When Isabella goes grocery shopping

The girls were given some wooden play food recently, and they're having a great time with the new "food." No surprise, given food plays such an important role in our lives. This morning, Isabella went grocery shopping.

2011-2-27

And here's what she ended up getting.


A lemon, some eggs, bread, watermelon, milk, and other goodies.

2011-2-27

Isabella's pizza

Isabella made some pizza while in preschool this past Thursday, the 24th. Pretty neat, huh? Comes with tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, and all kinds of goodies. She was even open to sharing her pizza, even though she loves pizza.

A successful weaning attempt I would have never imagined

2011-2-23

Today, Saturday, February 26th, was a very interesting morning.

Troy's parents, Grandma & Grandpa, left early morning. We said our goodbyes. We were all very sad that our wonderful companions were leaving.

Not much later or around the same time, Victoria usually wakes, letting me know that she desires to nurse. Well, yesterday, her pediatrician put her on amoxicillin for ear infections she has in both ears. As she was stirring, I told her that she needed to eat her breakfast and then take her medicine.

She seemed cooperative and listened. No screaming, no tantrum throwing, no crying.

Who would have guessed that amoxicillin, known more simply as medicine to the girls, would be the trick to getting her to forget about nursing for one day. She's down to nursing once a day. First thing in the morning.

I've tried offering her some of her favorite foods: kefir yogurt, blueberries, grapes, strawberries. None of those deterred her or distracted her from her desire for breast milk from the source. Medicine? Interesting.

I have heard some friends go to extreme measures to wean their children: peppers on the breast, nail polish on the breast, etc. Those weren't options I wanted to try.

This is one day, one step, we have taken towards weaning dear Victoria. . .

Pajamas Day at School

2011-2-24

This past Thursday was pajamas day at Isabella's preschool. She was quite excited, telling everyone who would listen about the day. Then, Grandma took her out and bought her brand new pajamas to wear, and that was throwing strawberries (which everyone in this family loves) on top of ice cream. Mmmm, mmmm, good.

Weaning and a battle of the wills

2011-2-16

Today, my younger child is 2 3/4 yrs old (33 months old).

I am actively weaning Victoria. For some time, she has been nursing only once a day, first thing in the morning not long after she wakes. The early hour of six o'clock or even six fifteen is not a time I want to be up, yet. Once she's up, she's ready to conquer the world. My active attempts involve telling her that she's a big girl now and nursing is for little babies (well, and toddlers, I suppose); but she's neither, really.

Two struggles: nursing is an intimate activity she and I both enjoy. She'll never have that privilege again once it's gone. Plus, my professor at the seminary for this semester said that nursing should be a person's first experience of holiness. Wow.

Second, she's my spirited child. She knows what she wants and what she doesn't want. She does not want to give up nursing altogether. Not yet. Things used to be worse. If she even saw me laying down, fully clothed, she would immediately want to nurse. We're not at that point anymore. She can even see me after a shower and not cry "mother's milk." But, she's still holding on to nursing first thing in the morning as if that's more precious than gold.

She caresses my breast when nursing. She still nuzzles very close to me. What wonder.

Got kefir?

2011-2-1

Got Kefir?

Disclaimer: I am not being paid by any company to advertise kefir drinkable yogurt.


The girls and I enjoy drinking the stuff, and it contains the good kind of active bacteria in it.