Happy Birthday Ant Jennette!

Some photos from Adine's cell phone

 
 
 
 

Giggle me Elmo!

Or shall we say, Giggle me Nolen?

Carter and Nolen - They love each other so much!

I am not sure all those years back in my first Women's Studies (or more appropriately Wymynz Studies) I would have thought having sons was a good idea. It was not taught that boys=bad, but if you were a man in the class, it was a lonely place to be. There was a sense that women=good. This had to be the case partially to encourage and further empower women, and also to educate women and men that our society undervalues women, to say the least. Women are disenfranchised by men, society, and a world view that includes women not as equals but less than a man. Who would want to bring a boy into all that? I didn't want to create a whole new generation of men who would disempower women. Men also have certain roles that they must fulfill, as do women. At the time I was not sure I was up to the challenge of changing that stereotype, what a lofty task. I knew that if I were to have sons, I didn't want to create little cookie cutter men that would go with the flow and agree with this world view either. Boys are strong...girls are weak. NO, grrrls are strong. They don't need men. Wait, men and women are independent. They don't need anyone. Can't we all just get along?


All waxing and theorizing aside. Maybe the previous paragraph is just rambling. Either way, I have learned over the years that interdependence is something we all must live by. That we need one another to succeed in life, because let's face it, life is hard. Some day, Carter and Nolen will only have each other, and I hope they will be as good of friends then as they are beginning to be now.

I am constantly amazed at what softies we have with Carter and Nolen.

Carter is all about the love, hugs and kisses. The other day he turned on the lights when I was just waking up - they were obnoxiously bright. I told him that he needed to turn them off, they hurt my eyes. He turned them off, and then came over and kissed my eyes.

Nolen is also one for the snuggles, and loves to burrow. He also has the shy guy routine mastered...playing the demure, come hither, chased, chaste baby. I often am sure I can hear him say in his head and he drops in on my shoulder, still keeping eye contact with the person speaking to him, "Who me. Oh, you couldn't mean me when you say, 'What a cute baby!'"

But what amazes me the most is how much the kids love each other. They really have bonded with one another, and I am sure we will have our fair share of fights to break up, but the love is what makes me all mushy for my boys. Makes me realize that boys are so tender, and we can encourage that tenderness.




One technique I have mastered to capture this love is with my trusty camera. This will either keep the actors dancing, or at least provide documentation to each other that at one time they really did get along.

Enjoy!

Bad Mom

Just watch.
You'll see.
I am really a bad Mom.
Actually. In my defense, this was one of those days where nothing was going to make him do anything but cry like this. Also, the video is so short because I thought eventually he would start laughing, but it never really happened.
OK.
Enough defensive preamble.
Here 'ya go.