It's just a little paralysis

B: How was your hike?
D: Well, I was mistaken about the time so I ended up arriving late, parking 1/3 mile from the trail entrance. I then carried both kids all the way to the trail and then halfway through before meeting our friends (delayed by a low-hanging tree and a pesky rattlesnake) in a desperate attempt to make up time, which wouldn't have been so bad except that I had to carry both kids back up the very steep 1/3 mile hill to the car.
B: Wow. So are you okay?
D: Oh, yeah. (Pause) I can't really move my legs, but other than that, I'm fine.

Baby Woes

As I've just finished up a rare, pleasant nursing, I realize that my nursing woes may have been a bit misstated. Curled there, the two of us tightly bound, both warm and content, I discovered that I have no desire to nurse her longer than she wants. Truth is, I just want her be a baby for longer than she's going to be. Big difference there, one that's both relieving and saddening all over again.

Nursing woes

I try not to take too many things personally in parenting, but when K pulls away from nursing to suck on her blankie, I find myself asking, "What's fleece got that I don't?"

Of course, I can almost always lure her back with a little Jewel (yes, apparently that custom designed, nicely warmed milk is only acceptable with entertainment on the side). So maybe she's just got this melancholy, misunderstood thing in the works.

But still... singing? Fleece? I'm starting to feel underappreciated.

Top Ten Things I Learned on Vacation

10) A rooster's crow sounds so pleasant in Hawaii. Not like here, where the neighbor's crowing rooster makes me feel like white trash.

9) I like brussel sprouts. Or maybe just brussel sprouts slathered in butter.

8) Giving a two year old any amount of sugar during a long plane flight is a very bad idea.

7) K loves sand. To eat.

6) Sand causes one mean diaper rash.

5) Losing a beloved cup in the middle of the trip turns any good parent into a good liar.

4) Free babysitting rocks. Yeah for grandparents!

3) Pool good. Beach not good. You would think that the same sand, water, and toys in either place would yield the same results. Not true.

2) No matter where you are, laundry, dishes, and sleepless nights are sure to follow. On the plus side, copious amounts of ice cream still make me feel better.

And lastly,

1) Getting back into the swing of things after a fabulous vacation--which includes the writing of this blog--is very, very unpleasant. Wholly necessary, but unpleasant nonetheless.