A Week Gone By...

Well over a week has past and so much to report...

We went to a birthday party for Philip's friend Anne...ponies! Philip rode...Daniel did not. My boys were in the minority (okay the only ones!) in smocked outfits. I know the time is short with Philip, but he loves anything I make!

Two Saturdays of Crimson Tide football! Both victories...despite William's expression! Both fun to be with family...Mom and Dad one game and Susan and Rob for the other.

Daniel got the croup and is yet to get over the cough and runny nose. Some long nights, but hoping the steriod will clear his cough.

Philip's rails came off his bed. Tonight is the first night, but he's slept without them many times at the beach so I think he's ready.

Major planning for Philip's first birthday party with friends. Football theme...more on that later.

Chris and I visited St. Paul's for an official tour. Really good to be back there; to see so many familiar faces. However, all I could think about was how hard it is going to be to let Philip go. Yes, I think he's ready, but I am not!!

Fall weather arrived today....what a relief. The boys and I had a great morning playing out in the yard while William napped. They loved playing hide-and-seek with me! After a quick trip to Sam's, we picked up GranGran and went to the playground for a picnic. So fun! We ran into an old friend, Leann Hannon Hanes and her two girls. We missed a playdate at the Exploreum due to Daniel still being under the weather, but we ended up having a ball with just us! Such a simple day, but so much fun. I am afraid that this is what I'll miss about Philip going off to school. Wish I had pictures, but between the picnic food, diaper bag, stroller, and three kids, there just wasn't room for a camera!

Will be back with birthday news next week!

Tankie

I want to record some thoughts today on my middle son, Daniel. Blogging for me is really a place to record my thoughts so that I can look back and remember how the boys and I filled our days, the sweet and funny things the boys do and say, etc.

Daniel, aka TankTank or Tankie, is now 27 months old and such a pleasure! He starts his morning off between 5:00 and 6:00 with a trip to the potty and then snuggle time in bed with Mom. This time together is wonderful for me. Before I had children, I would love to wake up and lay in bed...not for too long, but I could handle up to 30 minutes of quiet time...time to plan my day, say my prayers, etc. Chris has always been one to pop out of bed and get his day started...not me. So quiet time in bed with Daniel is right up my alley. We don't talk, usually don't sleep, just snuggle up, suck our thumbs (okay, really only he does that!), and get our selves together before everyone else gets up.

Here he is on his first day of school. He was heartbroken that Philip was not in his classroom anymore. It took at least two weeks to get him to go in without crying. He still has a little anxiety before the day gets started, but he has a good time while he's there. He loves having Katherine as his very own friend! He loves going to the classroom and making artwork to show Daddy at night!

During the day, he can be a pistol. Carrying his stool around to climb and get into to things. He loves both of his brothers immensely. I often say his heart is three sizes too big. If he has something Philip wants, he hands it to him without a fight. I often hear him say, "I want my Pullup." That means Philip! He also loves to play with William. If William is laying on his stomach (which is whenever he is on the floor since he always rolls over), Daniel lays down and does tummy time too. He loves to see William suck his thumb...just like him!

His vocabulary is growing in leaps and bounds daily. My favorite saying right now is, "I get that for my birthday cake?" He uses this to refer to anything he wants or anything he may want to do when he gets bigger. Cracks me up.

So for my records, Daniel at 27 months, you can:

• pretty much say whatever you want....6 to 8 word sentences are your norm
• jump on two feet and run pretty fast...although your form does leave a little to be desired!
• almost ride your tricycle...you practice it everyday!
• use the potty without accidents...such a blessing!
• color pretty well...lots of times not on appropriate surfaces, but oh well.
• distinguish colors
• count to ten and recognize those numbers
• melt your parents' heart with one smile!

Each of the boys is such a blessing in their own way...how wonderful that they are all different. Will write a post on the others later!

One of those days...

It was one of those mornings...rain and lots of it. What are three little boys to do? Well, we managed until about 10:30. Then, despite a really hard rainstorm, we loaded up and decided to go to storytime!

Watching me unload the car had to be comical. I sat on the center console and got the Baby Bjorn ready. Loaded William, and then crawled out the back door with an umbrella. I then carried Daniel and William while Philip walked close by. We made it....and of course it quit raining soon after.

It was worth it though. I've been taking Philip to see Ms. Val at the library since he was 6 months old. He's always remained glued to my lap with no interest in singing or dancing. He's always been a good listener, though, and for that I am grateful. Today he branched out. He sang, danced, and listened. His enthusiasm rubbed off on Daniel who before now has followed in big brothers shy footsteps.

William took it all in. Loved having new people to see and hear!

The best thing about library day is all the new books. Daniel, who has an insane ability to check out all the Christmas books year round, enjoys hearing these tales before his nap. Then Philip and I crawl in bed and do lots of reading. Today, I fell asleep reading to him (happens a lot I'm afraid). He crawled out of bed, played a little, apparently changed clothes, and then decided that a nap sounded good. Why he didn't get back in bed with me, I don't know. I'll brace myself for the fight to get him into bed tonight, but for now will enjoy the quiet house!

New Shoes

Well...haven't written much in awhile. Can't decide how committed I am to this blogging thing. So many other things to do, right??

But today was momentous for me, so I thought I'd record some thoughts. It was supposed to be an uneventful day....trip to get new shoes (because Daniel was growing tired of me physically shoving his foot into his Ked's) and lunch with GranGran. What happened?? My boys are growing up.

When we get to J-Rays, I decide to start with Daniel. My two year old, who always has an opinion on his clothing, declares that he doesn't want red Ked's. He wants blue instead. Philip went through at least three pairs of red Ked's before I moved him to grey New Balances...Daniel just finished up his first pair. Okay....I allowed for this change...but I didn't like it.

Next it's Philp's turn. He sees that Daniel got to make a change and he decides to test the waters. He doesn't want another pair of grey New Balances (that his mom and dad love!!). No he wants some Japanese velcro shoes. Mom doesn't like this one bit...but Mom does know it is important to allow them to express themselves. So...he wins.

I'm still trying to get used to them...but they are growing on me. He loves them...loves the independence that the Velcro brings him. Why can't I dress them the way I want to forever????

Oh well...good lunch with GranGran and naps for the little guys. Philip and I appliqued two shirts for him to wear this fall. Progress....well, someone's crying...gotta run!