My Boys and Me

If only Mike and I actually had jobs that consisted of 9-5 work M-F; if only we weren’t so busy or exhausted all the time that we could actually enjoy a cocktail once in awhile; if only there was another word to describe what Mike and I have been up to besides “work”…..How is it that Seth is back in school 3 mornings a week, which means I am not working 3 mornings a week, yet I am STILL working just as much?  We all know how much Mike works-that has not changed-but IS hopefully about to but now I am also working a lot which makes for a whole lot of work and not much play   Before the summer I was averaging 2 days a week for Holly (and every other Friday and Saturday). I knew the summer was going to be busy and that I was going to work a lot, but thought I would be back to just 2 days a week with school back in.  Well, now Holly is having major renovations/additions done to her house and has needed extra help with the kids while she deals with contractors, decorators etc.  I guess I am a little stressed, and a little down. Mike is too. We just want things to SLOW down so we can enjoy just being a family and spending time together.  The way the economy is (and the recent “negative news” we have received in that regard), its not feasible for us to work any less, unless something changes.  SO, here’s where you, my dear readers, come in.  Mike has had some positive feedback career-wise and has been moving in the direction he has hoped for and patiently waited for, during the past 3 years (after-all, he didn’t go to school and receive his Masters Degree to be a Police Officer forever).  I can’t say much more, but ask you to think of us and our “unspoken” prayer request.  Its during times like this that I really have to remember to put things in God’s hands and to be patient and not stress.  HA, easier said than done when you REALLY want something to go YOUR (or your husband’s) way. 

On a lighter note, the boys are doing great!  They are our Saving Grace among all the negatives.  Braeden is working hard at first grade and truly seems bigger and older every time I look at him.  I think he believes he is bigger and older too.  The other day he came up to me and said, “Mama, I just heard on the TV that the Phillies need help!” I scooped him up in a big hug and said, “Oh ya? I bet YOU could help them.  You could go play for them and show them how baseball is played!” His response, “Well Mama, I don’t think I can because their bats are too big!” Not that HE wasn’t big enough or that he was just learning how to play the game, but that the BATS are too big!   And then there’s Mikey…..Oh my sweet, sweet, non-stop, frequent timeout going, bunk-bed ladder climbing, Mikey……not much change.  He entertains himself with anything and everything within his reach (and eyes anything that isn’t). If only his attention span on each thing lasted longer than 5 minutes…..There are a few things he loves more than others- baths (he says bath whenever taking a bath is mentioned and could stay in the bath and play for hours), his rain-forest jumper (yup, he still jumps AND falls asleep in it), airplanes (he points up when he hears one, even if we are inside), walks outside (by hand or in the stroller).  This morning he brought me his shoes- one sandal and one tennis shoe,  kisses- he is turning into MUCH more of a little love (Mama especially likes this), his bunny (it seems like no matter where that bunny is in the house, when I say, “where’s your bunny?” he can find it), pictures of his big brother (when Braeden is not home and I say, “where’s your brother?” he will bring me a framed picture of Braeden).  He is getting better at listening, but not at eating.  He has not had anymore teeth pop through- still just 2 on the bottom and 6 up top.  He also got his first major “boo boo” that I think actually might scar. Rocky (who is about twice the size he was when we got him, and who has also taken up camp at Mike’s parents house due to Braeden’s and I’s severe allergies to him) playfully jumped on him, knocked him down and he scraped his knee on the concrete.  He barely cried! Of all the things he likes, of course there are things he doesn’t like- band-aids are one of them.  I’ve been putting neosporin on his scrape at night and I wait to put the band-aid on when I put his pajama pants on.  He knows the band-aid is there and continues to feel his knee.  This morning one of the first things he did after I took his pants off is take the band-aid off and hand it to me.  Other things he doesn’t like- the nursery at church (we got paged to go get him while in service this weekend), his new class at daycare (LONG story, but this is his last week- Mike’s Mom will be keeping him while I work starting next week), when Daddy tries to take a nap instead of play with him (he bangs on the bedroom door and says “Dadda”- like I KNOW you are in there); being straped into anything- highchair, store cart, stroller, car seat (problem is, when we don’t “secure” him, he stands up, in the highchair, in the store cart, in the stroller, and he would in the car seat, but of course he has never not been strapped in), when its time to get out of the bath, and when a “walk” is coming to an end and he sees the house; and of course, when he doesn’t get his way- HA, that one doesn’t appear as if its going to change any time soon…….I’ll keep you posted though, maybe that’s another prayer request- that Mikey stops throwing fits…..Nah, as awful and annoying as they can be, they can also be quite amusing!

Here’s a couple pictures of the boy’s new room. Mikey is not quite ready to sleep in his big boy bed, but Braeden is enjoying having his choice of top or bottom and it works out great when Harley spends the night.

Oh, another one of Mikey’s “like’s” is the “hello” (phone).  Any time he hears a phone ring, or sees anything that looks like a phone, he says, “Hello” 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers.  More soon……