Books, books and more books, please!

I've been reading to Jonas since he was Angus' age (15 months old). When I read at bedtime, Angus doesn't sit still at all, but I can tell he is beginning to show an interest in books. He walks over to the book shelf in Jonas' room and pulls about ten of them off the shelf and opens each one up, points at the pictures, laughs.

Jonas loves books. He picks out the books he wants me to read to him at the library.

When I saw them sitting in the room, both with books in their laps, I couldn't help but feel good about myself.

My mom and I would spend hours at the library when I was younger. She would be in the spanish section, which was actually very close to the children's section. Those days were different, or so they seemed. I would explore on my own, while she would look for her books, then we'd meet at a table and each dive into our findings.

We went to the library yesterday and for the first time in a long time, Jeremiah joined us. It was nice to have him there, as opposed to it just being me, having to keep an eye on two boys that want to go in two different directions. Last time I went by myself I lost my phone. Luckily, the young kid who found it, actually returned it.

Jonas and I did our rounds, walking through the picture book aisles. Jonas picking his bedtime books, asking me what the names were and stuffing them in our bag. We checked out 30 items. Five of those were dvd's, the rest, all books. We have read all our books and have re-read our favorites.

I can't wait for Angus to be ready to enjoy listening to a story. For now, he would much rather jump on the bed, throw toys out of the sorter box or sit and look through a book he grabs from the bookshelf, while Jonas and I lie in bed reading.

Out of sorts

These past few days have me feeling rather down and I can't explain why. Maybe it's the weather, I don't know. I want to wake up feeling good and refreshed, but with little sleep it's just not working out that way. Every night I tell myself that I will be in bed early and as soon as the boys are asleep, I feel tired enough to just lay down and drift off to sleep, but I don't. By that time, I have time for myself- time for me to watch some mind-numbing T.V., talk to Miah or just sit and do...nothing.

There lies my big mistake, I should get myself ready for bed, maybe do some yoga, something productive that will help me feel better the next day. But I'm drained at the end of the day that I just don't want to do anything at all.

Call me lazy, whatever. I know I'm not because I am constantly doing stuff around the house, tending to two little boys who need lots of attention. Yet, when I wake up in the morning, the house looks as though it has never been cleaned. Ahhh!

I'll put it this way, as Jack Kerouac once wrote: "If I do nothing nothing does."

In the moment

Wipes

I left Angus alone for a few minutes while I was in the bathroom and this is what he did.

Buddha belly

Angus shows his gut with pride. He sticks it out as far as it can go. 

Sometimes, it looks like a little pregnant belly, all round and hard. It's at its roundest after he eats and oh, is it round.  

He walks around poking his belly button when he's not wearing a shirt.  

I love his chubbiness, though it's slowly dissapearing. His arms and legs are not as full as they once were. I love picking him up and nibbling on his feet, thighs or belly.

While nibbling, I always say, "I eat babies like you for breakfast!" as he cracks up laughing. 

Ah, the joys of having a chubby little boy. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

In the moment

(A moment in time that I want to cherish and never forget.)

Haircut, South Mountain and Pete's

We headed up to South Mountain one evening to get out of the house, view the city and to just drive.  It was hot out, very hot, which is not surprising for our lovely dry desert city.

      

It was also the day Jonas got his first haircut.  His very first real cut.  It was a big step here for all of us, really, mainly Miah and I.  Jonas wasn't too fazed about it.  He sat in his little car chair and watched Spongebob as the hairstylist cut away years of growth that made him look a little different than all the rest.  

If he was ever in a crowd of kids, I always spotted him easily because of his hair.  His long curls that any woman with straight or wavy hair would love to have.  But I thought it was time.  It was too long, too hot, too in-the-way for my little man.  

He was ready and we did it.  Now, I can see his little face more, he looks a little taller, a little older.  Strange.  But he still looks handsome, as always.  

Well, after the mountain, we just had to stop at Pete's Fish & Chips to get some greasy square fish with delicious red sauce, you have to have the red sauce.  It's tradition.  I remember when I was younger and we used to stop there with my aunt and uncle.  They started this tradition, I don't think my aunt is aware of it. I should let her know.

Two boys, one bath

Angus pours water on Jonas' head during bath time.  Jonas doesn't mind.  

There are a lot of things little brother does and Jonas just seems to take it.  I am usually surprised when I don't see or hear a harsh reaction but an, "Oh, what a cute baby!" (hug and kiss follows). 

But when Angus really gets to him, when he just doesn't stop bugging, taking, hitting Jonas, it's more like, "You should have not had this baby."  

But then again, that doesn't even last long, because then he says, "I'm sorry, I love him," (kiss follows on Angy's head).

I know there will be some fights and arguing, some, "Mom, Angus keeps taking my stuff," or something like that, but I hope through it all, they grow up to be best friends.

Bitten

Little Angus was bitten by mosquitos or something the other day.  Poor baby was the only one attacked.  I think it's because he's really meaty.  They had a field day with his legs.  There's like ten bites.