Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
It went something like this -
Me: Tough.
Big Al: No really, just hear me out. I just don't like "Jack" as much as you do.
Me: Listen Honey, it's on the scrapbook. In Man Terms that means that it's WRITTEN IN BLOOD.
Big Al: I like the name "Drew."
Me: Well, I really liked the name "TESS"
I am instead getting a baby named "JACK"
I like the name "Jack", so "JACK" it is!!!
Big Al: (understanding that he isn't going to win this one)
Me: I'm in love with this little guy, and wouldn't trade *him* for a "Tess", but the fact is - this is my THIRD FREAKIN' SON and DAMMIT - I'm picking the name.
I mean really......
Big Al: ok.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Summer is upon us......
I'm on a mission to catch up on my scrapbooking before the baby arrives, and have been enjoying the process. It's amazing how therapeutic it is for me. My family has been going through a really rough couple of weeks, and just taking time-out to do something that I enjoy has been tremendously helpful to my mental state. Even big Al can tell. I know because he has sweetly suggested that I take some time "in my room" when he can tell that I need to de-stress! I love that guy. Anyway, as soon as I have a collection of new pages - I'll post some pictures.
Today there was a Memorial Day parade in our darling small town. We were all able to walk in the parade with the boys preschool group. I took lots of good pictures, but almost all of them tell exactly where we live! So...sorry for the lack of pictures. Being part of such a sweet little event today was reminder #457 why I LOVE living in a small town. Everyone is so nice, and there is really such a sense of community here. There weren't massive crowds today....no shoving.....no pushing......just a really pleasant event. I sometimes forget and take for granted how BEAUTIFUL it is here, so it was nice to get out and really enjoy it. If I need to get to a "big city", I can do so fairly quickly. But I wouldn't live there again for anything! I'm happy that my boys are growing up in this town where things are simpler, kids stay young longer, and people really seem to care about one another.
Here's one picture that reminds me of a cute little moment with LB today.....here he is....bug hunting in the middle of the road.
Little Boy, Big Boy, and their buddies were loving all of the traditional candy-throwing that comes along with being in/watching a parade. Before we jumped into our place in the parade line, the kids were enjoying watching the firetrucks, Harley riders, and various club cars drive by and throw candy. After each car went by, we would let the kids go out into the street to collect whatever candy had been missed before the next attraction came by. Well little boy spotted a bug, and really couldn't have cared less about the candy! For the next few minutes, he and his new bug enjoyed getting to know each other by the side of the road....until LB inadvertently....killed him with kindness. He is bordering on an obsession with bugs these days. I have to keep reminding him that he has to show me the bug before he touches it. I have this fear that one of these days he'll come marching into the kitchen to show me the black widow he just found in the yard. Ugh - lets hope not.
Anyway, the parade ended at a local park where there was a big festival. Jump houses, carnival games, face painting, spin art - all free. We bought some hot dogs from the adorable firemen who were BBQ-ing them, and the kids played at the park and enjoyed the many events. As an aside, I'm convinced that being adorable is a prerequisite for becoming a fireman. Really. They are so freakin' cute. I've told Big Al on more than one occassion that he missed his calling!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
The Stupids Step Out
We arrived at the theme park about 15 minutes before they opened, and were able to park right in front. We had an absolutely wonderful day. It was as if no one knew this place existed - it was so NOT crowded! Totally worth the FORTUNE it cost us to get in. The kids went on all of the rides and didn't have to wait in line once. This was perfect for a kid like LB who has all the patience of a flea. I hadn't been to this place in a couple of years, and had forgotten how little-kid-friendly and adorable it all is. Besides all of the really cute and non-commercial-y rides, there are some of the most gorgeous gardens, trees, and flowers. At one point, I made all three of my boys (incl. Big Al) come over and smell some roses. They all had that incredible rose smell. Remember when roses used to smell good? Back before they started breeding out the smell? These were awesome old school roses.
***BB wanted both the water wings and the jacket. I'm not so nuts that I insisted on both!***
LB seemed to know how silly he looked in this get-up. When I put it on him, he turned around to check himself out in the mirror and said "I look like a rocket butt!" Indeed, honey. Indeed.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Strawberry Jam, The Family Bed, and Bathtub Diving. In that order.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
A New Scrapbook for Our New Baby
Here are the before and after pictures:
I can never find an album that I'm happy with, so in my never-ending quest to make things easy on myself - I now buy fabric, ribbon, batting, etc. and cover plain albums whose construction I approve of. You know (fellow scrapbookers) - because adding pages and spacers to post bound albums isn't treat enough. Anyway, I like how it turned out! It's funny - in most area's of my decorating life, I'm not into "cutesy"........for some reason scrapbook album covers seem to be the exception.
I'll admit, it feels good to be "caught up" on at least one of my children's scrapbooks! Here are the first two pages in Jack's book. The first is a page commemorating the moment we first knew I was pregnant, and the second is when I found out we were having a boy. I'm so excited to meet this little guy.
**I think if you click on the pictures, they'll super-size to show detail.
I had a wonderful Mother's Day and I hope you did too!
More later.........
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Pictures of Pictures
Because the scanner and I don't get along.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Taking after his father.......
Big Boy: "That was a bad one. Feel my head Mommy, I'm a little worried about myself."
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Monday, May 7, 2007
Some Moms would look at this as a teaching opportunity.
Protecting himself from knowledge...
Friday, May 4, 2007
Making up for calling me a "Shithead" over breakfast.
Little boy came over while I was emptying the dishwasher, took my hand - looked up at me and said:
"Mommy, you're my best friend."
I picked him up, and his sticky hands wrapped around my neck as he kissed me on the cheek.
And that's why I do this. Because he's my best friend too.
To be fair - I *was* being a shithead at the time.
Notice the pregnancy swelling beginning it's ugly decent upon my face. Nice.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Tooth Fairies and Tea Parties
As I looked at the tiny little tooth sitting in the tiny little container I had given him, I became so emotional. I know - what a surprise. I remember that little tooth coming in when my beautiful boy was a beautiful baby of only 4 months. Peaches. Peaches were his favorite when he was a baby with his one tooth. This tooth. As I look at him now- an inch over 4 feet tall.....so big for his 5 years, and so incredibly sweet and wonderful and smart - I can't believe how he's grown. I imagine him a giant of a man someday.....tall and handsome like his Dad. And still my baby. Always my baby.
Needless to say, he scored big time. His tooth fairy left him a fiver under his pillow. Now a precedent has been set, and she's going to have to kick down a ten for molars. Aw, well. His tooth fairy was always spoiled by her tooth fairy as a kid. And so it goes.........
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Perfecting their "Good Cop, Bad Cop" Routine
"Mommy, can we please jump on your bed?"
Me:
"Absolutely not, but thanks for asking"
Big Boy (defeated):
"Okay......"
Little Boy to Big Boy:
"Oh Dammit"
Big Boy to Little Boy:
"You heard her....she said 'no'.....that's the best I can do"
I predict that in a year or two, little boy will be handling all major negotiations.