Attack of the un-weaned

Bruce says it's my fault for writing that last post. After 2 or 3 happy days, Zeke has thrown a fit about the binky's disappearance. We would like to be consistent, but sometimes we have to cave in and give it to him (like at 5:30 a.m. when we need him to go back to sleep for a few hours, or when we have a babysitter). He's amazingly adept at getting his own way. Plus, the child is living on yogurt since I'm not nursing him much anymore and he refuses most other food. Could be worse, like instant pudding or fruit snacks, right? And then this morning, I forgot that I no longer nurse him when he wakes up, and I stumbled bleary eyed out of bed and gave him just what he wanted without thinking.

Where's supernanny when I need her?

Zeke's big non-event

This could be it!!! The end of an era for Zeke, and the beginning of a whole new life!

You might think I'm talking about weaning Zeke, which we're in the middle of. But no, this is an even bigger milestone. I think Zeke will be giving up the BINKY! I am truly surprised, but it's just kind of happening. Not that Zeke doesn't love it, but he hasn't figured out yet that it's a necessary part of toddler life. Last night I tried putting him to bed without it, and amazingly he fell asleep without it! He even slept in later than usual this morning. Then again, naptime came and he fell asleep just fine.

Is this the trick? Take the binky away younger, not older? I have to say, it wasn't all that traumatic to remove the magic plug from Sammy (at age 2 and a bit) or Riley (at almost 3), because they mostly just got it at naptime. But this is even easier, and if Zeke can sleep without it, why should we encourage dependence by continuing to plug him? I guess it gets him quiet a little more quickly when he's crying, and maybe he falls asleep a little faster with it. Other than that, I don't think he really needs it. Especially since he's got a huge attachment to his blanket (way cooler, in my opinion).

What do you think? I'm interested in other binky-weaning experiences. Can it really be this easy?

Nice, quiet pictures

Somehow, our computer and the camera decided to get along today. So after you look at the cute pictures on this post, be sure to check out the last one to see Sammy in action.

I have gotten a bit cantankerous in my old age and I enjoy a bit of calm and quiet now and then. Not that I get much, with three troublemakers running around the house. So I usually settle for "happy noise," as long as the boys aren't fighting or destroying things. Still, I have my limits and often try to direct them toward books, Legos, and other relatively quiet activities.

Yesterday morning was an anomaly. The boys found an activity they loved and could do together, so I gave up my lovely quiet morning reading the newspaper and settled for a persistent ringing in my ears. Riley found a wooden spoon and a pot, which got Zeke to coveting. I got out a set for Zeke, which set Sammy to longing. Sammy got out my entire collection of mixing bowls and a several more spoons. Just be grateful that this is a picture, not a video (with sound).

The boys were having so much fun that I didn't mind the risk of going deaf. Zeke even started dancing (kind of) to the great rhythms they were producing. Perhaps this is the next trend for heavy metal music?

Unfortunately, the whole enterprise dissolved after about ten minutes. The overall volume in our home decreased, but the orchestra dissolved into typical Saturday morning chaos which is much more destructive to my sanity. It was great while it lasted.

All tied up in knots

I try pretty hard not to burden my kids with the responsibility of fulfilling my broken dreams and missed opportunities. (Let's hope so, the oldest is only five!!!) But when it comes to my faults and weaknesses, I think I do them a disservice by assuming they will end up with all the worst of me.

So I was thrilled this week to discover that my kids aren't little clones of me. I know, that shouldn't be a surprise considering I have three boys. But anyhow...

On Monday, I found some nice shoes on clearance in Sammy's size. He needed a new pair of sneakers because the pair I bought him about four months ago is completely THRASHED. That's what recess does for a boy. As long as this keeps happening, my boys had better not expect brand-name shoes.

The only problem with the shoes is that they have laces. Usually I won't buy anything that doesn't slide, zip, or velcro onto the foot. With three boys and myself, it takes about half an hour to get all the shoes on the feet and tied (including putting Zeke's shoes back on three or four times because he keeps taking them off). But one of Sammy's kindergarten goals was to learn to tie his shoe (even though at the time he didn't own a single pair with laces), so the good mom part of me (and my wallet) told me to buy the cheap shoes with laces.

At this point, I need to confess that shoe tying was my downfall in kindergarten. I aced every other subject, but when it came to tying the laces on the giant cardboard shoe, I folded. My mom will tell you about how I refused to go to school, and she had to take me in, sobbing and late for class, to have a one-on-one talk with my teacher (who was very patient and understanding). I blocked the whole experience out, but at some point, I mastered the art of shoe tying. Hey, maybe that's the real reason I avoid laces on my kids' shoes.

Back to the story. I sat Sammy down for what I thought would be a long afternoon of shoe-tying practice. I envisioned me tying his shoes every morning for weeks, which would cause him to miss the bus (we are down to the second on our morning routine). I psyched myself up to be patient and explain the process several ways, resorting to the bunny going around the tree and into the hole if I had to. So we started.

In ten minutes, Sammy was tying his shoes like a pro.

I immediately knew my child was a prodigy. Who cares that he's been reading for a year, or that he can count up to infinity (well, almost). HE CAN TIE HIS SHOES!!!! I was floored. I immediately called my mom to brag. Somehow she wasn't as impressed as I was. But nothing will take away the glory of that moment.

Sammy is even better at the whole thing now after a few days of practice. He loves his new shoes so much he won't wear them to school (they'd get ruined in the mud and snow). So our morning get-to-the-bus routine is safe until the snow melts, and for now he still jumps into his (velcro) snowboots. But as soon as he gets home, the boots go off and the shoes go on, and visions of my son's future dance before my eyes. Do they offer a Nobel Prize in shoe tying?

Fear and Friendship

It's funny how answers to prayers don't always come the way we expect them to.

This fall, Bruce and I have been concerned about Sammy and Riley not getting along very well. Like, if one even touched the other there would be major screaming and fighting as a result. (Okay, I know this is somewhat normal for brothers--most of you remember the famous picture of Dan and Bruce. But that doesn't mean we approved or wanted them to keep up this behavior.) So, because we were frustrated, we prayed for help.

Slowly, things have been getting better, and it's mostly because Sammy is afraid. Very afraid. Of almost everything, including:
--Toys left on his bedroom floor at night
--Anything in his bed other than pillow and covers
--Being alone ANYWHERE for more than half a second (this makes bathroom time interesting)

It's this last item that has made him so dependent on Riley. Who will go in the bedroom with him to get another toy? Not mom! Who will go downstairs with him to put away the toys? Not dad! Riley, as much as he's been the picked on younger brother, is amazingly willing to be Sammy's companion. It's like Sammy realizes that Riley is more than competition for toys and attention, and Riley is happy to agree. They play computer together, run around together, and will now (occasionally) hug or sit close to each other. It is truly a miracle, for however long it lasts.

By the way, I am LOVING our new computer, if only because it came with a chess game pre-installed. Sammy can now play without bugging a grown-up to play with him, and better yet, Riley can play against Sammy because the computer shows him which moves are allowed. Score one for technology!!!

My favorite part of Christmas

This is the best Sunday of the year, and I have to try to capture the moment so it will last a little longer for me. All around the world, congregations are sharing a Christmas program for their services today. Especially in the LDS Church, these programs are very similar, with a bunch of music (often the same favorite Christmas hymns) and some narrative or testimony in between songs.

Despite the predictability of it all, I love it. There is such comfort in tradition. And especially, for me at least, such power in the music, even the same music I've been hearing my whole life.

I am so blessed right now to be our ward choir director. It has been a challenge, a learning experience, and often a frustration. It's not the easiest calling, especially at this point in my life with three young and energetic boys. (By the way, Bruce is an amazing support, and manages not only to sing with the choir, but keep the boys under control, carry around my box of music, and serve up my freshly baked cinnamon rolls to choir members.)

Today the choir sang, and it was truly a choir of angels. We have been preparing for months and have a fairly good choir. But today (as so often happens), they were a different group. Every song was perfectly sung, and even better, they meant every word and offered it as their collective testimony to the congregation. Music can touch my heart like nothing else I have experienced, but only now and then. We have practiced so much that I don't usually think about the words or enjoy the music.

Today I was touched by the Spirit and by the service these singers have given to worship their God. Especially I was overcome when the choir sang "O Come, All Ye Faithful" along with the congregation. It's not my favorite Christmas hymn and I wasn't expecting it to be so powerfully moving. But the incredible organ accompaniment, our choir's angelic descant, and the sight of a few hundred friends singing praise to Jesus Christ made me tremble and get teary-eyed. I was reminded what this entire season is about during the last verse of the hymn. I wish you could have been there too, because the words alone can't quite convey my testimony of this:

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus to thee be all glory giv'n.
Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
Oh come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

May we adore Him and glorify Him in all we do this Christmas season and throughout our lives, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Zeke the Beloved

Happy birthday to my not-so-little baby Zeke!

We are so amazed at how fast the past year has flown by. Zeke just fit himself right into our little family, and life never really slowed down much. Zeke's birthday was an example of how crazy things can be. We were booked solid with Christmas activities for 3 or 4 days before and after his birthday last week. So, we settled for a lunchtime cake party the day after. Even though it wasn't his true birthday, we figure he's lucky to have gotten anything.

And boy, did he enjoy it! What one-year-old doesn't love being set in front of an entire chocolate cake, and having a roomful of people cheer with every bite (and every frosting glob in the hair)? He even got to throw the leftovers on the floor and we cheered that on, too. Of course, older cousin Tate showed him how to REALLY make a mess with the chocolate frosting--Zeke has much to learn from his more experienced friend. Then a birthday bath, and time for presents (with five little boys helping him "play" with the new toys). We're so glad Dan & Dee & kids, and Leah, could come. We missed the rest of you. But Zeke didn't--fewer people means more cake for him!