City Garden...

I don't have a whole lot to say. I've finished my summer math course. It hasn't felt much like summer. We have a lot that we are going to cram into the few weeks that we have before the boys start school and I start my very full fall school schedule. We'll be going camping. We are going to go to the City Museum. Lots of playdates. There is a new park in St. Louis right smack in the middle of downtown. It's a couple blocks from City Grocer where you can buy coffee (if you're anti-Starbucks, like myself.) The New Busch Stadium is pretty close too. We've already been three times and plan to go back tomorrow. Another reason it hasn't felt totally like summer is because we also had some unseasonably cool weather ('70s in July, what?) Here is a post in pictures of our first trip to City Garden.

Note to Self...

When your four-year-old decides that he would like to "trade" his brand new Transformer for a different Transformer with someone, that you know, you probably won't see again for a while, DO NOT DO IT!!!! He will hound you constantly to call the other person's mom to facilitate a trade back. Once you call the other person, know that they will not answer their phone and you might not speak to them, or hear from them, for quite some time. And yet, you will have to listen to requests, try to rationalize to and explain to aforementioned four-year-old, that, no, when you left the message it was to ask for a trade back. The message was not left to tell them to run the wanted toy right over as soon as possible. Furthermore, don't let this happen the day before a 14.6 mile bike ride, because you will still have to come home, make dinner, do laundry, change sheets, give baths, and deal with silly-in-the-head boys all night after said bike ride and will be completely worn out and not in the mood or have the patience.

I know you are an intelligent person, but letting your four-year-old run the show in that situation was not an intelligent decision. Now go hit the showers! You are a little gross. Oh, and don't forget to get the dry clothes out of the dryer, fold them, and put the wet sleeping bag into the dryer before it mildews. Even if you're tired, you still have to keep that laundry moving forward. You are running low in the clothes department. After those two things, you should go relax in bed with that book that you're supposed to have read by next Tuesday for book club.

Goodbye sleepless, nursing nights...

I made my first sale on Craigslist today! I sold my old glider rocker and ottoman. It was missing a decorative button and was stained on all the used parts, but with a little Resolv-it, it could look lovely again. It went to a lovely couple, S and A, who are expecting. Congratulations S and A! I hope that it is as comfortable for them as it has been for us.

We bought the rocker when we were expecting The Scientist. I would sit up in it, with a boppy pillow around my waist, nursing The Scientist, many times falling asleep myself while trying to rock him to sleep. I don't long for those sleepless nights, but I do happily reminisce about him being oh so little, curled up in my arm, a little bundle I had the hardest time figuring out. Being a mom and taking care of a baby did not come naturally to me, despite all the "practice" I had playing house and with dolls. It did help me with changing diapers, juggling a baby in an arm or on a hip while doing other things simultaneously, and changing clothes on something so tiny and seemingly fragile.

So goodbye sleepless, nursing nights. Goodbye tiny babies. (You know what though, me saying these things and purging all this baby stuff, I'll probably end up unexpectedly pregnant.) No, I'm on a different trail now of personal, developmental growth and the freedom that comes with your children getting older. I like this time too, but there's just something about holding a sleeping infant that's all swaddled. Sigh.

Reason #21 I am able to put up with Monkey...

Upon seeing this picture and being asked by his dad, "Who is that?"

Monkey responded, "Mommy." This flattery can sometimes be hit or miss. This time it was a definite hit. Even when I'm feeling so UNself-confident, Monkey can help me feel better. Either that or he is a politician in the making. ha ha ha.