Two!!

My dear Emmett,

I can hardly believe that two whole years have already passed since the day you were born.  As we walked to the park last night with your brothers, I couldn't help but think about your birth day, and how my love for you began...

It was no secret when I was expecting you that I'd slightly hoped for a baby girl.  Your Papa and I were fairly certain that you were our last pregnancy, and I was so curious about who our little girl could be.  I woke up at about 8:30 on the morning you were born, and I was sure that my contractions meant real labor.  I kept what was happening quiet from your Papa and your big brother for as long as I could... we went about our morning routine, sharing breakfast and taking a walk through our neighborhood. In part, the same walk that you and I took last night with Theo and Rubin.

After about 2 miles, I let Papa and Theo in on our little secret, when I couldn't keep it to myself any longer... that you were coming once and for all (God willing, before the end of the day!!) And I told your dad what had been on my heart and my mind all morning... that suddenly, as if out of nowhere, I was desperate for you to be a boy. I needed for you to be Theo's brother, and I prayed that God would make you my son. (I was almost certain that He'd already made his mind up about that, but you never know, right?!)

We stayed home together for as long as we could, and were only in the hospital for a little over 2 hours before you were born, at 5:35pm.  Your papa was there, of course, and was the first to tell me that you were our little boy.  Your Nanny and Aunt Moony were with us, too, and instantly we were all in love... those bright blue eyes, that head full of dark, red hair. 

(meeting mama)

We spent our first two nights together alone at the hospital. Papa went home to tell Theo all about you. And I reveled in the experience, as it was so different from the time I spent there with your big brother.  I will never forget being alone with you in our hospital room that first night. Your Papa called to check in on us, and I couldn't stop crying. I was in awe of you. (And, I was watching Forrest Gump.  Forrest and post-partum hormones are NEVER a good combination.)

As much as I loved the round the clock attention we were getting from our doctor and our nurses (and how a chocolate shake would appear bedside with the touch of a button) I was anxious to get you home. To figure you out and get to know you and how you were about to change our family... it was also no secret that I was worried about having enough love for both you and your big brother. In the past two years, you have taught me that one thing our family never has to worry about is running out of love.

(on our way home)

I can't say that our first days with you were easy.  Just as you have your moments of being angry with me for bringing your baby brother home, your older brother wasn't so fond of you all of the time.  But what I remember more than that is the same thing that I will remember about you, at 2... how you wake up each morning asking where Rubin is. How you hate it when he naps because you can't see him, touch him. How, when your baby brother is sad, you are the first person to make sure that I know it and truly understand.  You are loving him as you were loved.

(Theo and baby Emmett)

I can't believe how far you've come...

(birth announcement photo)

(first birthday)

(two!!!)

...and I can't wait to see where we are going. Because I know, with you along for the ride, there is NEVER going to be a dull moment.  My life is so full, because you are so full of life. I love you.

Rubin walks...

... and, as is par for the course around here, Emmett knocks him down!

We are wrapping up a wonderful week. My dear friend Erin spent a couple of days here with me and the boys while Dave was busy with work.  I'm quite certain that the three little men featured above helped her decide with certainty to wait a few more  years before having babies of her own... don't let their adorableness fool you... they are a handful!!

I realized this morning that Rubin has been home now for exactly 50 days...  and, to mark the occasion, we received his Green Card in the mail!! I couldn't help but notice how much he has changed in the past 7 weeks. He looks like a different little boy than the one pictured on his Permanent Resident Card. We've come a long way in such a short time.

Freezie pops to celebrate!!!

"Wordless" (Who am I trying to kid?) Wednesday

An Anointing

Thylias Moss

Boys have to slash their fingers to become brothers. Girls trade their Kotex, me and Molly do in the mall's public facility.

Me and Molly never remember each other's birthdays. On purpose.We don't like scores of any kind. We don't wear watches or weigh ourselves.

Me and Molly have tasted beer. We drank our shampoo. We went to the doctor together and lifted our specimen cups in a toast. We didn't drink that stuff. We just gargled.

When me and Molly get the urge, we are careful to put it back exactly as we found it. It looks untouched.

Between the two of us, me and Molly have 20/20 vision.

Me and Molly are in eighth grade for good. We like it there. We adore the view. We looked both ways and decided not to cross the street. Others who'd been to the other side didn't return. It was a trap.

Me and Molly don't double date. We don't multiply anything. We don't know our multiplication tables from a coffee table. We'll never be decent waitresses, indecent ones maybe.

Me and Molly do not believe in going ape of going bananas or going Dutch. We go as who we are. We go as what we are.

Me and Molly make due with what we have.

Me and molly are in love with wiping the blackboard with each other's hair. The chalk gives me and Molly an idea of what old age is like. It's dusty and it makes us sneeze. We are allergic to it.

Me and Molly, that's M and M, melt in your mouth.

What are we doing in your mouth? Me and Molly bet you'll never guess. Not in a million years. We plan to be around that long. Together that long. Even if we must freeze the moment and treat the photograph like the real thing.

Me and Molly don't care what people think. We're just glad that they do...

Splash!

With temperatures in the upper 80s/lower 90s, the boys and I are making good use of our local water parks~ yesterday we hit the splash pad and today it will be the pool!

If it's hot where you are, stay cool!

GNO and GUR

I kind of feel like this weekend was "Mothers' Day" weekend, part two... 

I had a lot of "me" time, a lot of time with my girls... and it was so much fun.

I haven't been out of the house on my own, just for the sake of having some fun, since Rubin came home six weeks ago. 

While on one hand if felt so good...

I felt terribly guilty, too.

Oh, motherhood.

Friday night was a fantastic girls' night out. Dinner, drink-y drinks, good company. I couldn't have asked for more.

And on Saturday, unexpectedly, I completed the Great Urban Race with my girlfriend/running partner/co-worker Krista, my sister Jessica and our good friend Lorie.  The GUR can be likened to the Amazing Race, but on a much smaller, more local scale. Each team of 2 is given 12 clues and 5 hours to complete the scavenger hunt, which led us on a 7.5 mile course. We had a blast! 

I don't have all of our day's results yet... hopefully tomorrow. However, I DO know that, finishing in 6th place, Team Nobody's Angel qualified to compete at the National GUR in New Orleans in November!! 

Krista and I were slowed down a bit by a.) a deep hole and b.) Krista's heat exhaustion.  From what I can tell, we were a few minutes away from finishing in the top 25, which would have won us a bid in New Orleans, as well. I'll write more about that when I know more. For now, all I can say is, "GUR 2010, here I come!"

I think this "adventure" racing might be my new vice...

(Teams Nobody's Angel and BBRC, post race.)

(Jessica and Lorie, VICTORIOUS!!!!)

(Krista and I post race. Don't let the smiles fool you!)

And, on Sunday, we did truly celebrate my wonderful husband.  Fantastic weather, a cookout, family all around us. Just the way he likes it.

(this just in... we finished 29th in the GUR out of 190 teams, just ONE MINUTE behind the team in 25th place!!! (SO CLOSE!) 66 teams didn't even finish... it was a hot day. Check out the link!!  http://www.greaturbanrace.com/register09_madison.php) 

Happy Father's Day, Papa.

"Our Papa" as drawn by Theo

Your boys love you so much, Dave.  I never could have imagined a more loving, dedicated, hands-on, patient man to be the "Papa" to my "Mama."

We are so blessed.

I want to remember...

...how Emmett calls semi trucks "choo choo trucks" and tow trucks "tow tows."

...when Theo told me that, "the kids are in charge in this house" and I couldn't keep from laughing, even though I tried (really, really tried.)

...Theo saying, "I miss my Papa!" when he woke up this morning and learned that Dave had just left for a long run.

...how Rubin let's out a huge "HA!" at the beginning of each and every giggle, which is happening more and more frequently with each passing day.

...the way that Emmett says "nigh-night" to every one in our family before he goes to sleep, every night. Regardless of whether they are here, or not. Including four-legged friends, both stuffed and living.

...Rubin's stretches. After every nap and each morning. Like a cat. Streeeeeeetch!!

...Emmett's "Ss." Like Sylvester the Cat. Suffering sucatash, complete with a spray of spit.

...how Theo explained my make-up bag to Emmett. "That stuff in there is for Mama's eyes, Emmett.  Don't touch it or it will turn your eyes brown, too."

...how Rubin buries his face into my neck after his bedtime bottle. And how I know that he's ready to be put to bed, after his vice-like grip on my neck loosens.

...that, right now, I mean the world to these three beautiful baby boys. And it's okay if I'm not always perfect. Because they are, perfect enough for all of us, and always willing to forgive me my mistakes.