I Never

Before I had a baby girl there was a list of things I said I would never do. I would never allow her to wear a bikini swim suit as a little girl. I would never pierce her ears until she was old enough to take care of them by herself. I would not dress her in anything blue until she was old enough to ask to wear it (I have nothing against blue except for it's overuse in my household). And, I would not put any bows or ribbons in her hair until she actually had the hair to hold them in. I don't have anything against the bows on a baby girl's head, it is just that I like the little baldies and I wouldn't want to tape anything to such a pretty little head.

Then, when I found out I was pregnant with a little girl, Kelley at Personal Pensieve sent me a bunch of headbands and clip on bows that she had made. They were so pretty. All different colors so we could mix and match the colors to coordinate with her outfits. I set them aside in a drawer for Grace to use, though I still wasn't sure how much use they would get.

The other day I pulled them out of Grace's drawer for the first time and OH. MY. WORD. Look what I've been missing out on!


I guess those headbands and ribbons will get a lot of use after all (thanks again, Kelley!).
But, I'm STILL not gonna let her wear a bikini or pierce her ears. So there!

At 3:08 A.M.

Seven years ago today, at 3:08 A.M., my life was forever changed.
I sat in the hospital room holding you and riding a high of love. Despite the pain and the late hour I couldn't go to sleep. Your eyes were wide open too and you stared from daddy to me and back to daddy again as you followed our conversation. As I held you I wondered, "Who is this little person?" It was all so foreign to me. This immense love for a person I had never even met before. My son. I had no idea what I was doing, but you made it all seem so easy.

You brought more smiles,

more cheers,

more laughter,

and more love than I could have ever thought possible.

You. My firstborn. My beautiful, smart, funny, wonderful boy. My Joseph.

I am so honored to have you as my son. Thank you for making me a mommy. I love you so much, and I am so proud of you.

Happy Birthday, Joey!

WW- Deceptive

It may look tropical but it is actually only 16 degrees Fahrenheit. Brr!

We Are In Deep Smit

Baby girl, a mere six months into your beautiful life and it is safe to say that we are all smitten. Oh yes. We are in deep smit.

You are the most mild mannered, patient, sweet, charming, lovable and loving, feisty and funny, smiley and snuggly, smart and gorgeous baby girl that ever existed. Not that we are prejudice. It is just the truth.

To your brothers the day does not begin with the rising of the sun. They day begins with the rising of their Grace. The minute you awake the boys are smiling and cooing at you. They sing you songs, fetch your toys, and fight over who gets to hold you first.

I'm afraid we may be impeding your development because you are always being held by one of your adoring fans. You are so sweet and cuddly it is difficult to put you down. The boys constantly crowd you. You barely have room to move. I don't know how you will ever learn to crawl or walk. You have zero personal space. But you don't seem to mind.

You have your daddy wrapped around your pudgy little, dimpled finger. You have made your daddy a fan of the baby stage. No small feat. But he tears up when we speak of you growing so quickly. And he doesn't mind his arms and legs going numb if it means that you can sleep just a little longer in his arms.

And your mommy? Well, I feel I've known you all my life. It seems I always knew you would be coming. Even when I wondered if I would ever truly get to hold you a part of me felt you near. Yet you came, this bright light shining, at just the right time. You brought hope and happiness to our whole family when we needed it the most. And now you are here. In my arms. Exactly where you belong.

We are kindred spirits, Grace. I know you. And you know me. It is a soul connection. I never knew there was a piece of me missing until you came into my life and completed me. You completed our whole family.

Thank you for being my daughter, Grace. I can not thank you enough. For making me a better mommy. A better woman. For showing me a new kind of love. For completing our family.

You are loved.

The Tooth Fairy Is Gonna Go Broke!

After weeks of molesting his loose tooth Tommy finally managed to pluck that bad boy out this morning. Needless to say, he was thrilled. He is very much excited to be catching up to his big brother who currently has five vacancies in his mouth. Egad. The tooth fairy is gonna go broke in this house.

Then again, I think the tooth fairy is a bit more, how shall I say it, CHEAP, at this house than others. Joey came home from school and told me that the tooth fairy left his friend TEN DOLLARS. Sheesh! I suspect the exchanged tooth was made of GOLD. In this house the first tooth warrants a two dollar reward and all following teeth a dollar. I still thought that was a hefty price. Goes to show what I know. I am starting to second guess that now.

I wonder if our local bank gives out tooth fairy loans. Hmm...

WW-Sucker Fish Kissies

She REALLY loves her mama!

My boy

Our bond was immediate.

We looked at each other and it was love.

Nothing more pure.

Nothing more precious.

*

I can still feel the way your warm, heavy, body felt in my arms.

I can smell your sweet, fuzzy hair, as I lay my cheek against your head.

I can remember how you would wrap your chubby, little, dimpled hand around my finger and lay your head against my chest.

You looked at me and I would melt.

I still do.

Your big, blue eyes pierce through me.
Your smile makes me smile.
You still fit in my lap.
I am so thankful.
You are still my little boy.
*
But, how can it be?
How can you be three?
My baby boy.
Still, so much my baby.
But growing every day.
*
You are spirited.
You are funny, and kind, and silly.
You are a quick to forgive,
and always willing to snuggle.
You are my baby boy.
And always will be.
I am so thankful there is a day to celebrate wonderful you.
Happy birthday, my darling boy.
I am so proud of you.
I love you.

Mission Accomplished

If anyone ever tells you that they had fun taking their four children, ages 6 and under, skiing for the weekend you might want to check them for illegal drugs. I'm just saying.

It was difficult. A challenge. But we knew it would be. We went into it with our eyes wide open. We knew it wouldn't be like the days when it was just us skiing. The days when we would rotate time at the bar and time out on the hill. Oh no. Those days are gone.

We told ourselves that the only thing we wanted was for the boys to have fun. To get a taste of what skiing is, and hopefully, to enjoy it. They didn't need to learn anything. They didn't even need to remain upright. They just needed to have fun. And they did.

It is such a thrill watching your child latch onto something and go for it. To get excited about something and give it their all. It is exhilarating. I felt that way when Joey learned to ride his bike, and I felt that again this weekend watching my boys learn to ski. You can just see the confidence seeping into them. You can see them growing. Watching Todd take each boy out on the hill and seeing how brave, and positive, and coordinated, and patient, and happy the boys were was just amazing. They amazed me.

Ben had no fear. After one time down the bunny hill he was begging daddy to take him on the bigger hills. Tommy went down the hill with daddy a couple times and then decided he could do it on his own. And he did! Joey wouldn't even let daddy help and just took off down the hill by himself. I couldn't believe my eyes. I would have been happy just having them learn to walk in the ski boots and here they were zooming down the hill by themselves.

I wish I could have gotten it all on video but trying to hold a baby and keep two anxious boys occupied while they wait for their turn to ski with daddy was as much as I could manage. I did get a few nice pictures of each boy going down the hill from my window view in the ski lodge. I guess that will have to do. At least I have the photos as physical evidence of the momentous day.

Yes, there was a lot of sweat (on Todd and my part). Lots of encouraging and cheerleading and kudos. Tons of patience. There were three sets of snow pants, mittens, hats, helmets, ski boots, skis, and jackets to get in and out of all day. Many trips to the bathroom taking all of the gear on and off again. Todd's back was aching after many, many trips down the hill with the boys in between his skis, and then helping (dragging) them back up the tow-rope to the top. Grace was so sweet and mild mannered even though she was over-tired from not having a nap. By the end of the day the boys were pretty over-tired too. Well, we all were.

It may not have been "fun" for us, but the boys sure had fun. And that was all that mattered. Looking back, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I'm so glad we went.

(Joey taking off from Todd)

(Tommy and Todd going down hand in hand)

(Ben going down with Todd)

(All smiles at the end of a great day!)

Dinosaur Paginas Give Me Nightmares!

The other night Todd and the boys were sitting on the couch reading, what else, a dinosaur book together. Todd was reading all of the factual information to the boys and then they would discuss the pictures together.

I was sitting on the floor with Grace when Joey said to me, "Mom, do you know how dinosaurs have babies?"

"How do they have babies, Joe?" I said playing along.

Joey happily responded, "They lay eggs."

"That's right!" I confirmed.

"They lay eggs out of their dinosaur paginas." Joe stated.

Oh sheesh. I wasn't expecting that. "Do you mean vaginas?" I asked.

"Yeah. Paginas." he said again.

"That's Va-ginas. With a V. Vaginas. And I don't know if it works that way, Joe." I corrected.

"Oh yeah. That's how it works!" he was quick to tell me.

"No. What I mean is I don't know if dinosaurs have vaginas. Todd, does it say that in there???" I asked, a bit taken aback.

"Um, no. No it doesn't." Todd answered.

"Uh-huh! That's how it works! They have VA-ginas!" Joey said again.

Tommy quickly jumped to Joey's defense and said, "Uh-huh! The GIRL dinosaurs do! They hab the baginas!"

"Yeah! The GIRL dinosaurs have VA-ginas." Joey agreed.

Sigh. "Boys, what I'm trying to say is that I don't know if they are called vaginas." I said growing more and more tired of this conversation.

"Uh-huh! They are! They are called paginas. I mean, VA-ginas! And they lay eggs!" Joey said positively.

Finally, having had enough of this crazy talk, Ben couldn't take it anymore and yelled, "STOP IT! STOP IT! Your gonna gib me nightmares!"

Me too, Ben. Me too!

WW- Meeting Our New Neighbors

The other night we were getting ready for dinner when a few of our new neighbors stopped by. It seems they were making the rounds because they stopped at our neighbor's house first.

We thought they were beautiful, but maybe a bit rude. They walked all over every one's yards like they owned them.

And when we opened the door to say hello they stopped and stared. They stared for a really long time, I think their mother should tell them that isn't polite.

As soon as we shut the door they went about their business.

They all but ignored us.

I guess they are the "eat and run" type. Again, a little rude but we didn't mind. We were happy to have them visit. We had seen them in the neighborhood many times before but not so many at the same time. We do hope they will all visit us again soon. We just love our new neighbors.

Six More Weeks Of Winter Makes Me A Little Crazy

This is what Joey thinks of 6 more weeks of winter.

I feel much the same way. Although without the red, spiky hair. It is crazy hair day at school today and I did the same KoolAid trick I did last year. It is such a quick, easy (although messy) way to dye hair, and the boys like the way it smells.

So, as I mentioned, Phil saw his shadow today. I guess that means six more weeks of winter. Technically, the first day of spring is 6 weeks away so don't we always get six more weeks of winter no matter what Phil sees? Especially in Wisconsin. We have such long winters. Ah well. I really can't complain because so far this winter has been very mild. We have not had very much snow or many horribly cold days. Not like last year. That was a harsh winter and it seemed to last FOREVER.

The weather is supposed to be mild again this weekend so we are considering taking the boys up north to teach them how to ski. There is a family friendly ski hill right by Todd's family's cabin and it is the perfect place for the boys to learn. Every year we say we are going to take the boys skiing, but this year we are actually going to do it. And, it will make for a wonderful birthday weekend for Ben. His birthday is on Monday and there is no place that kid would rather be than up north at the cabin. It is a win/win.

Maybe six more weeks of winter isn't such a bad thing after all.