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12:27 PM, Sunday, October 19th, 29014:   A very special announcement:     Heh.   So, after 4 years of climbing we arrive at Starbucks as one unit. Strangely, this is the "first" visit for us as we will remain for another 15-20 years. Then of course will come the moment when Talya and I visit as empty nesters and start that chapter. I know people often argue that we don't enjoy experiences anymore because we're too busy documenting them, but man has this website made life an adventure. So much goes into The Journey that isn't tweeting your food, so it feels quite a bit different when you look back at the years. And what an extraordinary decade this has been.   The actual visit was short-lived as Cameron was cranky (a bit stuffy) and Vienna was wired. Mama and Dada were exhausted and the sun was on us the whole time... AHHHHHHHHHHH. It was actually a fucking disaster, truth be told. But this is the end result of that:     Ha. The Facebook lie, right? Look! Everything is perfect! I did an unposed one as well:     I mean, who am I kidding, everything is perfect. It's just not the easiest time in our life to chill at a Starbucks. We can pull off restaurants pretty well if there's room for toys, etc. But man - these kids are YOUNG. You forget that sometimes when you're hanging at home. In your own space it all kinda works - but the real world isn't made for 10 month olds and 2 year olds (THANK GOD) and these are certainly the survival years. I don't wish them away, by any means, but I do indeed look forward to Cameron being over 2. Hell, at least 18 months. It's just, so, different. Parents that say it gets harder are suffering from amnesia. When you are living the first year of a kid's life and the second year of a kid's life at the same time? It's awfully clear which one is more work, more difficult, more time consuming and more needy. If you're counting in months and you have more than one child? You're in chaos.   Cam is an absolute riot though. Always smiley. Always ROCKING out to the music. That last video is so funny. We all dance now just to see him freak out. Vienna is constantly trying to make him laugh (easy) and it's easily been the best month we've had as a family. Cam still isn't close to sleeping through the night however and because of how busy I've been it means Talya and I have to sleep seperately so we have only one zombie parent to get through the day. We're coming to the point of having to pull the "Cry it out" method. I've kinda been hands off on Cameron since he's exclusively breastfed. With Vienna we were completely 50/50 but as I mentioned earlier this year it kinda morphs into me and Talya being single parents of each kid. So I hope she can pull off the detachment from Cam in her own time but, yeah, it's tough. Listen, if I had a boob in my mouth every single time I asked for it 24-7 for 9 months? There'd be some issues when that changed.   ;-)   AND SPEAKING OF CHANGE? Ha. This is so me. And Talya for that matter. Vienna turns 2 and a week later I just take a side of her crib down and Talya says "Let's just throw out her bottles".   <blink>   You could say it was not a good morning.   In fact, and I was very proud of this, Vienna went on a hunger strike until mid-afternoon. LMAO. SHE WANTED HER FORMULA, SHE WANTED IN HER BOTTLE OR FUCK YOU. We literally said to that sweet little face "Sucks to be you kid. Here's a cup."   Then we went to Panera and she ate and drank from a cup and voila! That was it! In fact, she wants nothing to do with formula now. We're experimenting with different ways to get her all the vitamins and calcium she needs but cold turkey is the shit as far as I'm concerned. It's a battle of wills and though Vienna tries? And man does she have a strong will... in the end she looks in my eyes and instinctively knows: there isn't a chance in HELL she will beat me at this. I don't even change my face. And believe me, it will happen with her pacifiers the same way this year. Just waiting until Cam doesn't use them anymore so we can just clear the house. Cam will be a lot easier on that front, he really doesn't care for them. Vienna HOARDS THEM like a collection. It's her favorite toy. And that will be one HELLUVA couple days in 2015. WHEW.   Do other parents really struggle with this? I vaguely hear in my head "oh it was months of hell getting rid of her ____". How can anything ever be months? Even weeks? Throw it the fuck out. LOL. Kids can only hold their breath so long ya know. It's also really funny. I bet if parents struggling with these things knew JUST how quick it would be if you just ended it abruptly they'd try it. It's odd, I honestly am not even budged by Vienna whining/crying about things that don't involve her actual pain. I guess that's callous? I never really think about it until I'm writing an entry looking back. What's the alternative? Playing into it? I mean, if she's trying to accomplish something, like a puzzle, I cut her some slack when she gets annoyed and I help her through it. But the majority of the time she's crying because Cameron looked at her. And it elicits a "HEY KID, CAM LIVES HERE TOO. CHILL OUT." We all do what seems appropriate and then drink later when we scar them for life. <shrugs>   Alright. Gotta prepare for the interview tomorrow. WOOOOOOOOOOOT!   Adam