Fa la la la

Collin and Milo had their holiday concert last week. Collin loves music and singing and has been practicing his French songs at home over and over. Milo can bop up and down to the beat and likes to clap (though he hasn't quite mastered his French ABC's).

All the kids were dressed up and headed back stage with their classes (except for the babies). Class by class they came up on stage to demonstrate their singing skills. There was definitely some funny moments with the little ones who were all over the stage and one kid who dominated a microphone. The Nonours (teddy bear) class came up with the parents holding the babies while the next level up sang.

Good job clapping Milo!




Last but not least was the Lions pre-k class. Collin and the other classmates stood together in harmony and sang the familiar songs we've heard at home. Collin was proud in the front row.

Ten months, oh my

Poor Milo is going on his second ear infection in less than a month. The antibiotics they gave him caused a skin reaction (though not an allergy, just a side effect) and didn't seem to do much so they swaped him to another drug. Hopefully it'll do the trick. He's been wailing in pain and tugging at his ear. Hopefully his immune system will be built up by the time he starts school.

Milo is a happy, squirmy, droolie baby and meets the definition of "busy boy." Changing his diaper takes mad ninja skills. Getting him dressed might as well be torture. He gets into everything. Outlet covers? Check. Cords? Check. Cat food? Check.  Big brother's toys and art supplies? Check. And he would most definitely go for the kitty litter if he could. Milo, please stop trying to kill yourself!






He just discovered how to crawl up the stairs and cruises across all the furniture. He stands by himself for a few seconds before plopping to the floor and loves to push the wagon across the room. There isn't a sight much cuter than seeing my boy's chubby little thighs walk across the room. We'll see if he walks on his own before a year. He bounces and claps to music and it's rare to see him without a smile. He can also wave. We've introduced sippy cups but those are more fun to throw on the floor.





I'm also going to proclaim "mama" as his first word. He says it while looking at me with his arms stretched out, or when someone else is holding him and he wants me (and of course if he's hungry). I'm still nursing him in mornings and night but introduced formula during the day which he does fine with. I'm hoping to continue to nurse him past a year as long as he doesn't chomp down on me.

Milo tries to get in on all the action in daycare and tries to escape the baby gate into the classrooms. Like Collin, he doesn't seem to have inherited my shyness. It's funny how neither Mike and I are extroverts, yet we ended up with two little butterflies.

Milo's interpretation of finger painting

Future Picasso, no?

 

Hmm good thing this is just made of flour, water and food coloring

Yum

Can I marry you Mama?

I love how sweet and innocent Collin is at four. How he looks at my wedding dress hanging in the closet and says, "Will you marry me mama? And wear your dress because I love you."

It hasn't been an easy run with Collin. He's always been our "spirited" child. Full of never ending energy, high powdered screaming pitches if he doesn't get his way, hitting, spitting, running off. And then with Milo and all the other changes in our lives things were just getting worse and I was beginning to lose my confidence at parenting. I wanted to throw out all my parenting books in the trash and scream at the top of my lungs or lock myself in the bathroom (while Collin pounded on the door).

But things are starting to look up. The last few weeks have been easier and I'm trying to shift my mindset and stay more zen like with him (aka not lose my cool, remind myself of what a great kid he is and focus on the good in the moment). We're also giving him more independence and trying not to tell him what to do so much. The hardest part is when he's aggressive with Milo and my mommy instinct kicks in or when he freaks out on us and starts hitting. Being silly and distracting him makes a difference. One day as I could feel myself getting really pissed at him, I suddenly changed from a typical stare down to attack of the tickles and giggling and Collin instantly flipped a switch. "Do it again mom. Be mean and then funny!"

 Mike's also been able to spend more time with him and bond which helps a lot. Collin definitely needs dad time. I'm trying to do more one-on-one special time with him as well. My little sous chef loves baking and cooking (he is especially proud of his egg cracking ability). He's learning to lose a little more gracefully at Candyland and likes to draw and write his name and other letters. It's also awesome to hear him speak or sing in French and teach me new phrases.

I know part of why I've always had a difficult time with Collin is because it can be like looking in a mirror. He's got my dramatic, tenacious and stubborn personality. Parenting forces you to confront things about yourself you may choose to ignore because you can see it projected on your children. I want to help him learn to channel and control his energy and emotions. We both can be fixated on things and while that can translate to success it can also translate to annoying the hell out of everybody. So we'll work on stuff together. I know I'm growing just as much as he is.

And while I know he's not going to say he wants to marry me ten years from now (I am sure he would be appalled at the very thought of every saying that), hopefully he'll still want to talk and hang out.

9 months

Nine months to grow a baby. And nine months on your own. And here you are.

Standing, cruising, tasting, laughing, babbling, clapping, exploring.

Milo is such a happy, easygoing baby. He gives huge smiles to anyone and is in a rush to catch up to Collin. It won't be a surprise if he's walking before a year. This is definitely a busy boy. I think I'll be dealing with two high energy kids but have a feeling Milo will be less dramatic than Collin. He is still a super eater but especially loves any kind of fruit and bread.

He doesn't like to nap at daycare but hopefully that will change soon. At home it's usually 2 hours twice a day. So much stimulation happening with all the big babies around him!

He loves his giraffe blanket (his official lovely or doudou as they say in French). He claps and bounces to music and everything goes in his mouth.

And he was not so much into the photos this time.

8 months

Here's what's happening in the world of an 8 month old:

About a week ago Mr. M graduated from his army crawl to full on knees. He's also trying to stand like the big babies in his class. Not yet Milo!



I don't remember Collin putting everything into his mouth to the extent of Milo.  Anything Milo finds equals taste exploration. He's fast too. The minute you spy the cord, the tiny lego, the cat food kibble or three-day old cheerio he's already reaching for it. He squeals at delight when Collin runs around or entertains him and also at Hurley the cat.

He's also talking a bunch. "Mamamama" most frequently. I'm not sure if I can correlate it to me yet, at this point it seems to mean more food. (That and slamming his hands down on his high-chair tray).

And there are teeth. Two little perfect pearls on the bottom. The not so fun part of teeth. Chomping down on mom (aka) food source. I gave him a stern "NO," and he erupted in tears which made me feel a little bad but not really. I'm hoping he doesn't make this a habit because I'm hoping to nurse him at least a year.

Wedding weekend

We spent a few days in Chico, California to celebrate our friends, Jon and Julie's wedding. I've known Jon for as long as I've known Mike and am so happy that he met Julie. I've watched him go from wild party guy to serious businessman ready to settle and have a family.  Jon was at our tiny wedding in Scotland eight years ago when we were among the first of our friends to get married.

I knew nothing of Chico except a vague idea of location and the fact that there's a big university there. We flew to Sacramento (first time with two kids) but luckily it was a short flight and our friend Cody who was also heading to the wedding helped us lug all our stuff. Yes when you travel with kids you can't just take a carryon. It's: luggage, milk, snacks, pack n play, car seats, stroller, toys...

The weather was 90 to 100 degrees but didn't feel too hot with the breeze. There was a park with a natural swimming hole we explored and the town itself was cute.



The first night we were invited to the "un-rehearsal" dinner.  Luckily, Jon matched us up with a babysitter who did not appear to be a psychopath--we set the bar high for babysitters you know. She was sweet and had a couple big kids that Collin was excited to see. Then we got to enjoy a six course custom meal with wine pairings designed by Jon, Julie and the chef.  The chef explained each course and the way the wine matched the meal. My favorites had to be the "appetizer" which was really a meal in itself of a fried chicken and fried green tomato salad (yummy and naughty) and the second course, a beet and watermelon salad with pistachio crusted goat cheese. Everything was delicious and I managed to eat most of it and leave with a nice buzz.

The next day Jon took us to a river next to the wedding venue which was gorgeous. We sat on the rocks with friends, snacking and wading/swimming in the freezing cold water full of salmon. Collin loves "Uncle Jon" and had fun splashing and jumping in the water. Mike floated down the river although I'm pretty sure there was some shrinkage happening.











We also drove by an old fashioned covered bridge. I had to stop to snap a photo.



That night we went to another dinner that was specially planned for Jon and Julie and was positively yum. Mike and I shared small plates like bacon wrapped, chorizo stuffed dates (the best ever), caesar salad, and Thai chicken skewers.

Collin also met Millie the flower girl, (Julie's sister's daughter) who has Shirley Temple curles and proclaimed Collin her "boyfriend." The two hit it off and I was so glad that Collin met someone his age he could have fun with.

Milo also shared his cuteness with everyone and was proclaimed a good baby because of course he doesn't cry too much, smiles a bunch and as long as you provide him with food he will sit and be content. And yes this kid can eat! Milo scarfs down pretty much anything we eat now as long as it's not too hard or big. He loves bread, pasta, pretty much any vegetable and fruit, and except for trying out an Indian garden burger that was apparently too spicy, I don't think there's anything edible he hasn't liked. Of course he would also eat cat food, paper and bugs so I'm not sure if we can count on him retaining his unpicky appetite when he's older.

The day of the wedding we stopped by a monastery where they also happen to sell wine and maintain a vineyard. Mike and I tasted some wine, the reds being our favorite and snagged a bottle. I also overheard some monks chanting which was beautiful. Random moment, it also happened to be corvette club visiting day or something (which apparently the average age of corvette club member is 70?)



Collin had an important part in the wedding: ring bearer. He is a seasoned pro as he also bestowed this role at his Uncle Tom and Auntie Virginia's wedding (holding the ring in a vintage lunchbox). There's nothing much cuter than a 4 year old in a pinstripe suit.

Collin and Millie posed for the camera before the wedding. Let's all scream, "freaking adorable," together now. Millie appeared a little bored while Collin hammed it up and also looked a little smitten with his new friend. She warmed up as everyone continued taking photos and the two of them whispered to each other.







The wedding was beautiful with a view of the river, copious amounts of wine and beer and more good food. And of course we got to share it with friends.









The reality of taking two kids to a wedding however equals being interrupted in the line for food/drinks by a baby with a blow-out (twice), Collin sucking down Sprite and going on a sugar high with Millie and attempting to jump into a fountain or go down to the river himself. Still we enjoyed ourselves and did bust a move or two on the dance floor. Well, Collin and Milo and I did anyway.

The last day we enjoyed a big brunch and said goodbye to Julie and Jon. 

Then we were delayed at the airport for a couple hours (sucky). But besides that annoying ending, it was a nice break from our crazy, stressful lives and we wish Jon and Julie many years of happiness and beautiful tall, blond children!