Sunday Night and I'm still Awake...

As I begin this post, it is almost 11:15 p.m. Normally, I would be asleep by now because 4:45 a.m. on Monday morning requires an early bedtime, but in honor of Memorial Day {BIG thank you to all who have and do serve our country}, the office is closed so I can stay up past bedtime and blog!

Later in the week, I will be posting about our lovely long weekend. It will be complete with photos from our new Nikon D5000!  It's our first digital slr and I am super excited about it. Stay tuned for that, but for tonight, I just wanted to share one of my favorite vintage possessions {blackberry pics leave much to be desired}...

It was published in 1968 by Hallmark Cards, Inc. Isn't it amazing? The artwork is breathtaking and the sayings are simple, yet true. I can't wait for Matty to appreciate it.

A few of my favorites...

 The world is so full of a number of things, 
I'm sure we should all be happy as kings.

 If a task is once begun, 
never leave it till it's done. 
Be the labor great or small, 
do it well or not at all.

The little cares that fretted me, 
I lost them yesterday 
among the fields above the sea, 

among the winds at play.

Potty Paranoia

Potty training has been on my mind for a while now, but I haven't taken any specific approach...or so I thought. Being that Monday through Friday I am away from Matty for over 8 hours a day, it is not on my priority list when I come home.  We would rather play! Plus, Matty is not overly enthusiastic about using the potty and I quickly become discouraged when he try and fights it. Needless to say, I feel like a slacker.

I do talk about the potty and try, albeit inconsistently, to put him on it. Matty also talks about the potty and will often point out that he has gone in his diaper. Occasionally, he tells me he wants to sit on the potty, but usually when he does, it is only for a few seconds. I've been overwhelmed at the thought of adhering to a strict training routine, mostly because I had no idea where to begin. I have been meaning to Google some advice and I finally did so this morning. And I found that there just may be a method behind my madness after all.

The Readiness Method is apparently the most popular these days and it is based on just what its name implies: the readiness of the child.  hmmm...I have been following along at Matty's pace.  See, I knew what I was doing the whole time ;)  Seriously, knowing that allowing the child to guide the pace of the process is a real method does comfort me in regard to our progress {lack of it actually.} 

This a.m. when Matty woke up, I asked him if he wanted to go potty and he said "yes, potty on the toilet."  Hooray!  Turns out he didn't mean what he said, but he has the reading in the bathroom thing down pat...

In my search for advice, I discovered that in the 1930s, the normal age to begin potty training was 3 months...wow!

If you're interested in learning about other potty training methods, check out the links below... (The Readiness Method is definitely for us, but I did get a chuckle at the Bare-Bottom Approach aka Naked & $75.)

Bare-Bottom Approach
The One-Day Method
Baby Toilet Training

Music Monday

"this life is a beautiful one
and though I've seen it coming undone
I know most definitely
that it's gonna be you and its gonna be me"


It's an exciting time in the Leluga house and tonight, I dedicate this song to big and little Matty ♥

lucky girl. that's me.

I hope you all had a Mother's Day weekend full of family, love and whatever else it is that makes your heart happy. Mine was fun and relaxing, the perfect combo. It was also overflowing with hugs, kisses, and two-year-old cuteness. {see below for evidence}

Yard sale-ing on Saturday yielded this beauty of a Mother's Day present which I am head over heels in love with ♥

Today we had great visits with both of our mamas and then spent a quiet afternoon at home. Dinner consisted of porterhouse steaks and grilled eggplant...fabulicious.

I also learned today that we'll be taking a mini family vacation to Great Wolf Lodge for a few days at the end of June {thank you mom and dad!}

It's my third Mother's Day and I still sometimes feel like I'm winging it. Intense is the only way to sum up motherhood, though we all know it is so much more than just one word. It is love, fear, hope and a million other pieces to a puzzle that are all contained in this little person we created. A person whose embrace has the power to make your heart smile and cry simultaneously.

I never truly knew the depth of love until I met you, Matty. Before you, I was searching. I questioned who I was, what I wanted, where I was going, but now I know where I am is the only place I ever really wanted to be.

My Cinco de Mayo Date

I prepared a taco bar and yellow rice for dinner tonight to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Unfortunately, hubby worked late and couldn't join us, but we saved him some, which he is enjoying as I type this. Matty inhaled his taco and then wanted to just pick at the toppings, especially the cheese. He LOVES cheese just like his dada! Tacos and two-year-olds are quite messy, but it was fun!