St. Daddy and Other Prayers...

We've recently started adding a "mini-litany" to our night prayers, including the boys' first and middle name-saints. After a few days, Ben realized that we were leaving out 2 family members' names (even though Brian & I would include our patron saints, he didn't make the connection). He now insists on saying "St. Mommy, pray for us," and "St. Daddy, pray for us." Nothing can deter him.

**********

The boys have gotten really eager about praying the Rosary in the evenings (their enthusiasm usually wears off by about the 2nd decade, but we're working on it!). Tonight Nathan clearly asked if we were going to pray the "grocery." I had him repeat himself several times, just to make sure that was really what he was saying. Sure enough. "I have a white 'grocery' and Ben has a blue 'grocery'!" I wonder if he's confused about why Hy-Vee is called the "grocery store", then? I've never seen a rosary for sale there.

**********

I've decided to finally let go of my blogging ideals - I may or may not post daily, or weekly, or however often you're supposed to post to be considered "active." So many times I have thought about writing a blog post but didn't want to make the "commitment" to jump back in - isn't that silly? Really, it's sad, because I'm not great about journaling the little things that happen around here - the cute sayings, the things I want to remember. I know there are dozens of adorable things the kids have said that have already slipped my mind, and things we've done that I have forgotten details of. I DON'T WANT TO FORGET. So I'm going to try to be better about recording them here. I would love to do a journal for each of my kids, but that's not realistic for me. I would rather have a few sporadic posts here and there than NOTHING at all! I would also rather have lots and lots of short posts than just a handful of long, detailed ones because I'm too intimidated/busy/tired to write long, thought-out posts, perfectly crafted posts.

(I am really good about scrapbooking and baby books, BUT, I tend to do those months after the actual events have happened, and I've already forgotten the cute things that were said that day and the specific details. So I have lots of PICTURES, but nothing written.)

(Oh yeah, and I did have another baby, and I AM planning on writing a long, thought-out post on him and everything surrounding his birth sometime soon! But my blocks of time are still limited - he requires lots of snuggles, and typing and cuddling don't mix.) ;)

To Nathan:

We went on a date today. I felt like you needed some mommy time. You've done SO well adjusting to our new little addition, and are such a kind and gentle big brother. But in the bustle of activity at home, you seem to be getting more frustrated and easily upset. It's hard being two. You have to do lots of things you don't really like... letting us help you brush your teeth (you want to do it yourself), take naps, eat food you don't care for (you are a pretty picky eater.) And you have to share and take turns with your little brother. It's hard to remember that. So we went out together, just you and me. You love the library - so we went there first. And you got to do whatever you wanted. You went for the Thomas trains, and then the puzzles. Then we discovered the computer with games. You had so much fun pressing the keyboard, which made the musical instruments on the screen play notes. And you were so adorable with those little headphones on! You could have played that game forever.

I let you pick out a movie. You picked the Leapfrog Christmas movie to bring home - we borrowed it a couple months ago and you watched it so many times. You call it "Christmas Tad" - I don't think we'll ever go to the library now without borrowing a copy of Christmas Tad. :) You also picked something out for Ben. Sweet boy.

We stopped by the post office afterwards to grab some stamps and mail a letter, and then we went to Sonic for a treat. I unbuckled your car seat and let you climb up into the front while we waited for our ice cream. How cool were you!?

The whole time we were in the car, you clutched that movie in your hands. You were so serious about it.

Then they brought our food. We got ice cream to share, and some fries and a drink. You aren't into ice cream all that much - you had a few bites, but were mostly interested in the fries. You got your own box and that was just the best thing ever.

We headed home after that, listening to our Wee Sing CD all the while. You LOVE that CD. We can't listen to anything else in the car now. You and Ben always request the CD and are not happy until I turn it on. It's cute to hear you sing along. If you try to sing and can't keep up with all the words, you just sing the last word of each line. And you have great pitch, too.

You were sad when we got home, because you knew it was nap time, which you hate - but, you still need. We would have difficult evenings if I let you stay up in the afternoon. Usually you cry for a couple minutes, but then conk out, always with your pillow over your head or most of your body.

You have the cutest little personality. You can be so serious one minute, and so happy and goofy the next. You love puzzles, playing with balls, and your trains, of course. You can write all your letters (always uppercase) and are finally starting to draw things other than letters! You know all your colors, and your new favorite thing is to talk about your "favorite color." Your favorite color of the day always corresponds with what you're wearing. Yesterday you wore a white t-shirt to bed, and your favorite color was white. Today your shirt was red, and so was your favorite color. It cracks me up. You noticed one day that when your glasses caught the sunlight a certain way, there was a "rainbow" on the lenses. Now you always try to find the rainbow. You'll stand by the window and tilt your head around until you can see it. :)

I love all the cute little things you do, and I don't want to forget any of them. I can't believe how quickly you're growing - you'll be 3 in a couple months! Three years old! That is HUGE! I was talking to Daddy last night about how old you're getting. He's excited to see you grow up, but I want you to stay little forever. But since that can't happen... I really want to cherish every minute I have with you, to enjoy all your precious little moments. To live in the moment while not being melancholic about the future. I'll keep trying.

Nate, you are awesome. :)

7 Quick Takes - v.2

1. After a blogging hiatus, I get scared of jumping back in. So this is my "taking the easy way out" 7 quick takes post. It gives me a template and I just fill in the blanks. basically. Intimidated by my own blog? Is that weird?

2. Re-reading The Nester's posts on keeping a beautiful (but not perfect!) house. Very inspirational.

3. Also randomly came across a post about photographing newborns. I love it, and the photography is beautiful, but, but... WHO HAS HOUSES LIKE THIS!? Kristen shoots in people's own homes, so those gorgeous rooms in the background - those are people's real homes. I'm especially amazed by the what appears to be the master bedroom in the very last picture in the post. Beautiful. Stunning. Completely unrealistic, especially with a newborn.

4. My new love - Pinterest. Oh Pinterest, how inspiring and utterly creative you make me feel. It's basically just a giant design wall, and you can 'pin' other people's fantastic photos onto your boards. Here's mine.

5. ^^The top three things on my mind are things from three different websites. I'm apparently on the internet way too much.

6. We were supposed to go blueberry picking today but we woke up to pouring rain. Of course, the sun was out by noon, but too late for us to go by then. Maybe Tuesday will be our day?

7. Having a date night tomorrow night and I am QUITE excited. We've been doing that more lately and I love it! We have a steakhouse gift certificate to use - leftover from CHRISTMAS. We always take forever to use them.

Okay, now that I've got my foot back in the door, I'll do this more often.

Somehow My Toddler Picked Up The Word "Cool"...

and that's what he says whenever he puts on a pair of sunglasses. "Cool!" While it's not exactly my adjective of choice, it is still pretty stinkin' adorable. And really, it's the best adjective to describe a little guy with a smokin' pair of shades. "Cute" just wouldn't cut it.

"Cute" is one of his other favorites. Usually used to describe a baby in a picture or a dog we see on a walk. "Bad" is usually reserved for Ben when he is taking away toys. (and followed by "No, he's not bad! Can you help me find Ben a different toy?") But my favorite is "Silly." Usually used when we play "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and I take his hands into mine and make him do the motions. Other times it will come out during playtime, during peekaboo or whenever there is a funny picture in a book. It's funny how these little people are so quick to pick up on these abstract adjectives. Words like "red," "big," "happy," "sleepy" are somewhat easy to see. But "cool," "cute," "silly"? Very subjective, and yet he always seems to know the context in which to use them. My child, you amaze me.

Doing:

Making: a study guide for an exam
Cooking: steak for dinner
Drinking: a Coke because it's Sunday
Reading: "A Mother's Rule of Life" by Holly Pierlot
Wanting: this darling Easter wreath from Target
Looking: at my too-messy house

Marveling: at the beauty and innocence of children
Playing: at the park this week, hopefully!
Wasting: a beautiful afternoon by sitting inside
Sewing: a jersey-knit skirt - soooo comfy!
Wishing: it were Easter
Enjoying: the sunshine streaming through the windows
Waiting: for my hubby to get home from work
Liking: today's homily
Wondering: how to get completely caught up on housework
Loving: my children.
Hoping: for another bebe to cuddle
Needing: to have a long phone conversation with a friend
Smelling: Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple soap - mmmmmm
Wearing: Ann Taylor Loft blue shirt I got a steal on and a gray skirt
Noticing: our daffodils poking through the ground
Knowing: God's plan is better than mine
Thinking: I should be napping
Bookmarking: a novena to St Catherine of Siena
Opening: an envelope with our car registration fees that are due this month - ick
Giggling: about how Nate's new word is "cool" (!?!)
Feeling: sad...

Praying: for peace.