The shape of things...

At his birthday party, Auntie Laura gave Jack one of his favorite gifts--a see-and-say-like Elmo toy with colorful shapes tucked into corresponding slots.It became apparent right away that this toy would bring a lot of smiles to Jack but a lot of pain to my butt (well, not literally).

While I've said before that Jack and I share similar personalities, the line has been drawn at organization. I LOVE to organize and have a place for everything. Jack, however, doesn't. I'm hoping it's just because he's one; but he and I have been having a constant struggle with where the Elmo/Sesame Street shapes should go. I prefer them in the toy itself and Jack prefers them.....well, anywhere but where they belong. He'll often crawl by with one shape in each hand, and has been spotted with an extra one clamped between his teeth. I sit and show him how to put the shapes in the toy, and he literally looks right at me and takes them out as fast as I add them.

So far in the last two weeks, Elmo's red square bailed into Luke's truck somewhere (yet to be found), Abby Cadabby's pink octagon tried to hide behind the changing table twice (hooked out both times by a hanger), and Cookie Monster's blue rectangle found safe shelter under the tv stand for a week (where I left it a few days longer than I should have, just to watch Jack lie flat on his belly and try to reach it).

Yesterday I showed up to an all day training course for work and opened up my purse to grab the Tylenol I knew I would need to survive the day. A present! Score! Jack had, at some point the evening before, put Bert's yellow triangle in my purse. An obvious counter to my attempts at cleaning up the living room last night. So like his dad......Thanks, Jack.

Confetti Scrambled Eggs with a Side of Biter Biscuit

We've been introducing more table food into Jack's diet, trying to get him ready for big-boy school. He's going to a new daycare starting on Sept. 2 and I'm realizing how far behind he'll be from the others, food-wise. He's too old for the "Honey Bees" room and too young for the "Busy Bees" room, so he'll be in the well-named "Middle Bees" room.

Jack has learned that he likes to spazz out and flip his food around. He buries his hands in the pile of food and either grabs them while making a he-man grunt or tosses the food around. Tonight we enjoyed scrambled eggs, which fell all over the floor like confetti.

I was too busy cleaning him and the floor up to take pics. I learned, tho, that Jack doesn't mind being cleaned with the vacuum attachment.

Celebrating the one-year mark....

Well, folks, it's official. I can keep another human being alive for at least one year. (My houseplants weep with envy).

Jack had a fun-filled birthday. We went for a mid-morning swim lesson, with Grandma and Grandpa Ron as our audience, then had friends and family over for the party. Jack loves all of his toys, including the Noah's Ark Little People from Grandpa Jeff, the learning puppy from Great-grandma Mary Lou, and the Elmo shape thingy from Auntie Laura. (He was blessed with many, many great presents.)

See below for more birthday fun....

Playing with Colton and Emma (My little MaMa)

The Birthday Boy

The Cake and Decorations

Here, Here!

So, here we go. I'm all riled up right now after reading 10 Mistakes that Parents Make. It's about time more parents thought like author, Craig Playstead.

I'm tired of new-age parents who don't discipline their kids. When did kids start having 'rights' that went beyond food, shelter and love? I love Jack, but because I love him, I will keep a disciplined and structured environment. I'm not talking about a military-style home, but a home built on mutual respect with the parents as the leaders. Also, when did bribing kids to do work become the standard? If my son expects to be a member of our household, he'll contribute to it like Jamie and I do (within reason).

To me, some of these parents don't discipline for a variety of reasons:

• They want to be their kids' friends.
• They are too lazy or tired. (Busy parents have less time with their kids and it's tempting to give in to kids during the evening hours just to make the night go by more pleasantly.)
• They don't want to 'hurt' the kids' self-esteem.

The problem with kids these days is that they have too much self-esteem and too little self-control. I want Jack to grow up to be confident in his abilities, but not feel entitled to the world catering to his needs. There are rights that we all have, but then there are privileges that we have to work for.

I don't know when this all started. I'm 31 and many older generations could probably point to my age group as being selfish and out-of-control; however, at work many of the college and high school interns seem to lack the basics of being a part of a team atmosphere and seem to have an attitude when expected to do--or not to do--certain things.

In the store I constantly seen harried parents give in to whining children. If Jack whined like that, the only thing I would give him is a swift smack in the rear. Now, I don't advocate child abuse and would only spank or swat after other methods of discipline, such as public humiliation or deprivation of a favorite thing, were to fail. But a firm reminder on a bottom serves as a reminder of who is in control.

Favorite Thing: Daddy

Jack loves Daddy because Daddy is more rough-and-tumble. I blame Daddy for instilling a crazy sense of adventure and death-defying action seeking in Jack, but Jack sees Daddy as a good ol' pal.

Some of the things Jack loves about his Daddy: Daddy holds him upside down and shakes him around (not too hard, of course). Daddy makes funny faces and accompanying noises. Daddy encourages Jack's farts. Daddy cuddles and kisses, too.


Speaking of adventure....Jack has also learned a new favorite thing: the joy of being naked, coupled with the thrill of hiding from Mommy so she can't catch him.