Love / Hate

Lately, I seem to have a Love/Hate relationship with many aspects of life, especially those related to motherhood. Here are some examples:

Coffee:

Each day I drink more coffee than I think a nursing mother really should and then feel guilty about it and start swallowing gallons of water in an attempt to somehow dilute the caffeine in my breast milk. Then I do the very same thing the next day.

Nuks:

I love that Quynh has recently started taking a pacifier. I love that it helps her sleep longer at night. I love that she'll suck on a nuk all night long, instead of my poor nipples. I hate that Tai is nearly 3 years old and still uses a nuk. I hate the thought that Quynh might also use hers well into toddlerhood and we'll be "the family whose kids still use pacifiers". Yet, I hate the thought of breaking Tai of this habit, possibly even more than I hate the thought of not breaking Tai of this habit. Perhaps I'll be packing his nuk when he goes off to college?

Pumping:

I really hate pumping. Yes, it's wonderful to be providing Quynh with breast milk each day, but there's nothing pleasant about the process of extracting that milk. The only bright side to it is that I get to go sit in a quiet room and read a book for 10 minutes, three times a day. It is a nice break from work. I'm thinking about switching Quynh to formula, but not telling my boss. Then I'll continue to take my three breaks each day, but use the time to read and drink copious amounts of coffee.

Working:

Speaking of work...I could absolutely not be a stay-at-home mom. Caring for two kids all day every day would exhaust/bore me more than I can imagine. I adore my children and love spending time with each of them. Just not 24-7. Work provides a nice "break" from the little ones and the chance to talk to other adults. Oh, and it provides money. Can't forget about that little detail. On the other hand, it is Work. 'Nuf said. I think what I need is to be independently wealthy so I can stay at home, but still send my kids to daycare.

West Virginia, Part II

Quynh's thoughts on travelling:

Milk tastes good, whether having it:

in Logan Airport,
on a plane,
in a hotel lobby,
in a restaurant,
in a hotel room,
or in the reptile house at the National Zoo.

Napping is delightful, whether doing it:

in the ergo,
on a plane,
in a rental car,
in mama's arms,
on daddy's lap,
in the wrap,
or in a hotel bed--on crisp white sheets, under a fluffy down comforter.


No matter where I am, things that make me happy include:

sitting on daddy's lap,
riding around in the ergo,
getting complete strangers to make silly faces at me,
and watching my brother act a fool.

West Virginia, Part I

Our Trip, as seen through Tai's eyes:

Major excitement at the presence of tunnels and overpasses in Boston. We just don't have those things out here in cow-country. "Mama! Another tunnel!"

Upon arrival at the Logan Economy Parking Lot: "I can't see West Virginia! Where is it?"

Hanging out at Logan: pizza, smoothies, rides on the escalator, chocolate from grampy, and watching plane after plane take off. Sitting on the tarmac: "Are we taking off yet?"

In flight (at naptime): shoes off, headphones on, channel surfing on his own private TV. Snacking on water and Jet Blue cookies. Tired, but too excited to sleep.

Rides in the hotel elevator, "Which number you want? Up or down?"

A bowl full of hard candy in the hotel lobby......so many flavors, so little time.

Swimming in the (outdoor) hotel pool until his lips turned blue.

At the wedding: (loudly, during the ceremony) "Are they married yet? Why are they getting married? Why are they doing rings? Where's the dancing part?"

At the National Zoo, "Daddy, look! Pigeons! This is a special treat to see all these birds."

Tuesday morning. K to T: "Today we're going to the airport to get on a plane and fly home. A Jet Blue plane." T to K: "Oh!! I LOVE Jet Blue planes!"

Sitting on the tarmac in DC for way too long: "Are we taking off yet? Will there be a snack this time? Where's the snack? I see the engine!"

Five minutes into the drive from Logan to South Hadley: sound asleep in his car seat.

Mountain Mama

We'll be taking the Mass Pike, an airplane, and (perhaps) some actual Country Roads to West Virginia on Saturday.

It's our first trip as a family of four, Quynh's first plane ride, and Tai's first time getting his own seat on a plane, like a big kid. He doesn't remember his previous plane rides, so he's very excited for this one. Too bad he keeps pointing to the peg-legged, patch-eyed swash-buckler on his jigsaw puzzle and asking me if that's who is going to fly the plane. Think he'll be disappointed to learn that pilots and pirates are not one in the same?

After attending a wedding (about which Tai is also very excited) in West Virginia, we'll spend one day in DC and hopefully tour the National Zoo.

Sadly, in this time of just-back-to-work, water in the basement, still not getting quite enough sleep, I have not had a chance to start packing for this adventure. The Type A in me is thoroughly disappointed by this.

Wish us luck.