Weaning

Ben and Erin came over to play today. 

Margot took advantage of Ada's being occupied with her new playmate to spend some alone time with her toys. 

Ada and Ben get along famously. Their first collaboration as little ankle biters was to both climb up on the toy basket and simultaneously tip it over and start removing the contents for distribution around the carpet. 

Everywhere Ben went.. Ada was not far behind him. Here they are playing with the musical barn thing and animal magnets. 

The time has come at last to begin weaning the girls. They are ten months old so it is a little early but my motherly intuition tells me they are past ready. They have been nursing 4 times a day since they were 8 weeks old. Last week (I think) I dropped that back to 3... this week we are down to 2 (morning and night).. next week I will drop one of the two and then we will only have the last session to let go of. I am sure I will miss the closeness of this, but I will appreciate getting my freedom back. Also, they have never really linked nursing with comfort.. in any sort of observable way (of course there is comfort in nursing but since they don't get to really cuddle as they nurse - eating at the same time - the comfort factor is a little harder to come by). Last week I noticed Ada starting to really ask to nurse. She is not hungry and she really just wants a cuddle. I have never nursed the girls for a cuddle (unless they were sick). I can not deny that it feels nice to be wanted for the sole purpose of a mommy/daughter snuggle. However, this is not a trend I want to encourage. I have been toying with the idea of weaning them before we head to Florida in a couple of weeks and Ada's new habit just sealed it for me. I know I will miss it when it is all over with. They will not remember that I single handedly nourished them for the first 4 months of their lives. That I dedicated myself to nursing them 4 times a day for almost 10 months in total. That I made the difficult decision to try this thing, succeeded with God's graceful mercy,  and now feel comfortable in bringing it to a conclusion. But I will.  

Boone

We went to Boone again this weekend. This time, with the sole purpose of spending the weekend with Jeremy and Michelle. We brought our camera, ready to take loads of pictures of all the cuteness, but didn't realize the battery was dead until we actually got it out to use it. Then we charged it.. and still didn't use it until Sunday morning when we all went for a walk/hike on the Greenway. It is difficult to bring out the camera when you feel as laid back as we do when we are with J&M and their girls. As we commented to each other on our way home, "It's like  being at our house.. but so much better.. because it's not our house!" We had a wonderfully relaxing weekend. 

Ada and I have spent quite a bit of time cuddling in our Ergo lately. For all you baby-less folks out there.. I know the Ergo may look a little awkward .. but it is ABSOLUTELY the most fantastic, comfortable, life changing carrier we have owned. Just fabulous. 

This was the first time the girls have been on a bridge over a stream like this. Ada touched the rust on the railing so tenderly. 

The air was so cool and fresh that morning. 

Daddy and Margot enjoyed their walk together as well. Margot particularly liked when Stephen climbed down the riverbank to stand in the chilly water. He scooped some water on Margot's little foot and she curled her toes up and looked a bit concerned. 

What a weekend. I can't say enough good things. J&M are talented cooks and they fed us like royalty all weekend. The most amusing part of the visit, for me, was the way that we all changed once the kids went down for the night. During the day we all visited quietly and spent our time watching and rounding up kids, while trying to keep everyone from melting down and attempting to stay as close to their schedule as possible. Once those girls were in their PJs and down for the count, it was like we all got a second wind. Adult beverages in hand, we worked together to tidy the living space and get dinner going while we laughed and visited the way we did before our number jumped from four to eight. Thank you guys for sharing your home with us and for making us feel comfortable in it. 

Art

David sent Stephen this photo recently. If you have been following this blog for some time, you might remember that he is an artist as well, and is currently living in Denver, CO. He has an incredible eye and is a proficient sculptor. Recently, he has been making paintings of his awe inspiring surroundings out west. Please visit his blog  for images of his most current work. It is, in a word, refreshing. 

While I am waiting for Conan's big debut..

.. I thought I would post a few pictures from baby baths tonight..

Ada watching Margot get her bath.

Margot showing Ada her duck/pelican/ water bird thing..

Ada says "I'll take that!"

Look at my tugboat :)

Clean Margot puppy with her gator. 

The end. 

God speed Mr. O'Brien.