Capitalism is failing me...

So Heidi and I started potty training Logan today.  Needless to say, potty training totally sucks.  It is amazing that we don't have more 5 year olds in diapers because it is just flat out easier to change a diaper than it is to take your kid to the bathroom every 30 minutes (and cleaning up after accidents that still happen even though you took your kid 5 minutes ago).  Potty training is a pain for many other reasons that I wont go into because I should go to bed...as I am anticipating getting up at least twice tonight to change sheets/jammies/etc.

The point of this post though is that I was thinking today about how I would probably pay up to two-thousand dollars to not have to deal with this.  And I couldn't possibly be alone in that sentiment.  People even pay for these kinds of things for their dogs.  There must be a demand, and there must be some dollar amount people are willing to pay for high-end potty training.  So I ask you, why has capitalism not provided for a solution?  Why is there not a potty training academy that I can sign my kid up for...and expect results in as little as a week?  I am sure that there are quick and efficient methods.  I am also sure that these methods would be impossible to implement by people on the go.  Hence the need for pee-pee school.

It will take some time for me to get over this indiscretion of capitalism.  The invisible hand has cramped up.  Maybe it was distracted, but that is no excuse when profits are on the line.

--P.S.  I thought about the possibility that daycare fulfills this need for some...but it is not nearly focused enough to match my envisioned institutional learning facillity, and its high-end potty curriculum.

Falling in love more each day...with Bridgette

My love affair with Bridgette reached new heights recently as I found that she can also make my commute better.  Thereby leaving really only one thing in life that she can't do for me (no, she probably could get me that...she can't bear children)

It all started on Sunday while I was being an awesome husband, wherein I was doing the dishes and listening to Pandora.  

Side note: If you guys don't know what pandora.com is, I highly reccommend it.  It is a website that will customize an entire radio station for you based on one or more songs or bands that you choose.  So, say you really like the song that is playing in the Cave right now.  You can go to Pandora, type in this song, and it will make an entire station of music that has similar characteristics of the song.

Anyway, I looked at the Pandora window and it had a little "download Pandora for your Blackberry" advertisement.  I was curious as to whether Bridgette could adequately stream music, so I tried it.  I sometimes use Bridgette as an MP3 player at the gym (but now I usually use my Zune) so I was thinking that streaming Pandora would be perfect for times when I didn't have my Zune for some reason...because I always have Bridgette

The next day it happenned.

I was driving home from work (which usually takes me 45 minutes) and my Zune battery died.  I put the Zune away, but received an email at the same time.  Traffic was bad, so I checked the email.  I didn't need any canadian meds, so I put Bridgette down onto my seat...next to my lonely, Zuneless, FM modulator.  At that point I could hear Bridgette saying come on Nate, plug me in...you know you want it.  I can't beleive I never thought of trying to stream music in my car.  I guess it isn't all that straight-forward as cars don's have the internet, but still, I am usually on top of that kind of stuff.

It was awesome, sounded great, had way better songs than any radio stations, and never has commercials.  In short, it makes a long, crappy commute much better.  In fact, after listening for only 10 minutes I couldn't see myself being without Pandora in the car ever again.  

Thanks Bridgette, you're the best!

Fun with Logan...

So Logan is getting into his 3-year old bratty stride a little early.  His only problem is that he still has a cute little todler voice...so whenever he does or says bratty things it ends up being really funny.

For example, I called Heidi on the phone today and I could hear Logan in the background, and he was a little mad.  Apparently, he just got out of timeout and he still was not happy with his present situation.  Anyway, I heard Heidi give him a little 2-name warning (you know, the one where your mom calls you by your first and middle name)...And Logan walked up to her and in his combination sweet/mad voice he said: "mom, wanna piece of me?"  It was hilarious.  It took me five minutes to stop laughing about it (which was okay because he couldn't see me--but I don't think Heid was able to hold it in).  We try not to laugh so it doesn't get the wrong idea of what is funny.

These types of occurences come daily now.  Yesterday when I dropped him off at nursery in church, he started crying (which is a little wierd, but he was tired).  When the girl (someone that Logan really likes) came up to him and said "Hey Logan, wanna play with some toys?"  He gave her the crustiest look and said "I'm never talking to you!"  She laughed too.

So there you go.  Heid and I are on notice of what's to come.  It's nice that it is cute now...because we certainly know that it isn't cute coming from an 8-year-old.

Boo-ya, I'm saved...

Coming at you again from Bridgette (the name I settled on for my blackberry).  I'm sitting in the car outside of Hobby Lobby...which is way better than being inside of Hobby Lobby.

And who gets credit for my current situation?  Austin.

We pulled into the parking lot and he said "mommy, can I just wait in the car and...like, read or something?"

It was beatiful...like watching a receiver for your favorite football team pulling down a hail mary pass with no time left on the clock.

What mom can say no to that?  So I want to give a quick shout out to Austin for a job well done. And for having such good manly crappy-store avoidance instincts at such a young age...I'm proud you.  I defy anyone to find an 8-year old with similarly honed abilities.

Maybe I'll start teaching him to burp the alphabet --the next step to becoming a true master.