Happy 4th Birthday, Alex

Dear Alex,

You are 4 years old today. I am not sure where to even begin. I guess I can start at 5:30 this morning when you called to me. You couldn't find your blue bear, and then you wanted me to lay with you. And as you were falling back to sleep, I told you that 4 years ago at 5:30 in the morning, the nurses brought you back to me after your first bath. Daddy had gone home to sleep and shower, and it was just me and you for a few hours on that early morning. I will never forget just laying in that bed holding you, staring at you and kissing you. I had been up for almost 48 hours, but I wasn't tired. My heart was racing and I was so excited to finally have my little boy in my arms.

Happy Birthday Al. We had a great day. We met Daddy and Gabrielle for lunch and then did a little shopping. We saw Santa and he somehow knew it was your birthday. Then we had dinner with Grandma, Pop, Nana, Pop Pop, Grandma Mela, and Poppy. I started this tradition of dinner with the grandparents when you were two and it is my favorite part of your birthday. It is so nice just to have a quiet night all about you! We all sat around and ate cake, and you opened your gifts. I think your favorites were a pez dispenser, your card that sings the Spiderman theme song, and your "BIG BOY BIKE."

Speaking of being a big boy. Last night as I was getting you ready for bed, I was telling you the story of the night you were born and you said to me, "Mom. I don't want to get bigger. I'm scared to be big. I want to stay little." And I answered, "Me too, my sweet boy." Time is going by too quickly. And I need it to slow down. Just yesterday you were that tiny little baby and now you are riding a two-wheeler. I want you to stay little forever, but you have already changed your mind about growing up. Today you said, "Momma, it is okay if I get bigger, because I will always be your baby." Yes, you will. Forever.



I love you with my whole heart,

Momma

Alex's 4th Birthday Party

Saturday was Alex's Superhero Birthday Party. We woke up to huge snowflakes falling from the skies. That couldn't deter our Superheroes. They came ready and willing to decorate their capes and fill up on some nutritious breakfast food (and some cupcakes too). They then donned their capes and had some Spiderman Training from Spiderman himself! Well - not all of the kids were too thrilled about Spidey, especially Alex, who hid behind the couch and spied on him with grandma! But all in all, the party was a lot of fun!

Things I Know for Sure...

1. There is no greater love than a mother's love. My children have blessed me with the title(s) of Momma (Alex) and Mom-meee (Isabella). But no matter what they call me, the love I feel for them is like nothing else in this world. My love for my children is instinctual, unwavering, and will last forever. I may have given them life, but they are the reason I live.

2. Having a place to call home means everything. As I sit in my kitchen, I look at the wooden sign hanging above our mantle - This is the house that love built. Never was there a truer statement. This house is our home because of all of the love that fills its walls. I am safe here. Isabella is sleeping soundly in her room. Alex is playing with his Spiderman toys and building with blocks. Jay is walking through the door with dinner! This is where we live, argue, laugh, and play. There is no place I would rather be.

3. I would be nothing without my family. Family is forever. They are my cheerleaders, my friends, my gossip buddies, my past, my present and my future.

4. I am the luckiest girl in the world. See #1-3.

5. Coffee and wine can cure most of my ailments. Well, I can't be serious all of the time. I literally need that first sip of coffee to wake me up. Coffee cures my tiredness (aka grouchiness) in the morning and makes me a happier Momma. Jay calls it my Princess Juice. Wine is just what the "doctor" ordered after a long day of poop, attitude, whining and fussiness. It helps me unwind and calm my nerves. Take tonight for instance...without that glass of wine I don't know what I would have done as I watched Alex eat his Miso Soup with chopsticks, spill it everywhere and then shoot edamame across the living room....


Happy Thanksgiving 2009.

(And yes, I borrowed this idea from O Magazine)

14 Months

Isabella,

You are 14 months old today. You are walking all over the place. I can't seem to keep up with you. I knew this day would come. You are really trying to say lots of new words. Some of your most recent are - book, bapple (apple), bottle,
ba-nana, and boo! I guess B is your favorite letter.

Love

You love for me to read you books, especially animal books. You kiss the pictures.

You love your brother - you follow him all around and call his name. When daddy comes in at the end of the day, you call out Dad-eeeee and walk right to him with your little arms held high! You definitely are turning into a daddy's girl. But you love everyone. You continue to be the happiest baby with the cutest little crooked smile. You can light up the darkest rainiest day!

You love meatballs, noodles, and candy - you had your first m and m's last night on Halloween and Pop gave you a lollipop too! You went Trick or Treating for the first time!

You love your Gigi the giraffe. You pick up other toys along the way, Alex's stuffed puppy, dolls, your pink bunny, but Gigi is still your favorite - and has been since you were 2 months old.

I could go on and on about the things you love....

One thing is for sure - I love you with all of my heart. You and Alex are my heart!
Momma

Halloween 2009

HappY haLLoweeN!

Halloween is over. We had a great time at the party. We had some funny costumes and lots of superheroes came to the party. Spiderman, Batman, Batgirl, Wolverine, and Superman all celebrated Halloween with us this year. And there was the cutest, happiest bumblebee buzzing around!

As I was cleaning up tonight, I couldn't help but think how lucky I am to have such an amazing family. Between Jay's side and mine there are 8 kids. But 30+ adults came to the party. Great-grandparents, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, cousins, aunts and uncles all came to celebrate with us. We ate and drank, went trick or treating and played games.

Our family is child-centered and has always been that way. In my opinion that is how it should be - kids bring such a joy to all of the holidays. As we are heading towards Thanksgiving and then Christmas, I know that these little children will continue to feel as loved and as special as they did tonight! And as the adults who love them we will be blessed with the wonderment of experiencing the holidays through their eyes! In my opinion, there is nothing like it!

Thanks you to all of our family - for loving my kids so much!

Funny Guy

There are many times in a day Alex thinks he is being funny when in reality he is not. Quite a few of these instances involve the words poop and pee. He always asks, "Mom is that funny?" And I always reply dryly and with a straight face, "Yes, it is hysterical." Today after this exchange, he said to me, "Mom. You know when something is funny and/or hysterical you are supposed to laugh..."

This time I did!

Alexisms 7

Depending on the hour, no make that the minute, Alex thinks I am either the best mom in the world or the worst.

Here are a few recent quotes to illustrate my point.

1. Me: Alex you are too smart.
Alex: Mom, I am so smart because I got all of my smarts from you.

2. Alex: Mom, you always talk bad to me.
Me: When do I ever talk bad to you?
Alex: When you say I need a second to myself.

3. Me: You are such a smart aleck.
Alex: No I am not. I am a smart ALEX!

You Go Girl!

Up until yesterday, Isabella would only walk if you were holding her hands. But last night and this morning she took a few steps to me. And then this afternoon she walked across the room with a roomful of witnesses. Her attempts usually end in her falling on her bottom, but she doesn't seem to mind. In fact, I think she is so proud of herself. She claps her hands and has the biggest smile on that cute face! I know that in no time she will be off and running.

Thank you Uncle Mark for taking this picture of our big girl.

Alex's First Day of School

Today Alex started preschool. He was so happy this morning. He came down the stairs with a huge smile on his face (which doesn't happen often because like his dad, he is so NOT a morning person). I made him a special breakfast of oven pancake and then the whole family set off in the minivan for this special day. When we got to school, I quickly snapped a picture, and then we went inside. Daddy and I got a hug and Isabella got a kiss and then he walked into his classroom like such a big boy. No tears! (Well, maybe a few from Jay). When I picked him up, his teacher said he had a great day! We are so proud of him!