belated mother's day 2012

We are really falling down on the job. We didn't take any pictures of what was a beautiful and wonderful day, and I didn't get around to writing about the day until 4 days later.  I guess the boys are keeping us busy!

On Mother's Day, Eric let me "sleep in."  I have been sleeping really terribly lately and waking up on my own every morning between 4:30 and 5:15.  I usually take my book into the guest room and turn on the air conditioning in there and fall back to sleep, but then Asher wakes up between 5:30 and 6.  So even if I have managed to go back to sleep, it is a very brief nap and not a deep, refreshing, sleep.  So on Mother's Day I got to go back to sleep after Asher woke up, and slept til about 7:30.

When I got up, Eric had cleaned up the downstairs, no easy feat with two toddlers behind him undoing all his work!  He also made breakfast, and my parents and aunt and uncle, as well as my friend Alissa and her husband, joined us.  Eric made cinnamon rolls and eggs, my uncle made hash browns, and my mom brought fruit salad (my dad can't cook, or cut up fruit for a salad).  We had a very nice breakfast.

Later in the day, when the boys went down to nap, my mom and I went shopping.  I only bought an iced tea from Starbucks and a $4 bottle of tonic mix for the soda stream for Eric, so I wouldn't say it was a successful day of shopping.  But my mom and I took our time, and sat in the sun working on the NY Times crossword puzzle- which we finished.

That evening, our neighbors invited us over for dinner.  They had just bought a new grill at the going-out-of-business Sears hardware store near us, and they grilled a ton of food, I brought salad, and all our kids just ran in and out of the house and played while the adults talked.  Then we all came home and the boys went to bed, and Eric and I watched the movie "Hysteria" together.

Overall, it was a relaxing, enjoyable day, with a lot of family time and food, my two favorite things.  Now I need to start planning how to make a special Father's Day for Eric.

Breastfeeding: the final installment

I was thinking about this today after being alerted to the stink about Time magazine's new cover.  I admit it is a little strange to see a boy who is at least half his mom's size standing up and nursing.  But being the pro-breastfeeder that I am, I see no reason why he and his mom can't continue to do that in private.  I guess I am just not the type to put a picture like that out in public.

At our house, breastfeeding is over.  I had thought about stopping at 12 months, but wasn't ready.  I decided we would go until the boys weaned themselves or they reached 2, whichever came first.

By March, they were each only nursing first thing in the morning, and Benjamin wasn't even doing that consistently.  I was pretty sure that my left breast (Benjamin's) was no longer producing milk.  Asher was still enthusiastic about his first-thing session, so I could feel that he was still getting something when he nursed.

When they got sick (March 20), Asher wanted to nurse frequently, and that was the only way he was taking fluids.  I was so glad that we were still nursing, and glad that he was getting something when he was so sick and dehydrated.

But after the bout of flu, they really wound down.  I have no memory of when Benjamin last nursed, but I think it was during the week between their stomach bug and his 2nd birthday.  I am kind of glad that I didn't know our last session was our last, because I would have felt sentimental and sad about it.  But he just stopped asking, and I haven't offered.

Asher has still been asking first thing, but since Benjamin stopped, my milk seems to have dried up.  For the past week or so, Asher has tried to latch on and then rejected my breast.  I am not sad.  We have had a wonderful run, much longer than I had anticipated we would.  I think we were both ready.

I am so glad that I was able to provide both of my boys with the nutrition and health benefits of breastfeeding.  I am happy they are big, strong little men.  And now, I'm glad that we're all done!

First Fair

Friday night we took the boys to their first fair.  We weren't sure whether there would be much for the boys to do, but when we got there we saw many families with young children, and several rides that the boys could go on.

Upon our arrival, they were not 100% thrilled

First we went on the "cars and motorcycles" since the boys love cars and vehicles.

Getting on the ride- still not thrilled

Asher was pretty agreeable and waited patiently.  But when the ride started, he looked skeptical.

They both warmed up, and Asher started to genuinely enjoy it.  Benjamin didn't complain, but looked worried.

Asher went in the bounce house and went nuts!  He loved it.  The woman working the bounce house also gave him a little rubber ducky that he carried around for the next 2 days.  Benjamin seemed a little thrown off and nervous.  He was happy to ride on Grandpa Nick's shoulders and look around, but wasn't very interested in participating.

Then we put the boys on a ladybug ride.

Asher is sucking his thumb and holding his ducky.

Asher was grinning like a goofball!  Again, Benjamin was very serious.

Eric and I took the boys down a giant slide.

Asher and I started out ahead

But Eric and Benjamin caught up and shot ahead at the end!

Asher loved it.  As we got to the end of the slide, Asher shouted "Woo-hoo!"  He really seemed to get a kick out of everything.

Our final ride was the ferris wheel.  I rode with Asher and he was not so patient while everyone got on and off, but once we started whirling around, he was happy.  He shouted "Wooo" every time we swung down from the top.  Benjamin rode with Meema and Grandpa, and I could see him sitting between them, holding their hands.  They said that he was nervous at first, but enjoyed it after a little.  Daddy didn't go, but he said Benjamin looked a little worried through the whole ride.

Bear and Mama on the ferris wheel

After all that, and some funnel cake, we went home for baths and bedtime.  We were all so sticky!  The boys went right to sleep after that busy evening.  It was fun to switch up our usual routine, and I loved seeing the boys try new things.  It is amazing how many "firsts" we still have to experience with them!