My Boys

It's 9:30 on New Year's Eve and I was just reflecting on the good and bad and interesting of the year. However my thoughts always end back up on children and how blessed Matthew and I are to have. It seemed like a good time to write down what my boys have been doing.

Riley, you are our little tornado. You keep life busy and us constantly on our toes. You have a strong personality that I'm sure will be an asset when you are older. You love music and to dance and sing. I will catch you when you are alone or playing contently with a toy humming to yourself. You are definitely a talker. You can say so many things for only being 16 months. You talk mostly in phrases. You can say open it, What's that?, I did it, out, no, yes, up, mama, dadda, where's dada?, where's mama?, I want (_fill in the blank_) but it is usually candy which you pronounce nandy, book, tree, choo choo, super why (the cartoon), mimi, papa, bath and lots of other things. You are also starting to make animal noises and car noises. You are a terrible napper. I am listening to you cry right now after a 45 minute nap. You love to play with anything your brother is playing with and copy whatever he does. You are super smart. You never miss anything even when I think you aren't paying attention. You watch what everyone is doing around you and try to do what they are doing. You are also very independent. You have been feeding yourself for about 4 months now and refuse to let anyone do it for you. Now you think you are too big for your high chair and want to eat in a regular chair like the rest of us.


Garner, you are our laid back sweetie. You are kind, generous, thoughtful, funny, and you love people. You started school this year and you love it. I think you love the singing and the playground the most. You know the tunes to songs but you always get words wrong. It's really cute. You taught me that there was a Ferris wheel that was deep and wide or your famous e-i-e-i-o with a barn barn here and a barn barn there. You have a big imagination. You take real life events and elaborate and fabricate them until they are only a fraction true. For example the story MiMi told you about her seeing a spider catch a bee, you retold that a spider came out and ate your sandwich and then pooped in your train. You only your daddy by his first name. You rarely call him daddy anymore. You can now count to 14, know most of you letters and can say what sound they make, and you know most of your shapes. You know your parents name and the town you live in and you know where your grandparents live. You STILL love trains and have for about two years now. You also love art now. We have to paint or do some kind of project everyday. You and Riley love to jump on the couch cushions and wrestle. We do it almost everyday but now we have added super hero costumes in the mix. You put them on and say "Let's fuss."

Yall are my heart and I'm so glad I get to spend everyday with the two of you.

Family Picture Time

A few pics from a recent photo session.

Rare Moments

If you look really hard through the clutter in the playroom you will find 3 boys fast asleep.

Naked Shopvac

I don't think these images need much explanation. It provided lengthy entertainment for the boys.

Everyday

This summer has been really relaxed so far. We have spent a lot of time at home enjoying doing nothing until things start getting cranked up again. The boys are getting so big so fast.

Riley is everywhere. He is close to walking but not quite there yet. He loves all the new freedom he has getting around. I'm never sure where I'm gonna find him anymore. He loves exploring and he plays really well by himself which is welcomed. He is getting into all G's stuff and I hear "No! Ry-ee!, mine" ALOT. He is a pig. He eats all the time and I don't know where my little runt puts it all. Maybe in those fat cheeks on his face. He's starting to make more "talking" noises than just squeals (lots of Ba, Ba, Ba, that are fun to listen to) He laughs all the time, especially at his brother. He is so sweet and his little personality is starting to get bigger everyday.

I finally bit the bullet and potty trained Garner. I realized he was a head taller than all his classmates at school all because he wasn't potty trained and couldn't move up to the next class. He has done great and caught on quick. As his vocabulary expands so does my understanding of what goes on in that brain of his and most of it is hilarious. His main goal seems to be make people laugh. Everyday at some point he says "Mama, watch this" followed by a face or some kind of stunt. He has also started swimming lessons this summer. Matthew goes with him and I think he is doing great. When I asked Matthew last week how they were coming he said "He's not an all star but probably a starter." Ha! He really loves his little brother. I think he weighs more pluses over minuses. When they wake up from their afternoon nap you can tell they have missed each other because they have to get a good hug and kiss in.

The pictures are just a typical day at the house. Sometimes it's nice to capture and remember the ordinary.

Dauset Trails

We went to Dauset Trails for the first time last month. We thought Garner would be old enough to enjoy the animals plus we like to go anywhere that's free. It's the perfect trip for Saturday fun with the boys.

There are two owls in the background of this picture. Garner was so excited to these because we have an owl somewhere in our backyard. We can hear it but we have never seen him. Garner always hoots back him so it was nice for him to see what he's been talking to.





Garner wanted to do it too but by himself. He said, "Mama, Garner do it."
This is as close as he got.

Cherry Blossom 2011

Cherry Blossom Festival came and went again this year. It was so much fun this time with Garner because he was tall enough to ride all the kiddie rides. I was so proud of him because he wanted to do everything even without a riding buddy this year.





I was especially proud of him riding this roller coaster below because it was pretty big and intimidating.






The

Brotherly Love

I have to say for the most part this photo expresses how Garner feels about his little brother. As much as a two year old can understand he takes care of Riley. He brings him his toys, rubs his head and kisses him, and puts his paci in for him. Overall, he is very protective and looks out for Riley. He seems to know his role.


(Excuse the chocolate on Garner's face)

On the other hand they are brothers.......

Sweet Faces

An impromptu photo session with Riley...

About a month ago Garner started going to school once a week. I think we were both ready. mommy needed a break and Garner must have been ready because he slammed the classroom door in my face before I could tell him good bye. He loves it. When I pick him up he gives me all his work and says "Mama, look I color." Doesn't he look so big in this picture wearing his back pack? He has to stuff as many of his trains in there as he can to take with him.

Milestones, Piling Up

I’d say it’s with joy, but it’s also with a bit of difficulty, that I make these milestone announcements. It’s a blessing to see your child age well – to plump up, speak up, and eat up…up and up and up – until you take a moment to look at a few old pictures and realize your children are growing right out of your grasp; then it doesn’t always feel like a blessing, on first thought at least.

Garner is trying out a one day a week daycare program today – he had to have a lunchbox, his clothes had to be labeled, and he had to be respectful and not bite. He’s started mimicking everything Kim and I do – including calling his Mama by her real name, Kim. He has a best friend now, which makes him seem 10 years old – they knock on each other’s doors and play together and laugh and wrestle and argue and share and don’t share. He needs frequent haircuts, brushes his teeth, says his prayers, chooses his pajamas, and has opinions. And he likes things, which makes him seem 10 years old – Spongebob, Lightening McQueen, and dinosaurs and monster trucks…and he is even beginning his first moving on stage, as Thomas the Train is becoming cold. I think he’s getting his driver’s license tomorrow, and getting married next week.

And Riley, he’s working through his second size of clothing, his cheeks are like squirrels who are preparing for winter, he slept 10 hours last night, and he’s eating rice cereal twice a day. He rolled over the other day and smiles at everything, and cackles every time he hears his name – I hope Riley isn’t a funny name…hopefully Riley’s just a funny kid. He loves Garner almost as much as Garner loves him, and he’s got a tooth popping through his top gum. I think he’s entering the spelling bee tomorrow, and making a Valentine’s card for this girl that’s just a friend next week.

Everyone tells you to hold each moment and clinch it tightly; all young parents have heard the words, “they’ll be grown before you know it.” I’m conceding to that. Even though Garner is not yet two and a half, and Riley is not yet a half, it’s fleeting. It is, really. I’d tell them both to slow down, but, in the end, it’s a blessing to see your child age well. Kim may say differently – she just called. She dropped Garner off at day care for the first time…he closed the door in her face and ran to a crowd of toys and kids.

It’s fleeting, honest, it is.