First Swing

He laughed out loud.

And it became my favorite moment of Mother's Day!

My middle....

I have gotten to spend a lot of time with my middle child since he was born, more time than I spent with Eli.  Recently I have been feeling as if my time at home is full of pressure, and I am not slowing down to soak in the hours I have with Hughie.  I just want the house to be picked up, cleaned up and prepped for the night or weekend ahead.  It's near impossible to keep our dishwasher, washing machine and garbage can emptied and filled.  Both of these are on a constant rotation in this house.  So poor Hugh catches me when I am trying to put Crosby down for a nap, or changing his diaper, or putting away the crusty dishes.  He wants and needs more attention.  I remember when I was a young, energetic mom of just 1 kiddo.  My day revolved around which educational activity or exciting adventure we would embark on.  I felt I helped mold Eli a little bit, even though he went to full time day care for the first 3 years of his life.  Every week I spend Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with just Hugh and Crosby.  And some days are way way way way way way wayyyyyyyyyy better than others. He is full of energy and noise and hugs and desire to learn.  He is frustrated when he can't do something himself and he wants to be just like Eli--so much so that he has created friends in his head (that are the same name as Eli's) and also can tell stories of what happened at "his" school--although I am quite clear that he was with me all day and never stepped foot in a school.

My sister has reminded me--Hugh is NOT Eli.  And bam!  It hits me.  Of course he's not.  He's not at all.  And I'm sad to admit that I forgot for a while that the same parenting skills and techniques may not work for him.  He may need an extra long hug, or he may need more reassurance.  He may prefer sports over legos etc.  But this kid...he's learning.  He can write his name clear as day.  And he is even starting to add with his fingers.  Come early fall-he will be going to school and I'm excited and scared and nervous and sad.  He is ready. But I won't be.  The house is going to feel empty and quiet.  Especially quiet.  And I fear regret.  I fear I will regret the days I filled the dishwasher or took him to the store instead of the park.  SO my goal for these next few weeks before summer break is to be more free with Hugh, give him more and everything he deserves in this time home with mama.

don't worry I know how to spell our last name, but I wasn't going to battle him and make him do two set's of E's

Cheers to these next few weeks Hugh-lou

Splits

Crosby has been practicing standing lately.  He likes to hold on to a small kid table that plays music when you touch different parts.  You can see him dance to the music in this video.  But even more fun-is the fact that he is in the process of doing the splits.  And the most fun to me is the love and joy that oozes out of Andy as he records this!!!

In the last 24 hours....

Crosby found his zipper

Hughie took "bun bun" for a walk (His stuffed bunny) 



The boys took a quiet look at the 1000 piece puzzle that Andy and I finished while they were sleeping! (It was a Star Wars puzzle)

Andy went on a field trip to Miller Park-that included learning about weather and watching the game!  Below is a picture of Eli with the other little boy in his group and Eli's two teachers (he is lucky to have a man and a woman teacher!!!) 



The ticket for the field trip included a hot dog and a "Drink".  Andy texted me mid-day to tell me Eli was having his first ever Pepsi.  Look at him glowing.  I personally love that Andy texted me to tell me--because he knew I was wondering what "Drink" meant. 

Before the game they saw a "cloud" being made!

 I don't get that many pictures of Eli these days.  He's not always hanging around me as much.  But he is still happy, proud, growing and learning.  I love that he had this experience and that Andy got to go along.

What will the next 24 hours bring? 

Not even a year ago...

Less than a year ago I was carrying lil Crosby in my belly.

It's amazing how much can and does change within a year.  We are all blessed to have surprises in our lives, and no matter how much we all hate unexpected change---living a life with no seasons, surprises or change would be mundane and boring.

I was not a happy pregnant lady--it was HARD physically for me. I carried Crosby very low and it made it really tough for me to move---in any direction.

If you can zoom in you can see in my face how I felt!

  I survived, but just barely.  But I love that my body was able to create this perfectly wonderful human being who has a whole life to live, create, experience, learn, and love.

But look at that belly.  It is SITTING on my lap.

But check this out!!! In less than a year--

Library Lego

Both Eli and Hugh love to do Lego's.  Recently they have taken a back burner to romping around the house and wrestling with each other.  I think it is just the long cold spring we are enduring.  But our huge box of Lego's remains front and center in our living room-just waiting patiently for them to dive in and get reacquainted and re-obsessed with.  Eli is constantly saving for the next huge Lego kit and has even recently started to do extra jobs around the house to earn 25 cents here, a dollar there.  If he could, he would beg anyone and everyone for extra money for his next kit.  He says "But mom! I need that Lego kit so I can get busy".  I guess the "go get busy" statement is heard by him.

A few weeks ago our library held a Lego building session for kids over the age of 4.  Every once in a while I will see it on the calendar for activities at the library but it always fell during nap time.  Well...now that Hugh Lou is not napping daily I thought it would be a great activity for them to do together and luckily Andy's parents were here to take them with Andy.  I stayed home.  They had a great time.

AND! Since the library is our Wednesday morning activity-it didn't take long for me to find what they built ON DISPLAY.  They were both ecstatic to see what they built.  Eli's is a hotel and Hugh says his is a "blob" (but the display says it is a Rocket Ship Space Station-in Andy's handwriting).

Yesterday

Yesterday my littlest was my happiest.  I tried to catch him giggling but what I got was this giddy, smiley baby.  I promise you I did not give him any alcohol.  And those aren't sneezes.  Those are happy baby head bobs.