Christmastime summarized

Since I've been so incompetent at keeping up with things here, I've decided to over a brief overview of our December rather than the kind detailed blow-by-blow that I might have managed had I kept up with things.

So, with that said, here's December:

Decorating-wise we stuck to the same ol' minimalist approach we've had for years - tiny black, sparkly table tree decorated with a few baubles and some pretty lights, a smattering of ornaments nearby and a few other strings of Christmas lights flung around randomly. The Boys grabby hands and propensity to climb anything and everything lead us to believe we'd be better off without an actual tree just yet. We'll save that for next year, maybe the year after.

Anyhoo, we did get out to a tree farm to get a tree with Grandpa, Dada and The Boy's uncle. Here's a picture of us in front of the tree we all picked out.

Between then and the big day there was shopping, parties, baking and all of the usual hubbub associated with the holidays.

Christmas eve was spent at home, just the three of us(four if you count the kitty). We ate lasagna and opened a present before bedtime.

Christmas morning I slipped downstairs before the boys to pull out the Duplo blocks Santa brought. The Boy came down and toddled over to me, oblivious to the fact that he had new toys and playing with me like we'd always had the blocks.

After breakfast and opening the presents we went to Grandmas house. Last Christmas was spent at my dad's, so Mom was pretty darn excited to have The Boy with her this year. We opened more presents, The Boy ran around in circles, we ate roast beef, green beans and stuffing whilst breaking open the English holiday classic crackers and wearing the crown. Well, I wore the crown, The Boy was suspicious.

From there we made a brief stop at home before heading to Grandpa's house for more presents. We didn't stay long as it had been a long day and we were all tired.

We came home, gave The Boy a bath and put his sweet self to sleep.

All in all an excellent Christmas.

The End of An Era

I stopped breastfeeding The Boy today. We officially stopped last night at bed time, but sneaked in one last session this morning. I cried both last night and this morning, The Boy has been crying on and off this afternoon as he fights sleepiness and asks for "Bop," but we haven't given in. The Hubs not working has helped distract The Boy with play and piggyback rides, but I'm still proud of myself for not giving into sad little sleepy pleas and tugs on my shirt.

To be fair, this is a medically imposed weaning. I started MS treatment this morning - tentative yay - and, I guess, it's time for The Boy to stop depending so much on the boob for sleep and comfort. And it's hard to believe that something I went into with the best of intentions but an utter lack of planning has lasted so long. I mean, a year and a half ago, right before my baby was born, I thought that I'd give nursing a try and, if it didn't work out, happily turn to formula. I assumed that, were we successful, that I'd nurse him for 6 months... at the outside. I never, ever imagined we'd make it this long. And I never thought I would be so sad to give it up.

I'm sure I will be ruminating on this milestone for some time, but I thought I needed to mark today, on today.

And so, with 17 months and 1(2) day of breast feeding behind us I offer a hearty whole milk toast to my little buddy, my little boobie monster, my little love. I'm so proud of us! Now let's work o getting you to sleep without the boob!

My little intellectual

The past week's rain has meant that we've been doing a lot of reading lately, but today was an exceptionally literary one.

We did some picture/letter flash cards and then read a book called "Make Van Gogh's Bed" The Boy then set about riding his bike and running around as best he could.

After lunch and his first nap we then looked at some French flashcards, "J'aime les fruits!" and read "Tip Tip, Dig Dig." Then we read it again. Then I let him practice reading it himself while I read some of my own book.

Then he took it back to the shelf and demanded another book, so I grabbed "Monkey Puzzle," sat on our comfiest chair, snuggled up to The Boy and read the already well-loved book... twice, before giving it to The Boy to examine for a while.

Then it was time for "The Gruffalo." Again, I read it twice!

My kid was insatiable! I put the books away and he cried, mostly because he needed another nap, but also because he wanted to continue my way through his library/learning apparatus.

One can only hope that his love of (me) reading bodes well for the future. In the meantime, I plan to drink-in The Boy and mine's cuddly readings and try to be more patient, even if it means reading "The Gruffalo," "Tip Tip, Dig Dig," "Monkey Puzzle," or whatever else as many times as The Boy lets me.

It's about freaking time

I'll admit to being lazy and busy and slightly depressed, hence the woefully long time it's been since I've posted. There is no point to this post except to just get to posting. To get over the impossibleness of it and get back into documenting life with my boys.

So with that, here is some holiday cuetness, taken from a grocery shopping trip earlier in the season.

Here is The Boy showing the world that he's still a proud rear-facer in his car seat(actually he's probably just excited to be getting out of said car seat).

And here is one taken a few minutes later.

What a bargain for so much cuteness ;)

Yesterday was one of those days

In lieu of writing to catch up on the last month or so, I will instead focus on yesterday.

Yesterday was the kind of day that even the most even-tempered, and able-bodied, mom's find exhausting, infuriating and leaving them in need of a stiff drink.

It started out normal enough. The Boy woke up smiling and happy, eager to be bundled up to head out for our daily meeting at the cafe with Grandpa. The Boy eats toast then goes on a long walk with Grandpa, leaving me to drink my coffee, text and behave like a college student. Or high school student. Whatever.

Anyway, we returned home, The Boy napped and then... And then.

Mid-afternoon brought about something that can only be described as a toddler hurricane, or early-onset Terrible Twos. It was horrific. Moving our heavy dining room chairs everywhere so he could use them as ladders to the table, television and china cabinet. Forcing his way into the cupboard with all the wires and cables for our various electronics and, just as I'd stop him from doing that, running over to pull the cushions off the sofa and access the cable for my laptop – yes, the outlet is covered and childproofed, but I have yet to learn how to childproof the wire and laptop itself.

It all would have been enough to drive me absolutely batty were it not for the fact that, as I sat on the floor hunched over and broken, The Boy came up to me and said, “hi.” And then he kissed me. Whether it was because he saw me sad or he was learning the fine art of using his cuteness to manipulate me, I don't care!

So now I see the my kid, despite all of his exhausting toddlerishness and bad behavior, has learned that kisses make everything better.