July 4th

 This 4th of July was so relaxing and a lot of fun.  We started the day by going to mass and then we stayed downtown to watch the parade.  The boys had a blast watching the floats go by, but more importantly, picking up the candy that was thrown!

 Later that day our cousins came to visit.  We just hung out in our front yard all day and night playing in the water, lighting fireworks, eating cherry pie and homemade ice cream, and watching the big fireworks that were going on around us.

Kick off to Summer

 Happy Father's Day Jarod!  You are a wonderful dad. Our children are so lucky to have you as a father. 

Pretty in Pink: Sylvia at 4 Months Old

6 Months Off

Where has the time gone?  I have been so busy living life that I haven't been able to find the time to record our memories.  Mothering these three darlings has kept me extremely busy and with Andrew not napping anymore I haven't found time to sit at the computer.  I will do my best to get this blog caught up to our fast-paced lives.

To My Dominic...

What a joy you are!  I always call you my sweet Dominic because you love to show affection.  I don't know how many times a day I think to myself (and sometimes say out loud) "oh, you are so cute I could just eat you up" or "I just want to squeeze you!" You have a very sensitive side to you.  I notice that you get your feelings hurt often and always want extra hugs and kisses.  The other day you crawled up on the recliner with dad and cuddled with him so nice and peaceful for a half hour while Andrew ran around and played.  You love to be held and sit on our laps.  My favorite thing you do is lay your head on my shoulder and tuck your arms in between our bodies when I'm holding you.  Lately you have started patting my back while I pat yours, as if to say "I love you too, mom".

To contrast your sweet innocence, you have a fiery and spirited side to your personality.  You run around and yell sometimes as if you've been possessed.  The amount of destruction you can cause is unreal!  I have to be on my toes during the day and try to think one step ahead of you which is exhausting!  I can't keep track of how many times you have fallen down and bumped your head and scraped your knees.

You are my little TV watcher.  You would sit there all day if I let you (which I don't).  You will stand in front of the TV and nod your head until I turn on what you want and then plop down in the middle of the floor or assume your position on top of the ottoman. 

You play so nicely by yourself.  There have been many times throughout the day when I realize I haven't seen you in a while.  I start to worry and then I usually find you sitting in the corner by yourself looking through books.  You love to turn the pages and look at the pictures but you won't let me read to you.  I read to Andrew every night when he was little (and still do) and I haven't even been able to read you one book!



You are really growing up.  I absolutely love your gibberish that you speak.  It sounds like you are speaking a real language with voice inflections, facial expressions and complete sentences.  Only I can't understand a word of it, even though you know exactly what you are saying.  You have officially said your first words, aside from mama and dada: shoe, mmvie (movie) and choo-choo. 

 

I am so enjoying watching you grow and develop your own personality.  I know it won't be too long before you will want to be completely independent, so for now I will take as many sweet hugs and kisses as you'll give me and let you sit in my lap as long as you want.

 

I love you with all my heart!

 



To My Andrew...

Being a mother is truly amazing...especially being your mother, Andrew.  Dad and I commented the other day that you are quite the character, which must have offended you because you chimed in, "I'm not a carrot, or a celery!"  The intense love that we have for you is indescribable.  There are times when I am so overwhelmingly frustrated with your behavior and then the very next minute I look at you and am overcome with a love so strong that my heart actually aches. 

 

You are growing up right before our eyes.  We can see the changes and new things you are learning everyday and are amazed by it.  Just before your 3rd birthday you made the transition to a big boy bed and we took away your paci (which I had been dreading for a long time).  You handled it so well.  You are at a stage where you can understand things and we can reason with you which made getting rid of the pacifier pretty easy.  Dad had a long conversation with you about it which ended with you throwing your paci in the trash.  You went right to sleep with out it and at times would ask for it.  All we would have to do is say "Where is your paci?" and you would reply, "it's in the trash" and that would be the end of it. 

 

 

 You were so excited about sleeping in your new bed.  I just loved watching you that first night as we tucked you in.  You snuggled up close to Mickey and Bob and pretended to fall right asleep.  It wasn't much longer after we said goodnight when you came walking out into the living room.  So we tried it again.  Over and over that first night you got out of bed saying you were scared. You finally drifted off to sleep at 11:45 pm.  I am so amazed that that was the only night you had problems.  From then on out you have been going to bed so well.  We read a story, say prayers, you hop in bed and in the sweetest voice you repeat to us "goodnight, I love you, see you in the morning."

 

 

You are a very caring big brother.  You  have been chasing after Dominic saying "stay right here, stay right here" so you can give him a hug.  When Dominic falls down or pushes a toy over you are right there saying "are you alright?" and you pick up the toy that was knocked over.  You love to hold Sylvia and give her hugs and kisses.  I love how her face lights up when you are smiling at her. 

 

 

 You still love to be outside.  You zoom down the sidewalk with your tractor faster than ever.  Mowing the lawn gets you so excited.  The neighbors all laugh when they see you pushing your tractor up and down the lawn along side us when we mow.  You have become scared of your new bike after falling over on it.  Now, you will only ride it around in a circle in the garage which makes me sad because I know how much you loved to ride your old one. 

 

 

 You are obsessed with the movie Toy Story and are constantly asking to watch "Woody".  Throughout the day I hear you repeating lines from the movie.  My favorite is when you yell "YOU ARE A TOY!" and "YOU GOT THE WRONG BUZZ!" You love to sing songs from the PBS show Daniel Tiger: "When you have to go potty, stop and go right away.  Flush and wash and be on your way!", "Clothes on, eat breakfast, brush teeth, put on shoes and off to school" and "You can take a turn and then I'll get it back."

 I love you with all my heart!

Mothers Day

 

This Mother's Day I got to spend the day with both my mom and my mother-in-law.  We went to church together and then out for brunch. 

 

I am blest to have two wonderful women in my life helping me while I experience the joys and hardships of mothering.  They love their grandchildren dearly and have both promised to come spend some time with us this summer.  We can't wait to have them!