let's be creative

the baron is always and forever trying to think up interesting and stylish ways to showcase the children's artwork.  this is her latest - and favorite - display.

a palate cleanser

he baron has been working on toddler x's quilt for a couple of weeks and is feeling, really, a bit beaten by it.  the antidote?  a quick and easy boatneck top, in blue and white stripes.  so lovely, right?

first harvest

small radishes, from the yard: crisp and slightly spicy, toddler x greatly enjoyed plucking them from the ground.

playground days

a fourth birthday

kind of black

the baron: toddler x, what kind of music do you feel like hearing?

toddler x: ummmm, harlan pepper kind of music.

the baron: miles davis it is.

muy bien

toddler x: what is muy?

the baron: you tell me.

toddler x: it means a lot.

the baron: [jesus.  this kid.]

the baron: that's close.  it means very.

thursday morning's potty talk

toddler x: 'i have to poop! i have to poop!  no, no, i don't have to poop!'

the baron: (sigh)

one way that life is unfair

the baron has spent the last 2 hours trying to coax, cajole, bribe, convince and intimidate toddler x into pooping on the potty.*  he finally did it.  toddler x and the baron are both exhausted from the effort.  and the baron still has to clean fecal matter out of the potty.  

two things about this: 

1) why insist that he poop on the potty?  why not be one of those moms who's all 'poop on your schedule, whatev, it's all good, hippy, hippy, peyote'?  because toddler x is a sneaky pooper: once he's pooped, he takes his underpants (or diaper) off, leaving a trail of poop throughout the house.  everytime.  for the past week.

2) yes, she knows intimidation is the wrong way to go about potty training.  it was her last resort, born of frustration.  she invites you to spend 120 minutes dealing with a poop-witholding two year old to see how you'd hold up.

annoyed. also secretly pleased.

toddler x: sometimes i misbehave. sometimes i misbehave. sometimes i misbehave.

the baron: yes, that is true. but sometimes you behave. can you say that?

toddler x: ...

the baron: toddler x, can you say, 'sometimes i behave'?

toddler x: ... ... sometimes i DON'T misbehave. hahahahahaha.

the baron: (sigh)