My Sweet Moo!

**Typed 10.18.12  Next time push PUBLISH.  Duh.


Hip! Hip! HORRAY!!  Today is THE day!  After "too many sleeps!"  The day is finally here. . .my precious little Moo is THREE!!!!!

It feels like it was yesterday, about 4pm when our sweet little redhead buddy entered the world.

It feels like moments ago when his big brother walked in and saw the standard hospital hat on this precious newborn. . .you know the one.  With the pink and blue stripes on it?  The boy instantly did his best to grin and look excited while asking, "Is it a girl?!"  To watch, seconds later, as his grin turned to absolute out of control joy to learn that this precious baby was a BOY!!!!!!!  That is a moment in time that I will never, ever forget.

It feels like, with this Moo, we will forever be kept on our toes!  Adventures with this child are waiting around each and every corner!  His smile is contagious, his giggle absolutely infectious!  His tales as we ride in the car. . .completely priceless.  We love to sing songs together. . .a favorite together is "You Are My Sunsine. . ."  I sing some of it, stop, and wait for him to fill in the tune.

Mama:  "You are my. . . "
Moo:  "BEST FRIEND!!!"
Mama:  "My special. . . ."
Moo:  "BEST FRIEND!!!!"
Mama:  "You make me HAPPY!!!!......"
Moo:  "When skies are GREY!!!!!!!!!"
Mama:  "You'll never know. . . ."
Moo:  "Dear....how much I WUB you. . . "
Together:  "So please don't take my SUNSHINE away!!!!!"
Moo:  "AGAIN!!!"

And so we go again.

Another car ride tale. . . .as we are driving down the road, he will see something and declare. . . "Isn't that AMAZING, Mom?!?!?"
Mom:  "What is it that you see that's so Amazing, Moo?"
Moo:  "Well. . . that parking lot filled with cars. . . or that man crossing the road. . .or that girl on her bike. . . or the leaves on the tree. . . "

He has so many priceless responses.  Those responses are reminding me how important it is to slow down and notice how AMAZING everything around us is.  

Oh, I am so in LOVE with this little redheaded wonder of mine.  xo 

Toddlers.

Brotherhood.

It's days like this that I need to look at this picture and remind myself of how very short this toddler stage really, really is.  Today, however, it feels like it may never end.

Starting first thing this morning with the following:

"Mom!  Don't call the ambulance!  I not hurt, I just crazy!!!!!  OKAY??????"  exclaimed by Moo all while scaling the back of the couch.  He is TWO.  Two.  We are so two today.

How do you suppose one responds to THAT?!?!  I have yet to decide.  Needless to say, I didn't call the ambulance.

Why this obsession with the ambulance?  I'm not sure.  Maybe he's still reliving our trip to children's from the dog bite.  The one that resulted in stitches in the palm of his hand and many, many, many two-year-old conversations revolving around drs., hospitals, sick, hurt, and more ambulance-hospital-talk-type-stuff.  Back it up to stitches.  Moo couldn't even say stitches.  So, all week long he's ask me to check his "*itches"  Yep.  Insert the b.  How do you not giggle at THAT?  WE have since corrected him and done everything to not laugh hysterically when he mentions them.  That and kick ourselves for not getting it on video.

So back to the ambulance obsession.  It's all we can focus on.

We continue with our day.  All of which has included a head first dive into a matchbox car, resulting in splitting the skin between upper lip and nose, a head first dive into the step all while running away from HEHO who, according to Moo is, "being MEAN mama, and he being a BUG!"  ***The split however did NOT result in a trip to Children's for some *itches.  Just a lot of tears about "I don't wanna go to the hospital!  Don't call the ambulance."

The day has been filled with "please walk, Moo. . .you need to slow down please, are YOU being a GOOD listener?  Moo, walk please, Moo, you're going to get a bad owie!!!  Please sweetie, you must sit still for just a moment, maybe it's time for you to lay down and relax a little bit, YES. ..a nap!  We should take a nap!  Please don't hit your b-ollie.  Moo, please keep your hands to yourself.  Hands are for hugging, not hitting.  No, you don't have to sleep. . . yes, you can just look at books and have a little chill time.  You're not tired?  Okay.  Let's watch some show."

Yep.

That lasted all of 25 minutes.  Both littles pulled a complete and full-fledged Nap Boycott today.  So we snuggle and relish in days like these.  The days I'm BLESSED enough to be at home with them.  These perfect, toddler filled, catch-'em-if-ya-can, wonderful, joy. . .followed by just a bit of stress. . .filled days.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.  This teaching thing truly gives me the best of BOTH worlds.  Even though I have said many times over the past decade+ of teaching that August is really just one long Sunday night. . . even on a day like today. . .I just need it to SLOW DOWN.  Please.
I continue to beg Father Time. . . please, just slow it down.  I know that I tell friends frequently that you and I are NOT on speaking terms, Father Time. . .but please.  Let me just be still with these toddlers and love on them every moment I can.


Oh, and the phone is ringing!  Moo:  "I'll get it!  I'll get it!  I'll get it". . . .really?  Does he even know how to answer the phone?

Please, slow down.  I pray. . . slow it down and keep my littles and the boy safe.  xo

LOVE This Day!!!

July 25th.  I love EVERYTHING about this day!  It's the day we became a family.  It's a day that I had dreamed about, planned for, and lived for.  

The day itself was beyond perfect. . . a picture perfect HOT summer day filled with joy, friends, love, family, and precious moments.  The boy walked me down the aisle, promises were made, candles were lit, flowers were breathtaking, we celebrated life and held dear the ones who weren't able to join us.  We served our guests communion, we were joined by the most dear angels on earth to celebrate with us, we ate, we drank, and we were filled with The Spirit who joined us in blessing this day.    We danced the night away.  Everything was just as it should have been and all was, and still is, well with the world.  Love is amazing.  Wow.  Beyond blessed, still.

Love!

Joy!

The boy, who for months stated "WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!  I'm TOO excited to sleep!!!!!"

I wouldn't change a thing.  xo

**Photos courtesy the beautiful Em of M Photography.  Amazing.

The Boy and His Dog.

What is it about a boy and his dog?  It's this unspeakable bond of fun, understanding, love, rough-housing, wrestling, and snuggles.  We have been blessed with all of the above from our awesome dog Wrigley.  

He's my dog and I'm his boy.

And so today, I just need a moment.  A moment to hold on to what I so loved about this dog.  As a single mom for 10 years, this is the last link to THAT life.  I don't ever want THAT life back, but of the wonderful things that came out of that life, this dog was one of them.  He was my reason for my feet to hit the floor on the weekends when the boy was away.  That howl, those big brown eyes, and floopy ears, this buddy who needed to be walked, fed, snuggled, and played with.  And that is exactly what I did.  The boy knew in his heart that this dog was HIS and his alone, but he had no clue to the therapy, healing, annoyance, and love that was gifted to me unconditionally while he was away.  

Sweet pup

I need a moment.  I don't do good-byes. . . .I actually don't even enjoy the "see-ya-laters!"  A piece of my heart is broken today as I say my "see ya when we get there" to our precious Wrigley.  And more than ever, I hope the good Lord has a boat for ya to ride on, a pig's ear for you to hide in His couch, and a big lap for you to enjoy.

Love ya Riggs.

xo

Until we meet again, Wrigley.
Thank you for being the most loyal and loved dog on the block. xo

Long live the nana!

We had a super big day around here yesterday.  Moo, the lover of all nanas, had a very special visitor.  Let me back up just a little bit.  About two weeks ago we had the pleasure of getting his teeth cleaned for the very FIRST time.  He's got about 4 more months until he turns three, so I figured it was about time.  He's great at brushing, his teeth look great, with the exception of a space in the front that the Dr. stated was caused by sucking on his nana.  So, the Dr. very gently suggested that it might be time to give it up!  Along with that suggestion was the hint that while we're giving it up for Moo, we might as well give it up for the little bug as well before it does to much damage!

So, Moo has recently become obsessed with Buzz and Woody and I figured, boy, what 2.5 year old wouldn't LOVE to have two new buddies to play with in exchange for all of the nanas in the house!?!?!?  Yesterday was the day!  Heho even got in on the action.  Distracting Moo while we set things up and we all headed up to the room to do a little "picking up" only to discover that the nanas were gone at there were a few new toys on his bed!  Oh, the excitement that filled those little eyes!!!  He picked up Buzz and Woody and hugged them so tightly and then gently placed them back on the bed.  He turned to us and said, "Oh no!  The nana fairy has come.  She taked all my nanas to give to little babies that need them.  Oh, no!!!"  If only you could see his little hands held out in front of him, and to hear his very breathy sigh as he realized that this was the end of the nana affair for him.  (And the little bug!)

The afternoon went on, and Buzz and Woody were played with constantly.  They were never more than an arm's length away from Moo and after a tubby we prepared for bed.  I very gently reminded him that he had to gather his new buddies to join him in bed so that he would have company, and that tonight he was a REALLY BIG BOY without a nana!  Oh, I laid it on thick.  And, it went perfect!  He hopped right up into bed, snuggled his blankie and his new "Best Friwends"  (Yes, that's how he says it, with the 'w'!) and he was out for the count.  He even made Mama and Dada so proud. . .as this was the first night in 5 consecutive nights that we WERE NOT woken up at 3:30am to help him go and find the nana that fell out of his mouth.  I still woke around 3am, but didn't get up. . .just lifted a little prayer of thankfulness that he was still sound asleep and had no nana to search for!  Whew.

Whew.

What a relief!

Then came nap time today.  He was laying so silently in his bed all snuggled in and I was SURE he was asleep.  Then came the frequent trips OUT of bed.
Round 1:  "I not tired, Mama."
Round 2:  "B-ollie seeping, Mama."
Round 3:  "I firsty (thirsty) Mama."
Round 4:  "Woody not tired, Mama."
Round 5:  "I don't want Buzz and Woody no more, Mama.  I need my nana."

Round 6, 7, and 8. . . quite similar to round 5.  Sigh.

After a little rocking, some snuggles, and praying with him about his beloved NANAS, the moo is FINALLY asleep.

What does all of this mean?  Dada is in charge of bedtime tonight.

I just don't ever want to forget!

This one is for my sweet, perfect, and precious littlest one.  I don't ever, ever want to forget the fun and entertaining details of that winter day when you arrived.  February 18, 2011!  Two weeks earlier than predicted due to this mama having high blood pressure.  I was completely okay with that, as I was BEYOND done being pregnant.  D. O. N. E.  That, and I just couldn't wait to meet you.  I knew you were going to be perfect and I just KNEW you were going to be a GIRL!!!!!!!!!  

You, my little bug, were different than your brothers. . .every day of the 38 weeks was different.  I was as green as green could be. . .the whole time.  So, I prepared myself for a girl.  I just had "this feeling" and just knew!  I had a girl name. . .Finley Grace.  You were going to be my precious, pink wearing, dance lesson takin', pedicure loving little Finley Grace.  Your brothers were going to protect you, never let you date, and dote upon you unlike anything we've ever experienced before!  Your daddy and I loved the name, and I can't even count the number of times that I whispered that name while laboring.  Speaking of laboring, I must be honest with you when I let you know that it was a bit less than delightful.  It was exactly what they call it.  Labor.  A TON of work.  Above and beyond that, I was armed with pink goodies to welcome you to this wonderful family of ours!  I could hardly contain my excitement.  Your daddy had asked a few times if I brought anything blue, just by chance you were a boy.  I confidently reassured him, that I had. . .but there would be no need for it!  I just knew and was so excited!  Everything was going just perfectly, like I had planned. . .and then the meds didn't work, the pain meds didn't touch a thing let alone take the edge off, and our precious nurse walked us through the entire process with faith and grace better than anything I could have every prayed for!!!

So, while being induced with you, things really started to kick into high gear!  We began getting more and more check-ins from our nurse F.  In her very special way, she told us stories the entire day while we waited for your very special arrival.  We heard all about the two children she had in Africa, and the one she had here.  We learned of her desperate longing to move her Mother here to the states.  Stories about her husband and the laughter they share.  Tales of the JOY she experiences doing this line of work.  Each story was more welcoming to our ears as the one before!  Daddy and I tried to keep each other distracted, we even attempted soft music, a movie, and dreamed of a quick nap.  Nothing worked.  The only time that I felt even the slightest bit of relief and peace was when our nurse would be by my side telline me about her family and her life.  The peace in her voice was soothing, kind, gentle, and had just an edge of excitement.  Her stories were alway about her children and her family in Africa.  The accent was thickShe was a bundle of heaven with a smile that could light up the sky, and she was there to help us!  I had never, ever felt so lucky in my life!  This woman knew what she was doing.  The only bad part was that it was almost 1pm, and she got off at 3pm.  Boy, did we have a ways to go.

I recall the story of her three children the best of all.  I had finally asked F, "What did you name your three children."  And she responded with telling us that in Africa, they give their children very spiritual names that have very precious meanings to us.  She has three boys and loves them so very dearly.  Her first boy, she stated they were just so excited to have a son!  She and her husband gave him the African name of "Gift from God!"  I could not even begin to believe how beautiful a name that was!  The way she pronounced his name brought tears to my eyes, as well as hers!  She continued to tell us about her second son, again she was thrilled for a boy, so they named him the name that has the African meaning "Blessed by God!"  Really?  Gift and Blessed?!  Yep!  Doesn't get any better than that!  So, I asked her about her third son as she took my hand and gently sat down on the edge of my bed.  Well, she then looked into my eyes and recalled how desperately she wanted her baby to be a girl.  She loved her sons, just like I do, but had this want and was praying it would be fulfilled with baby no. 3.  She stated that she loves her third son, just like the first two, but really struggled find a name for him, because she was SURE she was having a GIRL.  ( starting to sound familiar?!?!  HA!)  So, as she held my hand, she said, "Well, he wasn't a girl.  So, we named him the African name for 'THIS is how God wanted it to be.'"  In that moment, with the serious look of deep understanding that I was just starting to grasp, the three of us laughed hysterically.  With that, she left the room.  We just sat there and looked at each other as the Mr reminded me, it's really not up to us if it's a girl or not. . .we just need to be prepared for this. . . . and we sure were prepared.  To love our little bug, boy or girl.

A few hours past F's planned departure time, there she was, still with us.  She had told her supervior she was not leaving until WE (yes, all three of us) had this baby and we knew if it was a boy or a girl!  She stayed by our side, she was heaven.  Right there in our room.  God had sent her to us and she was truly amazing.  From start to finish.  F blessed our entire walk that day as we welcomed our sweet, perfect, and precious THIRD BOY into this family.  

Mama & Little Bug

You, my perfect little one, are NOT a Finley Grace.  You are an Oliver Finn and we love you so very much.  We were blessed to have Dr. O usher you in, and she smiled at me and said, "It's a BEAUTIFUL and PERFECT Boy!!!"  She was never more right!  Daddy was over the moon thrilled as he reminded me that he feels so strongly that I am just meant to be the mother of boys.  My heart soared when they placed you in my arms. . .you were familiar, so tiny. . .my little pipsqueak!  My smalled bundle weighing in at 7lbs 11 oz.  You smelled like heaven and were calm, sweet, perfect, and BLESSED.  I could NOT have been more thrilled to be holding you, my perfect boy, in my arms.  Then I looked at the bag and thought, it's okay!  I have 13 weeks of a maternity leave to return all that pink!  Auntie C sent an email with all of your stats to the whole building of teachers stating we added another BOY to our team and that we were over-the-moon excited.  Truer words have never been spoken!  Auntie W brought a bag filled with darling goodies from Oh Baby!, one of our favorite shops and oooood and ahhhhed over how precious you were!  Auntie M stopped in the visit and got some special snuggle time in.  Moo was excited that he was given some new toys from some dear and precious friends, and being 16 months to THE DAY older than you, didn't really know what in the world was going on.  HEHO?  Well, being the fun dude that he is, never missed a beat!  He looked at the board that had your name on it in our hospital room and pumped his fist with a "YES!  It's a BOY!  SWEET!"  That was quickly followed with "Oliver Finn, don't let one it!  He can be our own little Ole the Goalie, Mom!"  Heho was SURE that as soon as you could sit, he's be allowed to place in in the knee hockey net to block the shots.  Dream on, Heho!!!  And F?  She hugged me so tightly with tears in her eyes as she whispered, "THIS is how God wanted it to be!"

JOY in the form of a BOY!  THIS is how God wanted it to be.  Truly it is.  Our life is now all legos, trains (ta-goes), hockey sticks, and pucks.  God is good and I have never, ever been so thrilled that he decided to laugh at my plans and do his own thing!

The beautiful nurse F who gently reminded me that "THIS is how God wanted it to be."

We should ALL be so lucky!

It's summer!  It's HOT!  It's perfect. . .and our air went out!  I promised myself and my boys that I would not grumble about it, but find joy in the fact that it's warm and we will just have to play in the water more until it can be fixed.  So, the deal we made was that if they (Delightful Service Plus) cannot get to us by Friday at 3, we're outta here!  Heading to the lake.  That is just what we did.  The JOY that was found is worth more to me than sitting indoors trying to stay cool on this hot and beautiful summer day.

Joy, in the form of a teenage boy.  The boy.  Our boy.  We are blessed, blessed, blessed.  Goofy, happy, funny, joy-filed, little-loving teenage boy.  

Perfect.  The water.  Just when I was starting to struggle with keeping that joy in the center of it all. . . .both littles staged a full-fledged protest of nap time, heat rash broke out, and enough was enough.  So, we took our JOY, loaded up the buggy with no naps in sight, and hit the water.  Fun.  The boy, the Mr., and a best buddy were already waiting for us.  What a pleasure it was to join them.

Precious memories, being friendly to a passing boat.  JOY.

After a relaxing cruise, loads of giggles, and some good times Moo decided it was his turn on the tube.  I believe that the pictures speak for themselves.  The joy that fills my heart looking at the boy as he shows Moo the ropes. . .  We should ALL be so lucky to have this child as a big brother.  No one can do it like Heho!  He's the go-to guy for so many moments.  Moo isn't eating and he steps in with a "Do you want to be a big HOCKEY player???  Then here, take this bite."  Bite taken.  

"Who loves you the most, Moo?"  Moo's response?  "Heho DO!"  

"Who gave you that owie, Moo?"  "Heho do it, Mama."  (Never, ever the case)  HA!  Heho is the best.  

Does this 14 year old even have the slightest clue that the two littles will forever, and ever believe that he walks on water?  We are all blessed to live with this sweet boy. . . and boy, oh boy, are Moo and the little one lucky to have HIM for a big brother.  We love Heho and are blessed beyond measure by the JOY that continues to ooze out of him!  love . xo

Waving at Mama in the back of the boat!

Here we go. . .

Summer. . . my second most favorite word in the entire world.  My first favorite?  It’s actually two.  My boys.  All of them.  They are the reason I am here writing this blog, my first ever entry.  This is all about them.  But really, it’s more for me.  So that I can remember.  I need a place where I can go and write about how Moo attempted to put the dog, his dump truck, and blankie in a “Time Out, Right Now!”  Because he’s two.  It’s what we do when we’re two.  I just wish there was a way to record the words that he uses.  They’re hysterical.  Beyond hysterical, actually.  Priceless.  Wet your pants kind of funny.  The stuff that kid comes up with. Funny.

Then, there’s The Boy.  I love 14.  I hope he just stays 14 forever.  I bet ya don’t hear people say that every day!!!  Busy, happy, family loving, hockey-golf-lacrosse loving, friend loving boy.  He is The Boy or “Heho”.  Again, another made up name by Moo.  Because the boy, ya know. . .”HE HAS TO GO” to hockey, school, lacrosse, or wherever it is that he goes.  And when you’re two, your “g”s don’t come out all nice and proper, so HEHO, it is.  With love unlike anything I’ve seen.  God Bless our sweet Heho.

Oh, we mustn’t forget about the little one.  Happy, rollie, pollie, filled with joy butterball that he is.  We hope that someday he can get a word in edgewise.  Not an easy task when you live with The Boy and Moo.  But, life is good for this little one!  He’s a climber.  Turned my back on him for all of 30 seconds while doing the dishes on Wednesday to find him in the middle of the kitchen table.  Better view up there?  Maybe so!  Love, love, love that one too. 

The mom of three boys.  Can life even get any better than this?!  Well, maybe if they would nap. . . oh well.  That's for another post!  HA!  Stay Tuned for the adventures!  xo