Chris left yesterday on his yearly guy trip to skiing wonderland. I was upbeat about the trip this year because life is easier and it will be great and we will SAIL through the five days he is gone! It will be a snap. (I'm funny, aren't I?)
Last night, Brennan woke up screaming at 2 a.m. He had a nightmare. I got him back in bed. I went back to bed. Brennan woke up screaming again at 3 a.m. Another nightmare. I get back to bed, start to drift off and Brennan decides he now has to use the boys' bathroom. He turns on every light in the hall and the bathroom and basically lights up our house as if it is Christmas Day. It is 3:30 a.m. and I am getting a little cranky.
I start to drift off yet again, but I am jolted awake by Chris's alarm clock screaming at 4 am. I resist throwing the thing across the room and attempt to get back to sleep. I snooze for an hour until I hear more screaming coming from the direction of the boys' rooms. It's Griffin and he is up. He informs me he is "ready to go downstairs now." It is 5:30 a.m.
Yep. I am starting to get alot less upbeat about Chris being gone for five days, child free, skiing with his buddies. A lot less upbeat.
Excuse me while I go hunt down an IV full of a caffeinated beverage.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Singing, Kisses and Some Hair Tangles
After we have all read books, I tuck each of the boys in their bed at night, laying down with them to hear about their day or just to cuddle.
Griffin goes first. We rock together on his chair and sing songs. His favorite song right now is "Old McDonald." I think, in part, because he laughs hysterically whenever I make an exaggerated animal noise. After we giggle our way through the farm noises, he picks another song that I softly sing to him as his head rests on my shoulder. He lets out more giggles when I lean over to steal a kiss during our song. Often, he will quietly sing along with me, watching me closely with his big blue eyes so intent.
Next on the bedtime routine is Brennan. Brennan loves to give kisses, kisses and more kisses. He kisses my forehead, my cheeks, my nose. I return his kisses with my own, listening to his little boy giggles when I evolve into the "Mommy Kissy Monster" who slobbers sloppy kisses on his neck. We chat about his day as he snuggles until he begs for one minute to lay on my back and play with my ponytail. Tonight, he snagged the elastic holding my hair back and claimed it as his own, hiding it in the recesses of his bed. The last words Brennan always says to me, every night, including tonight - "I love you Momma. You're the best."
And last is Aidan. Aidan loves to talk about his day interwoven with cuddles and hugs. Tonight he asked if he could untangle my mess of a hair after Brennan made off with my pony tail holder. Piece by piece, he gently unwound my hair with his fingers weaving carefully through my strands, careful not to pull or hurt me.
After a few minutes, he smiled at me and softly asked, "Does that feel nice Mommy?" When I told him it did, that I had forgotten how wonderful it was to have someone play with my hair, he smiled again and said, "I could do this for you every night! So then when you go to brush your hair at night, all the tangles would already be gone and you never would get hurt. Ever!"
I have moments where I love them so much I honestly feel like my heart could burst from the sheer force of it. My singing, kissing, hair untangling sweet boys - how will I ever stand to have them grow up?
Griffin goes first. We rock together on his chair and sing songs. His favorite song right now is "Old McDonald." I think, in part, because he laughs hysterically whenever I make an exaggerated animal noise. After we giggle our way through the farm noises, he picks another song that I softly sing to him as his head rests on my shoulder. He lets out more giggles when I lean over to steal a kiss during our song. Often, he will quietly sing along with me, watching me closely with his big blue eyes so intent.
Next on the bedtime routine is Brennan. Brennan loves to give kisses, kisses and more kisses. He kisses my forehead, my cheeks, my nose. I return his kisses with my own, listening to his little boy giggles when I evolve into the "Mommy Kissy Monster" who slobbers sloppy kisses on his neck. We chat about his day as he snuggles until he begs for one minute to lay on my back and play with my ponytail. Tonight, he snagged the elastic holding my hair back and claimed it as his own, hiding it in the recesses of his bed. The last words Brennan always says to me, every night, including tonight - "I love you Momma. You're the best."
And last is Aidan. Aidan loves to talk about his day interwoven with cuddles and hugs. Tonight he asked if he could untangle my mess of a hair after Brennan made off with my pony tail holder. Piece by piece, he gently unwound my hair with his fingers weaving carefully through my strands, careful not to pull or hurt me.
After a few minutes, he smiled at me and softly asked, "Does that feel nice Mommy?" When I told him it did, that I had forgotten how wonderful it was to have someone play with my hair, he smiled again and said, "I could do this for you every night! So then when you go to brush your hair at night, all the tangles would already be gone and you never would get hurt. Ever!"
I have moments where I love them so much I honestly feel like my heart could burst from the sheer force of it. My singing, kissing, hair untangling sweet boys - how will I ever stand to have them grow up?
Monday, February 23, 2009
With Confidence and Joy
9 months after I started playing tennis, I finally have won a singles match. It felt good. It was jumping up and down, hooting and cheering, unbelievably good.
I walked into the tennis club tonight with butterflies in my stomach and my hands shaking from nerves. Halfway through the match, we took a quick water break and I could barely drink from my water bottle because my hands shook so badly. My hands still shook when we handed in our score card at the end.
My goal in tennis is always to have fun, but I also hope to grow to into a player and a person who has more confidence, both on and off the court. I am just a beginner and I will probably stay a beginner for years and years, but I’d like to be a beginner who embraces the game with confidence and joy.
I have a feeling tonight’s win will go a long way to helping me achieve that goal.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Our Little Old Man
The teachers at Griffin's school call him their two year old little "old man." This nickname started a few months ago when he approached his buddy Jacob, smiled and said, "Jacob! Would you like to come over to the mat and play with me please?"
He has come out with some equally old mannish phrases and a few doozies that are fairly funny, but his teachers were lining up at the door to tell me about "terrible, terrible" last week.
One of Griffin's friends scratched him in a disagreement over a crayon. After the teacher put the little boy in time out, Griffin pointed his finger at his friend, shook it and said, "Dominick! That was terrible of you! Terrible, terrible, terrible!"
A few minutes later, the director of the center walked into Griffin's classroom and heard what happened. She asked Griffin if he was okay. He sadly shook his head no and told her, "Miss Mary, it was terrible. Just terrible, terrible, terrible."
This has become Griffin's catch phrase now. Any time we walk by a teacher from his school, they chuckle softly and murmur, "terrible, terrible, terrible."
I admit it. I sort of miss the days he was known as the toddler yelling "Go Obama!" around the school.
He has come out with some equally old mannish phrases and a few doozies that are fairly funny, but his teachers were lining up at the door to tell me about "terrible, terrible" last week.
One of Griffin's friends scratched him in a disagreement over a crayon. After the teacher put the little boy in time out, Griffin pointed his finger at his friend, shook it and said, "Dominick! That was terrible of you! Terrible, terrible, terrible!"
A few minutes later, the director of the center walked into Griffin's classroom and heard what happened. She asked Griffin if he was okay. He sadly shook his head no and told her, "Miss Mary, it was terrible. Just terrible, terrible, terrible."
This has become Griffin's catch phrase now. Any time we walk by a teacher from his school, they chuckle softly and murmur, "terrible, terrible, terrible."
I admit it. I sort of miss the days he was known as the toddler yelling "Go Obama!" around the school.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
People!
We were sharing a family dinner when Brennan asked to be excused from the table to go to the bathroom. After ten minutes had passed, we all realized Brennan was still missing.
"Brennan?" I yelled.
"Brennan?" Aidan shouted.
"Brennan, are you in the bathroom?" Chris asked loudly.
At no response, I asked again, "Brennan, what are you doing?"
Finally, we hear a loud sigh from the downstairs bathroom. (Brennan refuses to shut the door when he is in the bathroom. There is no such thing as privacy in our life.)
After the sigh, Brennan yells back, "People! I am dealing with some serious gas issues in here, okay? We are talking about LOTS and LOTS of gas."
Never ask a question when you aren't sure you really want to know the answer.
"Brennan?" I yelled.
"Brennan?" Aidan shouted.
"Brennan, are you in the bathroom?" Chris asked loudly.
At no response, I asked again, "Brennan, what are you doing?"
Finally, we hear a loud sigh from the downstairs bathroom. (Brennan refuses to shut the door when he is in the bathroom. There is no such thing as privacy in our life.)
After the sigh, Brennan yells back, "People! I am dealing with some serious gas issues in here, okay? We are talking about LOTS and LOTS of gas."
Never ask a question when you aren't sure you really want to know the answer.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Valentine's
I am not a huge fan of Valentine's Day. It doesn't seem like a real holiday to me, but a somewhat contrived made up day created to get people shopping in their mid-winter, post holiday gloom. We decided to opt out of the traditional romantic notion of Valentine's Day this year and instead hosted a little gathering for a few friends. Friends that, well, like to play Rock Band. For hours and hours and hours.
That's how it started at least. Then we added a mini-spa day for the ladies in the morning. We enjoyed massages, facials and much quality time on the lovely chaise lounges in the serene ladies' retreat room. We finally nudged ourselves out of the fluffy robes and went out to lunch.
After lunch, we ran home to change for our doubles tennis tournament. One hour, two tennis courts, four couples and lots of laughing. The tennis play ranged from Christine and me who started playing in June, Cynthia who has played since high school and our hubbies who barely ever get out to a court unless we drag them to the (wow, we were totally out of our league) expert levels of our dear tennis rock star friends Carolyn and Mike. It made for interesting (and really funny) matches.
The kids were at our house under the watchful eye of babysitter Nicole, who took off like a shot the minute Chris and I got home. As I watched the kids quietly enjoy a snack at the kitchen table, I commented on how they were playing so nicely and quietly. I was quite impressed with all of their behavior.
They all looked back at me wide eyed and smiled innocently until sweet little Hayden (Greg and Cynthia's daughter - almost 4 years old) commented with glee, "We are now. We were alot louder and wilder when just Nicole was here. You should have seen us then!"
I was laughing too hard to have a response.
The adults regrouped at our house after showers with pizza. We fed the kids, got them all settled into the playroom and commenced our reentry into the land of rock band. I am not sure what our slight addiction to this game says about all of us, but at least I know the addiction is shared with good company.
We stayed up way past all our bedtimes. Much, much too late.
I don't think the life of a rock star ever faced the harsh reality of the oh, too early 7 a.m. wake up call by the ever energetic kiddies. This rock star needs a nap, or maybe a nanny?
That's how it started at least. Then we added a mini-spa day for the ladies in the morning. We enjoyed massages, facials and much quality time on the lovely chaise lounges in the serene ladies' retreat room. We finally nudged ourselves out of the fluffy robes and went out to lunch.
After lunch, we ran home to change for our doubles tennis tournament. One hour, two tennis courts, four couples and lots of laughing. The tennis play ranged from Christine and me who started playing in June, Cynthia who has played since high school and our hubbies who barely ever get out to a court unless we drag them to the (wow, we were totally out of our league) expert levels of our dear tennis rock star friends Carolyn and Mike. It made for interesting (and really funny) matches.
The kids were at our house under the watchful eye of babysitter Nicole, who took off like a shot the minute Chris and I got home. As I watched the kids quietly enjoy a snack at the kitchen table, I commented on how they were playing so nicely and quietly. I was quite impressed with all of their behavior.
They all looked back at me wide eyed and smiled innocently until sweet little Hayden (Greg and Cynthia's daughter - almost 4 years old) commented with glee, "We are now. We were alot louder and wilder when just Nicole was here. You should have seen us then!"
I was laughing too hard to have a response.
The adults regrouped at our house after showers with pizza. We fed the kids, got them all settled into the playroom and commenced our reentry into the land of rock band. I am not sure what our slight addiction to this game says about all of us, but at least I know the addiction is shared with good company.
We stayed up way past all our bedtimes. Much, much too late.
I don't think the life of a rock star ever faced the harsh reality of the oh, too early 7 a.m. wake up call by the ever energetic kiddies. This rock star needs a nap, or maybe a nanny?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Easier
I took some time to stroll down memory lane yesterday. I read my old blog posts from the past two winters and realized, suddenly, that life has gotten easier. Not easy, mind you. Life with small children is never easy, but it's eased up a bit, allowed a little bit of breathing room. Life is easier.
This is the first year in six years that we have not added a new baby to our lives when our youngest hits two. I never got to enjoy the part where your youngest seeks independence and needs you just a wee bit less. I was otherwise engaged in the sleep deprived, nursing, all hours trenches created by a newborn. I am sad as I watch Griffin transform from sweet baby to fiercely independent (and strong willed) toddler, but it also gives me a break to do such exciting things like pick up the kitchen or throw in a load of laundry.
We have had a mild flu season this year so far. (knocking on wood!) The past two winters have been fairly horrific, but this year apart from a few colds and one mild visit from a stomach bug for Griffin, we have muddled through without major incident. Last year, we literally lived through back to back stomach bugs, flus and coughs from January through March. I shudder just to remember it.
Chris is traveling less. He will always have to travel as part of his job, but as his company has flourished he has been able to hire real life actual employees to do some of the traveling for him. He is home more. And this makes my life a hell of a lot easier. (and happier!)
I read the day to day accounts of my life from the last two years and honestly, there is a part of me that isn't sure how I did it. We sleep through the night now - until the ripe hour of 7 a.m. The boys play together, entertaining themselves for an hour or more! I get to share drop off and pick up on the days I work now, with a husband that is home to help with the bedtime routine. I have had time to rediscover myself, spending an hour, three times a week, to enjoy the game of tennis.
Life is easier. We were always happy. We always felt blessed to live our life with our three amazing, beautiful children. Our life, in the last six years, has always been a good place to live. It may never be easy, but what a welcome relief to know it does get easier.
This is the first year in six years that we have not added a new baby to our lives when our youngest hits two. I never got to enjoy the part where your youngest seeks independence and needs you just a wee bit less. I was otherwise engaged in the sleep deprived, nursing, all hours trenches created by a newborn. I am sad as I watch Griffin transform from sweet baby to fiercely independent (and strong willed) toddler, but it also gives me a break to do such exciting things like pick up the kitchen or throw in a load of laundry.
We have had a mild flu season this year so far. (knocking on wood!) The past two winters have been fairly horrific, but this year apart from a few colds and one mild visit from a stomach bug for Griffin, we have muddled through without major incident. Last year, we literally lived through back to back stomach bugs, flus and coughs from January through March. I shudder just to remember it.
Chris is traveling less. He will always have to travel as part of his job, but as his company has flourished he has been able to hire real life actual employees to do some of the traveling for him. He is home more. And this makes my life a hell of a lot easier. (and happier!)
I read the day to day accounts of my life from the last two years and honestly, there is a part of me that isn't sure how I did it. We sleep through the night now - until the ripe hour of 7 a.m. The boys play together, entertaining themselves for an hour or more! I get to share drop off and pick up on the days I work now, with a husband that is home to help with the bedtime routine. I have had time to rediscover myself, spending an hour, three times a week, to enjoy the game of tennis.
Life is easier. We were always happy. We always felt blessed to live our life with our three amazing, beautiful children. Our life, in the last six years, has always been a good place to live. It may never be easy, but what a welcome relief to know it does get easier.
Monday, February 09, 2009
More Whining as a Prelude to the Catwalk
Our whining started Sunday morning.
"I really don't feel like going out tonight," Chris confided over our morning coffee.
I quickly agreed and added, "Sunday nights are supposed to be spent at home."
We whined more and more as the day continued. I even whined to my brother Travis on the phone later that afternoon when he asked what we were up to that day.
"We have to go to a fundraiser - the Catwalk for Charity thing by Ryan Miller." I said and then quickly added, "But we really don't want to go. Really don't." I let out a huge sigh and continued, "But we have to."
My brother, knowing me very well, just laughed and said, "That's what you always say. I'll read on your blog how you and Chris were partying it down in a few days."
How well he does know us. We may not have partied it down. (I mean, no shots of tequila were consumed while dancing on top of a bar or anything.) But we had much, much fun. Open bar, yummy food, good friends and Buffalo celebrity sightings galore. (I mean, hello!, the principal guy from Saved by the Bell was there people. This is good stuff.)
My girlfriends and I spent a little too much time in the photo booth with a life size cutout of Ryan Miller, only to gawk at the real thing when we stepped out of the booth and found him standing right in front of us. We managed to put ourselves together a few minutes later and breezily chat him up on the money he was raising for cancer programs by hosting the shin dig. (And then Christine had to go and ruin it when he walked away by informing us he must think we are all "very, very old women." Sniff. Who you calling old?)
At one point in the evening, I got trapped in a corner behind two former Buffalo Bills - Jim Kelly and Alex Van Pelt. After a few minutes of being stuck and a few laughing glances by my friends who were engaging them in conversation, both guys realized I was there, grabbed me in a group hug and declared "I was trapped in the sweet spot." (I only wish I had taken my friend Greg up on his offer of 20$ if I grabbed both their asses at once. Damn. One more glass of wine and I would have been golden.)
The live auction continued, for the third year in a row, to be out of our bidding league. I wanted the sweet little black lab puppy so bad I even had Chris convinced we could bid on his furry doggie cuteness. Until the players' wives decided they wanted him too and bid it up to $6000. Yes, a tad bit too much for us. We also convinced ourselves that maybe, just maybe, if we got all of our friends to pitch in we could afford the Iron Chef backyard barbecue competition, complete with wine tasting and Sabres sous chefs. And then it went for $10,000. So, not so much success on the auction for us, unless you count our drooling over the deep pockets of the other fancier guests.
I also did a little bit of drooling on my newest itty bitty crush on Paul Gaustad. (Hi Paul! You handsome devil you! If you like mid thirties women who have given birth to three children, have stretch marks and regularly wear spanx, then call me, k? Let's make it happen!)
"I really don't feel like going out tonight," Chris confided over our morning coffee.
I quickly agreed and added, "Sunday nights are supposed to be spent at home."
We whined more and more as the day continued. I even whined to my brother Travis on the phone later that afternoon when he asked what we were up to that day.
"We have to go to a fundraiser - the Catwalk for Charity thing by Ryan Miller." I said and then quickly added, "But we really don't want to go. Really don't." I let out a huge sigh and continued, "But we have to."
My brother, knowing me very well, just laughed and said, "That's what you always say. I'll read on your blog how you and Chris were partying it down in a few days."
How well he does know us. We may not have partied it down. (I mean, no shots of tequila were consumed while dancing on top of a bar or anything.) But we had much, much fun. Open bar, yummy food, good friends and Buffalo celebrity sightings galore. (I mean, hello!, the principal guy from Saved by the Bell was there people. This is good stuff.)
My girlfriends and I spent a little too much time in the photo booth with a life size cutout of Ryan Miller, only to gawk at the real thing when we stepped out of the booth and found him standing right in front of us. We managed to put ourselves together a few minutes later and breezily chat him up on the money he was raising for cancer programs by hosting the shin dig. (And then Christine had to go and ruin it when he walked away by informing us he must think we are all "very, very old women." Sniff. Who you calling old?)
At one point in the evening, I got trapped in a corner behind two former Buffalo Bills - Jim Kelly and Alex Van Pelt. After a few minutes of being stuck and a few laughing glances by my friends who were engaging them in conversation, both guys realized I was there, grabbed me in a group hug and declared "I was trapped in the sweet spot." (I only wish I had taken my friend Greg up on his offer of 20$ if I grabbed both their asses at once. Damn. One more glass of wine and I would have been golden.)
The live auction continued, for the third year in a row, to be out of our bidding league. I wanted the sweet little black lab puppy so bad I even had Chris convinced we could bid on his furry doggie cuteness. Until the players' wives decided they wanted him too and bid it up to $6000. Yes, a tad bit too much for us. We also convinced ourselves that maybe, just maybe, if we got all of our friends to pitch in we could afford the Iron Chef backyard barbecue competition, complete with wine tasting and Sabres sous chefs. And then it went for $10,000. So, not so much success on the auction for us, unless you count our drooling over the deep pockets of the other fancier guests.
I also did a little bit of drooling on my newest itty bitty crush on Paul Gaustad. (Hi Paul! You handsome devil you! If you like mid thirties women who have given birth to three children, have stretch marks and regularly wear spanx, then call me, k? Let's make it happen!)
Friday, February 06, 2009
Wisdom
Brennan, Griffin and I set off this morning to Target to pick out Valentine's cards. 1 hour, 2 icees, 1 popcorn and a 100$ later, we were headed home. I am baffled by Target and the 100$ rule. It matters not what I head inside its doors for, I will inevitably walk out 100$ poorer.
My 100$ mandatory donation to Target today included an impossible to resist red trench coat. I didn't have a chance to try it on until later that afternoon. As I contemplated my purchase in the bathroom mirror, I turned to Aidan and Brennan and asked what they thought.
"Do you like it? Do you think it looks okay?" I asked as I stared into the mirror.
"Sure," answered Brennan.
"You look nice Mom." Aidan said.
After a beat he continued, "But, you know, it really shouldn't matter to you what we think. It doesn't matter what other people think. What matters is if you like it."
I like when my six year old reminds me of the important things.
My 100$ mandatory donation to Target today included an impossible to resist red trench coat. I didn't have a chance to try it on until later that afternoon. As I contemplated my purchase in the bathroom mirror, I turned to Aidan and Brennan and asked what they thought.
"Do you like it? Do you think it looks okay?" I asked as I stared into the mirror.
"Sure," answered Brennan.
"You look nice Mom." Aidan said.
After a beat he continued, "But, you know, it really shouldn't matter to you what we think. It doesn't matter what other people think. What matters is if you like it."
I like when my six year old reminds me of the important things.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Good Morning
I am not a morning person. Not even in the slightest. I take forever to wake up and once awake, tend towards the cranky until I have had a cup of coffee or two(or three.) Chris knows this. And even our boys know it. On the weekends, they never wake me up. EVER. They quietly and gently shake Chris awake and let me blissfully slumber on in peace. (My sweet boys. I have, on the occasion when I am feeling guilty, told the boys to wake me up instead of Chris on a weekend morning. But even with that request, the boys are reluctant to disturb me.)
I have come to realize I am better in the morning if I attempt to wake up before the boys. This works best on the days I work because it allows me to have a cup of coffee, slowly wake up at my own pace and get things organized for our morning rush. I enjoy my morning alone time, as much as it is possible when you must be awake at 6 a.m.
But now Aidan is on to me. He has figured out my early morning routine and sleepily will trudge downstairs minutes after me. At first, I admit, I was not happy at sharing my morning solitude. But this morning changed everything.
This morning, Aidan shuffled into the kitchen to greet me wordlessly with eyes half closed with sleep. He grabbed my hands and pulled me over to the couch. I sat down and he quietly crawled into my lap. We snuggled in the quiet of the morning, peacefully, for a good fifteen minutes. Just me and my sweet first born boy.
The first words he spoke were a good five minutes into the cuddle session. He lifted his head, smiled at me and whispered, "I love you Mommy."
It's enough to make me want to be a morning person. Almost.
I have come to realize I am better in the morning if I attempt to wake up before the boys. This works best on the days I work because it allows me to have a cup of coffee, slowly wake up at my own pace and get things organized for our morning rush. I enjoy my morning alone time, as much as it is possible when you must be awake at 6 a.m.
But now Aidan is on to me. He has figured out my early morning routine and sleepily will trudge downstairs minutes after me. At first, I admit, I was not happy at sharing my morning solitude. But this morning changed everything.
This morning, Aidan shuffled into the kitchen to greet me wordlessly with eyes half closed with sleep. He grabbed my hands and pulled me over to the couch. I sat down and he quietly crawled into my lap. We snuggled in the quiet of the morning, peacefully, for a good fifteen minutes. Just me and my sweet first born boy.
The first words he spoke were a good five minutes into the cuddle session. He lifted his head, smiled at me and whispered, "I love you Mommy."
It's enough to make me want to be a morning person. Almost.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Smackers, Smoochers and the Sloppy Ones
Brennan has a bedtime routine of giving kisses. He tells me where each kiss will go, but likes to surprise me with the variety of kiss he will bestow upon me. He is not done until he has kissed each of my cheeks, my forehead, the tip of my nose and my chin at least once. Often, he likes to hit them all twice. Sometimes three times.
The smacker kiss is one of his favorites. He grabs my cheek, smacks his lips together and makes loud smacking noises as he pushes his lips into my cheek. It's a variation on the smoocher where he lightly presses his lips to my forehead and makes fish like noises as he kisses me. And then there is the sloppy kiss. Let's just say the sloppy kiss is certainly sloppy, and involves a nice wet cheek when all is said and done.
At the end of the kissing, Brennan will smile and whisper to me, "And now Momma you get your nice kiss." He will lean over and barely, softly, brush his little puckered lips up against my cheek. Then for good measure, he pats my cheek and tells me to "rub the kiss in so it lasts you all night long." Every night, without fail, I obey him and rub my cheek in a circle to ensure no magic is lost from his sweet, soft little boy kiss.
The world would be a better place if we all ended our day with a smacker, a smoocher, a sloppy one and a sweet, nice kiss to last us all night long.
The smacker kiss is one of his favorites. He grabs my cheek, smacks his lips together and makes loud smacking noises as he pushes his lips into my cheek. It's a variation on the smoocher where he lightly presses his lips to my forehead and makes fish like noises as he kisses me. And then there is the sloppy kiss. Let's just say the sloppy kiss is certainly sloppy, and involves a nice wet cheek when all is said and done.
At the end of the kissing, Brennan will smile and whisper to me, "And now Momma you get your nice kiss." He will lean over and barely, softly, brush his little puckered lips up against my cheek. Then for good measure, he pats my cheek and tells me to "rub the kiss in so it lasts you all night long." Every night, without fail, I obey him and rub my cheek in a circle to ensure no magic is lost from his sweet, soft little boy kiss.
The world would be a better place if we all ended our day with a smacker, a smoocher, a sloppy one and a sweet, nice kiss to last us all night long.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Sweetness
Three things, sweet things, from the mouths of my babes that I must commit to memory from this weekend.
1. Friday was a rough day in our house. Griffin caught a stomach bug and was doing his best to vomit on any area of our house that had previously been left untouched and unstained. Brennan, disturbed by all the attention being focused on Griffin by me because of said bug, decided to act out. He acted out spectacularly. My only saving grace to the day was going to be my promise of an hour of tennis that evening. And then tennis was canceled.
I was not in a good place. The boys were fighting and yelling and in a bad moment of temper, I slammed a drawer shut in the kitchen. The drawer broke off and fell onto my foot. As my foot throbbed with pain, I went into the living room, away from the kiddies for a moment for a good pity cry. I sat in the dark for a minute with my eyes closed. I opened them to see Aidan standing next to me. Wordlessly, he climbed up next to me on the couch, cuddled with me and gave me hugs.
Later that night, I thanked Aidan for coming in to give me a hug. "I really needed it, Aidan," I said to him, "Thank you for doing it."
"I know you needed it Mom. And I was the only one out of the three of us that wanted to..."
2. Saturday night was a quiet family night in our house. We watched a movie, had pizza and were simply content to hang out in our pjs. As I put Griffin to bed that night, we rocked for a minute in his rocking chair in his bedroom. He rested his head on my shoulder and snuggled into me while I rocked. After a few minutes, he lifted his head, smiled at me and said, "Momma, you're my best friend. I wuv you."
I smiled at him, resisting the urge to giggle, and replied, "You're my best friend too G."
"Thank you Mommy. I go to bed now."
That is a perfect way to send a child off to bed.
3. We celebrated the Superbowl over at our friend Christine and Dylan's home. They have an adorable golden retriever, Simon, who is loved by my boys. Unfortunately, Simon's treat that afternoon had been a giant container of peanut butter. Due to Brennan's peanut allergies, Christine locked Simon up in her bedroom.
Simon was not pleased and protested by barking loudly. When Dylan asked Christine why Simon was locked up, Brennan was listening intently to Christine's explanation about his allergies. He looked up at Dylan and said, "I can go, if you want. I can go."
It broke my heart with its sweetness. My lovely little boy willing to leave the party so the dog could be freed.
1. Friday was a rough day in our house. Griffin caught a stomach bug and was doing his best to vomit on any area of our house that had previously been left untouched and unstained. Brennan, disturbed by all the attention being focused on Griffin by me because of said bug, decided to act out. He acted out spectacularly. My only saving grace to the day was going to be my promise of an hour of tennis that evening. And then tennis was canceled.
I was not in a good place. The boys were fighting and yelling and in a bad moment of temper, I slammed a drawer shut in the kitchen. The drawer broke off and fell onto my foot. As my foot throbbed with pain, I went into the living room, away from the kiddies for a moment for a good pity cry. I sat in the dark for a minute with my eyes closed. I opened them to see Aidan standing next to me. Wordlessly, he climbed up next to me on the couch, cuddled with me and gave me hugs.
Later that night, I thanked Aidan for coming in to give me a hug. "I really needed it, Aidan," I said to him, "Thank you for doing it."
"I know you needed it Mom. And I was the only one out of the three of us that wanted to..."
2. Saturday night was a quiet family night in our house. We watched a movie, had pizza and were simply content to hang out in our pjs. As I put Griffin to bed that night, we rocked for a minute in his rocking chair in his bedroom. He rested his head on my shoulder and snuggled into me while I rocked. After a few minutes, he lifted his head, smiled at me and said, "Momma, you're my best friend. I wuv you."
I smiled at him, resisting the urge to giggle, and replied, "You're my best friend too G."
"Thank you Mommy. I go to bed now."
That is a perfect way to send a child off to bed.
3. We celebrated the Superbowl over at our friend Christine and Dylan's home. They have an adorable golden retriever, Simon, who is loved by my boys. Unfortunately, Simon's treat that afternoon had been a giant container of peanut butter. Due to Brennan's peanut allergies, Christine locked Simon up in her bedroom.
Simon was not pleased and protested by barking loudly. When Dylan asked Christine why Simon was locked up, Brennan was listening intently to Christine's explanation about his allergies. He looked up at Dylan and said, "I can go, if you want. I can go."
It broke my heart with its sweetness. My lovely little boy willing to leave the party so the dog could be freed.
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