In the interest of full disclosure ...

I'm a fairly open person. If I'm posting something here, I don't care who reads it. If I did, I'd put a password on this blog.

But in the interest of full disclosure, I'd like to mention that when you look at this blog ... I can see you. I have SiteMeter, which tells me who's peeking at my blog and how often.

Cabin fever!

Oh, how I loathe winter. Dry skin, viral madness, cold feet, ice (which broke my damn foot last week, thank you very much!), slush ... I could go on and on. But most of all, I hate cabin fever! It's not that we CAN'T go out ... it's just that ... 1.) coats are so bulky, cumbersome and annoying; 2.) sub-zero temps make me feel like I'll never be warm again; 3.) there's so many more free activities outdoors than indoors.

So, we've been fighting cabin fever here. Just a few things we're doing:

1. Indoor tag.
2. Crafts, crafts, crafts! I bought out the clearance section of Hobby Lobby. Sparkles, feathers, poofy balls, glitter ... you name it, we have it. Esai loves to glue stuff, and we have several Esai Originals all over our house.
3. Reading. Esai's always loved to read, so we've got most of our library memorized.
4. Trains. I'm the TrackMaster queen, lemme tell you.
5. Decluttering. It makes the house feel bigger when the clutter is tamed, so we're boxing stuff, labeling, throwing stuff out and cleaning.
6. Baking. Esai's learning all about measuring, mixing and cooking.
7. Tickles. Is there a better noise than a baby giggling? Yes. A baby and his big brother giggling together.
8. Hide and Seek. Matias and usually team up (at least until he's mobile).

I have to say ... I'm pretty proud that we haven't resorted to the TV to pass the time. We watch very little TV during the day. Esai watches a little "Dinosaur Train" on PBS in the morning, while I'm putting Matias down for his morning nap, but not much else. On a bad day, we might watch an hour of TV.

But, we are ready for spring ... so bring it on, please!

Where did THAT come from?

About two or three times a week, we go to Parents As Teachers playgroups. They're in different schools around the city. And every time we walk into a school, Esai announces, "I ate a bug!" I'm sure he's not swallowing insects each time we walk into the school, so I really wonder where that came from.

Happiness is ...

Esai waking up from his nap, bursting with energy and running into my arms with a huge grin, saying "Mama!"

Hearing Matias laugh when I kiss his belly.

Watching all three of my boys play together.

Tucking Esai in and snuggling him and he tells me "snuggle me bigger!"

Matias wiggling, smiling and practically exploding with joy every time I enter the room.

Ahhhhh ... I am blessed.

Esai is weaned.

Dec. 23, 2009

Two years, nine months, 11 days. I know that's much longer than most, but I'm still sad about it. But it was time. I was starting to feel awkward about it. And nursing two kids is just exhausting, even though Bug was only once a day. It was still tiring.

So, on Dec. 23, he asked for nummies, and I told "OK. This is the last time forever." He said OK and nursed for about 20 minutes. I held him, soaking up every moment, taking about 4,000 mental pictures. I talked to him and told him about the first time he nursed. It was our moment.

The next time he asked ot nurse, I told him "No, remember you're a big boy now." And he said "And big boys don't need nummies!" very proudly.

Hardly traumatic for him. Very sad for me.

My Bug is One of a Kind!

He walked a little late, but a week later he was running.

He talked a little late, but a week later he was talking in full sentences.

And we thought he'd wear diapers to college ... but all of a sudden: We haven't used a diaper (other than for naps and nighttime) in three days.

I'm so proud of him. He knows what's right for him, and he will do things when he's darn good and ready. Good for him!

Matias is weird.

He won't drink bottles, but is fine with sippies.

He doesn't like purees, but prefers to feed himself chunks of food.

Isn't he supposed to be a baby?