I look forward to the adventures that my spirited son will set out on. But, I want to make sure that he has the right messages in his head when he has to make a decision or encounters a problem.

Below are some of the messages that I hope he remembers. Some of them I got from my Mom and Dad’s parent tapes. Some of them I picked up from other people in my life who inspired me.

• Be good to people.
• Take responsibility.
• Ask questions.
• Being positive makes the world a better place.
• Learn everything anyone will teach you.
• Fail fast. Fail forward.
• Nothing is free, but working for it can be rewarding.
• There is real and there is pretend. Either one is fine as long as you know which one it is.
• You can’t hit a home run if you don’t swing.
• Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.
• Home really is where you hang your hat.
• Sometimes you just have to click on it to see what happens. (From my cousin. )

What would you say?

What should I add? What messages do you want your kids to remember?

After explaining why cockleburs stick to you, I told Edison that we would find some cockleburs and make butterflies out of them. They would be pretend butterflies, I explained. Edison asked why we couldn’t make real butterflies, and I said we couldn’t because people can’t make life. 

“I can…” he said.

Then, he whispered in my ear, “I use magic and light and power.”

Sounds like we have the next Dr. Frankenstein on our hands…

05/14/2012 – My Not-Real Name…

Edison: My real name is Edison, but my not-real name is Tron.

05/14/2012 – If I was a dog…

Me: When we get home, we need to walk the dog.

Edison: Why do we need to walk the dog?

Me: Because he can’t use a bathroom like you and me. He has to go potty outside.

Edison: Oh…Well, if I was a dog, I would have a jet pack.

05/07/2012 – Oh the Questions!

Young man was full of questions tonight! Some of them are what I like to call “seed questions”. These are the questions whose answers bring more questions (and more questions and more questions). Below are some of the evening’s most fertile seed questions…

• What is a gutter?
• How does a train work?
• Where does the windshield wiper fluid come from? 
• How do spiders make webs?
• Where does the stuff go when you flush?
• How do they get the milk into the cow?
• Where do baby cows come from? (Yes…He opened that door.)

04/20/2012 – Can My Son Read the Word “Radish”?

Tonight, we were watching the learning-to-read cartoon, Super Why?. (Love it!) At one point in the episode, The Super Readers need to get some horses to stop blocking the road. They decide to coax them away with snacks from 3 fruit and vegetable stands. Each stand is piled high with fruits or vegetables, and each one has a sign. Alpha Pig asks which one starts with the letter “R”, and Edison yells “Radishes!”

OK…I would get it if it was an apple or broccoli or something he saw on a regular basis, but radishes? I think I was in my 20′s before I learned what a radish looked like.

04/something/2012 – Waiting in line in the women’s restroom

EDISON: “Mommy? Where do you pee?”

MOMMY: “We pee in the toilets in the bathroom stalls, but someone is in there, so we have to wait.”

EDISON: “No. If girls don’t have wankies, where do you pee?”

MOMMY: [pauses thoughtfully] “What do you think you want for dinner?”

03/21/2012 – The most awkward question in the world

‎”Mom? How do they get the bacon out of the pig?”

02/29/2012 – Things you say when…

“Huh…I don’t know what that was.”
- Things you say when…You are driving with a 3 year-old and a bird hits your car, exploding in a cloud of feathers.

My friend, River, turned me on to the baritone ukulele which has 4 strings that are tuned just like the highest strings on the guitar. So, if Little Man can get the hang of the ukulele, guitar would be a natural transition.

The best part is…I get to play too! This is my rendition of Richard Thompson’s Galway to Graceland…Ukulele style.

To ensure that this process is smooth, you will need to first select, the ideal colors for the nursery room. This is because when you get the ambience right, you can be sure of creating the right atmosphere of the room. You may use a single color, or for the whole room, or different colors for each wall. Ultimately, you need to ensure that you create a warm atmosphere. Wallpapers may also be used. The second and most important item that you need to select is the furniture. This includes the baby’s bed, as well as a wardrobe or changing table.

While you may have no choice, but buy the baby’s bed, you may consider using the small pine tables or dresser you have, in the place of a changing table. If you do not have one, then you may have to buy one. This is because just like the bed, a changing table is mandatory, as you may have to change diapers several times. Changing tables may come with drawers or shelves, for storage of baby items such as diaper cream, nail clippers, hand sanitizer, lotion, thermometer, blankets, diapers, and dressing gowns among other items. This also allows easy access to these items.

Even then, it’s advisable to go to buy a small changing table so as to save on space. You could wish to incorporate a narrow bedside cabinet, which you will use to location the items, which you will need for the child at night. An additional furniture item of equal value, within the baby’s space will be the child’s robe. This is to ensure that the baby’s clothes are stored, in a secure location. It is advisable that you just go for a little wardrobe that will be used, for the storage with the baby’s clothes even as he grows into a toddler.

Other vital items that you will want to think about, when creating a nursery space are play items, that will be utilised by the baby, as they develop into toddlers. You’ll also want to consider carefully the bedding, as well as lighting. These are critical in coordinating the appear in the child’s bedroom. Most importantly make sure that the space, has a cozy light feel, as this contributes towards the happiness in the infant. You could need to incorporate mirrors. You will also do nicely to include storage areas, for the baby’s toys as this will make sure that you’ll find this helps in preventing any accidents.

Learn more about pine furniture, Stop by Norman B Cutts’s site where you can find out all about narrow bedside cabinets and what they can do for you.

Add 300-500 calories a day to your diet while you are pregnant. Don’t forget you are eating for two so you definitely need to increase your caloric intake. Make sure however that you are adding healthy calories into your diet. Adding 500 calories of junk food isn’t going to do anything to help you and the baby.

For pregnant women in their third trimester, try to sleep on your left side. Sleeping this way gives your fetus the best blood supply and also allows blood to easily flow to your kidneys and uterus. Try to avoid sleeping on your back, it is the worst position for blood flow.

Read a pregnancy book. They provide expectant parents with a wealth of information on what to expect both during the pregnancy and after the baby is born. They give new parents piece of mind by helping them plan, and they answer questions that they may not want to ask their friends or family members.

Hit up the bookstore or library and get books about pregnancy. Being armed with knowledge will help you deal with all the changes that your body will go through and teach you how to keep yourself healthy. Pregnancy is natural, but the more information you have about the process, the better it will go.

Your nutrition now that you are pregnant, is more important than ever. Not only are you needing more energy and strength just to get through the day, but your baby also needs lots of vitamins and minerals to develop properly. Make sure you eat several solid meals each day and work in items from each major food group.

To help you sleep better while you are pregnant, plan your fluid intake around your smaller bladder capacity. Make sure you get enough water to drink during the day, but slow down after dinner and stop entirely before bedtime. This will help reduce the need to get up during the night to use the restroom.

A good thing to do when pregnant is to see your practitioner on a regular basis. This will not only help you in knowing about the things that pregnant people should know but it also will help you in knowing how to have a healthy pregnancy. This act can help in having a very smooth pregnancy.

If you have a cat, make sure you are not the one who is changing the litter box. Litter can have chemicals that are harmful to a women while she is pregnant. If you are married, have your spouse do this job for a while, or if you are single, see if there is a neighbor or family member that can lend a hand.

Related Pregnancy Posts- Trying to Get Pregnant Can’t Get Pregnant

With Santa, there is a fairly standard mythology. Even folks that don’t celebrate Christmas know that Santa has a white beard, delivers presents, and has a bunch of reindeer.

The Easter Bunny is not so standardized. Does he lay the eggs? I does he deliver a basket AND hide eggs? My post on FaceBook yielded great information, some very helpful and some just plain funny.

We decided to let him figure this one out on his own. We asked him questions here and there to figure out what he had learned from his friends and then just played along.

The Friday before Easter, we noticed a bunny in our front yard. Interestingly enough, Edison found his Easter basket hidden under the bush where we saw the rabbit last. Edison seemed to think the bunny left it, so we just went with it.

As for what was in his basket…I struggled with this as well. The last thing a spirited 3 year-old needs is more sugar. But, I realized that just because he got candy didn’t mean he had to eat it all at once. I did try to mix it up with non-editables though. 

I settled on this for his Easter basket:

• A paddle-ball
• Velcro ball and mits
• Bubbles
• Sidewalk chalk
• Raisons
• Hotwheels 
• Assorted plastic eggs with goodies

For the egg hunt, we did:

• Jelly beans
• Chocolate covered acai berries
• Mini chocolates
• Almond clusters
• Spare change

On Easter morning, we watched the movie Hop in which we learned that the Easter bunny poops jelly beans. So, when Edison opened an egg with jelly beans, he yelled, “Look Mom! I got poo!”

Easter afternoon, we had an egg hunt with the neighbors. He had a blast, and never figured out that we were taking eggs from his basket and hiding them again. Afterward, we joined the neighbors for a wonderful dinner.

That is what Easter is about; friends, family, and celebrating the beginning of Spring. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to introduce the holiday.

Yes, I know. There are children all over that need help. Children who were unlucky enough to be born in war torn nations. Children down the street whose parents don’t have enough money to put healthy food on the table. Children who are neglected. Children with serious health issues. So many children who need so much help. So, why am I interested in one particular child in need who lives half-way around the world?

There are two reasons. First, he is just a few years older than Edison and he has experienced more pain and brutality than many adults will ever see in their lifetime. Second, there is actually something I can do to help.

You see, my friend Aram heard about this boy on CNN about 6 months ago. The story touched him, as it would any parent. But, rather than sitting by and wishing he could do something, he contacted CNN and found out how he could help. He started a non-profit, contacted surgeons who will do the necessary surgeries, and used his own resources to create a site to build awareness. If my friend can do all that, the least I can do is donate a little and help spread the word.

So, I am.

Before you think that this is just some plea for donations, I want to make it clear that you don’t have to give a dime in order to help. Just let others know. You can make a FaceBook post, +1 the site, ask for prayers at church, or just tell a neighbor. With only 6 degrees of separation, chances are you know someone who can help.

Just take a few minutes and visit this site. If you are moved like I was, please spread the word.

Be sure to see your doctor before becoming pregnant. Not only does this help establish a healthy start to your prenatal care should you become pregnant, it also allows your doctor to check for any conditions that might require special care, or worse, discover conditions that would make pregnancy dangerous.

If you smoke, being pregnant is the greatest reason you will ever have to stop smoking so find a way to do it now! As stressful as being pregnant may be, jeopardizing the health of your baby is a million times more stressful. This is a great opportunity to get medical help to quit and have the strongest motivating factor to keep you smoke-free.

Leg cramps are common in late pregnancy. Make sure you stretch before going to bed, and this will lesson the chance of these occurring. Drinking water will also help ward them off, as well as making sure you are getting enough potassium, which you can get from eating foods like bananas.

Make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet when you are pregnant. This is an important nutrient for your baby to grow healthy, as well as being good for you. Foods that are high in protein include buts, legumes, eggs, chicken, hamburger meat, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and tofu.

Go ahead and give in to your pregnancy cravings. Doctors aren’t quite sure if cravings are a result of emotional changes or of nutritional deficits in your diet, but not getting the foods you crave can be stressful during a time when you don’t need the added stress. Just be careful that your diet is healthy overall.

For pregnant women, make sure that you stretch your legs, before going to sleep every night. This is because many pregnant women get intense muscle cramps while they are sleeping, which could be easily prevented, if they stretch. Spend about 5 minutes flexing all of your muscles, before even climbing into bed.

Make sure to avoid household chores that can be harmful to your unborn baby. Pregnant women should not clean with harsh chemicals, such as bleach, climb ladders, and especially should avoid cleaning a cat’s litter box. Pay attention to your surroundings and get help for any activity you think might be dangerous.

Wear sunscreen while pregnant, even if you didn’t really require it before. Tanning beds should also be avoided. Pregnancy can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, increasing your chances of both sunburn and sunspots. However, make sure that the sunscreen you use contains only chemicals that are safe for your baby.

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The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

I adore Mo Willems…He has a knack for writing easy-to-read books that are fun for both kids and adults. Edison is so engaged when we read this book, and that is half the battle with spirited kids.

Mungo and the Spiders from Space
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Little man is all about rockets right now, so this book is just perfect. It is about a little boy reads a book and gets to join in a space adventure. The pictures are interesting, the storyline is cute, and it is fun to read. (Thanks for adding this to the library, “Glandpa”.)

Chicka Chicka 123
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)

Known in our home as “Chicka Chicka Number Boom Boom”, this one instantly held a number 1 ranking for our 3 year-old. It is a sequel to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (obviously). Although it focuses on the numbers 0-20, the numbers 0-100 are listed in the back. Every time we read it, my son insists on counting each number. This wouldn’t be too bad, but if he messes up, he starts again. Ugh. But, he is learning to count to 100, so it is totally worth it.

Making the Moose Out of Life
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)
This book makes me happy, and Edison can tell. I love the art, and I love the message. It is about a moose who goes off on an adventure and finds there is a lot more to life than he thought. My husband and I just love the message, and it is such a good thing for kids to learn when they are young. (Actually, we love a number of books by this author…see more.)

Shark VS Train
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)
When my husband brought this home from a book fair, I rolled my eyes. Could a book be more boy? But, when it was my turn to read it, I changed my tune. It goes through different types of challenges and whether a train or a shark would win. Silly, but it sparks some great conversations. I wouldn’t say it is my favorite book, but it is certainly one of my preschooler’s top picks. At the end of the day, that’s really what matters.

How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
(Find out more or buy through Amazon…)
This book is absolutely perfect for a 3 year-old boy. First, it is about dinosaurs. But, what I love is how I can make references to it during bed time. “Hey…”, I say when my son whines about going to bed. “Do dinosaurs do that at bedtime?” Of course they don’t. This book makes bedtime a lot nicer.

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The Incident Report said:

“Edison was in the bathroom washing his hands when he started crying that he had put something in his ear and wanted Mommy and Daddy.”

Edison described the incident to every nurse and doctor with 4 sentences:

“I was outside playing. I washed my hands. I took a shell from the box. I put it in my ear.”

When the school first told us, it was kind-of funny. Such a 3 year-old thing to do. But, when we picked him up and realized that we could hardly see the shell, let alone remove it, it became kind of scary. Needless to say, we took him to Urgent Care.

For a parent, there is little worse than hearing a doctor say, “We need to discuss your options…” I heard scary words like, “strap him to a board”, “permanent hearing loss”, “anesthetize”, and “perforated ear drum”. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I just kept smiling reassuringly at Edison so he wouldn’t be worried.

Just when I was about to break down sobbing, Edison leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I just tooted…” Suddenly, I knew everything would be OK.

The doctor said that the seashell was so far in his ear canal that it really couldn’t do any more damage if we waited to see a specialist the next day. So, we decided to wait.

The specialist was fantastic. Using a microscope and pliers that looked like a long needle, he effortlessly extracted the seashell. It was a whelk shell, about half the size of a dime. (Thanks to my step-dad for providing me with the word “whelk”.)

Now that it has been safely removed, I am finding myself so thankful for many things:

• There was no permanent damage.
• It was a shell and not a bead. (The doctors and nurses said that beads are the worst because they are impossible to get a grip on.)
• Edison is old enough to say, “Hey! I stuck something in my ear, and this is what it was.” (We could hardly see it. If he had been younger, he wouldn’t have been able to tell us and I could have caused serious damage the next time I cleaned his ears.)
• There are professionals who go to school to learn how to remove things from ears.
• The Universe saw us through yet another spirited child moment…Thanks, Universe!