Pee in the Potty.

That's right ladies and gentlemen. We have pee pee in the potty. Before Austin's bath I have been letting him run around au natural and encouraging him to sit on the potty. And what does my genius son do the very first time? Pees in his potty. And then swirls his hand in it. Day two? He pees in the potty. And then tries to pick up the insert and swing it over his head. Day three, you guessed it. But this time he got a bit in potty and then decided to stand up mid-stream to take a walk around the bathroom. Again, we are taking it slow. No Poo Nazis here.

On a non bodily function related note, the weather up North has been GLORIOUS. I love fall weather. And I couldn't have been happier when our Saturday hike last week required fleece jackets. Yay! Bring on the leaves and pumpkins.

Why yes. This IS a picture of toddler pee.

Here is a closer shot, just in case you missed it.

Chris was carrying a 20 pound baby in a Kelty backpack with some supplies. I had a dog leash. Oh- and a camera.

Real men hike with Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

Before the leaves start to change...

Wow. Those reflective strips really work.

Apparently not tired enough to let go of the stick.

Apples- Pick Em'

Today Austin and I embarked on what is apparently a VERY New York thing to do. No, not flipping the bird while driving on the Thruway. Picking your own apples. And not just any apples- McIntosh apples. We went with some other Mommies from the MOMS Club, and Austin had a blast running around with the other kids. We are doing pumpkins in October and I am STOKED!

Austin's first encounter with sheep. Not as baaaaaaaad as I expected.

Checking out the trees.

Me quietly freaking out because the apple is unwashed.

He eats like his mother.

Checking out the wagon situation.

This shouldn't be called the MOMS Club. It should be the "Slave to a Two Foot Tall Person Club".

Austin and his buddy Ian taking inventory.

These are not apples. They are "AYDENS" to Austin. And everyone in the orchard heard him yelling it as we went along. Yay.

Sweetest little apple picker ever.

Not only does he pick apples, he picks up girls too.

Fueled by apples.

Wrangled into the wagon and on our way back to the car.

Austin enjoying the FRUITS of his labor. Badump bump ching!

I loved the handwritten sign telling us what apples they were harvesting today.

Apples. The new banana?

Ze Haircut

I am sure it happens to all parents at some point. They are standing in line at Lowes, and the nice lady in front of them comments on what a pretty girl they have. After casually correcting her and saying that "HE" is indeed very handsome, the woman asks if "SHE" likes shopping. As a last effort you state that "HE" does not enjoy shopping at all. Then the woman (whom you now want to shake like a Polaroid picture for calling your strapping lad a girl) ends the conversation with "Well, "SHE" will one day!". Nice. You win random Lowes lady. He's a girl.

Fast forward to the car when Chris and I look at each other and say only with our eyes "He's getting a haircut." So the day comes, we pull out the trusty clippers and strap our girly boy into a chair with cartoons on the TV. Chris hugs him while I do the terrible deed and the end result is... he looks like a Ukrainian orphan. Crap. Maybe we shouldn't have gone so short. Mommy steps aside and cries a bit. Then sweeps up his sweet little golden curls from the sheet under the chair. Let's all say it together now, "it will grow back".

Sweet baby hair. This would be haircut #2 for the little guy.

I am thinking this is a cross between his Uncle Chase's new haircut compliments of the US Army, and a Ukrainian orphan.

The Scoop On The Poop

Question:

What happens when a mommy gets tired of wrestling her son down for diaper changes?

Answer:

She buys a potty chair and decides that "it's time".

Not that we are all Gung ho about potty training. Yet. But we bought the potty chair a few weeks ago and have had it out for Austin to explore and get used to. So I decided that before I start reading about all of the 500 ways to potty train your child, I would let him test it out. No pressure, just some half naked fun. And he loved it!

#1 He gets to go without his diaper

#2 It has a fun removable piece that can be used as a hat

#3 He can play with his new favorite toy- the family jewels

I will proudly say that Austin knows the sign for "potty" and does it while sitting on his tiny throne. He also, however, stands in the potty and dances. I'm hoping that taking this very casually and not being a Poo Nazi will help him be relaxed about the whole deal. Famous last words... How bad can it be?

Not quite.

Closer. Sort of.

Okay- there we go!

Ummmm. No.

Hooray!

One Year Ago...

It seems so long ago! Boy do I miss those darling baby moments. I guess I needed this- to look back at how small and sweet he was. Now off to deal with a temper tantrum and wrestle my big boy down for a diaper change.