1. Hair Color. I was born a blonde and I feel like a blonde at heart. My eyelashes and eye brows are white blonde, but the roots on my head are dark brown. My husband prefers for me to stay blonde, although he’s never seen me any way but blonde. I have a hair appointment on September 1 and will get to make my final decision then. Do I get back to my natural color or stick with the blonde? One thing’s for sure… I’m not cutting any hair off! My friend Pretty in Pink Megan did one of those InStyle virtual makeovers on me and gave me a few different styles of dark hair and I kind of liked it. But she also gave me a tan, so I just don’t know!
2. Potty Training. I’m being taunted. Taunted by the big piece of porcelain in our bathroom. I need to gather up all of supplies and prizes so I can be fully prepared and organized before we start. I’m also pretty sure I can’t do it alone at home because of Hayes. KK is going to come down to help me with Hayes so we can knock this out! I just hope we’re ready. I hate to start before we’re ready. But I’ve heard so many success stories lately… and they were BOY success stories, so I’m thinking we can do this. I already got Hudson some underwear that I think he’ll be excited about. I just can’t believe we’re already here and it’s time to do this.
3. Discipline. Holy toddler town, Batman. I thought we had managed to avoid the high-pitched screaming in our house. But, oh no! Oh no! Not so fast. The high-pitched screaming is here. Hudson screams at Boudreaux for looking at him the wrong way. He screams when we correct him on anything. He just screams. I’ve pulled out all of the parenting books I’ve accumulated over the years and I’ve got my computer ready to watch the Moms on Call toddler session.
4. FOOD. Food. Food. Food. Food. Yes, this is a thought that is frequently at the front of my mind. And lately it’s all about making good choices and when I last ate and how much I ate. Eating lean protein and fresh vegetables and sweet fruit. I can get over the loss of French fries, but may sneak a bite of Hudson’s “Chick-a-lay” waffle fries every now and then. But can I get over the loss of sweets?
5. Cupcakes. Every single day, visions of cupcakes dance through my head. Maybe if I’d just go ahead and eat a dang cupcake I’d get over it. I think it’s really just the icing that I want. Yesterday, I wanted a piece of almond wedding cake. Since I didn’t have a wedding to attend and I’m not an amazing baker who can just whip up an almond flavored cake, I ate a handful of raw almonds. Believe me, I’m not depriving myself and I can usually find ways around these cravings. But will this be my life? Will I be haunted by cupcakes every single day? I can’t eat a cupcake every day, but I know I’ll want to eat a cupcake every day and I’ll think of eating a cupcake every day. But I lost another two pounds last week, so it’s worth it. I can be deprived of a cupcake in exchange for two pounds gone.
6. Fall. Autumn. A change in season. It truly can’t come soon enough. Our temperatures have dropped into the low 90s and it really has made a huge difference. The mornings and evenings are cooler and comfortable for walking outside, finally. But I’m ready for fall clothes and football and chili and Halloween. I say it every single year, but you will never ever hear me complain about the weather being too cold. I love it!
7. I said “no” this week. Yay me.
8. I saw The Help again this past weekend. And I cried again. I think I may have liked it even more the second time. And every time I hear “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”, I cry a little more. I think about my precious babies and how I hope they always know that.
9. School! School starts for Hudson on September 1 and I swear he’s counting down the days just like I am. Don’t get me wrong. This age is really challenging, but I love it so much. I love him so much. I love our time together every day. But we have run out of things to do here. And I’m glad the summer is almost over and for a few hours a day he’ll get a change of scenery. And then he can come home and tell me all about it and we can have a great time at home.
10. I talked to my dad yesterday and he said he read my blog post about Boudreaux and Hudson. He said I should have titled it, “A Dog and His Boy.” That made me think of one of my favorite Little Golden Books as a child, Mister Dog: The Dog Who Belonged to Himself. We read it to Hudson a lot now and I just love it. I still have my copy that my grandmother gave me. She wrote inside about how much my Dad loved it as a kid.
What’s going on with y’all?
Toodles, poodles!
I’m a blonde who has always gone into the hair salon thinking I should make a change..but I never do. It’s MUCH easier to go from blonde to dark than back to blonde. Personally, I LOVE your blonde hair, and to me you are a blonde. Keep it! xo
You know I LOVE your hair! You’ll be beautiful no matter what but I say stay blonde. I have the utmost confidence in your potty training adventure. Gummy bears and stickers! 😉
I’ve pretty much always been a blonde but went brunette my sophomore of college. I loved it! I still want to do it again…although since I have lighter hair like yours, it it kind of quick to fade. I say go for it! It’s just hair…you can always go back if you don’t like it!
I bet Hudson is going to be a potty training superstar! People say boys are hard but I used to babysit boy-girl twins and the boy got it SO much faster…almost immediately. You’ll both do great 🙂 Your hair is going to look fabulous no matter what! I’m sure a relaxing day at the salon will be enough to put a little more pep in your step, it always does for me!
And lastly in my novel… I already have some of those discipline books in my Amazon cart. After teaching toddlers in a preschool, I want to be EXTRA prepared for Annabelle’s toddler years 🙂
I love your blonde hair:)
My wedding cake was almond flavored! It was, hands down, the most amazing cake I’d ever eaten. Sometimes I dream about it.
I live in Scotland and the highest the temp got up to this year was 68*! I’m always complaining how its always too cold, but I sure didn’t want the weather everyone was having in the States. I’ll take what we’ve got. It is already cool here. We are already in sweaters, coats, hats, etc. The leaves are even changing. They started changing at the end of July…
Good luck potty training.
I too have dark hair but always keep it blonde. I tried to go natural a few yrs ago and NO ONE liked it!!!! It’s still 105 here in Austin….ugh!! I’m so ready to move north. As for cupcakes…me too, yum!!!!!!
You are a blonde girlfriend! I am blonde and went darker and it scared me!
Ahhhh the blonde problem. I think constantly about how much I hate my roots and how I wish that I could just go darker and let it blend out more naturally… but my natural color is so mousy and boring. Blah, being blonde is hard 🙂
I can TOTALLY relate to the cupcake cravings. At the risk of sounding like a total ‘cupcake snob’ I would always prefer to have a *good* cupcake than just an average cupcake. Basically, if it doesn’t come from a specialty bakery and cost $2+ it isn’t worth eating in my opinion! Since it isn’t always easy or convenient to get to a cupcake place, I can usually decline the regular old grocery store ones. Does that even make any sense? Works for me though ….
Congrats on the two pounds! I have heard, nothing tastes as good as skinny feels, and I think I’ve decided it’s true. It is soooo hard to say no to stuff.. like for me, it’s ice cream.. but anyway, on those days when you can walk in your closet and put something on and not feel fat, it’s the best feeling ever. So, good work and keep it up!! And, you’re a great blonde, but I’ve always been partial to dark hair, you should totally try it!! My best friend was blonde forever, went dark and loved it. And Amy over at Chapters!!! I mean, how amazing does she look dark!? You can pull off either for sure!
Awww…..Mister Dog!!
Wait … you mean I can’t have a cupcake every day and lose weight? I’m going about this all wrong!! 😉
About the hair … I worried about going back to my roots several months ago, but I was glad I did. I had forgotten what color my hair really was! The break on both my strands and my wallet was nice. I just got highlights again, though, for a change. The good news is you can’t make a wrong decision here … nothing is permanent and you’ll be beautiful either way!!
Good Luck with potty training! We tried the 3 day method, it worked for one of my friends’ little boy who was younger than Hudson so I thought he would get it in no time. He didn’t but we just stuck with it and he wears underwear during the day all the time now, he wears a pull up to bed. I also carry around 2 extra sets of underwear and shorts because he is still prone to accidents!
Seeing that picture of a cupcake is making me very hungry!!!!
Did you read the book before you saw the movie? (the help) I am thinking of getting the book at the library and reading it before going to the movie.
I think you are adorable as a blonde, but as a lifetime (40 years) blonde myself, I went dark last fall. I have not once regretted it. Even though, now my roots come in light, they NEVER show. I am due for color right now, and I am the only one who knows it. I still have to color because I am one of those people with “formerly blonde hair that really shouldn’t be let out on its own.” One other thing, I cannot leave the house without powdering my eyebrows in dark. With the dark hair if I leave my blonde eyebrows alone…let’s just say “freaky” looking!
I love your hair blonde, but you’re so darn cute that I’m sure it would also look great darker. Yay for you saying “no” this week and double yay for cupcakes! Congrats on the two-pound loss – that’s great! 🙂
In regards to your sweet tooth, I have one too, actually several! I have found that depriving yourself of something only makes you want it more and think about it more. Allow yourself a smaller portion and perhaps eat it less frequently. That way you won’t gorge yourself when you do eat a sweet treat. There are lots of blogs out there that post recipes for ‘healthy’ sweet treats. One that comes to mind is Chocolate Covered Katie. Good luck. I know it’s not an easy road. Congrats on your weight loss thus far!!
I say go for the darker hair color for fall! I think you would look great as a brunette 🙂
I often wish I didn’t have taste buds for sweets things because then I wouldn’t crave them all the time ha!
Okay, you are probably not like me and going gray. I wanted to go darker blonde recently so that I would not have to get highlights as often. My stylest refused. Apparently, blonde is easier for those trying to cover gray. lol I felt old.
OHHHH POTTY TRAINING! We started before I went back to work. Mason did pretty well. He was getting it. Then he got a bad bug and was sick for several days. All of our work was lost. I need to start again, but he is just not feeling it. I am so frustrated with my lack of no-how!
Blonde’s have more fun! Plus it’d be hard to change it back to blonde if you weren’t sold on the darker hair long term.
Eat the cupcake! Once you do you will probably be “over it” and can get back to business as usual. Potty training my boys (now 28 and 16) was MUCH harder than training my girls (24 and 16). With a brand new baby you might consider waiting a little while longer just to protect your sanity! I think you will miss your blonde if you go dark. Have a great day Erin!
I love your hair and think you look great blonde! But, I have to say, not having to pay extra for color and not having to go to the salon more often to maintain it is pretty amazing. I convince myself that I can justify regular pedi/manis because I save so much by not coloring my hair. My husband doesn’t quite agree with me on that one 😉
I also crave cupcakes pretty regularly too. Unfortunately, for me and the number on the scale, I live dangerously close to several delicious cupcakerys. It’s almost a curse!
I hope you’re having a great week 🙂
Big Bear has that same outfit Hudson is wearing…love it 🙂 Good luck with the potty training. I think we will probably wait until Christmas break to try to attack it..my guy is not very verbal yet and not showing any signs of readiness!
I’ve got baby weight to lose too, but nothing – NOTHING – tastes better than fitting into your jeans this fall.
The “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” really hit home with me, too. I kept thinking how lucky my kiddo is that he will have people telling him this his whole life.
A couple of titles we appreciated (and still do) as we navigated parenting- Withhold Not Correction by Bruce Ray; Hints on Child Training by Trumbell (Elisabeth Elliot’s g’father); Teach Them Diligently by Lou Priolo (he also has a wonderful book called The Heart of Anger- just the first few chapters would be applicable to you).
Tastefully Simple has a delicious almond pound cake mix. I’ve had it in a trifle with whipped cream and fresh fruit…yum! Maybe the fruit would balance things out! Looking forward to hearing the potty training stories. My daughter is 25 months and I just can’t decide when it’s time to put on underwear and just go for it.
I think you have gorgeous hair but maybe if you want to try the darker hair color maybe consider going ombre? I haven’t tried it before but it seems like blondes are pretty much the only ones that can pull this look off well.
And now I need to find myself a cupcake after looking at that scrumptious little picture. Ha!
I have similar coloring to you – born blonde, then by about age 12 turned a medium shade of brown, blue eyes, fair-skinned…like you, I tire of the upkeep and the expense. And I can’t really go more than about 6 weeks between visits. Definitely high-maintenance. However, I tried to go darker and it just did not do anything for me. It completely washed me out. I think that the only way dark hair looks good with blue eyes is when the person has an olive-y complexion. It is so striking. Obviously I am not telling what to do, I am just sharing my experience. Like others on here have said, it’s only hair, and you can always change it back! Good luck with whatever you decide. My motto is: some people are born blonde; but some people are born to BE blonde! 😉
Have you read Dr. James Dobson’s Bringing Up Boys yet? My church did a teaching series on several of Dr. Dobson’s parenting books that got rave reviews from all of my friends with children.
I know you will do great with potty training Hudson! U do great at every single thing you do!! I love your hair the way it is ! You are beautiful regardless of your hair color though!!!! Miss you
Good luck with potty training!
and I say with the cupcakes, why not have 1 a week as a treat for being so good the rest of the time? 🙂
I love that y’all say “Chick-a-lay” at your house, too! Ooohhhh….potty training. I’ve got one down and one to go. Stock up on some treats! Good for you on the 2 pounds. Sometimes I have to say to myself…”I’d rather be skinny that eat that.” Is that shallow? Yes. Does it work? A lot of the time.
I have gone from blonde to dark brown twice now. One was intentional, the other was simply a case of my stylist taking liberties with my hair. I have to say, blonde is definitely more fun and it is so.much.work trying to go from brown to blonde. You’d have to deal with having red hair for a little bit if you were to ever transition from brown back to blonde. On another note, good luck with potty training! I’m sure he’ll do great. If he does, please share because I am at a loss with my 2 and 1/2 year old son 🙂
Erin I have to say I enjoy your blog so much I look forward to read it each day. I think its amazing and it inspries me and I can relate with two boys 22 months and 7 months. 🙂 It makes me happy Just wanted to tell you that
Oh goodness 🙂 Just where is that picture that I did, missy!? I think both look great on you!
You and I have many of the same thoughts! Toddlers, infants, and Gamecocks! Good luck with the tantrums. I truly feel like the worst mother at the end of everyday! I need to try moms on call, too! Thanks for the info. on that-I need all of the sessions!
I love random thoughts!! I have 3 boys and they were all fairly easy to potty train!! Do not despair! When we would start, after a couple of successful trips to the potty, we would have pants-free day. Yes, I was brave. The boys would walk around in a t-shirt and of course their awesome undies that they picked out and then we would potty together at certain intervals-60ish minutes I think. No one ever peed on the floor!
Also wondering if Hudson’s school works with them on this? Sometimes doing things like this in a group is much easier! Good Luck!
Loved reading The Help, but seeing Mae Mobely say that line just kills me. I hope Monroe gets that message too.
Just ordered that book on amazon. I’ve never heard of it, but it looks cute and we love dogs, or as Monroe says, Dawog.
I love the little Golden Books! 🙂
I just wanted to chime in regarding potty training. We didn’t potty train our son until he was 3yrs old, because before that he was not interested, and threw the biggest fits! So I put it off until he was 3 and it went much better. We used the 3day potty training ebook I bought online. It was the best $24 I ever spent! And our son was potty trained in 3 days. We followed the book exactly as it states, and it worked. I plan to do the same training with our 2nd son too. If you have any questions about it, please let me know!
whoops, here is the site: http://www.3daypottytraining.com/
I was also born blonde. I’m so sick of the upkeep, but like you, my husband wants it to stay blonde. I actually did go a little darker last fall, but I didn’t really like it. So, it was back to blonde.
We are potty-training. It is going well so far! I forgot how daunting it was. But my older son was 2 months away from three when we started. My little one is 2 years and 5 months.
I am dying for cooler weather. My 2 year old doesn’t know it’s hot outside! I swear he could stay outsdie ALL DAY and not even care!!!
I saw The Help yesterday! It was so good. I cried as well. It made me sad to be from the South.
Our MDO doesn’t start until September 7th! I am so ready!
wow, that mr. dog book! It was one of my favorites when I was growing up too…I just recently dug it out of a box in my parents’ basement, and my girls absolutely love it! I never knew anyone shared my appreciation of the old golden books 🙂
if you are blonde at heart you should stay a blonde! love your blog, Erin!
The hair question is on my mind each and every single time I schedule a hair appointment (about 4 times a year). After messing around with dark and light, I am sticking with hilights, and hi/low lights once a year. I say go for blonde. Or natural…wait, no, blonde….ugh I can’t make up my mind. I’m not even sure why I commented…..
I love your hair and can’t imagine it any color, but totally get wanting to try something new. I LOVE being a blonde myself, and anytime I have thought about shorter or low lights my husband is quick to add that he loves my long blonde hair and would be sad if I cut it or darkened it. Aren’t men funny about that? I have had change in the past and truly love being blonde though.
I want to see The Help so bad, and have heard many great things about it. I’m hoping to get out this weekend and finally see it! Potty training is a bear and we JUST got my son Ryder finally potty trained, poops and all (thank you Lord!) Just in time for his sister to get here haha. The worst was one day he had taken a bath and ran out of the bathroom into our living room and then stood there and POOPED! Then he yelled “Monster Poopie” and I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or scream. Fun times, but it’s just a phase they have to go through haha! Daycare helped tremendously with potty training. I am a little sad to be taking Ryder OUT of “school” now that I will be staying at home with he and my daughter once she is born. I am still looking at part time preschools just a few hours or one or two days a week, so I will be excited to hear what you do with Hudson.
Girl I feel you on the TANTRUMS! Just when we thought we’d escaped them, they came with a vengeance 🙂 Some days time out and spankings didn’t even work, and all my husband and I could do was stick to our guns and pray we got through it. As my son will turn THREE this November, I am hoping that tantrums will be a long distant memory!
Thanks for sharing!
Laura
laurasblondemoments.blogspot.com