And that was that
Moment of the week – November 23rd, 2011
After weeks of worrying about when and how to wean Caitlyn, I was down to just a feeding or two a day but couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger.
First thing every morning, she was always desperate for milk and it was a nice way to start the day to rock in the chair while I nursed and talk to Mackenzie about her dreams. I was already getting wistful about which feeding would be my last, and I was wary of her begging for something I was no longer willing to give her.
But on this particular morning? Caitlyn asked for “boo?” (book) instead of milk as I walked in the room and I made a split second decision to just go with it. We flipped through board books together and went down to eat oatmeal for breakfast.
And that was that.
No more milk for my girl, and she didn’t seem sad about it. And I surprised myself by being 100% fine with it too. Not knowing when the last time I nursed her would be actually worked out for the best because it spared me the agony of over-thinking, an agony I’m all too familiar with.
Not your Daddy’s singing voice
Nearly every sleep time since Mackenzie was born 4 years ago, whoever is putting the kiddos to sleep sings them a song. We often sing one for each child, and we definitely take requests.
Occasionally, I’ll bring my iPhone into the girls’ room and sit on their bed and just sing and sing and sing through hymns and children’s songs from our church.
It’s a sweet time of the day for me and it’s even more rewarding now that Mackenzie will sing along with me. Still, though, I am not particularly musical so I love it when Scott is around to keep me on key.
Moment of the Week – November 12th, 2011
On this day, I laid Caitlyn down for her nap gently, and began to sing her a song. She signed (and declared verbally) “all done!” “all done!”
I assumed she was upset that it was naptime, so I continued to sing soothingly and smooth her blanket.
Yet she persisted: “All done!!”
I paused my singing to assess the situation, and she promptly rolled on her side and closed her eyes.
Apparently my singing was interfering with her sleep agenda.
Trick or what?
I have mixed feelings about Halloween.
I don’t like being frightened. I don’t like candy.
I do like pumpkins, but I enjoy them for several months with or without October 31st festivities and I resent the fact that carving them inevitably leaves a shriveled, moldy mess.
For the children
In years past, we’ve handed out playdough and stickers (totally passable with the preschool crowd we get at our door) and sort of let the holiday pass us by. But this year Scott’s offhand remark a few days beforehand changed everything:
“You know, it’s a shame to lose out on the excitement of dressing up and meeting neighbors just because we aren’t big candy fans. I’ll bet Mackenzie would LOVE Halloween if we gave her the chance.”
And lo, a light went on in the attic and I realized he was totally correct. Mackenzie loves traditions, anything special and exciting, and she especially loves to dress up. So I started talking up The Big Day.
She decided on wearing the Chinese pajamas her Uncle and Aunt brought home from a recent trip. I still had a dalmatian costume I threw together for Mackenzie years ago so Caitlyn was set. Scott went as a doctor (natch) and at the very last minute he talked me into donning my red feetie pajamas and going as a clown.
We made the most of the day with a trip to the zoo, a trip to Chipotle (switching Mackenzie to a farmer so we could get a discounted burrito for her and her fellow farm dweller, the dalmatian), and trick or treating.
Moment of the Week – October 31st, 2011
Mackenzie had talked excitedly all day about “trick or treating” but before we headed out I took a few minutes to review how it plays out.
Me: First, we will walk up to a door and ring the doorbell or knock. Then we wait. When someone answers the door, we look them in the eye, smile and say… what?
Mackenzie: Trick or treat!!!!
Me: Yep, and then they might just give us… what?
Mackenzie: (says nothing, has a baffled expression)
Me: Candy?
Mackenzie: (Eyes growing huge in disbelief…) REALLY?!
She seriously had no idea.
Runners up
#1: We had her choose 10 pieces of candy total to keep and eat (note to self: Next year go with 5). She made piles of candy by type, as I remember doing so well as a kid. Then she chose one of each type of candy until she got to 10.
Scott and I both winced automatically as she chose a mini Snickers instead of a fun-size Snickers and again when she traded a fun-size Milky Way in for a lame purple Now-And-Later (she loves purple). We exchanged alarmed glances and had a quick huddle as to whether we should guide her candy choices. What kind of parents would we be if we let her make such a poor trade?!
#2: After opening her second piece of candy of the night, Mackenzie made the following comment: “Oh look, it’s another little loaf of bread!”
It was apparent she had never seen a candy bar before.
Yeah.
Keeping a weather eye out
Moment of the Week – October 24th, 2011
On our last day at “The Villa“, Mackenzie and I took a morning trip down to the beach. I needed to soak up at least a year’s worth of the smell in the air and the sand under my feet. It was sort of foggy and the beach felt huge and rugged. The waves were cold but breathtakingly beautiful. On mornings like that, living in Ohio is tough.
My girl loved being in the water and was a total trooper… right up until the end when she started to whimper and asked to go back to the house. I consented and as we headed back, she confided she was “just nervous about the man with the sword getting her.” I turned and saw down the beach a man was fishing with a pole.
I think I laughed all the way back to Columbus about that one. 
