Table M... Ian! Stop throwing food on the ground!

Call me oblivious ("Hi Oblivious, how are you?"), but I have no idea how to teach Ian table manners. He is definitely at the age where he shouldn't be smearing peanutbutter all over his tray and throwing grapes on the floor!

I've tried having him at the table without his tray, and with a normal plate with food on it... but of course, the inevitable tipping of the plate occurs and it all goes down his lap, the very place I was trying to prevent his food from going.

So I guess my questions are these:

1. IS 16 months the age babies SHOULDN'T be doing this?

2. How do I teach him how to use food properly when he still thinks "NO" is a game we like to play?

3. What DOESN'T work? (Because I must be doing that).

I'd honestly rather hear from real moms than from a book!

What is it about apple-picking...

And dirt roads...
And abandoned farmhouses...
And the kneading of bread...And unripe tomatoes...
That makes me want to be...

Make like a tree and bake some cookies for me.

So, I decided I am officially leaving MySpace. I am making this crazy attempt at de-onlining myself, and getting out more. I feel like I already get out a lot, but there is so much to do out there, from meeting people, to developing friendships, jumping in puddles with Ian, and following God's voice. I feel like what holds me back is my fascination with anything on a shiny screen.

I'm keeping my blog, and I'm still on Facebook because I have reconnected with so many people. But MySpace is just getting boring!

Q & A

I got this quiz randomly off a friend's friend's blog...

WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GOOD AT? Lyrics. I'm kind of like Drew Barrymore in "Music and Lyrics."

IF YOU COULD CHANGE PLACES WITH ANYONE, LIVING OR DEAD, FOR ONE DAY, WHO WOULD IT BE? Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland (country music band)... she just has this voice that rocks. I'd love to have a voice like that. OR, I'd like to be her backup singer.

WOULD YOU RATHER BE A LITTLE SMARTER OR A LITTLE SEXIER? Well, if I said I'd rather be sexier that would be shallow. :) So I'll say I'd rather be smarter. (But I mean sexier).

THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE WAS.. to encourage my husband to buy our coffeeshop! Its been an adventure and I know we'll look back and be glad we took the chance.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOTHER RIGHT ABOUT? Way too much.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? Being well-rounded. Yes, I focused on soccer intensely, but I am capable of so much more. I'm glad that once soccer ended, there was more of ME to discover and improve! I have so much that makes me happy!

SOMETHING ON MY MIND LATELY: As always, excessive lifestyles. Do we need a huge Thanksgiving dinner or gifts at Christmas? Can we transform those holidays back into what they were MEANT to be??? I have $100 from tips, and from Craigslist... and I want CLOTHES but should I use it on that? SHOULD, NEED, WANT, GIVE, SERVE, COULD HAVE... those are the concepts on my mind lately.

Scene: Monday night, almost asleep and in bed, lying next to my husband Aaron who should be asleep two hours ago. We have been contemplating the idea of changing the name of our cafe to either a) something more modern, or b) something that fits us or the area in which we live.

"Haha hehe ha hmm..." I giggled.

"What." said Aaron.

"We should call our cafe CAFE BIBLE. Hehe... or maybe SALVATION CAFE." I said. "We could be like 'Hey! Come get a latte and wash your sins away!' "

"Yeah, and we could sell Testa-mints," responded Aaron.

A minute later...

"Haha! Testa-mints!"

2 Minutes later...

"Hey, would you like to circum-size that?" I laughed.

Shockingly, Aaron gets my joke. "So, are you asking if I want the smaller meal?"

"Yep."

"Nice."

5 Minutes later, after much silence and snoring from the other side of the bed...

"Hehe ha ha ha HA! Hmm..... he he he he he he."

"Honey, go to bed." snored Aaron.

" I can't!"

"Are you still thinking about the mints."

"Hehe he ha ha ha ha."

"Go to bed."

And really, that was the end of it.

Its 1:53... and no, I don't mean in the early afternoon. I am up on my blog at 1:53 in the not-supposed-to-be-conscious morning.

I got up 3 TIMES for Ian, which NEVER happens. I haven't really slept yet. He always sleeps well, never whines during the night, and suddenly he's up and wants to play... then whine, then run, then lay down, then get up, then climb on things, then whine. You get the point.

1:55 am. Ian is 15 months old. Probably teething. I was fine with the first 8 teeth (so was Ian). But this time around its a WHOLE different ball-game.

Any suggestions beside Tylenol? (Which I already gave him, only half of a 2-year-old's dose)

I'm not tired yet. Craigslist here I come!

Cheerio.

I'm putting a door on our pantry.

Scene: Monday morning, hanging out with a friend at her apartment, my cell phone rings.

"Hello?"

"Yes, this is Nurse Whoever from Dr. Confidential's office, how are you today?"

"I'm fine, thanks." I reply.

"Well, this is just a call to remind you of your 8 1/2 week appointment tomorrow at 10am."

... long awkward pause...

"Umm, well, I had a miscarriage about a month ago, and came in to see the doctor. I guess I assumed this appointment would have been cancelled."

"OH DEAR I AM SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. Yes, you're right, that really should have been taken care of."

"Oh its ok really," I say, chuckling to lighten up the conversation.

"OH I'M SO SORRY. Well you take care honey."

"Thanks, you too."

Yep, real conversation. I headed home after that.

It was followed up by a hug from Aaron and a good amount of tears, then a few hours later, a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Aaron. Then followed up by the oddest couple of days I've ever had, including Ian trying to convince me he needed chocolate truffles for breakfast (or, just eating them). The End.

Sew Inventive.

Props to my Mom, who sewed Ian's Happy the Dwarf Hat and label, Lucy's Dopey hat and label, AND Odi's Snow White Dress! Comments all over the map were "I thought they bought those at the Disney Store!"

Sew, props to Cindy "I am a Genius at all things Children" Leffel.

She also taught me the tune to "Three Little Kittens", which apparently no one else in Blaine knows. Haha.