Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The Deviant



Here's the mohawk boy. In case you can't decipher it from the picture, that's David's pipe he's playing with.

David took the picture.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Our Little One Turns One



Congratulations birthday boy! Wow, has it been a year already?

We spent the morning of his birthday at the library where we saw a friend of ours perform a children's singing and story program. It was wonderful. I was surprised at how much the kids really got out of it. Just a little plug for our friend Kevin Kidd: http://www.kevinkidd.com/

I told Perry we could buy one of his CDs and he insisted that we get the one with the stinky feet song. I guess I'm a push-over. I love it when little boys enjoy being little boys. I bought the CD.

I was going to make a pinata, more for Perry and Daisy to celebrate with than Calvin, but by the time I figured out how to do paper mache it would have taken too many days to dry and wouldn't have been finished in time. But we had a cake and, as you can see, Calvin enjoyed it.

Despite expecting a new baby, I've been able to continue nursing Calvin. Hooray! I feel like I've finally succeeded at nursing! There were a few times this past month or so I contemplated weaning him--only to discover he wouldn't let me. I found this interesting. Each other time I was pregnant and nursing my nursling jumped at the chance for formula because I just wasn't producing enough milk. The only things different this time around are 1.) I'm not scheduling feedings (I don't have time to look at the clock--it's much easier to feed him when he wants) and 2.) he's older than the other two were when we went through this. It really doesn't matter that much to me why he's continued nursing; I'm just so happy he has! But at the same time I'm a little nervous too. How long is he going to want to keep this up? I've got a book on tandem nursing that I read a little bit of every once in a while and I'm not sure I can do that. Even if I could, I'm not sure I want to. I guess I'll just take it one day at a time.

In other news we finally got our dishwasher installed. In case anyone out there didn't know, this was a full instillation--the house didn't have one before this. I'm so thankful to my wonderful husband for all the hard work involved in putting it in!

Also, the other day while I was finishing up something on the computer, David decided to surprise me by cutting the boys' hair. In actuality this is something he could only have done while my back was turned. See for yourself:

Ok, I couldn't get the pictures to post well so I'll just tell you about them and post them some other time. Calvin, as anyone who knows David might guess, has a buzzed head. Perry's hair is even more shocking--and honest-to-goodness mohawk. Calvin's buzzed hair fits his little round head perfectly. We might just keep it this way. Perry, on the other hand... At first I thought it was kind of cute. And it is, as long as he's romping around the yard looking sweet. But when he throws a temper tantrum it's just scary. It makes him look like a little punk. I'm not ready for this from my three year old. So we'll see how long the haircut lasts. He loves it, though. David told him he looks like a fish or a dinosaur.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

A Farewell to Arms

I was just sitting on the sofa reading Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms. At a chapter break I laid it down and listened. Usually it's quiet, but tonight I can hear the booming of my neighbors' leftover fireworks.

In the book I just finished reading a battle and retreat scene. I don't follow war and battle in books (or even movies) well. I just can't understand what's happening. I'm not able to visualize it--I guess because I have no reference for what the author's writing about. But tonight I'm struck by the thought of war; by the thought that these explosions around my house right now sound as though they could be from weapons.

I'm very anti-war, and agree with David that we haven't fought a war for the sake of our freedom (that couldn't have been dealt with some other way) in many, many years. The booming outside my window makes me sad. Sad that our country is currently in the middle of a war. Sad that, in this fallen world, we resort to such violence. Sad for all the people that have to try to live in countries that are torn by fighting and killing. I'm thinking of the people in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Uganda, Israel, Lebanon. People caught in the middle who just want to survive and hope against all hope for a time in the future when they can do more than think about surviving. For a time when they can flourish. For a time without fear for their children.

The children. I'm sad for the children.

I'm not going to spout off some patriotic jargon about being glad I'm living in a free country. I suppose compared to many other nations we're free. But the only thing that makes me feel patriotic is the Constitution and the ideals of our country's fore-fathers. I don't hate our country or wish to be in another--I long for it to be what it was created to be, what it once was. What I have given up hope for it ever being again.

But I am glad that, at least for the time being, the sounds outside my window are only fireworks, and I can look in on my sleeping children without fear for their lives.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

The Hand that Plays With You

A few weeks ago Perry came to me crying and told me Daisy had bitten him. It was obvious that she must have, by the way he was acting, and he doesn't make up stories, but I asker her anyway. She confirmed it, I spanked her, told her that she may not bite anyone, and sent her to her room for a while.

When she re-emerged, a little while later, I told her to tell Perry she was sorry. She walked over to him and did what I asked. I thought the issue was finished, at least for the time being. Then I heard Perry's worried whining. When I looked up I saw Daisy, dancing around him and chomping in the air--with a big grin.