Easter

We had a GREAT Easter this year! The boys got to do lots of fun Easter things, and we had such a great time as a family. Gavin's school had a big Easter egg hunt, and I took Crew up with me to watch. Then that evening, we decorated eggs with Grandma. Sunday morning, we got up, went to church, then headed to the Blackburns for another Easter egg hunt with all of the Grandparents! It was a great Easter! 

with their "I love Grandma" eggs

Me and 2 of my girls!

Spring Break

We had such a great Spring Break this year! It's all about the mindset...Im telling you! You just have to wrap your head around: "Im gonna be with my kids 24/7, and I need to find a way to make them think its awesome! In my defense, Im with my kids all the time and I always try to be awesome. But there's something about Spring Break that changes things. You have to make the most of this precious "time off" with the kids! We filled our days with nonstop activities, lunch dates, trips to museums and libraries, and a little shopping. Here's just a few pics to recap our week of fun! 

Parental-phobia

Okay I seriously have a problem. As a parent, there is always a next step, a new milestone, or a new THING to conquer. My phobia is the fear of the next parental obstacle or milestone I must conquer. Not following? Here's some examples:

- As newborns, you hope and pray that they are good breastfeeders (sorry for TMI). You hope they latch on, that you produce enough milk, that they are "nice" to you, etc.

- But then, you have to introduce the bottle to them. You have to hope they won't freak out when you throw a wrench in their perfect boob world.

- I swaddled both boys, which helped them sleep longer, and not wake themselves up as much. It soothed them and made them happy to go to sleep. But then you have to worry about when they start breaking out of the swaddle, and then eventually hope they learn to sleep without their arms swaddled. Not to mention, you stress that they'll be warm enough without the extra blanket.

- So we've already been stressed about transitioning from boob to bottle, then we've gotta take the bottle away and switch from formula to milk!

- Next come binkys, then of course they should be sleeping through the night long before now, and then potty training, then switching to a regular bed, not a cage. I mean, Im just getting started here!

What I would like to focus on is taking away Crew's binky recently. Ive dreaded it for at least a month. Every time I would give it to him to sleep, I would dread the day I would deprive him of it. Every car ride, every time he got cranky, and just those days or nights when you need some quiet and peace...I would dread that day the bink wouldn't save me. But last Sunday night, we just said "IT'S TIME!" And we put him to bed without the bink. 30 minutes later, after having to mute the monitor several times, he fell asleep. The next day for naptime, it was rough. Let me tell you, ROUGH! But he finally fell asleep, and we both survived. He woke up smiling at me after 3 1/2 hours of a great nap. Now here we are, the end of day 4 and he is LOUD but happy. I will take it! Another parentalphobia conquered.

You see, I think everyone has a fear of being a parent. Whether or not we want to admit it, we are the only people in charge of getting our children past these transitions in life. I mean, can you imagine a 4 or 5 year old child needing to be swaddled? Or a 1st grade child still drinking from a bottle? Im sure there are extreme cases where it happens, but in general, we as parents usually get our act together and tough it out. We turn our babies into toddlers, into children, into teens, and then adults. That's all im trying to do, while still making it past my phobia! Prayers are appreciated

Sesame Street Live

Eric and I didn't have very long with Gavin as a toddler with just us 3. Crew was born 3 months after he turned one, and by that time, babies are just starting to form their own opinions, talk, recognize the time they spend with you and the special things you do. So we make a big effort to take Gavin to do some things with just us 3, while Crew is still too young to enjoy them. When I saw an ad for Sesame Street Live, I knew that this would be something that Gavin would LOVE! I bought tickets within 5 minutes, and Eric and I were so excited to take Gav. 

Aunt Sharon came over to get some much requested quality time with Crew, while we took off downtown early since it was a beautiful Saturday. We walked around by the canal, looking at boats and ducks and swinging Gavin while both of us held his hands. Then we ate at Chelino's for an early dinner before the show. It's AMAZING how easy it is to go eat at a restaurant with one child. Eric and I haven't gone to a restaurant with just Gavin EVER, since Crew has been born. He loved all the one-on-one attention, and so did we. He kept asking when we were going to see Elmo, and talking so excitedly about going. 

Once we got to the convention center for the show, he was literally on Sesame Street overload! Gavin knows all the names, and wanted to have his picture with everyone. You've never seen smiles so big!!! Then he sat like such a big boy throughout the whole show. And when Eric and I were trying to sneak out before the very end of the show to avoid traffic, Gavin kept saying "No, It's not over!" "Soon as it's over, we'll go!" LOL. So we stayed, and clapped and danced and bought the silly light up toy, and a $10 balloon because it made him happy. 

What a perfect day with our first baby boy. Love you Gav

My Happy Boys

No big explanation needed. I just love them...

Crew 1 Year

Crew Warren, you are ONE! I can't believe it. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was 9 months pregnant, having constant contractions and being worn out to an extreme that I can't even describe. That we were waiting so impatiently for that Wednesday morning at 6 am when my c-section was scheduled. One year ago today when you came into this world so perfectly and happily that I was scared to death! I couldn't believe you weren't crying. I was freaking out and asking Eric if you were okay, because my baby boy was so content to be whispered to by his Daddy. You have changed so much since that day, and grown into such a sweet, smiley, lovey, yet stubborn little boy. You love your Mommy and Daddy so much, and always run to us with your arm wide open. You follow Gavin everywhere and want to play with every toy he has. I don't even know what to tell people who ask me what to get you for your birthday, because you only want what G has. Maybe I should just tell them all to buy Gavin a present! :) 

You are a solid rock, and always shock people with how much you weigh when they pick you up. You don't look heavy, but definitely have some meat on those bones. You clap, wave, can "click" your tongue, and love to laugh. I love teaching you something new because you are so attentive. Im blown away by how you quick you are when walking, getting into things, and even cramming things into Aunt Amy and Uncle Ryan's toilet! LOL. 

365 days of your life, and there isn't one second that I can live without. :) 

12 Month Stats: 

- Wear size 18 month onesies and 12-18 month pants. Size 5 shoes and Size 4 diapers

- Sleep 7:30 - 6:30 each night and still take 2 naps a day if we're home. 

- Just started Mother's Day Out last week for one day a week and you did so great! 

- Say "Mama" "Dada" and "Bye-Bye" and wave, clap and constantly jabber

- Have 6 teeth still

- Wrestle with your brother, but it makes me nervous bc you're still so young. But you hold your own so well so I know you will be okay. 

- Love Lion King and Mickey

- Are still rear-facing in your car seat but your feet hang off and Im going to have to switch you soon. 

- Drink only milk from sippy cups, no bottles, no formula. And eat 3 good meals a day. 

- Are obsessed with cups and always go for Gavs when he's not looking. 

Love you baby boy. Here's to 100 more years with you! 

My "Job"

I would never venture to call what I do each day, a "JOB". But in reality, that's what you could call it. My job is this face...each morning when he wakes up banging his binky on his crib, standing facing the door while I watch him on the monitor. He waits so patiently for me to come get him, then cracks the biggest smile ever when I open the door. We have snuggle time, milk, and watch cartoons first thing every morning. 

Not long after he's up, Gavin starts saying "Mommy, I wake up. I need to go potty!" And we run to his bed and get him up. Eric is so jealous on the mornings he leaves for work when Im snuggled on the couch with my 2 boys, drinking milk and watching Lion King in our pajamas. We play trains, we read books, race cars, and just about anything else a boy could want to do.

We can't have just ONE book

At some point each morning, we have to get ready and leave the house. As most of you know, Im the WORST "Stay at Home Mom" ever! I can't sit at home, because then I'll want to clean. And if I clean, I don't enjoy my babies. So we run errands, go to lunch with Grandma, go to the park or a play area, or go to a play date! Some days we have Drs appointments, or we stop by to see Nana and Papa or go have breakfast with Grandpa. 

No, I don't get paid. My kids don't care what I wear or if I shower, but for the record, I still care about both! Im just a mommy, and I can't get over how lucky I am to be "Just a Mommy." Some days it's hard to not have a career or to recognize that I don't use my degree to make money. I am such a work oriented person, who loves to use my brain. Im smart, and I am not afraid to say that. But I can't imagine spending my time anywhere else. I want to be the one to make their breakfast, read the books, teach them ABC's, put them down for their nap, teach them manners, and be there when they do their "FIRST" anything! I know everyone doesn't have that option, so I would never dare judge someone working and being a mom. Im just so happy that I get to have this job because my boys make me so happy and help me to remember that every day with them is a good one. 

Back to work I go...