Last week, we headed back to Lake DeVenoge, NY for some time at the beach with grandma. Here's a short video of that sunny morning.Grandma and I really got a kick out of Olivia's beach song:
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods
Here's a few pictures of the girls with grandma and grandpa at the Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods, NY (Woodstock 69' come to mind?). We had a great time, even though it became very hot as the day wore on. While I really enjoyed the farmer's market (homemade pies, pure maple syrup, organic produce, freshly baked bread, fresh balls of mozzarella, local wines, etc), the girls enjoyed all the animals and, horse rides, of course.
Liv and Grandpa 
Lila's first horse ride
Grandma guides the girls through the maze
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
"Mommy's Milk All Gone"
As I was changing the other morning, and Lila noticed my naked breasts, she pointed and said, "mommy's milk all gone."
A few weeks ago, on vacation, I gently weaned Lila. As late July came around, she had let go of nursing before bed and, instead, decided she wanted daddy to put her to bed, as he had been doing with Olivia. As early August rolled around, we were down to nursing once a day. On the flight to the Northeast, we nursed several times (nursing on planes does wonders for keeping an infant and/or toddler quiet and happy).
However, by the second day into our trip, I decided to only nurse her if she asked. By the third day into our trip, when she asked to nurse, DH and I were able to easily distract her onto something else. With grandma and grandpa around to aid in fun distractions, weaning went smoothly.
So, for three weeks, Lila did not nurse. Last night, when DH asked her if she was a big girl now and no longer needed mommy's milk, she began to cry, looked up me with with sad eyes, a pouty lip, and asked to nurse. So, of course, I gave in. She latched on normally (I was surprised at this because Olivia "forgot" how to nurse two weeks after weaning) and became disappointed rather quickly when she realized that most of the milk really was gone. She quickly got down and happily went off to play with her sister.
So, on the night of August 26, 2008, Lila, in all likelihood, nursed for the very last time at 21-months-old. Am I sad? No, not really. I'm not happy or relieved. My emotions are fairly neutral about it. Though, I did get a little bit emotional when she declared my milk gone. For the first time in over four years, I am neither pregnant or nursing. Total combined nursing years thus far: 3 years, 3 months.
I am sure, however, that I am not very emotional or sad about weaning because I am almost certain we will have another baby someday. My nursing days are, most likely, far from over! It's only a matter of time before I snuggle a newborn infant to my breast and nurse, once again, into toddlerhood...
A few weeks ago, on vacation, I gently weaned Lila. As late July came around, she had let go of nursing before bed and, instead, decided she wanted daddy to put her to bed, as he had been doing with Olivia. As early August rolled around, we were down to nursing once a day. On the flight to the Northeast, we nursed several times (nursing on planes does wonders for keeping an infant and/or toddler quiet and happy).
However, by the second day into our trip, I decided to only nurse her if she asked. By the third day into our trip, when she asked to nurse, DH and I were able to easily distract her onto something else. With grandma and grandpa around to aid in fun distractions, weaning went smoothly.
So, for three weeks, Lila did not nurse. Last night, when DH asked her if she was a big girl now and no longer needed mommy's milk, she began to cry, looked up me with with sad eyes, a pouty lip, and asked to nurse. So, of course, I gave in. She latched on normally (I was surprised at this because Olivia "forgot" how to nurse two weeks after weaning) and became disappointed rather quickly when she realized that most of the milk really was gone. She quickly got down and happily went off to play with her sister.
So, on the night of August 26, 2008, Lila, in all likelihood, nursed for the very last time at 21-months-old. Am I sad? No, not really. I'm not happy or relieved. My emotions are fairly neutral about it. Though, I did get a little bit emotional when she declared my milk gone. For the first time in over four years, I am neither pregnant or nursing. Total combined nursing years thus far: 3 years, 3 months.
I am sure, however, that I am not very emotional or sad about weaning because I am almost certain we will have another baby someday. My nursing days are, most likely, far from over! It's only a matter of time before I snuggle a newborn infant to my breast and nurse, once again, into toddlerhood...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Home Sweet Home
We survived! The girls did a great job keeping it together, despite the flight taking off at bedtime. During the seven hour flight, only one hour was filled with tears, screams and moments of frustration. Eventually, we all fell asleep for a few hours and a woman we knew helped me get the girls and our belongings off the plane quickly.
There were a few people constantly blowing their noses and sniffling in front of us and behind us. A women behind us threw up. DH greeted me with a kiss and later informed me that he thinks he's coming down with something. So, I'm anticipating end-of-summer illnesses in the near future.
Boy, we're tired! I'm stuffing the girls' face with whatever junk food DH had hanging around. I'm way too tired to cook and I just want them to be quiet and stay awake until nap time! One hour to go! I'm so tired, that I don't even care that they are coloring with markers on the couch at the moment (on paper, of course, and it's slip covered in case they color outside of the "lines").
There were a few people constantly blowing their noses and sniffling in front of us and behind us. A women behind us threw up. DH greeted me with a kiss and later informed me that he thinks he's coming down with something. So, I'm anticipating end-of-summer illnesses in the near future.
Boy, we're tired! I'm stuffing the girls' face with whatever junk food DH had hanging around. I'm way too tired to cook and I just want them to be quiet and stay awake until nap time! One hour to go! I'm so tired, that I don't even care that they are coloring with markers on the couch at the moment (on paper, of course, and it's slip covered in case they color outside of the "lines").
Monday, August 25, 2008
Overnight Flight with Two Toddlers: Test of Mom's Sanity and Patience
In a few hours, the girls and I will begin our journey back to Portugal.
As I write this, the girls are not laying down properly and taking their naps. Without naps, I will step out of the car, drag luggage and two nap-deprived toddlers into the airport and into, likely, the longest, torturous night of the year. Welcome to flying sans spouse, internationally, with two sleep-deprived kids under the age of four. The flight begins at bedtime.
I have to keep a mental picture, at all times, of the end result. DH will be there to greet us after we get off the plane, shuttle to the gate, stand in line to present our passports, get our luggage, and pass through customs. He will drive us, along the beautiful coast of Lisbon, to our home. The girls will probably fall asleep in the car, while DH and I chat and catch up. If all goes well, we'll have a quick lunch and take long afternoon naps...
Once we all get caught up on sleep and back on a good schedule, I plan on sitting down with DH and begin mapping out the last 10-months of our time in Portugal. DH informed me, a few weeks ago, that we will move to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas next July (disclaimer: Army life is always in constant limbo - this date could change, however, unlikely). I've spent much of this trip trying not to let my mind drift more than week into the future. Just the thought of leaving Portugal leaves me choked up and saddened. For some reason, I thought we'd have two more years in Portugal. Darn Army schools! This school is surely interfering with what I had planned!
I have no idea how I'll go from sunny, beautiful, historic Portugal to Kansas. I know, on my flight there next year, I'll have to make a serious attitude adjustment. Once I land in Kansas and we begin in-processing and I run into people I knew in Georgia and Alaska, I'll enter the world of "I don't care." Everyone gets their day, right? Portugal has been my "day." I've learned so much about "being careful what you wish for" (Before we found out we would be moving to Portugal, I had other expectations for duty stations/jobs that didn't happen. Looking back, I was ridiculous and embarrassingly so. This has been SO much better than anything else I could have dreamed or hoped for and it wasn't a job on the radar until the last minute) during your spouses military career. Some spouses will have come from places they couldn't wait to leave, some spouses will have been at a duty station they call their "best ever/most memorable/happiest." Some are still waiting for their "day." I'm not really sure everyone will want to hear about Portugal, incessantly, as would be in my nature. DH has already warned me that I'll have to put on a happy face and keep my mouth shut as to how, "great life was in Portugal." Unless, of course, I'm eagerly asked about it (my stipulation, not DH's).
I'm willing to bet that most, if not all, of us military spouses get their "day" at some point along the way. A duty station in which they love so much, they leave broken hearted. Portugal has been mine. I don't anticipate any other duty station will ever top it. So, tonight, I head back to the place I love with all my heart. I plan to soak up 10-more months of sun, beauty and memories (and blog about it, of course)...
As I write this, the girls are not laying down properly and taking their naps. Without naps, I will step out of the car, drag luggage and two nap-deprived toddlers into the airport and into, likely, the longest, torturous night of the year. Welcome to flying sans spouse, internationally, with two sleep-deprived kids under the age of four. The flight begins at bedtime.
I have to keep a mental picture, at all times, of the end result. DH will be there to greet us after we get off the plane, shuttle to the gate, stand in line to present our passports, get our luggage, and pass through customs. He will drive us, along the beautiful coast of Lisbon, to our home. The girls will probably fall asleep in the car, while DH and I chat and catch up. If all goes well, we'll have a quick lunch and take long afternoon naps...
Once we all get caught up on sleep and back on a good schedule, I plan on sitting down with DH and begin mapping out the last 10-months of our time in Portugal. DH informed me, a few weeks ago, that we will move to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas next July (disclaimer: Army life is always in constant limbo - this date could change, however, unlikely). I've spent much of this trip trying not to let my mind drift more than week into the future. Just the thought of leaving Portugal leaves me choked up and saddened. For some reason, I thought we'd have two more years in Portugal. Darn Army schools! This school is surely interfering with what I had planned!
I have no idea how I'll go from sunny, beautiful, historic Portugal to Kansas. I know, on my flight there next year, I'll have to make a serious attitude adjustment. Once I land in Kansas and we begin in-processing and I run into people I knew in Georgia and Alaska, I'll enter the world of "I don't care." Everyone gets their day, right? Portugal has been my "day." I've learned so much about "being careful what you wish for" (Before we found out we would be moving to Portugal, I had other expectations for duty stations/jobs that didn't happen. Looking back, I was ridiculous and embarrassingly so. This has been SO much better than anything else I could have dreamed or hoped for and it wasn't a job on the radar until the last minute) during your spouses military career. Some spouses will have come from places they couldn't wait to leave, some spouses will have been at a duty station they call their "best ever/most memorable/happiest." Some are still waiting for their "day." I'm not really sure everyone will want to hear about Portugal, incessantly, as would be in my nature. DH has already warned me that I'll have to put on a happy face and keep my mouth shut as to how, "great life was in Portugal." Unless, of course, I'm eagerly asked about it (my stipulation, not DH's).
I'm willing to bet that most, if not all, of us military spouses get their "day" at some point along the way. A duty station in which they love so much, they leave broken hearted. Portugal has been mine. I don't anticipate any other duty station will ever top it. So, tonight, I head back to the place I love with all my heart. I plan to soak up 10-more months of sun, beauty and memories (and blog about it, of course)...
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