Another mouth to feed

Nursing my babies has been one of the best natural gifts of my life.  I have been exceptionally blessed in how easy they have taken to nursing.  I try not to take this for granted, knowing that so many people really have to struggle to make this work and others just can't. 
Everyone knows of the obvious benefits of nursing...mainly ease and nutritive value for baby.  But some of my personal favorite benefits of nursing are...
...the almost-tranquilizing effect a latch has on a squirmy, fidgety, fussy baby.
...a milk-drunk baby face...sleepy eyes, half smile, pure bliss...
...big bright eyes staring up at me... goes without saying, this is the opposite of milk-drunk.  although, the smile occasionally accompanies the big bright eyes.  then my heart melts and I start dropping big fat tears on the baby.
...sitting still, me and my baby, several times a day...with two kids I need to be reminded sometimes to pee or eat.  at least I always make time to sit and stare at my baby.
...convenience and ease. (I know it's an obvious one...but really, there is enough to remember with two kids...I don't need the extra hassle of sterilizing nipples and keeping formula on hand!)
...the magic that is my body making exactly what my baby needs.  (again, this is a given...but REALLY - my body makes exactly what my baby needs for exactly his/her age...it is truly magic!)
...the 'conversations' that Max and I have after she eats.
...a sweet baby holding my finger or resting a hand on my breast.
I am so grateful for this time and this gift!

My Leave List

In the essence of savoring every single minute of my leave, I created a list of the things I would like to do while I am home pretending to be a stay at home mom.  As weeks slip away, I have to put my list into action.  Here's to accountability and seizing the day!

• Zoo (5/13)
• Farmer's Market (6/3)
• Botanical Gardens (6/8)
• Science Center (6/14)
• Chuck E. Cheese  (5/6)
  
• Magic House (5/19)
• Goreville (5/26-5/27)
• Organize Cole's room (5/24)
• Boy & Maternity clothes to consignment.  Girlie clothing shopping! (5/17)
• Weight Watchers (5/9)
• Budget
• Citygarden (6/3)
• Girl-ify Maxine's room (5/24)
• Recycling project

My Baby Dad...

As Mother's Day approaches, I can't help but think about how important Derek's role is in my mothering.  I can't imagine parenting my children without him. 

He's the yin to my yang and a punching bag/trampoline/playmate for our children (human and canine)!

Home Made Play Dough

Cole's time as an only child is drawing to a close.  I am trying to soak up these last days as a family of three and focus on him.  Today I pulled out a few old tricks...from one of the VERY few things that I have saved from high school, a folder from my Parenting/Child Development class.  (Thank you Mrs. Carnahan!)  We decided to make some home made play dough.

Here's the recipe:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
3 tablespoons oil
Kool-Aid (we just used food coloring, but Kool-Aid would smell yummy!)
1 cup boiling water
Mix all together until smoothe (and cool) and enjoy!

The recipe came out wonderfully!  The home made version smells much better than the store-bought version of "doh" and the oil actually made my hands feel nice when we played with it!
Note: if you chose to play with play dough, make sure NONE gets dropped or that your dogs are not around to eat the dropped bits...Pretty aqua play dough makes for ugly dog puke stains in the carpet.

Other (unphotographed) fun highlights of this Sunday included a visit with Opa, playing with vinegar and baking soda to make "magic tricks," and Cole learning to play Uno!

VD

I will defer to Jill to express some of how I am feeling about Valentine's Day this year.  I don't have teenagers, but I am doing plenty of cheek squishing, kissing and hugging.  Well said, friend!

I hate the commercialism - yet I love LOVE.  And I have lots of it.  And maybe a little of me wants to celebrate it!  However, I don't need overpriced flowers, jewelry (Derek says I wouldn't wear it anyway - and he's right!), or chocolates....no wait, I totally need chocolate!  

I would love to receive flowers some other day (Derek has planted me many lovely flowers!  I like the symbolism of that - living flowers over cut & dying ones).  Not today.  Not on the day when some women build up expectations and are often let down.  Not on the day that makes single people feel lonely (that was me so many years).  Not on a day that Hallmark created.

That being said, here's to love...because I love LOVE!

Cole made us so proud when he wrote his name on all of his Valentine's.  I may or may not have been so proud that I squirted a few tears.  Blame it on the hormones.

Despite my overall less-than-lovely attitude about Valentine's Day, we were completely spoiled on this day!  Cole brought home the sweetest Valentine's for his Mommy & Daddy!  Na brought by an adorable book for Cole (more about this in another post!) and an E-reader for Derek and I!  Opa sent cards and stickers for Cole!  Cole got a bag-o-loot from his friends at school!  And, our lovely neighbors, Mr. Greg & Mrs. Jen left a bag of treats & cookies in the mailbox! 

I chose to spoil my loves a bit too.  I tried not to "buy" in too much but instead made D his favorite cookies (gooey butter) and got Cole a few treats.  I hope that I show them how very much I love them each and every day - with a little extra 'sugar' on this Valentine's Day!

To my family and friends, I love you all very much - - every single day!  Thank you for year round acts of love and kindness.  

Here's to LOVE!
XOXOXO 

...and it feels so good!

Sunday morning we woke in Tampa and tiptoed around Jayjay's apartment, played with Milo, drank coffee and milk, pedi'd some neglected Midwest-in-the-winter toes, and tried not to wake Jayjay and her roommates!

We eventually woke Jamie and headed to the beach at Siesta Key!  However, Cole didn't make it.  He fell asleep just a few minutes into our trip.  I decided that since he had continued to be on (*ahem) the crabby side, we should drive on to Ft. Myers and let him sleep.  Good in theory....until he wakes up just a few minutes past our exit in an even more awful mood!  ....and that mood stuck around for the next hour of the drive.  >;-/  There was no consoling the boy.
Luckily Jamie and I had enjoyed the first hour of our drive chatting about life and sister-stuff.  <3
We arrived at Ft. Myers to find Derek working around Opa's.  Reunited!

We reloaded and headed for the beach with D in tow!  Not knowing our way, we flip-flopped between following signs that read "beach," following the advice of Jamie's out-of-touch Tom Tom, and reading the map.  We encountered a lot of traffic and had a limited amount of time due to the retirement community rules*.  Eventually we landed at the first beach we saw en route to Sanibel Island.  

 It wasn't the biggest or most fabulous beach...in fact it wasn't even away from the Intercoastal waters...but it did the trick for our Midwestern-selves!

 We were happy to be together!  (I have never been more relieved/happy to share parenting with Derek.  We make a far better parenting team than I can do on my own!)

Baby's first trip to the beach.

After a short trip, we loaded up, got Jayjay's car all sandy, and headed back to meet Opa for dinner out.  It may have been a short trip to a 'weak' beach, but it fed my soul (that and being reunited with D)!  Please tell my why we lived in the landlocked Midwest!?

*retirement community rules: 

community members shall eat two meals per day - breakfast at 9 am and dinner at 4 pm.
community members shall eat at least one meal per day in a restaurant - bonus points for those restaurants that offer senior menus.

community members shall transport as slowly as possible - via golf cart as much as possible.

community members shall complain about the pool water temperature at all times - when the pool heater is on, the water is too warm - when the pool heater is off, the water is too cold.

community members shall think that my child is the cutest ever - I can't blame them!  ;-)

Build-A-Bear

After landing in Tampa and settling in a bit at Jayjay's apartment, we headed to Wire Grass to grab some lunch and do some shopping.

Cole spotted Build-A-Bear and I landed in a place I had never planned on.  His persistence was impressive and his sense of direction spot-on when I tried to distract and trick him out of it.  I broke down and we walked in....

Aside from feeling sensory overload, it was a good experience.

Cole (love this kid) chose the cheapest bear in the store, even after we explored all of his options. We stood in line and waited while two girls and their mothers had 5 animals stuffed (?!).  Cole entertained Jayjay and I with some of the songs provided to put inside of the bears.  Luckily, he didn't realize that he could purchase the "Happy Birthday" song and relive it over and over and over....like in the store.

Finally it was our turn to stuff Cole's bear.  The cutest thing was putting the small, soft hear inside the bear.  Cole got to rub it between his hands to warm it up and then put good wishes and love into it for the bear to live a happy and loving life.  So cheesy and so precious!

Next came the accessories.  Again, Cole surprised me with his inexpensive reserve.  We walked away only $20 poorer with a bear, Ozzie, wearing a Tampa Bay hat and a guitar.  Most importantly, Cole loved it!

Flight to Florida

Normally a day of travel doesn't merit an entire blog post.

But this one did. 

I was nervous as this was my first time to fly with Cole by myself.  It's always nice to know that you have 'backup' and can share the stresses of travel with a child.  We started our day early and got the dogs to Na & G's house for their mini vacation.  Na took Cole and I to the Airport by 8 am for check in.

This face should have told me what I was up against....

The airport was more crowded than I've dealt with in some time.  Lines were long for ticketing and security.

Cole did well, but I could tell that his mood was not going to hold for long....

At the gate we started to break out some toys and got breakfast.

The ride started fine.  Cole was enthusiastic and excited to fly.  Then we were on the tarmac for too long.  Then flight became boring when he realized that it involved a lot of sitting still.

Toys.

Distraction.

Snacks.

All failed.

Cole sassed and even hit me.  I was at a loss.  There is no timeout on an airplane.  I couldn't remove anything because he didn't like any of his toys, snacks, etc.  So, we talked and fussed.

Eventually he fell asleep and I got an hour of peace in which I chatted with our seatmate (and apologized and offered her a three year old for the week - wouldn't her parents be surprised!?!).

Cole seemed like a new boy when we landed after he woke.  He was all smiles as we waited for our baggage.  Some of the sass returned in the car with JayJay...but then he found chocolate.

We headed back to Jayjay's to regroup and plan for the rest of our afternoon, hoping that Cole would become his normal 'go with the flow (for the most part) self'.....

Missed Moments: whatever he wants to be

Hard times

Hard times are easier....

...with moments like this.

Konarcik Park

On the recommendation of our neighbors, Mr. Greg & Mrs. Jen, Cole and I ventured out to check out Konarcik Park. 

Jackpot!  

Cole enjoyed one of the playgrounds and I enjoyed the scenery.

The park is in the country with a track and a few playgrounds tucked in the woods.  

Perfect!

I see many trips to the park in our future!

Where We Are

Where we are now is....

...on top of a windy hill....

...perfect for flying a kite....

...unless you're crabby.

Daddy Stuff: Playin' trucks

Sometimes I play trucks with Cole.  

Holy Cow, not nearly as well as Daddy does it!  

Little did I know all that went into playin' trucks!?

Daddy is WAY better at this.

AND, the space between the couch cushions makes a great ravine to rescue your 'guy' from.

bathtime games

First, you call to Daddy and wait.

...then Daddy comes and is SO scary and FUNNY!

So, you laugh....

AND LAUGH...

AND LAUGH, LAUGH, LAUGH!

Up

Movie Night in the Albracht House:  Up.

We got *Up* as our Netflix pick. It was so fun to watch a movie with you, Cole! You really enjoyed the movie and found a few parts scary. Daddy and I enjoyed the movie as much or more than you! I think this one is worth buying! I would love to snuggle you and watch it many more times.

Big Boy Underwear

successful for three hours tonight! let's build on this!

Play-Doh

Santa brought Cole some Play-Doh for Christmas. We broke it out this evening...and I think Mama and Dada were just as excited as Cole!

(the smell has not changed in the last 20-25 years!)

Halloween 2009

Mama and Dada worked hard on the jack-o-lanterns and making your costume today. Dada had a wonderful idea to make a Diego pumpkin...however, it was quite difficult - so, Mama went for the old school jack-0-lantern!

A day at the Zoo

We took advantage of a cool October morning to make a trip to the zoo.
The children's zoo was very cool and where Cole had the most fun. There were lots of animals to look at and goats to pet!

Beach: Naps