Waving a white flag

Just thought I'd peek my head out from under the covers to say we're still around, but have been crazy sick.  THANKFULLY just the grown ups (knock on wood).  I went from a flu like virus all last week to over the weekend turning into a sinus infection.  I finally got an antibiotic last night, so praying things turn back to normal soon.  I am so over being this sick.  The boys have been saints.  I have really only been able to take care of their basic needs and not able to really play with them all too much.  Thankful they have each other and thankful they haven't destroyed the house since they have pretty much taken over.  They deserve a trip to Disney World. 

Grace

We were in Blake's room earlier tonight for story time and Blake handed me something and I got up to put it in the other room.  As I turned around to walk out, I walked right smack into his bookcase.  I mean, BAM!  Brad said, "You know what would have been ironic?  If your parents named you Grace."  And then Brady immediately broke into laughter.  And Brad and Blake joined in.  All three laughing hysterically.  All I have to say is its a good thing they're so cute.

Thankful for Family

Our little family has had an amazing week.  Brad was off work most of the week and the boys and I absolutely adored having so much Brad/Dad time.  My extended family from NYC also came in town, which made the holiday week even more special and the boys l-o-v-e-d having my little cousin Natalie in town to play with.  Especially Blake.  He was smitten and it was so fun to see them playing together.  Reminded me of how much fun I had when I was a little girl with my cousin Liz.  We had our usual Thanksgiving feast on Thursday and also made a trip to Fort Worth for our family favorite Joe T's and the Fort Worth Zoo on Friday.  Its been a fun filled, wonderful week together as a family, with great memories made.  I have spent so much time these last few days reflecting on the year and as hard and sad as some of this year as been for us, we have so incredibly much to be thankful for.  Blake and Brady fill our lives with such happiness and for that I have endless gratitude.  Our hearts are so full.  Now if only my little doodle bug wasn't sick and running a fever today, I'd be even more grateful!

Picture Time! 
 

 The whole fam on Thanksgiving.  My cuz Liz couldn't join us until the day after.

 

 Brady with an orange beard from his Thanksgiving feast!

The next two pics are of the boys hugging.  Sweetest brothers ever.

 

What would Thanksgiving be without some nice relaxation time??

And lots of eating?

And having fun playing at Grandma and Papa's?

Boys enjoying chips at Joe T's

Next up, the Zoo

 And some sweet pics of my boys posing at the zoo

 

 

 

 Hope your Thanksgiving was full of smiles too!

Future Babysitters

I know I was just giving one of the neighborhood kids a hard time in my last post, but truth be told I am kind of in love with our neighborhood kids.  We live across the street from a park and allll of the kids in the near vicinity between the approximate ages of 8-14 head to the park when school lets out.  Some times there are little groups that stick together doing there own thing, but more often than not there is a large group of all grades and genders playing in a game of soccer or football together.  Its kind of remarkable in my opinion.  I never remember a group of kids, regardless of age and popularity, able to come together and "hang out".  The boys and I are at the park almost every afternoon the weather allows us.  So, I've kind of gotten to know these kids, on a very superficial, playground sort of level.  Yes, sometimes they act immature and say things that make me cringe, but for the most part these kids are pretty rad.  That's a cool word still right??  Most days, I am the only parent at the park.  Scary.  And at times I kind of feel like a teacher on recess duty.  
For the majority of the past year, the boys and I have kind of stuck to our own thing.  Our own game of soccer or football or chase or playing on the slide.  But over the last few months as Blake has continued to get older, he has started totally idolizing the big kids.  He longs to be bigger and wants nothing more than to play with them.  For awhile, the kids ignored him and it kind of broke my heart.  I would have to convince Blake to leave the big kids alone and play with his mommy.  How boring, right?  Well, a few weeks ago something happened.  A few of the big kids let Blake play with them and then once the other kids saw this they wanted to play with him too.  And then they fell head over heels in love with Brady.  Seriously.  They can't stop saying how cute he is while we're playing and they fight over who can give him high fives and hugs.  
The big kids have grown to love my boys and when we show up at the park they play with them the entire time we are there.  I've lost my playmates.  It makes me a little sad, but at the same time, I love watching these older kids be so sweet and accepting of my boys and see the smiles on the boys' faces as they are being one of the big kids for a bit.  And maybe in a few years I'll finally have some babysitters besides my parents.  Score!
And to end my rant, a random adorable picture of my little guy wearing a pajama top, diaper and one snow boot.  He's so silly!

Lies

You know that time, that I wrote an entire post that I was going to stop worrying about Brady's weight issues?  Oh, how naive I was back then. Back then being a few weeks ago.  I've turned out to be a big fat liar.  I actually have cut down my worrying by a lot.  It no longer consumes me, it no longer keeps me awake at night.  However, sometimes once, sometimes a few times every day, when I happen to catch a glimpse of Brady's bones protruding out or when I can't keep pants around his waist that fit his brother when he was 8 months younger than he is now, I let the worry creep back in.  I don't let it stay there long.  This is the "new" me after all.  But it still is there.  
One of my BIGGEST pet peeves over the last few years has been when someone, a complete stranger, at the store or at the park or anywhere, asks how old Brady is and I give whatever the correct answer at that time is and their reply is, "Oh, he was a preemie."  Not a question (although sometimes in a question form).  More a fact.  And actually no he wasn't and actually he weighed a whopping 8 lbs 3 oz when he was born.  But it is a knife in my heart every time someone says it to me.  And it hurts and the worry that I always try to keep at bay comes up to the surface.  And to be honest I haven't had someone say it to me in a few months, so it completely caught me off guard today when someone said it to me at the park.  But what is crazy about it? It wasn't an adult.  I kid you not...it was a kid that said it.  An eight year old kid, when finding out he was two, said, "Oh, so he was born early." (and went on to say his cousin was born weighing just over two pounds.) Really eight year old?!  Knife to the heart, to my gut.  I was not prepared.  And now the worry is sitting at the surface consuming my thoughts.  Ugh.  Kids these days...