T-Ball Time!

Praise the Lord, the day has come! Sweet little JLS has been begging to play T-Ball for at least a year now. Like a good little brother (and a brother with no other options), JLS has loaded up with the whole family and attended every one of JBS's T-Ball games and practices. And every week, JLS asked, "I play T-Ball?" I always replied, "Next year JLS, next year." And now, it's finally "Next year!"

We have busily been preparing for both boys' T-Ball teams this season. As I have mentioned before, JBS has done everything just short of signing a contract to play T-Ball with ORWALL..."the" league to play T-Ball here. With the more professional approach, we purchased baseball pants, team socks, new shoes, a new (bigger) bat, batting gloves, a batting helmet. What else? We already had a glove, so I guess we saved on that one. JLS is still playing for the YMCA, so he just got new shoes to go with his uniform. Of course, in an effort to appease him for a year, he already had a bat and glove. For the record, between the two, we have 5 T-ball events a week between practices and games. I kid you not. We are now "there."

Last night, JLS knew it was his first practice and he was on cloud nine! With JBS having been home sick yesterday and Will needing to eat, we decided to let Babe take JLS to his first practice. As they were getting ready to leave the house, JLS ran to me with 2 granola bars and 2 Capri-Suns to put in my bag. (We always took a snack for JLS during JBS's T-Ball practices/games.) My heart broke as I told him we were going to stay home for this one and he looked at me perplexed and turned his palms up and said, "But who is boing to wat me, Mommy?" I turned to JBS and instantly told him to get his shoes on, we were going to JLS' practice. JLS turned and trotted out of the room happy as a clam.

Babe and JLS went before us and when we arrived, JLS was running the bases. He has this way about how he runs...only his legs move, never his top. This is in a good way, he looks like he has good athletic control of his trunk. Anyway, we yelled for him and he turned to look at us with his huge "Astros" baseball cap pushing his ears forward and waved with the biggest smile on his face. You have never seen a child happier to be running bases than JLS.

As fun as that was, I looked over to see JBS standing with his arms crossed across his chest yelling for JLS to "Move there!", "Over! A little more...good!", "Baseball ready, JLS!" Evidently, JBS is now truly an expert and his sideline coach...his big brother coach and JLS obediently moved where his big brudder told him. It was precious.

Finally, I looked up again and JBS had my camera. He was mimicking my every move when I take pictures of him on the field. He was across the field, "Getting a good shot of JLS, Mom!"

The night was full of cute boy moments and I was in heaven. JLS could really hit the ball, but probably one of the few 3 year-old kids that has had such a great interest in T-Ball for a year already. It won't be long and little WHS will be out there with both JBS and JLS coaching him from the sideline. Precious moments...

The Best Nap

Having had 3 babies now, this family has acquired every possible baby positioning device that exists. We have a bouncie (x2), swing, play gym, Pack-n-Play, tummy time mat, sling, Baby Bjorn, Bumbo chair, Exersaucer, jumperoo, and every other possible place to stick a baby while I cook (ha!), clean (ha! ha!) and attempt to relax without a baby in my arms. Unfortunately, a baby with reflux doesn't have the same options as a baby without. Sweet WHS spits up every time he lays flat on his back, including diaper changes. This rules out quite a few of the above mentioned locations. He is not a huge fan of the bouncie and he is slowly starting to like the swing. His position of choice is in Momma's arms. Smart boy...

In a moment of desperation, I placed WHS carefully in one of the boys' bean bag chairs and he loved it! I can position him perfectly in a way that keeps the spits at bay and keeps him comfortable. Thus, he has never taken a better nap than in the bean bag chair. It sure would have been a whole lot cheaper to know this in advance!

Now, you can find me dragging the bean bag chairs thru out the house to put my little WHS in to catch a few unplanned zzzz's. Whatever it takes to get a moment for Mom! Whatever it takes...

A Mighty Good Man

My 27th birthday was 2 months after I met Babe. I arrived home from work to discover the most beautiful and HUGE bouquet of flowers from Babe. As I opened the card, I was thinking, "This guy is not so bad!" Little did I know, his friend told him to send me flowers... Either way, they were the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen and they were from Babe. As our relationship went on, I unfortunately, told him one time that while flowers were beautiful, they didn't last. Maybe he should spend his money on something more permanent. Of all the important things that Babe and I have discussed, this is the ONE thing he remembered. My opinion of flowers has definitely changed through the years. While they are short-lived and expensive there are just some days the flowers erase the woes of being a stay-at-home-mom.

I had a bad day yesterday. I don't think I often have "bad days." More bad moments than an entire day. Yesterday was different. WHS was up too often the night before, as I think he was in another one of those "growth spurts." To a nursing mom, this means lip locked for a couple days. I was up since 4:45am. I took JBS to school with WHS crying the entire way there because he was....hungry again! It's hard to go anywhere with WHS as he is always hungry. JLS, WHS and I finally made it home, I plopped on the couch to feed WHS and the doorbell rang. It was the electricians...4 hours early. So, they did their work and I fed WHS. After working on our electric issues, he came out and proceeded to give me a very lengthy (and unnecessary) explanation of what was going on. At the same time, WHS "came off" and wanted back "on" and started to peck me with his head (ladies, you know what I am talking about) until my nice blanket fell off my shoulder. Grace, I have, grace. I just picked up my blanket and moved on. I fed him for the next 2 hours, it seemed, and then took JLS to gymnastics.

I was thinking as we drove to gymnastics how great it was that JLS actually nursed at home, so I could be spared at gymnastics. False. He was hungry at gymnastics. As soon as we began our job of feeding, the teacher looked up to the second floor where we were to tell me that JLS needed to go potty. Seriously? I took care of that ordeal, all with the child attached.

After gym, we loaded up in the pouring rain and headed to pick up JBS at school. Guess who started crying in the car line? Yep. We rushed home and as I was getting out of the burb, my foot slipped on the wet running boards of my car and I literally fell out of the car. Oh, and I was on the phone with Vin at the time. I hurt my hip and my back, but surely there is still enough baby padding to protect...

When we got inside, I quickly made the boys their lunch so I could...feed WHS. The MINUTE I sat on the couch, the doorbell rang. It was the bug man. I got him started and proceeded to feed WHS while he did his job. JBS and JLS were sent up to their rooms to take a nap with quite a bit of discussion from JBS. I finally got them upstairs, the bug man out and WHS in bed. Pheeww. I texted Babe and told him not to call and check on us, don't email, don't contact me, as I was going to close my eyes and take a nap. It was quiet in my house.

I reached over to turn off the lamp and bumped the side table sending my much-loved antler bowl of pot pourri crashing to the ground. It shattered all over my floor. My eyelids were forced to open and help the rest of my body gather all the fragments of glass, broken antlers and pot pourri off the floor and vacuum the rest. I finally laid my head on the couch and shut my weary eyes when JBS tapped me on the shoulder and wanted to "nuggle wif" me. HOW do you turn that down? So, 55 pounds of love climbed on top of my lifeless body and nuggled wif me. Somehow I fell asleep for probably 2o minutes before WHS started to cry...

Today, Babe sent me flowers. The perfect timing for the perfect reason. I don't care if they were expensive or if they die tomorrow. It made my day today!

One Month

It doesn't seem possible that WHS is a month old. One month ago today, WHS literally sprang in to our world. Luckily, he has been welcomed with open arms and soggy kisses by his big brudders and he appears to take it all in stride. The newness has yet to rub off from the boys and they beg each day to "hold de bebe."

WHS is a great baby, with the reflux exception, which isn't his fault. I have a great amount of sympathy having had reflux myself....and dealing with JLS' reflux for so long. The only time he cries is when I am not getting food to him fast enough and, while this area shows improvement, when he gets his diaper changed. He let out a whimper at his one month appointment when he received a shot, but that's it! He's a champ.

He is eating and eating, thus growing and growing. I am not sure it is possible not to grow when you eat every two hours. He is really starting to smile and laugh at me, as well. I hate for him to grow, but he could grow enough to sleep thru the night. Then we could slow it down...

As I type, he is fast asleep in JBS' arms on the couch, one of his favorite places to be.

Egg People

Vin and Paulie are getting ready to start a really neat (but still a secret) new business that centers around kid art. (You will love it!) They have amazingly creative and talented children (ages 11 and 7) that have been creating masterpieces and winning art contests since they first held a crayon. They are truly gifted and I guess you would never guess that Paulie is a phenomenal artist as well...inherited traits are great!

In their desire to test their new product, they asked me to send some of my children's art work. I first hesitated, knowing that Go-Go and G2 could hang their art in the Smithsonian today. Then, I puffed my chest in defense of my athletic and non-artistic boys and proudly proclaimed their skill as artists.

My absolute favorite picture that JBS has drawn to date is...Egg People. I love it when he draws his people with nothing for a body, but a circle. And, to top it off, he drew an entire page of egg people and it melts my heart. So, when Vin and Paulie asked me to send art, I proudly sent the Egg People. I went on their (still secret) website last night to check it out and trickled in between masterful children's artwork.....was Egg People. I smiled and laughed and a tear came to my eye. The Egg People are truly a masterpiece to me.

Afterall, isn't art in the eye of the beholder?

My Brudder

Every day when I pick the boys up from school, I ask the same questions. "Did you have a good day?" "What did you learn?" "Who did you sit with at lunch?" and "Who did you play with on the playground?" Last year, JLS would have piped out "Barah" rather quickly. This year is a different story. From what I understand, Sarah is still on the playground with him even though they aren't in the same class. However, the three-year-old class has a short overlap on the playground with....the Transitional Kindergarten class.

So, each time I ask the question about the playground, JLS says with much conviction, "My Brudder!" At first I didn't catch it, as JBS is sitting right there, why didn't he just say, "Bay" (the speechy form of JBS). So, I turned to JBS and asked him if they really got to play together on the playground and JBS said, "Yes, it's true. We get to play for just a little bit." This completely warms a mother's heart. JLS loves his JBS, as does JBS love his JLS. It is just such a proud moment for JLS to play with his "big brudder" at school.

For the record, JBS informed me last night that JLS can actually say, "JBS" now. He has slipped in to his regular, "Bay" a few times, but he can definitely say the "J" (although he says it like in French, "Je") and the hard "K" that has evaded him for 3 years. That, my friends, is huge progress for JLS in the speech world...and a huge confidence builder for him at that!

Sweet, sweet brudders. I sure hope the love lasts!

Prevacid Rocks!

I am humming the Doxology as I type..."Praise God from whom all blessings flow..." and I am eternally grateful to be raising children in the 2009 era because we have Prevacid at our disposal for our "colicky"/reflux kiddos. I got the goods on Friday evening post our doctors appointment. It was a little quick for too much progress Friday night, but by Saturday my sweet toot was sleeping 4 hours at a time and finally on a rhythmic schedule. Hallelujah! If I don't get the meds in him on time, we deal with a bit of reflux still. It is just a matter of acting in a timely manner! (a real challenge for me, yet!) So happy to know we are preventing lots of pain, loss of sleep, and any future issues for sweet little WHS.

I have great satisfaction knowing we have treated #3 in 3 weeks for the same issue it took poor little #2 five months to diagnose. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here...right?

So Tired...

We are all pooped. My poor little WHS' reflux has become increasingly greater and more projectile. He is just so sweet during our all night saga's, as he rarely cries as he projects across the room. He just looks at me with his sweet face and I helplessly try to do something to stop the madness of changing clothes and sheets and blankets and burp rags 20 times a day. Poor little guy. We are heading to the doctor in a couple hours to weigh in and hopefully get some Prevacid. If that doesn't do the trick, we have a long and smelly road ahead of us.

From the looks of this picture, you would think it was Babe and JBS that were up all night with sweet WHS. Not exactly....and where is the picture of Momma zonked on the couch? Nowhere. Because it just doesn't happen.

Actually, WHS is much more important. Prayers for his sweet little self!

Smorgasbord

In the blurry midst of waiting for WHS to arrive and post-Grammy's arrival, the boys were amazingly self-sufficient. Actually, JBS was self-sufficient and thrived on taking care of JLS for me as I hobbled around the house. Grammy was surely off somewhere in my house cleaning, organizing, or creating a project for her busy little self. Maybe this was when she was cleaning my jewelry drawer and thus, my jewelry!

JBS decided to make JLS lunch. In most ways, this is an easy task, as there aren't many foods that JLS will eat. However, the few that he will eat, JBS provided. (Albeit high in carbs, take note that all foods are whole-grain! I try....) JBS set the table, ushered over all the food from the kitchen and JLS accepted. The toots did their typical, "Dine and Dash" leaving everything behind as they flew off to save their "Bebe's" from the evil one...so cute to hear the stories they contrive! They love their picnics...and this is considered a picnic for them, as they weren't sitting at the kitchen table.

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Yesterday, as I was parked on the couch nursing the "Bebe," the boys were getting ready for school. When I looked over and asked JBS why he hadn't brushed his teeth yet, he said, "Mommy, I have been taking care of everything here. I am feeding JLS and getting his white milk. I will brush my teeth when I am finished in the kitchen."

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I think he might have been telling me, "While you are sitting on the couch.....I am doing it all!" For a minute I felt like I had my 5 year-old doing slave labor. However, I know JBS and JBS thrives on helping others and especially me. Could there be a better trait in a child at this point in my life? JBS' head may be in the clouds at times, but he is fully focused when it comes to helping me out. (On the slave labor comment, please note I didn't ask him to do any of that...he just does it!)

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And I LOVE it! Too bad he can't nurse a baby...

My Son the Clothes Horse

In the week prior to WHS' arrival, we had some great times with Grammy visiting. I needed to "zip" in to Target, if that is possible, and buy something quick. However, the boys love Target as much as I do. The minute they saw "The Red Store" they began cheering and asking to go in with me. So much for quick. And so much for the check book. Another point of note would be that any time Vin and I go shopping with Grammy, we always spend more. Grammy has a way of talking us into buying things...Paulie and Babe can vouch for this.

We hit just about every department in the store, but the big fun was the kids clothing department. JLS has always been opinionated about his clothes. He started picking out his own clothes as soon as he was able to communicate. He cried if he didn't like a shirt or pants...So, now he gets to pick his own clothes out. He actually does a pretty good job for the most part. So, shopping with JLS is completely different that JBS. JBS says, "Sure" whenever I ask him if he wants something. JLS says, "No, that one" and very purposefully chooses his articles of clothing.

The Small Paul and Batman T-shirts were the biggest hit with the boys...lo and behold, we ended up getting all of them....because Grammy thought they needed them. (So did I :))

When Things Get Quiet...

When things get suspiciously quiet around this house, there are a few things that could be going on.

1-The boys could have miraculously fallen asleep on their own at the same time. (only in my dreams)

2-The boys could be playing outside. (it's possible)

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3-They might be playing "Lightening" on Babe's PlayStation. (only if Babe is home)

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These are the only justifiable and "legal" quiet moments in our house.

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OR, they could be ever-so-quietly playing in the baby's room enjoying all the toys that they hadn't touched in ages and destroying all order that had been achieved in a once peaceful room. Until, of course, they became WHS' toys. Now, this is their favorite place to play!

OR, they could have decided WHS' bassinet looks like a really fun mode of transportation. How JLS got in there? Sure don't know. The muffled squeals of delight tipped me off to this escapade.

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I turn my head for even a second... Now I have to contend with three of them!

WHS Stats

Mr. WHS had his first doctor's appointment yesterday. I was greatly anticipating the event since his growth would be 100% dependant on my job as a nursing mother....a job that with now 3 children, I have failed twice. I have surprised even myself with my determination to nurse WHS as long as possible. The biggest incentive for me was to avoid all the feeding and reflux issues we have endured with sweet JLS. It was torture for us and I am sure it wasn't fun for him.

My first mistake with the appointment was scheduling it with "Pre-WHS" schedule in mind. I made his appointment for 8:45am! I woke him up at 8:30am and threw him in his car seat and left. No breakfast for WHS...so sorry. It was a hungry morning for both of us, but the outcome was fantastic. WHS had gained all of his birth weight back and then some and he has grown an inch in 2 weeks. I couldn't help but feel a little proud of myself, being his sole provider. Not that the last two weeks haven't been "rough" to say the least, but at least those hours of feeding paid off.

I know there are super-moms out there, many are my friends, that love to nurse and would nurse until their kids were 13, but that's not me. Two weeks is a big deal for me and the sense of accomplishment is great! I am even happier that I didn't give up in those dark hours, as we were quickly able to diagnose WHS with reflux and now we are already on reflux medication. With JLS, we were told to change his bottle, change his formula, change it again, and again. It took 5 months of being up every single hour at night before we were able to determine JLS had reflux. AGONY for us all.

All in all, it was a great visit. He even took the heel sticks for the PKU test like a man...no tears! As JLS tells me on a daily basis, "I like you bebe." I like my bebe, too! We are so blessed.

Family Picture

JLS' teacher made a very simple request before Labor Day...that he bring a picture of his family when we return from the holiday. Generally, this would be a snap for me, as I have plenty of pictures on hand. However, I realized at a very late hour that, in fact, the only picture I have of our whole NEW family was from the hospital in my hospital gown. The teachers' note stated that she was going to laminate and hang the pictures in the room. I seriously considered sending the hospital pic, but reconsidered when I thought about walking in the classroom on Parent's night and seeing all the parents checking out all the family photos.

So, at the very last minute, we rigged my camera on the fireplace...because we can't figure out my awesome "new" tripod that still has the tag on it. How difficult can a tripod be? Difficult. We set the camera on the mantle and snapped and snapped and snapped until we were all looking at the camera. That was the only requirement. So, here it is. The second "official" family picture since Toot #3 was born.

The big smile on Babe's face is definitely not because he is happy about this event. He was the button puncher and after about the 15th time, he was finished. He only stuck with it because it was for #2...aka JLS. Oh what fun!

Bathtime

Well...

Hmmm...

Ohhh....

Definitely not the highlight of sweet WHS' day...

Handy Manny and Handy Dandy

When JBS was little, the best way he could get "Grammy" out was "Mammy" and Mammy loved it. JLS' effort at "Grammy" comes out "Manny." After the first week of Mom being here, I dubbed her "Handy Manny." Mom is a project girl and the fact that her trip was last minute and "unplanned" means she was searching for projects to complete around my house after only a day or so. (Last trip here she organized my "Wall of Cabinets" which is full of all my serving pieces.) I was loving it!

Handy Manny arrived with a new curtain in hand for my guest bathroom. Greatly needed and much appreciated.

Without knowing what project would ensue, I asked Manny to help "unstick" my stuck jewelry drawer. Half an hour later she was working on cleaning all my silver jewelry...that hadn't been polished in QUITE some time. I feel like I have all new jewelry now!


When Big Daddy arrived, he became "Handy Dandy," which is so appropriate because half the time he still calls Lowe's and Home Depot, "Handy Dandy." Didn't that store disappear in the '70s? He hung my bulletin board at my soon to be perfectly organized desk...

And the Houston Zoo picture that my sweet cleaning ladies purchased for me. They told me that they knew I loved animals and I had to have this because of all the stuffed birds I have around the house...


and JBS' new trophy shelf...can you see the broken trophy already? Thus, why the trophies are above the mirror and out of reach!

JBS's belt/hat rack in his closet...small, but vital!


Then, Handy Manny and Vin together purchased and hung the red star I wanted in WHS' room...The finishing touch!And the Blue Spode plates that have been sitting in my china cabinet since before I moved to Houston...I love it when my handy family comes to visit. Task-masters they are, and work on my house, I let them do!

(I failed to mention all this was on top of all the meals Handy Manny made for us, froze for us and planned for us while she was here.)

Wee-in

While Grammy was here for two weeks, Big Daddy and Vin arrived for a long weekend just after WHS was born. Grammy and Big Daddy served as cooks, chauffeurs, handy men, baby holders, mom, dad and every other duty in the house. Vin arrived with Big Daddy and took on...the toots.

Vin has been here twice, but never in the summer. So, she wanted to go to the pool. If you aren't from The Woodlands, you couldn't possibly understand our pool status. Just imagine resort pools with all the bells and whistles for kiddos. We have something like 10+ pools here and your summer pass allows you in to each of them. AND, they are really nice...some with Chick-Fil-A!

The first day Vin offered to take the boys to the pool, we gave her directions to the one closest to us. It is new and perfect for younger kids with slides and a big play structure in the middle of two feet of water. Vin invited JLS to go down the slide with her and the bond was formed instantly. Evidently Vin didn't know how deep (or shallow) the pool was and misjudged her landing and went completely under. If you know Vin, she doesn't get her hair wet. Period. However, after she went under, it seems that the fun had just begun. JLS was "in" to Vin. When they arrived home, the boys were cracking up and Vin was drenched head to toe. They had a blast. Enough of a blast that the boys expected Vin to take them back to the pool the next day...

The next day, we gave her directions to the newest and most amazing pool in The Woodlands. It has the same shallow area with a bigger play structure, deeper areas, a "lagoon" area that goes under a bridge, big tubular slides and, my favorite, a lazy river. Going there really is like going to a resort. We forget how great we have it until out-of-towners come to town and oogle over our amenities... The pools are awesome.

After the pool trips, JLS was smitten with Vin. I would hear him walking through the house calling for her, "Wee-in!" (Only JLS can make a one syllable name in to two and sound cute doing it.) She left for half an hour to go to Wal-Mart. Within five minutes, JLS was asking, "Where's Wee-in?" He just liked to know she was present.

Ultimately, the day they all left was a downer for everyone, especially JLS. Grammy, Big Daddy, and Vin left Monday morning as the boys were heading out the door to school. I have never seen JLS so somber before. He hid his head in my legs and wouldn't talk to anyone. I was so sad for him. Even when we picked him up from school, he was just as flat. I know he was sad to see Grammy and "Ig Diddie" go, but I really know he was sad for Wee-in to go, too.

They'll be back. Soon, I hope!

The Baby's Room

Apparently, I have forgotten the time it takes to take care of and more specifically, to nurse, a newborn child. Three years ago I did this and I have lost a great deal of sleep since then...don't remember a thing. Evidently, WHS is in his first growth spurt. This "growth spurt" has been going on for 4 days now. I love this child so much, but how much longer can I take nursing for 12 hours out of a day? I think I can, I think I can...

I must interject that while I have been a permanent fixture on the couch or in my bed or chair nursing WHS 24/7, Babe has been an absolute superstar picking up all the slack. Gratefully, Babe is on two amazing weeks of vacation with no plans but to be with us. He has turned in to Super Mom/Dad. This morning, WHS and I slept while Babe got the boys packed and ready for school and delivered them to their classrooms. He returned home with a car full of groceries and spent the day with me and WHS until he rode his bike to pick the boys up from school. That was just today...It's going to be really hard when he goes back to work. Really hard.

While Grammy was here, she took a few pictures of WHS' room. This was the "art room/second guest room" transformed into baby room and I think I like it best as WHS' room. I am most proud that I have "recycled" a great deal of bedding and furniture, yet given him his own new room.

When I was little, I collected bears. I loved bears. I remember sitting and counting all the bears I had in my collection...too many bears! However, I did receive a few really nice Gund and Steiff bears, even a few antique bears, as gifts. My mom has been asking me quite often, "When are you going to take all these bears to your house?" So, I decided to make WHS' room a bear room with my now antique bears. The trundle bed that was already in the art/guest room was much too feminine, so I bought some cute star sheets, and moved a denim comforter downstairs. I then found the cute star sheets on sale in a crib sheet, so I had to buy that, too! I used JBS' chambray bed skirt and cute bumper and of course, my hand-me-down furniture from Vin. I love how it all fell together. So, I ended up with a "Bears and Stars" room...a quirky combination, but I kinda like it!

I hope WHS does, too!