Cousins ♥

I loved seeing my cousins growing up.  We always had so much fun together.  And I am so happy that my kids get to experience that too.  Caleb and Sophie love hanging out with their cousins.  We just saw them last weekend.  We spent all day Saturday with them, saw them Sunday as well and Caleb was still upset when we had to leave.  While we were driving home, he said that he wished that they were brothers instead of cousins.  Sophie sometimes gets left out, since her girl cousins are quite a bit younger than her but most of the time she is right in there with the boys.  I can't wait until Silas can join in on the fun.  Sophie tries to help him so he can be included a lot of the time.  Luckily he is not too heavy.

Silas does seem to enjoy seeing his cousins as well.  He didn't complain when they put him on the slide over and over again.  And he seemed to enjoy the food off of A's plate better than his own.

(On a different note-isn't the dress Sophie is wearing perfect for spending the day in the backyard?  She also wore it to a campfire later that night.  You should have seen what she was playing outside in today!)

I am so happy that they get to grow up with cousins who they love to spend time with.  And I am excited for them to get to know their other cousins-who will be visiting soon :)

Bugs and Water...

...what more do you need?  Sophie and Silas have definitely been enjoying the warmer weather.  They have already been playing in the water and have been quite busy trying to catch the ants on the cement pad.  Sophie is scared of red ants but has assured me that the black ones are the nice ones.

Milk, Please!

Even though I meant to, I didn't breastfeed Caleb or Sophie.  I didn't expect it to be as hard as it was and I don't think I had enough support.  With Silas, I was determined.  He was supplemented in the hospital with formula but when he started to seem to prefer the bottle, I stopped giving him one. My goal was the same every day-I just have to make it until tomorrow.  Silas is 14 months and still nursing.  I went back to work a couple of months ago and thought that maybe he would start to wean but he shows no signs of stopping.  On days that I work, I nurse him before I leave and he wants to nurse as soon as I pick him up.  Silas is my last baby and since we worked so hard to establish this nursing relationship, I am not in a hurry for him to wean.  I see him getting more independent and know that he won't be attached to me forever.  I wanted to remember what it was like nursing him so I got my friend from Dragonfly Photography to take some pictures of us.  I love how they turned out.

I have been learning that it is a much different ball game nursing a toddler than a newborn.  Nursing a newborn is peaceful.  Quiet.  Still.  When Silas was born, I was able to read to Caleb and Sophie while Silas was eating.    I tried to read to Sophie the other day while I was putting Silas to bed and he kept trying to grab the book and turn the pages.   Nursing a toddler seems to involve some kicking and sometimes pinching.  He often stops nursing to talk and sign.  And unless he is exhausted, he is constantly moving.  

 

She got some of me with all 3 kids.  Caleb apparently wore his shirt backwards that day.  I'm not sure if he just didn't notice or if he liked it that way.  Caleb had a piece of pizza before we took the pictures and Rebecca convinced him that the spinach would taste better if he ate it with the pizza, instead of picking it off.  He has since decided that spinach is one of the best pizza toppings.   Yay!  Notice Silas trying to pick Caleb's nose in the second picture.  I actually think he was trying to put his fingers in Caleb's mouth.  This is what it's like nursing a toddler.  

And here are some of just Silas.  He is 13 months old here.  He is so smiley and happy, curious yet cautious.  And he already know exactly what he wants and how to get it.  And usually what he wants is chocolate.  Or milk.  And he does love his blocks.

5 teeth and constantly teething.  I sure hope more come in soon.  Teething + Silas = No sleep for Mama.

Thank you, Rebecca!  For the pictures, the fun playdate and getting Caleb to eat spinach.