Playing in the Rain, Visit to the Farm and Closet Time

I don't know why all children want to play in the rain but it was Matthew's turn today. Julian wanted to but honestly the boy gets sick so easily, I don't know when I'll ever let him. Plus, Matthew got a new raincoat now that we're into rainy season here so it was fun to use it for the first time. It's actually his first ever because in the past, if it was raining, we just didn't go out or we just used an umbrella. He has rain boots but they stay at school for recess. If he wants to play in the rain all the time, I might just have to get him some boots for the house too. Today he used his Spider Man crocs.

 

Also, last weekend we went to the farm for a tasty barbeque and relaxing hanging out time. It was great. There's something so peaceful about hanging out at the farm.

 

I think kids also like to play in closets and before I knew it, Julian was in there putting on his beach hat. The next thing I knew, they both were in there.....

Things That Make You Chuckle

So....several cute little things that just make me chuckle.

Julian says "Ipad" like there's no tomorrow. If Matthew says it first, Julian instantly says it and starts fussing because he knows I'm going to give it to Matthew first since he said it first. Thinking we're going to have to buy some other kind of "tablet" just for them because to be honest, it's hard to get my turn on the Ipad.

Matthew says and INSISTS that it's "happy cake" instead of "patty cake". If I try and correct him, he gets mad and says that I don't know and he does....Hmmmmmmm. OK.

 
Matthew showed me the other day how he can ride his old smaller bicycle (still has training wheels of course as does his bigger one) with no hands. Gives me a mild heart attack but I guess I'll be getting those the rest of my life from things he does so I better get used to it.

The other day Julian went through a few days of showing me how he can stick his finger in his eye. Of course I told him not to do that but that just spurred him on. Later, I took a lollipop out of his hand and he got mad and looked directly at me and stuck his finger in his eye just because he knows I don't like it. Oooooooh, I think he's going to be a handful!! Especially the way he's been calling/yelling my name lately when he wants my attention or is irritated about something. It's like "maMA!!!!!!!!" I mean, it's hard to write how it is but let's just say the second syllable is kinda yelled in a sassy kind  of way. Uh-oh.

Speaking of "uh-oh", Julian says this all the time when he drops something or something goes wrong. I remember when Matthew started doing this and I think it's so cute. Also one day he said "Matthew" pronouncing it pretty darn well about 20 times before we went to pick up Matthew from school. Since then he's never said it again. He's made some sad attempts but it really just sounds like "pa-pu" instead. Julian, what happened????

Matthew can officially write his name and loves trying to write all the names of all the kids in his class. Good thing I know their names because I have to tell him how to spell them but he can do his own spelling and writing of his own name. I'm sure 4 to 5 years old is the age they do this anyway, but I'm just so proud of him. The other day, he went on a tangent telling me how he was going to do something and what was going to happen, etc but all in Spanish. He usually speaks English with me but it's definitely a mix as it is the way I speak with him. Considering many times there are Spanish speakers around us, we have to do a little mix but I think this was the first time it was just he and I and he went on and on about something in Spanish. It was so cute because I don't think I've ever heard him say THAT much in Spanish.

Day Two of No Nursing

About two weeks ago around the 16 month mark, I decided to see how Julian would react to cutting out one or two nursing sessions a day. We have been down to four for a while now since he really started sleeping through the night, about two months ago, if that. He didn't seem so desperate like Matthew did back in the day for that wake up session so I went with that first. Then, there was a 6pm one before dinner and I realized that I had forgotten that one once or twice because Julian was preoccupied and didn't remind me. I tried to keep him busy during that time to see how it went. Then, we were down to two. The ones before he went to sleep. I thought those would be the hardest but the afternoon nap wasn't as hard as I thought because three times a week my housekeeper and sometimes nanny would put him down for that nap when she was here. Julian got kind of used to not doing it before that nap. THEN, the last one before he went to sleep at night, I thought would be impossible, but.....seems like he's ok with going down without it as long as I don't really offer it and offer him some warm milk instead. The last five days or so have been only once a day at bedtime and now for the last two, no nursing at all. I never thought it would have been this easy or fast and that's why I was just going to "try" it so see how it was going to go. It may not be completely over because who knows what will happen tomorrow but it's coming to an end and it's bittersweet. My last baby and the end of a very special bond between mother and baby. I'm glad I was able to nurse both my babies for more than a year even if it sometimes challenged what I was going to wear (hard to do it in a dress if you have to pull it up), caused us to change "going out to eat" times, made me wear special one size bigger nursing bras, caused hormones to be outta wack for so long, etc. It was still an honor and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Some Recent Pictures

Seems like they might really love each other, huh?

Matthew was SO happy to climb the tree with Daddy to pick fruit.
These are called "manzana de agua" but we don't have them in the states that I know of.

Julian in his Costa Rica soccer jersey.

Matthew had to choose a profession that he wanted to be when he grows up
to dress up at school. First he said doctor and then he all of the sudden said, "no, police! I want to be a police!"
Obviously I hope he changes his mind!

Matthew and his buddy/sister Negra!

I came in from the kitchen this morning and Julian was sitting on the coffee table
eating his cheerios with a nice big grin on his face. He was so proud.