Life's been good to me so far

I had such a good time hanging out with Isaac today and this evening. It's the first time, I think, that I really felt we WERE "hanging out", like in the way that Ananda and I do. He came up to my chair and signed food while saying "Eat, eat", so we went in the kitchen, and I asked if he'd like an apple. He said "PEESE!" in that scrunched up nose grin way of his :) So I sat there telling him how I was peeling it, and cutting it, and he was totally patient and said Thank You when I handed it to him. I told him I was going to start dinner, and needed some chicken from the fridge - I asked if he could say "chicken", and he did, and laughed when I clapped, as he ate his apple slices. I opened the dishwasher and steam came out and he said "Hot". After I explained that I needed a lid for a pan and got one from a low cabinet, and turned to stir something, I felt him putting something on my hip, and when I looked, it was another lid! He was looking really hopeful like he was trying to help. It was so damn sweet. Then things started sizzling, and he said "See! See!" so I picked him up to look. He gives me hugs now, too. Like puts both little arms around me as I'm holding him, and shimmies his little butt down to where he can lay his head on my chest, and squeezes me :) He asked for "wawa" when he got thirsty and "Seat!" when the food was done, so he could sit in his seat to eat. I told him I was going to take off his diaper cover while he ate, so it wouldn't get food on it, and he said "Diaper" and started pulling it down himself. I think of several new things I could add to his word list every day lately :) He was just so generally pleasant and interested in what was going on. Earlier as I was moving room to room cleaning he was hanging out with me, too, and I would stop to read him books or let him help me carry some laundry. He's wonderful. I was nursing him before bed, and stopped to ask "Are you ready to go brush your teeth now?" He popped off long enough to say "More milk" and I said ok, but soon we'll brush your teeth. And a couple of minutes later when I asked again, he said "Tee, tee" and pointed to his teeth, and off to teeth he went with a cheerful "No more". :::sigh of toddler bliss:::

I'm glad I didn't accept any offers when I put him up for sale a couple of weeks ago o_O

( Our afternoon in the woods )

Mondays are manic for us. In good ways for the most part, but they wipe me out. Today I got up and got the boys fed and dressed, and took them to LLL over at the Y. Aaron as usual had a great time playing with Darion (Eli wasn't there today) and I as usual had a great time talking to Kristen. There were a lot more people there than usual, and because the YMCA summer camp kids are using our normal big ol' room, we're crammed into this tiny office until school starts again. So it's a lot louder and a lot more crowded, but still basically works. It's wonderful to sit around with mamas who want to know what to do with a baby who won't quit switching sides all night long; just to get that perspective, you know, from chicks who AREN'T leaving the baby to cry it out alone...A few of them have a "field trip" planned Wednesday morning to the Fire Station, and Aaron is SO excited about that. The fire station! WITH Darion and Eli!

Came home, lunch, bought some stuff with money from things I've sold, online, and then at 2:30 we headed up to all kinds of stuff. Everyone but me needs a big briefcase/diaper bag/dance bag stocked and ready to go with them. I dropped Grant off at "Southland" (formerly Cutler Ridge) Mall, where he had a meeting with someone about a website, then took Aaron to dance class. Touched base with the sahm of 3 4 and under who wants to get together with me. Went back to get Grant, dropped him off at Starbucks (where they have a wireless network he can use to work), went back to get Aaron and drop off Annie. Found out he actually danced today! Not just for tap, either, ballet too. And he loved it, and was super excited and said he wants to keep going now :) I LOVE their teacher, she really takes the time to squat down and look at them in the eye to talk, take them by the hand individually and work on their rough spots, etc... So then I take the boys to Starbucks, we get stuff (fruit and pumpkin loaf for Isaac and I, cookie and OJ for Aaron), sit and hang out, run into the pastor from the church we're attending, talk about his new baby, get compliments on how well behaved and adorable the boys are :) Go back and pick up Annie, with Grant in tow, stopping for gas along the way. All 5.5 of us then go to BJ's, rejoin, and shop to the tune of $300 in stocking up. Their product selection has improved some, I can get Kashi crackers and better natural cheese and stuff like that there now. Incredible deals in the produce section, and it is the cat's lucky day. Back in the parking lot, once I've changed Isaac's diaper and Grant has got the van loaded and the kids' seatbelts are on...it's 8 pm! How the heck did that happen?!

So we take the highway home, and Grant and A and A unload the van while I clean out the fridge and then they all play outside (in the dark no less :P), while I break down giant packages of meat into freezable portions, and start cooking jambalaya for "dinner" (what do you call it when it's ready at like 10?) It came out awesome. And once I enforced the "You have to at least sit with us and try one bite" rule A and A actually ate some. Sara, I got a pot roast so I can make that recipe you sent me the other day, with the rosemary :)

So then we did Isaac's bedtime routine, I read Ananda a chapter and she and Aaron two picture books, Grant brushed a lot of teeth, we fed her fish, I comforted someone about a weird noise, and now...Wow. I need a freaking massage.

Things flow, though. Like Isaac napped during all that driving around in the afternoon, and although he was really loud in BJ's, that's a loud warehouse with a bajillion people inside who don't care, and he was happy. And I think Aaron was able to dance because he had been to LLL earlier in the day - he really opens up there, with the nice talking grown ups and friendly AP'd kids. Nothing like the park kids or whatever. Grant got this finished and approved - http://www.schneblywinery.com - I think it looks AWESOME btw, he took all of the pictures and designed their logo and bottle labels and everything. That's just a place holder but once they're approved for out of state sales he's building the big one, and he gets 15% of online sales, which is huge the way they're taking off :D...and he secured another deal, too. Plus our kitchen is beyond stocked.

My eyes were closing and I was yawning every paragraph, though, reading to Ananda tonight. I have dishes to wash and diapers to fold and put away. If we had a movie to sit together and watch, just the two of us, I would totally be dumb enough to do it.

I'll leave you all with two asinine lists.

( Words Isaac says )
( Things Annie's Fish Has Been Named So Far )