Ready for Easter!

My girls love going to my parents' house to dye Easter eggs every year. They had a blast this year with grandma and grandpa and their cousins. 

To Utah!

Taylor and Rachel were able to came to Utah and we were so excited to go down and meet them. Our girls had a blast together! 

To Wean or Not to Wean

This has been weighing on my mind very heavily the few months. I hope you don't mind that I share this here. Since I had Ellie I have been a breastfeeding advocate and a supporter of child-led weaning. I nursed Ellie until she was two. Gradually she nursed less as she began eating more solid foods. She ate and drank anything we put in front of her. The last four months or so of our nursing time we were only nursing once or twice a day at nap time and sometimes at bed time. I was sad when she weaned because I knew that meant she was growing up and she didn't need me like she did before. I missed the quiet snuggle time we had together. But she was and still is happy and thriving and well-adjusted.

So naturally when Piper came along I nursed her on demand just like I did with Ellie. It has gone really well although Piper doesn't really love eating food even now at 21 months old which complicates things. I never thought I would have a picky eater and it drives me crazy. And she is cranky because I think she is hungry much of the time and because she is hungry, she wants to nurse often. When I say often I mean she asks to nurse at least every three hours on most days. Sometimes more, sometimes less but I don't see her wanting to wean anytime soon.
Edited to add: I don't nurse her every three hours, that's just how often she asks to nurse.

 Here is my dilemma:

nursing is becoming a source of contention between Piper and I.

Not all the time, mind you, but there are times when she asks to nurse that I feel a little resentful or angry because I think to myself, "She just nursed an hour ago." or "We just ate lunch." or "You are almost two years old, you should not want to nurse this much!" Then I feel guilty for thinking these things and feeling the way I do. I don't want to quit cold turkey. I still enjoy nursing her most of the time but I also don't want to keep nursing her until she is three or four. I also understand that nursing is also a source of comfort for her and I don't want her to feel abandoned. I want her to know I still need her and love her and want to snuggle.

So I need some advice. How should I handle this? Do I keep nursing on demand? Do I wean her right now? How do I cut back without suffering the wrath of a very determined 21 month old? I have tried distracting her, offering food, snacks, drinks, toys, walks outside, you name it. She will be distracted for about two minutes and will go right back to asking, "Niss-you?" (Nurse) and looking at me with those big beautiful eyes which are super hard to resist.

Any advice for me?

Be Kind To Them

source

This quote really hit home this week. I just wanted to share it with you.

Super Silly Funland

After Utah Ellie and I turned around and headed to Boise to spend time with my brother's family and to see my nephew get baptized. We had a fantastic time! For Justin's birthday he wanted to go to an arcade/family fun zone. We went mini golfing, drove go-carts, played laser tag, and played all kinds of games in the arcade. Ellie had a total blast. We headed back to Shane's for lunch, then it was time for Justin's baptism. It was a great experience and I'm so glad we were able to be there. 

 Me and Ellie with Shane and 5 of his 6 kids

Ellie and I racing (love her face in this one)

 Totally beating my big brother

Justin, Ellie, & Erika

Chowing down with cousins 

 Deann, Ellie & Garrett

All but 2 cousins

The Spring Break Safari

We had a blast at the Sensory Safari in American Falls and we will totally be back next year!

The best things about this little day trip:

my Mom came with us

it was at the public library which means is was free

the kids could actually touch all of the animals on display

we met two of my cousins and their kids there and had a blast

pizza afterwards

It was an all around awesome day!

 Ellie was in heaven with her new 'cousins' and meeting all the different kinds of animals

Piper was not so sure about the animals at first. I think she thought they were real. She finally warmed up when she realized they wouldn't try to bite her.

Thanks Brandon and Brittany for inviting us and to Melanie for driving all that way to meet us! 

Vocabulary Test

Piper is learning tons of new words all the time now. It is adorable and hilarious and exciting. I love hearing what comes out of her mouth every day. 

Some of Piper's vocabulary:

bufoo = bless you

teechoo = thank you

pwees = please

cacome = welcome

ooshoo = shoe

yide = outside

Eyee = Ellie

yockies = socks

noonels = noodles

yice = rice

da! = draw

cacket = jacket

buts = pants

yucko = sucker

mnuminums = m&ms

bapa = grandpa

mama = mommy and grandma

gobby = garbage

wishy = fish

She has also been going #2 in the potty for a while which is super exciting! The other day Piper did her business in the potty (which happened to be a floater that day) she looks in the toilet, sees her "business" and makes the fishy face. Maybe you just had to be there but I laughed so hard I nearly cried.

A recent gem from Ellie:

I had asked her to get her shoes, socks, and jacket on so we could go to Grandma Marti's. I proceed to get a few other things done before we go, I check on her progress after a few minutes and I find her stripped down to her undies. She looks at me and sounding thoroughly disappointed and genuinely surprised she says, "Oh man! I took off my clothes on accident!