Monday, June 13, 2011

Could it be?

Some days I find myself pausing, and thinking, "Could life really be this good?" Sometimes I am so grateful and so immensely filled with this gratitude I don't know what to do with myself. I usually ruin these moments by letting thoughts like this make their way into my brain: "Life is too perfect. Nothing can really be this perfect. Something bad is going to happen because it's all too good to be true.. Oh God, what is going to happen?" Horrible, right? But I can't help it. I don't know how to stop it! Normally I don't really ponder this for long however, and instead choose to dwell more on the grateful moment itself. Like tonight.

Today started out like a pretty ordinary Monday. I was tired. It was hard to get out of bed. I needed to stop at Starbucks to get myself through the commute. I caught up with coworkers in the morning. I had a lengthy staff meeting. Nothing all that great. Then I met my mom and grandmother for lunch as my mom had to pick up something and it worked out well to meet up. It was such a nice pick-me-up to my day... enjoying a wonderful meal with two of the greatest women I know. Especially with my 89 year-old Gaga, because alone-time with her is much more rare than I'd like it to be these days...

Then, when I arrived to pick up the boys after work, Aidan was excited to tell me about the "Mommy Robin Hood he saw feeding her baby bird and the Daddy was there too." Yes, Robin Hood. He is the cutest 3 year old on the planet. :)

I arrived home to my house being the cleanest its been... well... ever. Thanks to the 2 cleaning ladies who will be cleaning our home every 2 weeks! It was their first day and I was not prepared for the feelings that would overcome me when I walked in to see the result of their hard work. It was truly heaven. I literally grabbed my camera and took a picture of every room in my house. I kid you not! I was SO happy that our house looked this good and it was not ME who spent all day doing it!! So so so so so so grateful for my new BFFs- the cleaning ladies.

After dinner, I put Gavin in the stroller and Aidan drove his truck around the neighborhood. We ended up at Sophia's house (See pictures below). She is Aidan's new love, the almost-3 year old who moved in a few months ago. She came running up to his truck, yelling, "Aidan Aidan!" Aidan was excited to pick her up and take her for a drive like usual. After that, other neighbors from across the street brought their gentle giant, Kobe the dog, out to play. We all smiled and enjoyed watching Aidan and Sophia chase Kobe around and try to snatch the ball from him. All 3 of them were having so much fun, I could have watched them play all night and not gotten bored. I am so grateful on nights when Kevin works late that I live where I do, around the people I do, (and dogs).

After baths and last drinks, Gavin fell asleep on me for the first time in months. He is normally an on-the-go, not cuddly, big baby these days. So getting to rock him as he slept on my belly was the best feeling. I then read Aidan a Dr. Suess story, did our usual cuddles and giggles and put him to bed. Then while it was still dusk, I snuck out in the fresh air, monitor in hand, and went for a 2 mile run around the neighborhood. After each loop, I ran inside to check on the boys, who were sound asleep, and would do another loop (4 loops=2 miles). I have just started running again after a long hiatus and this night run felt oh so good. When I finished, I just walked up and down our sidewalk to cool down, looked at the moon, breathed in the best summer air and just thought...

"Wow. What an awesome day. Life is so, so good. Thank you, God."

Driving off into the sunset :)

Aidan and "Ophia" - Belden Buddies.



Thursday, June 9, 2011

Look-alikes or Opposites?



Here you go. For everyone who says "Wow, Gavin looks exactly like Aidan!" and for everyone else who says "You can tell they're brothers but they don't really look the same..." Here is the first comparison shot I have done. :) A favorite photo of Aidan at 9 months old... vs. Gavin, now also at 9 months old. So what do you think??

Rubber Ducky

... isn't "the one" on our house! Instead, the new bath toy my sons have recently discovered is Aidan's peepee. Yes, upon entering the bathroom with their PJs I heard squealing and laughter, only to discover that both Aidan and Gavin were pulling, tugging and playing with Aidan's "Rubber Ducky!!"  While I don't have pictures of this new bathtime game, I do have some others that showcase the fun the boys have together when it's bathtime... Enjoy!








Help with the laundry?

These are the types of things that transpire in our house pre-bedtime on a weeknight!
Yes, there is a Gavin under those clothes!
The beginning of little boy mischief...
Mommy, help me!!
This stinks. I just learned to crawl but I can't crawl fast enough!
Wooohoooo! Apparently throwing dirty laundry on one's little brother is lots of fun. :)

9 months and feeling fine.

May 29, 2011

Time flies when you're having fun! Gavin has now been here with us longer than he was growing in Mommy's belly. What a ride it's been!




No more of this "sit still on the chair" business for me!

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life

Our boys love to dance.
Which works out nicely considering their mommy does, too!
Enjoy this video from a fun family dinner out at our favorite local restaurant, Aqua Sol, this May.





P.S. Kevin likes to dance, too... post 6 martinis, that is!
Quickly enjoy this video from a recent wedding reception before he comes on here and deletes it. ;-)

And the Aidanisms keep coming...

(After I came back from the rest room while we were out to dinner)
"Mommy! I was looking for you everywhere. I was all worried about you."

(After talking about how thunder was really angels bowling with the clouds...)
"Yeah, I like angels. They're pretty like you."


(After singing one of our faves "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz, I said, Wasn't that fun??)
"Yeah, I wish I could be a singer."

("Aidan, do your hands need to be cleaned?")
"No, I didn't touch any somethin."

("Aidan, did you see anyone outside?")
"No, I didn't find any single friend."


(While sleeping in bed with his Grandma last Saturday morning)
"Amma, I need something bright to sleep... Hey! I know what's bright. The TV!"
(The most innocent manipulator I know!)

"Mr. Bee is my sleeper friend."

Post bathtime with Daddy. :)

The first poem I have written in a long time

Sugar Sweet Cheeks
“I love you cutie pie, apple dumplin of my eye.”
(That’s what my Pappy always said to me).
And I could have never dreamed of a time my life would be
Filled with joy from my own cutie pies, that I get to see with my own two eyes
Each and every day, bringing me more happiness than I can say…
The most perfect smiles and the purest hearts,
With sugar sweet cheeks and the best way to start
Really living life, as full as full can be,
With boo-booed knees and Mr. Bee.
My cup runneth over… I love you both so.
And as you grow I hope you know
that you, Aidan and Gavin, are my sugar sweet cheeks,
my cutie pies,
apple dumplings of my eye
my heart and soul,
my everything
the biggest dream I could ever dream.

To my sons on my third Mother’s Day.
I love you,
Mom

Mother's Day

... was the perfect day.
Beautiful weather, and a beautiful family to enjoy it with.
A delcious breakfast cooked by my equally delicious husband.
Sentimental cards, a nap in the hammock and a great walk with the boys.
A surprise gift of a "spa corner" created by Kevin in our room, complete with a professional massage table and the promise of weekly massages.
The day completed by a wonderful dinner cooked by the best mother-in-law in the world.
Like I said, it was the perfect day.
And I am the luckiest.





Gavin crawls!

At 9 months old, Gavin not only crawls, crawls up steps, pulls himself up and stands/"walks" while holding on to things, but he also finally got his first tooth! Oh and did I mention he sleeps ALL THE TIME? He sleeps like it's his job.. has been doing so for over a month now.. perhaps he's making up for all that lost time during the first 6 months of his life? By the way, when do I get to make up for it?? Anyway, enjoy this short video taken on the evening of his first crawl. :)

Belden Boys

Here are some pictures taken by my phone on a few of our evening walks around the neighborhood this spring. I love our Belden, and I love our boys!

Aidan's truck "ran out of gas" down the street, and the "big girls" happily pushed him back home!
Best bros, each in their own set of wheels!

Gavin is overjoyed his brother let him be the passenger! (only while parked, of course)
Woohoo this is fun!

I have now been in every seat of my brother's truck. Life is good.
Bulldozed brothers

Forever young

I know I am their mom, but really, don't you just want to hug them and never let go??

We're kind of a big deal


Poll: Which Celeb Mom and Son do we most resemble??
a.) Tori Spelling and son Liam
b.) Kate Hudson and son Ryder

or c.) Sarah Jessica Parker and son James

Gavin's room

I just realized I never posted pictures of Gavin's nursery since Kevin finished all the little touches a few months ago. So here it is! Thanks again hubby for doing a wonderful job, as always.



8 is Great.

April 29, 2011
Happy 8 months, Gavin Patrick! We have a feeling this month will be the best, yet. :)


Get me outta here!

Happy Easter!

We had a great Easter weekend in the Lehigh Valley. Holidays are just so much fun. Nothing beats tradition, family, good food and new memories.

Easter morning...
The Easter Bunny found us at Pop's house!

Our precious little bunny
Daddy used to wear this when he was little!
Wishing you an Eggstra special Easter!
Happy Easter, Aunt Alli
I really don't get what is so cool about this egg... (P.S. God bless Amanda who was nice enough to break her back all day to keep little Gavin so happy!)
Laughter is good for the soul.
Kisses for Pops!
On Easter, we wish our friends and family a year of growth, hope and all the joys life can bring.