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January 1, 2003
Finally, I can write an update! We've been having computer problems for weeks now and it's been such a hassle. But I am using our new computer again as I write, and it's working great!
We had a very nice Christmas. We celebrated a grand total of 6 times! That's pretty much the norm for us (lots of divorces and remarriages in both our families) but we managed to keep things low-stress this year. We were home for both Chrismas Eve and Christmas Day which was a first for us, and it was wonderful! My mom was here for 3 days, which was also wonderful because she makes my life so easy and Aden loves her so much. I was sad to see her go home. Even though she only live an hour and a half away and I see her almost weekly and talk to her daily, I always miss her when she's gone.
Aden got some Brio and Thomas trains and he is playing with them constantly. He plays with them for long stretches, complete with sound effects and everything. I'm amazed he'll play this way at only 17 months. He also likes to be very generous with them and share them with Xander. Katie comes back tomorrow and I'm interested to see if she is as fascinated by the trains as he is. I hate to say that there is an innate difference between girls and boys, but at least for these two there really is.
Xander is calming down, learning some obedience commands, and is mostly housebroken (knock on wood) so I'm feeling less stressed about adding him to our family. I still think that we should have just had a baby, it would have been easier. But my husband thinks I'm crazy for saying that, so Xander is my furry baby for now.
But... I wouldn't be sad at all if the surprise PG fairy came to visit me this week (as she did for Kim over at SKT) rather than AF! I actually had to go to my doctor on Monday because I could have sworn that my IUD was displaced. In my fantasy, he says "Yes it is displaced, and in fact I think you're already pregnant!" But in reality, he said it was fine. Derek was relieved, he is the practical one who says we can't afford another baby right now. I'm the one who wants to rip out that IUD and just trust that the universe will provide. Things always work out and I want another baby so badly. Our compromise is that we will start trying for the next one this fall, to hopefully have another baby here by the time of Aden's 3rd birthday in July 2004. This way Derek has time to get used to the idea. And believe me, I'm not letting him forget! I could practically give him a countdown of how many days until we start trying again. It's the only thing that is getting me through each visit from AF--it means I'm one month closer to hopefully being PG for real!
Enough soul baring about me. Aden is doing great. He saw so many people over the past few weeks, and he stayed just as independent, secure, happy, friendly, fearless, and generally unflappable as ever. I am constantly amazed by him. Everyone comments on his abundance of personality and his extraordinary energy. He is talking in sentences (a few examples: "The dog says woof," "Look what I've got," "That's okay Dad," and "Xander got my balloon") and much of what he says is even intelligible to people other than me! And he's still nursing, mostly only on one side now (his favorite side) and usually just for a few seconds. But there are occasions where he needs a longer dose of mama milk and I'm happy to oblige.
So get ready for a cliche: I know everyone thinks their child is special and perfect, but I think mine truly is! I just honestly can't think of one personality trait he has which would be considered negative. And he is so independent and secure, part of which is probably just his temperament but much of which I also credit our practices of attachment parenting and extended breastfeeding for helping out.
Two funny stories along those lines, and then I will go to bed. At one Christmas celebration, when it was time to leave, one of Derek's aunts (whom we hadn't seen since last year) was holding Aden. We told Aden is was time to go and Derek and I started putting our coats on and gathering up presents. Aden just kept smiling and began waving bye-bye to us! To see what he would do we started to go out the door and he was still happy as a clam. I think he was more upset when he discovered he actually had to leave too--he's a flirt and he loves an audience!
And this is the last story, I swear: We went to my MIL's house the weekend before Christmas, and Derek's grandparents and another aunt were there too. I don't think the aunt or grandparents have ever been around a nursing toddler before. One evening Aden was getting a little cranky so I asked him if he wanted some milk and he happened to settle in for a longer than usual nursing session, right there in the living room. Derek's aunt looked over, and in a voice of true curiosity (plus a heavy Oklahoma twange) said, "Does he bite?" I kid you not, I have heard people ask the same thing in the same tone about a strange dog. I could barely keep a straight face! But it was, of course, a wonderful opportunity for myself and my lactation consultant MIL to educate those present---once we stopped laughing!
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