Four years ago, at this moment, I was in labor. Dylan was a true blessing, and a miracle baby. He was in perfect health, even though he was a month early. That day seems like a distant memory, but the years have passed in the blink of an eye. It's hard to believe that my baby is turning 4 today!
I am off to start his birthday, by writing him a letter. I have done this every year since his 1st birthday, and I keep them all in a box. I hunch over the paper, in the wee hours of the morning, with tears streaming down my face, as I reflect on the past year, and how blessed I am to have him in my life. Someday, I will pass these letters on to him, and all my love will pour out of them.
Happy Birthday, Dylan. You are a true miracle, a wonderful blessing, and my heart is filled with love for you.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
CatholicMart, first dentist visit, and Happy Otter
Dylan has been seriously cracking me up lately. That's a great thing, because certain aspects of my life have been rough lately, so I can always use a good laugh to get my mind off other things.
A huge Catholic Church Facility is being built near us. It is almost complete, and the place is overwhelmingly big. Grant sometimes refers to it as "CatholicMart" because it is surrounded by a ton of stores and restaurants, and seems a bit out of place. We drove by the other day, and my mom and my kids were in the car with me. She commented on how big it was, and I told her we called it CatholicMart. (I mean no harm here-most of my family is Catholic!) We got to the place we were going to, and I let Dylan out of the car. He stopped in the crowded parking lot, looked around, and said, "But Mommy, this isn't CatholicMart!"
Dylan had his very first appointment today with the pediatric dentist. I had a feeling he would do well, but I was a bit nervous. He was awesome! He actually had fun, and I loved the staff. I was very relieved to hear that his teeth were absolutely perfect, and that she didn't see orthodontics in our future. After being such a good boy, he deserved a treat.
So, we took Dylan to Toys R Us for his birthday. He was so excited to get a balloon and crown, and pick out a toy to get with his gift card. While we were there, I told him to tell me what he likes, so we can give Santa some ideas on what to bring him. He was very interested in getting a new train set for his train table.
Later, we were discussing the train sets in the car.
Dylan: I like the Happy Otter set better than the Polar Express set.
Me: I didn't see the Happy Otter set.
Dylan: No! The HAPPY OTTER set.
Me: I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't see it.
Dylan: Not Happy Otter. HAPPY OTTER!
Me: Show it to me next time we're at Toys R Us.
Dylan: Happy Otter! Like the movie Nina has!
Me: What Otter movie?
Dylan: The one about the magic boy who flies on a broom and catches balls with his mouth.
Me: What? (Long pause) OH! You mean Harry Potter!
Dylan: Yes! Harry Potter. That's what I said, mommy!
Hehe. Happy Otter.
A huge Catholic Church Facility is being built near us. It is almost complete, and the place is overwhelmingly big. Grant sometimes refers to it as "CatholicMart" because it is surrounded by a ton of stores and restaurants, and seems a bit out of place. We drove by the other day, and my mom and my kids were in the car with me. She commented on how big it was, and I told her we called it CatholicMart. (I mean no harm here-most of my family is Catholic!) We got to the place we were going to, and I let Dylan out of the car. He stopped in the crowded parking lot, looked around, and said, "But Mommy, this isn't CatholicMart!"
Dylan had his very first appointment today with the pediatric dentist. I had a feeling he would do well, but I was a bit nervous. He was awesome! He actually had fun, and I loved the staff. I was very relieved to hear that his teeth were absolutely perfect, and that she didn't see orthodontics in our future. After being such a good boy, he deserved a treat.
So, we took Dylan to Toys R Us for his birthday. He was so excited to get a balloon and crown, and pick out a toy to get with his gift card. While we were there, I told him to tell me what he likes, so we can give Santa some ideas on what to bring him. He was very interested in getting a new train set for his train table.
Later, we were discussing the train sets in the car.
Dylan: I like the Happy Otter set better than the Polar Express set.
Me: I didn't see the Happy Otter set.
Dylan: No! The HAPPY OTTER set.
Me: I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't see it.
Dylan: Not Happy Otter. HAPPY OTTER!
Me: Show it to me next time we're at Toys R Us.
Dylan: Happy Otter! Like the movie Nina has!
Me: What Otter movie?
Dylan: The one about the magic boy who flies on a broom and catches balls with his mouth.
Me: What? (Long pause) OH! You mean Harry Potter!
Dylan: Yes! Harry Potter. That's what I said, mommy!
Hehe. Happy Otter.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
He has so much to learn!
I was bathing my two crazy kids tonight, and the usual bath time wildness of splashing, kicking, and pretend swimming began. Lexie's kicks were getting dangerously close to Dylan's "sensitive" area. After multiple warnings to stop kicking, I said, "Lexie please stop kicking Dylan's balls. You are really going to hurt him!" Dylan looked at me in confusion, and said, "But mommy, I don't have any balls with me!" Grant overheard from the next room, and started cracking up, so I told him he can explain that one. Oh, the boy has so much to learn. (And mommy has to learn to censor what she says!)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
My baby girl is not really a baby anymore
Experts say that children experience a "language explosion" between 18-24 months. Lexie has had two different times so far where her vocabulary grew. Today, we have moved on to conversations. It all started this morning.
Lexie had just woken up, and I took her out of her crib. She wandered down the hallway, dragging her blanket behind her, and clutching her bunny to her cheek. She walked into the room Dylan was in, and said, "Hi Deal!" Dylan responded with a very excited, "Hi Lexie!" He then proceeded to whack his head off the handle on my treadmill, and said, "OUCH!" Lexie crouched down in front of him, and asked, "You otay, Deal, you otay?" "Yes, I'm okay, Lexie," Dylan replied. "Otay!" Lexie said. "Bye bye!" She left the room, and walked back down the hallway, leaving me standing there slack-jawed over the fact that my baby can now hold a conversation.
Later that morning, I was talking to Dylan while changing Lexie and her boyfriend, Tyler, and I realized that I was, in fact, thinking I was ready to add a third child to the family.
(But not just yet...Dylan starting Pre-K and us getting a bigger car are in order first!)
Lexie had just woken up, and I took her out of her crib. She wandered down the hallway, dragging her blanket behind her, and clutching her bunny to her cheek. She walked into the room Dylan was in, and said, "Hi Deal!" Dylan responded with a very excited, "Hi Lexie!" He then proceeded to whack his head off the handle on my treadmill, and said, "OUCH!" Lexie crouched down in front of him, and asked, "You otay, Deal, you otay?" "Yes, I'm okay, Lexie," Dylan replied. "Otay!" Lexie said. "Bye bye!" She left the room, and walked back down the hallway, leaving me standing there slack-jawed over the fact that my baby can now hold a conversation.
Later that morning, I was talking to Dylan while changing Lexie and her boyfriend, Tyler, and I realized that I was, in fact, thinking I was ready to add a third child to the family.
(But not just yet...Dylan starting Pre-K and us getting a bigger car are in order first!)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A girl and her horse
As a child, I was crazy about horses. Every Christmas and Birthday, I asked my parents for a horse. On January 8, 1992, I got my wish. Cherokee Song was the best present I have ever received.
Cherokee and I started to develop a special bond at our very first meeting.
I spent almost every day with my beloved horse. We took long, relaxing trail rides. We trained HARD for show jumping and eventing competitions. We learned together. I could often be found on Cherokee's back, reading a book or doing homework, while he munched on some hay. Even a very sprained ankle and broken bones in my foot couldn't stop me from riding.
We created many special memories together, and had an amazing bond. We grew up together.
I grew up and met my husband, and had less time to spend with Cherokee. Dylan arrived, and I had even less time to give him. When Lexie was born, my time with Cherokee dwindled to a visit every few weeks.
The horrible guilt of abandoning my beloved horse consumed me, so I began taking the kids for weekly visits. When having a child became a possibility for me, I hoped that I could share Cherokee with them someday. Now, that dream is coming true, and my children are getting the same wonderful experience with our horse as I had with him. I truly believe spending so much time with my horse made me a better person, and I hope it will be the same for them.
My first "baby" is now an old man. I know that it's only a matter of years before he leaves us, but I will treasure every minute we get to spend with him, just as I treasure all the memories I have of growing up with him.
My kids love their visits with our horse. Cherokee is always so happy to see us. More than anything, I wish he could live at our house, because he belongs with us. Lexie calls him her "baby" just as I did many years ago. As soon as Dylan and Lexie see their horse, smiles light up their faces. Cherokee stops whatever he is doing, perks up his ears, and comes strolling over to see us. He no longer races toward me, skidding to a stop in front of me, as he once used to. Time has slowed him down. Instead of running to greet me first, he greets Lexie, and then Dylan. Lexie is always first in line with a wave, and a "Hi Baby!"
Dylan loves to brush him and feed him treats, and Lexie loves to pat his nose and talk to him. As soon as I sit her on his back, her face lights up and she giggles. Dylan loves Cherokee, and Cherokee loves him right back. Cherokee ADORES Lexie. I think she reminds him of the little girl he once knew. Lexie is smitten with that horse, and it melts my heart.
Now, I am the one to stand back, and watch in amazement, as the special bond develops between MY girl and her horse.
Cherokee and I started to develop a special bond at our very first meeting.
I spent almost every day with my beloved horse. We took long, relaxing trail rides. We trained HARD for show jumping and eventing competitions. We learned together. I could often be found on Cherokee's back, reading a book or doing homework, while he munched on some hay. Even a very sprained ankle and broken bones in my foot couldn't stop me from riding.
We created many special memories together, and had an amazing bond. We grew up together.
I grew up and met my husband, and had less time to spend with Cherokee. Dylan arrived, and I had even less time to give him. When Lexie was born, my time with Cherokee dwindled to a visit every few weeks.
The horrible guilt of abandoning my beloved horse consumed me, so I began taking the kids for weekly visits. When having a child became a possibility for me, I hoped that I could share Cherokee with them someday. Now, that dream is coming true, and my children are getting the same wonderful experience with our horse as I had with him. I truly believe spending so much time with my horse made me a better person, and I hope it will be the same for them.
My first "baby" is now an old man. I know that it's only a matter of years before he leaves us, but I will treasure every minute we get to spend with him, just as I treasure all the memories I have of growing up with him.
My kids love their visits with our horse. Cherokee is always so happy to see us. More than anything, I wish he could live at our house, because he belongs with us. Lexie calls him her "baby" just as I did many years ago. As soon as Dylan and Lexie see their horse, smiles light up their faces. Cherokee stops whatever he is doing, perks up his ears, and comes strolling over to see us. He no longer races toward me, skidding to a stop in front of me, as he once used to. Time has slowed him down. Instead of running to greet me first, he greets Lexie, and then Dylan. Lexie is always first in line with a wave, and a "Hi Baby!"
Dylan loves to brush him and feed him treats, and Lexie loves to pat his nose and talk to him. As soon as I sit her on his back, her face lights up and she giggles. Dylan loves Cherokee, and Cherokee loves him right back. Cherokee ADORES Lexie. I think she reminds him of the little girl he once knew. Lexie is smitten with that horse, and it melts my heart.
Now, I am the one to stand back, and watch in amazement, as the special bond develops between MY girl and her horse.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Not Me Monday...okay, so it's almost Tuesday, but it still counts!
Click the button above, and head on over to MckMama's blog and check out her new arrival, and read some more Not Me Mondays!
It isn't me who is sitting here at 11:19 PM "watching" the Steelers game, and trying to draw my Not Me's from the depths of my tired mind.
It wasn't me who bought a box of peanut butter/fudge cookies and hid them so my husband wouldn't find them and eat them all. Of course, it wasn't my husband who found them. (How does he DO that?)
It wasn't me who got all teary eyed, while watching the kids parade around for the residents of the nursing home, and their faces light up at seeing the kids, at the annual trick or treating event.
It wasn't Dylan who went deep sea fishing in my sister's aquarium. It wasn't me who was horribly embarrassed, considering he's never done anything so blatantly naughty before.
I did not drag the kids into Target the moment the store opened to pick up a few things. I did not give in, and let Dylan get a toy even though my husband previously said no. Nor did I pick up something for Lexie, because I felt guilty for not getting her anything. I did not try to convince Dylan to not tell his Dad. It wasn't Dylan who told his Dad. Must have been another very vocal, nearly 4 year old.
It wasn't me who took the kid's to the barn on the coldest morning we've had so far this fall. I didn't feel somewhat relieved that Cherokee was just going outside to eat some hay, which meant that our visit would be short. I did not get stuck talking to the barn owner for a half hour, while Dylan and Lexie shivered in my arms.
I didn't wonder how on Earth I was going to handle 3 kids on my own, since I could barely handle my own two kids, and a chihuahua, as I took him to the vet. I wasn't on the verge of a nervous breakdown, as I stood in the office, hoping that he didn't have kidney failure like my last Great Dane. (Luckily it was just a UTI.)
It did NOT snow here in Pennsylvania, in October. No freaking way.
I have not been contemplating the idea of adding a third child to our family, since my husband brought it up Saturday night. After all, two is more than enough for me. It's not me who can't get the thought of that sweet, future baby out of my head. Nor will it be me who will fight furiously for the name Lily (Liliana) if it's a girl!
It's not MY kitchen that is almost finished. We didn't work our butts off on Saturday to get work done. I am not absolutely amazed that it just may be finished in time for Dylan's birthday party in less than 3 weeks.
Speaking of said birthday party, it's not my boy that is turning 4. It has to be another kid!
Pumpkins and more!
It was my original plan to break up all these Halloween events into mini posts, but as usual, that idea gets thrown aside. I'll just sum up the month in one big blog!
We are big fans of Halloween in this household. The kids love it, and my husband lives for it!
We started out by putting up all of our decorations. Dylan had to take a break from all the decorating. Life as a 3 1/2 year old is tough!
We then visited our favorite pumpkin patch. We perused the patch for the perfect pumpkins, took a hayride, played with some farm animals, and Dylan got his face painted and crawled through a hay maze. Dylan had a blast, but Lexie was cutting her 2nd year molars, and would not crack a single smile.
Excuse my husband's mustache...he grew it in for a costume (Freddie Mercury) and I was thrilled to shave it off that night!
We visited this pumpkin farm last year, and here are comparison pics to show how much they've grown and changed!
Last year:
This year: (Yes, those are the same tights!)
What's Halloween without at least one party?
The kiddos marched in a Halloween parade through my parent's small town.
Here is what our pumpkins ended up looking like:
Every year we go Trick or Treating at the local nursing home. We will keep that as a tradition, because the residents love it!
Finally Halloween was here! The day was unseasonably warm and beautifully sunny, and Dylan was very excited to trick or treat.
Dylan loved our new decoration:
Lexie did not.
It was finally time to trick or treat.
Dylan had a great time! He lasted for about 40 minutes before he decided he wanted to go back to Grandma's house to play and hand out candy. Lexie was a trooper, and could have gone all night!
Dylan forgot all about his candy, and never even asked for it. The next day, I gave him his bag, and he looked through and picked out a juice box. Leave it to my son to choose something healthy over all that yummy candy!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
We are big fans of Halloween in this household. The kids love it, and my husband lives for it!
We started out by putting up all of our decorations. Dylan had to take a break from all the decorating. Life as a 3 1/2 year old is tough!
We then visited our favorite pumpkin patch. We perused the patch for the perfect pumpkins, took a hayride, played with some farm animals, and Dylan got his face painted and crawled through a hay maze. Dylan had a blast, but Lexie was cutting her 2nd year molars, and would not crack a single smile.
Excuse my husband's mustache...he grew it in for a costume (Freddie Mercury) and I was thrilled to shave it off that night!
We visited this pumpkin farm last year, and here are comparison pics to show how much they've grown and changed!
Last year:
This year: (Yes, those are the same tights!)
What's Halloween without at least one party?
The kiddos marched in a Halloween parade through my parent's small town.
Here is what our pumpkins ended up looking like:
Every year we go Trick or Treating at the local nursing home. We will keep that as a tradition, because the residents love it!
Finally Halloween was here! The day was unseasonably warm and beautifully sunny, and Dylan was very excited to trick or treat.
Dylan loved our new decoration:
Lexie did not.
It was finally time to trick or treat.
Dylan had a great time! He lasted for about 40 minutes before he decided he wanted to go back to Grandma's house to play and hand out candy. Lexie was a trooper, and could have gone all night!
Dylan forgot all about his candy, and never even asked for it. The next day, I gave him his bag, and he looked through and picked out a juice box. Leave it to my son to choose something healthy over all that yummy candy!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Not me! Monday
Welcome to my 4th week (I think!) of Not Me! Monday. Click on the button above to take you to MckMama's blog for more Not Me! Mondays!
So what didn't I do this week?
I did not let Dylan listen to his knight song (Muse's Knights of Cydonia) 4 times on our drive to the stable, just because I thought his singing along and dancing to it was adorable.
It wasn't me who forgot to latch Cherokee's stall door. It certainly wasn't me who went back to say goodbye to him 3 times, and caught the open door on the last goodbye. And then peeked around the corner to say goodbye again. (Why oh why can't he live with me?)
I did not realize that my hands still strongly smelled of horse until AFTER I ate my breakfast.
I did not go into Target with my parents, to help them pick out a leapster and games for Dylan's birthday, only to leave with way more than I planned on getting.
I did not buy Lexie leg warmers. What on Earth would she do with those?
It wasn't me who eagerly perused the Toys R Us Big Toy Book to get ideas for Christmas gifts for the kids.
I was not kind of grateful that I didn't have to take the kids to a Halloween parade on Saturday morning due to the rain. Who wants to spend the morning in their pajamas?
I did not snap at my sister for the first time ever, in the middle of a Halloween party, and then walk away crying because I hate causing conflict.
It isn't me who already has Christmas presents bought BEFORE December.
I did not secretly think that Lexie was the most adorable pink bunny ever in the Halloween parade we marched in this weekend.
It wasn't me who was taking deep breaths before I got my flu shot, and hoping I wouldn't pass out in front of my kids. What an example that would be for them! I, of course, did not complain about how much it hurt to my husband later that night.
It wasn't me who finally bought much needed shoes for myself, and then decided I couldn't pass up an adorable sweater dress.
I didn't buy Dylan TWO toys, and tell him not to tell his daddy, and then roll my eyes as Dylan told his daddy that mommy bought him two toys. Stinker!
It wasn't me who wanted to rip out my hair the other night as my baby acted like a beast, only to find out that she was cutting her 2 year molars. Nor did I get a profound sense of relief over the fact that teething was almost done for us.
Oh-and that Cherry-Chocolate dump cake that keeps disappearing from my fridge...that's not me, either!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Happy 20 and 47 months, kiddos!
My babies are growing up entirely too fast! Today, Lexie turned 20 months and Dylan turned 47 months. In just one short month, Dylan will be 4. I can't believe it. Even worse, my BABY will be 2 in 4 months!
Dylan is so grown up now. There's not much baby left in him anymore. The only time I catch a glimpse of "babyhood" is when he sleeps. Tonight, he fell asleep in my arms, and I had a flashback to his baby years. Until I stood up to take him to bed, and realized he's practically as tall as me!
He proudly wore his new batman pajamas tonight, complete with light up bat wings, a cape, and matching slippers. He flew around the house, announcing that he is not Dylan, he is BATMAN! I even found myself kissing his cheek, and saying, "Goodnight, Batman" as I put him into his bed. He tells me every day that he really wants to go to school. I just think to myself, "Not yet. Please. Not just yet." But I know that time is coming all too soon. When he was born, 4 years old seemed like it was decades away. Little did I know that it would pass quicker than I could even imagine. And here he is, facing his 4th birthday in one entirely short month.
He may be my big boy, but he will always be my baby.
Lexie has changed so much in the past month, but thanks to her (lack of) hair, she still looks like a baby. Just a really ginormous baby! She has quite a vocabulary, and doesn't hesitate to use it...even when we have no clue what she's saying. I mean, how were we supposed to know that "Wah Toe! Wah Toe!" is translated to Wet Toe?
I argue with her on a daily basis. Everything is a baby to my baby doll obsessed child. The carved pumpkin sitting on our counter for example. "Eeeet sa baby!" Lexie proclaims. "No, it's not," I say. "EEETS A BABY!" Me:" NO, it's a pumpkin." This will go on an on, so I just give up and walk away. Stubborn child. I wonder who she gets it from?
My daughter has a temper on her that you wouldn't believe. She loves to scream and let her feelings be known. She beats the crap out of her big brother and ends up in time out several times a day. I would be lying if I said I didn't love her feist.
I am head over heels in love with my daughter. She exudes so much adorableness that I can't even take it! It's like sugar overload!
I won't lie to you. I love my son just as much.
Time for another? ;) Not just yet. I need another year or two! Really, though, where does the time go?
On that note, Happy 20 months and 47 months to my beautiful babies! I can't believe how far we've come.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Not me......
I am not sitting here typing this blog at 12:17 A.M. only because I know that this time is the only time I'm going to have silence, and be able to concentrate. After all, I should be in bed, so I'm refreshed when the kids wake up. Oh yeah, that's what caffeine is for. I'll stay up late just to have time to myself. Oh wait, not I.
I was not in my pajamas when the furnace guy showed up this week. I did not forgo changing into real clothes while he was here. I have dignity to maintain here! Comfort is NOT an option.
I did not let the kids share another happy meal from McDonald's and then drive to get Long John Silver's. I was not craving hush puppies and coleslaw. I learned my lesson when we last had fast food 3 weeks ago!
It wasn't me who was giddy with excitement over my best friend expecting baby #2. It's not all I've been thinking about either!
While we're on the topic of babies, I did not have 2 baby birthing dreams this week. I didn't feel the slightest bit of disappointment when I woke up and realized it wasn't true.
I did not eat 2 huge helpings of my mom's apple pie dump cake this weekend. That would mean that the hour I spent on the treadmill meant nothing!
I am not thinking right now about the cherry pie filling in the fridge. I will not head out to the kitchen to satisfy my craving with a taste.
It wasn't me who had a camcorder and Nikon slung around my neck at the pumpkin patch. I most certainly did not take 119 pictures. I'm not a crazy mom like that! It wasn't Lexie who refused to smile in every single picture I took. Of course she would smile, even though she was getting her 2 year molars.
Speaking of those 2 year molars, it's not those *bastards* that are making my baby scream for an hour when I first put her to bed at night. And it's not me who wants to tear my hair out because she is screaming like a banshee. Of course I'm not relieved that tonight was much better, and thanking the makers of motrin for it.
I didn't forget the pack and play at my house when I went to drop the kids off at my parents last night. It wasn't my dad who oh-so-graciously offered to pick it up for us, so we weren't late for our 80's party.
I didn't dress in a Mr. Rogers tee tied on the side, pegged jeans, double scrunched socks, jelly bracelets, scrunchy side ponytail, and horrific makeup yesterday for an 80's themed birthday party. My husband was most certainly not dressed as Freddie Mercury. Nor did said couple parade through my parents town, while dropping off the kids.
I did not laugh when the massage therapist, who was giving me a mini massage at the party told me that my kid's were most likely causing me to clench my jaw at night. My sweet kids would cause that? I would never cope with the stress of staying home all day with 2 kids (sometimes 3) by clenching my jaw. Of course, I wasn't sitting there, wondering how he even detected the fact that I clenched my jaw in the first place!
It wasn't me who couldn't wait to shave off my husband's Freddie Mercury 'stache. I didn't breathe a sigh of relief when he let me shave it during the party.
While we're talking about the party, we did not stay until 3:45 am. Why would a non-drinking person do that? Shouldn't she be home in bed, taking advantage of some sleep while the kids were away? It was not 27 ridiculous degrees when we left, and there was not Christmas music playing on the radio already.
That woman mentioned above, did not sleep in until 12:03 PM, and realize that she was ridiculously late in picking up the kids, but secretly relieved that she got some great sleep. And of course that woman did not want to hold her kids in her arms when she talked to them on the phone to tell them she was on her way to get them. Of course she can be away from her babies.
I did not mutter under my breath, "Dylan, I'm going to spank your a**" when my nearly 4 year old son was driving me nuts. It wasn't Dylan who overheard and told me, "Come spank my a**!" I didn't have a secret urge to abandon my anti-spank mindset and actually spank his a** for repeating what I said. And it was not me who actually giggled about it while said child was in time out.
For more Not Me! Monday's, visit THIS blog.
