A Year of Change

Happy Birthday to my Wesley David.  His 3rd year was so full of change & growth. Just six days after he turned three Wes became a big brother to TWO baby boys. He transitioned amazingly well. Maybe because his behavior wasn't that great to begin with, (hahaha) we didn't notice a huge change. He has always been gentle, kind & interested in his brothers. It was the realationship with his big sister that was at constant odds. For 9 nine months they fought, bickered, called each other names and pretty much made each other miserable. I thought for sure they were going to grow up despising each other.

Then they started swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School. After the first few weeks Wes still wasn't sold. He didn't want to go (just like pre-school). He'd fuss before the lesson saying he wanted to stay home. He hated wearing his goggles and never wanted to go under water. It got to the point I thought about not taking him anymore. As the weeks progressed Mia was having more & more fun. She was excited for her lessons, getting more comfortable in the water & showing off the ribbons she was earning with each new skill.  Around the end of the year something started to change in Wes. He would put his goggles on before class started. He started going under water with no complaint & and he would yell for Mia across the lane to watch him.

It was here I could start to pinpoint a change in their relationship. Instead of having one day a month where they might play nicely together, they would have 3 or 4 days in a row!!! I'd find them in Mia's bed sharing the ipad for morning cartoons.  He no longer fusses when it's time for school although I still think he would prefer to stay home & play with his friends all day (who wouldn't?).  His teacher said he has recently started taking more time & is showing pride in his  projects, AKA he didn't give a crap before. I've noticed at home too, all of sudden he loves coloring and will spend an hour on one picture. It's so funny because usually he only uses one color crayon. I'm so glad I stuck with taking both kiddos to their swim lessons. It's not always easy to find the energy after working all day to haul both kids every week but the pay off has been SO WORTH IT On so many levels!!!

 

Happy Birthday baby! I'm so proud of all the things you accomplished this year! Starting pre-school, being the best big brother & showing excitement for learning & adventuring. Every year with you gets better & better.

                               This post is in partnership with Goldfish Swim School.

Sunday Morning Adventures

Damon's been waiting for years to take our kids fishing! He's had Mia's pole since she was tiny. This morning we loaded up (all 6 of us!!!) and headed to Chestnut Ridge Metro park with a can of corn and hope the babies would cooperate while the bigs got to fish. THEY DID IT. Both kiddos caught their VERY FIRST FISH! Love seeing all three of them so happy.

Happy Birthday Wesley!

Happiest 3rd Birthday to my beautiful sunshine boy!!!! You're a total ham and make us laugh everyday, You're amazingly smart and people can't believe how well you communicate. You love Star Wars, legos, superheroes and music. You've taken to wearing a Super Man cape around the house. It melts my heart when you insist on wearing a hat, especially when you put your Yankees ball cap on. No prompting, just your personality coming through. You usually sleep with tiny Thomas the Train figures. You love to have dance parties to the Ghostbuster's theme song or Do You Love Me by The Contours. I would love to get you guitar lessons at some point because I feel like you truly love music. Tonite it was storming and you were afraid of the thunder. I told you it was just Thor in the sky using his hammer. You kept saying, "Mama I hear him, I hear Thor!!"

From two years to three it wasn't all sweetness. You torture your sister relentlessly. You throw tantrums to get your way. You love to say naughty words to get our attention. You've punched, kicked and spit. There are days when you say, "You don't need babies in your belly." Then there are my favorite moments when you tell me you are going to feed the babies and play with them. I know its going to be a hard transition going from mama's boy, the baby, to the middle child. Please always know that you're my first baby boy. You stole my heart the day you were born and we will always have that special bond. I LOVE YOU Wesley Crush!!!

Getting So Big+ A Bday Interview

Love watching you change & grow my sweet sunshine boy!!!!

Normally I would have given him a a sucker to make him hold still. We didn't have any so I made the mistake of using mini marshmallows. Please excuse the white foamy drool:(

Happy 2nd Birthday Wesley David

My Sweetest Boy,
From the moment you were born you've been a constant joy. Your  loving nature brightens our days. Hugs, snuggles, & lots of I Luh Yous!!! You are counting to ten & singing the ABCs. You want to do everything your big sister does. Including throwing tantrums, eating dried mangoes & lots of coloring.

You constantly make us laugh, toddling around singing Let It Go or demanding to push your mini vacuum around. You weigh 25 lbs wear 24 months/2t & a size 7 shoe. You say please, thank you & sorry after you've slapped someone in the face or bitten your sister!!!! You had a blast celebrating your birthday. You finally got to watch Planes Fire & Rescue with your beloved Dusty Crophopper. We had balloons & dinner with Grandma & Grandpa. It was perfect.

I loved watching you love the day.

Wesley Crush: 23 Months

At 23 months we can not take our eyes off you for fear you could be swimming in the toilet or scaling the book shelves. You love to torture your sister by hitting her or taking her favorite toys, squeezing them to your chest while shouting MINE! Your favorite toy in the world is a tiny Dyson vacuum daddy bought you. Unfortunately, we never want to give it to you because when its time to take it away you meltdown & cry for an hour.  Daddy bought you a set of Disney Fire & Rescue books & now you're in love with Dusty Crophopper. You love for mama to blow dry your hair after a bath.

You love music & know the words to Shake It Off & John Jacob Jingleheimer. We've been to story time at the library a couple times this month. You could care less about the actual stories but you love when the librarian sang songs with his guitar.You have a new crazy toddler smile when ever I pull out my camera. You love to count and know lots of your shapes. We are soooo excited to move into this new house so that you can have your own room!! No more sleeping in the basement family room!!!! You still wear mostly 18-24 month clothes & size 6 shoes.

 

This is the last time we will count your age in months. Now it will sound like 2, 4, 6, 20 years old. No matter what you'll always be my sunshine boy, my joy. The best baby/toddler on the block. Except when you're mad & you slap me in the face. eek

My Sunshine Boy

There is nothing that makes the challenges of being a mom more worth it then my baby boy looking at me & totally unprompted saying "Mom, I luh you." Is there anything sweeter than the love of a 21 month old? He pretty much always has some sort of vehicle with him. Planes, trains, automobiles, he's obsessed. I melt into an Olaf puddle when he says ohh christmas tree in his lispy little boy voice. 

Around here we are working soooo hard to find a new home & seriously thinking about having one more baby. Life changing, take your breath away, anxiety inducing things coming in 2015. WE CAN"T WAIT!!!!

Wesley Crush: 20 Months

This month you officially started WALKING!!!!! I had scheduled you a therapy eval for Tuesday & of course you took off walking the Monday nite before. You were 19 months 6 days. Now your favorite thing is for us to chase you. You'll say "I get you," and take off toddling as fast as you can peeking over your shoulder to make sure we're chasing you.

You've been more interested in reading books recently. You're current favorite is Pat the Bunny. I'm sure that's bc its interactive. You're not super excited about sitting & listening to books if you can't lift flaps or touch something cool. You love Mia like crazy & are always calling for Sissy. Unfortnately it  may not seem that way when you're biting her or ripping her hair out by the roots. We don't take it persoanlly since you've slapped daddy & I both in the face & pulled poor baby Eli's hair more times than we can count. Definitely the age!!!

We took you for your 3rd haircut. Since the first two were screaming, hyseterical melt downs daddy thought it would be a good idea if I went. I held you on my lap & gave you a sucker. You didn't make a peep!!!!  You're serious a binky lover, way more than your sister ever was.. When you call for  binkkky we can hear the adoration in your voice. I'm dreading taking it away!!!!!

We can't take our eyes off of you for a minute or you'll be on the way to some massive injury like standing on the back of the couch trying to jump into the crib.  You love grabbing the remote, pointing it at the TV shouting show, Barney, Barney! I love cradling you in my arms before bed like a tiny baby but those days seem to be coming to an end. You're getting to big & won't held still like you used too. I'll treasure those just before bed snuggles long after they are over. xoxoxoxox