Monday, August 2, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Weening
So we have become the first attempts at weening in our parenting career! Yesterday we lost the last of LIncoln's soothers (or Chooch as we call them). So we decided that was it. He was beginning chew through them quite frequently so it really was becoming time to stop. Last night was the first night of no Chooch. And it was so much easier than I expected! He asked for it once, and Stephen explained that there was no more "chooch" and he didn't need it anymore. He still had a bit of a hard time trying to get to sleep, but no trantrum or meltdown. Then today at nap time he asked for it again and I simply said "No more chooch! How about this car?" And he completely forgot about it. Maybe I was the one holding us up! Maybe I wasn't ready to be 'weened' and he has been ready for quite some time! That's ok with me!!
Mothering
I find it hard to believe that anyone could truly, 100% of the time enjoy being a mother and didn't daydream of the times when all you had to worry about was yourself! I secretly long for those days as well, and then feel guilty. But then I quickly catch myself and think why do I feel guilty? Do I love being a mother and my children? Absolutely. WOuld I go back and not have them or even prolong having them? Absolutely not. Do I miss what life was like without children? Almost daily. So why the guilt? When I really think about it, I DON'T feel bad that I miss not being 'on-call' 24/7.
While on an over due and much needed date with my husband the other evening we were sitting in a movie theatre (a movie we both were very excited to see) and I found myself thinking "I wish I was at home with my boys."
But then when I am at home with my boys, for the fourth day in a row of not leaving the house I pine for the movie theatre....
A paradox indeed!
But isn't mothering in itself a paradox? We pour ourselves into our children so that they can one day be independent people, no longer in need of 24 hour care? The goal: to give them roots but also wings so they can fly, all at the same time....
While on an over due and much needed date with my husband the other evening we were sitting in a movie theatre (a movie we both were very excited to see) and I found myself thinking "I wish I was at home with my boys."
But then when I am at home with my boys, for the fourth day in a row of not leaving the house I pine for the movie theatre....
A paradox indeed!
But isn't mothering in itself a paradox? We pour ourselves into our children so that they can one day be independent people, no longer in need of 24 hour care? The goal: to give them roots but also wings so they can fly, all at the same time....
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The Cemetery
The Cemetery behind our house has become a very special place for our family. I know that may seem weird to some, but we have spent hours walking the path. It was my personal and private running path, beautiful beyond words in the summer evenings. It was where we first discovered that Lincoln loved to push the stroller, and could push it for a very, very long time! It was where we first saw some incredible compassion and sensitivity coming from Lincoln, as he walked among the children's headstone - most dating back 100 years, and gently kissing each lamp that sat atop the tiny grave markers.
We saw it as a beautiful park with history, not a place of death and unrest. It always caused us to hold our children a little closer, and speak to each other a little kinder as we were among the gentle reminder that life is short.
Last night we went for what will most likely be our last family walk in the cemetery, so I snapped a few photos.
We saw it as a beautiful park with history, not a place of death and unrest. It always caused us to hold our children a little closer, and speak to each other a little kinder as we were among the gentle reminder that life is short.
Last night we went for what will most likely be our last family walk in the cemetery, so I snapped a few photos.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
beach baby
We are in Florida for 10 days for a bit of R&R. We have wonderful family friends who live in Connecticut but have a vacation home in Florida that they generously let our family use whenever we please.
This is the home that Lincoln took his first steps in, just over one year ago!
Today we took our little boys to the beach. Last year Lincoln, not even being able to walk, was unsure of the water. And heaven forbid he actually get sand on his hands!
This year, he walked curiously towards the crashing waves, with Stephen and my dad holding each hand. As i sat on the beach and watched, as they lifted him over the waves, i assumed he was overwhelmed, frightened, and would be seeing the three turn around any minute and come back in, so i could console my little boy.
How wrong was I! After a few minutes I grabbed my camera to snap a few pics. They come in and Lincoln says, "MUM! WATER! WATER! WATER!" pointing excitedly. "He loves it!", Stephen informs me, as Lincoln confidently turns back around and starts to head back into the ocean, whether my dad and stephen want to go back or not!
After being out there for a while Lincoln and I sat on the beach and let the waves roll over our laps as Lincoln discovered how much fun it was to so sand...at the water. He would wait until the waves came and then throw it as far as he could. Which usually resulted in landing at my toes!
Stephen was taking advantage of the amazing aggressive waves with his boogy board. He got his butt kicked by the waves, and has quite a few injuries to prove it. At one point a little boy was sitting by Lincoln and I, and Lincoln turned to him and said "Dad! Dad!" pointing at Stephen as he rode another wave in. He was so proud of how cool his dad was, mastering those waves!
It didn't take long for Lincoln to decide that yes, sand was annoying as it didn't come off your body easily, but was so fun to stomp down the sand castles Grandpa built. You know what else is fun? Rolling and laying and eating the sand!
You know what is not so fun? Telling your 2 year old its time to go!
It was a great first day. My little beach bum, just like his parents!
This is the home that Lincoln took his first steps in, just over one year ago!
Today we took our little boys to the beach. Last year Lincoln, not even being able to walk, was unsure of the water. And heaven forbid he actually get sand on his hands!
This year, he walked curiously towards the crashing waves, with Stephen and my dad holding each hand. As i sat on the beach and watched, as they lifted him over the waves, i assumed he was overwhelmed, frightened, and would be seeing the three turn around any minute and come back in, so i could console my little boy.
How wrong was I! After a few minutes I grabbed my camera to snap a few pics. They come in and Lincoln says, "MUM! WATER! WATER! WATER!" pointing excitedly. "He loves it!", Stephen informs me, as Lincoln confidently turns back around and starts to head back into the ocean, whether my dad and stephen want to go back or not!
After being out there for a while Lincoln and I sat on the beach and let the waves roll over our laps as Lincoln discovered how much fun it was to so sand...at the water. He would wait until the waves came and then throw it as far as he could. Which usually resulted in landing at my toes!
Stephen was taking advantage of the amazing aggressive waves with his boogy board. He got his butt kicked by the waves, and has quite a few injuries to prove it. At one point a little boy was sitting by Lincoln and I, and Lincoln turned to him and said "Dad! Dad!" pointing at Stephen as he rode another wave in. He was so proud of how cool his dad was, mastering those waves!
It didn't take long for Lincoln to decide that yes, sand was annoying as it didn't come off your body easily, but was so fun to stomp down the sand castles Grandpa built. You know what else is fun? Rolling and laying and eating the sand!
You know what is not so fun? Telling your 2 year old its time to go!
It was a great first day. My little beach bum, just like his parents!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
I smell microwave popcorn
My sweet little Jackson has had some interesting 'habits' when it comes to his bowel movements!
For the first month, I would change his diaper and without fail he would fill it again within 10 mins! So i would change him again, and once again he would fill it. So i got to the point where, don't tell any other mom's, I wouldn't change him right away. It would have cost us an arm and a leg to see his new trick!
The other day, Jackson is now 2 months old, i was walking around and I kept smelling microwave popcorn. No matter what room i was in I could smell its sweet butteryness. I finally started smelling my clothes, wondering if it was me. I finally figured out it was Jackson - and he had a dirty diaper. A dirty diaper that smelled like microwave popcorn! For the last week its been this way. I smell popcorn, i know its time to change Jackson.
I like this new trick!
For the first month, I would change his diaper and without fail he would fill it again within 10 mins! So i would change him again, and once again he would fill it. So i got to the point where, don't tell any other mom's, I wouldn't change him right away. It would have cost us an arm and a leg to see his new trick!
The other day, Jackson is now 2 months old, i was walking around and I kept smelling microwave popcorn. No matter what room i was in I could smell its sweet butteryness. I finally started smelling my clothes, wondering if it was me. I finally figured out it was Jackson - and he had a dirty diaper. A dirty diaper that smelled like microwave popcorn! For the last week its been this way. I smell popcorn, i know its time to change Jackson.
I like this new trick!
Dear...
Dear Self,
no wait
Dear Husband,
mmmm, no wait
Dear Life,
Don't know how much I hate moving? I know it may seem I send mixed signals because in the 6 years Stephen and I have been married we have owned 3 homes and moved our belongings 4 times.
It has only been 1 year since our last move and here we are again getting ready to do it again - 600km this time. The distance really doesn't matter does it?
I just want to unpack and settle. Get renovations done and then enjoy them. No more of this scrambling to get renovations done so we can get the house on the market.
Do I care what the counter tops are going to look like? No. Because they are not for me. They are for 'them' - the new owners.
*sigh*
soon, hopefully soon, we can unpack for more than a year.
Sincerely
Cher
no wait
Dear Husband,
mmmm, no wait
Dear Life,
Don't know how much I hate moving? I know it may seem I send mixed signals because in the 6 years Stephen and I have been married we have owned 3 homes and moved our belongings 4 times.
It has only been 1 year since our last move and here we are again getting ready to do it again - 600km this time. The distance really doesn't matter does it?
I just want to unpack and settle. Get renovations done and then enjoy them. No more of this scrambling to get renovations done so we can get the house on the market.
Do I care what the counter tops are going to look like? No. Because they are not for me. They are for 'them' - the new owners.
*sigh*
soon, hopefully soon, we can unpack for more than a year.
Sincerely
Cher
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