Hairy = Grown

A couple of days ago, while driving down the road, Evan yells "Mom, Mom, I am growing hair!" Me: " Growing hair?"  While studying his legs, he says: "Yes, on my legs.  Look!! I am growing hair on my legs.  I am growing up!"

😀

Catching Up

Over the past month or so I have had lots of thoughts, many moments, and several conversations that I have wanted to journal and record for prosperity sake.  I have not taken the time to do so....now it is time for me to just dump out the hodge podge of things I can remember and have thought: "I want/need to remember that so I can journal it."

"Maddox-isms":

• Evie (Ehhvie) - the only name Maddox has for Evan
• "I wuv you"
• wahgola bar (granola bar)
• Me drink water, me go potty, etc.  Instead of "I", he says "Me"
• Instead of cute, he says coot and he argues who is cute.  If you tell him he is cute, he says: "I not coot, you coot."
• He has extended the above to all things..."I not funny, you funny."  "I not hot, you hot"
• "No, I do it!"  He says this often and quite determined.  He is quite the Mr. Independent.
• You can tell he has two older brothers and the influence they have on this sweet little two year old:
• "You mean, Mommy" (when things are not going their way)
• "You nice, Mommy" (when things have taken a turn their way)
• "You cray cray, Mommy" (so funny/inappropriate/cray cray for his age)
• AND at the most random times....."I jus keeding.  Wattevah"  (I'm just kidding.  Whatever."  Chris and I LOVE how his sweet little voice sounds when he says this.
• My favorite.....for the first time, a week ago - in the most angelic & sincere voice - he looked in my eyes, with no alterior motive, and said "Momma, you my bess fren" (best friend)

"Chillaxing" in the sun

Evan has amused/warmed me with some funny statements/sweet actions as well:

• Last week while playing in the playroom I came to check on Evan and he pulled on the waistband of his shorts, looked in and said - out of the clear blue sky - "It's always changing, Mom."  Me: "What is always changing?"  Evan: "My penis.  It keeps changing.  All the time.  It changes, then changes back."  Good times : )
• This summer I took care of my friend's baby a few times and Evan was so sweet, so nurturing that it just touched my soul (knowing how crazy and rambunctious he can be).  He would get his lovie out of his bed because "it will help Baby Levi sleep better".

Sharing a cupcake on a date with Mr. Adorable

 

Brady:

• I am so proud of this guy...this summer our number for Shades Cliff pool was finally up. I was so excited for us to have the pool to enjoy for the summer.  I decided to sign Brady up for the swim team in order to strengthen his swimming skills and to build his confidence in his ability.  He had a hard time at first...not knowing the terminology and feeling inadequate.  He quickly recovered with GREAT, caring, cool coaches.  Then they moved to the DEEP end and he felt like he would sink to the bottom.  He was so afraid.  A lot of coaxing, tears, encouraging, loving, etc and he finally overcame his fear.  The coaches were phenomenal...they were kind, patient, and extremely encouraging.  Coach David took Brady under his wing and he really built Brady's confidence and developed his swimming skills.

Brady at his first swim meet

Hairy as a Grandpa

Today I had to work at Prince of Peace for their staff development at their preschool. While I had the kiddos on the playground, Evan said: "You are starting to look like a grandpa.". I looked at him and said: "What?".  He looked at my arm where I have a mole on it - It has a lovely black hair growing out of it (a REAL beauty) -  and says: "What is that?" (pointing at my arm).  I said: "It is a hair."  He says: "You are going to look like Daddy if you grow hair there."  HILARIOUS!!!

End of an Era

"I am sitting in the hospital bed waiting for my surgery.  This morning I am closing a chapter in my life.  I am having my tubes tied and a uterine ablation.  At 38 years old, with three healthy beautiful boys, the time for Chris & I to create our own children has come to an end.  So why is this hard?  Why am I sad?  I guess it is because it is the end of an era, the closing of a chapter, a forever farewell."

As I waited for the nurse and the anesthesiologist to come get me and wheel me back to the O.R. the above is what I journaled.  This was on July 1st.  I did not get to complete my post before they came to get me so I am taking the time to do that today - 3 weeks post op.  I remember how I felt that day and the fear I had in regard to going under anesthesia.  I had gone under anesthesia two other times in my life and woke up just fine but neither time was I a mother.  I woke up fine.  I recovered - for the most part - fine, albeit an allergic reaction and 8 consecutive days with a fever.  I still feel Chris and I made the right choice for our family but I still feel sad at the end of babies and the reality of not having a daughter - if I let myself.

Thank you LORD for my three healthy, beautiful, fun-loving boys!!  I am not worthy of such a gift.

Swingin' Good Time

Guess who can swing all by himself now?

THIS GUY:

 

 

Yesterday while playing outside he jumped on the swing and started swinging.  I was relaxing in the sun when I looked over and realized that Brady was swinging all by himself.  This is something we have talked about and I have tried to push encourage him to do for a couple years now so I was shocked.  I asked him how he learned.  He said: "I learned last night."  The night before we were over at a friend's house with some other kids and apparently he taught himself or decided to do what they were doing.....either way, he did it and he was soooo excited about it.  Several times yesterday and today he asked if he could go outside and swing....love these little progressions : )

BEDlam

has been invited to my house.  Chris and I (okay, not fair to share the blame with someone who did not ask for it) decided to move Maddox in to the bedroom with Brady & Evan.  I found a loft bed on Craigslist that was elevated for Evan but not as high as the top bunk that Brady sleeps in.  I painted it and we put it in Brady & Evan's room next to their bunkbeds. 

Evan's first time in his new bed - 5/24/13

Then we moved Maddox into the bottom bunk that Evan used to sleep in.  He looked so tiny in that big full bed.  He was so excited to sleep in his big boy bed - "new beeg bed, mommy."  But he definitely was much more excited to be sleeping in the same bedroom with his brothers.  They are his favorite people on the planet!

Maddox in his big boy bed for the first time - 5/24/13

I am probably crazy for doing this....odds are I will regret it.  I won't know unless I try it and the extra space with the nursery freed up will be nice to have.  Last night they all did great....went right to sleep.  We went to a friend's house for a get together so the kids went to bed later than usual.  It helped as they were so worn out that the novelty of all being together was overshadowed by their fatigue.  The first night was a success.  Night two - tonight - not so well, as I am typing this, Chris had to evict Maddox and put him back in his crib in the nursery.  After many warnings and the threat of an eviction, it had to be done.  He and Evan were just being too rambunctious and chatty.  All the while, Brady was out cold!  Hopefully, with Maddox's disappointment over the "move", tomorrow night will go much smoother.  Here's hoping...

Evan is four!

Our EvJ turned four on the 12th. It is really hard to believe that it has been four years since Evan was born. He is a feisty boy, spicy and full of life and oh, so passionate! He brings me to my knees in anguish and fatigue at times. He squeezes me so hard at times with passion that I can not breathe. He reminds me often, "you my princess, momma, I love you".  And what a prince he is!  I'm afraid this little love bug is gonna be quite a heart breaker.