Christmas Highlights

This past Christmas was wonderfully uneventful. I guess that's why it has taken me three months to post about it.

Brunch at Mimi's and Pop's

way too many gifts and dinner at Nana's and O'Dad's

Christmas morning.  So excited!

Christmas morning. It doesn't get any cuter than this. 

The boys were thrilled for their Skylander Giants, Imaginext Dino's and space and dinosaur books from Santa. Drew was so excited to get some Skylanders of his own. And Grant got Hot Head!

This is our only family picture on Christmas Day. It cracks me up. After missing his nap, cameras flashing non-stop all day, and a house full of extended family, Drew had had enough!

NewYear's Eve found us at the Music City Bowl for the VU game. They boys just don't understand how monumental this was for the Commodores. They just think Vanderbilt is always good. Here's a couple of stats... Vanderbilt's eight wins were the most since 1982. SEC wins matched the school record set in 1935. 

The boys hung in there for the whole game and the pre and post tailgate!

"Brrrrr it's cold, but we're winning!"

Who ya' with?! VU!

They won!!!!!! After a an entire day on VU's campus, we rung in the new year at home snuggled in our beds.

Mental Notes

I'm way behind in blogging. That's for sure. Posting pictures and status updates on Facebook has alleviated some of the need in me to document milestones or activities here. I still plan to post pics from the past holidays, but here's what I'm currently making mental notes of with the boys. I want to remember these little nuances that make them who they are... 

I want to remember how Grant has to have his bathroom light on and his door open just right before you can say good night.  That crusty spot behind his right ear because that's the side he always sleeps on. That he has to have the water luke warm before he will get into the bath or shower. That he wants to be a paleontologist as well as an astronaut when he grows up. That he can remember scores of football games that I don't even remember going to. That he has this incredible need to understand things like "why does food cost money?" and "how do we move?" That he copies the paragraphs from his dinosaur or space library books into a notebook so that he can have it for future reference. That he watches Sports Center every morning while eating breakfast. That he aggravates Drew and Drew aggravates him right back.That he's so much like me that we sometimes get on each other's nerves. That I never dreamed of the day he would wear a mask for Halloween. That recently I have to do a double take when sorting jeans in the laundry... I get them mixed up with mine. 

 

I want to remember that Drew often tells me "this was a great day, Mommy"  Most recently he told me this after a fun and exciting day of going to the grocery store and playing outside. That he will watch you eating and exclaim "you crushed it!!!" when you finish. That he knows all of the Skylanders names as well as their element and powers. That he still uses words like "yapkan" (napkin) and "alsolly" (also + actually), and we think it's adorable. That he loves to give bear hugs and can nearly pick up his big brother. That he let me dress him up in Grant's adorable hand-me-down pumpkim costume and loved it. That he still requests to have his classical music playing for bed time. That when you lay down with him when putting him to bed he asks you to "stay with me forever."  And, after a minute or two of snuggling or chatting he'll offer a blunt "get out of my bed." That I still creep into his room every night after he has fallen asleep to make sure he is still snuggled up with the covers and his puppy.

 

 

I want them to remeber that I love them more than anything on this earth. That I don't always show the most patience with them, but I try.  That I don't always know what's best for them, but I try. That they fill my life with joy. That I am blessed beyond belief with two healthy, happy, intelligent boys.

 

No mental notes needed for that.

Growing Up

first time camping, 9/12

This guy is growing up way too fast.  Several months away from his 4th birthday, but on most days he is already very much a 4 year old. 

Pumpkin Hill, 10/12

Here's what he is up to these days...

He can count to 30 with very little help.

He's working on handwriting.  He can draw a few letters including D's but he quickly gets frustrated or disinterested.  He continues to use both hands for coloring, eating and throwing, but uses his left hand more often than right.

With the help of frequent viewings of Dinosaur Train and his brother's obsession with dinosaurs, he can recognize and name about 20 dinosaurs.... as in Brachiasauraus and Archaeopteryx.

He still naps on most days. Well, maybe half the time.  I'm optomistic.

He has yet to get himself out of bed. Let me clarify.  He stays in bed for nap and night time until we get him up. Yep. Parents across the world are so jealous of this one. I love it. Not because he sleeps in, but because I get to greet him every morning and carry him downstairs just like I've done since he was a baby.

resting on the couch with Scout

Occasionally, he still reminds us that he's three with a temper tantrum most often on days that he has missed his nap or during a trip to Wal-mart or Target when he doesn't get a toy.  Fun times.

He goes to preschool 2 days a week.  Sometimes he cries on the days that he doesn't have school because he wants to go to school! Clearly, I need to find a longer program next year.

He's such a character and cracks us up at the things that come out of his mouth. We've finally had to insist that he stop singing "I'm sexy and I know it."  Recently, he breaks out singing "Gangnam Style."  For real.

And thus, I am coming to the realization that our baby boy if very much not a baby (or a toddler!) anymore.  There are no pull ups in the house, and there hasn't been since the summer. He's been wearing underwear at night and hasn't had an accident since I can remember.

No pull ups or diapers means there is also no diaper bag in the house.  After realizing we hadn't used it in a couple of months, I threw it in the trash.  I might have kept it for sentimental reasons, but it was simply a freebie bag that I believe the hospital gave us when he was born.  It was crusty and cracking, and now it's gone.  Sniff. Sniff.

The only things left that are toddlerish around here are a few sippy cups (which we could get rid of, but they are convenient) and a couple of potty seats (which are also convenient).

I still sniff his head frequently trying to commit that baby boy smell to memory
Admittedly, I will grab him and attempt to rock him in my lap while "shhhhing" him like we used to do when he was an infant. He gets a kick out of it and exclaims "I'm not a baby!"

As fast as he is growing up, he will always be my sweet baby Drew.

Lucky 13

Danny doesn't get much attention at all around here. Especially here on the blog.  

I'll be honest. I go through the motions of our daily routine and I often take him for granted. Not today.  

Tomorrow we will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary.  Thirteen years married.  Eighteen years together.  Let me do a little math for you.  That means we've been together for just over half our lives.

Whoa.

Seems kind of crazy to think about.  To me, it's even crazier to think about it any other way.

We just go together perfectly. His strengths are my weaknesses. He knows what I'm thinking before I even say it (okay, still working on that one). He loves me unconditionally. He has never broken my heart.  He has never let me down. He goes to work everyday to provide for his family.  He never once complains.  He's an incredible father to our boys.  He's a hands on dad who doesn't think a second thought of cleaning up the kitchen, giving the boys a bath, and putting them to bed even after a 10 hour day at the office.   He still tells me all the time how awesome I am or how pretty I look or what a good mom I am or how lucky he is to have me.  I know.  Go ahead and roll your eyes, but he does.  All. The. Time.

After 13 years of marriage, it hasn't all been perfect.  But, pretty darn close.

I write this because I know I don't tell him enough how much I love him.
I write this because I know I don't tell him enough how much I appreciate him.
I write this because I know I don't tell him enough how lucky I am to have him.

Daniel, 
I love you.
I appreciate you.
I'm so lucky to have you.  

Eighteen years ago we were Juniors in high school.  I thought I loved him then.

Truth is, I did.  But now, after all of these years, I love him so much more.