My Baby Turns Three

Three years ago-to the minute- I was in the hospital, coming off a morphine high, feeling so tired I was almost numb. But I was happy. Why? My second boy was finally in my arms. He was born earlier that day, after a scheduled c-section. I loved him the minute I found out I was pregnant with him. That love grew even stronger when I saw him for the first time. The first time I held him was a beautiful moment I will never forget.

Today, he turned three. He is healthy, busy, noisy, affectionate, funny, and musically inclined. It's amazing how quickly babies grow! It's fun to see how much babies change as they get bigger. At the same time, it's mind-boggling how little their personalities change as the years go by.

Happy birthday to my sweet little Nathaniel (aka Mr. Big Stuff). I love you. You bring more joy to my life than you'll every know. I can't say you're an easy child, but you are so worth it! I thank God for you!

My Third Child

I have three children. My husband and I conceived two of them. I had the same two pulled out of my uterus via c-section. Two were planned, received all the appropriate prenatal care, and were named by my husband and myself.

So where did our so-called third child come from? Well, I made him. No, I do not have the ability to self-reproduce. I took two pieces of soft fabric cut them into squares, cut fringe-pieces, knotted them together, and -voila!- made a blanket for my baby boy, Nathaniel.

I had no idea, at the time, how attached Nate would become to his "blankie". Since I am as opposite from Martha Stewart as anyone can get, I made the blankie way too big. I mean, it was huge! That was not a problem until Nate decided he had to bring the blankie everywhere with him-- the grocery store, church, Grandma's, the doctor's office, and... well, you get the idea. It got to be such a burden, especially since I had to carry Nate and his blankie practically everywhere we went.

So, one day I took a chance. I cut the giant blankie into two pieces. I meant to cut it in half, but like I said, I'm no Martha Stewart. What I ended up with was a big blankie and a small blankie.
I was worried that Nate would freak out when he saw what I did to his beloved blankie that afternoon while he was out back playing. Not at all! He was excited to have not just one blankie but two!

Which brings me back to my "third child". Nate has latched on to that small blankie and treats it like his best friend. He named it Baby a long time ago (the big "half" is called Daddy). Baby has developed a personality of his own, he goes pee-pee on the potty, he has emotions, goes everywhere with us, and even has the same birthday as Nathaniel.

Almost all of our special pictures (ie. with Santa) include Baby. Nate introduces Baby to everyone we meet... the cashiers at the grocery store, doctors, receptionists, and total strangers. When Nate is sick, Baby is also sick. Baby eats dinner with us, reads with us, and goes to church with us. He even gives me good-night kisses at bedtime. Baby tells me he loves me and cries when Nate can't find him.

So, today when Nate went to Children's Hospital for surgery to put tubes in his ears, Baby had the same procedure. He even got his own admission sticker to wear in the surgery room. Nate was so pleased that Baby would be able to go with him. We couldn't be with Nate during the procedure so it was comforting to know that Baby would be there with him when they put Nate under anesthesia and when he woke up.

I'm happy to say that both Nate and Baby are doing well. Both are as busy and happy as always.

I didn't plan on having three children and I doubt I will have three children once Nate outgrows his attachment to Baby. Nate's fleecey companion will most likely end up in a keepsake box one day. But, we will always have the fun memories of Nate and Baby... and of course, the family pictures. One day it will be fun to tell Nate all about his Baby and how much he loved it.

In the meantime, Nate and Baby have their birthday on Friday. I know what to get Nate but what the heck do I get Baby?!

Streets of Gold... Sidewalks of ???

Here's a transcript of a conversation I had today with Andrew, my 5 year old, on our way to Chuck E. Cheese...

Andrew: Mommy, did you know that the streets in Heaven are made out of gold?

Me: Yes, I did know that.

Andrew: (Surprised) You did?!

Me: Yes! How do you know that?

Andrew: Grandma told me.

Me: Ohhhh... that's good. When I was little, I used to think I'd chip chunks of gold out of the street when I get to Heaven.

Andrew: Laughs...

Silence for a minute or two (which is rare when it comes to Andrew).

Andrew: Mommy?

Me: Yes?

Andrew: What are the sidewalks made out of?!


Ha, ha... my turn to laugh. He's such a Thinker!

A Few of My Favorite Things

This is a repost from my MySpace blog

Fresh-out-of-the-tub little boys.
How Nate fits so perfectly in my arms when we snuggle.
Hearing his bubbly laughter.
The messes he makes every time he eats.
Nibbling on two-year old ears.
The way Nate sings "The Bear Necessities"

That my guys love Scooby Doo.
Making Andrew laugh.
The way he takes life so seriously.
His great sense of humor.
A five year old's imagination.
When Andrew says, "I love you, Mommy."

Beach sand between my toes.
Flip-Flops.
Toenail polish.
Foot massages.
Ladybugs.
Mounds Bar Frozen Yogurt from Golden Spoon.

Fuzzy things.
Cute, comfy jammies.
A good book to read.
Not having to go anywhere on a cold, rainy day.
Eggnog Lattes from Starbuck's.
My big, red, cozy blankie.

Pretty undies.
White daisies.
MAC Makeup
Pink Grapefruit bath stuff from Bath and Body Works.
Color
Dangly earrings.

Powder-Blue at the Harley Davidson dealership
Corona, lime, and live music.
Pushing buttons
Change
The look on peoples' faces when they realize I'm not what they thought.
Good music, turned up loud.

Being treated like a woman
Feeling safe
Public displays of affection
Having fun together
Respect
Sharing laughter

Lies, Deceit, and Little Elves

This is a repost from my MySpace blogs

Dear Boys,
By the time you are able to read this, the following confessions won't matter much to you anymore. That's why I'm going to spill the beans about what Mommies (and Daddies) really do just to survive parenthood.

1. Remember all your Kids' Meals toys from the various fast food places in town? You wondered where they all went. Well, I threw them away.

2. You wondered what happened to all your Halloween candy and I told you that you ate it all. Well, actually, Mommy and Daddy ate most of it after you were in bed.

3. There was that day you wanted to go to Balboa Park to visit the Space Museum. I didn't feel like driving down there so I told you it was closed due to the wild fires. Well, since the fires had been out for almost a week, it just wasn't true.

4. You know how Daddy told you that smoking makes your penis fall off? Sorry-- I didn't really agree with that approach but you have to admit it was kind of funny... until you started pointing at every man you saw who was smoking and asking in a loud voice if his penis was going to fall off.

5. Remember all those times when we were out doing errands and you weren't following me? Remember how I said, "Bye-bye... I guess you're staying here." Well, I was bluffing. I would never have left you all by yourself!

6. I told you once that it's fun to go to the dentist. Well, it isn't.

7. Then there was that time I told you little elves came to clean your room. Well, truthfully, I cleaned it. I was just tired of the giant mess and knew you were going to argue and whine about about having to clean it. I just wasn't in the mood for that.

8. I know you still wonder where most of your unused toys went. Well, remember how amazed you were to discover that the church nursery has many of the same toys you used to have? That's not a coincidence.

9. Remember when your treasured blankie started to fall apart in strips so long, I was afraid you'd strangle yourself in your sleep? One morning, you woke up and someone had cut the long strip off and you noticed right away? Well, I was the one who cut it off, even though I acted just as surprised and offended as you.

10. You know those Starbucks Frapuccinos Mommy drinks sometimes? I told you that they taste yucky to little boys because they taste like coffee. Well, they don't taste much like coffee and I'm sure you'd LOVE them. I just wanted one thing in my life I could call my own and not have to share. Plus, you don't need the caffeine!

There you go. I feel much better now that I've gotten all that off my conscience. Yes, parents sometimes tell untruths and sometimes we do things that just aren't fair. That's just how it is. And in the end, it's all for your own good. Just ask the little elves!

Love,
Mommy

Wasn't My Kid...This Time, Anyway!

Today, I was at the doctor's office with my two boys. Our appointment was finished and I was completing some paperwork when all of a sudden, the building's fire alarm started ringing and lights were flashing.

It turns out one of the children in the waiting room pulled the alarm switch. The receptionist saw the whole thing. The ear-splitting noise made everyone in the waiting room uncomfortable and the nurses and receptionists scurried around, trying to contact the person with the right key to turn off the alarm. Meanwhile, the staff and patients in the surrounding offices who didn't know it was a false alarm were evacuating the building.

As I looked around to see who was responsible for the ruckus, I saw a woman holding a little boy. The poor woman... she looked like she had had a horrible day and this was just the incident to send her over the edge. It actually looked like she was crying and she kept apologizing to the people in the waiting room and to the staff.

Ugh! I felt bad for this poor woman and I tried to send her a "it happens to all of us" smile. At the same time, I must admit, I was also smiling because I was happy. Happy in the knowledge that, for once, it wasn't one of my kids who was the cause of such chaos.

I hope she's laughing about the whole crazy scene now. Sometimes, that's the only thing a mom can do.

Top 10 Things I've Learned as a Mom to Boys

I grew up with brothers. So, I figured I pretty much knew everything there is to know about boys. I've since discovered that what I thought I knew is minuscule compared to what I would learn after having two boys of my own. Here are just a few discoveries I've made since becoming a Mom to boys:

10. Boys are noisy. I don't necessarily mean loud, I mean that they are responsible for all kinds of noises. The obvious ones, of course, are related to eating and digestion. Then there are their "tools", like play drills and buzz-saws. They have toy fire trucks, police cars, fighter jets, and helicopters. These are equipped with buttons to push and these buttons set off shrill and/or loud sirens, mock gun-fire, or the put-put-put sound rotating blades. If the toys don't come equipped to make noise, no worry... boys are good at making up their own sound effects.

9. It's funny... no, hilarious to fart in the tub. Enough said.

8. Worms still squirm after they've been pulled into two pieces. This, I discovered after Andrew accidentally pulled apart "Charlie", a worm he had found. "Mommy, Charlie broke." This was how my oldest, who was three at the time, informed me of the tragedy.

7. It's not easy to aim in the right direction when using the restroom. Again, enough said.

6. Dirt tastes good. Or so it seems, based on the amount of dirt my youngest boy consumed before he turned two.

5. Legos are evil. Don't get me wrong... I love Legos! I've come to realize, however, that when Legos are allowed to escape the confines of their box or their put-together sets, they place themselves in very strategic places. Places that are just right for causing great pain as an unsuspecting bare foot comes right down on top of them.

4. Boys like Boobies. I know, it seems obvious but I assumed that boys wouldn't care much about breasts until they hit puberty. Apparently, it starts much younger than that. My first encounter with this phenomenon was when I took my older boy with me to Nordstrom. As I was looking for a bra in the lingerie department, I looked down to see Andrew squeezing the pre-formed bras. A second later he was shouting, "Boobies, Mommy, boobies! I love boobies!!" It's a good thing I don't embarrass easily because I'm sure everyone in the store heard it, including two young salesgirls who were trying unsuccessfully not to laugh. Nate has a similar obsession with breasts but I'll save those stories for another time.

3. Boys collect all kinds of "treasures". And it all ends up in the washing machine. You would think I'd learn to check pockets prior to putting clothes in the washer. Maybe I'm forgetful. Or maybe I'm just afraid to stick my hands into my boys' pockets. Either way, the result is I've pulled all kinds of items out of the washer including, rocks (lots of rocks!), sticks, Hot Wheels, sea shells, plastic lizards, plastic frogs, bolts, springs, wood chips, baby pine cones, and items of unknown origin.

2. Boys love to wrestle. Usually, Daddy is the one to wrestle with but if he's not available, they're happy to give ol' Mommy a try. If Mommy can't do it, they will wrestle with each other... that usually ends up in screaming, hitting, and tears.


1. If it looks like poop and it smells like poop, don't assume your boy won't try to taste it. Yes, yes... it's true. We found out the hard way after Nate found opossum poop in our backyard. Let's just say that Poison Control received at least one interesting call that day!

Being a Mommy to boys is an adventure. A fun, scary, busy, dirty, muddy, snuggly adventure. I've learned more about boys from personal experience than I ever thought I'd learn. And the adventure has just begun. I have years ahead of me (God willing) to discover all kinds of new things! I'm looking forward to it!