First Cavity and Filling

Last Wednesday, I took the boys to the dentist for a cleaning. E has been three times now, and although this was G's second visit, it was his first time getting any work done.

E did fabulous, as he always has.

G was a bit skeptical, but the dentist finally convinced him to sit in order to get a prize. He was able to do a quick cleaning by scraping his teeth a bit.

Well, today, E had to get a small filling for the cavity that was found.

He was so brave today.

Our dentist gave him two options, one with a shot and one without. He opted for the one without.

The dentist was done in about 5 minutes and E said it didn't just. As soon as he sat up, he started to cry. All that nervous energy was finally able to come out.

I'm so proud of how brave he was!

I'm a Runner

Last Christmas, I decided to get back out an exercise. I started running through our neighborhood and using the Couch to 5k program. I was able to stay on top of workouts because Paul was home and could watch the boys while I was out.

We ran the Run for Ryan House 5k in May of this year as my goal after the 9 week program. I ran it in 35:53. In the rain. I felt so proud of myself. I was also happy that I could share this experience with Paul, since he ran it with me.

Shortly after the race, I got sick and fell off the running wagon. It took me until June to get into running consistently a few tines a week. I started to train for a 10k with another training program that was 14 weeks long. Halfway through the training, I registered for the Esprit de She 10k sponsored by Athleta.

Just 4 weeks before the race, I developed Achilles tendonitis and had to stop running. I wasn't sure how long it would take to heal, but I was out running again after two weeks. That means I had to work up to the 10k in two weeks less time.

My friend, Shannon, and SIL, Brighid, ran with me. Shannon and I finished in 01:01:04. I was amazed that I beat my goal of finishing around the one hour & ten minute mark.

Me and Shannon

My cool, cool SIL, Brighid.

My mom and dad came to cheer me on.  This was the sign they made!

Now, I am training for 15k in December. I've finished the 3rd week of a half marathon training program. If all goes well, I have a *small* goal of running game half marathon in January. It would be amazing, but I'd like to get through the 15k first!

It's pretty amazing to know that I'm the person I always hoped to be. Every time I'd see someone running I'd wish that was me. I've finally taken the time to get myself out there and do this it.

I feel so good after my runs and I've developed some pretty amazing calves, too!

I Hope They'll Say These Forever

I love hearing my kids use words and sayings that are just "not quite right". Someday they'll say it right, but for now, I'm going to let it slide because its too cute.

E:
- Hecacocker (helicopter)
- Ambliance (ambulance)
-Octopus Prime (optimus prime)

G:
- Just Choking (just joking)
- Bawiwa (vanilla)
- Perry Chicker (cherry picker)
- Chicken Nugs (chicken nuggets)
- Shawshis (sausage)

- Deshishun (decision)

Goodbye, Mommy Milk

It has been a long 5 years, 2 months, and 13 days.

Now it's over.

I am no longer a breastfeeding mother.

It wasn't an easy task either.

My very first attempt at nursing E caused my nipple to blister. I don't even remember nursing him that time as I was still drugged from the c-section.

I had a lot of help from the lactation consultants in the hospital and I called them every chance that I could. One of them told me to use a nipple shield, but it was awkward and hard to use. Then another told me not to use one. I was one confused first time mom.

We discovered that E had tongue tie while in the hospital, but due to its lack of severity, we didn't clip it.

E nursed all the time.  Literally. ALL. THE. TIME. I felt like I would never leave the couch/rocking chair/bed. I remember calling friends to see if it was normal.  It was, of course.

Then six weeks later, I had to go back to work. I had to figure out how to pump and store milk. I didn't eat lunch with my coworkers that whole year.  I was late to meetings after school. I spent my breaks pumping. It was lonely and hard and I did it and I wouldn't have changed a thing about it.

I experienced numerous amounts of plugged ducts and only one case of mastitis (thankfully).

I pumped in my car, in hotels, in the zoo bathroom, the baseball stadium bathroom, at the airport. I've nursed (covered and uncovered) in more places than I can name.  I have only been informed that I could go to a nursing mother's room once. I declined that person kindly.

Nursing G was much more relaxed and easy. His was a textbook case. He ate well and slept well. No problems.  It was the fact that E was still nursing that made it hard.

I never expected to tandem nurse.  Shoot. I never expected to nurse as long as I did!

But of all the experiences I have had, tandem nursing was the hardest and more rewarding part. My boys held hands together while nursing and stroked each other's heads a arms.

I, however, would weep at the sight of myself nursing a 2 year old and infant. I felt like a dairy cow. I cried more those first two weeks than I ever had in years beforehand. All I wanted to do was bond and nurse my new baby, but the guilt of not wanting E to nurse was painful too. He was overly emotional trying to figure out his role in this newly expanded family of ours.

E finally slowed down his nursing sessions. And one day, he stopped. He was just over three years old. Two weeks later, he asked for milk and I allowed him to try. He did try, but he couldn't remember.  After three years, it was gone. It made me a little sad. He'd never nurse again.

Fast foward to present day.  G had been going two to three days without nursing once school started. (This summer he was still nursing 2-3 times a day, so I thought he'd NEVER stop.) The last day he nursed was August 31. He was three years and 10 days old.

He still asks every day for Mommy Milk. But I can offer him a snack or cow milk and he's ok with it. I am too.

Though I'm sad that their baby days are over, I am so thankful that I was one of the lucky moms that was able to breastfeed her children.  Through the highs and lows, I am thankful for every difficult and peaceful nursing session we had together.

I never thought I'd be *that* lady who nursed her kids when they were walking and talking.  But guess what?

I AM.

AND I AM PRETTY DARN PROUD OF IT!

My one regret is not having more pictures of me breastfeeding my boys, especially E.  I made much more of an effort after I had G.

G is Three and I'm 33!

Granted, it has been over three weeks since our birthdays, but I'm finally getting around to posting about it!

I went for a run in the morning and then took G to his third day of preschool. After dropping the boys off, I went and had a massage.

He was given a birthday crown at school. Adorable!

Once I picked up G, we stopped at Starbucks to get cake pops, vanilla milk, and a hazelnut macchiato for me.

Mmm...cake pops!

We picked up E from school then headed off to his swim class where my parents met up with us.

They took us to dinner at Jason's Deli (G's pick).

Birthday twins!

Paul met us at home for dessert and presents.

The following Saturday our families came over for brunch, presents, and cupcakes for G.

So, my little baby is now a preschooler.

- He loves his "baby cars" and carries them in whatever container he can find, particularly the Star Wars lunchbox or blue pail.

- When he's silly, he starts talking gibberish and it's pretty adorable.
- Still loves mommy milk, though we are going a day or two between each session and they are only early in the morning (around 5:30am).
- He loves to jump on the tire at school and drink from the drinking fountain.  This week he has cried at drop off but is all smiles when I pick him up.
- Follows his big brother's lead - good AND not so good.
- Has no problem defending himself against his big brother.
- Loves to read.  All the time.  He memorizes books and songs within the first few readings (for shorter books).
- Loves string cheese. All cheese really.
- Hates deli meat.  He won't even try it.
- Loves cake pops and vanilla milk.
- He is fascinated by the tags in his clothes.  He looks for them EVERY time he gets dressed and only likes his underwear with "two" tags.
- Is a big cuddler and loves to be held.
- Loves his big brother.  They hug and kiss with each hello and goodbye at school.
- Loves to eat blueberries and melon.
- He sleeps with his head under a pillow in order to not see the fire alarm (smoke dectector).

Happy birthday, little one!

G's First Day of School!

My little guy started school today.  He's been taking his brother to school the past two years, and today was his turn to stay.

We met his teachers on Tuesday. I was able to stay with him and he did well. He kept his eyes out for me and was ok if I kept a bit of distance.

 We've been reading books to him (and E) about going back to school since last week. Last night he said he was excited to go.  I've also been prepping him on what to do if he has to go to the bathroom. (That's my biggest worry! He's been using the toilet for about 4 weeks now and has done quite well, though still has accidents in the morning if we don't take him right when he wakes. He's only had one nighttime accident.)

Paul, E, and I took him to his class this morning. Paul and E went back to the car since E is sick and we didn't want him going into the classroom. I took G into his class where his teachers met him at the door. He shared the Jeep that we brought from home. (Er...that I pulled out of my purse because we didn't bring a special "something" from home. But he was happy with it.)

He put it in his cubby, went to change his name around for attendance, then we headed to the bathroom. Afterwords, we washed hands, then went to find something to play with, but had to go sit on the carpet because Mrs. Smith started to sing.  

He sat down and started singing along to "If You're Happy and You Know It". I told him it was time for me to go. He turned to me, said "OK" and waved goodbye. It said I was leaving again (you know, in case he didn't hear me the first time) and asked him for a hug and a kiss, which he gave me. Then I was off.

I did well keeping my composure until I got back to the car where Paul and E were.

Paul asked if he did ok. I nodded.

He asked if he cried. I said no.

My eyes began to well up.

He asked if I was crying. Then I burst into tears.

He chuckled at me and gave me a hug.

My little guy isn't so little.

It's funny how much more worried and anxious I was for this G.  I know it's just because it's all new to him and E has been doing this for a couple of years.

When we picked him up, Mrs. Brabb said he did well.  She said he got sad two times, but they were able to get him out of it quickly and he was having fun playing with the bean bags at the end of the day.

G said he started crying on the grass because he didn't have a friend to play with, but Mrs. Smith came a got him.  E said that soon he'd have friends to play with him. G also said he told the teachers he had to go potty and Mrs. Brabb helped him get his clothes back on. (Sigh. I'm so relieved.)

He said that he had fun and that he wanted to go back.  That's all I could have asked for!

Feeling at Ease (at least a little)

It's interesting being on the side of "Mom" opposed to "teacher". All the worrying about letting the little ones you love go and be in the care of someone else for hours at a time.

Yet when you hear one of their teachers say, "The past two days, when we've had to clean up at the end of the day, he's said, 'Already? I don't want to leave!'" It makes you feel slightly better knowing he's at a place he loves and how you hope that spark of loving school never goes away.

First Day of Kinder is Complete!

E was all smiles when I picked him up! 

He said he had fun and went to Spanish class. His friend, Jack, is in his class and he said they played together. (He later told me that after we left in the morning, he started to cry, but that he was brave and kept it in. Then he said he looked for teachers, but he found Jack and went to play with him.) 

When we got into the car, he asked if he could eat his leftover lunch. I looked in his lunch box and he barely touched his food! 

I asked him if he missed us and his response was, "I was so busy, I didn't have time to think about you." 

But at least he said he is excited to go back tomorrow!

Kindergarten!

Today is a big day in our house.

Mr. E. started kindergarten. Along with it comes no more nap time.  I'm thinking he will be wiped out today.

This weekend he was really excited about starting and was the first one ready to leave the house this morning. Dressed. Shoes on. Teeth brushed. Lunch in hand.

We arrived about 10 minutes before school started and he was eager to get into his room.  The great thing about it was that he had already meet his teachers twice before today - Meet the Teacher last week and at an open house back in May.  He also knows several of the kids in his class, which makes it so much easier for me not to worry about him meeting kids or making friends.

He came in, was welcomed by his teachers, put away his lunch & water bottle, grabbed his name tag, found his cubby, and headed up to the book loft. G followed.

He then wanted to play in the kitchen. G followed.

And this was where we said goodbye.  He was fine with us leaving.  G was not.  He wanted to stay! We all left with dry eyes, which surprised me.  I thought I'd be a big mess.

So far today, I keep thinking about what he is doing. Like right now...12:31pm...he's just finished playing outside.

To take my mind off of his day (somewhat), I took G to the mall to play and buy some new items for the house.

I can't wait to hear about is day when I pick him up!

E Meets His Teachers!

Today what E's Meet the Teacher day. He's already excited about going on Monday and here are the reasons why:

1.) They get to go to the playground twice.
2.) There's moon sand.
3.) The teacher uses a train whistle.
4.) He found a book about snakes in the classroom.
5.) The dog(s) are nice and they don't bark.

E is 5!

My dear, inquisitive, sensitive baby turned 5 a few weeks ago. 

I truly must be enjoying my summer with the boys once I have yet to post anything about it.

We celebrated his actual birthday by going to Jason's Deli with my folks for lunch, then having dinner and ice cream cake at home. He opened up his presents from us , too.

The next day he had his well child visit, including his five year shots. That was the worst visit over experienced by far. He did so well, but was visibly nervous about getting shots. We had spoken to him on many occasions about the fact that he was going to get them. But the poor thing cried so hard when they were injected. (In fact, he hoped on his leg for days after saying it still hurt.) He is now 44" tall and weighs 42 pounds. (So much for that whopping 8lb. 10 oz. he once was!)

That following Saturday, he had a celebration at Peter Piper with some family, friends, and classmates. He had a blast! We had so many people come, even more than expected. E was also able to have a short signed by those that attended and made his own birthday pizza.

He received more toys than I could have expected and many of them were Transformers, which was the theme.

Each day E will say something that amazes me or makes me think in a way I don't usually think of things.

He is definitely a deep thinker and asks questions about heaven.
He always wants to know the "why" and loves to make predictions.
He has a sensitive heart and cares for his family.

He doesn't like to get in to trouble.

He is a rule follower.
He is a protector of his brother and me.
He loves to wrestle.
He says "ambliance" instead of ambulance.
He will give me hugs out of the blue and play with my hair.
He gives the best laugh and smile that warms your heart.
He's silly.
He tells the truth and will tell on others when they're not.
He still finds his way to our room every night.
He'll be a kindergartner in a couple of weeks.
He loves to play "baby".

He is the best big brother a little brother could ask for.

I adore him.

Happy birthday, my love!