tasymo - Thanks that's exactly what I wanted...to look like he just plopped down..lol. He is sitting on an old metal chair. I didn't want the chair to show so I surrounded it with some old pieces of wood we chopped up from a tree that fell in our yard during a storm. Mine is wired together & wired to the chair. The moss helps hide the wires & you never even notice them unless you are REALLY looking. It was quite a job, those pots get heavy when they are wired together....but I love my "potman". Thanks. luna ilena feliz- Thanks...I tried! I wondered what to do with him during winter since he is way to heavy to move...so during the Christmas holiday season last year I put a Santa hat on him...I thought it was pretty cute! Maybe i'll make him a Santa suit this year...lol

Thank you Dahr-ling! I do love that Lilac rose. Awwww...that was so thoughtful of you to think of me! Your garden is full of color and vitality. Mine is just sitting there...on hold. Everything in your garden looks healthy and so pretty! I bet with all those beautiful roses and irises blooming, your garden smells delicious. I only wish irises could have a longer blooming period. I can sit out in the garden and sniff and sniff and sniff their yummy scent for hours. I love red roses, too, and I must say. WS 2000 is AWESOME! (swooning..) I actually like red and purple together, especially with yellow gold. Very regal colors. I like deep red with bold, bright yellows, white, purples, blues, turquoise, oranges and some shades of pink, HOT Tropical colours, with Caribbean blues, but never with demure Pastels. It just depends upon the shades and the hues of red.. I do NOT like pinky-washed-out-reds. If it is going to be red, I want my roses to bloody well be a true red, a Christmas red, a juicy apple red, or a cherry red, or a deep crimson red...or it's Off with their heads! Off with their Heads!

My children are older now, not babies or children, but I had the same ideas as you when they were little - limited tv, limits on sugary snacks and sweet drinks, breast feeding, etc. And, like you, my mom laughed or ignored some of them. Fast forward 20 years later, my mom appreciates the way I raised my children and she understands now why I made the choices I did. I am very, very glad I had the rules I did when my kids were young - I was right and I'm glad I held my ground. None of your choices sound extreme to me - limiting sugary snacks, limiting t.v., wanting a schedule and more time just the 3 of you, no trip to the beach at 4 months old - those are all reasonable choices. Cheri is right, your parenting ideas will change as your daughter grows. And she is right, your parents have things to contribute as grandparents. But that doesn't mean that you have to raise your children according to your parents' priorities and wishes. However, keep in mind a few things - whenever you talk about the way you want to raise your kids differently - many grandparents would see that as a criticism of how they raised you, their own child. Before you phrase things, think about how they might come across to your parents as implying that their methods were lacking. Also, be sure and make it a point to mention to your parents what they did right. My mom and I have different ideas about television, putting coke in baby bottles, etc., but my mom is also the person who taught me that when things look hopeless you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and work as hard as you can to change things. That is a gift she gave me infinitely more precious than riches or even education. Be sure and tell your parents what things they taught you that you will pass on to your children. Another suggestion that worked for us is that I told my mom that my husband wanted those rules. My mom simply ignored my rules if they were my rules, but she thinks my husband hung the moon and should have whatever he wants, so she (sometimes) listened if she thought it was my husband's wish. She did whatever she dang well pleased if it was just something I wanted. If my mom was particularly stubborn, my husband told her himself that he wanted it that way. Another thing that works well (with grandparents and babies) is to redirect. If your mom wants to take the baby somewhere, tell her no, now is not a good time, but this weekend would be great, how about then. Or if she wants to give the baby icing, tell her no, but baby loves sweet potatoes, why don't you give her that. Grandparents love to see "firsts" - first bite of chocolate, first time at the beach. Tell your parents, no, you can't take her to the beach this year, but when she's 2 you can take her and be there for her first time. You are being more than reasonable to limit tv, unhealthy snacks, limit visits to less frequently than daily or every other day, and set the expectation of higher education for your children early. Your mother is right, your daughter will express preferences of her own one day in education, food, hobbies, etc. That is still no reason not to set your standards high. If you are raising your daughter significantly different than the way you were raised, it will take years for your parents to change their minds. But when they see your daughter as a teenager, healthy and maintaining a healthy weight, doing well in school, winning awards and doing whatever extracurriculars (sports, violin, girl scouts, dance, whatever rings her bell), trust me, your parents will tell you you did your job well. I want to address something else cheri mentioned - her daughter's desire to use organic food, use cloth diapers, read to her children daily (I heartily endorse the part about reading to your children daily, by the way). The drive to be the best mom she could possibly be was strong in cheri's daughter, and even if her daughter changed her ways, she still probably has a strong drive to do her best. That drive should be honored, respected, and as much as reasonable should be indulged by grandparents. The realities of life will knock some practicality into the heads of young parents - let them have their dreams and give it their best shot. When my oldest was a baby my mother-in-law told me this, "In every young mother's life there comes a time when she has to look at her mother and say, 'Mother, you raised your kids the way you wanted, now it's my turn to raise my kids the way I want'." Be loving, be kind, include and affirm the grandparents, and let the grandparents have their way when it isn't important to you. But stand your ground with kindness on the things that matter. Everything you're asking for is reasonable and healthy for your child.

It took a lot of guts to do what you did. I'm interested to know what CPS will do. I didn't think they'd usually get involved over verbal abuse stuff or spanking, pulling, shoving, etc... only physical abuse that may be doctor worthy. Sad, and maybe not right, but that's what I thought. The best thing to get her on may have been her kicking you or, something along the lines of disturbing the public. I wonder if maybe the mother is sleep deprived and or has post partum depression. Maybe if she does, they'll get her some help. A girl I know would tell me how she was always calling her older child an idiot and yelling at her and such when she had PPD; that she would just lose it. After her PPD cleared up, she was back to normal... wonder if that could be part of it. Let us know what happens.