BLAKE IS SIX!

Below is my annual birthday letter and slideshow.  I did the slideshow a little different this time, using pictures from the past year instead of from when he was first born, but there are still a few gems nestled in between.  My very favorite comes at the end!  

Blake's 6th from brooke jones on Vimeo.

Dear Blake,

I know I say this sort of thing every year, but seriously dude, how are you already 6?!  My emotions are so all over the place, I’ll be honest.  For a momma, it’s hard watching your baby grow up.  There will be no more days I get to experience you as you are today, right now.  The days of you being a five year old are over.  And soon my love, the days of you even living under the same roof as me will be over.  It’s a hard thing for my heart to come to terms with!  I want to keep you young and innocent and protected and mine for always.  But I guess that would be a little creepy, huh?  So I have to come to terms with the fact that you are growing up, albeit way too fast.  There is another part of me though that absolutely loves watching you get older.  I think one of the greatest gifts of being a parent is seeing your child learn and start connecting the dots of the how’s and the why’s of the world.  I love watching you grow into the man you will one day become.  I am so insanely proud of who you are, Blake.  Your heart, your loving heart, has always been part of you and that has not changed.  I was a little worried that perhaps starting kindergarten this year, entering the world of “real school” might somehow harden that sweet heart, but thankfully it has not.  I truly hope that attribute of yours never changes.  I always tell you, “You don’t have to be friends with everyone, but you have to be friendly to everyone.”  I think you have taken that to heart and I’m so proud.  A good friend of mine told me once that it would blow my mind to see how much you change and have learned from the start of kindergarten to the end.  Oh, how true that is.  At the beginning of the school year, you could write your name and some words.  You could read “hot words” but not an actual book.  Now you are reading at a SECOND GRADE LEVEL.  You can write so well and have come so far with that.  And of course with the math and science, you were already crazy smart with that and that has not changed.  You were accepted into the gifted and talented program at school and I’m excited to see how that will challenge you over the years.  You have continued your piano lessons and over the last few months have really started excelling even more.  Your teacher is a tough one, but he pushes you and you listen and he tells me after every lesson how much you blow him away with your listening and your skill level for being as young as you are.  The listening doesn’t happen quite as well with me at home, ha!  But that has also improved so much more this year.  We have our moments, but you seem to really listen to what I ask of you more so now.  You help out at home and clean up your messes without me always having to yell at you to do so.  Your maturity level just seems so much higher now than at the start of the school year.  You seem like such a big kid.  You have continued your love of soccer and continue to play both at the park all the time and in a league.  Your dad still hung the moon in your eyes.  I don’t blame you, he’s a pretty awesome dad, who always has the time for you and helps you pursue your passions.  You adore your brother and it makes me the happiest that you two are the best of friends.  Sometimes I’ll over hear you from the other room talking to Brady, explaining how something works, talking to him like a teacher or parent would with a small child.  It’s pretty adorable.  You hung the moon in Brady’s eyes and it’s a pretty big responsibility to have someone look up to you so much and follow your every move, but you do it so well and I’m so proud of you for that.  You love playing outside and eating tacos and watching cartoons and playing with your action figures or playing FIFA on the xbox.  You are so funny and silly and smart and just such an amazing kid.  You are a boy through and through and something I didn’t think would be the case, I LOVE being a boy mom.  I LOVE being your mom.  I’m so grateful for you.  I hope your year as a six year old is your best year yet.  I know one thing for sure, I am going to LOVE watching how you continue to grow and blossom as a six year old and seeing what great and amazing things are in store for you!

I love you love you Blake!

Momma

 

Spring Break

Unfortunately, our family suffered a loss a few days before the boys' spring break.  My grandmother (on my mom's side) passed away.  Losing a loved one is always a hard thing and while there were tears shed and sadness for sure, the silver lining was seeing a lot of our extended family that came in town for the funeral.  Of course it is not how we would choose to see each other, but was really nice to be able to all come together.  
Spending the weekend with my brother is always such a treat.  I started to cry when we said goodbye.  Its hard not seeing him often.  But at least technology allows us to talk pretty much every day!

The day after the funeral all of us gathered in my grandmother's room at the nursing home to go through her things.  It was bitter sweet going through all the memories and telling stories of things.  One of the "treasures" I took was a framed photo my grandmother had kept all these years.  It has always been one of my favorites too.  From the state ice skating championship at the Houston Galleria...

After Monday all the family was gone and we were left trying to fill our time with the rest of our spring break.  Tuesday was a beautiful beautiful day and so we headed to the Heard Museum and went on a hike.  We loved being outside and I loved the quality time with my boys.

Blake spent a lot of his time on break playing the piano as well.  This boy never ceases to amaze me.  He started composing his own song.  It blows me away.  He blows me away.  Here he is at work on his masterpiece. 

On Friday we headed to visit our good friend Kimmy!  Kim and her hubby had fallen in love with Odie back in the day and they knew when it was time for them to get a dog they would get a corgi.  They got a fluffy corgi last year I think?  Her name is Lizzie and reminds me SO much of Odie.  Well a few weeks ago they got a new corgi puppy.  His name is Simon and he is ADORABLE.  Me and the boys needed to meet Mr. Simon so we spent some time together.  The boys loved walking the doggies.

Friday night Brad had to log on to work for what was supposed to be a minor update and ended up turning in to a huge ordeal and he never went to sleep.  Shortly after the boys woke up Saturday, Brad was FINALLY able to lay down.  Poor guy.  So we let him sleep most of the day which was a big bummer and when he woke up it was pouring rain so we decided to head to the mall.  We actually had a great time.  Boys played on the playground, we got to eat at the food court, ride the carousel, do some shopping and eat pretzels.  And we got to do it all together which was just the best.  Love doing stuff as a family.  My favorite.  Perfect end to an up and down week.

The most traumatic doctor visit. EVER.

Whew, this morning was rough.  Oh, my heart when it comes to Brady.  As much as I want to just move on and never look back at all the health issues with Brady, its just not possible.  Thankfully, that sweet boy doesn't truly remember all that he went through.  I asked him just the other week if he remembered when he had to stay in the hospital for several days.  He has no memory of it...his brother on the other hand remembers he got to eat cake when visiting so thinks you get cake when staying at the hospital.  But, even though Brady does not hold the memories, thank goodness, the trauma is ingrained in him.  He becomes a different kid completely when we go to the doctor.  Up until a few months ago, Brady wouldn't even step on a scale to get weighed with out FREAKING OUT.  And while we have made major progress when it comes to how he reacts at doctor visits, it is still awful.  I posted this picture on instagram a few weeks back documenting what I thought was a rough go of it with Brady at the doctor.  If I only knew what the future held.  HA!

Brady did not want the doctor looking in his ears and we had to pin him down so the doctor could look and also scoop some wax out.  He became so upset he busted a bunch of capillaries in his face and neck and back.  So, imagine my excitement leading up to today, an appointment at the ENT.  Brady had tubes put in when he was nine months old.  One of the tubes has still not fallen out.  If left in the ear for too long, it can cause a perforated ear drum and further issues.  The doctor was confident it would fall out on its own and at each follow up visit he kept buying Brady more time, as the tube was just so close he thought to coming out and otherwise would require surgery to remove.  While the recent visit to the pediatrician did not go well looking in his ears, I was feeling hopeful for today's visit, as the last time we went to the ENT he was a rock star patient and shed no tears.  Brad and I have found Brady does best if you prep him for what he is going to go through instead of just springing it on him last minute.  So, I talked to Brady about what the doctor was going to do...look in his ears, and then we'd be on our merry way.  No poking or prodding.  Oh, why did I have to say that?!!!  NEVER PROMISE WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW!
After looking in Brady's ear, the doctor said that the tube was stuck inside a bunch of wax in the ear canal and he really felt like he could get it out in the office without having to undergo surgery.  We had to move into a special room and he said, "He will not like this."  My heart sank.  A normal child wouldn't like this, let alone Brady who can't even have a flash light to his ear without gagging and throwing up.  They made him lay back in a chair (think a dentist chair) and one nurse pinned down Brady's head, while another nurse pinned down Brady's legs and I pinned down his arms, as he screamed bloody murder and tried to break free.  As hard as it is to watch, sadly I'm sort of used to it.  So, I was just trying to soothe him as best I could.  But then the "procedure" started and Brady let out the loudest blood curdling screams you could imagine, he looked right into my eyes and yelled, "MOMMY!  MOMMY!"  Pleading for me to save him from the pain.  My heart felt like it broke into a bunch of tiny pieces and I couldn't be strong for a second longer.  Tears started rolling down my face.  He removed a large amount of the most awful bloody gunk from his ear you could EVER EVER imagine.  Along with a teeny tiny tube.  Oh good, we're done, I thought.  NOPE.  He then turned on a loud machine, that was a vacuum device he put inside Brady's ear and drained out blood from his ear. Then put in antibiotic drops.  Then we were done.  As soon as the nurses released their hold Brady jumped into my arms, with his body wrapped around mine.  And I started to do the ugly cry.  I immediately made myself get it together and soothed my sweet boy as only a momma can.  But, oh my heart.
There is now actually a hole which isn't good but the doctor is hopeful it will heal on its own without having to do surgery.  We will get to go back to his office in two months to find out.  Xanax anyone?

Random Thoughts...

• Brady started a few weeks back out of nowhere going from calling me Momma to Mommy almost exclusively.  And I’m really loving it.  I seriously want to bottle that boy up and keep him like he is now, forever.  I still want to eat him up all.the.time.  And actually since I do, he’s told me he doesn’t do kisses anymore, only hugs.  *sigh*

• A few weeks back when Blake was sick he missed one day, only ONE day of school.  He came back in class the following morning, I guess fairly close to the tardy bell, so most of the class was already in there.  His teacher e-mailed me to let me know when he walked in, the entire class stood up and started cheering.  First of all, I died laughing.  Second of all, wow, to have been that liked when I was in school.  Third of all, it makes my momma heart so happy that when he is away from me all day, he’s surrounded by kids that enjoy his presence and like him. 

• Speaking of Blake’s teacher e-mailing me, I have to say I could not love the invention of e-mail any more than I do now that I have a kid in school.  When we were little and our parents had a question or needed to address something, they’d have to set up a conference time or write a handwritten note and send it with us to school and wait all day for a response.  Now we e-mail back and forth all the time.  I definitely try to be respectful of her time in the classroom and only e-mail when truly needed, but I love love love being able to e-mail Blake’s teacher. 

• Brad and I had a night out with friends Saturday and it was good.  The end.

• If a song comes on the radio Brady doesn’t want to listen to, he’ll say, “That song is inappropriate!”  And then I die from the cute.

• I am not smarter than a kindergartner.  Blake solves math problems faster than me.  Addition, subtraction, you name it, and I’m not talking 1+1 people, I’m talking problems you have to carry numbers and he does it in his head in seconds.  Blake is reading at a first grade+ level, doing spelling tests each week his teacher does special for him that are at a second grade level.  Blake’s teacher flagged him to be tested for the gifted/talented program at school.  And he tested off the charts and was accepted into the program.  We are super proud of course.   But its funny because as smart as Blake is and as old as he may seem sometimes in what he says and how he looks, he is only FIVE.  And still acts like a five year old.  I want to be like really Blake?  You’re acting like a five year old right now!  Oh, wait…

• Have you ever been to a party for your kids at Kid Mania?  The kids sure LOVE it, but I despise it.  Momma needed a drink after that place.

• I love snow days.  I see mom’s all over the blogosphere complain about them and I know after like five straight snow days I’d be complaining too, but I really love one stray one here and there.  Staying in jammies all day with a fire going and just relaxin.  LOVE.

Love-ly Long Weekend

We had a pretty special love filled weekend celebrating valentines.  It was also filled with a lot of sniffles and kleenex.  

I posted this on Instagram but for my family that does not do such things...  Brady made us a valentine at school and it just made my day.  I love it.   It says, "Happy Valentine's Day!  I love my dad because he tucks me in bed.  I love my mom because she packs my lunch.  xo Brady"

Brad was lucky enough to get the afternoon off work on Friday for good behavior (hehe) so he surprised Blake by going to his class party with me and Brady.  The look on Blake's face when he walked in from recess and saw us all standing there...priceless.  Wish it was on video.  He shouted, "I'm so lucky my WHOLE family is here!"  Swoon.  Brad, Brady and I had driven up to his school but the boys declared it was a walk home from school kind of day.  Indeed.  So Brad drove home and I got the good fortune of walkin with my boys.  Swoon again.

Saturday the boys both had separate birthday parties to attend and then we regrouped again as a family and enjoyed dinner out.  This pic is courtesy of Blake's photography skills while outside waiting for our table:

My parents met us for dinner and gave the boys a little valentine love, Snoopy stuffed animals.  The boys were so crazy excited.  The next morning we met my parents for brunch and Brady insisted Snoopy join us.  Brady played on Brad's phone for a bit and later we discovered someone had been taking pictures:

The following day we all went to the Lego movie in 3D.  (Brad had off work and boys off school for President's Day).  We all really enjoyed it and was such a great end to our long weekend!  However, we've been dealing with yucky colds and Blake ended up missing school yesterday and Brady missed today.  No fun.  Hopefully we will all be healthy soon and stay healthy!!  I'm tired of all the sickies!

So, I also have to share a few pics I found on Brad's phone I just recently discovered.  They are from the crazy bad ice storm we had awhile back.  Just loved the pics so wanted to document.