Random Picture Post

I feel like I haven’t posted any random pictures in sometime so I thought I would do that today.  Things have been busy here and very hot weather wise!  The temps here in Ohio can cool down anytime and I would be perfectly fine with it.  We like to go outside and play however with my asthma and the air quality alerts going on right now… well, we just tend to stay inside where it is cool and where I can breathe easily.  I went to the doctors yesterday for a follow-up appointment regarding my diabetic meds and found out that I have lost 5 lbs in 2 months.  Not too bad – huh?  I personally think it is because they took me off this certain medicine, but I will drop 5 lbs anyway I can get it (lol).  I also ended up getting a pneumonia shot which I wasn’t too crazy about getting, but since I am a diabetic I had to get it and will have to get the flu shot in Sept. and the swine flu vaccine in October or whenever it comes out.  Yep, I am not too sure I am looking forward to those shots.  After this latest shot, I must say that I feel for our children every single time they have to get a shot.  My arm has been hurting like no tomorrow and I can’t even lay on my left side so I can only imagine what our poor little ones feel like after getting numerous shots in one leg.  I felt bad for them before, but I have a new found respect for our little ones!

Potty Training is going pretty well.  He is learning to hold it alot longer which is nice, but every time we take him to the potty he goes so that is wonderful news!  If we can just get him to tell us that he needs to go then we would be all set.  It is definitely trying, but he is slowly getting the hang of it.  My husband has been a great help with potty training, but he goes back to work on Friday so it will just be Cameron and I.  Oh boy, what will I do without my side-kick?  I sure will miss my hubby when he heads back to work.

So, did you all hear that Selah is coming out with a new CD next week?  Yep, it should be another great one and it even contains a beautiful song that was written in regards to Todd and his wife Angie losing their child Audrey Caroline.  It is a beautiful song and very touching!  It brought me to tears.  Definitely touches your heart especially after losing a child of your own.  If you haven’t checked it out yet then you can find the video and the song on YouTube.  It is called “I Will Carry You”.  A beautiful song to go with such a touching story and video.  Be sure to check it out, but grab your tissues first.

Well, as promised here are some Random Pictures for you all to enjoy!

Potty Training, A Playhouse & Strawberry Cake

Today has been quite a successful day with Potty Training.  Cameron is what we would call a “peeing machine”.  I started putting cheerios in the potty and telling him to pee on the cheerios and that is indeed what he does.  Every single time he goes potty!  He has a chart up on the bathroom door and I must say that he filled today up with stars of every color and they were all for going pee pee.  A grand total of 20 stars and like I said he is a “Peeing Machine”.  Trust me…. he didn’t even have that much juice or milk today so we know that it isn’t due to his liquid intake (lol).  We personally just think he goes a little here and a little there, but never really drains his bladder.  He loves getting the stars and well quite frankly he also loves the little celebration that we have afterwards.  He is getting to be such a BIG BOY!

Here is little man celebrating after going pee pee.  He just gets so excited and well I can’t quite blame him.  I get excited for him too!  There are also a few pics of Daddy and I celebrating with him too.  Good Job Buddy!  Mommy & Daddy are so very proud of you!

Another fun thing around the house currently is Cameron’s new playhouse.  I have been searching high and low for one of these for sometime now and was so happy when found this one for only $50.00.  I bought this from a real nice family that was selling it on Craigslist.  Yep, I often find things on there and believe it or not there have been some great finds!  I must say that Cameron loves his new playhouse and we also kinda use that as an incentive for potty training and it is working!  Here are a couple pictures as he enjoys his new playhouse.  Can’t beat it for $50.00 when normally they are in the high 100’s or low 200’s. 

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I also decided to make a cake today and thought I would share the recipe with all of you.  Oh, this is one yummy cake!  It is probably a favorite of my husband’s and so I decided to make it for him.  It is definitely a refreshing dessert and you should give it a try.  It is called Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake.  Here is the recipe and a couple pictures.  Enjoy!

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~ Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake

  w/ Strawberry Cream  Cheese Frosting ~

• 1 (18.25-ounce) box white cake mix
• 1 (3-ounce) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin
• 1 (15-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup water
• Strawberry cream cheese frosting, recipe follows
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
• 1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract
• 7 cups confectioners' sugar
• Freshly sliced strawberries, for garnish, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin. Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil, and water; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into prepared pans, and bake for 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

For the frosting:

In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in 1/4 cup of the strawberry puree and the vanilla extract. (The rest of the puree is leftover but can be used in smoothies or on ice cream for a delicious treat.) Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until smooth.

Spread frosting in between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries, if desired

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Potty Training & Soccer Practice

Well, we have been working on Potty Training since Friday and I must say that Cameron has been doing pretty good.  Today was a bit frustrating to say the least because Cameron was just not into sitting on the potty.  I would put him on the potty and he would scream and scream and scream some more.  I was beginning to think that it wasn’t worth it.  I was just worn out and quite frankly, I was ready to throw in the towel.  He had a few accidents today, but those were due to him getting too engrossed with other things and not wanting to take the time to go potty.  I made a call to our pediatricians office to get a few pointers and ask a few questions, but she told me that I was already doing everything that was needed in order to get him trained.  She just said that it takes time and patience which is something I rarely have anymore (lol).

I was absolutely thrilled this evening when we went to Wendy’s for a burger and Cameron told me that he had to potty.  I took him into the restroom and he was quite scared with the BIG potty.  I went to pull his pants down and he wasn’t having that at all.  So, instead of scaring him, I pulled his pants back up and headed back out to the table to finish our meal.  We got home about 15-20 minutes later and were expecting wet pants and he was dry!  I was absolutely thrilled and shortly after we sat him on the potty…… he went pee pee.  What a celebration we had!  He got another gold star and he was so excited and happy.  Just made me realize that after all the hard work that we have been doing and reminding him – well, it paid off!  I am thrilled and so happy and to be honest, that is exactly what I needed to be reassured that what we are doing is the right thing.  So, we just keep chugging along and pray that things get better every single day.  I had a feeling that potty training wasn’t going to be easy and indeed IT IS NOT. 

For all of you Blues Clues watchers….. have you all seen the soccer practice show?  Well, that has to be Cameron’s favorite one and we had to end up buying him a whistle just so he could be Coach Cameron.  Well, I think I am gonna have a soccer player on my hands.  Here are some pictures of Cameron pretending to be a coach and also of him making some funny faces!  He is definitely quite the character to say the least.  Until next time…..hope all of you Mom’s out there that are potty training are able to get some much needed rest and relaxation in the evening.  I know that I am enjoying mine tremendously!

Potty Training 101 is now Underway!

Potty Training 101 is Now Underway here in our home.  Day #1 went ok.  I was very pleased with Cameron and for only having 1 accident during the first part of the day is great news!  Day #2 started this morning and we have had 3 accidents so far.  He did however go pee pee on the potty this morning as soon as he woke up and also went #1 and #2 before we put him down for his nap.  So, of course I was BEYOND thrilled with that.  It is definitely ALOT of work, but it will be worth it when he is all potty trained.  The good news is that he knows when he is going or when he has to go, but sometimes can’t quite get to the potty before he has to go.  The whole thing is that we set a timer and it goes off every 20 minutes.  So, we take him to the potty and hope and pray he goes (lol).  We bought him some big boy undies awhile back and we are definitely putting them to good use and keeping them laundered frequently.  Gotta love those cute little Mickey Mouse undies and well he had to have undies like Daddy so we got him some boxer briefs too!  I have been doing my best at keeping him busy and his mind distracted while he is on the potty and that way he doesn’t think about it.  We have been reading books, singing and just talking away and of course every now and again…… he will enjoy a cup of juice.  He is more precious then anything I know and my love for that sweet boy grows more everyday.  So, while he is down for his nap, I think I will lay down and rest myself.  This running to the potty every 20 minutes is making me tired and keeping me busy.  I will leave you today with this sweet picture of Cameron sitting on the potty.  Gotta love that sweet smile!

New Decorations

My Mom bought Cameron some new magnets the other day while she was at the grocery store and as you can see…… he loves them!  I have been meaning to buy him some however it always slips my mind when I am at Wal-Mart and I always forget.  So, do you have some of these for your children?  My DH taught our son that he should use them in other places other then the refrigerator.  Sometimes me DH can be as ornery and rotten as our 2 1/2 yr old son.  Is your hubby the same way?  Ornery & Rotten? 

We go from using these magnets on here…..

To Here…… on my lamp in between our two recliners.  Don’t you love the new decorations?!?  Gotta love those silly boys!