We went to tour the Santa Maria...but it was closed.

The boys liked looking at the "pirate ship" even if we couldn't go on board. We will have to figure out when the tours are and try again.

But all was not lost. We played in the nearby Children's Garden.

Connor and his Trusty Mythological Steed

Lex High Fives a Griffin

Then we played on the new swings overlooking the Scioto River. And then we ended up at COSI. We walked across the bridge to get there, which was thrilling for the boys. It's the little things, right?

Swamp Things Preschool Park Program

Today we went to one of our favorite parks for a preschool program...about swamps. It was a fun time, to be sure, but I discovered something during that program.

I'm not a nature lover. Well, at least not a nature lover like the people who work for the Nature Center at the Metro Parks.

It was so bizarre to hear them talk about the swamp with such evident fondness. "It's like we are looking at a piece of history."

And when we caught some little squiggly things in the swamp, I got a bit excited because I thought that they were tadpoles. But it turns out that they were mosquito larva. Baby mosquitoes. When several mother's expressed sentiments such as "kill them now before they grow up," which I heartily agreed with, the naturalists replied that the mosquito larva needed to be put back because they were an important part of the food chain. Which is the exact moment that I realized that there was a fundamental difference between me and that nice nature lady.

I'm all for the draining of swamps. The only things that live in swamps are bugs, slugs and baby bugs. We caught mosquito larva, ticks and slugs today. What do we really need those for?

44 Days Until Christmas

As of today, there are 44 more days until Christmas, and I'm pretty sure we spent this day wisely.

First, we found out what animals do to get ready for winter at a preschool program hosted by our favorite park. We learned all about migration and hibernation. Connor's favorite part was when we talked about how far away Mexico is. Just in case you are wondering, it is very, very, very, very, very....very, very, very...(OMG, is Connor still talking to me? I better pay attention!)...very, very, very, very veryveryvery far away.

Then we played with our good friend on the playground at the park, because it was warm and sunny. I love this warm November weather. Any day when we can go out in the sun and play in the park sans jackets in November is a winner in my book. So, that's just what we did both yesterday and today. (You saw the pictures.)

Then, we ate at Culver's. Butter burgers. Onion rings. Snickers Concrete Mixer. Yum!

I took the boys shopping to do a little research for Santa. That was a fun time. We picked up our gingerbread house stuff so that we can enter a gingerbread house contest next week. I bought the boys matching red cable knit sweater vests. They are going to look dashing this holiday season!

After a nice visit with Nana and Grandpa, I took Lex over to the mall to pick up his 12 month portraits. While we were in the portrait studio, I got talked into an impromptu photo shoot. In exchange for allowing a training photographer to do a session with Lex, I was given the extra sale sheets from my last photo sitting for free, as well as my choice of two 8x10 photos from this training session.

I think the photographer did a good job, and I was happy to pick out two portraits.



Then, I returned to Toys 'R Us to do a little shopping. I believe that after this initial shopping outing, I've got the boys almost all done for Christmas.

Afterward, I met back up with the rest of the family for a little California Pizza Kitchen and some more window shopping at the mall.

Now I'm watching the CMAs on TV. Just in case you didn't know - I love awards shows. And this one has been particularly great - Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Reba - it's been awesome!

Riding a turtle to Mexico *slowly*

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Nursing in Public

If this topic makes you uncomfortable, I'll see you tomorrow!

But honestly, you should get over it. Because it really isn't a big deal.


When I was at the zoo with my cousin and her children, at the very end of the day when I was very tired, a stranger made a comment about me within my hearing, and I ignored it.

I'm not so sure that I should have ignored it, but at the time, I didn't want to make a scene in front of the 6 kids and I was tired, so I couldn't think of a non-scene witty remark to make.

But, a man pointed me out to his family as follows:

"See that lady over there with the sling? She was breastfeeding that baby in the restaurant at lunch, and everything was totally there. She didn't even cover it up, and I was trying to eat!"


Ugh. I nurse in public all the time, and I don't typically cover Lex up with a blanket, because if I do, he won't eat. It just doesn't work for him. But I don't really consider it to be a big deal, because I dress carefully in specially designed nursing wear that covers me up.

See?


Yes, this is a picture of me nursing Lex. In public, even. We were at a park. He is covered up with a blanket, but only because it was cold. He won't let me put it over his head while he eats.


I'm sure I see more boob than that EVERYWHERE else.

And why shouldn't I nurse him in a restaurant? Everyone else there is eating, and he needs to eat, too.

(And by the way, I love my nursing tanks and camis.)

Me and My Daddy: Basketball Edition

Lex at the Park

This video is from our trip to the park on Wednesday.

It was Lex's first time on the swings.

I took this video on my phone.

Lex is happy to be on the swing.

I am happy.

35 Weeks Pregnant!

Who Do I Love?

Connor! He was taking a little rest at the park this afternoon...

Frisbee at the park

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Friday Night at the Park

Friday evening, Kevin and I went to go get Connor from daycare, and then Kevin decided to take us to dinner. Our original plan had been to just go get Connor and then head back home, so we hadn't grabbed a diaper bag or anything.

Connor was still in his pajamas when we got him from daycare...apparently he had never wanted to change his clothes after he was dropped off.

Since we were just going to dinner, I figured that we would be okay without the diaper bag. After all, Connor had just been changed before we picked him up, and dinner couldn't possibly take *that* long.

We ended up at Scali Italian Ristorante. It's a small family owned restaurant near our favorite park. Connor was wearing his pajamas, and Kevin was wearing work out clothes. Even though the restaurant was in a strip mall, it turned out to be a very fancy place. People looked at us a little strangely, but we got a table anyways. I mean, it is a recession, and our money wasn't underdressed!

It was a very nice restaurant, but for some reason, it took *forever* to get our food. We had our dinners boxed up and our check brought to the table when I was only half-way done with my meal, and we had already been there for more than 2 1/2 hours! During that time, Connor had spilled his orange juice on his pants, and I had taken them off since they were wet. We had no diaper bag, and no change of clothes for him.

(Connor had been as patient as he could at the restaurant, but we realized that he was *done* sitting at the table, so we thought it best to leave asap. I'm impressed that he was so good for so long.)

After dinner, Connor realized we were by the park, and he asked to go. So, we stopped.

And Connor played at the park, dressed like this:


After all, he is a little boy. And he wasn't naked! We might as well enjoy life, diaper bag or no.

P.S. I would go to Scali again, just maybe not with small children in tow. In fact, I think that Great Grandpa Peter would *love* it, so the next time he is in town, we'll probably take him.

This Little Boy is Fast!

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Blacklick Park

On Sunday afternoon, we ventured out and stopped at a local park that we hadn't visited before, even though it is very close to our house. This park is huge and wonderful! We now have plans to spend many a day there...as the only things that we saw yesterday were the Nature Center and Buttonbush Trail.


Can you tell that Connor picked out his own outfit? He's got on his "boots," a pair of socks with stop lights and race cars on them, blue plaid shorts, and his trusty "back up" tractor shirt that he wears whenever his Columbus Crew shirt is dirty.

Probably about half of Buttonbush Trail has been built up with a raised path made of wood. Each time we came to another wooden portion, Connor would say "another bridge." I'm glad that he is using the word "another" properly now, but I already miss his old way of saying "another one bridge." It was so stinking cute.