Long Weekend Fun

We had a super fun long weekend and so sad its over.  It's weekends like this that make me long for winning the lottery and being able to just spend every day as a family together.  Although, I guess since we don't get days like this all the time, its what makes it so special!  As an aside, Brad tore his ACL playing hockey several weeks ago.  His surgery had been scheduled for this coming Wednesday, so we also tried to use the extra day to be productive and get some things accomplished before Brad is out of commission for awhile.  (then we got a call first thing this morning, Brad's surgeon had a family emergency and surgery is pushed out a few weeks.  On my birthday.  Happy birthday me. :/)  Anyways, Brad spent the better part of Saturday trying to diagnosis why our sprinkler system was not working, and being the brilliant man he is, figured it out.  YEA.  I spent the better part of Saturday weeding beds and putting out new mulch.  Exhausting.  But gratifying.  And rewarded with frozen yogurt for the family.  The boys spent the better part of Saturday playing with water toys my mom in law got the boys when she was in town last.  And then all day yesterday was spent at my parents pool and cooking out.  Pure bliss.  The boys are obsessed with the water and we even spent the first half of today at our our neighborhood pool.  I have a feeling we will be either there or our neighborhood beach club every.single.day. this summer.  Its tiring, but so much fun!

 

 

 

Fun Friday

I am all about discovering new places to take the boys.  Get us out of the house, moving, having fun.  Especially in the summer time!  We had driven by a park in Allen a few times and it just looks AWESOME, so I made a mental note next time we were looking for something to do, we would check it out.  OH MY, this place is SO COOL.  The playground itself is HUGE, with like five or so different sections of equipment, separated by different colors.  The playground itself is awesome, but then throw in a really cool spray ground, soccer fields, baseball fields, a duck pond... and this place is ridiculous.  The boys were so overwhelmed at first they didn't even know where to begin.  The only downside is because it is a large area, it would be easy to lose sight of the little ones.  So, I followed them like a hawk.  What a fun Friday!!  

Big Boy, Small Boy

We had Blake's 4 year well visit this morning.  I was dreading it because I knew he'd have to get shots and now he's at an age of remembering this visit and was worried for two reasons, a) didn't want him to freak out during the shots and b) I didn't want him to start being afraid of going to the doctor.  Because now, he loves it.  There are lollipops involved after all.    I had heard the 4 year shots were not good.  When the doctor came in he verified my fears and said, the four year shots are pretty much the worst ones they'll ever get.  And that there was a good chance our day would be filled with an irritable and grouchy little boy.  Boo.  Blake didn't flail his body during the shots like I was worried he might, although I was pinning him down (tear) but he screamed...and I mean screamed bloody murder during the shots.  Alligator tears streaming down his face.  My heart broke for him.  Poor guy.  But he quickly recovered when the nurse gave him a little action figure for being so brave.  Little brother even teared up a bit because he was so worried about Blakers.  So sweet.
But what is not so sweet is the doctor was completely right.  He was doing so great immediately after the shots and then we had the biggest melt down in probably over a year.  We all took a time out and I'm praying we can get through the rest of the day relatively unscathed.  
Stats: 44 inches tall, 45 pounds.  95th percentile for weight and height, which the doctor says makes Blake the size of a five year old.  Big Boy!!
It absolutely blows my mind how opposite my boys are.  I'll be honest, it upsets me in this one aspect greatly.  Brady barely being on the growth charts, if at all still, and Blake almost topping off the charts in the other direction.  We've gone the longest we've ever gone without seeing a specialist for Brady.  We go again to the gastro in a few weeks.  And I'm ready.  I'm ready to hopefully be reassured that Brady is doing well.  Yes, he's HAPPY, filled with joy this boy is, and he's been relatively healthy the last few months, which is great, but his weight....  He's not gaining.  Maybe he's still where he is supposed to be relative to his curve, but I just need some reassurance. I want him to one day catch up to his big brother. Geez, I'd just love for him to wear the size clothing someone his age should be.  I'd love for my baby boy who came into this world as a big 8 pound 3 oz bundle of joy wouldn't be the same size as a baby born at 24 weeks.  Anyways, just needed to vent that out.  ::end rant.

Party Time

If I had to choose one word to describe Blake's birthday festivities this year, it would be PERFECT.  This four year old boy of ours was non stop smiles and was showered with all of his favorite things from Friday through Monday, his actual birthday, and he was so exhausted from it all that Monday night at his birthday dinner he fell asleep as he was putting a french fry in his mouth.  No joke.  

For Blake's actual birthday party we had a dinosaur adventure at the Science Museum at Fair Park. 

         Digging for bones

 
 

                                                               Searching for dinos

                                                             Volcano Eruption

         Enjoying the Party (aren't the cupcakes that look like ice cream cones so cute?!)

  

            My friend Breck texted this one of her little girl.  Could you just die from the cute?!

        These next few ones of Blake pretty much sum up how he was the entire birthday weekend

                                                                      Silly Daddy

                                                               Family photo op

                                      Mom and Dad with our big 4 Year old!

FOUR!

 Dear Blake,
Four years old.  I'm having a hard time coming to terms with that.  When did you become this grown up kid??  I recently wrote that you are my miracle baby.  And it is true.  Oh, how I ached for you and longed to be your mommy.  You made my dreams come true.  Blake, I don't only love being a mommy, but I LOVE being YOUR mommy.  You absolutely positively light up your dad and I's lives.  Not a day goes by without you having us rolling laughing with something you say or do.  I often call you my little class clown, because you purposely make those around you laugh.  Your favorite is physical comedy and you pretend to kick something or fall down and this makes your baby brother roll with laughter.  Me?  Not so much.  But then hearing the two of you roll with laughter in turn always makes your daddy and I follow suit.  Also?  Knock knock jokes.  You love them.  I guess really what it all comes down to, is you genuinely love to make people smile and laugh and make them happy.  What a gift that is.  A gift I hope you carry with you throughout your life.  Sometimes you do the "four year old" thing of taking your brother's toy or wanting your way, but the second you realize you've upset Brady, you give in.  You can't stand when your brother or anyone for that matter is upset.  You're an amazing sharer.  Even with your most prized possession...food.  You always are so concerned that any special treat you might have can be shared with your daddy.  Which brings me to the next thing about you...your love for food.  You love eating.  A lot of your wishes upon the first star in the sky or coin in the fountain, is for food.  That always makes me laugh, like you're somehow starved around here or something.  You adore your family.  I can tell you're always your happiest self, when you are with your entire family.  You are not a snuggler, but you are definitely affectionate.  You love to dish out "I love you's" and hugs.  Two things I will NEVER get tired of.  You love sports.  You seem to have a built in radar and anywhere we go that has a sports ball, you immediately find it and start playing with it.  You love watching sports on tv with daddy and love playing sports at the park.  You did awesome playing on your first soccer team in the fall and you are starting to get some balance on the ice after your first few weeks of ice skating lessons.  You are plain and simply athletic.  If asked what you want to be when you grow up, any type of professional athlete is what you answer.  Oh, and did I mention you are smart?  Like seriously, so incredibly smart.  You started showing interest in time and clocks and your daddy tried to explain to you the big hand and little hand.  I told him you weren't even four yet and to stop, but he said you were smart and understood.  And?  You did.  You don't always quite get, but a lot of times you tell us the correct time and when you don't its usually just because you switched the big hand and little hand.  Mind blowing.  Your memory is also incredible and you tell me memories from a year or more ago.  I know, that with all the gifts you possess, as long as you always try, you will do great, amazing things in your life.  Always remember that.  Always know how so proud your mommy and daddy are of you and how incredibly loved you are by us.  You brighten our days and our lives.  My mom sang this to me when I was a baby, and I sang it to calm you when you were a baby and oh how true the words are, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.  You make me happy when skies are gray.  You'll never know dear how much I love you.  Please don't take my sunshine away."


Happy 4th Birthday Blakers!!!!!  Can't wait to see what this coming year has in store!
Love,
Momma

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