Goodbye March and Hello April

I'm pretty sure March of 2013 has been one of the most eventful months of my life.

My best friend got married in Texas - Baby's first flight and the longest time I've ever been away from Eli (who didn't seem to miss me at ALL, thanks kid)

My brother got married in Georgia - I got a new sister out of the deal and am on the brink of nephews and nieces galore

My baby is hitting milestones which distance him even more from the term "newborn" - Jude rolled over and consequently now thinks rolling over is the greatest feat known to man and will attempt to roll at any given moment

Not to mention (again), amidst these important life events, we are still in the process of moving in, unpacking, organizing and decorating the house.

But alas... we made it through March. There were many many happy tears shed and joyful moments left and right. The craziness has been so worth it.
Here is just a glimpse of our life last month:

And now, with the coming of April... just like that, I'm a quarter of a century old. Happy Birthday to me!

Here's to a boring April!

Eli's First Movie!

Today we took Eli to his first movie in the theater! We went to see The Croods!

He picked out some candy and paid for his movie (read: handed the box office worker our Visa), then had his ticket ripped all on his own!

The movie was about 2 hours long and for the most part he did great. When the previews started he had his hands over his ears for about 15 minutes straight because it was loud (and I think it kind of scared him), but he eventually warmed up to it.

He ended up bringing one of his "friends" to the theater with us, so when the movie really got going he ended up settling back with "Lorax".

Throughout the movie he was up and down out of his seat watching. In his seat eating candy, standing up dancing, in his seat asking questions, standing up in awe... it was such a fun experience!

By the time the movie was over I think he was ready to get out of there and play, but overall it was another fun first for Eli.

Update on Jude: 4 months

Jude is 4 months old!
At our four month well-check (March 6th) he was 13 and a half pounds and 25 inches.

This little charmer has got to be one of THE most laid back babies that ever lazed around this world. Chances are if you were to randomly pop into my house Jude would be laying on a blanket gnawing on his hands and as soon as you start smiling at him he would smile back with drool slobbering out the sides of his mouth.

This child has endured cheek pinching, too-tight hugs, and even another person "supermanning" on top of his chest... all compliments of a crazy toddler we seem to claim as one of our own ;) His patience and sweet nature just amaze me sometimes.

Jude is still a man of few words. You don't often hear him talk, but when you do it is the cutest little raspy voice and a gushing smile quickly follows. There is no way you could not love this little boy!

He is starting to play with his hanging toys a lot more and he finally gave the jumperoo a try (in which he did not jump), but mostly he is just content to grab onto his feet and sometimes get a little taste of toe jam.

He has yet to roll, but often goes side to side. Like I said, he is just one content little guy... oh, and he loves to snuggle!

One recent milestone (as of last weekend) is that Jude has started taking formula. I seem to be treading an accelerated path in my nursing journey with Jude than the one I did with Eli. My milk is just not enough for him and after a few good weeks of denial I finally took the plunge with supplementing. I'm not happy about it and it makes me feel like a failure of a mother, but I know that he will be just fine and it's a necessary thing to help his little body grow and thrive. I can already tell a difference with his weight and activity level, so I just need to remind myself that this is a good thing.

Another big milestone is that Jude had his first airplane ride! He flew with me to Texas for Lindsay's wedding and he was a champ! He slept the whole way on the plane, although he was a bit overstimulated in the airport (read: a screaming mess). He did a lot better on the way home (not a peep) and I think I can attribute that to the formula and a full belly!

Phew... still can't believe I am making a 4 month update on my baby! We love you Jude!

Two and a half

Finally finding a moment (and who knows how long this moment will last?!) to sit down and write a blog post! These past few months have been nothing short of a whirlwind! Juggling a newborn, the crazy holidays, moving into a house, and now two BIG weddings this month.... I am barely keeping afloat, but here I am riding out the waves and enjoying every moment!

This past weekend my best friend got married. It was beautiful... she was beautiful. That's all I can say about that before I start crying again ;)

Next weekend my brother gets married, I can't believe the day is so quickly approaching! I am just thrilled for him and Sarah, but that is another post for another time.

I came here to talk about my main squeeze... my two and a half year old!!? What?! Somehow in the mix of everything else going on time decided not to slow down (surprise, surprise) and Eli stepped a little bit closer to being three!

My crazy, awesome Eli,

You are getting SO big! You are 3 feet tall and 30 pounds full of amazingness. Your hair is still wavy, your eyes are still big and blue, your fingers are still chubby, your booty is still the cutest I've ever seen, but somehow you are different. You are a big boy whether I like it or not.

Let me tell you how smart you are... when your daddy tells you to go to sleep over the monitor, you respond back "you're silly daddy, that's funny"; when I tell you we are going to get your haircut you say "NO! Never! I'm big!" and somehow weasel 1,000 M&Ms out of me; when your brother starts crying you tell him "it's okay baby, I'm here, it's me... Eli!".

Yeah yeah... you know your colors and shapes, you can count to 20, say your alphabet, and you can complete a puzzle like no one's business. But is that what really counts?
I think what really counts is the way you get your brother's pacifier for him when he's crying, the way you want to kiss MY boo-boos for me, the way you like to make people happy and the concern you show when someone is sad. Of course, you have your moments of not wanting to share or throwing fits... but those glimpses of empathy and intuition are really what makes me so proud to be your mom. And hey, don't tell anyone, but I am proud of that stubborn spirit you have too!

It is so fun to see your interests at this age. You still love animals and dinosaurs. I bought a HUGE giraffe for your room that's taller than you are and you think it's the greatest thing ever. In fact, you have a little giraffe that you carry around everywhere with you now!

You also love to "wrap" toys in blankets and give them to whoever is playing with you... you sit there and wait for a reaction, I think you still have Christmas on the brain! You love holding your brother, feeding him bottles, and making sure EVERYONE knows that he is YOUR brother Jude, not theirs!

 
You really love the show Blues Clues and surprisingly you learn a lot from that annoying little dog! Tarzan is your favorite movie, you are always asking to see the "rillas" and you adore the scene where all the monkeys invade the camp and start making music!

You also LOVE to dance; it's always your first instinct when any type of music comes on! And let me tell you, you have gotten a little too good at shaking that cute little booty of yours! These days you are also trying to sing along to any song you hear, when I catch you singing along you have the cutest little grin!

Anywhere we go you are always meeting "friends". In fact, you never seem to meet a stranger which is something I love about you! Everyone is someone worthy of having a conversation with. You always open with, "Hi! I'm Eli! Whatcha doin?" and people get a kick out of it!

Eli, I love you so much! You are a little light in this world, it's a better place with you in it! I so look forward to watching grow into a boy, but I am loving this age so much!

I know I will look back on these days fondly! Take your time turning three there buddy!

Love always,
Mama

Sitting at the feet of our Creator

Tonight is a night of mourning.

A baby boy is on his way into the world, but his spirit has already left this earth.

I'm praying hard tonight as his mommy is on her way to seeing his face and holding him close. I pray that his silent entrance into this world is.... well... bearable and easy on her. As easy as it can be on her faithful spirit.

I'm praying that she gets swept away at the perfection of each of his ten fingers and each of his ten toes, the way he fits like a puzzle piece in the crook of her arm, the way his eyelashes rest so lightly on his cheeks, and the weight of his body on her chest.

I'm praying that her family brings her an overwhelming sense of unity and comfort. That her daughter's innocence allows her to smile, that her husband holds her hand and gives her strength, that her mother weeps alongside her, and that she never feels alone in this journey.

I'm praying that in the coming days, weeks, and years that she wholeheartedly feels God's arms around her as he gently guides her down a crooked and winding road that no one really knows how to travel.

I'm praying she finds peace in knowing that one day she will meet her sweet baby again. That she will run down heaven's road to kneel down and hold her baby once more as he welcomes her Home.

I'm praying that she can hold on. That she can anticipate the coming days where the grief can more readily be held at bay. That she can hold on for the days where the tears don't come as quickly and where his name can be said without her heart stopping. I pray she can hold on for the days of healing, the days when she can see and feel God working to put her heart back together. I pray she can hold on. Please, hold on! The days will come, even if you don't think so in this moment.

Tonight I am praying through tears as I envision our children sitting at the feet of our Creator. He is keeping them for us until we meet again. And who better to hold our sweet babies in His arms?

Please pray with me tonight.

The 14 Days of Valentine's

Sorry ladies, but I do believe I married the best guy out there! He's taken! He's all mine! And I hardly deserve him...

Daniel really went above and beyond for Valentine's Day this year and I still don't really know what I did to deserve being treated like a Queen! For the sake of not forgetting such a special couple of weeks, I just have to document it.

This year Daniel did a "countdown" to Valentine's Day, much like the 12 Days of Christmas.
He came to me after work on February 1st and began nervously singing off key, "On the 14th Day before Valentine's Day my true love gave to meeee....." before presenting me with a gift for the day. Every day that followed I was serenaded with the same tune and given a gift! Here are all of my days:

14th Day: 14 ounces of chocolate covered pretzels that he made himself

13th Day: 13 dunkin donuts chocolate glazed munchkins

12th Day: a dozen, beautiful roses

11th Day: 11 homemade Valentine's Day cookies that he made with Eli (complete with pics!)

10th Day: a $10 starbucks giftcard

9th day: woke up to 9 blown up balloons in the living room, each with a number on it of the hour in which I had to pop it... inside each one was a note about a reason he loves me

8th Day: 8 Ben and Jerry's mini-cups

7th Day: 7 new candles, all different scents

6th Day: 6 new (oldies) vinyl records

5th Day: 5 hours boys-free

4th Day: 4 "appendages pampered" (a prepaid and scheduled pedicure and manicure)

3rd Day: 3 hours at the spa with 3 different spa treatments

2nd Day: 2 songs that he wrote himself (one performed and one recorded!)

V-Day: 1 handsome man in a suit (he took me out to dinner and a movie - surprising me with asking his parents to come in and babysit! Thanks Michael and Cynthia! A much needed date-night!)

Two full weeks of gifts and love! I am still blown away by his creativity and romance!

If you know me well, you know I'm not much of a gift lover and gifts don't necessarily fill my "love tank". In fact, all I need to feel loved is a bit of quality time... but I have to say, this was such a treat! I woke up each morning wondering what I would receive later that day and had fun trying to guess!

On Valentine's Day I kept seeing people voice their "concern" that we shouldn't specify ONE day of the year to show our love... and it's true, which is why I'm thankful that Daniel's expressions of love extend far beyond one day or even two full weeks in February. I get to see his love exemplified in small moments throughout the everyday doldrums:
The way he tucks in Eli every night after reading books, singing songs, and brushing his teeth; the way he closes the bathroom door and gets ready for work in the closet so I can sleep in; the way he makes a move to hold my hand whenever and where ever we are even if it means holding my purse so my hands are freed up; the way he always takes off his shoes before walking into the house because he knows I like my carpets clean; the way he looks at me and tells me I'm beautiful when my hair is up in a pony tail and I have spit up on my shoulder and feel far from it... the list goes on.

I'm so thankful to be married to this man and to have his love.

I love you Daniel Grey.

WE love you!

My two little loves

My two boys are growing, that's for sure! Eli is a month from two and a half and Jude is three months TODAY!

Jude is fitting in size two diapers. His newborn clothes are officially packed up and he is becoming more and more alert. He is drooling all the time and constantly trying to stick his fists in his mouth!

He is figuring out how to work his hands and has started to bat at his toys, but for the most part he just likes to lay on his back and be talked to. Sometimes he'll talk back to me or mimic my sounds but he can typically be characterized as my "strong, silent" guy.

He also just started giving me some belly laughs, but man does he make me work for them! We think he is going to be more serious and laid back than Eli. He is consistently sleeping 5-6 hour stretches at night and he loves sleeping either on his tummy or sprawled out like big brother Eli.

Eli is becoming more and more of a little boy, leaving his toddler-isms behind. The other day we were painting at the new house and he came up behind me, patted my shoulder and said, "It looks pretty good, mom! Good job." then walked away. We are sometimes blown away by the things he knows and says. Such an intuitive and smart little boy.

He still refuses to sit on the potty, even though he knows the reward; sometimes after Daniel or I use the bathroom he will clap and tell us that we get a lollipop and a sticker. He has just decided it's not for him. I'm hoping he changes his mind pretty soon, there might be a bit more prompting once we're settled at the house.

Eli loves seeing his "friends" (what he calls every new person he meets; "hi friend!") at church and seems to love his bible class. He always anticipates seeing friends and learning about God when he gets tucked in on Saturday nights. What mama wouldn't be proud of the sweet heart he has?

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with blogging because I just want to remember every single moment of what life is like right now. We are blessed beyond measure with these two munchkins!