A voice from the desert

Needless to say, it's been hard to find the time to blog for the past 5 1/2 weeks or so...now why would that be? I hope I haven't lost many of you as a result of my neglect. I have one friend who blogs almost every day, and another friend who blogs once every couple of months, and I check both of their blogs with the same regularity. So if my habits are any indication, you're hanging in there with me. But I learned long ago (I think it was when I was in college and had roommates for the first time) that I couldn’t assume everyone else does things just as I do. (At the time, I was getting up at dark to train for a marathon on snowy roads, in order to make it, on time, to my job washing breakfast dishes in the cafeteria. My training partner and I would run as long as the automated weather line said the temperature was above 0. But I digress...)

I have mentally composed several clever blog entries while laying in bed, unable to sleep because I have lost the ability to nod off while nursing. Unfortunately, I can no longer recall any of the witty turns of phrase and anecdotes that made me smile at 2 am, so I have to resort to (a) things that happened in the last ten minutes and (b) some notes I found jotted on the back of a receipt in my purse. The receipt is dated 12/17, so none of those items include Jubilee. But in all honesty, she's not doing a whole lot yet. So Zephyr will retain his position as "star" of the blog, at least for now.

That's not to say that Jubilee isn't delightful! We wonder and stare at her as much as possible, intermittently glancing up at Zephyr to see if he's noticed how much love is beaming out of us for her, and if it bothers him. And to say things like, "When you were a little baby like Jubilee, Mommy and Dada just stared and stared at you all the time!" I want him to know that he had his turn, but I'm not sure he really makes the connection. Also commonly heard are variations on this theme: (while looking at Jubilee, speaking in a high, sing-songy voice), "Aren't you a beautiful baby? Look at your sweet smile! You are such a sweet baby..." (looking up at Zephyr) "...just like your older brother was!"

Zephyr has gone through the adjustment fairly well. There have been some new "behaviors," but he seems to be turning back into himself. One of my current primary concerns regards his new apparent compulsion to (ick...dare I say it?) pick his nose. And how to deal with it. Do I ignore it, respecting that he has gone through a big transition, cutting him some slack and crossing my fingers that it's a temporary behavior which will go away on it's own? Or do I draw his attention to the behavior, and come up with some way to deter him from it, possibly shaming him in the process? I have tried a little of both, and neither seems to result in decreased nose picking. Let me know if you have any ideas. And don't worry; I will not be posting pictures of Zephyr in mid-pick!

We have taught Zephyr that babies show us when they need breaks from stimulation by looking away. (Out of necessity. As you can imagine.) Now, when Jubilee looks away from Zephyr, he likes to look away, too, just to hear us say, "Zephyr needs a break, Jubilee!" Then when he looks back, we say, "Zephyr is ready to play again!" He also enjoys helping out by bringing a new diaper when she needs it. He doesn't like it if Mommy or Dada have to stop playing with him to tend to Jubilee's needs. "Don't nurse Juabee, Mommy!" he has been known to implore. So lately I try to get him in on it. If I'm playing with him, and she starts to fuss, I'll ask Zephyr, "What should we do to make Jubilee feel better?" This seems to be helping, as today after his nap he actually suggested I nurse her without prompting.

One of Zephyr's new behaviors that I'm not trying to extinguish is his new interest in having his own "babies." First it was just his teddy bear. Then it was teddy and his baby doll. Now he carts teddy, baby doll, and Clifford all around the house. They all must use the potty before he uses the potty. They all must try his eggs before he'll try his eggs. He tucks them in for naps and at nighttime. He even likes carrying them around in his sling sometimes, for very short durations. The other day, he was holding them in front of the window one at a time, to watch the rain. "Where is my baby's dada?" he asked. Then after a pause: "Oh, he's at work." The other night he decided, "Conor is my babies' dada." Nice to know our inclusive language is working!

Okay, Jubilee needs to nurse, but first, here are the notes from the receipt, so I can throw it away. I guess they all qualify under the category of "You never know what kids are thinking."

One day, after sitting quietly in the car for sometime, Zephyr asked, "Can monkeys gargle water?" (My mom says he is definitely my child. She likes to tell a story of a time when I was about his age, and she was trying to have a moment of peace. I finally talked her into letting me be with her, under the condition that I remain completely silent. That lasted about 90 seconds, before my inquisitive mind grew too restless, and I had to ask, "Mommy, who invented cities?")

Same car trip. We had told him we were going to the co-op to buy flour for pancakes. "We are going to go and pick flowers to make the pancakes!"

And

"Do dolphins ask to nurse when they wake up?"

Lastly, one day, while trying to write with a pen that was out of ink, "maybe it needs new batteries?"

Must get to my nursty baby.