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!

about the boys

Friday night- they wanted their own yarmulkes

I want to say there is not much new here.  I am long overdue in posting about their 2 year well-visit, but I lost the sheet with their heights and weights!  Here is what I remember:
Benjamin: 28 lbs, 8 oz; 34 inches tall
Asher: 28 lbs, 4 oz; 35 inches tall
I think their weights are incorrect, because I think Asher weighs more than Benjamin, but who knows.

We start gymnastics on Tuesday, and I am really excited.  The boys seem to be natural monkeys.  They love to throw the cushions off the couch and play in them.  Asher likes to throw himself off the couch on to them.  As a birthday gift they got a small trampoline, and Asher will just go nuts jumping on it.  I think they will really take to gymnastics.

Benjamin loves to wear shoes.  Two different shoes.  On the wrong feet.

Both boys have such personalities!  Benjamin has been throwing more fits lately, and Asher's been whining more.  Asher has a new "Nooooo" and a new "ohhhhh" that are very whiny, and make it sound like I am offering him a nap on a bed of burning coals rather than a slice of apple.  Benjamin's fits are to either look around and find something to throw, or run to the nearest wall/door, lie on the floor in front of it, and kick it with both legs.

They are napping much better than they were a month ago.  A month ago I thought maybe we were done for- but now they are back on track and napping 2-3 hours every afternoon.  This makes such a huge difference in my life and productivity!  I love them, but I also love when I have a few moments of quiet.

Asher and his friend Trouble.  Trouble tolerates his affections. Barely.

Asher is still waking up at ungodly hours.  I think I have just reset my own clock, for the most part.  I am in bed around 10 each night, and then I am ready for a 5:30 or 6 o'clock wake-up.  Some mornings I go downstairs with him and fall asleep for a little on the couch, but other mornings I am awake and attempt to be productive.  On weekends, Eric and I take turns letting each other "sleep in" (7:30 or 8, ha!).  It has made some things easier- when people ask if I am available for an appointment at 7:45 of 8, I can say yes!

They still don't have huge vocabularies, but they are vocalizing more.  Asher has started speech therapy, and she pointed out a number of strengths- sounds they have, that they initiate talking, that they comprehend so much.  It is reassuring to hear that, but still difficult to have them lagging behind so many of their friends.

Speaking of friends, they definitely seem to be getting more attached to their play mates.  And each other. They are very interactive in playing with each other-- they play peek-a-boo, chase, and imitate all kinds of physical behaviors.  We are at the point where I feel like it is easier to have 2 than 1, especially when I look at all of our friends who are expecting their 2nd.  At this stage, the boys can play and entertain each other and are much less dependent on me.  I know that with friends, their little ones get jealous when their parents show attention to another child.

Asher is such a goofball.  Tonight my mom had a cold and was blowing her nose, so Asher started blowing raspberries to imitate her.  Then he was overjoyed when we offered him a Kleenex so that he could pretend to blow his nose with that.  He definitely likes to get us all laughing with his antics.

Benjamin is very independent.  If he is up and Asher is still asleep, he is happy to play with his toys (particularly anything that is a truck or a car) and ignore me completely.  He will also sit awake in his pack n play at nap time and look at books until he is ready to go to sleep.  Asher requires a little more attention and maintenance.

That is what is happening here.  I will try to take pictures of our first gymnastics class, but they might discourage it, so we'll see.

Girls' trip to New York City

This weekend I went to New York all by myself!  I went to see my two best friends from college and have some time with just the girls.  It had been years since we did it.

I know it is trite, but it felt like no time had passed.  Even though our lives have kept us busy, and we had a lot to catch up on, and it felt as if we were back in college (Kind of. There were a lot of things I used to do in college that I don't do anymore. Plus I was in bed around 10:30 which never, ever happened in college).

We walked all over town, taking rests here and there because Alissa is 25 weeks pregnant.  But still, she has a lot of stamina!  I went to the Upper East Side, Soho, the West Village, and very briefly, the Meatpacking District.

On Sunday, Amanda and I hosted brunch at her apartment.  Two other friends from college joined us and we sat, talked, and laughed until I decided I should go back to my family.

I had such a wonderful visit.  I missed the boys, but not desperately.  I got a good night's sleep, which I really enjoyed.  It was nice to be "me" again, and not "mommy."  Although I love being a mother, it was nice for me to remember that I am my own person.  And particularly with my friends who are not yet married, and don't have children of their own, it was very easy to talk about non-child topics.

I think I'll be ready for another girls' weekend sooner rather than later!

date night

On Monday night Eric and I had our first date night, just the two of us, in a long time.  We went out to celebrate our two birthdays, and Eric's parents took care of the boys.  We both put our phones away and ignored them completely and were able to just talk and enjoy each other's company.  It was wonderful!  Now we're wondering why it took us so long to have a date night... and how soon we'll be doing it again.

Today we celebrated the boys' second birthday with a party at Smith Memorial Playground in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia.  There was so much to do and so much fun to be had.  

Here is Benjamin, modeling the lion t-shirt Meema made him:

Asher modeling the bear t-shirt that Meema made him:

Curly blond-hair Bear with the cutest little nose:

There was a beautiful park outside the house, but Benjamin only wanted to play with trains inside:

Asher stealing Mommy's water:

Asher and Daddy having hugs:

The boys got birthday crowns to wear.  Here they are, waiting for their cupcakes:

Our family picture for the year:

The party scene:

Mommy feeding Benjamin some fruit:

The leftovers- the balloons were supposed to be favors but were all tangled, so we just brought them home again.

As usual, I made way too much food.  Here is what I learned:
-Don't make 60 cupcakes and frost them yourself.  They were very delicious, but way more work than if I had just made two cakes and frosted them.
-People like fruit.
-I made lots of little sandwiches, and they weren't nearly as popular as the tomato pie friends of ours brought from a local Italian market.  Next time I will just get tomato pie!
-Don't make cake pops. Bakerella makes them look good and easy, but I'm not her.

Passover 2012

We spent the weekend in Wellesley, Massachusetts at my cousin's house.  He is married, and he and his wife have 4 children.  They generously and graciously invited us to stay the whole weekend at their house. I want to say that with their 4, my 2 barely added to the chaos... but I am not completely sure that was true!

In general, our trip went very well.  We stopped for lunch in Norwalk, Connecticut on our way up, and got to Wellesley around 3:30.  We started our seders around 5 both nights, so we didn't have time to do much more than play at our cousins' house that afternoon.  The boys loved it there, there were so many toys and so much to do!  Asher is clearly taken with older kids and will follow them around and play with them.  Benjamin is taken with cars and trucks.  He spent a very long time playing with toy dump trucks and diggers in the dirt.

Asher with the Big Kids

For the seder on Friday night there were 20 of us.  My cousin and his family, our family plus my parents and sister, my aunt and uncle, my mom's parents and Pierrette, and my mom's cousin and her family.  The boys were exhausted and refused to sit in their chairs as well as refused to eat any traditional food.  Gefilte fish- ew.  Matzo- ew.  Matzo ball- sounds good because it has the word "ball" in it, but apparently hugely disappointing.  We ended up getting them ready for bed and asleep by 7:15, at which point we could enjoy the rest of the evening.

The older end of the table

The younger end of the table

"I'll tell you what I think of your Passover 'food.'"

"More chicken, please!"

I think Asher may be having a bit of a growth spurt.  For a while he was eating very little, but ever since recovering from his stomach virus, he has eaten twice as much as before, or more.  We go to the doctor in the morning for their two year well-visit so we'll see if he is gaining weight- he was 27 pounds when he was sick 3 weeks ago.

Saturday started with brunch at my sister's, which was lovely. We went on a walk afterward, and then headed back to Wellesley in the hopes that the boys would nap.  Benjamin fell asleep in the car and went right down to nap at the house.  Asher- not so much.  Eventually I gave up.  It was really disheartening, the boys slept pretty terribly (as they often do at home), and their cousin, who is almost 4, slept 12+ hours a night and took 3-4 hour naps.  I was so jealous.  And tired.

The second seder was slightly smaller, but the boys were feeling more patient.  They still wouldn't eat any of the Passover food, but ate some other things and played with their cousins.  Here is Benjamin in his frog hat when we talked about the ten plagues:

We left after breakfast this morning, and stopped for lunch in New Canaan on our way home.  We had lunch with an old friend of mine from college, who had seen my post on Facebook on our way up.  I hadn't posted to Facebook in an eternity but decided to on our trip, and it was a good decision!  My college friend and his wife made us a lovely picnic, we went to a playground and our children played while we had lunch.  The playing helped the boys get back in the car, but their patience only lasted until we hit a big traffic jam on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Now we're home. I am not sure how we will make it through Passover, since the boys' favorite foods are crackers, toast, cereal, and cookies.  Today they asked for cracker and when I handed them some matzo they cried.  Not like a toddler throwing a tantrum cry, but a very disappointed, "I can't believe you are calling that piece of crap a 'cracker'" cry.  Asher happily accepts pieces of matzo with peanut butter on them, but then proceeds to lick all the peanut butter off, leaving behind soggy matzo.  They may live off eggs, cheese, and raisins this week!