Boxes of fun

No posts for a couple of days as we went up to Chico and didn't have internet access. But we're back now and catching up. Well I am! An hour after we got home, James had to leave for music practice and from there he went to an electrical job, working until midnight. We can't complain, or turn it down, with as scarce as work has been the last week or so, but it did make for a tiring evening for your truly!

The kids had a blast visiting old friend back at the YWAM base, and on the way there Arran told me "Mummy, I just love moving to YWAM!"

I explained that this was just a short visit, but that we might be moving back soon. On the way home he was almost in tears as he told us that he missed his YWAM friends already. But then he told us that when we were there, he missed his Petaluma friends. It was so sweet and so heartbreaking to see him physically moved and realizing that wherever we end up, he's going to miss someone.

So, no photos from our couple of days away, but here are a few shots of the kids playing with the boxes to my replacement computer which arrived on Monday. Gotta love how kids can entertain themselves so easily with a few boxes.

If only we were all so easily entertained!

Bye bye buddy

Wow! All of a sudden work has become very skimpy again for James. He's had steady work for months, until last week. Of course, being an electrician, if he doesn't have work, he doesn't get paid, so he takes the work when it comes. Anyway, we're enjoying the extra family time...this afternoon we ventured to the beach.

I'm still incredulous at the fact that it can be blazing hot here at our home, but you can drive to the beach and be freezing cold. I had everyone in warm weather wear and felt almost foolish for packing layers; cardigans, fleeces, hats - but we've been caught out before, so I did it anyway. We had to stop before we got to the beach as both kids (who'd gone before we left) needed to go potty! As they were walking back to the van, I hear Arran say "Brrrr, it's freezing cold" and I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. It really is ridiculous.

So we got to the beach and bundled up in our winter wear (!) and the kids had a blast. Of course they desperately wanted to go in the water, but it was way too cold. It was too bad really. They didn't want to leave, but poor Asia wasn't quite sure what to do with herself and it was almost dinner time, and to be honest James and I had quite enough, way before they were showing any signs of being done. What terrible parents, dragging them away from a cold windy beach, just to feed them.

Oh and on a completely different topic, before I forget, yesterday as we were getting ready for church I asked Arran to help or do something, I can't remember exactly what.

"Arran, could you........please Buddy?" I always call him buddy, because he's my little buddy and it's my equivalent for sweetie or sweetheart, which I often call the girls.

As serious as can be he says "Mommy, you always call me Buddy"

to which I replied "I know Bud', is that ok?"

"But that's not my name. My name's Arran. I don't want you to call me Buddy anymore!"

"Oh Buddy, I mean Arran. I'm so sorry. I'll try really hard not to, but you might have to remind me for a while."

And it is hard. We passed on the instructions to James this afternoon and there have already been several times today when I've had to backtrack, but he's really serious about it, so I'm trying. He's growing up far too quickly. Bless him.

Howarth Park

We went to Howarth Park, in Santa Rosa on Saturday afternoon. It had been a pretty hot day and they have this little area at the park which shoots up jets of water from the ground. So we packed up the kids and their swimsuits and towels and off we went.

They had been so excited, but when we got there they both became totally reluctant to get wet. The kids around them were laughing and squealing and soaking wet while they just stood by us refusing to go. We told them how much fun it would be and tried to encourage them to start by just putting a hand or foot in the water, but all to no avail. Eventually they started telling each other to go (progress at least). Finally, I suggested they hold hands and go together and after that there was no stopping them.

They were so cute. They basically chose just one jet and stayed loyal to it and periodically ran back to wipe their faces on towels before running back for another soaking. Bryttain would stick her whole face in, it's a good thing they were both wearing sunglasses, because those jets have some force behind them. She is our little go-getter. She has no fear (unless she picks up on Arran's) and is the one to always do the crazy stunts and to be covered in bruises but she doesn't care. She laughs at herself all the time, in fact she's her biggest fan and only needs herself to keep herself entertained! She just cracks herself up.

You are louder than a butterfly on my eye...

James didn't end up having work again today and I'm trying to find as many fun family activities as I can, to make the most of the time we have together. So we went into San Francisco, to see the 'Tall Ships".

This week is the Festival of Sail so there are tall ships from all around the world. Of course, by the time we'd let Asia have her first nap, all had a quick bite of lunch and managed to get out of the house, we were well into the afternoon, but that's OK, that's how life is these days for us. Arran especially, was very excited and really wanted to go on the ships, but he was disappointed that we weren't actually going to get to sail away. He really wants to go on a boat, so one of these days we're going to take the ferry across to the city.

Speaking of Arran, he has this one sweater that is a hand-me-down from his cousin (as are most of his clothes), that he just loves. I think it's a little dated looking and doesn't really go with much of anything else he wears, but he insists on wearing it. He looks like my little ragamuffin boy when he has it on, but that just adds to his charm. His sandals and sun visor complete the look.

Oh and 'You are louder than a butterfly on my eye' is a line from a song he made up today. I really wonder what is going through his head sometimes and love to see how his imagination has taken off in the last year or so. Unfortunately I didn't get to hear the whole song, but James mentioned it as we were driving and listening to him singing another song he was in the process of creating. James thinks he might steal that line for a song of his own! I love it.

Wednesday evening I spent a few hours making baby food. It's a labour of love. I was busy washing and chopping and cooking and steaming and pureeing, before pouring 1-2 tablespoon serving sizes into ice cube trays to freeze. Then yesterday morning I got to fill my ziploc baggies with portions of carrots, courgettes/zucchinis, sweet potato, and pears to add to my supply of mango, banana and peas. Now when it comes to a meal time, all I have to do is pop out a couple of cubes and defrost them and we're ready to go! It's pretty easy, especially when I do batches like this and they're then sitting ready for me, whenever I need them.

I only buy organic produce when my babies are this young and just starting out as it's so hard to know the levels of chemicals or pesticides on our produce and they certainly don't need to be dealing with all of that (I wish I could go organic for all of us, all the time, but it gets too expensive).

Anyway, my sister-in-law bought this book for me when Arran was a baby and I can't say enough good things about it. I had no clue before reading this book that different foods needed to be introduced at different ages. It really spells things out, month by month, with cooking instructions for pretty much every vegetable or fruit out there as well as other ideas for making food fun and creative as your child gets older.

I'm not into books, like so many around me are, and I'm not often excited to receive a book as a gift (I really don't have much time or inclination to read these days) but I would thoroughly recommend this book for any parent, or would-be parent or as a gift for a new mom. My copy is a mess now...the pages are curled up and it is pretty worn, but it's because it is well loved. I've used it for three children and refer to it all the time still and once Asia's past this stage I will probably sadly (at having to let it go) but excitedly (at passing on such a fantastic resource) find a new mom to give it to.

Addicts!

We call them dummies, but some call them pacifiers, or binkies. The point is, we have two little girls who are most definitely addicts. You'll notice in that photo, that not only do they each have one in their mouths, but also in their hands. Bryttain has been hooked for much longer, obviously, and it's not unusual to see her walking around with three or four of the wretched things. With her, we are now trying to restrict her use to her bed only, for naps and night time, but she'll sneak them out all the time. Or if she has been reprimanded or is upset about anything, then there's no sneaking involved...she goes wailing to her room, crying 'Dummy...dummy'.

They are her solace, and as such, she has done everything within her power to ensure that Asia does not miss out. All little missy has to do, is look like she might cry and Bryttain goes racing back to Asia's crib to retrieve one of her dummies and brings it back to her, the most prized possession that solves all problems (right?). She used to force it in poor Asia's mouth, sometimes between cries, but now, a true addict she waits like a little bird with her mouth wide open as soon as she sees her sister approach. They're in it together.

Unfortunately, the time is coming when we will have to bring it all to an end for Bryttain. It's going to be traumatic, for sure, but the worst will be over in a few nights. We do have some power and can enforce the cold turkey option, which would be almost impossible had any of our children been thumb or finger suckers. I speak from experience, having been a thumb sucker myself, who indulged for far too long. We cut Arran off when he turned three, but his 'habit' was not nearly as controlling.

On a completely different note, this is a lovely little bed Bryttain set up for her baby doll earlier today (right after she'd lovingly fed and burped her). She really is a very sweet, loving girl and I couldn't resist. Plus, I hadn't grabbed my camera in time to catch her feeding, which may not have been appropriate to post anyway :)

After all that, she'd had quite enough and told me "Stop mummy...you already taked the photo to me!"

Dates

James didn't end up having work today, so he took Bryttain on a date this morning. We each try to get one-on-one time with the kids when we can. Arran had gone with him last week to see his very first movie at a cinema, so it was Bryttain's turn for some Daddy time today.

This afternoon, Arran and I got to hang out out a bit together, just the two of us. I had given him a few options for what we could do; go to a park, the library, the mall, a hike, but he chose the mall. He loves to ride in the elevators and go up and down the escalators. He is such a sweet boy, he held my hand the whole time we were walking around, unlike Bryttain who 99% of the time refuses to!

We went into a few stores that were kid oriented, but his favorite, by far, was the Disney store. He was like a kid in a candy shop. He picked up so many things and asked

"Can I buy this?".

We weren't really there to shop and after about the 10th thing I asked him if he had money to buy all these things he wanted, at which point he changed his request to

"Can you buy this for me?"

I told him then, and James and I discussed it later, that maybe it was time for him to start getting pocket money. That way he can have his own money which he can choose how to spend. So I'll be making a chart and we'll come up with some specific tasks and chores that will be their responsibility and we'll see how they do. He was pretty excited by this idea, although he obviously doesn't quite understand the complete concept yet. At bed time he told me that tomorrow he will have some pocket money and I had to explain that, actually, I would make a chart and that each day if he did his tasks, he would get a sticker and at the end of the week he would get some money.

James and the two girls wandered around the mall too and we met up at the end when it was time to go home. The kids were just not ready to leave and were in complete denial that they were hungry and it was dinner time, so we let them have one ride before we left. They're so much fun to be with, whatever we're doing.

Hmmm...maybe James and I will get to go on a date one of these days, that would be novel!!!

Little round plasters (or bandaids if you prefer)...

So Friday was Asia's '6 month' check-up. Actually, she's already 7 1/2 months, but they didn't automatically send through an appointment for her and by the time I'd realised that and phoned through to make the appointment myself, we were looking so far ahead that it brought us to...7 1/2 months!


I hate these appointments, I mean, don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore our pediatrician, I can't say enough good things about her. When we go for our visits, that part is great, it's like meeting up with an old friend, but once that part is over it's time for the immunizations :(


I feel like I'm betraying my baby, actually the reality is that I feel like my baby must feel I'm betraying her. That look of terror and pain as the first stab goes into her chubby thighs and she lets out the start of her wail. Her eyes search for me and she expects me to immediately pick-her up and cuddle her and make it all OK again. Instead, as she continues to cry more frantically, I allow that nurse to stab her, not just once, but twice more, in the other chubby thigh. It's such a feeling of helplessness, and I'm really not sure who feels it the most. It is probably the start of scarring for life. Her realization that Mama is not always going to be there for her after all.



Once it was all over, I scooped her up, as fast as I could, wiped the tears from her precious cheeks and smothered her with kisses. Of course, she stopped crying right away, but it was a little while before I got a smile out of her.

When I was a kid...

Those weren't my words, but instead came out of the mouth of my daughter, who by the way is only two years old. We were walking back to the van, from the park as she jabbered away and my husband and I just looked at each other and smiled. One of those, I-really-want-to-laugh-out-loud-but-I'm-suppressing-it-smiles. She really is so precious and thinks she is SO grown up. She wasn't playing around, but being totally serious. I think she was trying to reassure our son, who is currently severely traumatized by any flying insect, after being stung by a hornet last week.

"When I was a kid a yellow jacket stung me!"

Of course, she still is a kid(!) and she, in fact, has never been stung. But it was so cute and ridiculous that we didn't correct her.

"When you were a kid?" I asked.

"Yes, when I was a kid" she stated once again.

Got to love that girl's confidence :)