My boys...

I always wanted to be a mom. Even more than that, I wanted to be a mom of boys. And I figured that was a tall order (on one side of my family there are 8 girl cousins in a row - boy number 1 is finally due in June). So when Max made himself well known, we were thrilled. (Ok, Dan really didn't care, but I was thrilled.) And when Luke made it clear that I was going to have son number two, I couldn't have been happier.

I get a lot of comments from friends and family asking if I wish we had a girl. And every RARE once in a while, I wonder what that would be like. But I love my boys. I love the rough and tumble nature of Max, and the volume and adventures yet to come. I am ready to purchase my frequent flier card to our local emergency room and buy stock in band-aids. I find myself already making statements like, "Honey, penises need to stay in our pants" and reminding our firstborn that we don't put food up our nose. I expect that my life will be full of all things wheeled, a fascination with the gross, and knowledge of explosives. And I can't wait.

But every once in a while, like this recent afternoon, my life is also filled with this:



















And this:

















Boys aren't always loud and crazy and rough. And being the queen of this castle is the perfect gig for me.

Home sick today...

For the first time in over two years, I am home sick today. Nothing major, and sure, I could have toughed it out. But I wimped out - really just needed some time. It has also been my first day alone in my home since before Max was born (2 years and 9 months, not that I"m counting).

Really, it has been just what I needed. I did laundry, dishes, cleaned the guest room, watched some daytime tv, and currently have Juno on. I also finally finished sewing Max a little cape I've been wanting to make forever. I can't wait to show it to him - he's getting so imaginative lately, and I can't wait to see what games it inspires! I'm sure there will be pictures to post....

I swore I'd take a nap, but for maybe the first time in my life I don't want to waste time alone by sleeping. And maybe today has just given me enough time to feel like I'm not drowning. Heck - I'd be sick more often if it meant I didn't have to be sick....

P. S. I have to confess feeling guilty that I am able to take a sick day - for all of my wonderful friends who are stay-at-home-moms, I fully appreciate that you don't have this option. And that stinks!

Something New...

Between Max and Luke, every day seems to bring us something new. This weekend Luke discovered his feet. It is just so adorable to watch him play with his toes - and like his thumb, they are often finding their way into his mouth. It's just so cute!


Not too much to add today - just trying to keep my head above water right now. Hey - only 32 days of work left! If anyone has found a way to add an extra hour to the day, share the secret...

The Tulip Fields...

I'm a real sucker for any holiday/seasonal adventure - pumpkin patches, blueberry picking, cutting down Christmas trees, anything that you can only do at one time a year is a good time for me. And in spring, that means a trip to Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. I think I have drug Dan down to the fields for the last 6-7 years - and now that we have kids, I use them as the reason we just have to go.

Most years we have been very fortunate to have semi-decent weather. But this year the unusually cold spring has really affected the tulips. They were very slow to bloom this year, and made going to the farm much less desirable. But I was determined (read: stubborn) that we had to go, no moatte how long we stayed. So, on our way back from Kyah's first birthday party, we decided to stop by, despite the dark sky and intermittent hail and rain.



Max had fallen asleep about 30 minutes before we got there, and was not sure he really wanted to get out. After a little persuasion and promises of playing with the duck troughs, we were on our way. It was going to be a quick visit - the dark clouds were quickly headed our way, it was cold, the fields were closing, and our stomachs were empty. We ran from the duck troughs to the pipe slides to the fields and back to the car just in time to miss a MAJOR hail storm. The pictures aren't our best, but it was just what I needed to remember what I love about spring.



And now that we've been to the Tulip Fields, we can cruise through the rest of spring. Bring on summer, baby!

First tooth...

My normally laid-back and happy babe has been a little grump the last couple of days. Now, it's all relative, but he did want to be held a lot more, and was less content to hang out playing with toys. Along with the fussiness, yesterday the tell-tale red cheeks, additional drool, and endless gnawing added to the signs.

Today, Luke's first tooth popped through! You still can barely see it, but there's a definite sharp little edge in there.

There's another thing that is growing in our house. As Luke gets older, the relationship with his daddy continues to get even better. They are starting to really amuse each other - laughing and grinning together, and cuddling when that's what is wanted. I love to see the two of them together these days. Dan is just so great at playing - it is when he really shines as a daddy. And Luke is starting to get it - Daddy's funny!

So, some great new things around here. Love it!

Please watch....

Ok, I'm a movie junkie. But rarely do I find one that I recommend to everyone. And to let you know how serious I am, I forced 60 middle school students to view it today. And they recommend it to you - so it must be worth it.
Iron Jawed Angels is the story of Alice Paul and the women's suffrage movement. In two hours you will be reminded in a way that you won't soon forget just how important it is for us to use our right to vote. I've always been a little peeved at the statement that women were "given the right to vote" - this movie showed just a snippet of how little these women were given and just how hard they had to fight. To think that sometimes we are just simply too lazy is a disgrace to our grandmothers and great-grandmothers who gave so much.

Really, you owe it to yourself to watch this movie. Ok, enough politics for now - you don't want to get me started, I promise!

Poem in my pocket...

Go to sleep,
Mum I won't stop breathing
suddenly in the night

Go to sleep,
I won't climb out of my cot
and tumble downstairs

Mum, I won't swallow
the pills the doctor gave you
or put hairpins in electric sockets,
just go to sleep

I won't cry when you take me
to school and leave me:
I'll be happy with other children my own age.

Sleep, Mum, sleep.
I won't fall in the pond, play with matches,
run under a lorry or even consider sweets from strangers.

No, I won't give you
a lot of lip,
not like some.

I won't sniff glue,
Fail all my exams,
Get myself/ My girlfriend pregnant.
I'll work hard and get a steady/
really worthwhile job.
I promise, go to sleep.

I'll never forget to
drop in/phone/write
and if I need any milk,
I'll yell

-Lullaby by Rosemary Norman

Today is National Poem in your Pocket Day. I asked my students to participate and share their poem in some way during their day today, and I figure I better do the same. I found this poem this morning, and could really identify with it. How often do I wish that Max and Luke could give me some guarantee that they were going to turn out ok, so I wouldn't lay awake at night worrying about it. So, what do you say, boys? You gonna make your mama some promises?