Ava, Carter, Dad and I all trekked to tumbling yesterday. Well, the 3 of us met Peter there. All was great until one of the kids unearthed a poorly hidden stash of hula hoops. As soon as one came out, all of the toddlers went nuts, and ambushed Donna's stash. Ava was thrilled, and immediately wanted me to roll it so that she could chase it. Problem was, I was feeding Carter. Dad was not allowed to roll it, and so I gave it my best shot. However, it did not roll straight, nor did it roll far, upsetting Ava tremendously. Thank goodness Donna called all of the kids over for some impromptu hula hoop play, and led them in a few games. Then she had all of the parents line up and roll the hula hoops across the gym so that the kids could chase it. Peter was allowed to do it this time, and he rolled it brilliantly--straight and far, and Ava took off. Then Sam's hula hoop took a sharp left, right into Ava's path. KABOOM! Sam and Ava collided spectacularly. They are both in that toddler phase where large objects coming at you are invisible if you are focused on something else. Sam's shoulder nailed Ava's nose. Ava collapsed in a puddle of tears and wails, indicating that it really hurt, since she has been known to split her lip open in this class and not even notice she is having so much fun. So, I ran over, and scooped her up--Carter in my left arm, and Ava in my right--somewhere in this there was a bottle, but I can't figure out what I was holding it with. Peter took Carter and Ava and I went to the sidelines. She took a while, but was eventually ok, and after everyone left, Mary (the other tumbling teacher) got the scooters out and let Ava give them a shot. I had an instant flashback to the only gym class that I ever liked--those scooters are so fun--and Ava became a very happy camper.

My shoulders are going to fall off soon though. They just constantly hurt. I think I do actually have bursitis in the left one, but now they are both pretty sore. Holding these kids takes a toll! Though my arms and shoulders look GREAT. Even Peter commented that I had nice shoulders. I have to be thankful for that.

I have a new policy. I promise that when we arrive home from all of our outings in the afternoon, everything will go on the kitchen table (diaper bags, groceries, car garbage, coats, hats, mittens, baby carriers, etc.) and I will sit down and play with the kids for at least 1/2 hour. Chores be damned. This worked wonders for Ava's attitude yesterday. I have taken the "when I just finish this and this and this, I can play with you approach" with her, but when I am ready to play, she is usually emotionally spent. So, I will just have to swallow my anxiety about getting all of the chores done before 7 PM, and ignore the gargantuan mess that is our house.

Oh, and so I made this big hullaballoo about Carter and eating. Well, now he is on a solids strike. He still does appear to like his one bottle of formula, as he always takes a taste and looks up at me like "huh. this is pretty tasty" -- I don't appreciate some of the looks I get for it, but I think nursing Ava at tumbling yesterday removed any lingering doubts among the breastfeeding advocates as to whether or not I was committed to the cause. Then of course I had to figure out how to mollify the anti-nursing toddler folks. Whatever. Carter likes it, and he will not nurse in public, so formula it is.

He does this funny thing when I am holding him--he basically tries to latch on to my nose or chin--this ends up being a total goo-fest, but it is really cute, because he will hold my face in his hands and shake his head back and forth with his mouth open, getting my chin or nose in his mouth with each pass, saying AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH at the same time. Then he will finally stop, really latch on to my chin and we will be eye to eye to eye to eye, and he will say AARRRRHHHHHHH with my face in his mouth and then start laughing hysterically. I think this is his version of a kiss.