Road Trippin

I am out on an adventure with my boys! They have been awesome troopers. We left Wednesday morning at 5 am and made it all the way to the warming glowing warming glow candle outlet as we like to call it.

As much as I stopped here as a joke, it turned out to be perfect. One thing I hadn't really worked out as a one parent on the road was going to the bathroom with two small kids by myself. At the shop I was able to wheel a cart with them both contained right into the accessible b-room!

the boys did great, day one was only 5 hours of driving they both slept until the warming glow and then River slept the rest of the way to Ada, Ohio (stop number one)

Day two of travels started out so positively. They both slept well to begin with, we left the Dawseys in Ada at 4:20 am, River woke up at 6:30 when I stopped for gas but hung out until 8 playing when we stopped for breakfast at a rest area, already in Pennsylvania.

Picnic Breakfast!

I was on a high feeling like a great fun road trippin mama.

so we stopped for some lunch at the cracker barrel- pretty much the only chain restaurant I ever sit and eat in on road trips. We had some fried okra and baked apples and then, oh the drama of the rental car. I think River sat on the keys and locked the doors and Asher was strapped into his car seat and River wasn't and I found myself locked out with nothing! So our 25 minute lunch turned into a 1.5 hr. stop! 2.5 hours later we arrived to Bubbie and Zadie's house. The adventure will continue, but for the next few days we are keeping put enjoying fall back on the east coast.

Great Pumpkin Patch

In honor of Halloween, here was our last visit to a pumpkin patch, the Great One in Arthur. Loving the maze

I love the squash rainbow. They are such amazing, massive fruits. Squash is such a staple in our winter diet. They are economical and so full of food and life.

Annual family shot.

Insects galore on our visit.

Asher being a coyote in the broom corn maze.

River picking up chicks.

A before brother touches my ears shot with friends.

and quickly after. Notice the only one who looks pleased in this picture: the culprit.

Annual height photo.

A great day ended with Apple cider from shady crest and lots of cheese and pecans from the family health store.

PA: Zadie's Birthday

All I can say is: Ice Cream Cake, candles that glow different colors and boys happy to be with their grandparents!

Nursing Chronicles

Only words today.
I have entered a point with Asher now that I am starting to feel the pressure to ween, or maybe I am feeling the worlds judgement on the fact that he is a nursing loving 2 year and 8 month old who seems to have no intention on letting up in the foreseeable future. I have been thinking more and more about our nursing relationship. It really is an amazing thing. Three years ago when I decided that yes of course I would breastfeed my child I couldn't have imagined what a journey it would be. Learning from friends who had some difficulties, I was nervous about myself being able to overcome problems in nursing. I know people who nursed for over a year with a nipple shield, someone who pumped for a whole year to feed her baby the best milk from a bottle. Parents up at all nights worried about weight gain and milk supply. When you hear the stories of those who up against all odds still provided breast milk for those babes, I realize how lucky I have been. While Asher and I didn't lay skin to skin until he was an hour old, and his latch wasn't stellar then, within those first 24 hours he became a champion nurser and hasn't looked back since.
When I became pregnant with River I was really worried that I had compromised my nursing relationship with Asher. Again hearing about others milk drying up, the taste change when you revert back to colostrum, I was upset a bit with the surprise pregnancy that I had taken away my ability to nurse Asher until he was two- my goal way back when. I figured he would ween at some point, or we just wouldn't be able to do it. Wrong I was, he nursed all through my pregnancy and while there wasn't much and he knew it, I remember when the milk returned and how happy he was that his new little bro had brought it back with him. I really feel that it cemented a bond in Asher's mind. He would love River for always from that moment.
And now after months of tandem nursing, (I try not to nurse both at the same time, but on those days when I have two crying, I am grateful that it is an option) those lingering thoughts out there in the world about extended breast feeding are creeping in my head and I just feel quite alone.
He doesn't nurse often, but he does for nap time. I don't know that I can give up naps, we tried that for awhile, and it led to more misery than sleep in the long run. But my energy levels are suffering and I don't know how beneficial our nursing relationship is. Will he ever actually just stop nursing on his own?

Into the Woods:: 10/24

We were a little late this week, but we made it. Into the woods, running to make it there before sunset. Things have changed so much in the past three weeks. We missed a week due to the rainy grays and one week due to WI, so I am so glad we made it this week. And again we were joined by the papa. River as amenable as always.

Sun in an unusual spot for our walks. Can you find A in there?

A special treat for the woods. a corrot cake pre-dinner dessert.

We returned to the deers favorite eating spot, in hopes of sharing our cake, but they seemed to have already headed to their sleep spot for the evening- we have yet to find that. Instead there was lots of balancing. And a baby trying to eaty leaves.

A great evening to run to the woods. We got to see a great horned owl on the way out in the parking lot, such a treat, and Asher's first that he has actually seen in the wild, pretty special day. Thank you fall!

Things I'm Loving

Pop corn right off the cobb. If you have a chance, pick some up from the Moore's. It is amazing. Pops up super quick in a pan on the stovetop and is so light and fluffy. I love popcorn, expecially locally grown popcorn. The SUN, it has been a gray, gray October, but the days that the sun shines make it that much more amazing. I of course love that boy hanging out with our fall decor.

A's love of birthdays. He insisted that we needed to make uncle bill a cake, and was really sad when he found out uncle bill wouldn't be coming to eat it with us. I assured him that someday uncle bill will come to visit.The contents of my knitting basket actually changing and getting worked on! Hooray for multi tasking, woodburning, soaking up couch time, knitting while reading boods aloud.

Fall Walks

With the sun shining only minimally these last few weeks we have been taking advantage of her when ever we can. This has resulted in a lot of exploring the area around our house. These great trees for climbing are right behind the fire station. So much fun potential there.Asher has been enjoying finding trees that he can climb.

River is happy to sit and enjoy the world. Taking it all in, he can't wait to join in on the fun.

Gun Play

Well it was bound to come up at some point.
We had two different experiences with gun play last week, one very, very disturbing to me. The first was at the indoor playground. Kids making guns out of the legos, Asher then building something and saying it was a gun. When asked what a gun was, he is still innocent and clueless. No reaction, just an okay whatever you want to do sort of thing.

Next day, change scene, the library, childrens department, playhouse. Two little girls inside the house, being the house bullies (not letting anyone else in). They then pull out their "guns" made this time from star type legos. I watch for awhile, a little disturbed that they seem to have guns and defending their home. Then they start pointing them at kids saying shoot, shoot, shoot. At this point I am definitely bothered, but waiting for their parent to step in as I really think this is inappropriate play for a public place. Then they point them at one of my kids and say shoot shoot shoot. Now I step in and tell them that it isn't nice to point guns at people, look around again for any parental support here, feel as though I am on crazy pills, make a bit of a stink about needing to get away from the shooters and go to the other side of the library. I was so bothered. I can't imagine ever having to go through something like having my child shot, and even as play really, really struck something in me. I actually felt anger and defiance in these children's play. They most definitely knew what guns could be used for, though I am sure they don't understand the consequences of such actions, I was left distraught and trying to figure out gun/weapon play and how I am going to deal with it as it enters our home.

I think that this is a point in parenting that can't be avoided or ignored, or banned really, weapons have been around forever and there exists an instinctual form to defend ones self. Hunting is a necessity in places and I understand the need for these tools, but I don't want my kid shooting his friends. I have read of parents that allow gun/weapon play at certain times in certain environments and as we venture into this realm with two boys, I would also like there to be rules with it. Number one: do not ever ever ever point your gun at another person! I don't care if it is just a stick, it represents so much more. I also really think that parents should think twice about where their kids do this sort of play. As a parent of a 2.5 year old, I would rather not have to explain this type of play to him yet and would definitely appreciate parents stepping in when their child is pointing there gun at the 1 year old and saying shoot, shoot. Guns are a part of life, but they need to be respected as does any dramatic play done with them.
I am still at a loss for how to handle this and actually okay with this for now as I don't even want Asher to know what they do, he can still live in his sheltered bubble.

BTW, Happy Birthday Uncle Bill! We love you.

Hot Cereal Time

Blue Moon's Carrots were dug a couple of weeks ago and we of course had to get a large haul. They really are superb. Asher pretended that they were fish all gathering together. Not to sure about that one, but we thought it was pretty fun at the time, the boy loves to stack and line things up and gather them.Back to my point. It was cold and gray around these parts and I am back in hot cereal mode. This is my absolute favorite way (so far) to spruce up some hot cereal. I use farina for this but oatmeal, would work as well.
For 2:
Bring 2.5 cups of water to a boil, grate in 2 peeled carrots, and handful of raisins or golden raisins, 1/4 tsp of salt. Allow to simmer until it smells like carrot. Add 1/2 cup of farina (cream of wheat) gradually so it doesn't clump- I really like to stir with a spatula as then I can get it all out in the end. Cook for one minute stirring frequently.
All the goodness of the carrots is in there, but they are cooked so babes actually digest it.
Sweeten with maple syrup, or brown sugar and top with toasted pecans if you have them. And if it is too thick add milk. Yummy!