Month: March 2014

my big four year old boy

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest
Dear Theo, 
My big four year old boy. 
Your birthday was yesterday and it was a fantastic day for you and our whole family.  Some of our dearest friends came over to celebrate you on your special day. 
Grammy and I were so busy getting ready for your party that I didn’t spend much time thinking about life four years ago. I’ve done more of that today, the day after your birthday. I’ve been picturing your dad and I at the hospital, brand new parents to this brand new beautiful baby boy.  The entire four years have been an adventure. You’ve surprised us in small and huge ways along this path and I have no doubt that your journey from four to five will be just as remarkable.
Four!  Four sounds like such a long time.  High school lasts four years.  A bachelor’s degree takes four years.  A presidential term is four years.  Olympics are every four years.  Many amazing things happen in increments of four years.  Four is officially a kid – there’s nothing baby about you anymore.  You have been diaper free for months. You stopped sucking your thumb cold turkey, because you said it was time. You are starting to sound out letters.  You can dress yourself from head to toe.  You have manners and know how and when to use them (even if you don’t sometimes). You love reading stories and playing games. You also enjoy watching movies at the theater and at home.  You’ve been to Disney World and bring up memories from our vacation often. Your favorite thing in the world is Legos.
You have a great appetite and enjoy a wide variety of healthy AND junk foods.  We call you “Green Eggs & Ham” sometimes because when you come to the table you often turn up your nose and say “I am NOT eating that!” But 9 times out of 10, within moments of trying the first bite, your plate is clean and you are saying “Mommy! Next time you make dinner, you should make this again!”  
You are creative and bright and bossy at times. Stubborn to a fault but you know exactly what you want. When you decide you are ready to do something, there’s no going back. You are sweet and shy and unsure of yourself.  You love hugs and kisses and our goodnight routine.  You know you have our undivided attention and you like to draaaag that out as long as possible. But Theo? 
I will read the extra story. I will play the extra round of Curious George Matching or Sneaky Snacky Squirrel. I will get you one last sip of water.  I will sing the extra song. I will brush your teeth a little longer and hug you a little tighter. You’re on your way to being five now.  BUT. That’s okay – I’m all too aware that it won’t always be like this. Today…for now, you’re just four.  My little, big four year old boy.  And I’m gonna hold on tight and fly through this year right beside you. 
I love you so much. 
xo,
Mommy

catch the moment: week nine

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest
Week nine: done. This project is not getting any harder – In fact, think it’s actually getting easier. I’m just accustomed to carrying my camera around with me and looking for things to take pictures of. My next photography goal is to stop being a wuss and start taking pictures even when I know people are looking at me like I’m crazy!  Sometimes I shy away from pulling out the giant camera because I know people are thinking I’m one strange lady. 
Linking up for week 9 with Stephanie @ Behind the Camera and Dreaming, Mindi @ Simply Stavish, and Sarah @ Nurse Loves Farmer for Catch the Moment 365.
57/365: February 26th. I tried to get an up-close shot of this church in week 6 but was scared off by someone in the parking lot.  I don’t know a lot about architecture, but I just love this kind of historic building. 

58/365: February 27th.  A lotta TMNT going on in this photo.
59/365: February 28th. Friday morning stop for tea at my favorite spot.
60/365: March 1st. An after-dinner trip to Target and just one of many photos from my “Day in the Life” post. 

61/365: March 2nd. Sunday morning craft project – I made this little page for Theo’s birthday celebration at school.
62/365: March 3rd. Monday afternoon Lego time. 

63/365: March 4th. Mr. Dextie Bear was being such a cutie in the car on the way to the sitter.  
I’m enjoying the project so far and like all of my pictures this week for one reason or another, regardless of their artistic quality or depth. I think my favorite is day 58 for the rich colors. Which one is your favorite this week? 
xo,
~C~

a (satur)day in the life

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

As a bonus challenge for the Catch The Moment 365 project I am participating in, it was proposed that everyone try documenting an entire day in photos.  We’ll be linking these posts up via our hosts, Nurse Loves Farmer, Simply Stavish, and Behind the Camera and Dreaming.

So this is a pretty typical Saturday on a weekend where we have little or nothing planned.  You’ll quickly see (as I did) how much our life revolves around eating and sleeping.

Saturday, March 1st.

MORNING:

Despite our pleading to not wake us up before Mr. Sunshine comes to visit, we were up and at ’em by 7am. They did a little shirtless marker play while I was fixing breakfast.  Saturday’s breakfasts are usually pretty hearty and pretty tasty, too.  They gobbled up cheesy scrambled eggs, bacon, jelly biscuits, and blueberries.

After breakfast, I enjoyed a second cup of coffee while Ryan paid bills, the boys played, and I attempted to watch the news.
Typical laundry room scene if/when laundry doesn’t get done during the week.  And it rarely does.
With the boys’ first swim lesson at 11:30am, I decided around 9 that I better see if they had swimming trunks that fit.  It was a good opportunity to dump their disastrous sock & underwear drawer and do some organizing.
Packed up and ready for the pool & gym.
Knowing they’d be eating a later lunch, I gave the boys a big snack of cheese, graham crackers, ham bits, and juice before we left.
Theo’s excitement was beyond words. He couldn’t wait to jump in and splash around! They both had fun.  They’ve got a lot of learning to do.  🙂
AFTERNOON:
Red beans and rice with smoked turkey sausage for lunch. They loved it! I fixed this for dinner Thursday night.  I’m always surprised when they like something new!
After some negotiations, we got them down for a late nap that didn’t last very long.
Meanwhile, Ryan finally took down our Christmas lights since A) the temp was above 0 and B) there wasn’t a foot of snow on top of them.
And I…
took advantage of the quiet and soaked in the boys’ tub (our bathroom only has a shower).
The boys woke up shortly after I got out.
EVENING:
Doing the dishes while cooking dinner and snapping a few pictures of Niko watching a squirrel. The boys were multi-tasking in the next room too, playing Legos and watching a cartoon.
Gyros for dinner:  Another unexpected hot hit with the boys.  Dee-licious!
An after dinner trip to Target …
that didn’t end well.
This tantrum brought to you by a 45 minute nap and parents who declined to buy their kid a toy. My plans of going to Kroger after Target were delayed.  It was 8pm and we decided to just head back home.  I think it sets a bad precedent to buy kids toys every time you take them to the store…I mean, at some point they have to accept reality.  Saturday night, this was our reality.  We got some looks – some disapproving and some understanding nods – as we were leaving Target with a screaming kid but… oh well.  He was over it by the time we got home and (hopefully) learned a lesson that acting this way doesn’t get him what he wants.
Bedtime Stories around 8:30pm.
Once the boys had settled and were quiet, I left again to pick up a few groceries.
It was pretty dead – I was in and out and back home before 10pm.
A small bowl of cherry cobbler ice cream, Breaking Bad, and then bed around midnight.
And that’s it – the play by play of a day in my life.  As I was trying to remember to take pics of just about everything that took place yesterday, it seemed like such a huge hassle. But for some reason, I’m kind of partial to this post.  I have a feeling these are the kinds of days that I will forget to remember. I’ll remember the trips to Disney World and birthday parties, but I won’t remember the details of random Saturdays that all seem to run together.  I might have to do this a few times a year.  Hope you enjoyed your day – and mine!
xo,
~C~