3, REALLY???

3 is just mind boggling. I mean 3! I cannot believe we are at 3.  It’s just one more than 2, but 3… whatever will we do? How will we handle it?  Bet you think I’m talking about 3 kids, huh? While I would love to be pregnant again – I know, I am one of those sicko women who LOVE being pregnant, we are not.  Which is just fine with me.  I mean, I have two hands and we are a two parent household and while when pregnant I feel great and love it, I just don’t think I could another child while having one under 5 in the house…..

So, what’s with 3? Today is C’s birthday and he is 3.  I can hardly believe that he is 3 now. He is so BIG. He talks, tells stories, tells lies(sigh), plays by himself, feeds himself, and is a BIG boy as he told me the other day. He is OBSESSED with being big and not a baby – how did that happen? He views other kids that are shorter than him as “babies awww”. It’s really funny.

When he was born, I had zero idea of what to do with a boy baby other than feed and change him as required. I wasn’t prepared for the fundamental differences between boys and girls – and yes, there are. I had no idea how funny he could be, or that he would CONSTANTLY keep me on my toes. I had no idea that the little miniature human being that came out of me would grow into such a MOOSE or have such personality, or be so LOUD!

Luckily, I like boy stuff like dead animals(as long as we don’t bring their stinking carcasses inside), I like mud, and wrestling, I like digging, and playing so hard that we drop exhausted in the car. I enjoy the made up stories of lions, bears, and dinosaurs. I like pretending that we are cowboys. I love the cuddles and all the kisses. I love the wide eyed wonder of this age. I love that he likes to help in the kitchen, or help clean, or just help. 

 

I still have no idea what to do with his boy bits when he comes to tell me stories about what it did….. I have no idea how to answer for him why they are different sizes or how to stop his obsession with them (I hear  know that the obsession NEVER stops).  And the DRAMA – REALLY!!! – I thought boys were stoic?!?! Mine is a DRAMA queen when he doesn’t get what he wants – it drives me NUTS!

Now that I’ve had him for three years, I wouldn’t give him back nor want to trade him in for the fairer sex.  There are times, however when I would gladly tie him up and sit down with a BIG glass of wine and just be alone.   Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my child and I know that one day he will be all grown up and leave the house and I will be sad, but just once in awhile I need time with a rational human being like his sister.

So, on the anniversary of the day you were born – in 18 minutes from water breaking to touchdown – you have been a joy and a trial. You have brought laughs and tears, you have been a great playmate to your sister and a complete pest. You are a boy and you LOVE vehicles and animals. You are rough and gentle.  May your spirit of adventure, your kindness, your imagination, and your wonderful comedic personality continue to carry you on and serve you well as you grown.

NOW, GET DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE FRIDGE !!!!!

Reflections

This is it, the last day of 2011.  There will never be another day like it.  I have been in a reflective sort of mood since yesterday.  So many things have changed in my life, in our lives as a family this year.  We ended last year with my Dad’s unexpected passing, took Aislin out of school and started homeschooling, started some new traditions as a family, etc. 

It has been a year of growth, of regression, of togetherness, of change – it has been a year.  Would I give up any one aspect of this past year?  Other than the ability to make my Dad’s death not happen – no. Even that, though, has unified my small family, so would I give up the new found confidence that I have in spouse and myself because of the trials of my Dad’s passing – nope.  Do I wish our unity had come at a lesser price?  You betcha. 

Would I give up our sudden departure from traditional schooling for Aislin to home schooling? No way.  It has been an adventure, a ride, a period of growth for myself as a Mom, as a teacher, and a wife.  Home schooling has brought us joy, it has allowed my children to grow closer, it has tested my limits of patience, it has tested Stephen’s limits of what is an acceptable level of chaos. It has allowed me to mold Aislin, to help her grow academically, and as a responsible person. It has given me an opportunity to help Aislin become more confident in herself, to challenge her with her thoughts, and her beliefs.  It has given us a closeness that we otherwise wouldn’t have.

I am so glad that we live on St. Croix, where I have a great group of friends that I can turn to when the going got rough. I am thankful that some of those same friends can turn to me when their going got rough.  I love that fact,that I can call up any of my friends and say, “Drinks? Tonight?” and know that I will get at east one or two  takers,  that we can show up in sweats, or dressed up and not one of us will think  any less of the others for it.  I love the fact, that I can call up people and say, hey, I know it’s 4, but come on over for dinner, or drinks, or whatever tonight and no one cares if the house is upside down, the little monster is naked, or the chicken is over cooked.  I love that some of my good friends are neighbors that we can count on to babysit when Stephen and I need to escape the chaos of our house.

So, as we close out the year today, I sit and think, did we have a good year? Yes we did.  Did I learn anything from this year? Yes.

• Enjoy every moment and every person because you never know when you won’t have that anymore.
• Your children are unique and you should not expect them to do the same things as other people's children. 
• The laundry can wait – making memories with your kids or spouse is more important. 
• Treat everyone, even the bums on the street, as you want to be treated. 
• Tell your husband that you love him, even when you are mad at him and have visions of throttling him dancing before your eyes.
• Say what you mean and own it. 
• Don’t make excuses for yourself or other people.  
• You have no control over what other people do, only how you react to other people. 
• Remember the lessons that my Dad taught me, even if I didn’t want to hear them at the time. 

And I think the most important lesson that I learned this year was:

If God brought it to you, He will help you handle it.

Happy New Year!