Merry Christmas!

Some Sixth Sense Shenanigans

While brushing her teeth, Ava started talking about someone named "Nicholas". She doesn't know a Nicholas, that I am aware of. When I asked her where she met him, she said, "in the castle, mom". She then went on to tell me that Nicholas likes her, and that he is her cutie. She described playing with him, but said that "some people don't like him". When I pressed her further, she said, "he's far away, mom". She then said, "mom, what do you do when people don't like you?", and "mom, some people don't like me". I was already creeped out big time by her talk of Nicholas (whom she later called Nicky), but then felt a pinch of a different kind of pain when she talked about not liking people/people not liking her. It was that odd parental moment where you want to say something that will stick with them and form their psyche in a productive and meaningful way, but where you (I) end up feeling stuck, start mumbling, and don't know quite what to say. I ended up saying, "it's not nice not to like people". I am not satisfied with this response, but at 3, maybe this situation does warrant a simplified response? I put Ava to bed feeling a little like I did when I watched the movie Sixth Sense and that creepy girl said "I see dead people". While I am constantly amazed by the depth of Ava's imaginative little mind, and I know it's completely normal to have pretend friends, I nevertheless just checked to see that the doors are locked and have all the lights on.

A Dad Poop and Some Baby Poops

Today I helped wipe Ava after a number two. She looked down into the toilet bowl after going, and said, "look, mom, it's a dad poop and two baby poops!" I agreed that it appeared as if there was a big poop and two little ones in the potty. She then said, "wait, mom--more poop is coming". Indeed, one more baby poop joined the others. She then said, "those poops are swimming away, but one poop is waiting for my pee. See, mom, pee is poop's best friend. Here comes the pee!"

It's never dull around here.

Psychology and the Mother Today

Do you know what intermittent reinforcement is? As a psych major in undergrad and a clinical psychology student for graduate school, I know just what it is.

Intermittent reinforcement is when a behavior is reinforced only some of the time. A great example of intermittent reinforcement (variable ratio, at that), is a slot machine, which randomly gives a reward, on no set schedule (now if you think slot machines are rigged...but that's a whole different subject entirely). Scientists have found that behaviors rewarded intermittently are actually harder to extinguish than those given continuously. That is, if you give a rat a pellet of food randomly and intermittently for performing a behavior, the behavior is strengthened *more* than if you give the rat a pellet every time they perform said behavior. It's a really cool phenomenon. I am reflecting on this phenomenon more than I would like to now that I am a parent.

Here's why--- my little Alley throws tremendous earth shaking fits when he wants to watch Diego or Yo Gabba Gabba videos. I mean, he screams, beats his head, cries, and tries to destroy things. I do my best to ignore the behavior. I also repeatedly tell hubby "no more TV every single day!, this kid is addicted!" Here's my quandry---by only letting Alley watch TV periodically (and not continuously) am I actually reinforcing the negative behavior (the tantrums?).
Something for you to think about.

Crap.

WikEd reinforces (pun intended) my very contention:

The interesting thing that Skinner [one of the fathers of behavioral psychology] discovered about intermittent reinforcement and maybe one of Skinner's most important discoveries was that behavior that is reinforced intermittently is much more difficult to extinguish than behavior that is reinforced continuously. "This is why many of our student's undesirable behaviors are so difficult to stop. We might be able to resist a child's nagging most of the time, but if we yield every once in a while, the child will persist with it." (Crain, 187) Therefore, when we begin to teach a desired behavior it is best to begin with continuous reinforcement, but if you wish to make a desired behavior last it is best to switch to an intermittent schedule of reinforcement.

Double crap.

What's On Your Mind, AlleyBoy?

I realize my blog has become a baby book of sorts. Hopefully you aren't too bored with the details of what is going on with my babies.

Words Uttered Frequently by Alley Boy (also known as: I am not one of those moms who hear a tiny utterance of a word one time and think that my child said "submarine").

mama
da-da
kitty
gog gog (dog)
icky
seesee (sissy)
shoes
kitty
uh-oh
choo-choo
ba ba (sippy or binky)
cheese (when having picture taken)
mmmm good (when eating something he likes)
ball

In the past few weeks he can also show us where his hair, nose, and ears are.

She's an artist!

Check out this fantabulous piece of artwork Ava made for me! It looks *just* like me! Well, it looks just like me if you think that I look like bag of potatoes on stilts, a toad wearing flippers, or a groundhog with oven mitts on his hands.

The important thing to keep in mind here is this--take a look at her use of shading, of depth, and mastery of the impressionist artistic style. I am so impressed!!!

Birdie & the Ax's Wordle

New Hats

I am obsessed with these new hats from Totzhatz on Etsy!!

Happy Halloween!

Lovely Love My Family

Are you ready to dance?

Little Miss Independence & Little Mister Bigshot

Dear Blog,
My three year old is growing into an independent, intelligent, helpful, loving, and fun little lady! I thought I would tell you what she has been up to. Ava is obsessed with Disney princesses, particularly Ariel. She recently asked if she could be Ariel and Alex could be Flounder for Halloween. She loves to help mom cook in the kitchen. She puts away her shoes and coat when we get home. She even picks up her toys after being asked five times! Ava loves to emulate her mommy: "I want a pony tail just like you mommy!", and "I look like a princess, just like you, mommy!". She is only occasionally pinching and poking her brother, and loves to sing and dance. She's a little social butterfly, and always looking for approval. She had her first dentist appointment today, and took "opening her mouth really wide" very seriously. I must admit that she is a little anal retentive. Since I posses this quality in abundance, I love to see this. Her stool must be facing the correct direction and aligned in the middle of the bathroom sink when she is brushing her teeth. Her socks must be perfectly arranged in her shoes. She must have a napkin with dinner and the opportunity to choose the songs we sing on the ride home from school. Speaking of school--she LOVES it with all her little heart! She loves every aspect of it--the chance to play with babies and do crafts all day, the chance to do just what the teacher asks, and the opportunity to beam proudly when she talks about the other kids in her class. My little baby isn't such a baby anymore. That shiny brown hair and big blue eyes have done me in.
What have I done to deserve
someone so special in my life?

Dear Blog,
My own year old is growing into an active, affectionate, fiesty, and smart little boy! I thought I would tell you what he has been up to. Alex is obsessed with books. He loves to look through the pages and point to the characters. He has a particular affinity to Elmo, and stands 2 inches from the TV whenever Elmo is on. Dearest Alex is guided by the natural rhythms of his body's eating and sleeping habits: eat much food frequently, and sleep heavily. My little bubby continues to grow and grow and grow and looks like the average 2 year old! I have never seen a child with more energy, who runs faster, or plays harder. Alley lives for FREEDOM and darts away at the fastest pace his body will carry him, often making this odd noise that's a mix between a laugh and a gasp for more air. He loves to be flipped in the air, turned upside down, and danced with. His truest passion is for relaxation time, when he is allowed to sit in his crib with this binky and rub his silky lovie and blankie all over himself. When this happens (at bedtime or perhaps to corral him for a few minutes after bathtime), Alex completely unwinds, reclines, and goes into full relaxation mode. As for school, he wants none of it---not enough room to run! My little baby isn't such a baby anymore. That blonde hair and big blue eyes have done me in.
What have I done to deserve
someone so special in my life?

Baby Cheesycakies!

I made these mini -cheesecakes for my sister's engagement party. They turned out so great that I decided to post the recipes here so I don't lose track of them.

Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Cups

Adapted from iheartfood4thought/Kraft Food & Family. Pictures from iheartfood4thought.

Makes about 14 cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

12 Oreo cookies, finely crushed
4oz white chocolate, divided
2-8oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
12+ tbsp strawberry or raspberry preserves

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F. Line cupcake pan with liners

Press about 1tsbp of crushed cookie into bottom of each cupcake liner. Melt 3oz white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 15-30 sec intervals. Be careful not to burn chocolate. Set aside.

In a stand mixer with a flat beater, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, until blended. Fill cupcake liners almost to the top.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until almost set. Cool 5 minutes. Spread about 1+ tbsp preserves on top of each cupcake. Melt remaining chocolate and drizzle over cheesecake. Refrigerate for about 4 hours or overnight.

NOTES: I put the remaining melted white chocolate in a ziplock bag and snipped off a little corner to drizzle. Easy cleanup! Also, I prefer to use a homemade graham cracker crust (crushed graham crackers, butter, and sugar) for the crust. Also...a shot glass works great for smooshing down your crust!

Double Chocolate Cheesecake Bites

Adapted from Betty Crocker.com

9	creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies or 18 vanilla wafer cookies
2	packages (8 ounces each) plus 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1	cup granulated sugar
1/4	cup unsweetened baking cocoa
2	teaspoons vanilla
3	eggs 4 squares of white chocolate 2 Hershey's candy bars

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	Heat oven to 350ºF. Line 18 medium muffin cups, 2 1/2x1 1/4 inches, with paper baking cups. Split sandwich cookies in half. Place one cookie half, middle side up, in each cup.
	In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar and the cocoa until fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until well blended. Divide evenly among cups (cups will be almost full).
	Bake cheesecakes 20 to 25 minutes or until centers are firm. Cool 15 minutes (cheesecake centers will sink while cooling). Refrigerate in muffin cups at least 1 hour; cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour longer before serving. To decorate: Melt white chocolate and hershey bar on 50% in microwave. Stir and put in ziploc bag. Snip small corner and pipe center of cheesecake with melted chocolate. Top with chocolate sprinkles.

NOTES: It's important to decorate centers because they will fall after baking. You can either remove the muffin cups after refrigeration over night or leave them on the cheesecakes.

Enjoy!

Something Stinks

Something smells terrible in my kitchen. I've looked and looked, and haven't found the nonviolent offender yet. Could it be a misplaced sippy cup? Rotten potatoes? A dirty diaper under the sink? My imagination won't let me ponder anything so mundane. Instead, I am searching for vampire remains or werepanther droppings.....

Homemade Chocolate Cake in 4 minutes!

I have seen this recipe on several blogs in the last year and resisted trying it. I tend to shy away from anything too trendy, only to embrace it a year later when everyone else is almost tired of it. Case in point--I just started wearing leggings under long sweaters. True fashionistas are probably tiring of this trend, but I am just adopting it. Anywho, I finally came upon a bonafide reason to try out this recipe. Last night Ash made homemade brownies. I wanted a brown with my whole heart. After asking Ashley multiple times to bring me one from Peoria, it became clear she wasn't going to acquiesce. Time for chocolate cake in a mug...in 4 minutes!!! The recipe follows:

Microwave Mug Cake
4 tbsp. flour
4 tbsp. sugar
4 tbsp. cocoa
1 egg
3 tbsp. milk
3 tbsp. oil
3 tbsp. chocolate chips (optional, but hell, would I be making this concoction if
I HAD any chocolate chips? No).
Small splash vanilla

Measure flour, sugar, and cocoa in a large mug. Mix well. Add egg and mix well. Add milk and oil and mix well. Add chocolate chips and vanilla and mix well.

Microwave for 3 minutes. Take notice that your cake may creep up above the top of your mug, but shouldn't spill over.

Now if I just had some frosting for the top.....

Another Conversation with Ms. Ava

I am constantly amazed by this child.

Me: Ava, what do you think is good about daddy?
Ava: How he turns on my fan and my nightlight.
Me: What do you think is good about mommy?
Ava: How you pick up all my toys.
Me: What about Grandma Lisa?
Ava: How she gives me a drink in a special cup.
Me: What about Grandpa Dave?
Ava: How he falls asleep on his red couch.
Me: Grandma Rita?
Ava: How she makes me supper.
Me: And Grandpa Doug?
Ava: How he helps Grandma Rita make me mac n cheese.
Me: What is good about Aunt Ashley?
Ava: How she and Uncle Ryan take me to the zoo to see all the animals.
Me: What about Aunt Tess?
Ava: How she takes a shower in the mornings.
Me: And what about Alex?
Ava: How he makes silly faces at me.
Me: What about Grandma Shirley?
Ava: How she sits on our couch with us.
Me: And Grandma Marty?
Ava: She sits on her own couch.
Me: What about Grandpa John?
Ava: He takes me for good bike rides. That's good.

"The Yet to be Read" List

Rebecca, by Daphne Demaurier

The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield

The Spiritualist, by Megan Chance

Miscellaneous "Sookie Speak" short stories, by Charlaine Harris

The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldon

As well as read more of these series:

Phillipa Gregory's books
The Southern Vampire series
The Dresden Files

Eternal Friends

"Brother and sister,
together as friends,
ready to face
whatever life sends.
Joy and laughter
or tears and strife,
holding hands tightly
as we dance through life."
Author: Suzie Huitt

"Of all the things I have to play, I'd choose my brother any day."
Author: Unknown

"Sometimes being a brother is better than being a superhero."
Author: Marc Brown

WOO HOOO!!!

ASHLEY IS ENGAGED!!!

I am really going to miss you, dear friend.

Mr. John E. Paisley, Galesburg Chapel

59, 402 Memorial Drive, Abingdon, died at 8:40 PM Monday, August 24, 2009 in the Care Center of Abingdon.
He was born December 24, 1949 in Galesburg, the son of Dr. Charles B. and Elsie Anciaux Paisley.
Surviving is his fiancé, Cheryl Jo Peterson of Abingdon, his parents of Galesburg, 2 sons, Adam Paisley of Smyrna, GA and Ian Paisley of Louisville, CO, a daughter, Erynn (and Shawn Ratzlaff) Paisley of Louisville, CO, Cheryl’s daughters, Heather (and Mat) Warren and Amber Peterson, 6 grandchildren, and a sister, Mary Downin of Galesburg. He was preceded in death by a brother, Peter K. Paisley on November 17, 2008.
John was general manager and news director for WAIK for several years and has been the vocational counselor at Bridgeway for the past 7 years. He graduated from Galesburg High School in 1968 and from the University of Miami.
John was a member and current president of the Abingdon Rotary Club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. He loved the outdoors, especially camping and fishing. John loved to cook and was a great cook.
Funeral will be 6 PM Monday, August 31, 2009 in Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. The Rev. Kathryn Rust will officiate. Visitation will be 4 to 6 PM Monday at the chapel. Cremation will be accorded following the funeral. Memorials may be made to the Abingdon Rotary Club or American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.

Honey Honey

Ava made up a fabulous new song.
It's sung to the tune of "Happy Birthday".

Sing it aloud.. I promise it's catchy.

A honey honey bay-bee
A honey honey bay-bee
A honey honeeeeeyy bay-bee
A honey honey bay-bee

A Confession

So......

dear blog...and dear very few blog readers,

I have a confession to make.

It is of a truly delicate nature.

I haven't told anyone.

I am here to tell you.

Can you keep a secret?

I want to shout it from the rooftops.

here is my confession:

I like the Southern Vampire Series better than the Twilight series. Much better.


*SIGH*

Here's to hoping the truth sets me free.

It's Time for an Update!

I need to spend more time on blogger again.
Here's what's new:
1. Yesterday was my last day of work at Bridgeway. Seven years of sweat and tears at that place. I will miss my friends and special clients. I am promising to stay in touch.
2. I start my job with the school district at the beginning of August. I am excited and nervous as well.
3. Alex is blowing and giving kisses. He is such a little lover. He can say "ball", "mama", "gog" (dog), and "dada". He really likes to cuddle is soft blankey a little too much. It's cute for now, but in a few years, his dad hopes he kicks the habit.
4. Ava is a pinkalicious princess. She is very inquisitive and has an unbelievable memory. She is extraordinary when it comes to remembering landmarks. She also loves to color and go on walks with us.
5. Jer's job at Mt. Pleasant Treatment Center is going well. He looks forward to being able to bid on 1st shift.
Never a dull moment....

Happy 4th of July!

I asked Ava last night if she was interested in making cookies. She LOVES to bake.

Isn't she a great cookie froster?




When I asked Ava what ingredients are in cookies, I expected her to say "sugar" or "flour". Instead, she said "magic". I think she's right.

Is Alex destined for the NBA or MLB?

His dad sure thinks so.

Another fabulous conversation with Ms. Ava

Getting out of the car the other day I noticed one of Alex's sippy cups buried in the hostas near the driveway. It must have fallen out of the diaper bag sometime when I got out of the car. This may have been awhile ago, because when I took the cap off and looked inside, I found a solid, curdled, and really stinky glob of funky stuff. Then this transpired:

Me: Ewwwwwwwwwww. Gross!! So gross.
Ava: Mom, are you mad?
Me: No honey, I'm not mad.
Ava: Are you sad then, mommy?
Me: Nope, I'm not sad either.
Ava: Mom, have you been naughty again?

I then laughed my butt off.

Alexander John

Oh my little XanderMan/Boogie/Ax/AlleyCat...where has the time gone? It's so hard to believe you are nearly 1! You are cruising around the furniture and pushing your toys all around the room. I can see that you are itching to take those first steps! I love your big grin and seeing those little nubbies of new teeth coming in at the top--since your sister didn't get a tooth until 13 months it's hilarious for us to see you with three coming in at the top simultaneously!! You really shine at mealtime--your high pitched screech at dinnertime when your plate is empty is priceless. I am constantly amazed that you can put down more food at one sitting than your sister. Your dad is pushing me to trim the precious little whispies of hair around your ears. How could I though? That was the only hair you were born with! You make me feel so special because you are always so happy to see me. Your big blue eyes light up and your chubby little legs start kicking! It's hard to imagine that you will soon be old enough to fend off your big sister. You are such a big, big boy..she's in for trouble! Your daddy and I are so proud of you.. Happy Birthday mama's special cuddle bug boy... we love you sooo much!!!

HAPPY 1st Birthday, Alex!

It's flip flop time.... and that's Mindi time!

Oh summertime, how I heart you so.

Do You Think My Two Little Sugars Look Alike?

Xander Mander is Mama's Big, Big Boy!

Xander went for his 9 mo checkup. He stats are much the same from his 6 mo checkup:
-97th percentile for height
-75th percentile for weight
-50th percentile for head
What a big boy..and handsome too!