Merry Christmas to All..

I so wanted to post a few beautiful pictures of my boys in their adorable matching Christmas sweaters surrounded by their Santa bounty. But, our reality did not quite make it to a Kodak moment. Unless pictures of our family beaten down by a stomach virus could make it to next years Christmas card.

So - no Christmas sweaters. No Christmas Eve Italian feast at Nana's. Just mad rushes to keep the kiddies from vomiting all over the place. I even exhibited some amazing mommy prowess and caught Aidan's vomit in a blanket to keep it from the beautiful and NEW sectional. I sure wish I had some pictures of me nursing on Christmas Eve at 3 am as I quietly vomited in a bucket next to my chair, but sometimes you just miss all the good shots. Or even a video of Brennan desperately trying to tell me that he had pooped anywhere and everywhere - and then the expression on my face as I took in the icky stinky mess. (the gift that just keeps on giving... and giving.)

Thankfully, the virus spared Griffin. He is healthy and happy - and that is the best gift our family could hope for this year.

And so they sleep...

In what can only be described as a modern miracle of nature, all three of my boys are asleep SIMULTANEOUSLY. I had to quickly debate the merits of a nap versus a shower. The shower won. And it was the best shower ever. Truly. My nirvana of joint naps lasted 45 minutes until a lone cry pierced the silence. And back to reality we go...

The Proposal

I never know what Aidan will ask - but it is always interesting and will certainly either make me laugh or often, even cry. Take yesterday for example:

Aidan: "Mom, when two people get married, does that mean that they have to move away?"

Me: "Well, sure - when two people get married, they do usually move in together into a home of their own."

Aidan then starts to cry. Big fat tears welling up in those beautiful brown eyes. He then wails, "But I don't ever want to move away from you. Ever!"

Knowing full well that I am going to make life very difficult for the little hussy who tries to steal my sweet boy away from me, I give him a huge hug and respond, "Okay, well, you can just live with me forever."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

Aidan is quiet for a second and then responds, "I have an idea. How 'bout I marry you and then we can move away and get a house of our own?"

My sweet darling little boy.

Depends anyone?

Over the weekend, Chris stopped at the store for milk and juice. (Staples when you have young kiddies.) Out of sheer desperation, I asked him if he could also pick me up some (ahem) sanitary pads. (Poor guy, I know.) Out of credit to him, he didn't even blink an eye over the request.

I opened up the package he brought home that evening. And inside were the biggest pads I had ever seen in my whole life. They were Depends - undergarments for those with bladder incontinence. I laughed so hard my shoulders were shaking and tears were in my eyes. When I showed Chris what he responded: "Huh - I must have been quite a sight in line at the grocery store with a gallon of juice, a gallon of milk and my bladder control pads." Heh.

Happy Birthday Brennan!

Brennan turned two on Saturday. Two! Although if you ask him, he continues to insist that he was turning three.

Brennan is a child that brings a smile to people's faces merely by walking into a room. It's unexplainable - but true. He is our jokester - always trying to make you laugh and giggle over some antic. Yesterday, he walked around with three rubber bands on his head just to see the reaction he would get from his mom and Aidan. His personal favorite for inspiring laughter from all of us? Brennan's infamous naked somersaults after a bath.

He loves to sing and bust a move. He sings at full volume - belting out his ABCs or more recently, Jingle Bells or he hums quietly to himself as he hugs his blankey and enjoys a quiet moment with the beloved (and addicting) binky.

Brennan so enjoys his food. Before he could talk, he would just giggle over the sight of his next meal. Now he interrupts his eating to exclaim "yum" or "good" or more often "more." He loves everything from tacos to yogurt and of course his brother's culinary favorite "mac n' cheese." Brennan was the only 16 month old I knew that could identify his favorite restaurant "Moe's Southwest Grill" by sight when we drove past it in the car. He even cried if we drove past without stopping in for his favorite chicken burrito.

Brennan worships his older brother and will follow him anywhere and keep up with him in anyway possible. He loves to play tackle with daddy, read books, color and build, build, build!

He is a love. He loves to cuddle, give hugs and a wet smacking kiss that he has to rub in to make sure it lasts all day long.

Happy Birthday Brennan. It is such a joy to watch you grow and live each day.

And Baby Makes Five...

We are now a family of five. Griffin arrived on December 4, weighing 8 lbs, 4 oz., and promptly caused all of us to fall head over heels in love with this little bean of a baby. He has a full head of such beautiful dark hair and the brightest blue eyes. I just can't stop loving him up.

The boys are beside themselves. Aidan is in full big brother helper mode. Our first day home, Aidan ran up to me and demanded, "Where's our baby?" And then begged to hold him and confidently popped the binky back into Griffin's little mouth at the first sign of crankiness. Aidan also had some kind words for his mom after I arrived home. After sharing a nice good night hug, Aidan tells me, "Mom, you did such a good job pushing out our baby, I am going to let you borrow one special thing from my room for the whole night." I left his room with his treasured truck pillow and tears in my eyes.

Brennan is a little more unsure of this new addition. He liked the idea of the baby, but now that it is reality, our "momma's boy" isn't sure what to do with this interloper who demands his momma's attention. I think Brennnan takes comfort in the fact that he can out momma Griffin by having the ability to follow me into the bathroom, shower and wherever else I may find myself in the house. If I do dare to leave a room without announcing it to Brennan, he has taken to screaming "Momma!!!!" at full volume until I announce my whereabouts.

Our first day home was challenging. Griffin was a little put out by his new surroundings and shared his feelings at full volume ALL DAY LONG. It was a nonstop cry fest and caused me to have many moments of "Oh Dear Lord, What Have We DONE?" Even my normally unflappable mother in law appeared a tad stressed out when absolutely nothing could quiet the boy down. Well, nursing would quiet him down. But after six straight hours on the boob, I needed a break.

(Sidenote - add to this hysteria - a husband who has to dash off to work all day for a work emergency that had kept him up until all hours the night before and then we LOSE POWER (AGAIN!) that night. I was holding it together pretty well until the power went off. Then the hormonal breakdown was released in full force. Tears, blubbering, general hysteria, no power, no heat and a baby THAT WOULD NOT STOP CRYING unless I allowed him back onto the cracked, bleeding blistering boobies.)

But then day two home brought us an adjusted and happier Griffin. No tears. Regular nursing demands and his very first normal poopie! (I think it was the poopie that did it. I really do.) Since then, it has been a dream. Well, a dream in which I (and my children) all live in pjs everyday, never leave the house, and watch wayyyyyy too much Noggin. (I heart Noggin. I really do.)

And to top it off? He sleeps! Griffin sleeps! Not the hour newborn catnaps that all new moms must endure, but he nurses at 9 pm and is good until anywhere from 2:30 until 4! 4!!!!!!! Yes, I am still emotionally and physically exhausted, but I know a good thing - and that is a gift for a new mom.

Griffin has completed us as a family - and for that we are all truly blessed.