.A little video of my brainiac.

Background: Last week my dad and I took Amelia to the park. It was so hot that a dip in the fountain seemed in order. After getting thoroughly doused by the frigid water we let the sprays stop so that she could warm up in the sunshine. Her new favorite thing is pointing out letters and numbers and having us give her their names. Enjoy

Video

.Getting ready for Fall.

Amelia's Halloween costume has been ordered and I'm crazy excited! It'll take about a month to make and ship {thanks to Etsy I found a shop that makes exactly what I want and can make it to fit for my string bean kid} so I should be getting it right in the perfect amount of time.
Seriously guys, she's going to be so super cute. A.G.C. will be little red riding hood this year and I'm knocking around the idea of getting Josie {our mini aussie} a "granny" costume to match.
I am so stoked about autumns arrival. We already have plans for the pumpkin patch {our friends David & Abigail are joining us this year} and all kinds of fall goodness. I can assure you now that all of my fall & winter cookbooks & recipes have been brought out and as per usual im already working on my Thanksgiving menu.....mmmm.
After next week I'll be wavin' toodle-oo to summer and gettin' my autumn on. Yay!

.A sign that maybe People magazine shouldn't be in the bathroom.

Me: "Amelia's hair is driving me insane. It's always in her dang face and gets yucky. But I'm worried that if we trim her bangs now she'll look like she has a mullet."
Cheyenne: "Hmm, I don't think that's necessarily true. We could go for that Suri Cruise look, her hair is cute and doesn't look like a mullet."
Me: "Suri Cruise?"
Cheyenne: "Yeah, Suri Cruise. She has a great little haircut - very cute & age appropriate."
Me: speechless.

 Miss Cruise rockin' the toddler bob

Cheyenne actually has a point, although I have no idea how or why he came upon the information of who Suri Cruise is or what her hair looks like...or when and why he started using the term "cute". So now we're kicking around the idea of getting Amelia's haircut sooner than we had planned. What are your thoughts? Should I go ahead and get her hair trimmed so that she doesn't look like a sheep dog or should I just wait it out and have her bangs grow out to the same length as the rest of her hair?

.School days.

School starts back up next week, and at the risk of sounding like a freak, I'm excited. You see, we live across the street from an elementary school {the same one that I went to for 1st-3rd grade} and the first day of school coincides with the time of day that Cheyenne leaves for work. For the past couple of years we have been lucky enough to play voyeur and watch families dropping off their little ones for their first day of school. It's always so sweet and fun. There's a fun energy in the air that even the two people without a school-aged child can feel. Parents choke back tears and independent kiddos go running full throttle towards the next chapter of growing up while other kiddos look on apprehensively until a friend in the making comes along and introduces him/herself.
The first day of school at Sitton Elementary always makes me wistfully think about the day in the not too distant future when my own independent social butterfly runs out of my arms towards her future. I warn everyone now: I. WILL. BE. A. BASKET. CASE. Which I am sure is no surprise to any of you.
Today while reading my daily blog list I came across the idea for the above photo. I love it! I have filed it away and fully plan on taking a similar photo on the first day of school of my children each year along with the accompanying stats then put them into a book with other photos from the school years. I'm sure that the day that she goes away to college I will sit at home with a glass {or bottle} of wine and the scrapbook and have a good long weep. Worth it.

.Yes, I must have these.

It's no secret, I love creating things in the kitchen. It's my zen place. You best believe that Amelia will be in there getting her hands dirty with me just as soon as it seems like she has the interest for such a thing {I'm thinking in the next year}. Already the kitchen is the one place in this house that she most wants to visit {of course part of that could be the baby gate keeping her from her perceived Shangri-La}. Add this bit of fantastic to the Chole &  Mimi christmas list {you readin' this Chey?}. How freaking cute over the top are these Mommy & daughter aprons from uncommon goods?! Zoinks!
Since we're already planning on getting her a play kitchen for her birthday I think these cute matching aprons in definitely in order.

.Recipe of the week.

Today may be Monday but I am in fantastic spirits! Last night my bestie {Miss Holly Streed} came over for wine and hanging outs {as we call it} that was long overdue. Ahhh, girl time. Also, just in general, we had a great weekend which is always a good thing leading into a new week. And, starting this Friday at 5:00pm Cheyenne will be on vacation {which means I will be too}! Yay!
Adding to my great mood is today's weather. Don't get me wrong, I have been thoroughly enjoying summer {which is never ever something that happens} but having a day of grey skies and drizzle after weeks of heat and sunshine is more than welcomed by this rain lovin' gal. It's supposed to warm right back up in the next 48 hours so this is just a break but it's nice. Now that I've had a taste of cool down I can tell you that I am looking so forward to my very favorite season {autumn}. I took the dog and baby on a walk this morning just so that I could smell the air {is there anything better than the smell of the rain on the parched earth?}. During the entire walk I stared down the trees trying to will them to change their colors.
Since it's cooled down today I think im going to enjoy some foods and activities that it's just been too hot to enjoy lately. For lunch im making grilled cheese & soup for Mimi & I and we'll be dancing around the house and singing along with Elizabeth Mitchell. Also, since it's finally not painfully hot {which to me means 84...I know it gets hotter where you live but anything over 84 is so repulsive to me that there just aren't words} I can bake! Yay! Something gooey and chocolatey is just what the weather calls for today. Lucky for me I found a recipe on Cake Events Blog that sounds like just the thing that I'm hankerin' for. Enjoy!

Espresso Chocolate Walnut Brownies

Ingredients
Vegetable-oil cooking spray
¾ cup chopped walnuts
1 cup cake flour, or ¾ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¾ teaspoon baking powder
1½ tablespoons finely ground espresso beans
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1½ cups sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Line the pan with aluminum foil, then spray the foil with cooking spray.
Spread the walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly browned, about six to eight minutes. Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder in a small bowl. Stir in the ground espresso and set aside.
Fill a medium saucepan one-third full with water and bring to a simmer. Place the chocolate and butter in a large heat-proof bowl and set over the simmering water. Turn the heat to low. Melt the chocolate and butter, stirring frequently, until completely smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture just until the flour is absorbed. Stir in the nuts.
Pour the batter evenly into the pan. Bake until a crust forms on top and the center is still somewhat gooey, but not Baywatch jiggly, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in the pan set on a rack. Refrigerate two hours. Cut into 1-inch squares to serve.

Recipe & additional photos found here.

.Come for a visit.

Come on, you know you want to. Even if it's just for 36 hours.

p.s. Thank you to Amanda for sharing this link!
p.p.s. Cara, you know you want to move here {we're sending "moving to PDX" thoughts your way every waking hour}!

..The next generation of cousins.

First I'd like to send out a huge congratulations to Cheyenne's cousin Greg & his wife Ivy who are expecting their first baby in the late winter/early spring of 2012! Yay!
Cheyenne & I were just talking about cousins this weekend, about how close we were/are to ours and how many we have {I have 13 first cousins and Chey has 6 or 7}. Our discussion revolved around how weird it seems to us that Amelia will have so very few 1st cousins since I'm an only child and Cheyenne has one sibling {the sweet and wonderful Cara Rose} who happens to be 16 years younger than he is. Poor Amelia we thought.
Then we got the call about Greg & Ivy and started talking about Amelia's 2nd cousin options and actually realized that there seems to be a bit of a baby boom amongst our relatives. My cousins Derek & Brynn each have a child basically Amelia's age {Derek's son Landyn is 3 and Brynn's daughter Hadley is 12 weeks to the day younger than Amelia}. My cousin Brianna is having her first baby this February. And Cheyenne's cousin Cody has two sons, the younger of which is less than 5 years older than Amelia.
So while she may not have a ton of first cousins I'm confident that with this recent influx of babies she'll still get that "cousin experience" thanks to all of her second cousins {or first cousins once removed...however it works. You know what I mean} :-)

.TGIF.

Ah, it's Friday. Thank goodness. It's been a long two weeks. Last week I had a kidney infection {hence me skipping out on posting a cocktail last Friday}. I'm feeling much better now but I've been stressed out all week, you know how that goes. Luckily it's the weekend and we're one more week closer to vacation {September 3-10}. We just found out that on the 11th Cheyenne has to fly out to Boston on business {he has to travel for business about twice a year} and I think once he gets back it'll officially feel like summer is over. I love love love autumn {it's my very favorite season} but in the next few weeks im soaking in as much of the summer as I can. On that note this week's cocktail recipe is a sunny sweet Italian drink that would be perfect enjoyed outside with some yummy Italian nibbles {crostini or brushetta with fresh tomatoes and herbs if you have a garden or farmers market nearby would be lovely. As would marcona almonds and Italian cheeses like Taleggio}.

Sparkling Limoncello-Raspberry Cocktail

Ingredients:
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. grated lemon zest
A few drops of fresh lemon juice
3 raspberries
2 Tbs. limoncello
Crushed ice as needed
1/2 cup sparkling wine
Lemon zest strip for garnish

Directions:

1.On a small plate, stir together the sugar and grated lemon zest. Dip a clean finger in the lemon juice and moisten the rim of a Champagne flute or other glass. Dip the rim in the sugar mixture to coat.

2. In a small bowl or ramekin, using a cocktail muddler or the end of a wooden spoon, pulverize the raspberries with the limoncello. Transfer the puree to the sugar-rimmed glass. Place a spoonful of crushed ice in the glass, then pour in the sparkling wine. Garnish with the lemon zest strip and serve immediately. Serves 1.

.Terrible twos: a sneak peak.

Oy and vey my friends. I have recently realized that "morning sickness" with it's ability to strike well before or after morning is just preparation for the "terrible twos" which it turns out can crop up well before or after a second birthday.
Let me say that Amelia is actually a very "easy" child if such a thing exists. She's a very happy, loving, sweet child that has slept well since she was 5 months old, tries any food that I give her, etc. However, now that Little Miss is waving "buh-bye" to babyhood and running full throttle into toddlerhood we've got a wee one who can throw a Class A full on tantrum when she feels the occasion calls for it. I know that 99% of these tantrums {about 1-2 a day} stem from her being unable to communicate what she wants and feeling helpless and misunderstood. I get that. I do. But lemme tell ya, it takes a strength that I never knew a human could possess to not react to it. Our strategy has been to hold her arms down and look her straight in the eye and firmly tell {not yell} her that what she's doing isn't okay {"Amelia no. We do not hit. No hit." for example}. That usually does the trick {sidenote: she can be really sensitive when it comes to Daddy. If she thinks that he's upset with her she sticks out her lower lip and her chin quivers as crocodile tears well up in her eyes}. When her warning doesn't work it's off to time out for 1.5-2 minutes, we put her down in the designated area and repeat her offense {example: "Amelia, we don't hit. No hit"} and tell her to sit in time out. Cheyenne and I were both skeptical that the concept of time out could work on someone so young but actually it works like a charm. She sits there and just kind of uses the space and change of scenery to calm herself down, her scowl turns into a smile and when we say "okay, you can get up" she walks right over to us for a hug and we say something like "thank you. When you hit it hurts. I love you, we're not mad" and just go on with things.
This was always the form of discipline that Cheyenne & I agreed on and I'm glad to say that we've done pretty well navigating this new territory together. I know that as Amelia gets older that discipline gets harder but I think that Cheyenne & I are laying a good foundation now that will keep us from having a total brat, which has always been a major goal for us :-)

.And while we're on the subject of toiletries.

Since before Amelia was born Cheyenne & I have always made an effort to keep her as free from harmful chemicals as possible {Eco-friendly paint in the nursery, organic clothing and bedding, etc} and this of course includes her shampoos, lotions, & washes. I've tried just about every organic baby wash, bubble bath, and shampoo there is. I don't have any major complaints about any of them but I do have a favorite brand after all of my trials.
Babo Botanicals line of childrens toiletries are fantastic! If I could go back in time and redo my registry I would totally remove the Noodle & Boo products and replace them with Babo Botanicals in a hearbeat. We've tried the "oatmilk calendula", "lavender meadowsweet", & "berry primrose" options and my favorite is the lavendedr meadowsweet - the smell is A-MAZING and it seems to really calm Amelia down during her bedtime bath routine. And now that she's got this insane mop of unruly hair the berry primrose leave in detangler is pretty much a necessity.
It goes to say that these are not included in any of the Babo products which makes them totally safe for your little ones. They also have gift packages in case you know a prego that has a baby shower coming up {I know I would have loved one of their baskets}!
I know that their products can be purchased through their website & Amazon.com but I get mine from Pharmaca {which is also where I get our prescriptions and such filled and pick up vitamins and the like}.
The next time you're in the market for childrens bathroom essentials give Babo a try!

.Pearly whites.

I think I've mentioned Amelia's total obsession with brushing her 14 teeth. Homegirl loves brushing her teeth! Every morning after Daddy goes to work she runs to the bathroom and points up to the sink where her toothbrush is kept and yells "TOOF!". It's pretty darn cute.
I'm also convinced that at least part of her love of dental hygiene comes from the yumminess of childrens toothpaste. Hrmf. There are countless warnings out there about the overuse of fluoride and the dangers of sodium lauryl sulfate - I'm pleased to say that Portland does not fluoridate the water supply so that we can personally control what we put in our bodies. Keeping the safety and well being of my little one in mind always comes into play when shopping for her and this includes toothpaste.
I found Coral Kids Toothpaste a while ago and it's a total hit! It's fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, and glycerine free, has tons of natural healthy minerals, has a yummy flavor {yup, I gave it a try out of curiosity}, and works like a charm! If you have a little one that's got a set of chompers I really recommend it! Added bonus: no stupid Disney or Nickelodeon characters on the packaging - it's not a deal breaker but I like that little extra.

.Recipe{s} of the week.

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. We sure did, but as always, it was over too soon. On Saturday we went to the baptism of Sebastian Diaz-Yoshikawa {son of out friends Luis & Sayuri} we had a great time and there were lots of little ones at the party afterward for Amelia to play with. Yesterday we had the perfect Sunday with a lazy morning then 3 hours of playing in the pool {Amelia is like a fish} followed by a "picnic" {fried chicken, mac & cheese, coleslaw & iced tea} on the grass in our backyard with breaks to play in the sandbox or play "chase" around the yard clear up until bath/night time. Amelia was so exhausted that she slept in an extra hour today!
Now the week starts and we're "back to the grind" but I'm in a pretty good mood...if not a bit too mellow. I got the idea for today's recipe, well three recipes actually. when making breakfast for Peanut. Im a big big believer in "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" even if I myself am bad and rarely partake these days {mornings are a lot of rushing for me now that I've got a little someone to chase around} but I do make sure that Amelia ALWAYS eats a very healthy breakfast. I have a few reasons, first of all I can tell there is a big big difference in her energy level and mood if we dont get a good breakfast in her and since she's such a light eater I find that if I can make sure that she gets a really healthy nutritious breakfast that covers all of the health bases then no matter what else happens the rest of the day food-wise at least she got a good meal in.
For me, as the cook and mom, a "good breakfast" means that it's going to have whole grain, omega-3's, iron, calcium, and at least one dark colored fruit or veggie {reds, dark greens, purples, or blues} for the antioxidants, and at least one orange or yellow fruit or veggie for some vitamins A & C. It seems like a lot to ask for when spelled out like that but it's actually really really easy to incorporate all of these elements into a breakfast {or any meal, but I find breakfast easiest} since there are so many foods that cover more than just one of those categories. I actually have a repertoire of breakfasts but for time reasons I'm just listing three today. All of these recipes are easy to make, quick to prepare, and {most important} yummy while being fantastically healthy. Give them a try for yourself or your little one and I promise that you'll feel great all morning!

Hot Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1/2 cup of thinly sliced apples
1/4 cup of raisins
1/4 cup of dried apricots, chopped
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons flax seeds
almond milk, warmed
agave nectar

Directions:
1. rinse quinoa then add to water in a saucepan & bring to a boil.

2. Reduce heat & simmer for 5 minutes.

3. Add apples, raisins, apricots, & cinnamon stirring until the water is absorbed.

4. Serve with almond milk {like you would with a traditional oatmeal} then sprinkle flax seeds over the top and drizzle with a little agave for sweetness if needed.

*Notes: health benefits & information on quinoa found here.
Health benefits & information on flax found here.
Health benefits & information on almond milk found here.
Health benefits & information on agave nectar found here.

Blueberry Chia Seed breakfast "pudding"

Ingredients:
5 tablespoons of chia seeds
2 cups water
1/2 cup blueberries
1 tangerine
1/2 a banana
2 teaspoons of lucuma powder
2 tablespoon flaxseed
Coconut milk to taste

Directions:
1. mix the chia seeds & water until you get a gel-like consistency.
2. Mix the "chia gel" & remaining ingredients in a blender until smooth.

*Notes: Health benefits & information on chia seeds found here.
Health benefits & information on lucuma powder found here.
Health benefits & information on coconut milk found here.

Hot Amaranth Cereal with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds & Cranberries

Ingredients:
1 cup whole amaranth grains
3 cups water
2 tablespoon toasted pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dried cherries
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

Directions:

1. Soak 1 cup of amaranth in 3 cups of water overnight. In the morning place grain with soaking water a saucepan over medium heat and cook for 3-5 minutes or until amaranth is soft. Be careful to watch grain so as not to burn.

2. Toss in the flaxseed, cranberries & cherries.

3. Serve with warmed milk of your choice {cow, rice, goat, almond, coconut, hemp, or whatever you like} top with toasted pumpkin seeds and sweeten with cinnamon and/or agave nectar if desired.

Notes: Health benefits & information on amaranth found here.
Health benefits & information on pumpkin seeds found here.

.They're just like me.

One of my very favorite people in the world, Kevin Thomas Miller {he's so fabulous that he deserves all 3 names listed}, sent me this link today and I absolutely love it. I love the author and her husband and their adorable son. Her responses and reactions are the exact ones that Cheyenne & I would have {though I still hate Glee}. It's a great {and quick} read but worth it.

.TGIF.

Happy Friday everyone! Today's cocktail recipe is a fun one for me. Here in Clark Estate we have a few heros, one of whom is the incomparable Hunter S. Thompson. Whenever either Cheyenne or I re-read any of Hunters books or articles or re-watch Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas a hankering for a Singapore Sling {his favorite cocktail} creeps up. In fact, on my 21st birthday when I went to my first bar and ordered my first cocktail I went with the ole Singapore Sling in honor of H.S.T.....I remember little else of the night {which should be the story for every 21st birthday}. This weekend you should mix up some Singapore Slings and read The Rum Diary or watch Fear & Loathing....you wont regret either.

Singapore Sling Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz. gin
1/2 oz. Peter Herring Cherry Heering
1/4 oz. Cointreau
1/4 oz. Bénédictine
2 oz. pineapple juice
Dash of Angostura bitters
2 dashes grenadine
1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
Ice as needed
Club soda as needed (optional)
Orange slice for garnish
Cherry for garnish

Directions:
In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, Cherry Heering, Cointreau, Bénédictine, pineapple juice, bitters, grenadine, lime juice and ice. Shake, then strain into a highball glass. Top with club soda. Garnish with the orange slice and cherry. Serves 1.

.S'mores Day.

Today is National S'mores day {yes, that's a real thing}! I love s'mores {what kind of freak doesn't?} and in this last month of summer it seems like a great thing to "celebrate". Here are some fun s'mores recipes...

These s'mores cookies would be perfect for your cookie jar!

Come winter you may have a hankerin' for s'mores but without a campfire you might be at a loss. In times like this you should try these s'mores bars.

Peanut butter s'mores....oh my, I am speechless.

S'mores trifle! Yes!

Two of my favorite things: s'mores & mason jars. What an easy and cute dessert!

I can assure you that when my bestie {Miss Holly Streed} comes over for a girl date this weekend we will be having a s'moretini or two.

Having a party this summer? These easy DIY s'mores party favors are adorable!

Cutest cupcakes ever!

.Home.

I love *my* city. Oh Portland. I hope that everyone that reads this blog is lucky enough to love their hometowns with as much zeal as I love mine. Here is a great small little window of what life is like in the summer in one of my favorite neighborhoods {Alberta arts district in NE Portland}.

.Recipe of the week.

When it's warm and lovely outside my favorite dinners are seafood based. Perhaps it's a Northwest thing {though I would suspect that the Northeast and parts of the South would agree} but summer food to me almost always means seafood {or barbeque}. The favorite summertime fish dinner en Casa del Clark is cedar-planked salmon. Basically, it's the Pacific Northwest served up on a plate and it's super easy and of course, super yummy. Thanks to food magazines and shows sharing our cedar-secret with the rest of the country it's easy to find cedar planks in most grocery stores seafood section {I'm actually just assuming that - they are in every single grocery store's seafood section here in Portland so I am making the assumption that they aren't hard to find in other areas as well}. Please give this recipe a try the next time you look at the thermometer then your stove and think to yourself "I just can't make it any hotter!" Enjoy!

Cedar-Planked Salmon

Ingredients:
8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room
temperature
Salmon grilling rub
Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon
3 to 4 lb. salmon fillet, skin intact
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced

Directions:
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of the grilling rub and lemon zest and beat until well blended, about 1 minute more. Spoon the butter mixture onto a sheet of waxed paper and form into a log about 1 inch thick. Twist the ends to seal the butter, then wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.

2. Soak a cedar plank in water for at least 20 minutes or up to 4 hours.

Prepare a medium fire in a grill. Have ready a spray bottle of water to extinguish any flare-ups on the plank. Bring the seasoned butter to room temperature.

3. Place the plank on the grill, close the lid, and heat until the plank begins to smoke and crackle. Rub the skinless side of the salmon with the salmon rub. Place the salmon, skin side down, on the plank and arrange the lemon slices on top of the fish. Close the lid and grill until the salmon is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.

Transfer the plank with the salmon to a heatproof platter, or carefully transfer the salmon directly to a warmed platter. Cut as much of the seasoned butter as desired into slices 1/4 inch thick and place on the salmon, reserving any remaining butter for another use. Serve immediately.

I like to serve this with easy grilled asparagus dressed with olive oil & lemon & a quinoa pilaf. Super easy, healthy, and delicious! If you have a nice Oregon pinot noir that's all the better.

.Not that kind of throne.

The actual "throne". The POÄNG children's chair from Ikea. It's super neutral in color which is great for moving from room to room in our house and for passing on to any future sibling but it seems a bit dull so I think I'm going to order a slipcover for it.

The future "throne". The BABYBJÖRN Potty Chair. I love this "spring green" color because it matches my bathroom and is gender neutral. Also, I read like {no joke} 400 reviews of this potty chair and it seems to be the favorite of children and parents alike.

For weeks now Amelia has been climbing all over chairs and couches apparently desperate for one of her own {hence the Bumbo situation last week}. We have been mulling over getting an Anywhere Chair from Pottery Bark Kids for her but just haven't gotten around to it. Yesterday we were out and about and stopped by Ikea to look for some things for Cheyenne's office/Manland, while Chey was puttering around I took Amelia over to the kids section to keep her occupied and she made a beeline for the children's poang chair and decided that she had to have it. Since she was so in love we went ahead and got it for her.
We brought it home and set it up for her first thing. She spent an hour arranging her stuffed animals in it then she got a book climbed up and read to herself until nap-time. Adorable.
Then, without thinking anything of it I updated my Facebook status to say "thanks to Ikea the Empress now has a new throne, all she needs now is a scepter" and went about my day intending to add a photo of her sitting in it later on. Hours and hours later I logged back in to Facebook and it turns out that people mistook the term "throne" for a potty chair. Perhaps it's a generation thing or I'm not sure what, but it never ever occurred to me that people still called toilets "the throne"...that always seemed like something that would have been said by the likes of old men from a couple of generations before my own. Oy. So then I had to explain that no, in fact she isn't starting the potty training process {yet}.
But I got to thinking and I'm not sure that I've ever addressed the great potty training plan here in the blog. Or have I? I don't remember and since it's Monday I also don't feel like hunting through two years of blog posts looking for a mention of it. So here's the deal: the plan is to start the introduction to the potty sometime between November and her birthday by setting up a potty chair in the bathroom and helping her along without pressure so that she gets excited about it. We don't want her to stress out over the whole thing and cause it to be a bigger struggle than it needs to be. Once she turns two we'll step it up and in theory she'll be good to go by my birthday in April {sooner would be better but of course each child is different so it's not totally possible to predict an end date but that's kind of our goal}. We checked with our pediatrician and of course about 1.2 million books and this is the time frame and that we feel is best.
So in a few months we'll go pick up a potty chair and some potty training books for her to get her excited about the whole thing. As for the whole "pull-ups vs undies" debate here's what I'm thinking: books, blogs, and magazines have all said that using cotton underwear quickens the process because they aren't absorbent and it helps little children understand the cause and effect of accidents and helps them understand their bodies natural queues. But friends of ours with children have all said that while that may be true it gets pretty tiring changing your toddlers outfit 10 times a day {at first} and just leads to frustration on both parts. So I think we're going to do a balance between the two. At first we're going to use Pull-ups in the day and diapers at night {November-January 27} then when we get down to *serious mode* we'll do undies during the day and Pull-ups at night or some combo thereof and slowly wean off the Pull-ups as she gets more confident with the potty chair.
How about you? Do you have any experience with this? What did you do and what did you think of it? Was there anything that you would have changed? Do you have a child around the same age {give or take}? What are the plans that your family has come up with?

.Growth.

*As always, remember that any photo posted on the blog can be enlarged by clicking on it.

.Picnic.

This is Amelias doll. She's kind of obsessed with babies right now. The dolls name is "Baby"...it does not like being put in corners.

The only way that I could get her to stand still so that I could get a photo was to ask her where her nose is. Hmm.

Please notice her hairdo "pre-picnic"

Now, please notice her hair "mid-picnic".

.Now notice her hair at the end of the day....hot mess.

.Luis {holding Sebastian}, Tony {holding Nora} & of course Cheyenne {holding our child who is clearly done with the whole damn photo taking thing}

.Erin {holding Nora, who is also clearly done with the whole damn photo taking thing}, Sayuri {holding Sebastian} & me {holding a very fussy Amelia Grace}

.Look out folks, she's got wheels.

Today was Cheyenne's company picnic and we had a great time! Of course this means that Amelia got to play with her two besties: Nora {Combs} & Sebastian {Yoshikawa-Diaz}. Nora & Amelia being 15 & 18 months respectively were both going 100 mph and most photos that I took were just pink & purple blurs. I assure you that they were adorable together. Sebastian, being only 6 months old preferred to sit back and take in the overwhelming ladies. Both girls are in love with the "baaaa-bee" and like to go over to him and give him hugs and kisses {which is just painfully cute} and pet him. He seems to think they're quite funny.
With the kiddos being on the move the whole time it wasn't until we were all packing up to leave that we thought to snap some photos. By that time all three {especially the girls} were d-o-n-e done. But you get the idea.

p.s. I also took a few pre-picnic photos because um...she's freaking adorable!