In November, I learned how little I know

Once a month, I go out to dinner with some other ex-pat moms. At this monthly gathering, I met Theresa, who (at the time) was the only internationally certified lactation consultant in Ukraine. Breastfeeding my babies has been a huge blessing to me, and I've long thought that I'd love to support other moms who also would like to grow their babies on mama's milk.

Theresa offered to give me and another American mom who works as a doula a peer counseling crash course. We met twice a week for a month, and it was fascinating. I left each session in awe of how perfectly we have been designed.

But I also left with a greater realization of how challenging breastfeeding can be for some women. Many of these challenges can be overcome -- but only with hard work, and often the help of someone way more educated than I am.

So, now I know how much I don't know. Peer counseling seems too formal a term for what I'd feel comfortable offering -- but I think I now know enough to be an educated cheerleader of sorts.

In November, we missed daddy

Eric was away at a meeting of all of SEND's area directors for 12 days at the beginning of November. In his absence, we ate simply,



danced a lot


and fell in love with "Here Come the ABCs."

Go, go, go from josie oldenburg on Vimeo.

All went well, until three days before his return, when I dropped a kitchen chair on my big toe. The pain, it was intense. Probably it was broken (I never went to the doctor to check), but some web-site-guided care from Bertha greatly reduced the pain. I won't go into the yucky details. But I will add this incident to the list of reasons I'm thankful to be alive in the Internet age.

Lev just has to dance

Lev LOVES to dance. Several times a day, he runs into a room, points at the musical source (computer or stereo, depending), and busts a move.

Lev just has to dance from josie oldenburg on Vimeo.

Lev just has to dance, part 2 from josie oldenburg on Vimeo.

I don't have the video to prove it, but Dietrich almost always joins in. He's been taking a twice-a-week dance class for about a year, and when he goes into dancing mode, he's quite graceful -- slow-moving arms, pointed toes, dainty circles. Quite a change from his normal, klutzy, 5-year-old self. Lev, on the other hand, is all jerks and swipes, all the time.

My dad's been on my case to post something, and today's his birthday, so, Happy birthday, Dad! Hope you enjoyed seeing your grandsons in action.

In November, Lev painted for the first time

And then he took a long bath.

In October, we had a sadik show

At Dietrich's school, it was time to celebrate "Generous Autumn" again.

Honestly, at this point, the sadik shows are starting to blend together a bit. Dietrich didn't have a specific speaking part, but I did notice that he's singing more and more confidently. (Warning: The video below might make you sick to your stomach. It also shows that my little angel has his not-quite-angelic moments. Just keeping it real. Plus I'm too lazy to edit it.)

Bird song from josie oldenburg on Vimeo.

I think Dietrich's willingness to actually have his picture taken also reflects his growing comfort at sadik. Here he is with his teacher. And he's practically smiling!



I do love how much Ukrainians appreciate the earth and its bounty, and this show certainly reflected that appreciation -- especially when the little girls did the Dance of the Wheat.

Dance of the Wheat from josie oldenburg on Vimeo.

The costumes were charming as always ...


Two little mice


A frog


Autumn Herself

.. but, I have to say, no one topped the cucumber kid from last year's "Generous Autumn" show.

In October, my boys grew closer as brothers

My brother and I are three years and 10 months apart, and I don't recall ever playing with him when I was a big 5-year-old. Lev and Dietrich are three years and eight months apart, so I didn't really expect them to do stuff together. But look! They do!




Actually, they seem drawn to each other, and they scarcely spend any time apart -- unless Dietrich has grand architectural plans with the blocks, in which case, Lev the Destroyer does have to be locked out of the room.

They sit opposite each other at the kitchen table and play mimicry games. They wrestle. They have Quiet Play Time together in their room, and when Lev starts fussing, Dietrich says, "Don't worry Lev, I'll make you happy again." And then he breaks into a highly energetic game of peek-a-boo -- and he actually does make Lev happy again.

Watching their relationship develop has been one of the biggest surprises -- and biggest joys -- of motherhood.

In October, we felt fall on our faces

Remember when we got back from Sumy, and I vowed to help my boys behave better inside by giving them plenty of time outside? Even when it's cold? Well, fall arrived, and we kept up our daily pre-dinner strolls. So pretty! So sanity-saving!





I'm still dedicated to keeping this up once the snow starts falling. Actually, in some ways I'm looking forward to the snow, since it will be easier to spot, and thereby avoid, dog poop. Now that the sky grows dark by 4:30, we've accidentally brought home the neighborhood dogs' offerings on our shoes twice.