cavity on the other side of my mouth?

The dentist pauses, reaches for the chart and examines it for a few seconds. Then starts to swab the other side of his mouth.

Dentist: It's been a long day.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

We live in the end unit of a townhouse (freehold!). We had the best neighbours right next to us when we moved in. They were a family with 3 boys and a dog, and we never heard any noise from them at all. And believe me, these were 3 active boys and a pretty yappy dog.

Last year they moved away and a man moved in next door. We don't really know him too well as he is not home that often. And thank goodness for that, because this guy is a thumper. We can hear him stomping and thumping around, especially right around the time when we are hoping to go to bed. And the other day, we were lying in bed reading before going to sleep when we both could hear this strange noise. I thought it was music until my kind husband pointed out that no, it was our neighbour snoring.

Ewwwww.

Okay, seriously. How loud do you have to be snoring for us to hear it? I mean, in the whole 2 years the other family was living next to us, we didn't hear a peep. And now I can hear this guy snoring?! Maybe I should anonymously drop off some of those Breathe Right strips.

(As I'm typing this, I can tell that he is home. I can hear him thumping around again.)

It kind of makes me wonder what he might be hearing from us.

Happy Dalton McGuinty Day!

Hooray for election promises! Ontario is now celebrating our 2nd Family Day. No longer do I have to grit my teeth in envy when my family tells me about what a wonderful long weekend they are going to have in Alberta. Now I can have my very own wonderful long weekend as well!

This weekend was Cameron's move into a "big boy" bed. He has only fallen out of it once at night. We have placed pillows and his old crib mattress on the floor when he sleeps to help cushion the blow. However, it is still funny to come into his room at 5:15 am to a confused toddler who says "Oh, I fell off my sheets onto my crib!". He has yet to realize that if he doesn't want to stay there, he can get out on his own. I'm sure he'll figure it out soon. Which I'm not looking forward to.

And yes, this weekend was Valentine's Day. This month will be around the time that 10 years ago Ash and I met and started dating. And this year will mark the first time I have completely given up on that holiday and gave Ash the best V-Day present a guy could hope for (not that present); I told him I really didn't want to do anything for it. And I meant it! His birthday is exactly a month from Valentine's Day, then my birthday in May, then our anniversary in June. That's too many significant holidays to have to celebrate in a row, in my opinion. It's hard enough coming up with gifts for this guy.