A Vegan Turkey?????

So just what does a Vegan Turkey look like?

My Mom and I found this kit at the Nutcracker Market (a fundraiser for the Houston Ballet), T’s Mom found the cute little pumpkin (a little tough to come by after Halloween apparently) and Lincoln and I brought him to life. He’s just so cute! I can’t wait to bring him out again next year!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your holidays bring you all the blessings there are to bring!

Lincoln’s 3!

It was indeed a time of thanksgiving. Lincoln turned three the day before our Tofurkey Day and most of the family was in our home for a small celebration for him and then yummies the next afternoon. I made a new and tres experimental Vegan birthday cake…not the prettiest of my creations, but tasty and everyone was very gracious and complementary. Ya gotta’ love family!

Lincoln selected a piñata that looked like Mater from the Cars movie and he and his teenage cousins and his two grown uncles proceeded to beat the heck out of him in the backyard to see what presents he had to offer.

Fortunately I was in charge of filling the poor doomed little Mater and he let fall balloons, biodegradable confetti, small individual bubble containers, crayons, toy bugs, etc. The only challenge, Lincoln really was counting on everything being for him. The good news, everyone pretty much handed it all over.

Its My Potty and I'll Go When I Want To

Lincoln was basically potty trained before he was 18 months old. Well...at least we had a system. He would pull on his diaper and say "body body" and I would rip off his diaper as quickly as possible, hold him over the toilet and he would relieve himself. Then he learned the favorite word of two-year olds everywhere, "NO" and decided that it was more fun to control the flow so to speak and we have been diaper bound until about 3 weeks ago. Sure we tried to encourage the activity, but we didn't push it.

He is leading the way and is a joy to support. He has intertwined self guided weaning with the independent toileting so that cinches it. He may look like his Daddy, but with those multi-tasking skills he's definitely my kid! Plus he has my smile;)

He was apparently dealing with some big concepts coming into this process and he let me in when he said, "I want to potty in my diaper so I stay a baby and keep my mommy." I almost burst into tears. Instead I hugged him, held him close and said, "Oh Sweetie, you will always be Mommy's baby. Even when you are a big big boy, you will also be my baby. Even when you are a grown man, you will also be my baby. If you potty in your diaper or potty in the potty you are still my baby. Mommy will always be your Mommy and will always be here for you, even if we are not right by each other." He smiled and hugged me and said, "well, OK, i think so."

I acknowledged that he was doing so many things now that he couldn't do when he was a baby and together we came up with a list that included things like: dressing himself, putting on his own jacket, building train tracks all by himself, helping with laundry, helping in the yard, reading to himself, getting his own water and ice to drink in an open cup, and not nursing very often. He said, "yeah" with a sweet half southern half New York lilt and smiled.

From that moment on he's asked to wear underwear and there have been fewer and fewer requests to "Nay Nay" (nurse) and when he does ask, he literally takes one rather loud slurp from each side and says, "I'm all done" or "just one drip, yummy yummy for my tummy" and smiles.

What a beautiful process. I feel so blessed to share it with him and to watch him lead the way.

Krazy for Kristen

This is in support of my dear friend who is a survivor. I did this walk for her last year and it was an exceptional experience. If you can help in any way to show your support that would be amazing. Please read her letter below:


Dearest Family & Friends -

I hope all of you have enjoyed your summer, and are gearing up for the 2009 KOMEN HOUSTON RACE FOR THE CURE, Saturday, October 3rd, 2009, at Sam Houston Park Downtown Houston! For the second year, I am so excited to be able to participate in this event with my family and friends. Thank you for being my support and angels throughout my recovery since being diagnosed last March. I am feeling great and thrilled to join my mom, another breast cancer survivor, in this year’s race!

Through our “Krazy for Kristen” fundraising efforts in 2008,
We raised nearly $17,000!

Thanks to you and our team, I was #33 of the Pink Honor Roll Top 100 fundraisers! Our teammate and my dear friend, Constance White, was honored as #25 of the Pink Honor Roll Top 100 fundraisers! In addition, our team efforts ranked #19 out the top 100 fundraising teams! We couldn’t have done it without YOU!

Please join us in participating this year, and register with the “Krazy for Kristen” Team! If you choose not to participate, please consider making a donation to the team (ANY amount will help!).

To donate to Komen under my team or me individually, visit http://www.komen-houston.org/goto/2009KrazyforKristen


To participate on Race Day: Go online to http://www.komen-houston.org/goto/2009KrazyforKristen
Click on the link “Join Team” located at the top of the team list.
Follow registration process. Most of the team participates in the 5K Walk, but you may register for the run.
The registration fee must be paid by credit card.
Race day packet including Race bib and official Race t-shirt will be mailed directly to registrant free of charge. (If you are joining our team for the first time, I will have a “Krazy for Kristen” t-shirt for you on race day!)
Once I confirm your registration “Krazy for Kristen” team site, I will send an update via email on details, such as our team meeting location*, check-in requirements, race time festivities (tentatively set to begin at 7:45am)...etc.

*Krazy for Kristen participants will plan to meet at 6:30am for fellowship and a light breakfast snack. This will also give us plenty of time to be in the Race staging areas by 7:45 am.

Thanks again for your friendship during the last 18 months!
Compassionately yours! Kristen Barley