wet kitchen floor

Yesterday was a good day. We've been working on the yard, disposing of all the build-up from years of heavy rains that have deposited in the back yard. Travis was pulling stumps, chopping up fire knot for later use. Before working on the yard, however, we packed ourselves in the car, buying coffee and donuts and driving throughout town, just talking and goofing off. I wish we had this more often. days like that make the bad days okay.

he figured out that calling my sex forced was a guarantee in a lack thereof. lately I've actually been in the mood, however, so we're making up for a lot of lost time.

VH1 is pretty cool. talk about a guilty addiction.

we saw Trav's sister Mayme and her family. I felt on the defense; I played with my niece-in-law's children and listened to Mayme tell me that Ben just needs patting to keep from crying, and do I have to bounce him like that? he was tired, full of poop, and needed to go fuss it out. I understood it, but let her go with her theories. It angered me to be questioned; it took her nine weeks to see him, and now she's offering advice? no thank you. He has four fat rolls to each thigh, not to mention the ring of neck fat. he smiles now, which is a welcome sight. must be doing something right.

my father advised me to keep on the lookout for angry outbursts from Ben and to deal with them properly; a light smack and a 'no'. I was skeptical; I didn't want to hit my son. I felt bad at the thought. Anger management issues and are common in my family, though, so to nip this in the bud now would be ideal. Dad had another explanation: babies had to learn to be quiet very quickly a long time ago or be eaten. They can learn this and other habits at a young age. and if some of those less-than-desired habits aren't stamped out now, the 'terrible twos' are imminent. I tried it, and holy shit: my son understands 'no' now. When I put him down to warm up a bottle (banana, rice cereal, and milk) he has a bitch fit. This, however, has been corrected. 'Benjamin, no' changes his behavior very quickly; if it doesn't, he gets a smack on that fat thigh of his. If it continues, it usually means it's something else bugging him, and as such he gets soothed. very easy to implement, with minimal pain on either side.

things are good now, but I don't expect things to stay that way; by the end of the week I'm usually a wreck.

wrote to a certain math teacher again. wonder what he'll say?