When did this happen?

Where did those freckles come from?
When did he lose his baby cheeks?
When did his eyes get so deep brown?
How did he get so tall?
And skinny?
What is that look?!?!
When did my baby become such a little man?  I must of dozed off or blinked!

Cowboy Picnic

Being home with the boys the last few days has been a rare treat for Jer and I.  It has been a nice change of pace. We have forgotten our hectic daily torture commute and are just, well....being totally and completely LAZY.  It's been heavenly!  The boys have loved it too.  Lazy in their world means staying in pajamas and being more rowdy than any teacher, aunt, or even Granny would ever allow.
Complete freedom from routine has made them a powerful force...a force that brings me to my knees, in exhaustion and prayer, pretty much hourly. So, early this morning when the house became silent, I was terrified to look and see what new messy disaster was waiting for me to clean up.  To my shock and awe, I found my darling duo sitting quietly on their sister's bed having a "Cowboy picnic"...according to Jack.  

I think Jude was just taking a breather before taking on Jack in a jumping on the bed duel.

There was something so sweet and peaceful about my rough and rowdy boys being surrounded by girly pink, just enjoying some quality time together.  

Like most events similar to this, it was fleeting.  Jack broke the calm with a "YEEHAW" and duel was on!  First one to get a knot on the head that doesn't require stitches is the winner!
Life with these two is exhausting, but it will never be boring!

Reflecting...

This week I have been sorting through old pics in efforts to finish begin Jack's first year scrapbook.  Jack turned 2 in January...I am a little behind.  This pic is of him at about 3 months old, which was 2 years ago!  Time flies.  Baby Jude is about to turn a year old, and I haven't even started Jack's scrapbook or even thought about poor Jude's. 

It really bugs me.

It bothers me that I am so behind.  Not scrapbooking major events for over 2 years is just not me.

Neither is...

allowing the floor of my car be coated in cracker crumbs and fruit snacks,

tolerating mixed up colors of play dough and paint,

not noticing the smell of sour milk,

driving with an expired inspection sticker and registration,

enjoying an Imagination Movers concert,

putting on a t-shirt inside out,

preferring Diego over Dora,

getting excited about a sale at Carter's, and not even knowing the dates of Nordstrom's half yearly sale.

Becoming a mother is an incredible adjustment.  I've changed my sleep, personal life, work load...the list goes on and on.  I think I have handled those adjustments fairly well.  I have the occasional, sometimes frequent, meltdown.  But what I never expected, was that I would have to adjust to a new me.  The me that lets things go and is a complete mess at times.  It's hard.  It's not easy to look down at my inside-out t-shirt, covered in sour milk.  It's nearly impossible not to think of the me that would have been wearing a crisply ironed, white shirt, with stain-free khakis, while wearing those cute new heels I picked up at the Nordstrom's sale.  

Just like going to college, moving into my first apartment, getting my first real job, getting married...I changed.  Motherhood is the same.  It brings a change of self much more overwhelming, but with many more benefits.  So, I'll give myself a break and embrace the change.  Except maybe the car inspection and registration.  I probably should take care of those.

Mardi Gras Road Trip

As I type my post title, I am laughing to myself on how much the meaning of a "Mardi Gras Road Trip" has changed for me in the past twenty years...has it really been that long ?!?!  
Twenty years ago a Mardi Gras road trip would have meant a great time in New Orleans with friends, fun, great food, beads, and several hurricanes. If you have ever been to Mardi Gras you know I am not talking about a major weather event went I speak of hurricanes.
Now a Mardi Gras road trip consists of a trip to Shreveport with family, five children under the age of six, fun, great food, beads, and several sippy cups.  Not to mention the diapers, wipes, and "lovies" that need to be packed.  
For my Louisiana readers, I am happy to report when Jack realizes we are heading to Granny and Papa Joe's, he has the over whelming desire to bring every piece of clothing, toy, and book that is purple and gold or has this image...  

He must think that they will send him back if he isn't prepared to prove that even if he is a Texan, he has decided to grow up a Tiger.
Needless to say, getting ready for a trip to Mardi Gras is dramatically different than it was twenty years ago.  I am beyond thrilled to be with my entire family and share this special event with my hubby and kids. 
I look forward to watching all the baby cousins play, spend quality time with my siblings, and enjoy my parents.  I am also looking forward to teaching my kiddos how to catch these...

The appropriate, family-friendly way that is.
I can't  wait to overeat on treats such as these...

After I poke my fingers through it to make sure my kiddos don't choke on this...

Stay tuned for pics and I am sure entertaining stories on my first Mardi Gras as a Mommy.  Since I have no doubt that our car will be fifty pounds heavier with Mardi Gras beads, I am already planning ways to store and organize them...more like plotting ways to get rid of them without the kiddos noticing.

A Rare Event

Another snowy day.  We're going on Day 4 of this winter storm, and the snow is still falling at my house.  It is actually starting to come down harder as I type.

There haven't been many times in my life that I could look out my office window and see this view.  I can count them on one hand.

This winter weather has caused the city to come to a screeching halt.  Schools closed, universities closed, businesses closed...you name it and it is probably closed.  I had already had plans to work from home this week.  There was a hiccup in my schedule which meant juggling the boys and the office for a week. 

This unusual event didn't throw off my plans too much.

Yes, I am going nuts like most moms who have been stuck inside with their darlings all week.  Little ones need to roam, run, play.  They need to burn off that youthful energy that we would like to bottle and save.  Several inches of ice and snow and below freezing temps make that difficult to do with toddlers.  

My nerves are wearing thin...

But as I think about the rarity of this storm, I realize it is just as rare that I get to enjoy an entire week in the presence of my little ones.  Most days I yearn to be home with them, but can't.  Many weeks I anticipate the weekend knowing I get to enjoy time with them....just time.  I am always searching for time...more time.

I am not going to lie.  There are many days I am so very happy that I get to jump in my car and get away for the day...even if it is just to the office.  There are weekends that I dream of childless vacations to all those un-family-friendly destinations.  Hey, I am normal!

But today I am going to soak up this rare event.  I am going to enjoy the snow, even though I despise the cold.  I am going to enjoy this blessing of time.

Enjoying the Moment

I am working from home this week with both toddlers in tow.  No, I haven't officially lost it.  I just have some schedule juggling for the week.
Day one has been a hectic blur to say the least.   After juggling office duties with mommy duties, Jack and I are taking a little break.  It's moments like these that make the chaos a distant memory.

Jack's Turning 2!

I cannot believe that today is Jack’s last day of being a one year old.  I can’t stand it!  Like every new mother, I am wondering where the last two years have gone.  I knew parenthood would bring me joy, but I never realized how just how overwhelming that joy could be.   These are just a few things Jack is doing right now that keep the joy overflowing…

• His love of anything that beeps, roars, zooms or crashes.
• If it doesn’t beep, roar or crash…he is going to make the sound effects to make it do so.
• When he doesn’t want his picture taken, he says “No cheese, Momma!  No cheese!”
• He says “cookie” in the same voice as the Cookie monster.
• If allowed he would stay in his pajamas all day long, and Elmo slippers as well.
• How he says “hi” to every cow, bus, fire truck, bird we pass on the road…”Hi cow!”…”Hi bus!”…
• How proud he is of himself that he sleeps in a big boy bed.
• Every container turned upside down is a drum.
• That he thinks his tricycle is a bicycle and corrects us if we call it a tricycle.
• That every ball now has its own special name….soc-cer ball, feet-ball, bass-ball.
• When he wants to go home, he says he wants to go to “Jack’s house.”
• That he loves to eat breakfast for dinner, and if given the choice would eat pancakes for all three meals.
• His love of books, books and more books!
• His infectious and precious laughter!  Once he gets going it’s hard to stop.  Jack LOVES to laugh!
• His protective nature of his baby brother Jude.
• But most of all…how he lights up and says “Hi Mum!” when I walk into a room…every single time.

I am so proud of the amazing little boy he is growing into.  His smile, laughter and sweet spirit remind me daily that I am blessed beyond measure!

Thankful

The alarm went off way too early this past Saturday.  I don’t know what was going on in my brain at the time, but I had made an 8:00 am appointment to have the kiddo’s pictures taken.  So much for sleeping in, then again, I don’t think I’ve had a Saturday that involved sleeping past 6:00 am since Cracker Jack was born.

I am not even sure how all three of my darlings got up, fed, and “picture ready”.  I can’t even remember how we got out the door and to the studio on time.  Don’t ask me how I made it with two diaper bags packed with formula, snacks and other various bribery materials.  It’s all a blurry memory now.

What I do remember, once when we got everyone set up in their first pose, is that…

1.  I was frazzled from my morning feature in the Roden Family Circus.
2. Jer was just plain grumpy about being in a kid’s portrait studio at 8:00 am on a Saturday during the holiday season...don't blame him.

Then I looked up and saw this…

I can’t really even describe the feeling I felt other than a rush of gratitude.  I was joyful, overwhelmed, and grateful…all in the same moment.

I am so proud to be “Mommy” to these precious angels.

Blessed.

Thankful.

Blessed to have a wonderfully happy, healthy family.

Thankful for the people in my life that have helped me to become the kind of woman that knows she is beyond blessed and thankful for it.

Jack the Nibbler

Look at that face!

This darling little baby would never hurt a fly, right?

Wrong.

Cracker Jack has turned into Jack the Nibbler.

He has taken to nibbling on his friends at school when they disrupt his toddler world.

Yes, my sweet boy has entered the stage of biting, and it is causing me much stress.

Monday was bad, but today was better.

Let's all pray that Jack learns to use his growing vocabulary instead of his teeth in times of dispute.

He will either outgrown this stage or become the star of the next Twilight movie.

Halloweens Past & Present

Some Halloweens of the past were made up of friends, fraternity parties and probably a few too many adult beverages.

Others were all about crafts, carnivals and a few dozen 5 to 6 year olds.

Halloween this year consisted of office parties, costume contests and acting like a kid again.

Along with enjoying some trick-or-treating with a very Good Witch, a Star Wars bounty hunter,

a sparky little Rocket, a stinkin' cute Robot,

and a squeaky little Monkey.

Add in being swept away by Clark Kent...

And I have had the BEST Halloween yet!

The Twirly Whirly Princess Turns 6

Six years ago today, just about this time, my family was blessed with our "first baby" of the family...

Isabella LaRue.

Izzy, Bella, Bell, Izzy Rue...she answers to it all...is the first born to my sister, the first grandchild to my parents and my first niece.

She is the little bit of sunshine that confirmed my desires of someday becoming a Mommy.

Izzy has taught me just how amazing, fun and exhausting small children can be, and allowed me to clock several hours of practice before having my boys.  Izzy and I have shared it all.  From play dates to meltdowns, and fruit snacks to dance parties.

The time I spent with Izzy before my own "pregnant years" are priceless and precious moments.  They have become incredible blessings that helped to mold me into the Mommy I am today.

Happy Birthday Izzy Rue!   I wish you many more years of happiness and dreams come true!

Look at this incredible Princess Party...

It was a fairytale day for all the little ladies to enjoy... complete with fairy dust and twirly whirly dancing!

The ladies from Wishes Upon Wishes were A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  So much so, that I really wanted to go back in time 15, 20, 25...

Oh, who am I fooling?!? 

It makes me want to go back, cough, 34 years and have a Princess Tea Party of my own!

Mommy Brain

Yes, you have heard of it - Mommy Brain.  It's a lot like Pregnancy Brain, which I never had, by the way.

Can you hear that noise?  That's my friends and family saying yelling, "Liar, liar, pants on fire!"

Ok, ok, I will finally admit that I do have Mommy Brain.  This is a struggle for me...a real battle.  I am the type of gal that remembers everything, EVERY detail.  I can used to be able to recall the craziest random details, events and numbers from several years back.  That was just me...another nutty way my brain worked.

As mothers, we have to remember 2,345,572 different things a day.  As wives, that number probably doubles.  Then I add on all the things I have to remember and recall for my detail laden job...the number just continues to multiply.  I have to face it - my hard drive is full.

To prevent a crash, I have just given up on remembering every single detail.  Every little piece of information just isn't as important as it used to be.  I have discovered that I can let some things slip out of my memory, and it's really OK.  The world didn't stop moving if I forget something every now and then.

For all the stuff that falls into important categories, I have strategies to back up my database.  I have resorted to extensive note taking, lists, and reminder sticky notes.  For example, I try to bring Cracker Jack a snack and drink when I pick him up in the afternoon.  It has been a challenge to remember his goodie as I am running out of the office to pick him up on time.  So, here is my strategy...

Notes on my phone...

Reminders on my computer...

"Last ditch attempt to make me remember" notes on my keys...

I finally remember to grab Jack's snack the day I started this intervention.  There is one detail I forgot...Jer was picking the boys up that day...sigh...maybe it's time to reformat. Hehe.

From Robots and Rockets to “Bobots” and “Bockets"

I was 37 when I became pregnant with Cracker Jack.  I had truly given up on the desire of getting married and having children when it was all dropped suddenly into my lap.  That story is for another blog post.  Of course like any Mommy-to-be, who had been dreaming for years about becoming a Mommy, I had all sorts of ideas and thoughts about names, birth plans, baby gear, etc.

So when Prince Jer and I discovered that we were blessed with a boy, we immediately knew how I we wanted to decorate the nursery...I mean, come on, I had been planning this since...forever!  Just between you and me, one of the reasons I was so wishing for a boy was that I was in LOVE with my nursery theme idea.

I had decided, and the little boy in Prince Jer easily agreed (whew) that if we had a boy that we would decorate his nursery with a rocket theme.  A retro rocket theme, with rockets, robots, aliens and such.  I would have been completely lost if we were having a girl, but I knew it was going to be rockets for my baby boy.

Naturally, much thought and planning when into Cracker Jack’s nursery.  Prince Jer painted a mural on the wall.  He also made some rockets to hang from the ceiling and added the solar system as well.

I altered some paper mache letters for Jack's name.

The bedding was specifically picked out to compliment the retro movie print.

But my favorite part of decorating the nursery was searching for and collecting retro tin toys.  I wanted to add robots, spaceships, rockets and aliens to the little nook and crannies of Cracker Jack’s room.  It was so much fun finding these tin gadgets trying them out.

I carefully planned the placement of each and every adorable one.  I would place it one day and switch it around the next until I got it just the way I wanted.  After all, isn’t the placement of accessories in a nursery the most important step in planning for a baby?  I just knew Cracker Jack and his 5 day old self would be oh-so-impressed!

Fast forward about a year and a half...

I never really expected Jack to even care about the specially selected toy accessories.  I honestly never even gave it a thought.  I just assumed that they would sit on the shelves and be something that I loved and needed to dust.  Contrary to my thought on the matter, Cracker Jack has thoughts of his own...

These toys have become his objects of desire.  He could careless that they wind up and move, in fact it scares him a little, he must think it is a little creepy for a tin toy to suddenly start into motion.  These toys are his equal to other toddlers' teddy bears.  When he is tired, he doesn’t cry for his bunny or blankie, it is his “bockets” and “bobots” that soothe him.  My little guy would rather snuggle up to a cold piece of tin than a warm and fuzzy bunny, and it just melts my heart!

Obviously, novelty tin toys do not handle the love of a toddler very well.  The "bockets" are losing their wings, the "bobots" have lost some limbs.  During all of the selecting of these guys, I my laid back Type A self would have died...just croaked...if anything happened to this precious tin fleet that I obsessed over.  But just like Jack, I don’t care.  I love that they have become more to Jack than nursery accessories, and I adore the fact that he will love them right down to their last hinge and bolt.

Cracker Jack, the Teleporting Toddler

When Jack, affectionately known as Cracker Jack, became mobile my world completely changed.  I know this is a normal event with all parents, but I was astounded at just how fast his sweet self could move.  One second he was on the floor playing, blink, he would be opening kitchen cabinets, blink, and he would suddenly be inside the dog's crate sharing his snack!

It wasn't long before my husband, Jer, swore the youngster had superhuman powers and could teleport.  I know Jer was secretly hoping that we gave birth to a future superhero, but he soon realized that this was just normal behavior for growing little boys...at least our little boy!