No longer a cow. I have my body back to myself.

The end has come. After 14 months and 4 days, I finally decided (yes, I did... I think Ben decided a while ago) to put an end to breastfeeding. It was a long road (a very long road) with a very rough start (check out this earlier post to see what I'm referring to). From bleeding+cracked nipples and back -- we survived (and thrived, I might add).

On Friday morning,... my last feeding... Ben started pointing at his sippy cup (we had one on the night stand and he spotted it). Then he started screaming, 'meh meh meh',... which is his version of 'milk'. It was at this point when I realized there was no point competing with a sippy cup.

Victoria Secret + La Senza... here I come. It's time to burn the nursing bras that I've had for over a year! WOOoooo HOoooo!

It's Monday... and I'm at home?

You got that right. Summer Vacation at last!!!

We made it through the 9ish weeks of school and now I'm off again with my little man. The 9 weeks flew by so quickly though that I'm almost not ready to be done school yet. I was just getting a great routine going. Enough of the complaining though -- yay for summer!

My big plan this summer is to spend as much time with Ben as possible. We have big plans to go swimming in Grandma Linda+Papa Rick's new kiddie pool and play in the sandbox at Grandpa+Grandma Charbie's house. Assuming the garbage strike ends soon,... we also plan to go to riverdale farm, centre island and the splash pads around Toronto. Stupid garbage strike. Our green bin is completely full of diapers right now. ew. Adam suggested that we switch to cloth diapers, but I can't bring myself to do more laundry.

I also want to clean out the house... get rid of stuff we haven't used in a while. I just can't sit around and do nothing. I also need to figure out how to use the SmartBoard. I'm starting a pilot project in September with my class. Yay for school initiatives.

And since this blog is about Ben,... here are the latest pieces of juice.

1. He still hates chunky fruit. I did manage to puree some strawberries + blueberries and hide them into his pureed jar fruit. He didn't seem to notice. I might keep doing that until it's full chunkiness. He's sneaky though and will probably figure it out. ;)
   
2. He is getting pretty good at walking (although still prefers to crawl -- crawling being the faster mode of transportation).
3. His new favourite breakfast -- cream of wheat!
4. He's actually NOT allergic to tomatoes and freaking loves tomato sauce. (3 cheers! He's actually OUR SON!)
5. Ben claps on cue. Raises his hands on cue (hurray!). Laughs at burping and farting (his or other people's). And, ... more importantly,... the most special... blows kisses.
   
6. He can now identify his eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, tongue, tummy, legs, feet, fingers, toes and nose. How can we forget his nose?
   
7. He's still into sharing... although he hasn't quite figure out the whole sharing with people thing. Today we caught him trying to feed a sippy of milk to his shorts (they did have sharks on them though...)

Let the summer begin!

Date Night!

Thanks to Auntie Shirley + Cousin Shawn... Adam and I were able to have a nice date ;) We went out for dinner and then went to see Cousin Jordan's play. We had a great time out and Ben did really well. Here are some pictures documenting the evening... Thanks Shirley + Shawn!!!

From the pictures, it certainly looks like they had a smashing good time. ;)

Happy Father's Day!

Just wanted to wish Adam, Jerry (Grandpa Jerry), Eric (Papa Rick) and my dad (Grandpa Charbe) a very happy Father's day!!!

In honour of the grandfathers --

Grandfathers Are Fathers Who Are Grand

Grandfathers are fathers who are grand, Restoring the sense that our most precious thingsAre those that do not change much over time. No love of childhood is more sublime, Demanding little, giving on demand, Far more inclined than most to grant the wings Allowing us to reach enchanted lands. Though grandfathers must serve as second fathers, Helping out with young and restless hearts, Each has all the patience wisdom brings, Remembering our passions more than others, Soothing us with old and well-honed arts. ~ Author Unknown

In honour of Adam --

The Best Man I Ever Knew
When we married, I saw you as perfect, The ideal husband and more; I thought I knew all about you, All the things to love and adore.
But when you became a father, I saw new qualities to treasure. You enrich all our lives in fresh ways; As a dad, you bring so much pleasure.
Our child is forever blessed To have a father like you, And I love you more than ever, You’re the best man I ever knew. ~ By Joanna Fuchs

Ben's officially walking!!!!

...and the best part? We caught it on video! ...and even better? We were both home at the time to witness the first 8 steps! yay!

(it's like he figured it out and now that's it... he walks places.. so weird!). He was upstairs and then just walked right into the bathroom. It's officially time to move.

Revamping blogs...and websites...

...and anything else technical.

Thanks to Mr. D. Leavitt (a teaching partner of mine)... I've been inspired. I revamped my Ben Blog...and also created 2 new ones for my students for next year...

Check them out:

My school blog and My school website

Can you tell report cards are in (and printed) and there's only 13 days left until Summer Vacation! (Yes, it deserves capitals!)

the 'ghetto smores'...

Adam invented the best dessert ever... which he affectionately coined "ghetto smores".

• bottom layer = homemade belgium waffles (we usually make a new batch every weekend and freeze a pile of them in the freezer in ziplock bags -- brilliant)
• middle layer = decadent chips
• top layer = mini marshmallows

Stack the layers. Toast in the toaster oven. It's a whole smores experience minus the campfire! Pretty sweet (literally), eh?
t.g.i.f.

Mr. Mom aka Adam

I never thought I'd see the day... but Adam is completely a Mr. Mom. (Don't get me wrong,...I'm thrilled... and so proud of him... ) This is definitely worth an extra Wed. blog post.

Wednesdays are Adam's day. How lucky are we? No daycare for Ben... just family. And Wednesday is the day that Adam stays home... sacrifices finishing his PhD to watch Ben while I go to work. Today was different though. I'm home (sick) and so Adam is now looking after his 2 babies. ;) *and I get to witness what he actually does while I'm at work*

I've learned recently that Adam can handle it. He can handle anything and everything that life throws at him. He hates change...but adapts easily. When I was on maternity leave, I would tell Adam -- this is what Ben likes... this is how it's done,... change Ben like this... feed him like that. He naps at this time. Eats at this time. Poops at this time. This is his schedule.

This morning? I sleep in (trying to get better!)... Adam gets up with Ben,... makes him breakfast (cereal + fruit + eggs + toast = freaking-awesome-dad breakfast). By 8.30am, Adam is bringing Ben back up to his crib. What?!? I explain to Adam, that Ben probably isn't tired yet... he only got up at 630am,... barely 2 hours have passed... but,... Adam has a schedule to keep. Library program starts at 1030am,... Ben has to be up by 10am... so in bed at 830am is key. (okay,...if you say so... whatever. He'll see. I know better -- I'm Ben's mom after all).

Adam (nicely) reminds me that I'm "at work"... and that I should be "resting". So I give up... and head downstairs.

And wouldn't you know it? No peeps. No complains. Ben goes right to sleep. The little monkey!!

Meanwhile... Adam starts to plan dinner for tonight. Electric mixer is whirling... and pizza dough is rising. (Sweet - I'm sick and we get to have homemade pizza!) By 9.45am, Adam has started the --going to the library-- routine. Stroller is packed. Diaper bag is packed (ask me what's in it? I have no idea!!). Sippy of milk - Packed. Treats in his container - Packed. Clothes picked out - check. Adam is getting himself presentable (he's 1 of 2 dads that go...so he needs to look his best for the 'ladies'). I ask him if he needs my help. He doesn't. I ask him if I should wake up Ben for him. He asks me -- what time is it? (9.55am). He responds with,... well I usually wake him up at 10am. Sigh. Can I not do anything? Guess Adam has it figured out. He can handle it.

Ben wakes up and Adam tells him that they're going to the library... and it's honestly like a fire was stuck up Ben's butt. He goes from laying down to standing in a matter of 2 seconds...(to the point that he must have been dizzy and fell back down!)...

...and so they're off. And it's quiet. And I'm headed back to bed with a cup of hot tea.

If something should happen to me... I know that everything will be okay. Adam is a better dad than I ever anticipated (and I had high expectations -- he was great around dogs + other people's babies). He fits into the role of 'dad' so easily. Like a well worn sweater... like a great pair of leather sandals.

Sure ... we rent a 1-bedroom apartment. Adam is still working on his PhD. All of our friends have solid jobs with houses of their own. But how many have a great dad staying home with their kids (sacrificing his education in the process)? We're lucky. I'm lucky. Adam you rock my socks off (to the point that sandals are all I wear now!).

moving on to 18 months...

I found this milestone list online and found it quite interesting...

By 12 months your baby should:

• Speak 3-5 words
• Look at things you point at
• Show you toys and books
• Use gestures, like waving 'bye-bye'
• Follow simple directions
• Make lots of sounds

By 18 months your baby should:

• Speak at least 20 words
• Point to body parts
• Answer simple questions
• Point with a finger
• Play pretend

Seems Ben is developing normally -- he's on track for all of the 12 month milestones... and is well on his way to all of the 18 month milestones (does he speak 20 words? I'm sure he understands 20 words).

Ben can point to body parts,... answer simple questions (do you want this? or this? Is it bath time? etc), point with a finger (especially if he wants something), and play pretend.

I really thought the concept of pretending was complicated for babies. They have to put themselves into a make-believe world ... oddly enough,...Ben has mastered this already and he's not yet 14 months.. (can we say genius child? ha!).

Seriously though, we've shown Ben how important 'sharing' or 'taking turns' is. We share our food. He shares his food. This works especially well if he stops eating... the second you start sharing his food -- he starts eating again. (Silly kid... always needing to be in on the action). Recently though, Ben has starting sharing his food (sippy of milk + treats in his container) with his stuffed animals (we totally didn't show him this -- he picked up on it on his own!). What's especially funny? He knows to aim the sippy cup spout for Tigger + Bluey's mouth! Not their noses... ears... other orafaces -- but their mouths! He tilts up his sippy cup and lets them drink from it. Now how's that for pretending? (and sharing!)

As an aside -- sorry I've been MIA. Report cards are now officially done (woohoo!); however, I've come down with a pretty nasty cold. It started off as a fever|chills|headache|all the awesome signs of a flu... but is now a cough+runny nose. Ew. I'm not surprised,... in my one science class, 12 students were away last week. Gross. I have every single finger (and toe) crossed that Ben doesn't get it. I've already taken off 2 days of work (which is a lot for me)... so I can only imagine how sick he'll be if he comes down with it. So far -- Ben + Adam are fine.

... and since I'm in the mood... here's some recent Ben pictures ;)

Ben and I at Noah's 3rd Birthday party!

Ben... smiling "nicely"

Playing in the sand at Noah's party...

There was sand in places...that normally wouldn't have seen sand. Fun. Times.

Wordless Wednesday...

Wordless Wednesday...