My two year old is still nursing.

As you can imagine, she is quite vocal about it.  She's been vocal about "boo-eys" for quite sometime.  She's also still pretty addicted.  We take baths together sometimes.  

I'll get out first to get half-dressed.  I'll catch her eyeing the milk-makers as I try and put some clothes on.  She seriously loves to nurse and half of the time requires a post-bath nursing session.  So I tell her, as I'm putting on my bra, "I'm putting the boobies away."  

The result?  She now calls my bras "booey-aways."  

Humbled

Today, I took the time to get properly dressed and do my makeup.  It's a warm day, so I finally had the opportunity to put my daughter in one of her cute spring dresses.  By 10:30, we were out the door.

I imagined that we made a cute picture.  I had on a white tree and a brand new fuschsia maxi skirt.  I had my  pig-tailed daughter wrapped on my back and we were walking our little furry white dog.  A stranger even stopped to roll down her window and tell me "Your daughter is beautiful."

So yeah, I was feeling pretty good.

But fast-forward an hour.  My makeup was still done and my skirt was still cute, but my toddler was throwing a huge tantrum as we left the park.  I ended up having to carry her sideways, like a board as she continued to wail and kick.  I stopped to put her down, offered a huge, tried to talk to her to no avail.  She was loud and hysterical and I'm sure the neighbor had to have been peering out of their windows.

I imagine the picture we made then was considerably less cute.  So, today my daughter humbled me by being a typical two year old.

Creative Toddler

It's amazing how creative my toddler has become. She can play pretend. She knows how to hop around the house, screaming "roo-di, roo-di!" (ribbit, ribbit). She pretends to cook for the dolls in her playhouse, telling me she is making cheese, or pizza or fruit. 

 The other day she told me "Close your eyes, Mommy." She made me cover them with my hands. Then counted, "1, 2, 3... 'Piiiiise! [Surprise!] Happy birthday!" 

Did she really just turn two in January? Sometimes she seems to grown up. Yet, at other times, she's just the nursling who cuddles in my lap. It's all so surreal.

Proof

This is the last picture I took of my daughter while we were in California.  It's at Pier 39 in San Francisco, where the California sea lions hang out.

You know what else it is?  It's proof.  Proof of the mini-donut's existence.  Because approximately two seconds later, that donut was gone.

She didn't drop it in the water, oh no.  Instead, we experience a small gust of a "wind" and a "what the heck was that?"

A seagull.  It was a seagull.  One that flew over my shoulder.  We didn't know why until we took a look at Annabel's face.  She was so close to crying.  She was also empty handed.

Yep, the seagull stole her donut and left behind four scratches on her little hand.   As one would expect, she bursted into tears.  As I checked her over, all she could kept saying was "Scared.  Bird."

Poor girl.

Something For the Computer Geek

So I'm at my mom's house and they have these coasters.  They're pretty simple, just a cut out circle of flat motherboard with some cork added to the bottom.  It got me googling and I found this site:  Motherboard Gifts & More.  Basically, they've recycled motherboards and use them to create a unique look and products, such as these coasters (which, although pricy, look better that the ones my mom and her boyfriend own).  I admit, most of their merchandise isn't my style (nor would I consider it aesthetically pleasing, but the idea is definitely pretty neat.

Nothing Like Chocolate

I've been visiting my mother for the past week. It's been a mostly relaxing time and Beanette is loving the "nature" out here. She sees deer every day and lots of squirrels and birds. Thankfully, she's managed to miss seeing the dead frogs and skunks that are lying dead/run over on the road.

But, as always, I'm just about ready to get back to my life and put some distance between me and my mother again. 

My mother is one of those people I can only stand in small doses.

In other words, she's nothing like chocolate. Because I could eat chocolate just about every day.

Maybe there are just some things I'm not "over" from my childhood.  Or maybe it's because she is convinced that her way is always the right way.  I have no doubt that she loves me and would do just about anything for me, but if I had a choice, I would keep the physical distance between us.  It's better for my sanity.

I finished an interesting book the other day: World of Shell and Bone. Four stars. It reminded me a little of Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale." I enjoyed the plot and the writing style, but I have to admit that I would have liked a little more background/detail on some of the characters, particularly Shale. Here's to hoping the sequel is just as good!

On Vacation :)

I'm taking a short hiatus to visit my mother in California.  As you might know, I'm part of a GREAT group of babywearers in Colorado Springs.  If you have a chance, check out our blog:  Colorado Springs Babywearers!