Archive for the ‘my babies’ Category

I had BIG plans to be up to date on Henry’s scrapbook. I would do each month as it passed and I would be able to open the book today and see pages done up to 22 months (he’s 23 months old). That never happened. In fact, he’ll be 2 in a few short weeks and I don’t have one page in that book. I have a few done, but they aren’t in order. I’ve heard scrapbookers say that one can never be behind in scrapbooking. My oldest boy will be 8 this year. I have his 3rd birthday done. I’d say that’s being behind. My middle boy turned 6 in January – I’ve got his 1st birthday done. Again, behind.

Here are some that I’ve worked on recently:

I think it’s something that’s embedded into the genes of women who become mothers. You know you’re done having children. But, seeing babies makes your uterus and ovaries quake like nothing else. You see a fresh from the heavens baby and you sigh and look longingly. I do it often. I see pregnant women and long for that belly again. I know I don’t want anymore children. Sigh.

I’ve been forced to sort through the baby clothes in my house. Henry is moving into 2T stuff and I need to clean out the smaller stuff. I hold up the itty bitty pieces and tears well up in my eyes. I’ll never have another peanut to put in those clothes. I’ll never be able to soak up that baby smell. I’ll never sit on my couch and hold a newborn for hours. and hours. and hours. It amazes me {and saddens me at the same time} that time has flown that quickly. I look at some of those clothes and remember my sweet Will wearing them and now, he’s 7 1/2. I held the outfit that Jake wore when he first learned to walk. I smelled the clothes that I swear Henry wore last week, but really, it was many, many months ago. Time is funny – it has a way of making you mourn what you don’t have anymore, but it also has a way of making you treasure where you are right now.

My sister in law is having twins this summer – we’re all very excited. I’m sorting the clothes for her {if she has a boy or boys}. I took out one outfit that I’ll keep forever. It reminds me SO much of my two younger boys – it makes me smile every time I look at it. I’ll keep one that reminds me of my big boy, too.

I’ll pass these clothes on to people who need them, treasure the few pieces I keep for myself and smile. I have lots of pictures and memories that no one else can have.

Apparently, God likes the look of snow far more than dead grass. Just when I was able to see my entire lawn, He switched it up and dumped a good 5 or 6 inches of that icky, white stuff on us. {I prefer the look of dead grass myself}. That icky, white stuff gave my boys a much needed snow day, where they were able to play outside with friends and just be little boys.

Henry experienced his first snow day, too. I wasn’t sure of the reaction I’d get when he felt the snow, but he loved it. {bad mom alert – he’ll be 2 in April and this is his first snow experience. I hate snow and don’t like to be in it, so I’ve never taken him out in it. I suck.} He loved it so much that when it was time to come in, I had to physically pick him up and drag him in the house. {the temper tantrum thrown once we were in the house was like one I’ve never witnessed from a 22 month old before. Ever.} The snow day was nice for me, too – I didn’t need to set the alarm to get up at 0 dark thirty to get everyone ready for school.

I spend most of my awake hours keeping this little handful out of things. I’m certain I’ll look back on this stuff in a few years and laugh, but right now, it’s incredibly frustrating. I need to find a cabinet lock to put on my pantry – as you can see, he likes to get in it. In fact, he likes to try to SIT in it. Right now, as I try to type this out, I’m sharing couch space with a box of cake mix, some teddy grahams and some boxed dinners. Those Betty Crocker fruit Stickerz packages are thrown all over the living room floor. I have packages of food in my pantry that I can’t identify – he’s torn the boxes up and taken stuff out of boxes, so I have no idea what belongs where. I keep telling myself that I’m going to miss this stuff, so I’m doing my best to just take it all in stride.

I’m working on some cute scrapbook pages that I’ll share here soon. My husband also bought me a sewing machine – YAY!!!! I tried to go to Joann’s and look around yesterday, but someone wasn’t very cooperative and started screaming as soon as we walked in. I can’t wait to start sewing some things.

As you can see, it’s been a hodge podge of sorts around here. We’ve been doing little bits of this and that. Life is good.

Six years ago today, my heart was forever changed by the birth of this little gem of a boy. I’m a better person for knowing him. He makes me see the silly side of life. His laugh is infectious. He has the sweetest smile. He would eat pizza for every meal if I let him. He loves ICarly and Spongebob. And doughnuts.

He has a very tender heart. He loves his brothers. He’s a mama’s boy. He wants very much to please people.

He loves life with every ounce of his being. He gets his feelings hurt very easily. He loves food as much as his big brother loves sports. I think, if given the option, he’d still be in utero. If he couldn’t be in utero, he’d be permanently planted on my lap.

I pray thanks to God every day for letting me borrow this sweet boy for my time here on earth. I’m so thankful God chose me to be his mama.

Happy Birthday, Jake. I love you more than you’ll ever know.

God knew what He was doing when He gave me boys. I always wanted to be a mom to little boys. He knew that when this stage of life rolled around, I’d be ready for the challenge and REALLY soak it in. He was right and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! It’s time for some organized sports, my friends.

My time is no longer my own. My time now belongs to the LC teeball Atlanta Braves and the LC machine pitch Cleveland Indians. I now have to wash actual uniforms and **gasp** “protective gear” for my older boy. I sit in a folding chair on the sidelines, in the rain and wind, and cheer on my babies. I tell them to keep their eye on the ball and to “RUN! RUN! RUN!”

Jake plays teeball. Jake only plays teeball because Will plays baseball. Jake doesn’t particularly care for the game. He’s far more interested in the snack at the end of the game. In fact, he asks about the snack before the game even starts. B and I are fully prepared for his participation in this sport to come to a crashing halt soon. He’s got the talent for it, but he’s far too “eh, whatever” about it. He has fun playing the game and he’s a GREAT sport about it – he goes where the coach tells him, hits when the coach tells him to hit and he cheers his teammates on throughout the game. This obviously isn’t his niche though, so we’re going to roll with it for the time being. Our boys are taught to see a sport through if they choose to play it, so Jake is prepared to play the rest of the season. I have a feeling he’ll be choosing bowling next

Baseball is just one of Will’s niches. The boy lives for this game. He’s definitely my boy. It turns my stomach a bit to see him in a Cleveland Indians uniform instead of a Detroit Tigers uniform, but I can’t get everything I want. He just wants to play and he doesn’t care what position he plays. He’s got skill. He’s determined. He cheers on his teammates. It’s so much fun watching him do something he loves.

The season ends at the end of June, so my life will revolve around that until then. I wash uniforms, etc several times a week and eat dinner at a ridiculously early hour, so we can get to the ballpark by game time. I schlep the Tank and his gear to the field and watch him toddle around and shake the fence along the 1st base line. I think it’s his way of cheering on his oldest brother. he eats crackers and drinks milk when he’s at Jake’s game – he must be channeling Jake’s true feelings. Jake would rather just eat, too.

I LOVE this game!

In my effort to become a better homemaker, wife and mother, I’ve neglected this blog. I am H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E. with the balancing act. It’s most definitely a shortcoming of mine. I was so much better when I was younger – I worked, carried a full 18 credits EVERY semester in college AND graduated in 4 years.

Fast forward several (ugh) years and here I sit and I can’t do it anymore. I just need a schedule. I’m sure that will help. Yep, I’m sure of it. I’ll work on that today.

So, here we are – Monday. We’re coming to the end of a week full of antibiotics for the Tank. He contracted pink eye from his FIRST EVER visit to the church nursery. In fact, it was the first time WE’D ever been to that church. It was such a nice gift. Couple the pink eye with the head crud that came pouring out of his nostrils and we had a mighty fun and DISGUSTING week on our hands. He’s on the mend now and back to his old self. Jake now has pink eye. I give it 2 more days before Will has it. I’ve already cleared it with the doc to use the same drops on all 3 kidlets – saves me duckets on the office visits.

Our baseball/Tball season has started – we’re doing 2 practices a week for EACH child. I’m less than impressed with the league we’re in – this would be the 2nd one we’ve tried. Organization is KEY to things like this and they have zero, zilch, nada. J’s coach *believes* the season starts this Saturday, but she’s not sure. Um….really? W’s coach has no idea when the season starts. Um….really? Neither child has a uniform yet, either. Don’t get me started.

On top of all of this, my stupid computer cord broke again. I have to order another one. I haven’t ordered it yet, so I’m on B’s computer. I like it fine, but I want MINE.

I promise, that as part of my effort to pull my arse together, I will post more. In fact, I’m going to work on a post about the $$ I saved last week. Couponing is a sickness, my friends. Just wait

Life hasn’t been remotely interesting – that’s why I haven’t been here. Well, that, and Easter and family visiting.

So, my mom left on Sunday – we hung out as a family all day and it was lovely! I packed for our mini vacation. You might want to grab a cup of coffee or something to snack on – this is gonna be a long one.

We left Monday morning – our destination was 3 hours away. We got things situated when we arrived and B took the big boys downstairs to swim for a bit. I thought I’d put H down for a nap and enjoy the peace and quiet. I got the hotel crib set up – put it where he couldn’t see me. I put him in it, just like I’d do at home – he stood up and screamed bloody murder. NOT. LIKE. HIM. at all. So, after 30 minutes or so, we headed downstairs to see B and the big boys – I saw no sense in keeping the poor kid up there if he wasn’t going to sleep.

He headed out to explore about 45 minutes later – H fell asleep in the car almost immediately (he never does that either). He slept for about 25 minutes. We had dinner and headed to the mall that was near our hotel – they had a GREAT play area for itty bitty ones like H. He crawled around like a mad man for a good 40 minutes – I thought that would be a perfect thing to tire him out. Not so much.

We went back to the hotel and B gave him a bath. I brought everything from home to keep the routine the same. After his milk, I put him down in the crib and he stood up and screamed bloody murder. Again, not like him at all. My wonderful husband did everything in his power to get this kid to go to sleep. He walked, he sang, he bounced, he ignored. NOTHING worked. By 10:45 p.m., we knew that this child wasn’t going to sleep and if he did, he’d wake numerous times. So, we packed up and came home!

We drove 3 hours to eat dinner at Red Lobster, look at Lake Michigan, go to the mall and swim in hotel pool. We got home at 2 a.m. I put H down in his crib and he rolled over and went to sleep. He slept until 9:30. Turd.

So, we decided to take the lemons we’d been given and make some lemonade. We had a STAYcation instead of a vacation! On Tuesday, we headed to a local outlet mall and B and the big boys played indoor glow golf while H and I walked around. Yesterday, we went to a Tigers game – H’s first Tigers game. He was less than impressed, but I was in heaven. My beloved Detroit Tigers won 9 to nothing. I’d go to every home game if my wallet would allow it. Our spring and summer date nights are always Tigers games. Always. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

B went back to work today – boo. Will has a few days left of spring break – we’re headed to the park tomorrow with some friends. Today was going to be a garage saling day, but H isn’t feeling too well. J has tball practice this afternoon, so we’re going to lay low today. The windows are open and we’re enjoying the fresh air. It’s a gorgeous day!

I was 28 years old when our first child was born – felt like I was ready, but scared out of my mind. The first year and a half was a blur because of severe sleep deprivation and a boy who fought and hated sleep like it was the worst thing ever. I loved him (and still do!) dearly – he was such a happy baby. He smiled early and often and loved life. When he was 9 months old, I got pregnant again.

I was 29 years when our second child was born – now, I was scared of having 2 under 2. I had no idea how I was going to handle the sleep deprivation of having 2 small children. Fortunately, Jake was a relatively good sleeper and Will started sleeping through the night when Jake was a month old. Jake turned into an UBER cranky baby at 6 months, but grew out of it quickly. Life started to get “easy” when he was 6 months old and we went about life happily. The pureness of Jake’s heart has come out so much in the last 2 years – he is the SWEETEST child on the planet

Our third child was born 2 months before I turned 34 years old. He was the best surprise I could have ever asked for – I was happy with 2 children, but lucky for me, God thought 3 was the perfect number for us. He’s now 3 months old and the feelings I have when I look at this child often overwhelm me. Don’t get me wrong, I adore my first 2 with every ounce of my being, but there’s something different with Henry. I think it’s because I’m a more experienced mom, I’ve had a few years between 2 and 3 and I’m not scared anymore – I don’t know. But, I’m so enamoured by this boy – I have the hardest time putting him down and I smell his hair so much, I’m surprised I haven’t rubbed it off. I’m constantly touching his feet and just staring at him. He’s brought SO MUCH joy to my life. He’s been, by far, my most difficult child – he’s VERY particular about what he likes and what he doesn’t. BUT, he’s my best sleeper – the boy is just like his mama – he and I both LOVE to sleep.

My 2 big ones just came upstairs to ask how many hours until we leave to go to the library and seeing their excitement makes my heart sing. I sit here staring at the video monitor, watching my sweet schmoog take a morning siesta and I thank God that he sent Henry to US! I’m blessed to their mama, so very blessed.