things you say

• We were making french toast the other morning and Gabe was helping me make the batter. After he added the cinnamon and nutmeg, he said "look Mom, it's all muddy! Yummy mud though!" I second that yumminess!
• I sometimes tell Gabe to watch it or he's going to crack his head on whatever furniture, corner, wall, or floor that he is being a monkey around. So when I looked up and saw him standing on the window ledge the other day, I asked him to get down before he cracked his head on the shelve. His reply was "or all my eggs will fall out, Mom?" Yeah, something like that son!!
• Every morning Gabe says, while we're eating breakfast, "Mom, it's getting bootiful outside!" Whether its cloudy or clear, it's always getting beautiful. Makes me stop for a second and admire the beautiful sky with my boys and remember that even cloudy days can be beautiful! Through the eyes of a little one!
• The other night I told Gabe I had to go to work the next day and that Grandma would be here in the morning when he got up. "You have to go work to give people medicine and hugs to make them feel better Mom?" Yep!
• So the other part of that conversation..."I worry about you everytime you go to work Mom." Took my breath away. Seriously! Why is he worrying about me? He should be worrying about what crayon to use or which monster truck to crash. Not me! He can't already be a worry wart like his Mommy...at three! My brain skips into overdrive after I tuck him in. What are we doing wrong that is making him worry about us? And the only thing I can come up with.....his Daddy being gone for two weeks at a time every two weeks. And then I sit and wonder (and worry) about what we are doing to him emotionally. What scars are we creating? But that's a post for another day....way to deep for me to get into now.
• I sat down on the couch with Gabe the other day as he was playing away with his trucks and blanket. And happened to sit on a corner of the blanket. "Mom, you wrecked my imagination!" So sorry didn't realize I had that kind of effect on things. I'll try very hard next time to make sure and look for your imagination before I sit down :)
• I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders the other morning because I was cold. Gabe said, "you're wearing your super mom cape today!" I wish that blanket had magic mommy powers!
• We were outside playing a couple of weeks ago and all of sudden Gabe yelled "look Mommy, there's ice sparkles on the house!" Sure enough, there were 'ice sparkles' on the house in the form of icicles! Love it!!

Missing

Small 5 inch tall zebra.

Most recent photo taken 3.4.11

Been stiched up along his right leg and neck.

Because of the above, he only has a few "beans" left in him.

Zeeb with his best friend!

Very matted down fur from being loved on, cried on, and always involved in playtime.

Goes by Zeba, Zeeb, or Zeebie.

Notice Zeeb in the dump truck. Don't notice blurry photo!

Last seen after nap time playing with beloved owner and his friends.

Noticed missing before bedtime.

Please help reunite these buddies!

Please, God, if you know where he is please send the Mommy a sign!!

We really, really miss you Zeeb!

Potty Talk

some of our most creative conversations occur on the potty!

a sampling to follow. (warning: beware of the poop talk)

"i stand up and hold my little pee pee like daddy holds his big pee pee mama!" (this made your daddy smile)

"look mama, it's a mickey mouse club house poop with a french fry poop!" (your descriptions of your poop shapes are very descriptive)

pointing at your pee pee, "look, it's a big fat one!" (also making your dad smile and snicker)

as i'm going potty (bc i never get to go by myself it seems) you came in and asked me where my undies were, since you couldn't see them tucked in my pants. your response upon finding them "oh good mommy, you need them to keep your pee pee warm!" hmm, never thought of it that way!

and we've mastered the art of peeing on a tree! the beauty of having a boy and being layered in snow gear! we don't have to go inside and get undressed only to get redressed again! plus, he thinks it's fun to watch the snow melt!!

Three

Three big years.

No longer a baby but a big boy.

Independence, imagination, memory of steel, hilarious.

Lover of hockey sticks, bouncy balls, monster trucks, and anything Lightning McQueen.

Full throttle every minute of the day, unless you are napping or watching Little Bear.

Still a little shy and not quick to open up to new faces or places. It will come. You blossom more every day.

Quick to help. Be it in the kitchen. Feeding the dogs. Reading books to Nick. Shoveling snow.

Button pusher. Yep, you know mine! Do you push them? Of course, that's what they're for, right!?

Heart melter. One of the biggest. Especially when you wrap you're arm around me and snuggle me in close.

Words? Holy moly do you have words. You stop me in my tracks daily with your outlook on life. Wow!

You leave us in utter disbelief on a daily basis. Amazed. Blessed. Fortunate. Words to describe life with you!

You are one of the most beautiful gifts we have ever received. And three years big! Utter disbelief my son!

Happiest Birthday Gabers! You're mama had a hard time wrapping herself around you turning three. Hence, the reason this post is way overdue. I think I restarted this four different times! Your zest for life is contagious, my sweet boy. Thank you for making me the proudest mama a boy could have! Love you forever and always my Monkey!

XOXO!!

Shine

Gabe and I were at the dentist on Thursday. Nick was home with Daddy. Daddy came out of the bathroom to find Nick in the living room at the train table with my vaseline jar! Hold on, let me rephrase that....empty vaseline jar. He had decided it was high time for a new hairstyle and vaseline should work great as a styling product!! Hee hee!! I'm only laughing because I wasn't home! Needless to say, after a bath that involved three shampoo scrubs by Daddy, he still looked like this:

And the warm bath made him do this:

But then he was ready to do this for me:

Some tell me I should cut his baby locks, but I can't bring myself to do it!

Notice the shine!

How can you resist this?

After another bath that night and a few scrubs with Dawn dishwashing soap, we were close to shine free!!

18

Yesterday, on the 17th, you turned 18....18 big months!

Oh boy have they been some of the sweetest 18 months this momma has ever experienced!

You have a twinkle in your eye that never disappears. Even when you are sad, that twinkle...well actually, I think it gets a little more twinkly. I have to say that your little pout is one of cutest I've ever seen. All puckered lips and tilted head to your shoulder. It takes everything we have not to smile and giggle at that attempt to be sad!

You are my snuggle bug. The one that climbs in our laps and sits forever. Sometime falling asleep. Your kisses melt my heart! That you kiss the animals in your books without any prompting....cue an awhh!

You love to make people smile. Especially the little old ladies when we are standing in the checkout lines! And they, like me, eat it up!

On top of all the sweetness is just a little bit of sassiness that has come to light in the past month or so. You have figured how to say "yine" (mine) and a resounding "no"! Just this morning I asked you if I could read you the book you were holding, and you very quickly told me no. But when I asked if daddy could read it to you, you ran as fast as your chubby-little-pajama-wearing feet could carry you over to him. A perfect example of you knowing exactly what you want.

And funny, you love to be funny! You love to run around saying "tinkee" (stinky) when you are ready to be changed. You love to play "boo" and pretend. Pretend to cook, to use my curling iron as a superhero sword, to jump like a rabbit.

And your brother. He is your real life superhero. You want to do everything he does. Even when he doesn't always want to be doing everything you are doing :). You are a little mynah bird. Doing as he does and being as he is. There is nothing more satisfying for a mommy than watching a her two littles connect. Come together and create together. Makes my heart do a thumpity thump thump!

Happy 18 months sweetest Nick!
Love You,
Mommy 
XOXO

Happy Hearts

Happy Hearts Day to you!!                                                                                                           XOXO