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So, The Garols are gone (is gone?) as of yesterday. I took them to the airport and Easton did not want them to go. Then on the way home he told me, "I don't want to go home" so I said, "Where do you want to go?" He said, "To see elephants and giraffes at the zoo". Well, we weren't prepared for that and told him so. Then we decided on the mall.

Didn't do a whole lot there but we did have a snack. Easton pushed Dalton in the umbrella stroller. It was kinda funny because I'd open the doors to get in the mall and Easton would push D right on through. Much easier than trying to do both the door and stroller navigation myself.

Today we had Gym. Easton scored another party invite from Jack. Easton saw the invitation in the car and said, "Oh. A party!" and I told him it was for Jack, should we go? And he said, "Yeah. I like Jack. He has a car on his shirt." Which was true today. What a goober.

Gym went really well again for E. Whew. He bonked heads with this tank of a kid when they were doing bubbles at the end. That kid wasn't fazed at all but Easton whined about it. Connor came to apologize but he felt really bad. It didn't help when Easton kept whining and I had to tell Connor, "Easton's okay. I think he's just hungry" (we hadn't had breakfast) and Connor said, "He must be really hungry". Tee hee! So we hit up Panera after class.

Both boys slept in again today which is why we didn't have much to eat (shared a granola bar) before class. It is nice having Dalton back in his own room. I'm trying an experiment: I honestly think that a lot of his night waking has to do with actual hunger. And with Easton distracting him so much during his mealtimes I was afraid he's not eating enough during normal "business" hours. So, I decided I'd pump and bottle feed to see how much he's taking in. First round he took two ounces. Yup. Two. That's it! So, we waited 4 hours so he'd get really hungry again and I had to work to get just 6 ounces in him. 8 ounces every 4 hours or so, plus a couple solid food "meals" would be pretty typical for a baby his age that is SMALLER. So I don't know what the heck is up with Dalton but we are definitely going to work on upping the daytime milk intake. I don't want to stop breastfeeding, though. Yes, he is still getting my milk but I nurse for more than just the nutritional benefits. I don't want to lose that but I think I might just get him used to drinking more per feeding right now...which involves pumping and bottles. Our middle of the night nursing last night was so sweet. I really do love the middle of the night feeding, if it was just the one time I had to get up.

I'm also going to work on Easton staying occupied elsewhere while D eats. Today he did pretty good playing his instruments in his room during Dalton's last bottle.

Easton is in a really good "place" lately. He is really behaving himself and is really trying to make me happy. I worry about that a little bit because he'll say things like, "I picked it up (his toys). That makes Mommy happy!" I'm not sure if it's good or bad that "happy Mommy" is his motivation. I like to think it's good but it's probably not. He's often trying to gage my happiness level by reading my face. Interesting.

E got a new toy the other day. Because his birthday and Christmas are only two weeks apart and we really only give him toys then he doesn't have much. And the stuff he does have isn't all that age appropriate anymore even though he still plays with 'em. So, we were feeling bad and decided to get him something new just out of the blue. Together Easton and I picked out a Bob the Builder tool set:

He likes it. But he doesn't love to wear the hat too much and the tool belt of course falls off of him. Oh well. He likes the actual tools and is already a screwdriving master.

He's on day #4 of no naps. But it really hasn't affected his behavior and bedtime is going okay. I make him spend an hour and a half to two hours in his room. First he's supposed to lay quietly and try to go to sleep then if I can tell napping won't happen I give him books and he sits happily and quietly in his bed "reading":

I still get a kid break, he gets some quiet time, and bedtime goes better. If he'll keep sleeping past 7 I'll be ready to give up his naps in lieu of daily quiet time forever. Just don't tell Easton that...yet.

Next is working on Diddlebug's sleep some more. But to me I want to work on his eating a little more first...then maybe some of the night waking will take care of itself? Then again maybe not...but it's worth a shot. Or a thought. With him in his own room again I'm going to do better about ignoring his middle of the night/wee hours of the morning play sessions. He doesn't need me. So I should really stop interacting with him then--even if it is just to give him his paci or nurse to try to get him back to sleep. Probably just reinforces the waking and playing behavior. But soon my mommy friend Cori (who has trained excellent sleepers) will help me out with a routine. Maybe this weekend as we'll be out of the house most of the day tomorrow.

Anyway, little D casting one of his spells on me:


And practicing his vanishing act:


Normally he flips out if you cover his face (or even part of it) with anything. But he was enjoying "hiding" under the blanket. He was doing it to himself. Maybe that's the difference? But the child gets hysterical if you try to clean his eye with a cloth or wipe his nose.

Okay, well, time to go let Easton out for some quiet time. And D will probably be waking soon too.

Thanks for the compliments on the video yesterday. It is crazy, we know, that we've already "lived" so much in our 4 short years together. But we like to count our previous marriages towards our own total. Okay, not really, but we did both learn a lot about just being married in general from our previous spouses. That's why we're such pros. :)

Okay, I really am going now--after my "Happy birthday, Auntie Jess!" comment.

Alrighty then. Bye!