My perceptive pal

I am always surprised at the things that Brady picks up on, especially when I don't even think he is paying attention.   He is always in tune, always aware.  Earlier this week, as he was getting set up to practice his guitar, I was trying to prep dinner, and rally the rest of the troops (Evan & Maddox), Brady looks at me and says: "Being a mom is hard.  Isn't it?"

Yes, Brady.  Yes, it is.

We then had a little heartfelt talk about anything worth having (like my boys) is hard work....I love these little impromptu heart-to-hearts....but, more than that, I love my little perceptive pal, Brady.

Tis the Season.....

to be jolly....and entertained.  So fun enjoying the Christmas fun with these boys.

"patiently" awaiting their ornaments

This Christmas season has been a lot of fun.  A lot of sweet memories with the little men in my life.  This year is the first year that Maddox has been able to talk about - and enjoy - so many of the festivities.  He is loving all the Christmas lights around town and gleefully yells "lights, lights" every time he sees them.  He is dancing in his car seat to all the Christmas music.  Although he was very afraid of Santa Claus this year when we went to visit him and have their picture made,

he still loves any picture, yard blow up, statue, decoration, etc. of Santa he sees. Even Santa himself - from a distance.  When he sees him - he says, very excitedly - "Sanna Cause", "Sanna Cause"!  The best part is if you ask Maddox "What does Santa Claus say?"  He says "Ho, ho, ho!"  It is so stinkin' cute!!

sweet Maddox saying "ho, ho, ho" after Zoolight Safari

He has enjoyed looking at, grabbing, and stealing "annie cayes" (candy canes).  This was the first year he really played with the kids' nativity set and he liked standing in front of the fireplace and pointing at each stocking and saying who it belongs to...."Daaah-eee" (Daddy), "Mommy", "Eh-vee" (Evie, one of Evan's nicknames), "Bray-ee" (Brady), and "My-ahn, My-ahn" (Mine).

Brady was awesome when we went to see Santa.  We went really early, I believe it was the Sunday before Thanksgiving, although I usually have a rule preference: "no Christmas until Thanksgiving is over."  With that said, since we went early, apparently Brady had not had the time to think through what he wanted to ask Santa for.  So as we are walking through the not-yet-crowded mall to go stand in the non-existent line to see Santa (benefit of going before Thanksgiving), I notice Brady has a concerned look on his face.  I ask him what is bothering him - and in all seriousness - he says "Nothing, Mom.  I am just thinking about what I am going to ask Santa.  I have not had a chance to think about it yet."  So he continued his focused thought as we walked the rest of the way through the mall to where Santa was waiting.   His focus and mature seriousness was so palpable....is he really only 6 1/2 years old?

The two older ones went and sat with Santa first - wanted to give them a minute to chat with Santa and get them in perfect picture position - before adding Maddox to the mix for the picture (we had a strong feeling this would be the year he would be afraid of Santa - we were right).  They chatted for a bit (again, the benefit of going early - no line) and then we threw Maddox on his lap for the typical crying pic that all three of my boys have at about the same age.

When we walked away from Santa to head to our car, Chris and I asked Brady about his conversation with Santa.  He told us what he asked Santa for and then he looked at Chris and said that he asked Santa the questions they discussed.  I asked what questions he was talking about.  He said - in all seriousness, all business - "I asked him about the abominable snowman and the reindeer."  "He said that he has heard some rumblings...probably the abominable snowman.  He said the reindeer are ready to make the deliveries."  I love his matter-of-fact deliveries and his very serious inquisitiveness - that mixed with a dose of "I am still 6 years old so I am young and innocent enough to believe the sweet joys of things like Santa Claus" make him pretty irresistible.

making a gingerbread house with Brady in his class

Evan has been enjoying singing some of his favorite Christmas songs this Christmas season.  One in particular that he has really gotten into, and proclaimed his favorite - and Chris and I have immensely enjoyed hearing him sing - is the 1984 song "Last Christmas I Gave you my Heart" by Wham!  Whenever it comes on the radio, Evan will quickly say: "this is my song".  He will then proceed to belt out every last word to his Christmas favorite.  The sound of his sweet voice singing is - of course - a "joyful noise".  Also, the seriousness and attention to detail that is put into his performances, is impeccable...remarkably so for a three-year-old.

Evan singing his little heart out, even with all the distractions as we drove around looking at Christmas lights

First I love you

or more accurately "uhv you"! Oh melt my heart. Last night as I am getting ready to walk out the door for work, I am telling all my boys good bye and I love you. Little man, Maddox, is about to sit on his potty and I had just finished freshening up on the bathroom when I say "Bye baby, I love you." He looks at me and says - for the FIRST TIME - "uhv you"....oh my, love this little man a little bit more now, if possible.

 Sweet Maddox with his Rudolph nose at story time

Evanspeak

Evan made me chuckle a couple of times today. Chris, Maddox, and I have the flu 😞. We are trying to prevent Evan and Brady from catching it so we are constantly telling them to stay away from us.

Today as I am trying to get Evan ready for preschool, I call him over to me to put his shoes on him. Remembering what I have told him about staying away from us, he looks at me as he is walking in front of me and says: "Now I have the flute". "I am near you, I have the flute now. I don't want the flute."


Later this afternoon, Brady is on my laptop doing spelling homework. Evan never sees Brady on my laptop because it is not often that he is on it and usually when Brady is doing his homework it is when Evan is still napping. Evan looks over at Brady on my laptop and says, with the cutest little giggle, "you a mom, Brady." I guess in Evan's little mind, only moms use laptops 😀

Potty training already?!?!?

Sounds crazy but a part of me really hopes not! I am not ready....it is a good bit of work and effort for the mom parents, with the holiday season, all the winter clothes, etc. I just am not up to it right now.  Also my sweet boy is my last baby so I do not want him to grow up....ever!! I am still trying to figure out how to keep him little.  So how did this precious nugget:

Start pooping in the potty at 20 months old:

 

 

I guess he was ready!  At about 18-20 months old I decided to take the potty out for Brady and Evan so that they could become familiar with it, not be afraid of it, it be a part of their routine, etc. Then when it was time to really potty train the boys at just past 2 years old, they would be ready for it.  So with Maddox I decided it was time to pull the potty out in October since he will be two years old in February.  The first night, we sat him on it before his bath and nothing happened. The second and third night, he peed in it...WOOO HOOO!!! The fourth night he pooped in it!  WOW!! I could not believe it.  Now a month and half later, he has pooped several times in the potty, pees in it almost daily, and talks about it as well.  I guess I may consider potty training after the holidays, before he is even two years old.  I guess it is time to resign to the fact that he is really going to grow up : (



I HAVE A CHILD WHO IS SLEEPING ALL NIGHT IN UNDERWEAR DRY!!!!!

I am sooo happy!!! My big guy, Evan, is staying dry all night.  I have a child that is not sleeping in a diaper or a pull-up and is dry.  I am thrilled.  For the past 6 1/2 years I have put a diaper of some sort on every child I have.  Brady is one of those really hard sleepers, who according to my pediatrician we just have to wait it out.  Although he was day-time dry at two years and two months, he has not had a dry night EVER!  The fact that my Evan is dry and out of diapers at night, is awesome!!!  I finally have a child that I do not have to buy diapers for.....wooo hooo!!!!  We took him to pick out a toy and he chose a Thomas Take N Play set.  He is growing up!

Weighty Words

There are times as a Mom that I wish my kids would just close their mouths....either it is just too much, too many words or what is coming out of their mouths that I can not handle....sometimes both. 

In the middle of all the "noise" there are little nuggets of sweetness that escape their lips that warm my soul like chicken noodle soup when I have a cold. 

This past Thursday I was given one such nugget....while laying in the chair and a half with Brady reading for school, he was laying against the back of the chair and I was laying next to him on the edge of the chair, he looked at me and said: "Mommy, I like laying like this with you."  I said: "You do, why bud?"  He said: "I feel cozy, you make me feel safe...safe from the whole world, safe from strangers."  I said: "I do, bud?  That makes me very happy. I hope you always feel safe with Mommy because I love you so much and I would do anything for you to be safe."  It was very difficult to keep the tears from flowing...be still my heart!