My Alligator Purse

I really love our local YMCA. They have a good selection of classes for the children, the childcare program is great, and they have a lot of support for those trying to get healthy including meetings with a counselor on how to exercise. But I think my favorite part of our YMCA is that the local fire departments are there almost daily exercising. The firemen always hold the door for a mom with a stroller, take the time to talk to the kids, and let’s face it, firemen are pretty good looking. Also, the kids and I usually spend a few minutes walking all around the firetrucks and admiring the knobs, hoses and ladders.
(more…)

One of our favorite games in this family is tickling. The kids are tickled multiple times daily; after I buckle the car seat a bit under the arms, when I am putting on shoes a few pokes on the bottom of the foot, and when they get tucked in at night a tickle/nuzzle under the chin. It is who we are. We rough house and tickle and attack each other with love.

No one is safe. Occasionally the victim is mommy and daddy. And sometimes the tickling degrades into chasing and splashing water.

William has been observing this behavior for his 14 months in this house. And I think he has finally found his place; his job. Just the other day Caskey had Connor pinned on the ground tickling him. Connor was enjoying it thoroughly. So William decided to help. He crawled over to Connor and sat on him. Yup. Sat on him.

Then yesterday as I was in the throws of giggles on the floor while Daddy had a go at my bare-feet William toddled over and threw himself face down across my chest. He laid on top of me ‘holding me down’ and helping Daddy. Until, of course, he became the next victim.

At one day shy of 14 months I believe William is done nursing. I’m a little sad about it. He is our only baby right now and as Caskey continually reminds me after each new milestone; new shoes, new stitches and now this; its only 10 more months until he starts preschool.

The last 4 to 6 weeks has been sporadic nursing. I think the weekend in August when he spent several nights at my mother-in-laws house started the decline in our nursing relationship. My supply lessened. William started enjoying bottles and how fast he was able to drink them. I enjoyed the free time it gave me to do other chores.

But tonight when I offered him my breast he actually pushed me away and lunged for the bottle. I guess I’m not really surprised since he hasn’t nursed in about 3 days. But since he is sick and tired I thought he would like to suckle and go to sleep. I guess not. My baby boy really is growing up. Its time for that first haircut.

My husband keeps everything ‘just in case’; a broken toaster, different lengths of bungee cord from an old swim vest, ripped jeans, old sheets, and most recently he cut the leather off of a broken desk chair. I, on the other hand, accept the reality of our 1300 square foot, no garage, 3 kids and a cat existence. I keep baby clothes and baby gear because we aren’t ‘done’ yet. I keep my old teaching supplies in case I go back to work. And I have a few boxes of memorabilia; my cap and gown, a ring pop, buttons that say ‘bride’, ‘groom’, and ‘new mom’ and other junk that is meaningless to anyone but me.
(more…)

We made the tough and controversial decision to enroll Lainy Ann in Kindergarten this year. She is just 4 1/2 with a birthday in March. In California the cut-off date is December 2nd. She misses this date by 4 months. We have literally been struggling with this decision since she was born. The conversation always resurfaced as she surpassed another major milestone; walking at 8 months, learning her letters by two, manipulating her brother and adult relatives into doing what she wants, and most recently when she started reading at 4 years old and spent her free time writing words and lists for fun.
(more…)