Time changes and I have to run with it

I AM NOT A "BABY" anymore....

Though I hear myself saying "Truthy Kamala" way too often for this to be a 21 month old. She is a toddler. She is strong both in body and mind. She is fearless, courageous, daring, nurturing, strong, and full of wit. I find this most to be like a yo-yo. I carry such emotion watching her turn her back and wander into Truth's world. Yes I am still called my Mama! I am still needed for the "milkies" in the morning that have become painful with her sharp teeth digging in. I would never give up that time of calm, quiet space with her in bed. None the less it is different now. She wanders upstairs to find me, climbs into our tall bed, lifts my shirt and exclaims "MILKIES." I miss my baby, and I welcome my babe! I am always filled with this rush when she hugs. She hugs with such strength, such emotion, a hug no one else has ever given me. Tight around the neck as she says "hold me mama" all day. I am needed for cuddles all day, comfort before naps, tickles, baby doll play....but she is not a baby.

So as she climbs bunk beds, rummages through the pantry, attempts to train the dog, fights with her brothers, pulls hair, yells NO, throws everything away in the trash, climbs onto the trampoline, etc etc etc!!!! I am constantly reminded of her drive and right of passage into childhood.

late nights

Brothers.

They have now decided to share the bedroom bunk beds.

Neither on top,

both on bottom.

For 3 and a half years Orien has slept in our room.

A little sad to see him leave, but more excited for the bond of shared space by two boys!

The laughter, wrestling, stories, plans, flashlights,

exhausting to hear for a Mom.

Tomorrow they will both be tired,

but this is all for the better.

To connect with the best friend for life

To be brothers.

Time flies, snow falls, and we live

Truthy getting oh so BIG

Orien giggling his way up our sledding hill

Cedars Self portrait! One of the hundreds of pictures he took on this day!

The boys command that King Winter return. And as the snow falls in their faces they are quite sure they have cheered him back with there song and dance daily..."King winter now is in the land, he reigns with cold and freezing hands...."

The days are longer. The chicks turn from babes to teenagers. Jody notes this as that awkward in between look. Some feathers in, some falling out, and growing by the minute. The eggs are more. We sell to feed. The sun warms our window while we eat pancakes in the morning and grill fish by evening. Longer days are amazing and bright.

We are busy. We are filling our days with dances only bees can do (if you are 3 and learning your dance recital!). Hip hop for the boys and girls starting to loose teeth (except for sweet Cedar who didn't get a tooth for 16 months). And watching from a distance Karate, with little grins as the kids learn to kick and punch. In the next week both boys will try out Karate and see if it feels right. Endless time for drawings, games, sledding, walking, and more crafts.

Papa in meetings. Mama trying to be a crafter. ( failing)

We join for our Enki co-op and bliss can only describe this Friday. The boys run, scooter board, play games, GRIN, hug, sled, play knights and unicorns and crave MORE. Mamas talk, plan, relax, dream, plan some more for days to come.
And in the end a 21 month old insists on cuddles, brothers to leave Mama alone (which of course will never happen), throw food in tantrums, refuse to share, hug kiss, and ask for Papa!

Getting our fingers wet

Another week of life. Another week if sun, outdoors play, walks, and the story The Mud Pony!!
We also enjoyed the beaded felt craft project. The kids all joined in which made this craft perfect for our groups age range. From Truthy who loved to play in the pots of water to Cedar who fell in love with the rolling and needle work. Orien was right there as well rolling away! We started with a bunch of random colors of carded wool.

The kids took lots of time rolling sections of wool in hot and cold soapy water.

The first 5 Cedar and Orien made!!

Cedar showing off his bracelet.

Orien has a new necklace!!

Birth, Life, and this fragile world

We have welcomed 30 new heartbeats into our little world. Each peep a different song, holds a different need and has a name unspoken. It is the endless re-birth that keeps us going. I believe this strongly bring life, hear life, live life. They help make up the Eamonns mini farm. The fragile lives that the kids hold so dearly, to worry, about, keep warm and feed. They are the chicks!! They are just another way to show love and life. The 3 kids helped pick them out, cuddle them under the heat lamps and say goodnight to them.

Life is moving. Changing direction. Cedar is changing. He is gripping life more boldly, more comfortably.. Still holds his friends high, loves his play times from woods to bedroom full of Lego's. He seems more relaxed. He holds a crayon not with a grip but with a soft hold. He draws his words and stories, loves his family, and craves his endless play! He is more and more
comfortable without us. He had one of his first official play dates last week and was so proud. Orien holds these new chicks like only he can. Soft, light and full of LOVE. Truthy clings to me, her endless attachment, the cord still attached with her every move. She laughs in my arms. She tells her brothers where and how to be and carries her babies with LOVE. I am loose, going with the day to day needs. Freely seeing there needs from play, to knitting, to soft holds. Life is now. Our family is here now. We are well...in the now. From Batman, to fairies, to rocking horses.

Pride

well we are back on the saddle! After a long holiday vacation our world has easily turned back into our normal rhythm! Cedar is now officially 5 and a half years old. He has a strong will and big push yet still shows the signs of a Kindergartner. He still would rather have me near rather then far. Yet..he craves, numbers..adding more specifically! He loves his buddies loved to wrestle like all boys, loves to write his name and anything he finds to copy! He holds a pencil with a painful grip that I hesitate to allow....He has started back to swimming lessons and is excited ..yet still doesn't show right or left being the stronger side. He is excited for rhythm, and norm, fights all that is new. Cedar loves the outdoors, building with hammer and nails high in the list right now. Loves to draw from spacemen to papa! He loves to cook and bake. Loves Lego's, and cross country skied 5 miles last weekend!!! For our first week back we had the mellow time to wander the mountain in the mornings, sing the coo coo song to begin snapping, read about the month and start a new story about a knights right of passage. But most importantly he fell in love with finger knitting. He started, breezed through it and asked to do it again the next morning. The pride he carried could have been felt miles away! So at a time when he is asking "what am I good at" he feels good and proud. He is full of love...a hugger at that!

This about sums it up!!!