{Friends or Enemies?}

I have been pretty honest about Luke and Ben's relationship.  That they fight constantly.  That all I hear every day is screams coming from whatever room they are in.  Luke eggs on Ben.  Ben eggs on Luke.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  Can someone pass me the bottle of wine?

When I found out that I was having another boy, I dreamt of two little guys frolicking in the grass on a warm, spring day.  They would be best friends from the get-go and be immediate playmates.  What was I thinking??  I knew there would be wrestling matches and arguments, but I never expected there to be so much turmoil when they were at the young ages of one and three.  Geez louise boys!

But lately I have seen some changes.  Nothing too drastic, but suttle differences that is making me a very happy mommy.

Tuesdays are usually our stay-at-home day.  Luke has school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday.  Ben goes on Wednesdays.  Thursdays usually bring us to the park, the zoo, a quick train ride, possibly a museum and then lunch with friends.  But Tuesdays are the day we have nothing planned.  Sometimes I wish we had something when the boys are swinging from the rafters, but most days I find it such a blessing to be able to stay home and let the boys just be boys outside in the dirt and sun.

This morning was no different...except they were playing with each other.  And laughing.  Oh my goodness, the laughing.  They were hiding in bushes and would hysterically laugh when they would pop out and see each other.  Luke showed Ben how to pick leaves from the boxwoods in our backyard.  Luke pulled Ben in the wagon all over the driveway with Ben roaring with laughter in the back.  The were climbing on their play structure together and Luke would yell "Ben" when he would get down in hopes he would join him back up on it.  We even experienced an unprompted "I'm sorry Ben" from Luke when he accidentally hurt Ben in the tent they were playing in.

Don't you love the view??

I am not sure what the change is and I am sure it will be business as usual tomorrow, but for today, I am loving that my boys are friends and playmates today.  Not sure why the change, but oh my goodness, if I can just have moments like these every once in a while, I might just make it through motherhood. 

{3 Years Old}

We had quite the birthday celebration this weekend for Luke!  From his party, to the fun traditions, to spending time with friends and family...it all went so well.  We had hiccups here and there, but overall it was a wonderful weekend.  One that I really will cherish for years to come.  It was truly special.  I was so worried Luke was going to be sick this year since he has been sick on every birthday he has had, but luckily, no fever!  I was so relieved that we broke that cycle and he was healthy. 

It started Friday with a little school celebration!  We brought donut holes for the class snack and Luke wore his birthday hat and everyone sang happy birthday to him.  When I picked him up from school that day, he ran out of the classroom yelling, "I am the birthday boy!".  Melt my heart.  Yes, you are the birthday boy!  It was soooooo fun seeing just how much he understood all about his birthday and how excited he was.  What a great start! 

Then came Saturday morning.  It was the day before his actual birthday, but since he was having his party later, we decided to act like it was the big day!  Luke woke up around 7:00 am and was greeted with his favorite breakfast treat...a cherry iced donut with sprinkles!  And it had three little candles on top to kick off his birthday.  Ben wasn't up yet, so it was just Chat, myself and Luke.  Chat and I sang happy birthday to him and gave him lots of hugs and kisses.  It only last about 10 minutes, but it was so nice to just be the three of us and have that time with him.  Luke was so sweet and I think it really got him ready for the day!

Then it was time to party!  We were having his party at the local Pump It Up which was a place that has tons of bounce houses and slides.  Since one of his little friends has her birthday a day before his and over half of the guest list was the same, we decided to throw a joint party.  I was worried about him taking a nap late (since we usually can't get him to nap until 1:30 or 2:00) then having to wake him up by 3:00 so we could get him ready and out the door.  I figured he would be a bear and just struggle waking up before he was ready.  So we decided he didn't have to nap that day, but he actually ended up falling asleep in the car when he and Chat went to run an errand.  So we let him snooze in the car for about 45 minutes, but then had to wake him up.  Cue meltdown.  Luke has never been a good waker-upper, but this was a disaster.  He pretty much sobbed for the 30 minutes we had to get him and ourselves ready and out the door.  I was so worried he wouldn't recover, but he finally did and got it together right before we got there.  Phew!  We all recovered.

The party was a great success and we had a ball with all of our friends and family.  The birthday girl and boy were adorable and shared the day so well.  After about an hour of jump time, it was time to head to the party room for a snack and cake.  Except we ended up not having a cake.  The only other real hiccup of the weekend.  We had decided to do one big cake and get it custom made with an adorable design.  But I got a call from the cake lady about 20 minutes before cake time.  She had been in an accident on the freeway and was having to wait for the police to show up.  Luckily she was fine and her car was, but the other car was damaged so she had to wait.  Cue slight panic attack, but in the end it was no big deal.  Luke's "Hattie" (Chat's stepdad's wife who is soooooo good to us) ran out and found two cakes at a nearby grocery store.  The kids didn't seem to notice and all was well!  We all sang and they got to blow out their own three candles...

Don't worry, Ben seemed to enjoy the cake too!

After the party, my parents took Ben to their house for some one-on-one time with him so Chat and I could take Luke with some of the friends from the party to dinner.  It was so fun to just be with him!  Dinner and the margaritas were wonderful and Luke behaved well and had a few more hours of fun with his pals.  We then headed to pick up Ben who was in the bath when we got there.  Luke jumped in and so we had to clean kiddos to take home.  We visited with my parents and the boys played some more and we headed home around 8:00 pm.  It was nice to come down from the excitement there and have some time celebrating with Bea and Grandad.  Ben crashed when we got home and we let Luke open up a few presents before we put him to bed.

One of the presents Chat and I got him was a Dream Lite Pillow Pet.  He wanted the dinosaur one, so that's the one we got him.  After we read him his three books, I turned out the lights and laid with him for about 20 or 30 minutes.  We cuddled and talked and looked at the moon and the stars on his sky.  It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day. 

Sunday rolled around and we got up and brought the boys to Avalon.  We have done this for every birthday yet and this year was no different.  Chat grew up going to Avalon for every birthday breakfast and he is keeping that tradition alive now with his sons.  We all ate eggs, bacon and pancakes and went home with full bellies.  Unfortunately this is the only decent picture I got of breakfast (and yes, trains go with us everywhere)...The pictures from 2011 and 2012 were much better but 3 year olds seem to not like the camera as much :). 

We got home from breakfast and Luke finished opening his presents.  He got such wonderful things and I feel so appreciative for everyone's thoughtfulness and generosity.  After that we played with his toys and then played outside.  We breaked for lunch and did one final birthday thing.  I love a particular bakery close to our house - Moeller's. Every year we get him a white cake from there and we had to this year as well even though we didn't do it for his party.  We got something small and had it after lunch and sang one last happy birthday.

Don't worry, Ben enjoyed the cake once again...

 

This birthday was a bit surreal for me.  Luke is this little person now.  He understands everything and has complete conversations with us.  Luke was a late talker, so this has been so amazing to me and I am so happy to hear all of the things going on in his little head.  I knew I was going to love my children, but I was completely unprepared for just how overwhelming of a feeling it is and just how deep that love runs.  I am so proud of Luke and the sweet little boy he is becoming.  He still has his moments, quirks and tantrums, but overall those are lessening and the joyous moments shine through brighter.  My boy...

Happy birthday Luke!  I love you with all my heart.

{Nursing}

The fat lady has sung because it is over.  I can't believe it has already been almost six weeks since I last nursed Ben because it feels like eternity but somehow it has.  Right around 13 months, I just felt it was time for us to stop.  He was on the move so much, I didn't feel like he really needed it anymore for comfort, two stomach bugs helped lower my supply, cow's milk was pretty darn convenient.  The list went on and on.  Not to mention he looked like a 2 or 3 year old so we started getting some serious stares (ha!). 

It was time. I felt it. I knew it. 

I guess it should be over when your baby can inhale a whole donut under five minutes...

It was a wonderful 13 months. I laughed, cried, complained, and loved all the way through it.  I never truly thought I would ever nurse him that long.   It was hard.  The first six months I dreamed about the day I didn't have to anymore.  But then over the next few months, it became easier.  I ended up really enjoying that time and it was something very simple for me to do.  The last time I nursed him, I didn't truly know it was the last time, but I had an idea. It was a Thursday before nap. I remember it very clearly.

But now he is rocking and rolling the cow's milk and it has made things pretty easy.  He takes a sippy cup all day and I still give him a bottle of milk at night.  I have no idea how long we will continue that, but I love rocking him at the end of a busy day and listening to his breath become rhythmic.  He is still a baby even though he is growing up pretty darn fast.  I am not trying to rush it.  I am just enjoying the little part of the baby I have left.

{Six Wonderful Years}

Six years and two kids later...I still love you more than ever!
Happy Anniversary!

 

{In My Head]

For some reason I am finding it hard to blog lately.  Which I hate because I love going back to see what we were doing at different times of life.  So I am forcing myself to provide an update on what has been going on in my head and in the house...

1.  I love see my boys do things together -- especially when they are not fighting (which they do all the time - help!!!!).  We have been coloring hearts (in honor of Valentine's Day) for the past few nights while Chat has been at work.  Luke, who has never been a crafty/project kind of kid, has been loving it which surprises me and excites me.  He loves trying to draw circles and hearts.  Ben has loved sucking on the markers.  I guess coloring will come later.

2.  Speaking of coloring, Luke wrote with crayon on our hallway wall for the first time today. And the worst (best???) part is that he was so proud of himself and loved seeing that purple mark on the wall. I think crayons and markers are now going on a very high shelf so little hands cannot get them while mommy is not watching. 

3.  Last night was the fourth night Chat was working nights.  It was bathtime, I was tired after several nights on my own.  They were hyper as usual so I realized we needed something to change things up and help the time go quickly. Then I spotted them...two tubes full of glow sticks from two birthday parties we had gone to over the past few months.  I threw the boys in the bath  with the glow stikcs and turned the lights off.  Ben was unsure of a bath in the dark at first, but then they loved it!

4.  Ben is officially 14 months today.  I realized that Ben is now older than Luke was when I got pregnant with him.  It seems crazy to think I was already pregnant with baby #2 when Luke was still a baby himself.  It actually gave me a huge sigh of relief we passed that milestone with Ben.  Not that I didn't like having two boys under two, but that is something I do not want to happen again.  If we have a third, there needs to be more time in between - for all of our sanity!  A few nights ago, I decided to ask Luke if he wanted another sibling.  I texted the conversation to Chat who was at work...

Pretty cute.  I asked him the same thing a few months ago and he screamed, "NOOOOOOO!" when wanting another brother or sister.  And I am surprised he said sister.  Actually I think it is because his best pal Connor has a new baby sister. 

I love the other little conversation we had about being happy.  Luke has really turned a corner lately. I am thinking three is going to be a good year for him, because goodness, two was a tough one. I am really enjoying the little conversationalist we have now with a lot less tantrums!  Although Ben is picking up in that department.  Argh! 

5.  Last week I think I got another kidney stone.  I loathe kidney stones.  This time was weird and different though.  I had a lot less pain, but just blood in my urine.  Then Friday morning, the pain started.  I was on my way to bring Luke to school.  I saw my friend Christine in the front, so I literally handed her Luke and sped off to my moms.  Within about 30 minutes though, the pain went away.  I am thinking it might just be a small stone.  Please no more!!!

6.  Chat received a call this week that he got an interview for the Executive MBA program he is applying to.  I am proud he has already made it this far. I am still a but nervous for all the changes and stresses this might bring, but trying not to think about those things just yet.  I am just happy for him that he gets a chance to interview. 

7.  Last Thursday, Chat went to a happy hour for a few hours, so I had the boys on my own for dinner.  We ate early and I realized we had over an hour and a half before bathtime.  So it was time for a little momma/son ice cream date!  We ended up seeing another friend/mom in the neighborhood there with her two sons.  It turned in to quite a fun playdate!

8.  Ben is addicted to the swing.  He literally stands at the front door, pulls on the handle and screams until one of us brings him to the front yard to swing.  His screeching is becoming quite the norm.  The boy has an opinion now and he states it loudly.

9.  Ben is getting in two molars at the moment.  I am hoping that is the reason he has been Mr. Fuss Pants lately.

10.  We had a little superbowl party over at my friend Katie's house last week.  We had a blast!  I feel so fortunate to have such wonderful, mom friends.  I really don't know what I would do without them!  The kids run around and play, all the moms and dads chat.  This group is very unique and I am so blessed to be a part of it.  Here are a few of us....

11.  Update on Ben and the choking situation.  He hasn't choked in the last two weeks -- hooray!  Maybe it took going to the doctor for it to finally stop.  Isn't that always what happens?  You swear your child is super sick and lethargic, but you go to the dr and they are running around smiling and blowing kisses.  Ha!  But we have a plan if it continues. It involves a lot of testing, so I am hoping with watching him closely and changing what we have given him to eat and the size of bites, etc., we can avoid it.

12.  I have been trying to get into the routine of praying more for the boys (and in general).  I started a little prayer journal to be more accountable and also remember what I want/need to pray for them.  I keep it on my nightstand and try to pick it up and write in it a few times a week before bed.  It seems to be helping and keeping me on track better. 

13.  I am still working a few hours a week as an executive search consultant (aka head hunter).  I have been doing it since September and finally got some commision right before the new year.  Although it adds a little bit of stress to our life, every little bit helps, right?

14.  I finally finished the first part of my little project!  I will do a separate post on it in a few days!

15.  And because moms are never in the picture, here is one of Luke and me.  Even though being a mom can be challenging, I do feel so lucky to be the mom of these little guys every day. 

I think we all go through rough times and happy times.  Lately, I have been feeling calm.  Calm with the boys, with the craziness, with my life.  I am not sure why, but I hope I stay this way for a bit.  It sure makes life a bit easier to handle :).

 

That's it for now!  I feel I still have lots more to write and document, but this post has gone on way too long!

{Prepping for V-Day}

I loooooooove holidays with kiddos!  And Valentine's Day is no different.  Although I haven't gotten anything for Luke and Ben yet to celebrate the holiday of love, we have got Luke's valentines together to give out to his class during their party...