He Makes Her Laugh

No one can make Peyton laugh like Austen does. It's like they have their own special language and bond already. In fact, Tom often tells me if Peyton is fussy on the morning drive to "school" that Austen will hold her hand the entire way and she stops crying once she knows her brother is there. They face opposite ways in the car and she might not be able to see him too well but she knows he's there when he reaches out his hand to her.

Austen is also a big help with distracting her while we are busy getting something ready - either for dinner or for work. He'll sit next to her while she's in her bouncy seat and he'll talk to her or sing his ABCs for her and she's occupied and eating up her brother's attention. Now don't get me wrong, Peyton is a huge smiler and a pretty happy kid but her smile seems to be magnified and her laugh a little louder when her brother is in the picture.

A Day at the Beach

Before Chicago reached these 90 degree temperatures, we took a Spring trek to the beach. We piled everyone in the car last Sunday and off we went. The sun was warm, the kids were sleeping in the back and Adler was looking out the window. And, Tom and I got an hour to talk amongst ourselves with little interruption.

We arrived at the beach and Adler was in heaven, rolling in the sand and running up and down the beach. Peyton had a blast feeling the sand between her toes for the first time and I must say, she seemed to enjoy it. Austen was really into throwing rocks in the water. Notice I didn't say skipping stones. He doesn't have the patience to skip stones. He'd rather hurl them into the water with all his might.

We enjoyed the solitude and the sunny skies for about an hour and then we decided to make the trek back to the car. On our way back, Austen declares that he wants to go for ice cream. Tom and I look at each other in disbelief. It was either a coincidence or Austen remembered that last year on our trips home from the beach, we'd stop and get ice cream. Who said two-year-olds don't have long-term memories?!

Sleepovers are Unproductive

Sleepovers are unproductive. That's what my mom used to say when I was a kid and why for the most part, I never got to sleep over my friends' houses. Well, at least not regularly. Of course she relented if they were birthday party related but your average run of the mill can I sleep over tonight at Roberta's house was usually met with a big fat no. The reason? My mom told me that it was because she didn't want to deal with me tired and all the next day.

So it's no wonder when my almost three and a half year old was invited with five of his friends to sleepover at another friend's house, I did hear my mom's voice in the back of my head, but instead let my "too young for sleepovers" son spend the night with his friends. Now I did think the mom was very brave and maybe a little crazy for inviting them all over to her house but I knew if anyone could do it she could. Of course most of the teachers at school and us moms were abuzz all week wondering if our kids would actually make it through the night or if we'd get that call in the middle of the night to come pick up our kid.

The kids were excited too all week asking if they were going to the sleepover that night. When the day finally arrived, Austen was beside himself with excitement. Tom and I dropped him off and he was none too sad to see us go. Off they went to the park....



Us moms kept up with them most of the evening via text message with reports about how our little ones were doing. Austen listened well at the park but had a bloody nose when he got back. He also was the third one to fall asleep (by 9:30pm).



They all made it through the night and ate waffles for breakfast.



Austen did great and wasn't too whiny today. It just goes to show you that sometimes sleepovers can be productive. Austen got the time to bond with his best buddies at school, especially since they aren't in the same class anymore.

Mother of Two

This was my first Mother's Day being a mom to two (really a mom to three if you count my girl, Adler!). We started celebrating on Thursday, really, at Austen and Peyton's school. Austen's class had some morning festivities where I got to watch him play with all the "work" that he likes (puzzles are his favorites) and then we got to share a special snack (heart shaped cookies - Austen ate mine!). He also made me a special little present...handprint with a nice little saying on it and a magnet on the back to stick on the fridge. I remember making one for my parents when I was small but the poem still brought a tear to my eye as I read the words and realized that one day Austen would be all grown up. Here it is:

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls.

But every day I'm growing -
I'll be grown some day
And all those tiny handprints
Will surely fade away.

So here's a little handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small.

That afternoon it was Peyton's turn to celebrate with me. I got a corsage from her class and got to meet a lot of the other moms and spend time with my happy girl.

Saturday, I went to the spa with my mom, did a little shopping and went out to dinner. What could be a better way to celebrate Mother's Day?!

And, today we spent the day with my mom and mother in law. My kids were good - daddy, helped them make me a special card - and it was a nice, sunny day. Pretty much a perfect day...if only Adler was there. Then our little family would have been complete.

Peyton's Baptism

Well, my happy girl was baptized this past weekend. She looked like an absolute angel in her christening gown (thanks, mom!), socks, bib and hat! Why do you need all these accessories to the gown? My mom told me they all came together but I thought the hat made her look like something out of Little House on the Prairie so I kept it off. Sorry, Austen, I know I made you wear yours, but with the second you're more willing to break the rules.

Anyway, the day was turning out great. The priest was good - not quick - but good. Or maybe he was quick and I was just counting the minutes until the ceremony was done not because of the height of my new shoes, but because of the three year old attached to my legs. Seriously, Austen was a piece of work at his own baptism and he decided to not let his reputation to act up during baptisms go done in history. He wanted to stand at the altar with Tom and I, which was fine. My mom coaxed him back to the pew with a lollipop, which he crunched for a few minutes before he was back up at the altar again. Next thing I know, he did something he's never done before - he literally wrapped his arms and legs around my ankles and would not let go! Good thing I wasn't holding Peyton because I seriously thought he was going to take me down. Instead of creating a scene, I chose to ignore his antics and hope he got bored with his koala bear hold before he took me down. And, he did but only to circle behind us to the short altar steps where he chose to show the whole congregation that he could jump from step to step. At this point, I had to grab him. Seriously, whose kid was this that was acting so fresh?!

Back to Peyton - she did great when the water/oil were poured on her head. She didn't even cry. I give her extra points too because it turned out she wasn't feeling well. She got a raging cold that night/next morning. She's on the mend now and feeling better but I still give her props for waiting to get sick until after her big day.

(Special thanks to my aunt from Boston who made the trip out to meet Peyton and help her celebrate her big day!)