Maximum Load

The rule at the pumpkin patch is that you have to be able to carry it out by yourself.  He managed to lug the largest pumpkin he could possibly lift all the way up to the scale, where we took pity on him and transported it to the car for him.

SEVEN!

Wow.  Seven.  I can't believe Boy O is seven.  It's a common theme in my posts now-time seems to be moving forward at an incredible pace.  I had hoped to have a birthday party with friends and family, but with Newbie O and life in general, I just could not get it together enough to plan the fabulous superhero themed party I had envisioned in my head.  There's always next year.  So instead, we celebrated in superhero style in our usual low-key way.  Family, food, presents, and all the superheroes you can imagine.

It started a bit early the night before-we let him open one birthday present early for movie night.  If you guessed The Avengers, you would be right on track. He was thrilled-especially since I had promised a fun evening of watching the first presidential debate I had taped previously.

Here the boys are in good spirits the next morning having a wonderful Spiderman breakfast.  He opened one more present at breakfast-an extra 30 minutes at bedtime.

Then it was onto our favorite Ethiopian restaurant where we met family and feasted on injera, shiro and other traditional favorites.  I got a big kick out of Boy O-his cream soda looked like beer and he looked like such a mini grown-up whenever I glanced over at him.

We were so full from lunch that he actually opted to save the birthday cake for later.  Presents definitely held a much higher priority.  Beyblades, superheros and legos were at the top of the list this year.

Boy O wanted a 'Beyblade' cake this year.  This was a hard one and I thought long and hard about how to create it.  Not my greatest masterpiece, but it's the thought that counts, right?  He said he loved it and even though I thought it looked a bit evil, it was mighty tasty.

And as tradition dictates, a letter to my oldest son on his seventh birthday:

Dear Boy O,

It's been another big year of changes for you.  We moved again, switched schools and added another member to the family and although I know you miss our old neighborhood, house and quality time alone together, you have managed to embrace it all with an incredible amount of enthusiasm.  You amaze me.

I want you to know that despite your brave face, I see how difficult it is to adjust to all these new things that have been thrust upon you.  I feel your frustration when seeing our time diverted to a tantrum throwing three year old and a new infant.  I want you to know that our love has and will never diminish-not even one bit-for you.  I want you to know that it weighs heavy on my mind.

You are seven.  Seven!  You still love superheroes.  You love commercials more than the intended television program.  You love wearing long pants on sweltering hot days. You love competition (and HATE losing).   You love soccer, building forts, swords, and capes.  You love to lay down on the floor of the library and surround yourself with books.  You love to chase and antagonize your brother.  You love to make your sister smile.  You love to help out in any situation.

Physically, you have grown by leaps and bounds.  In just one year you have outgrown 4 shoe sizes and at age seven, your feet and hands are as big as mine.  It will not be long before you tower over me.  It's so hard for me to pick you up now, but I try as much as I can because I know I won't be able to hold you in my arms and carry you to bed much longer.

You are so fiercely independent that I know I won't have to worry too much as you get older.  But I still want you to know that your Dad and I will always be here to hold your hands and swing you up in the air anytime you need it.  Once again, I can't tell you how lucky I am to be your Mom.

Much love to you and please don't grow up too fast.

Mommy O

I Blinked...

...and another month went by.

Fair Fun

There seems to be one in every town, no matter how big or small.  I'm not a huge fan of them, but I do remember how much I loved them way back in the day-so we made an effort to venture out for a new experience.  Especially since I unwittingly drove by the fairgrounds and the boys saw the rides from the road.

Of course, we arrived an hour too early to ride on anything, so we tried watching the goat competition (very smelly) and subsequently left the arena to spend a small fortune on games and hot dogs (less smelly).  We tried to give the boys fair warning about these games-if you actually win, it's probably not going to be a very good prize, but that disappointment doesn't sink in until you realize your selection of booty is on the very bottom row many shelves beneath the dangling stuffed animals that caught your eye in the first place.  They still had fun and we came away with several expensive dollar store items that promptly broke within a half hour of arriving home.

When perusing the rides, Boy O took a liking to this particular race car ride.  He didn't realize until it started up that it was more something for kids his brother's age, and he tried so hard to hide his disappointment with a smile.

It was however just the ride for Baby O, who declared afterward that he wanted to ride it again and again.

After the race car ride, Daddy O decided to steer Boy O toward a ride that would be a tad edgier.  He went on this all by himself and looked pretty excited until it started to go high up into the air.  His eyes just about popped out of his head when it suddenly dropped down, but his smile was as wide as a watermelon afterward.

The boys jointly decided that riding motorcycles would be next on the list.  They both loved it when their motorcycle did a wheelie.

Another more 'grown up' ride for Boy O on the cliff hanger.  He felt like such a big kid (next to all the bigger kids).

Baby O's favorite ride was the jet ski's.  He rode one-handed most of the time, trying to give everyone high fives as he went around and around.  It was fun to see him so excited.

There is limited time as we have about a two to three hour window when Newbie O is napping in her stroller.  So we have all declared that next year we will purchase the unlimited ride wristbands and go on every single one.  I'm not sure how Newbie O will take that news, but hopefully she won't mind staying on the sidelines for a bit longer with Mom and Dad before she grows up too fast like her brothers.

Just Hi

Hi.  My name is Newbie O.  People call me all sorts of different names-anything from Miss Sassy Pants to Sugar Pop.  I've been around for almost 11 weeks now, weigh about nine and a half pounds and am 22 inches long.  I'm growing so much and so fast that there are some days when I don't nap at all because I stay up all day attached to my Mommy.   I do like to keep her on her toes!  Sometimes I smile and laugh at her efforts to put me in my bassinet-what does she think she's going to accomplish anyway?  I'm hoping she's just going through a phase.

Schedules are way overrated.  And with a face like this, how could you not agree?

Three

I've said it several times in the last year or so-Baby O is no longer a baby.  But he will always be our baby.  So for now, even though I have tossed around the idea of changing our pseudo-blog names, Baby O he will remain.  As usual, we celebrated as a family beginning from the moment we woke (which was early, because he woke up at least 4 times that night in what I believe was anticipation and excitement).

Tradition continues...I am still making the birthday cakes. They look pretty sad when compared to the store bought version, but it is so much fun trying to make these silly masterpieces.

Playing with his new 'Cranky' the crane and adding to his train collection.

Newbie O put on her pink party bow for the occasion and was able to watch all the festivities from the best seat in the house.

Hats off to the people who advertise for toys such as 'Dream Lites'.  This was by far the most requested item on Baby O's list and the most appreciated.  It is supposed to be the nightlight that 'turns your room into a starry sky'.  He told us he would not be scared of the dark anymore if he had one.  On night one of having his adored Dream Lite, he came running to our room at 2 am screaming bloody murder that he couldn't find it.  Come to find out, it had fallen off the bed.  Put that in your commercial Pillow Pets Corporation!

A letter to my youngest son on his third birthday:

Dear Baby O,

As I stated above, you are no longer a baby.  But as your Mom, it is so hard to let go of that little guy that entered our lives not so long ago.  You have grown and changed so much this year.  The baby fat is gone, the legs are longer and your feet at three are as big as your brother's were at four and a half years of age.  You are out of diapers, sleeping in your own bed and can carry on an amazingly complicated conversation with just about anyone.

You do everything with an energy and zeal that I admire.  You love your siblings with such fierce loyalty.  Just six months ago there was an incident where a boy was saying some mildly unkind things to your brother and you stood up in the middle of story hour and yelled, "Stop being rude to MY brother!, Be KIND you banshee head!"  You haven't had the chance to defend your sister just yet, but you enjoy playing with her toys and running over to where she is and having a conversation with her.  When we ask you what you have been talking about you usually respond with something along the lines of, "Miss Saucy Pants said I could play with her toys" or "She's fine, don't worry about her, she said she's not hungry".

You are equally mischievous, sassy and so darn cute at the same time.  It's hard not to laugh out loud at your responses to being disciplined.  It is quite a skill to be lovable and defiant at the same time and you have most definitely mastered it.  Imagining you being that way ten years from now is what helps me be consistent and keep a straight face.   I'm hoping these skills translate to being an independent thinker and a real people person when you are an adult and not the screaming meltdowns that occur currently in the time-out chair.

You may spend some time in the 'chair', but you are a great little helper.  You love to help me make meals or   vacuum the floor.  You especially enjoy helping Dad in the garage with various projects.  It slows us down a bit, but I think in a few years you are going to be quite the handy man.

This year has been full of changes with moving and a new addition to the family.  You have reminded us all to just relax, enjoy the moment and most of all, welcome it with enthusiasm and laughter.  I love you.  We love you and hope that three is even better than two.

Always yours and with all my love,

Mommy O

A Mother's Influence

You know you are spending a lot of time feeding your baby when your son drops everything, retrieves the boppy and hikes up his shirt in order to breastfeed his beloved Mr. Lamb.