For Your Consideration

As I have mentioned before, I have been reading alot lately. Well, I have fallen in love with a book series which I didn't think was possible after Harry Potter. There are three books in the series, with the fourth installment to be released in the fall of next year. The first book is called, "Twilight," the second is called, "New Moon," and the third , which was just released this month is called, "Eclipse." The author is Stephenie Meyer, (www.stepheniemeyer.com) All are NY Times Bestsellers. They are found in the Young Adult section of the bookstore, but like Harry Potter, they are not just for the "young adults." It is about a teenage girl, Bella, who goes to live with her father in the small town of Forks, Washington and falls in love with a mysterious teenage boy, Edward, who happens to be a vampire. This is not your typical "vampire tale." It is ultimately a love story and a very passionate one at that. These books just take you in and do not let you go. I read the whole series in a week. Bruce is at a loss how I can enjoy a book so much when I read it so fast. I simply tell him that I read it so fast because it is so good. I was crying like a baby while reading the second book, not even a hundred pages in. Just like I couldn't wait for each installment of Harry Potter, I am waiting in anticipation for the next book in this series. Here is also something of interest. All the books are written from Bella's perspective. On the authors website, in her spare time, she is rewriting the first book from Edward's perspective. She posted the first chapter and it is wonderful. Mrs. Meyer is at work writing the next book, but hopes that she will get the chance to finish this rewrite and eventually publish it as well.

These are amazing books that will leave you breathless, and will also leave you craving more. I highly recommend them. And if you do get a chance to read them or have read them already, let me know. I am dying to discuss them with someone.

Potty Time

Ryan has begun the tedious process that is toilet training. Ryan has 2 weeks off before school starts, so I decided it was time to try this full throttle. And believe it or not, we made some real progress today. After discussing this with friends and family, I decided to put him in underpants so that he can feel what it is like to be wet. At first he wanted no part of the underwear, but he gave in. He had an accident in the first hour which is to be expected. He didn't even realize he was wet. I was armed and ready with soap and disinfectant and had put a plastic cover on the couch in preparation. I kept asking him if he needed to sit on the potty and his answer was always "no." Then as I was talking with my mom on the phone, I saw the little rugrat run to his "hiding spot." (That is where he goes to do his business when he is wearing diapers.) I caught up with him and insisted he sit on the potty. He obliged after some consideration. I try and make sitting on the potty a fun time, where we read and play games. And to my surprise, he actually did #1 in the potty. He was as surprised as me. I started to hoot and holler, telling him how proud I was of him. I probably could have won money on America's Funniest Home Videos with how I reacted to his accomplishment. We gave eachother many high fives and I rewarded him with a trip to Toys R Us, where he picked out a Thomas the Train toy. Later on, he had another accident and then we had plans to go out, so he had to go back into a diaper. But all in all, for the first day, I think we made some real progress. I do think he is holding himself back when it comes to doing #2, which is common with toddlers. It is something they have control over and they are very reluctant to give that control up. So we will begin again tomorrow and hopefully make some more progress.

My baby is growing up so fast!

Ryan

Ryan is doing extremely well and just exceeding all expectations. He is just a great kid. I know I am his mom and I am biased, but he really is a fantastic human being. His laugh is just infectious. You can't help but laugh when you hear him laughing. As my mom puts it, he laughs with his whole soul. He is a sponge and just absorbs everything he hears and sees. He has a great memory also and that is sometimes not a good thing. He seems to remember when I curse ( and when I do it is always by accident, like when I am cut off in traffic or I get hurt ). But for the bright side, he does use the cursing in the right context....I kid. I am trying to watch myself better with language. He is also so polite. This is something that Bruce has really instilled in him and that I try to continue on a regular basis. He knows when to say please and thank you and sometimes says it too much. My joke is that he might eventually tell you to kiss off, but he will say please after and thank you when you depart.

Here is the thing...and this is something that none of the parenting books tell you and most mothers leave out when telling you all about parenthood. There was a time when this was not fun. I felt like the worst mother in the world when I realized I was not having fun and was starting to resent everyone and everything because of this fact. I wanted to be enjoying myself and all these other moms seem to have it all worked out and knew what they were doing. I felt like I knew nothing. Now that Ryan can communicate and he is becoming his own little person, I have begun to enjoy myself. I now have fun with my son and it is a great feeling. I always thought I was a baby person, but now I know I more of a toddler person. I love seeing him reach milestones and there is nothing like watching him learn something new. I love that he gives me kisses and hugs for no reason. I love that I am the only person that can kiss his booboos and that they feel better after that. I love everything about him. Like I said he is a fantastic human being.

As for what Ryan is up to, we have slowly started the potty training process. This is something that I have been dreading, but it is time. Right now, we take some time during the day to just sit on the potty. We read books while he just sits there and tries. Nothing has happened yet, but I am hopeful. I have not removed diapers yet b/c he is still in camp. Next week is his last week and then he has a couple of weeks off before school starts, so that is when potty training goes into full effect. I have a plastic couch cover ready and lots of disinfectant and soap. We will try the "just putting him in underwear and lets see what happens" approach. Should be lots of fun. My mom said she would come out and help me. I am just hoping he catches on quickly.

That is it for the Ryan update.

Curses!!!

So Ryan, my little parrot, has overheard someone (possibly me, but it might not be) saying the dreaded "D" word. So now may son is going around saying, "dammit." Can't tell you how proud this makes me as a mother that my 3 year old is saying this. Bruce and I have realized that Ryan probably picks this up from us when we are driving. It's hard to control your temper when someone is cutting you off. I have told Ryan that this is a bad word and not for him to repeat. I might as well have told this to the wall b/c I think the wall listens better. We will see if Ryan keeps this up. Oy Vey!

What I Really Want to Do

I have wanted to be a writer ever since I can remember. Well that or an actress. Well, obviously neither has panned out. I used to act off off off off (you get the picture) broadway and really enjoyed it. It seems like a lifetime ago. Lately, I have been reading....I mean really reading alot of books. I read when Ryan is at camp, when he is napping, even when he is quietly playing by himself ( and let me tell you, my house is paying dearly for my neglect.) . I find myself looking for new books to read, reserving them at my local library ( I haven't messed up my library status yet here on Long Island, thank heavens!) and then finishing them in less than a week and doing this again. As I read all these books, I can't help but think to myself that I would love to write a book. It would be wonderful to be paid to do something I love to do. I guess that is everyones dream. So I went out and bought a notebook (the paper kind, not the computer kind) and sat with my pen and paper ready to write. There I was, waiting for inspiration to strike, like it used to when I was younger. And I sat. And I chewed on my pen. Then I doodled a little flower, the same flower I have been doodling since I was a kid. Then I started to practice my penmanship. Then I practiced forging my husbands signature, which I fully confessed to him that I did ( and well I might add, I seem to be able to forge most signatures. So many talents I wish I had, and I was blessed with the ability to forge. Yeah me.) In the end, I had nothing to show for my writing efforts except wasted, drawn on paper. I am still hoping that the inspiration will overcome me and I will be able to write something of substance. My mom wrote a wonderful childrens book years ago and never submitted it for publication. I finally convinced her to send it in. What is the worst that can happen? They reject it and she goes on with her life. But I have high hopes that it might be published. It has an environmental theme and focuses on responsibilty, which seems to be a relevant issue. Everyone cross their fingers that someone sees this book for the wonderful work that it is. My mother needs something good to happen and this could be it.

My husband, Bruce, also acted in his former life and wrote. We just went to see his old theatre group perform and we were both invited to join them and perform, or even write a piece for them to perform. It was such a tempting offer and maybe we will do it when Ryan gets a little older. I think it would be great to do something like this together. But alas, the timing is off. I think my timing is always off. One of the wonderful perks of being me.

Lets Get This Started

Ok, I am desperate for an outlet, any type of outlet to start writing again. Even if it's just about my own life, being a wife and mother. I figure this would be a great place to write about my son and all the wonderful (and not so wonderful things) he is doing and keep family and friends appraised of his progress. I'll also let you know what I am up to. Sometimes I'll post whatever is on my mind. I guess this is a great place for me to write, which like I said, is something I've been wanting for a really long time.

So here we go.............