27 again

Last week I celebrated my 27th birthday... again.  

I am not one of those people that embraces getting older.  Nope.  I hate it.
I do, however, love a good party.  So I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.  My hubby and my sister planned a night with good friends, sans kids, with a lot of alcohol.    We partied like we were 20 again...

and then woke up with a killer hangover and the reminder that we most definitely are not 20 anymore.  

366 slacker, that's what I am!

Ok, so I am not doing so great.  Taking pictures, I can do that.  Blogging every day with a very needy 8 month old and a terrible two toddler, not so much.  It seems every time I sit down to start editing pictures and organizing them for my 366 project one of them decides that they are more important.  Unfortunately, I have to agree with them.  So, bear with me.  Please!

February 16th
Work days are rough, but made better with all the snuggles I get when I get home.
I never was one to lay down with Tyler but i have started to with Alex.  As long as Graham is already in bed this is a little slice of heaven.  I breath in each moment and cherish these times with him.


February 15th
We were down at the village for dinner and I loved the new lanterns that they have hanging.  I snapped this with my cell phone.  So pretty.

A sweet day with my sweethearts

Our heart day started out with 3 happy boys.  If you know our family in the morning, that is quite the gift in itself.  

This little one was smitten with his balloon..

Even my pal Baldy was feeling the love this morning

Later that afternoon I got the pleasure of organizing Tyler's class Valentine's day party.
It was a hit!  The kids loved our photobooth and really got into it.  The frames they made for their photo's were priceless.  This is Tyler and his pal Dashiell.

This momma was also surprised with a new treadmill.  Now there are no excuses!  Rain, pushing a double stroller, naps... none of it matters any more because I can run in the comfort of my house while watching Ellen, or whatever smut happen to be on.

Come and Gone

Alex has been asking when Grandma and Grandpa were coming for, ummm, about the last 5 weeks.  Each week he got genuinely upset with the number of weeks changed, not realizing that the smaller the number the less time there was until they got here.  Kids and their lack of time concept can be challenging.

Well, the day finally came and the boys were in heaven.  Unfortunately the stay was over just as fast as it came and now I have begun the countdown to see Grandma and Grandpa again.  Little does Alex know there are no dates set for our next visit so the number I give him each day is arbitrary. 

 

Buzz to the rescue

This kid never stops.  He keeps us on our toes at all times and when he dons his Lightyear costume, he keeps us safe.  Although he seems genuinely perplexed as to why he can't actually fly when he is all geared up.
Alexander is 2 going on 12.  He brings a whole new meaning to the word stubborn.  This kid has the ability to make me lose my patience, feel like the worst mom, annoy me, and frustrate me to no end.  But on the other side of that he makes me laugh when no one else can, he makes me smile at the drop of a hat and he reminds me that fun is what it's all about every day.
There are so many things that I want to remember about him at this age...
Like when he can't just say no, he has to say "N-O spells no"
or "Too bad".
One of my favorites is "I no like your at-ti-tude Ty Ty"
While playing trains in his room I frequently hear him say "All aboard" while cupping his hands around him mouth.  Or "Bust my buffers".  Apparently that comes from Thomas.  
"How bout mommy do it"
"Gramsawake"
"Can we fix it?... Yes we can!"
"Mom, can I play with my ger-fend today?"

The list could go on forever because this kid is full of it.  There are day that I feel like Alex has been two forever, but when he turns and gives me that toothy grin and says "I yuv my mommy" I never want these days to end.  

Just one of those days

As a nurse there are those days. Those days when all you want is to be with your kids. To hold onto them and never let go. Well, today was one of those days and that's just what I did.

Now that we have made it through the worst of our journey I can say that I am thankful for Graham's cleft. I am thankful that that's all it was. Thankful that I have my baby to hold every night. But at the same time I am so sad that there are parents out there that don't have that, either because they have lost their children or their little ones have been in the hospital for some ungodly amount of time.

366 day 48
Behind by a few but I needed to post this one tonight.
Tonight I am thankful!

This little one

will not be put down. 

But, I wouldn't have it any other way!

{eight} months

Grahamers,

You are eight months old.  I say this each and every month, but each and every month I am in shock that you are growing up so fast.  I am sad to say that this month has been a huge one, developmentally.  Not that I am not proud of all you have learned, but it just makes it so clear that you are indeed growing up and won't be a baby forever.

You are the typical third child and I love it.  Your momma spoils you something fierce and I have no qualms about it.  You are my baby and always will be.  And yes, someday your brothers will tease you about it, but coming from one that is also the youngest, enjoy it.

You are a momma's boy!  Your eyes light up with I walk in the room.  I could eat you up.  You melt my heart everyday with that crooked little smile, double dimple on the left cheek and big blue eyes.

I have learned to embrace your midnight feedings.  I know this only lasts for a short time, so I will take the extra snuggles.  You win!

You love to eat, finding the most joy and enthusiasm for homemade sweet potatoes and bananas wtih blueberries.  You have mastered the pincer grip and now can get about 50% of the cheerios/puffs to your mouth.  Bella's ok with that though.  We still mainly just do solids for dinner... purely because momma is lazy.  Need I remind you G, you are number 3!  You still love to nurse All. Day. Long. though.

You have quite the little personality coming through.  You let us know that you hate being put down and you especially hate being put down AND left alone.  Heaven forbid momma go to the bathroom by herself.  Once again, it's ok, cause I don't like to leave you anyhow.  You recently learned to play peek a boo.  And I especially love the shy little head tilt you do when people say hi to you.  You are now a babbling fool.  My favorite of which is "ma ma ma ma".   If you could be on your feet all day long you would be the happiest baby in the world.  You think you are pretty hot stuff.

You got your first tooth this month and you are flirting with crawling.

Sleep, oh beautiful sleep.  Although you are still waking at night I can't complain.  You have turned a corner and are a champion napper, now that we have you on a schedule.  After waking up around 7:30 you are usually ready to go back down about 9:30 for 1-2 hours and then again around 2 for another 2 hours.  You let us know when you are ready for bed around 7:30-8pm.  

Graham, I've said it before and I'll say it again...  You were meant for us.  I love the way you love your brother and they love you.  I am so excited to watch you guys grow and change.  I pray that you guys always remain the best of friends.

I love you little man.  More than you will ever know.

Playing catch up

Well, I made it to the big board!
Can't be more proud of what I do and who I do it for.
Thanks to all those who made this possible.

Last week Alex finally got his long awaited play date with "Wi-yum" and "Maf-u".
It was so good to get the boys together and, amazingly, they did awesome playing.  Kathryn and I got to enjoy some much needed girl and baby time.  And I got to take some cute pics of Matthew.  Love that chubby little guy.


This is what I see nearly every weekend.  Dan and Tyler hanging out on the couch playing Wii.  I never thought Dan would be a gamer.  Graham is already taking notes.


Somebody got a tooth... and he's not too happy about it.
If you look really hard you can see the very beginnings of it poking out on the lower right.  Poor little Graham Cracker.


I love my family.

Chaos, sweet chaos

There's no way around it.  I am not going to lie.  With 3 boys our house is a place of constant chaos, controlled chaos.  Whether it's the messes constantly being left behind, the boys relentless arguing or the animals insistent nagging, it never ends.  It's my life.  Although I dream of running a house similar to that of my sisters, with a place for everything and everything in it's place (and labeled), I have come to grips with the realization that it ain't gonna happen.  My life is not pretty, it's not organized, and it most certainly is not labeled.  But that's ok.  Because you know what?  This is MY life.  I have found solace in the craziness that is boys.  I know nothing else, after all.  I do what I can and I don't stress about what I can't.

On any given day my kitchen may look like this...

Pure chaos, right?
It's all good.  I have a few ways I have learned to deal with this.
Like throwing the crying baby on the floor in the sink to play, while I clean up everything else.



And all are happy!

A little sunshine

is all you need!

...and maybe your most wonderful babysitter and friend, Margaret!

That beautifully sunny Seattle day... yeah, you remember that one, a couple of days ago.
Well, the boys and I broke out of the house and headed to Golden Gardens for a picnic lunch.  Lucky for us, Margaret was close by and decided to join us.



Graham had his first taste of sand... and couldn't get enough.
Made for an interesting diaper later that night.  Good thing I warned the babysitter.





Alex had a blast throwing rocks into the water and watching the fire boats water display.



And I got to practice a little in manual mode with natural lighting.
Loved it!



Try as I might, this was as close I got to a brothers picture.  Alex was too interested in the Army helicopter flying by and Graham couldn't get enough of that delicious sand.
Nice boys, nice!

I can't wait for more days like this and the outings that await us!

I got the crafting bug

and it didn't stop here.

More to follow!

Handmade chalk board for morning love notes

♥

I love...

that this big guy still loves his swing.  

Sure, he's huge.  Sure, it looks rediculous.  And sure, we go through A LOT of batteries.

But hey, when it buys you a few extra minutes to make dinner, I'll take it.

I sure am going to miss this swing when it's gone.