To Patrick on his sixth birthday.

Dear Patrick,
This morning as I stood around the playground with the other moms, I was reminded of how much you have grown.    
Here are things that 6 year old Patrick can proudly do:
Whistle
Reach the milk from the top shelf
Buckle and unbuckle your new messenger bag :)
Ride in a boat and go tubing on the lake (without mom and dad)
Conquer big water slides
Swim and dive
Shoot baskets
Make Eggo waffles
Read and write books
Kill and dispose of spiders and pincher bugs

The list goes on and on. The more you conquer, the more you want to do.  Every fear you overcome, another one melts away, completely forgotten.

I cherish every moment I have with you.  You, the self-described: "Talker" can weave a story that seems so real, I am left to question where the lines are blurred.  Your imagination will serve you well throughout your life, never stop dreaming and planning. 

I cried on your first day of First Grade.  Not because I was sad but because you are my hopes and dreams.  As much as I would like to keep you close to me forever, I know that I have to send you off into the world because you are going to make this planet a better place.  I pray that your love, kindness and creativity will flourish and grow to your benefit and the benefit of others. 

 Baby Patrick 2005

Your brother and sister are very lucky to have a big brother who loves and cares for them the way you do.  When you think I'm not listening, I hear you talk to Keith like you are a Little Mommy, giving him comfort and direction.   It is amazing to witness such a huge heart tucked into such a small body!

I love you Knick-Knack.  I'm glad you love celebrating your birthday so much!  More fun to come tonight!!!!
We don't stop with forbidden McDonalds and colorful cupcakes!

I love you!
Mama

Two first days, one blog post

Here's Patrick, bright and early on his first day of the First Grade.  "King of Cool" 

The remanants of the first day of school breakfast. 

A big boy with a messenger bag.  Helpful hint: make sure your kid can open and close his bag before the first day of school.  We eventually figured it out but it wasn't pretty.  He was happy that he could still take his new bag.  I was happy that the bag was actually closed.

We came to school bearing bags of "suggested" classroom supplies.  I was happy to secure all of the items on the list.  The hitch?  The teacher didn't need all of the items on the list, including the glue that we made a special trip for GRRRR.  reverse process.

Patrick had a good first day (and second day).  He kept describing it as REALLY long.  We're working out our scheduling and routine, soon it will be smooth sailing. 


Keith has been.... behaviorally challenged the past few days.  I attribute it to his growing anticipation and anxiety about starting school.  He wanted to start on Monday with Patrick but he had to wait (impatiently).  Finally, the day arrived.  He picked out his own outfit, it happened to be the same shirt he picked to wear  to church....hmmm.  We've been having the it's preschool, not church conversation for months now.  As much as he wants to start school, he is clearly nervous about the big leap.

But he rallied and was perfectly happy.

And back to his old self within minutes.

I tried to tell his teachers that he isn't anything like Patrick.  They had to really see it to believe it. 

After one day they are charmed and convinced. We'll see what tomorrow brings.  I will say this, he had MUCH better behavior tonight than the past four days.  I even let him play with modeling clay, scissors and the garden hose. Three things he is usually not allowed to touch!  Here's to the corner...and turning it.

Oh, one more thing.  Keith was so excited that he got to play with Play-Dough at school.  I heard Patrick tell him, "You're lucky Keith, I didn't get to play with play-dough.  I had to do work all day."  Right work, in between the puppet shows, recess, and visits to the treasure box room with the Nintendo DS.  First grade is tough (and long)!

A Very Short Post

Acid reflux sucks.
  
Nap please.

I have a lot to say to you, but no time to say it.  Maybe later, be patient.

SO very pregnant

I am in the final week of my second trimester and I am oh so pregnant (and happy).  I know I'm pregnant because I got lost on my way back to work the other day.  Totally driving somewhere but it wasn't to the office.  I wasn't on the phone or texting or singing Billy Joel at the top of my lungs, I was DWP (Driving While Pregnant). 

Then I found myself sobbing after listening to an OnStar commercial!  It was the one where the little boy is locked in the car and the mom is holding it together until the car is unlocked and the baby is in her arms (I'm a little weepy now!!).  Then she starts to cry and I start to cry and I want OnStar in my car!

I know we are on the home stretch because I "get to" take my glucose test on Thursday.  Hopefully I will pass.  I'm really looking forward to the naps that will come with the third trimester.

Raising Kids in the Digital Age

Yesterday I was in the pool with the boys and Patrick asked if we could take a picture.  I told him that I didn't have my camera with me.  He told me that he was going to take a memory picture so say cheese.  Keith and I cheesed.  Patrick clicked away.  Then Keith asked, "Can I see the picture Patrick?"

Riveted

Summer is nearly half over!  I can believe it because we have done A LOT.  We are working our way through our summer fun list... Now we can check the Circus off the list.  Although Patrick and I seem to be having a bit of a disagreement about when to take things off our list/door.  As the planner and executor of the list I need to keep it manageable.  As the recipient of the fun, he is convinced that some things should be repeated and therefore stay on the list.  I took them down, he put them back up, I took them down.... I win.

Anyway, the circus was fun.  We took our balls of boy energy to Mimi's for breakfast before the circus. They could not sit still.  The circus was a whole other matter.  Keith sat like this (hands in his lap) for the first 45 minutes.

He was absolutely riveted by the show.  Then he remembered himself and turned it back on. 

He was having a great time watching the show.  Stealing popcorn from Dad and Patrick.

He loved every minute of it.

Especially the Baby Elephant!

And he is trying to convince Patrick to put together a trapeze act... or any act for that matter.

Happy times indeed!

Holding up my end of the bargain.

Welcome to the 25th week of my pregnancy.  Only 105 days left and our little family will convert to this artist's rendering....

OUR FAMILY- by Patrick

Last night at a birthday party I turned down cake and attributed it to my poundage.  I admitted to the moms that were trying to coerce me into eating cake that I have gained 30 lbs and needed to slow it down.  As they assessed me and shook their heads in disbelief, I couldn't help but wonder, "do I care that I am 30 lbs up  only 25 weeks in?"  I don't.  I haven't been the pillar of good nutrition or physical activity but I'm just doing my part!  The baby on the other hand has only gained a pound and a half.  Mom- 30 Baby- 1.5  I'm totally winning.

And my doctor didn't call CPS when he saw my stats last week.  He did make a verbal weight gain note for both of us though.  And he also told me that the reason I am having such bad tailbone pain is because I don't have enough junk in my trunk (my words, not his).  So there.

I'm grateful that it is summer and I can camp-out in maxi dresses (or muumuus as my mother called them).  And I am so grateful that I am feeling better.  I had a case of the vapors (i know 'sic') on Monday (my first in weeks) and woke up on Tuesday trying to figure out how I functioned for the first 15 weeks of my pregnancy.... oh that's right, I ate.