Wise Protector & Christmas

Raymond means "wise protector".

So Christmas Day RR and I served at the 9:15am Mass. "Thankfully" the boys were up at 6am on Christmas morning and TT had no interest in unwrapping presents; he would rather play with each gift before opening another one, so we were all able to get dressed and fed and out the door on time for Mass.

Husband and the little ones were seated in the second row of the church. He seemed to have a rough start to Mass, getting ERP to settle and all that. But once ERP was settled the little ones seemed to be behaving well for Husband.

And then, there we are; during the Eucharist, all of the Eucharistic ministers, myself and the alter servers lined up to receive the Host and TT falls in the pew. He took some sort of tumble, and his cries soared out over a quiet church. Husband worked as fast as he could to comfort and quiet TT. But in RR's book it wasn't fast enough. Several times he had to pull himself back in line; as he was about to dash into the church and rush to his brother's aide.

It was a good Christmas. Full of love and memories and really good food. But RR wanting to rush to take care of his brother is what I will always remember from that day.

And now some photos... to share some of our other memories with you.

Repeat After Me

This evening for prayers TT wanted me to repeat after him. Usually he repeats after me.  We've been working on the Hail Mary.  TT's version is a little more stream on conciseness.

He says...

Harry Mary
For the love of pumpkins
Player two
and the footballs
All of the footballs
And in Jesus Christ
We don't say that
For ever and ever footballs
Amen

TT-isms

Here are a couple of TT-isms from today. I swear this kid is all about the "one liners" some days.

~ Both of these happened during church this morning.

After hearing the priest say "Jesus Christ".
TT says as loud as possible in a very quiet church.
"Jesus Christ??? We don't say Jesus Christ"

Deacon says "Brother and Sisters"
TT says "Where are my sisters?"

~ Yesterday TT started being obsessed with having salad for dinner. This was a step for him. He loves veggies, and salad dressings, but he normally doesn't like lettuce. Last night he has a salad with dinner, and to no one's surprise he doesn't eat the lettuce. Tonight he asks for salad with dinner again. And again I oblige. Tonight instead he starts pulling out all of the lettuce and asks me:
"Who put these leaves in my salad?"

3 Months

ERP turned 3 months old yesterday.  I told Husband I felt like this time with him was flying by, that he was growing up way to fast and I swore TT's infancy did not go by this quickly.  Husband assured me it did; but having the holidays and two birthday's plus a whole slew of other things going on since ERP's birth has made it seem like life is rushing by.

Things have been different for me, this time around.  I didn't get the baby blues or PPD like I did with TT.  I am weepy today for the first time since ERP has been born, but that has more to do with my maternity leave officially ending tomorrow than anything.

ERP is still an "easy" baby.  He had a period of 3 days of crying and being terribly inconsolable a few weeks back,  but I chalked that up to hitting one of those Wonder Weeks early.  However, since that episode he's back to waking 3 or 4 times a night; he was only waking once.  Oh well.  I am sure I will sleep again.

These days he is awake more and more, unless he's going through a growth spurt. Speaking of growing, he is getting bigger but he is still a little peanut.  He is just now growing out of his newborn size onesies.  For clothing he is wearing a 0-3 months with a couple newborn and a couple 3-6 month outfits sprinkled in.

He is babbling up a storm and has giggled for Husband and his brothers.  He is super social and loves to flash his baby smile at anyone that talks to him.  His cries have changed as well.  My favorite is his "protest" cry in which he lets out a sharp wail of totally indignity.  He has found his hands and will stare at them for hours, he is also holding toys and fingers now and batting at his toys.

We have settled on Godparents and are looking to have him baptized in June - once his Godfather gets confirmed.  What a wonderful and special Uncle he has to go through all of that for him.

Things I don't want to forget:
~ The way his bottle lip quivers at times
~ How he stops and smiles at me while we're nursing
~ How when we are nursing and my milk lets down, he rolls his eyes back - a sign of total satisfaction in my eyes
~ How he holds me shirt while he nursing
~ The smell of him first thing in the morning
~ His baby mullet with a bald spot
~ His blowing bubbles with his spit
~ How warm he feels when I hold him
~ His grin, I can't get enough of it


Sorry, no pictures now.... my phone is having cord / charging issues.

Old Man Names

Someone once said to me, maybe it was my mother; "you can't name him that, it's an old man name."

Well, you know what, someone has to give their kids old man names; otherwise there would be no righteous old men with these classic names.

I had to take ERP to urgent care once and the doctor there came in proclaiming usually when he meets people with ERPs name they are over the age of 80.

Raymond Thomas
Theodore Wayne
Eugene Ronald Paul

All of my boys are named, in some way; after a beloved relative that has gone before them or a special relative we would like to honor.

All of my boys have names that are uniquely theirs.

They are all names of lesser known Catholic saints.  Did you know there were also four Popes named Eugene?

When I picked their names, none of their names were in the top 200 most popular.  This was done on purpose.  Yet, they are names we are all familiar with.  And they fit together, you can tell they were meant to be brothers.

All of these names have some sort of TV or cartoon character associated with them.  Some more endearing than others.

These are good strong names -
Raymond means Wise protector.  The perfect name for the oldest brother.
Theodore means Gift from God.  And that he is.
Eugene is Wellborn or Noble.  We think of his name as a tribute to his birth.

My boys, may they love each other as old men, just as they love each other today.

Every Year

Every year, for the past 4 years, on this date I have said - WHY????

Why did I sign RR up for the early CCD class?

It's hard enough to get him there for 8am on a regular Sunday, but when you body thinks it's still 7am it's twice as hard.

Yes, he was 15 minutes late today.

15 minutes late for an hour class.

Oh well, at least he made it.

And I am sure next year, I will be asking the same question.

A Thought

Tonight after the Big Boy rushed through his Our Father (prayer); I paused and looked at him.

Do you think you were really talking to God while saying that, or where you just rushing to get it done?; I asked him.

A quizzical look came over his face.  I dunno was his answer.

Think about it and let me know in the morning, I told him.

Scout Sunday

Today is Scout Sunday.  And in the tradition of our Parish, which is also the Charter Organization for our Bub Scout - Boy Scout - Venture Crew; boys who have completed the requirements for their religious emblem program are given their awards.

Last year, as a boy not yet receiving his First Communion, RR was eligible to earn and did receive his Light of Christ medal.

This year (and technically next year; although it can only be earned once) he was eligible to earn his Parvuli Dei emblem - which he did.

To get the medals the boys must complete a work-book and preform some charitable activities which better examine their faith.   The books are then certified by the Pack Master and Parish Priest.

Anyhow; there we were at Mass this morning.  RR was on his best behavior, was in the color guard, and sat with the other scouts.

TT on the other hand was a total handful.  Usually when I take him to Mass I take him to the children's services with RR, but since RR wasn't attending the children's services we didn't either.  For the record I don't think mine of Husband's backs will ever be the same again.  That kid is getting heavy.

When Mass was over the boys were given their awards; and then TT decided to crash the party.  Running up to the front of the Church yelling "Ray Ray".  

Thankfully everyone in church is of good humor and they made a joke about it.  

We celebrated afterwards with a trip to the pastry shop (not that TT deserved anything based on his behavior, but I think he's still a little young to understand that concept.)

RR had a strawberry-surprise  TT had a cupcake.  Me I had a bismark... I totally deserved something (and it was too early to start drinking).  

Blue Shirted Man

To the Man in the Blue Shirt,

If  we were not in a House of God on Saturday I would have given you a piece of my mind in person, but since I consider myself to be a decent and kind person I am going to do it here instead.  Granted the chances of you reading these are slim to none, but still it needs to be said.

You're child was NOT the only child making their First Communion on Saturday.  This may come as a shock to you, but there were 32 children in the 1pm ceremony.  Which means at least 30 of them where not yours.

Also when a religious official lays out rules to govern certain religious functions, say the one about no video taping or photos during the ceremony; it would behoove you to listen to them.

Furthermore, you were seated in just about the center of the church; so your standing to video tape your child during the singing of Ave Maria blocked the view of around 200 people, myself included.

I do not think you could have possibly been more inconsiderate.  Maybe you didn't want to spend the $15 and purchase the DVD of the service so that you could watch your angle singing over and over again - I get that.  But what I do not get is your need to be so blatantly rude to everyone around you.

I hope you ARE a member of my Parrish, as I know Monsignor does not take kindly to rudeness and disrespect, and you get a well deserved earful.

Sincerely,

The Women Seated Directly 2 Rows Behind You

Doing It All Over Again

As we get closer and closer to Turkey's First Communion I am starting to feel very melancholy.  This is a big step for him; several years in the making.  I look at him, and I look at the baby and think about what he was like; seven years ago when he was Monkey's age.  I'm looking back at pictures of him over the last eight years; and I am amazed by how much he's grown; physically, mentally and spiritually.

All of the thinking aside we've been busy preparing for his big day. He has had a few rehearsals, he has a few more to attend to as well.  He got a new hair cut, we bought his special clothes, and we got his photos done.  We've been planning a party for him, and so on and so on.

And then I think, we get to do this all again in another seven years.

Seven years.  The age gap between the two boys.

Wow, seven years.

Don't get me wrong I wouldn't change a thing about the boys and their age gap.  It certainly has it's up sides; like only having to diaper one child at a time.  ;-)

And then I start thinking about where I might be in seven years.  By then I will be in my early 40s.  When my mom was in her early 40s, I was in my early 20s.  Then I think, when Monkey is in his early 20s; I'll be in my mid-50s, the age my mom is now.

I like the idea of being able to "doing it all again", seven years from now.  I like wondering where we'll all be in seven years.  What kind of eight year old will the baby be?  What kind of teenager will Turkey be?  What will Husband and I be doing for work and hobbies?  What kind of relationship will my boys have with each, and any other siblings that may come there way?

That's the good thing about the future, it's full of possibilities.

Young Love

Turkey's first crush was Natalie Portman, but not Natalie Portman as the actress; but rather Padme from Star Wars.

Until one day he saw her on a Sesame Street re-run and he decided he was "off her", because he couldn't have anything to do with someone associated with Elmo.  I reminded him, that he himself used to be an Elmo fan; a fact he now denies.

These days he's moved onto a real girl to crush on; and not some movie character.  He denies that K is his girlfriend.  He prefers to say K is a girl that is a friend.  And while I am sure this is true, he talks more about K than any other girl he's ever been friends with.  Combine that with his current "girls have cooties phase"; and all I see when he goes on and on about K is young love.

K is a girl in his class.  In his book she's pretty darn cool.  She likes Legos, she hunts for with him for rocks at recess, she tolerates his less than stellar table manners at lunch.

Just this past week they were discussing making their First Communion soon (who knew they talked about religion in the second grade) and Turkey was upset that they were making them on the same day, at different churches so they couldn't go to each others.

Awww.... so sweet.

Keep your fingers crossed they're in the same class next year.  This girl is good for my boy.

Naps and Nothing

Last weekend was crazy busy, and because I didn't get my "one day at home" I was fairly miserable for the week... in fact by lunch time last Saturday I was looking forward to this weekend.  Being home, being with my guys and puttering around the house.

Now that the nice weather is here and Turkey's First Holy Communion is fast approaching it seems like there are a million and two things to do at home.

Saturday we spent time cleaning the yard; getting rid of tree debris from the October snow storm, raking leaves, moving the dog to his summer home (in the winter we keep his leash off the deck for easy access; in the summer we keep his leash in the woods to provide him with lots of shade) and getting out the summer toys.  By mid afternoon Turkey was gone to the zoo with the neighbors and Husband and I worked inside the house.  All in all it was a very productive day; then around 8pm it hit me - the sneezing, the watery eyes, the itchy throat - Ah allergies I curse you!!! Early to bed... good thing as Monkey was up four or so times.

I woke up Sunday morning; hoping for a repeat of Saturday.  But then reality hit him.  Allergies suck.  As in they suck the life force out of you.

Turkey and I went to Mass, had donuts and decaf (hot chocolate for him) and I could feel my body screaming for sleep.  Thankfully when we got home Husband offered to take the baby for a walk and to get milk so I could nap.  And that's what I did.

After I got up the boys put on their swimsuits and we went to play in the yard.  Ok, they played and Husband and I relaxed and watched them.  After that lunch; and then... you guessed it another nap.  I nursed Monkey and put him down for his nap... and then next thing I know it's been an hour and a half and Husband is bringing him into the living room where I had sacked out on the couch.  By this time it was nearly time to start dinner... and so went our evening.

So that was my Sunday... so much for all the stuff I wanted; felt like I needed to get done.  In the end it was a day full of naps and nothing.  Which as my husband likes to remind me; we all need every now and then.

Dakota sunning himself.

Someone found his favorite sword.  And yes, we need to fix the fence.

Yum... shovels taste good.

Splish splash.  

Practicing his moves.

Playing with the boy next door.

Long White Tie

Last night I went to the parent's meeting for Turkey's 1st Holy Communion coming in May.  After we reviewed the spiritual side of the process we got down to the nitty gritty schedules, rehearsals (there are two of them) and dress code for the day.

The girls half of the dress code took up more than half the page, with over a paragraph dedicated to the need for girls to dress modestly.  Which, in my opinion, is very understandable in this day and age seeing the way some of Turkey's classmates dress in warmer weather.

The boys dress code called for dark trousers, dark dress socks (no white socks), dark dress shoes (no sneakers), long sleeve white shirt and a white long tie, no-clips ons (bow-ties are also not allowed... good thing he's bed bud E isn't in his class).

I was bummed.  Husband and I had been planning on buying him his first suit. We saw this as a right of passage for a boy his age; and we were looking forward to it.  No I suppose I could still buy him a suit, but really what is the point; by the time he has a chance to wear it again he'll be too big for it anyhow... but this is the boy that wanted a tuxedo to wear the house and to school this time last year.

So now I've started the search for the perfect white tie; as this seems to be the only "out of the ordinary" item of clothing he'll need for the day.

Now if we had a little girl we'd be looking for that special dress and veil and sweater and what have you.  OK, sure I'd end up having to spend a lot more money; but really where is the fun in buying a white tie?

And it's always been this way.  Any mother of a boy can tell you clothing selections are far more limited for boys than girls.  Don't have a son, next time you are shopping just compare the boys clothing area to the size of the girls clothing area and you'll get my drift.

Oh well.... it's not like we can take pictures inside the church anyhow.  Yes, relatives you read that right, no photos IN the church.  Sigh....

A Miraculous Recovery

Yesterday morning Turkey seemed fine when we dropped him off for CCD.  When I picked him up 50 short minutes later that was not the case.  Even before I saw him his teacher were telling me how sick he was, and hos he was "going down him fast".

We headed to Mass and he curled up on the bench with his head on my lap.  Add an extra grouchy Monkey and we left half way through (so not our style).

We stopped at the store on the way home and used one of the big two seater grocery carts, since Turkey didn't seem like he could walk so well.  He was having hot and cold flashes and whining something terrible.  On the way he just kept saying all he wanted to do was go to bed.... and seeing how he took a two and a half hour nap the day before we figured he must be sick.  I gave him some Nyquil and sent him off to bed.

He spent the next six hours in his room, awake and complaining about "loosing his mind" since there was nothing to do (mind you, he trashed the place playing).  At dinner he didn't eat much and was terribly stuffy and whiny, so back to bed he went.  Husband and I talked during dinner and decided to keep him home from school today, because something didn't seem right.

Around 7pm, him and I spent sometime together working with his Fizzy-Foamy Science Kit and off to bed he went for the night falling asleep right away.

At 6:15 this morning he climbed into bed with us and I told him he was staying home sick from school.  He had to go in he proclaimed; today they were going to start selling Smencils and he had $5 to spend on them.  I told him if he was going then he had to make his lunch and get dressed.  Within 20 minutes both items were done and he was eating breakfast, ready and excited for school.

What was this a miraculous recovery?  An allergy to CCD and church?  A reaction from the Fizzy-Foamy Science Kit?  Or perhaps just the lure of the Smencils is all that was needed to heal him?  YOU DECIDE.

All I Want for Christmas

If it was up to Monkey I am sure all he would want is his two front teeth (ha!!), or any teeth for that matter.

Turkey on the other hand has a very specific list of what he wants.  This is a list he has been working on and refining for weeks now.  Originally his list had 15 or so things on it, and some items were called out in great detail... not so much anymore.  As of last night his list had four items on it: Legos, clothes, Megablocks/Halo, and a flute.

Ah the flute.

His flute request is tantamount to that of Ralphie's quest for the Red Rider BB Gun (Turkey was informed earlier this summer that I will not even entertain the idea of getting him a BB gun until he is at least eight years old).

When we went to see St. Nick at church, the ONE and ONLY thing he asked for was a flute.

The boys, looking very serious, with St. Nick at church.

When strangers ask him what he wants for Christmas, he tells them a flute. Store clerks find this amusing I might add.

(I will admit at scouts tonight he didn't mention it; I think he might have been embarrassed after all the other boys wanted BB guns or video games.)

The flute has been on his list from the very beginning.  At one time he was asking for a flute case as well, then he realized that a flute would come with a case anyhow, so he took the case off his list.

I looked on Craig's List for a used flute.  But I wasn't about to spend $200 on one.  It's not like he wants to take lessons or anything; he wants it for his one-man-band (he already has the harmonica; I guess I should be glad he didn't ask for a bass drum).

Friends suggested I get him a recorder; but I already tried that.  It seems he knows the difference between the two and really, really, wants the flute.

I looked on-line and found a $7 wooden flute.  More of a fife I suppose, OK really it looked like something a pixie would play while sitting on an over-sized leaf ... and I am not really sure about the quality.  Sure it's only $7 (plus shipping); but it looked pretty cheesy.  Plus it didn't have a case.

Today I started feeling the "Christmas is in a week panic" and put out a call out on Facebook for help.  And I am so happy and impressed with the response.  A relative on Husband's side is sending up a fife.  Another friend has a lead and is working on it.  And yet another posted a link to one on eBay (a little more than I would like to spend... but many thanks).  I love the help; it's amazing.  What did we do before social networking or even before the internet???!!!

I feel better that I have begun working on solving our flute problem... stay tuned for how it turns out.

Oh, and in case you cared... all I want for Christmas is to sleep till 8am.

A Day in the Life: Sunday

6:26am - The day begins with the sound of Monkey crying through the monitor.  I nudge Husband, "Please go and nook him, if he sees me he'll want to eat and I NEED to sleep until at least 7am."

6:59am - Turkey crawls into our bed, upside down and proceeds to kick his way into the middle.

7:05am - Alarm goes off... hit snooze.

7:15am - Hit snooze again.

7:26am - Come up with a "get out of the house in the next 30 minutes plan" with Husband and go to nurse Monkey.  Secretly wanting to have Turkey skip CCD and mass.

7:48am - Dash into the bedroom to get dressed after nursing Monkey and getting him dressed.  Throw on a dress, earrings, brush teeth and hair.

7:56am -Leave 1 minute late, only to realize we forgot the diaper bag.  Run into the house, get the diaper bag and dash out.

8:18am - Drop Turkey off at CCD 3 minutes late (thankfully there were lots of other kids late this morning as well).  Head off to get gas, the paper and coffees at the gas station.  Get bummed because the ice is broken, decide to have an ice coffee anyhow.

8:30am - Go to the grocery store to pick-up donuts for breakfast and a few groceries for the house.

8:55am - Eat donuts in the church parking lot with Husband.  He straps the baby into the carrier and I go to pick-up Turkey from CCD, and head to mass with him.

10:20am - Mass is over and Husband takes Monkey to the car while I stop to buy a chocolate pop with Turkey on the way out.  Stop get the garlic bread that we forgot.  Go to another grocery store to get the garlic bread.

11:15am - Get home and feed Monkey some whole wheat Cream of Wheat for breakfast.  Nurse him.  Help Husband fix the leg on the coffee table.  Pull Monkey away from the ceramic cat he's been sucking on while we fixed the table and haul him upstairs for a nap.  Husband offers to rock him some since he just nursed.

12:05pm - Make Turkey a hot dog for lunch and chat with him.

12:15pm - Get Husband for a client call and make him lunch as he heads off on a job.

12:45pm - Work with Monkey on his Light of Christ book for Cub Scouts.  Nook Turkey on and off for about 30 minutes, as he's having a hard time napping.

1:05pm - Nurse Monkey.

1:20pm - Send Turkey to his room for some quiet time, and curl up in bed reading waiting to make sure Monkey is fully asleep.  Close eyes and drift off into a light sleep.

2:05pm - Get woken up by Monkey crying.  Get Turkey out of his room as well and head to the kitchen.  Lunch (soy blueberry yogurt with iron fortified cereal added to it) for Monkey and hot chocolate with whip cream for Turkey and I.

2:38pm - Turkey cruises around his playpen and Monkey works on Cub Scout stuff while I start washing diapers.  Once the diapers are in the wash, I watch the boys play together with the Christmas animated toys - the singing Cow, Reindeer and Snowman.

3:05pm - Make brownies with Turkey while Monkey plays on the floor.  Husband comes home.  Monkey plays in his jumper-roo while I work on putting pictures in frames.

4pm - Nurse Monkey and put him down for a nap.  Work on a blog post.

4:30pm - Start making dinner with Turkey (chicken parmesan), and Husband.

5:02pm - Have dinner without Monkey as he's still sleeping.  Play truth or dare with Turkey while eating, it's his new favorite game.

5:50pm - Nurse Monkey when he gets up, and then take him down for dinner (what we had) and clean the kitchen while he eats.  Clean him up and make him giggle (while playing with the towel), until he can't giggle anymore.

6:28pm - Supervise Turkey washing his hair, and get his clothes put away and him settled into bed.  Put away the diapers.  Go in to say good-night to Turkey and  discuss the validity of Santa Claus (he's been a skeptic for years).

7:10pm - Take a shower with Monkey, get him ready for bed, nurse, and tuck him in.

7:33pm - Get Turkey's bag ready for school and sit down to watch some TV and work on this blog post.

8:20pm - Hang up picture frames that I made earlier in the day.  Defrost milk, wash bottles, make bottles for Husband for tomorrow and brew myself a cup of tea.  Put the dog to bed.

9:00pm - Start watching Bag of Bones with Husband... get really into it.

9:25pm - Move movie watching into the bedroom and wrap Christmas gifts (nothing like Stephen King to get you in the holiday mood).

10:15pm - Decide the movie is lame and go to give Monkey a dream feed.  

10:35pm - Watch Family Guy.... turn off the light around 11pm....

11:31pm - Get all pissed off that I am not asleep yet while listening to Husband snore.  

Smells in the Night

First of all, I am trying to write this blog post without sounding like a crazy lady with ten cats.  For the record we only have two, and one is technically Turkey's and the other only comes in once every few days.  So if this post seems way out there, have no fear dear reader this is not a sign of things to come around here.

I guess it all started this weekend.  We spent the night at my mom's house; which despite her little changes here and there is a constant reminder of my step-dad.  Step-dad used make the most amazing berry pancakes, sometimes strawberry and blueberry, other times just blueberry.  Husband woke in the middle of the night, to the smell of blueberry pancakes.  When he told my mom about it the next morning, she said "ah ha, Ronnie was around last night."  My mom believes that my brother and step-father frequently visit her house, and part of me doesn't see why not.

This evening I went to the pharmacy and the grocery store.  When I walked into the pharmacy I was met by a  Christmas display of Lindt Chocolates (don't get me started on Christmas before Halloween, but I digress).  Lindt truffles where my Grammie's favorite.  These were the fall back gift on many an occasion, and she's make a sour face if a holiday passed and she didn't get any.

When I walked into the grocery store, there was a display of the super sized chocolate bars, I immediately thought of my step-dad.   That man loved his chocolate (and coffee, and ice cream).

So maybe I was predispositioned for what happened after that.  When I got to the soda isle, as I was walking by the Pepsi (Grammie's favorite), I could smell her perfume.  The further down the isle I got the stronger it smelled.  I kept looking around to see if someone was wearing it; but at that time of night the store was pretty empty.  I didn't smell it again outside that isle.

Then as I was driving home, I drove past a man on a motorcycle; and it made me double take, if I hadn't known better I would have sworn it was my step-dad.  But he would never ride his bike that late at night.  He was a sun up to sun down kind of guy, who didn't like being cold.

It makes me wonder, what happens after all is said and done.  I know all about heaven, and hell, and purgatory... but really is that it?  (I know, what a terrible Catholic am I?)  It makes me wonder about signs, and all those deja vu feelings.  And if I am really going to be superstitious; then Turkey and I must be in for a run of good luck because we both found 4-leaf clovers this weekend.  But then again, this week does bring about a 3rd dentist appointment for him in as many months.... the first two were both rescheduled because some one passed away right before them.

Oh well... just something to think about.

Blessings

Most nights (when I remember) Turkey says prayers before bed, and at the end he always ask to have people blessed.  Usually he asks to "bless me and mommy", but lately he's been adding in Theodore and Husband. And some nights he takes the easy way out, and asks to bless "everyone in the world, except the bad people".

However, my all time favorite is when he asks "God bless God, Jesus and Mary".  You know, just in case they needed some extra blessing.  ;-)

NIP

NIP, that would be nursing in public.  And yes, I do NIP.  Haven't you seen my little badge over on the right?

To NIP or not is every nursing mother's decision.  Some do, some do it if they are covered, some don't.  To each there own.  Personally I'm a little bit all of the above.

There are two places I will not NIP - church and cub scout functions.  Should Monkey need to eat at either, we either bring him bottles of mommy's milk or I go some place private (my car usually) and feed him.

When we are out and about I decide to cover up or not based on where we are, who we are with and how many people are around us.  As you may have noticed in my Strawberry Fields post I have no problem NIP without cover.

Last night at dinner (we went out to celebrate Turkey's last day of school) I opted to cover up.  We were in a crowded restaurant and there were tons of kids running around.  I had hoped covering would help Monkey be less distracted.  Well instead of being distracted by all the commotion around us, he was busy playing with the cover (a lovely green fleece blanket with a monkey patch on it).  So as he's nursing he starts flapping the blanket, and I mean flapping it... causing more attention to what was going on.  You should have seen the look on Husband (he warned me this was going to happen) and my mom's faces.  Priceless.

The flapping incident caused my mom to remark that it might be time to wean sooner rather than later (she likes to mention weaning, especially when she fears teeth coming in, she means no offense); but rather it made me think "nursing tops".  I really need to invest in a few nursing tops.  As Monkey gets older and more and easily distracted they are just going to be all that more useful.  But, why do they need to be so pricey?  I mean really Monkey's just going to spit-up on them anyhow.  If anyone has the low-down on decently priced nursing tops, please let me know.

What I Love About Sunday

Craig Morgan has a song called "That's What I Love About Sunday" and while I haven't heard the song yet today I have it stuck in my head; because I am having one of those Sundays, where everything is so peaceful and so right.

Sundays are a day of reflection and a day of preparation.  It's a day to talk to your loved ones and reconnect.

On Sunday I have a standing coffee (or breakfast) date with my husband.  We drop Turkey off at CCD (for non-Catholics that's Confraternity of Christian Doctrine aka church school), and go grab a cup of joe and reconnect before church.

Today, this particular  Sunday, started off damp and cold so when we got home all four of us curled up in the big king size bed and watched a movie (Inkheart).  It was then followed by reading the paper over lunch (another one of my favorite Sunday traditions), and Turkey willingly doing his chores and reading for school.  I don't know what exactly they do to him at CCD but he always comes out so much more willing to help around the house and listen to his parents (so who am I to argue?).  And how can I forget stopping and getting pastries on the way home from church; that's probably the best $2.50 I spend all week.

Afternoons are spent as we please, in the spring and fall that means hiking in the trails behind the house and in the summer a trip to the town beach or having friends over for a BBQ.  Today, Turkey had a birthday party to go to; so husband, Monkey and I spent the day lounging around the house tackling chores in a very laissez-fair manner.

And I can cook on Sunday.  I love cooking and Sunday is probably the only day I don't feel rushed to get dinner on the table so we can move on bedtime routine.

Yup, Sunday rocks.