My Boys and Me

That is Mike and I’s Wedding song.  It is also VERY true of our relationship.  2 years ago today we met.  A dear friend of ours (and bridesmaid in our wedding) sorta set us up.  Kristin gave me his number, but I called him out of the blue.  Thankfully he was intrigued by my boldness rather than freaked out.  We met the same night and less than 6 months later were married.  Many thought we were CRAZY, but the words of “our” song could not be more true.  Here we are 2 years later, a family of 4 and both happier, more in love and the best of friends.  Don’t get me wrong, we have our trials, we get on each others nerves, but we are also proof that sometimes what other people think is crazy, is really the best thing ever to happen to 2 people!

One word, that’s all you said
Somethin’ in your voice caused me to turn my head.
Your smile, just captured me
And you were in my future as far as I could see
And I don’t know how it happened, but it happened still
You asked me if I love you, if I always will

Well you had me from “Hello”
I felt love start to grow
The moment that I looked into your eyes, you won me
It was over from the start
You completely stole my heart
And now you won’t let go
I never even had a chance you know
You had me from “Hello”

Inside, I built a wall
So high around my heart, I thought I’d never fall
One touch, you brought it down
The bricks of my defenses scattered on the ground
And I swore to me I wasn’t gonna love again
The last time was the last time I let someone in

But you had me from “Hello”
I felt love start to grow
The moment that I looked into your eyes, you won me
It was over from the start
You completely stole my heart
And now you won’t let go
I never even had a chance you know
You had me from “Hello”

That’s all you said
Somethin’ in your voice caused me to turn my head
You had me from “Hello”
You had me from “Hello”
Girl I’ve loved you from “Hello”

I hope that everyone had a nice Christmas.  I am not sure if I am glad that its FINALLY over or sad that its ALREADY over.  It seems like yesterday that we were pulling out the decorations and setting up the tree.  We decorated the house more than  ever this year and it all looked so pretty.  We also received some very nice decorations as gifts that we were able to add to our collection.  We took down the tree today and only have the lights outside left to put away.  It is a little sad packing everything up, but I think judging by the fact that I took down the decorations earlier this year than ever in the past (never before New Years Day) indicates that I was ready for it to all be over.  Don’t get me wrong, Mike, the boys and I had a great Christmas.  There is something amazing about Christmas with your own kids.  I feel like we can not spoil them enough this one time of the year.  Braeden was in absolute glory the whole week before Christmas and the few days after (he is now in FL with Aaron’s family).  Hearing the excitement in his voice and seeing it on his face Christmas morning when he came to tell us that Santa had in fact came, the amazement in his eyes when he looked outside and then at Mike and I when he discovered that the reindeer had eaten the oats we threw out back for them, and the anticipation I could sense him feeling as he un-wrapped each gift was all enough joy to last me until next Christmas when I get to experience it all in 2 boys.  Mikey was a little un sure of what was going on, but got a kick out of the fact that his big brother was so happy.  Braeden deserved every bit of fun and excitement because he is just such a precious little guy.  He was so thankful for everything and would have shared all of it if asked.  Believe me, the kid is not hurting for anything…..and his Birthday is only a little over a month away.  Mikey did enjoy the few gifts he got.  We asked for more practical gifts for him this year since he is a little young to really need toys.  No matter what new things we give him to entertain himself, he likes his package of wipes the most anyway. (WARNING- taking away wipes from baby can cause a serious melt-down).   Mike and I had a good Christmas too.  We were both just so exhausted, it was hard to really even focus on having fun.  (Next year we are paying more attention to the words in my previous blog entry).  Mike worked a lot of off-duty to make sure everyone could have a great Christmas and have everything they asked for (He did so much for everyone and there are no words to express how much we love him and just how wonderful he is.  I can’t thank him enough for all of his hard work and everything he does for our family).  Along with working so much, he had to take care of me. I developed a very strange and severe case of hives the Saturday before Christmas.  I was in the ER covered Saturday night and was in misery until they disappeared as quickly as they came, the day after Christmas.  Along with going to the ER, I went to my Dr. who seemed to give me the right combination of medicines.  I was taking 100 mg of benadryl 4 times a day as well as another medication equivalent to a triple dose of Zyrtec.  I pretty much sailed through Christmas on a cloud and don’t really remember many other details! I do remember eating a delicious dinner at Mike’s parents house, who as usual outdid themselves with food and gifts.  Mike’s Mom made a special batch of shortbread cookies just for me at my request and I think those were my favorite gift of all.  I hadn’t had true homemade shortbread cookies since we lived in Canada.  I requested another batch for my Birthday thats coming up.  Speaking of Canada, my brother bought me a new webcam for my Birthday (apparently something was wrong with the one my sister bought me for my Birthday two years ago-shamefully probably lack of use).  We got on it with my sister for a bit on Christmas day which was another favorite gift.  Again, I was a little groggy, but when she turned her camera to the window and showed me all of the snow, I decided then and there that we are going to Winnipeg for Christmas next year.  Mike’s parents are going on a cruise and we will have a true WHITE Christmas!  No matter how hard you try, you can not get in the Christmas spirit in 80 degree weather the way you can jumping in a pile of snow and making a snow angel. Maybe she will have a child of her own by then that we can add to Santa’s list!  I think my body is still recovering from all the drugs (or maybe all the shortbread cookies- they are gone). I am still not sure where the hives came from, but learned from a friend this week that it can happen to a Mother any time in the year after giving birth as hormones return to normal.  Good thing I already had my tubes tied because those hives were worse than giving or recovering from birth (and I did it twice- surgically)!  It was also so nice to see my brother.  Braeden adored him as much as he did when he saw him over the summer.  I hate that we didn’t get to spend as much time with him as I would have liked, but everyone kinda had their own agenda.  We’ll just have to plan to visit San Fransisco soon……add that to our list of New Years Resolutions.  I will save those for another entry 

In other brief news.  Mikey is still sleeing through the night.  I think we have also finally gotten him on a fairly regular nap schedule.  He has been so so fussy lately.  Every time time he fusses for no reason, we put him in his bed.  Most often, he falls asleep.  I am noticing that he sleeps longer stretches each time and the fussing lessens.  Our goal is 2 long naps a day and NO fussiness….. I’d like 2 long naps a day and I guarantee I would be a lot less fussy too! I think my over-worked husband deserves sleep more than any of us! I did get him a plane ticket to go see his Grand father and best friend in Philidelphia in a couple weeks.  I’m not sure he will choose to spend his 4 days away from wife and kids sleeping, but at least I gave him the chance!

Have a great weekend!

OK, so I stole this off one of the Mom’sin my Mom’s groups blog, but thought it was too great not to pass along.  ENJOY it AND your family at Christmas……and ALWAYS!

A Christmas Version of 1 Corinthians 13

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling
lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just
another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at
mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all
that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me
nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but
rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will
rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Don’t let that adorable grin fool you! 

Just a quick little entry (since like I said it would be, things have been VERY busy this holiday season, but so much fun).  I think I am almost set for Christmas.  I have a couple gifts I need to grab tomorrow, BUT I get to shop for them without kids in tow.  Mike is off and I am meeting a friend for lunch and then finishing up my shopping.  I have been an addict of on-line shopping this year, particularly on Amazon.com where you can get everything you want, brand new and for up to 80% less than in stores.  Most of the retailers offer free shipping this time of year so why in the world would I trek out with a fussy, teething, attitude-filled, life-is-about-me 6 month old and try and get ANYTHING done!? All the negative traits aside (and really they are not that bad, and I can think of 3 times as many positive ones), Mikey is doing GREAT!  Mike and I decided at 3am Sunday that we were not getting up in the middle of the night when Mikey cries ANYMORE!  That’s right, we made a very quick, tired, MEAN decision that we were doing it cold turkey.  Mikey screamed for 45 minutes (during which he would stop, breathe, re-group and then go at it again).  He fell back asleep (or maybe we just became immune and the crying lulled US to sleep) and when he woke up again at 6:30 (our wake-up time) he only drank half of his bottle.  That was affirmation then and there that we are not cruel parents and Mikey was not waking up because he was hungry, but because he’d gotten used to his 3 am sleep on Daddy’s chest. He is either a very quick learner (a trait of his big-brother), or was completely ticked off at us and said to “he$$” with sleeping on Daddy’s chest…..! He did not wake up once Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday night.  Last night he woke up again, but only cried about 20 minutes.  Ahhhh, restful nights have returned!

Mikey is almost 7 months and still no teeth.  Braeden was slow at every developmental stage…..didn’t walk till 18 months remember…..so I am getting concerned.  As great as it would be for Mikey not to be an early walker which would turn into him getting into EVERYTHING, he has such a strong personality that I think by 18 months he would be so angry that he couldn’t walk that him getting into everything would seem less bad!  Anyway, most of the babies in my Mom’s group and babies of friends, all have teeth.  We got a Christmas card from one of our dear friends who had a baby one month before Mikey was born and in addition to his beautiful smile, are two pearly whites! Mikey also had his 6 month checkup and I thought for sure he would be more within average for his age.  Umm, not so much.  Every time I tell people that the Dr. told us he’d dropped to the 10th percentile for his weight, Mike pipes in, eagerly informing them that he is in he 60th for his height.  Poor Daddy is just going to have to deal with the fact that he has puny boys!  Mama LOVES the littleness (remember as long as he is somewhere between 1 and 100 he is NORMAL) because it makes them seem “little” longer.

As much as Mikey’s body is NOT growing, his personality IS.  He wants to be held a certain way, does not want to be cradled or snuggled (so sad), will only eat “food” for Mama (takes the spoon right out of Daddy and Grandma’s hand and spits the food back at them), does NOT believe good hygiene is necessary (HATES the bath- unless he is in it with Daddy), does not appreciate when the batteries in his bouncy seat have died, gets angry when the bag of wipes are taken away from him and thinks whoever invented “tummy time” is not on his “nice list.”  Yet, through it all, he is my little love!  His mischievous smile is the highlight of my day (along with Braeden ALWAYS coming off the bus running).  I did tell Mike today that a he is most-definitely a Daddy’s boy (thank goodness Braeden is a Mama’s boy).  Mikey truly adores his Daddy.  He was fussy for me all week.  Mike was home all day with him yesterday while I babysat and he didn’t fuss at all for him.  As soon as Mike left today to take Braeden to see Alvin and the Chipmunks, Mikey threw a fit!  Hmm, maybe I should whisper in his ear that it was Daddy’s 3am idea to allow him to cry-himself back to sleep at night!

Preparing for Christmas with Braeden has been so much fun this year.  While he was old enough last year to really understand and enjoy the season, things were a little off with me being pregnant and with it being the first year with Mike. He is really starting to remind me of how I was as a child around Christmastime.  It was always (and still is) my favorite time of year.  I simply could not wait for Santa to come and neither can Braeden.  He counts down the days, asks me over and over again if I am sure Santa won’t leave if he gets up to go pee, and is just quite possibly the luckiest kid because he gets more presents between 3 families than he can comprehend.  The best part is that I don’t mind him getting so much because he is so appreciative and so thankful for everything, even the smallest things.  He has also (thank you lord) learned the concept of true praying and I frequently hear him asking for forgiveness when he feels its needed.  Oh that sweet boy has a heart of gold and steals my heart over and over again. When I think that I can’t possibly love him anymore than I already do, he does or says something utterly amazing and all I can do is thank God for giving HIM to ME!

My parents and brother are coming in a couple days.  I am really looking forward to spending time with them.  Speaking of Christmas gifts.  Cool, “Uncle Jack” is determined to buy Braeden a Wii for Christmas.  He won’t give up even though it seems next to impossible to find one right now.  If he can’t, Braeden’s Birthday is in February which will give retailers just enough time to re-stock the shelves after the holiday “everybody HAS to have it NOW” season.

If I don’t write again before Christmas, I hope each of you and your families have a beautiful, safe, enjoyable Christmas!  Lot’s of love to you all!

………like I said, just a “quick little entry”  

“I sure do like Santa’s hair!”