When My Handsome Turned 5 in 2008

I really wanted to write this yesterday but with it being my son’s 5th birthday, Mother’s Day and the fact that my husband wouldn’t be home after 4:30 p.m. I really wanted to spend the day just enjoying time with my family.

 

5 Years ago on Mother’s Day was one of the happiest days of my life.

 

I have written about this in the past but to sum it up, my son was breech and was scheduled to be born on May 13th by Cesarean. However, on the morning of May 11th at 3:30 a.m. my water broke, we rushed to the hospital and I became a mom for the first time.

 

5 years ago, where did the time go?

 

5 years ago, I held you and wished the moment would never end. 5 years ago, I was handed a beautiful baby, wrapped in a blue blanket. 5 years ago, I kissed your forehead and said, “Hi, I’m, your mommy.”

 

5 years ago we, your father and I, became a family. We were married 8 years before you came, but you made US a FAMILY.

 

5 years ago, you gave me the name “Mommy,” a name I longed to hear myself referred to after not being able to use the word for more than 25 years.

 

5 years ago, you I loved your father with every cell in my body. Giving birth to you and seeing him in a totally different way, sealed my love for him forever. I was IN LOVE and knew he was the best thing that had ever happened to me.

 

5 years ago, I never loved anyone so hard in all my life.

 

5 years ago, you saved me.

 

Baby boy, (I will call you this until the day I die) I love you so much. Our relationship is one of the most beautiful things in the world. You are loving and sweet. You tell me you love me at least 25 times a day (No doubt where you learned that from – I have done it to you since you were born).

You kiss me and hug me at least 30 times a day. Again, I am not surprised, I told everyone that you would end up with a permanent kiss mark on your forehead because I could not stop kissing you.

 

You are challenging and assuring, strong and sensitive, caring and nurturing and shy and boisterous, loving and kind.

 

You love me to hold your hand or touch your head when you sleep, something I have done since your first days.

 

You love me to sing to you and still enjoy hearing the songs I put you to sleep to.

 

You are beginning to read and love hearing how things are spelled.

 

You know right from left and use directions every moment you can.

 

You like taking care of your sister but like most siblings, fight like the cats and dogs.

 

You enjoy watching movies, being read to, playing games on XBox or the computer, coloring, 

playing games like Bingo, going to the park and going on play dates.

 

5 Things I love About You:

 

1. You love hugs and kisses.

2. You are extremely sensitive and like being held and rocked still.

3. You take care of your sister. When she calls you, you run to see if she is ok. You help her turn on lights she can’t reach, open doors she can’t open, take her shoes off or get her something she can’t get.

4. You enjoy laughing and have the best laugh.

5. You tell me you love me every single day. You thank me for taking you places and apologize

when you do something you shouldn’t.

 

I love you with all my heart baby boy. You are my heart on legs and I pray that you always want to spend time with me.

 

Love, Mommy.

Because I Can't Write Enough About My Kids

Post 3 of Goddess' birthday. Find her birthday post here

In the morning we headed out as a family for breakfast. We don't eat out often so this was really exciting. It was only a diner but I was happy to be with my family.

After breakfast we stopped to check out the reservoir. We have passed it for the past 13 years but never stopped to see it. We drove back into the woods, parked and got out.  Didn't have the camera with me so I used Instagram to document the moment.

Goddess always wears a dress. On this morning she also wore a long scarf also. I mean how can you do a birthday breakfast if you are not dressed up?

I stayed behind them so I could get a picture of  The Teach and the kids walking. Beautiful morning.

 There are my three favorite hearts all in a row. Love these guys.

Plus a moment for a self portrait

 After breakfast, Goddess put on her new Monster High Costume. Loves her Monster High dolls.

 As the day got warmer, Goddess decided to soak her feet outside in her new Orbeez foot spa.

Last, a picture of Mommy and the birthday girl.

Goddess Birthday Post Part 2

Yesterday, I posted about the gifts, today are the photos from the cake!

Goddess LOVES her sweets. She asked for a vanilla cake with vanilla icing which threw me. I know her to be a chocolate girl so I am glad we discussed the cake first. She begged to help make it so together we created a basic cake with sprinkles.

She was pleased with her final product. We even did rainbow candles with colored flames. What's a birthday without some color?!

I love this birthday candle. Every year we take Handsome's and Goddess' Cape Candle out on their birthdays and burn it down to the next year. It is bitter sweet because it is amazing how fast the years go but I am excited for their birthday. And, Oh man do I protect this candle with my life. God forbid it breaks before their 21st birthday. They love watching it every year too!

For boys you can buy it here and for girls here. Great gift idea for baby shower or first birthday!

While we sang Happy Birthday she did a big swinging arm thing. Such a happy day in a kid's life! I hope she remembers how happy she was when she was young forever.

I would say she had a great birthday!

Goddess Turned 7

Well, it was April 14th but I have been one busy woman so better late than never considering I never got last years birthday tribute up. Here is her 5th Birthday and her 4th Birthday has links for the prior years. I know in the future I am going to sincerely regret not getting last years up which makes this one even more important so without further ado...Goddess turns 7! This year Goddess wanted to be blind folded to see your presents. Typical since she covers her eyes for everything. "Your making me something, OK...I will cover my eyes so it is a surprise!" I got you a new bathing suit. "Hold on, let me cover my eyes so I can be surprised!" Not sure if it is a phase, but I find it so cute.

Look at the excitement behind the blind fold aka scarf!

Ten Things I Love About You

How serious you are when you pose for my camera then completely change to a ridiculously hysterical face. You are so funny.

How you touch and kiss my face all over. You are so loving and sweet. You act like the mom to my inner child which is unbelievably soothing to me.

Your drawing abilities. You are extremely talented. You put a lot of thought and details into your work. Also, you think outside the box. You can see things out of nothing that no on else sees.

Your ability to make me laugh. Laughing is one of my favorite things to do. It feels so good to just let go and you crack me up as much as you make me mad.

How you still bring me things from outside. Flowers, grass, rocks leaves they are all gifts from the heart and I love each one of them.

That you love doing things for others. You have a huge heart and will do anything in your power to make someone happy.

That you share everything. If your brother asks to play with or have something, you freely give it up with a "you can play with this if you want" or "you can have it!".

That you LOVE Halloween. You were never a Barbie, baby doll girl and still are not into them. You love your dark, vampire, monster things. As long as they aren't too scary after all you are still a kid!

You love of music. One of my favorite things is listening to you sing. You make up a lot of your own words but love so many different kinds of music.

You LOVE wearing dresses. For someone who isn't a girly girl...you LOVE dressing up and do it every day.

Opening a gift from Aunt Marta

 

We had to order this special from Japan. She really loves Ruby Gloom and Aunt Marta wants to get her whatever she wants. 

 She is so fun to shop for. She asked for this Orbeez Soothing Spa right before her birthday.

A gift from Grandpa! She is already wearing the earrings and necklace he sent along.

Posing and I do mean POSING with her collection of Monster High things. She has almost all of the Monster High Collection. She LOVES her "Halloween" themed dolls.

Part 2 Coming Up!

My Birthday Celebration

Here are the few pictures I took on Friday, August 13th which was my 44th Birthday!

My husband came home bearing, a card which Goddess decorated beautifully and they all signed. He also had my favorite dinner of Steak (which he hates but always gets me a great one for the BBQ), Sweet Potatoes, red wine and this amazing cake.



It was awesome. The soft pieces of cake with the crisp layers of the chocolate. Ummm..Goddess and I shared the white chocolate pieces on the top of the cake



Even though it is blurry, I love this picture.

Umm....who is blowing out my candle? Not me!

Having to relight the candle from my 40th birthday (link to my 40th birthday party luau)because everyone needed a chance to blow it out alone. Accept me!

Handsome Is Turning 6 Years Old Tomorrow & Mother's Day

Tomorrow my Handsome boy turns 6 years old. With school, Dad's schedule and life we scheduled his celebration for today on Mother's Day. Since he was born on Mother's Day in 2003 it makes the most sense to me. Tomorrow there will be a school celebration and friends will come over for cake but today was the day of gifts and ice cream (since he won't eat cake).

The morning was great. My husband/Teach woke and asked the kids if they had wished me a Happy Mother's Day. They hadn't since they knew today was a gift day for Handsome.

All week the kids had brought home gifts for Mother's Day and I refused to open them even though they asked me everyday.

The gifts were so cute. I got one of them on Friday when his class had a Mother's Day Brunch.
Isn't this cute? In December, the teachers had asked that we send in a sneaker if the kids grow out of them. I couldn't imagine what they were going to do with the sneakers. Well, at the Mother's Day Brunch we found out. They spray painted the sneakers gold and made it a plant holder. So cute!!

Here's a picture of my Mother's Day presents minus a very special one which won't be here until May 23rd or so. In the card, my husband wrote that he is getting me a Blackberry but until he does I should enjoy "these blackberries" under that he drew some blackberries. Don't you love when they are adorable?

The little bag and the rose pin was made with his OT teacher. The heart pins were made in Preschool with clay. The green one is from Handsome and the purple from Goddess. I love them all.

More pictures of Handsome's celebration coming up soon.

5 Years Ago Yesterday

I really wanted to write this yesterday but with it being my son's 5th birthday, Mother's Day and the fact that my husband wouldn't be home after 4:30 p.m. I really wanted to spend the day just enjoying time with my family.

5 Years ago on Mother's Day was one of the happiest days of my life.

I have written about this in the past but to sum it up, my son was breech and was scheduled to be born on May 13th by Cesarean. However, on the morning of May 11th at 3:30 a.m. my water broke, we rushed to the hospital and I became a mom for the first time.

5 years ago, where did the time go?

5 years ago, I held you and wished the moment would never end. 5 years ago, I was handed a beautiful baby, wrapped in a blue blanket. 5 years ago, I kissed your forehead and said, "Hi, I'm, your mommy."

5 years ago we, your father and I, became a family. We were married 8 years before you came, but you made US a FAMILY.

5 years ago, you gave me the name "Mommy," a name I longed to hear myself referred to after not being able to use the word for more than 25 years.

5 years ago, you I loved your father with every cell in my body. Giving birth to you and seeing him in a totally different way, sealed my love for him forever. I was IN LOVE and knew he was the best thing that had ever happened to me.

5 years ago, I never loved anyone so hard in all my life.

5 years ago, you saved me.

Baby boy, (I will call you this until the day I die) I love you so much. Our relationship is one of the most beautiful things in the world. You are loving and sweet. You tell me you love me at least 25 times a day (No doubt where you learned that from - I have done it to you since you were born).

You kiss me and hug me at least 30 times a day. Again, I am not surprised, I told everyone that you would end up with a permanent kiss mark on your forehead because I could not stop kissing you.

You are challenging and assuring, strong and sensitive, caring and nurturing and shy and boisterous, loving and kind.

You love me to hold your hand or touch your head when you sleep, something I have done since your first days.

You love me to sing to you and still enjoy hearing the songs I put you to sleep to.

You are beginning to read and love hearing how things are spelled.

You know right from left and use directions every moment you can.

You like taking care of your sister but like most siblings, fight like the cats and dogs.

You enjoy watching movies, being read to, playing games on XBox or the computer, coloring, playing games like Bingo, going to the park and going on play dates.

5 Things I love About You:

1. You love hugs and kisses.

2. You are extremely sensitive and like being held and rocked still.

3. You take care of your sister. When she calls you, you run to see if she is ok. You help her turn on lights she can't reach, open doors she can't open, take her shoes off or get her something she can't get.

4. You enjoy laughing and have the best laugh.

5. You tell me you love me every single day. You thank me for taking you places and apologize

when you do something you shouldn't.

I love you with all my heart baby boy. You are my heart on legs and I pray that you always want to spend time with me.

Love, Mommy.

Three Years of Goddess Love - Happy 3rd Birthday

Birthday Pictures to Follow

Three years ago tomorrow I gave birth to something I've wanted since I was 12. A baby girl!

My first born, my handsome boy was such a blessing. I love everything about him but after losing my mom when I was 12 I wanted so badly to have some sort of Mommy-daughter relationship.

I wrote on her first birthday, I wrote about how badly I had wanted a girl and how sweet and feisty you were. (More 1st Birthday Party pictures)

On her second birthday, I wrote about how funny you are and how you love to dance and sing.

Here we are on the 3rd birthday and I am happy to report that not much has changed other than she is getting taller. She is still sweet and feisty. She still loves to sing and dance and is soooo funny. I guess what I can add is how much you play and how social you are.

Whether the play date is with someone your own age or a 12 year old girl, you hold your own. Hide and Seek, turn taking games, racing each other, whatever it is you have them wrapped around your finger.

Ten Things I Love About You.

1- The way you come at me in the morning all bleary eyed and warm with your arms up for me to pick you up. You say good morning, hug me and snuggle against my shoulder for a few quiet moments.

2-Your affection for your brother. You look for him and look out for him. If you find something he was looking for you search for it and bring it to him. I love how you run to him when he comes out of school yelling his name and wrapping your arms around him.

3-It is adorable how you color or put stickers on a piece of paper, show me what you made for me and then take it to the fridge to hang up with a magnet. The bottom of the refrigerator doors are always cluttered with your art work. Cute!

4- Your sweet little voice singing in the back of the car every song you know or when you talk to your dolls, animals or Little People.

5- How you wrap your arm around mine when you come into my bed at night.

6- I love how you put your hands on either side of my face and say, "give me a kiss" or when you come up to me with your arms out and say, "give me a big hug." Your so affectionate and when you hug, you hug with all 25 pounds of yourself. Your little hands run themselves up and down the huggies shoulder. It is such a sweet, loving, mature thing to do that it warms my heart every time.

7- You are Miss Social Butterfly. You go to everyone in your life with a big hug and kiss. You smile and answer questions to whomever is asking you.

8- How smart you are amazes me. I cannot believe all the information you retain. The million animal names you know, where we live, the words to at least 100 songs, who gave you what item, your friends names and when you saw them last, etc.

9- The way you smell. I just want to bottle it and wear it behind my ears every day for the rest of my life.

10- You are just plain funny. Your made up songs, the way you talk to you dolls, your made up crying, whining or fake I'm hurt episodes, tell me that you just need to perform. I will be amazed if you don't perform on a stage at least once in your life.

Your Favorites These Days:

TV Show - Dora, Wonder Pets, Backyardigans, The Upside Down Show, Little Bill, Little Bear, & Franklin.

Toys - Baby dolls, stuffed animals, Anything Dora, Books, Leapster, Pretend kitchen, doll carriage, Little People.

Likes - Coloring, The colors pink and purple, playing with your brother, hide and seek, dancing, bubbles, play doh, painting, playdates, the park, animals, and going to farms.

I love you so much and can't wait to see the changes you make over the summer. You are a bright light in my world and the sweetest baby girl I have ever met. How did I ever get so lucky?

Happy Birthday To The Teach

Although my husband does not read my blog (*gasp* I know right!?), today is his birthday and I want to honor him here where I spend about 35% of my day.

Since this blog was intended as a legacy for my children I want to tell them just how much he means to me and how awesome he is.

Written with the limited knowledge I have learned through the 17 years of knowing his parents.

Daddy was born in Newark NJ back in 1971. His parents came here from Spain about 3 years earlier to live "the American dream," the one his father saw in all the movies he watched.

His father (your Abuelo) was a hard worker who learned English, went to college, got a job as an electrician at CBS and made a decent life for his family.

Daddy grew up in New Jersey and was the only boy and the youngest of 3. He went to high school, played football, was in the band, eventually taught himself to play amazing guitar. He was a really great guitar player and joined a few bands. I used to go watch him play and everyone would come up to me telling me what a great guitarist he was.

We met while I was driving around with Aunt Teresa after breaking up with a boyfriend. She knew that I liked long haired guys and noticed him change lanes next to us. He was in front of us and she honked to get his attention. He looked in his rear view mirror and she told me to wave. She didn't want him to think she was trying to get his attention. She was very adamant about that.

We followed him through 2 towns until he stopped his car. He says now that if his car was faster he could have outrun us. I remember telling her to stop following him because it seemed a bit manic and we didn't know who he was, where he was going, or what he really looked like. We saw a long haired guy in a car and we were following him? If I had been driving we would never have met because I would not have followed him. She takes total credit for setting us up and also blames herself when we had problems, "If I hadn't chased him you would have been with someone else."

We could have met somewhere else because we did like the same music so it may have been inevitable anyway that we ran into each other in a club or bar. Although he wasn't 21 years old yet so he didn't go out as much as I was. So who knows.

Anyway, when he finally stopped the car at his destination, and he was cute and had a guitar I was thankful that she had followed him.

She was pushing me to get out so that he again didn't think she was the one after him. I had no idea what to say. What do you say to someone you obviously chased for 15 minutes, cutting in and out of traffic and park behind him on a suburban street? As I was walking around the car I noticed a blue WSOU Pirate Radio bumper sticker. So what do you think my opening line was? Yup, "where did you get the bumper sticker?"

He told me that he got it at a club, party, someone's house...I don't even remember his answer. I just remember feeling stupid and wondering if he was interested in my friend, the tall blonde or in me the short brunette.

I asked about the guitar and he said he was going to rehearsal at his friend's house. He pointed the the house. I felt like I should let him go but why follow him if I wasn't going to at least get his phone number?

He said he was looking for a singer for his band and I told him I knew a lot of band people. He gave me his phone number and said if I knew someone who was looking for his band to have them call him.

We got paper and pen and he leaned on the car to write his number. I remember that the name he wrote looked like Toe. I joked about the name and he smiled and said, "No dude, that's a J", then he playfully shoved at me and I felt like we knew each other.

I don't recall the rest. I don't recall him walking away, or us getting back in the car. I don't even recall how many days it took me to call him but what I do remember is calling him and telling him that I was the girl who chased him down the other day. He said he knew and that he remembered. I know also that I wanted to be certain that he knew which I was, blonde or brunette. I told him that I was the short brunette and he told me that he knew and that he preferred short brunette's. Yeah...score.

I'll save the rest for another day, I just wanted to get into writing how we met.

There are so many reasons as to why "The Teach" is the guy I decided to spend my life with.

Mostly what I want you guys to know as we celebrate his 37th birthday, is that he loves you. He works hard to make sure that you guys have what you need and what you want. He comes home after running his own company (anyone who has their own knows you work 24/7) and plays Xbox with Handsome and hugs and kisses you both until you can't stand it.

He may not have time right now to go to the park with us, or family outings but when he is with us he does try to spend as much time as possible talking to you, asking how your day was, what you did, and what you learned. He is eager to see what you drew, colored, painted, etc. He hands over his TV most of the day until 7:00 when he wants the news on. He wrestles, carries, spins and throws you until everyone is exhausted. He takes you out of the bath, dresses and combs your hair, fills milk cups, brings home pizza on Friday's, cuddles you until you fall asleep Goddess, or carries Handsome to bed when he falls asleep in the living room. Shh's you when you wake at night and holds you if you get hurt.

He is amazing in so many little ways and in the biggest way of all. He gave me my biggest reason to be here. He gave me the two of you. Without him there would be no you and there would possibly be no me.

Sadly, we were unable to get him much for his birthday but I am sure that the sight of you guys bringing him his gift and saying "Happy Birthday Daddy" this morning were enough for him.

If not, next time he will have to give us a list right????

Happy First Birthday Baby Girl

Dear Skye Angelique,

You are one today. I can't believe how quick this year has gone. When I found out I was pregnant with you I was so sure you were a boy. I had wanted a baby girl all my life. Because I wanted you so bad I was sure that I was destined to have boys only. I was ready and happy to be having another boy because of my unbelievable love for your brother.






When the sonogram tech told me that you were a girl I started crying. I couldn't believe it, I was going to get my baby girl! I remember telling her that I knew there was a God because I had always said, "if there's a God, he will give me a girl." The sonogram tech said, "yes there is a God and SHE gave you a girl."

After your Grandmother passed I wanted to share a Mother/Daughter relationship with my own. I used to hate Mother's Day because my mother wasn't here. Now I LOVE Mother's Day!

You and your brother have made me so very happy. I love being a Mommy to the both of you.

Skye, you are everything that God intended for me. You are beautiful, feisty, sweet, funny and I adore you. Your presence in my life is truly God sent. I can't wait to see what you become. I wish you happiness, laughter, love, friendship, and spirituality. I hope you drink your fill from the cup of life. I hope you soar, dream, learn, sing, dance, notice the little things but most of all please always know how much I love you. You are my heart on legs, a special flower from heaven hand picked just for me. You are truly the most beautiful baby girl I have ever seen.

Ten things I love about you

• Your little fingers wrapped around my hand as I nurse you or put you to sleep.
• Your rosy little cheeks when you get mad because your brother snatched something from your hand.
• The way you need me.
• The way you wrinkle your nose when you smile.
• How you are so interested in your hand when you notice your fingers moving.
• How you study my face when I sing to you.
• Holding you as you slowly fall asleep. Your warm little body nestled in my arms.
• Your feisty spirit. You are a going to be a women who knows what she wants.
• Your adorable laugh when you look at your brother or when I run holding you. It is infectious.
• Your smell. I love smelling you from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. You smell like heaven and I wish I could bottle it to wear behind my ear every single day of my life.
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Your many nicknames over the last year

• Angel
• Skye-Skye
• Baby Girl
• Lady Bug
• Sweetie
• Pumpkin
• PITA (pain in the ass)
• Mama
• A few choice words that I hope never to use again.

You are very special and out of all the little girls in the world how did I get so lucky to get you?
I love you Skye, Mommy