Milk It for All It's Worth

All done.

That's it, as of yesterday LM is officially weaned. One year, four months and five days. I've been hesitant to fully wean her, seeing as we're headed into cold/flu season but if the well is dry, the well is dry.

Yesterday was our last nursing session, and she was not happy about it- she actually started hitting me and crying, all while signing and saying "Mo muk, mo muk, mama."

I'm a little sad about it, but it sure will be nice to lose the rest of the baby weight. At least I hope that's why I'm still holding on to that last 10 lbs.

Don't be Chicken

I did not expect the conversation to turn the way it did while we were in the car this afternoon, but here goes:

BigM: Mama, you know those white and red chickens that live on farms and they say "cock-a-doodle-doo"?
Me: Sure I do. What about them?
BigM: What color is their poop?

Definitely not what I was expecting, but seeing as it's been awhile since I did a "poop" post, I figured I should share.

Soldier Boy

This is a picture of my lil bro's childhood best friend (he's the youngish looking one.) Charlie is serving our country as a Marine in Afganistan. I honestly don't know all the details of his deployment, but I just got an email from his mom saying he has extended his deployment for six more months. I don't get too many updates about him, but for some reason I feel the need to pray for him so I'd like to ask you to please pray for Charlie and everyone he comes into contact with, friend or foe.

The day after Halloween, DM's office hosted a "candy buy back", which basically means they paid kids in our community a dollar for every pound of candy they brought to the office. They collected 146 pounds of candy, which was then boxed up and sent overseas to our troops. We participated (mostly because it's a wonderful cause but partially because it would look really badly if DM's own family didn't come. And because I need to eat another piece of candy these days...)

(Can you find BigM in this picture writing a letter to the troops? Hers said, "MOM DAD BIGM LM" and she drew a few hearts. I am 100% positive she thought she was writing me a letter.)

BigM first found out about "soldiers" when we went trick or treating with our neighbors (see the boy she's sitting next to in the hula skirt picture- you'll have to scroll down to the Halloween post.) We really explained what they do when we gave away all our candy.

I hope we'll get to introduce the mice to Charlie when he's home this December on a two week leave- so BigM can meet a real live soldier and so we can thank Charlie for his service to our country. No matter how you feel about war- my little brother's friend is doing his job and putting himself in harm's way daily and for that I'm very thankful. I hope you'll take a moment to say a prayer for Charlie and all our soldiers, too. We owe them a lot.

(I kind of feel like standing up and singing that Lee Greenwood song now. And I bet it'll be stuck in your head for a few hours now. You're welcome.)

On the Job

Speaking of jobs...

BigM is watching Dora. (Again. See me rolling my eyes?) Dora asked the audience, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

BigM said, "A Mommy."

Maybe I'm doing something right? She makes my heart happy.

Hi-Ho!

This morning, BigM had a doctor's appointment in the old town so afterwards, we stopped by the gym where I used to work to see my old co-workers. As we were pulling in the parking lot, she noticed DM's old school on our left and excitedly shouted, "Hey! Dat's DM's old work!" Yep, that is. And look over there. "HEY! Dat's where YOU used to work!" I have to admit I was pretty impressed she recognized the buildings.

As we were walking in she asked me, "Where do you work now?"

"I work at home- I keep you and LM safe and play with you guys and keep the house clean [which I suck at, btw.]"

BigM: Yeah! You do work at home! And I work in our playroom!

Going to the Chapel...

I had the most fun conversation with one of my BFFs today. She called me to tell me that her youngest little boy wants to marry my oldest little girl.

We have loosely joked since they were babies about how cool it would to be in-laws together (we were pregnant with them at the same time- for about 3 weeks anyway.) We lived here before DM was in Dental School and BFF(#1) got pregnant with her oldest, then our BFF(#2) got pregnant, then BFF(#1) got pregnant again (with my future son-in-law) and I found out I was pregnant with BigM on my lil bro's birthday- which is 5 days before FSIL made his debut! (And I was counting on BFF(#2) to continue the streak but it paused with BigM.) So we all have our own little set of stair step children. I have to admit, I'm very thankful they are not all mine, but I do love them like they are. (Of course LM came almost exactly 2 years later and BFF(#2) joined the "Two Kids Club" back in August- so we are starting another set of stair steps again.)

FSIL said something to the effect of: "I like those girls that live with Mommy Mouse. And I really like the bigger one. I think I'd like to marry her."

BFF(#1) told FSIL that he would have a lot of friends, girls and boys, and sometimes when friends get older, they realize that they love each other and they can get married! I am so excited, we were practically planning the wedding on the phone this afternoon.

And wouldn't you know it, BigM took off her tutu and slipped it over her head- and it looked just like a wedding veil. Coincidence? I think not! I'm only writing this because #1 it makes me absolutely giddy to think that we may get to skip all that ridiculous dating business in high school and #2 if it really truly does actually happen, we will be able to say they wanted to get married when they were 3 and 4 years old. You know, for posterity and all that.

And I kind of like to say "I told you so."

And to those whose sons are included in the "Appropriate Matches for My Mice" list- don't worry, we didn't sign a contract or anything... and you still have a chance with LM.