Mother of Boys

I have to admit when I was a little girl I loved doing hair and painting nails and dresses that spin and shoes that make noise and all things pretty and pink...this was basically Greek to my tom boy sports loving mom.  My parents signed me up for soccer, basketball, t-ball, soft ball, swimming etc...not to force me to fit in to my athletic family but to broaden my horizons and I loved it because I liked hanging out with my friends.  My dad likes to tell me the story about my first soccer experience.  Apparently they rotated positions so that each kid could try everything.  My dad was so excited when it was my turn to play goal, until he looked over and saw me leaning against the goal post daydream and spinning my hair around my finger.  What I remember from that first experience was being disappointed in the yellow uniforms because yellow just isn't pretty...but shopping for new shoes and a pretty braided purple sweatband was a ton of fun!  My parents were never disappointed in my lack of athleticism and I think until they saw me preform I'm sure they thought that anyone could run, throw, make a basket etc...if they practiced enough.  And I'm certain they didn't realize that some people are OK with not winning (WHAT???).

So why did this girl grow up knowing that she was meant to be a boy mom?  I have no idea.  As a babysitter I always enjoyed my families with boys who built forts and played hard.  As a teacher I bonded with the boys that most teachers were happy not to have in their class.  Being a boy mom is not about knowing how to play sports or being good at them.  It's about appreciating their wild nature and teaching them to channel it for good.  Zack may be too crazy to go to library story time, and I may never get to see a princess movie, and I may always need to chase, and I'm sure there will always be balls behind furniture, for a while my clothing will have to be "durable" and easy to wash blood and mud out of, our birthday parties will be about trucks, robots, superheros and trains...oh the trains...what is it about trains anyway????  Ever since I found out Hunter would be a boy, I blacked out all things girl...dolls, shoes, dresses, bows, etc...now I get almost as excited about a brand new ball as my big boy.
Being a boy mom puts you in a club.  I have found several facebook groups and follow several blogs  all about being a mother of boys.  It's great to know that I am not alone with the crazy things that go on in our house.  My goal for my boys is for them to be strong, but sweet, successful in whatever they choose to do, gentlemen, have their priorities straight, hard working, kind, giving and beyond that I expect them to be happy (yes that is an expectation).  I don't want to turn them into something they aren't, I don't want to make them into calm children (at least Zack...we are still wondering what Hunter will be like) but I do want them to be respectful and follow directions.  As a teacher I prioritized a great personality over a kid that always did exactly what they were supposed to...and I feel the same way about my own children.  I really enjoy Zack even when he thinks we are playing chase in Target before Christmas while 8 months pregnant...I love that he loves life so much that there is no place that I can make into a time out, he is too happy...I love that he loves his brother and wears his heart on his sleeve...I love that Hunter expects my full attention all the time...I love that he discovers something new each day...I love that he gets so annoyed when he gets stuck on his belly but turns over anyway...I love that he is certainly giving me a run for my money and just when I think I can't take it anymore he gives me his little side smile, which makes me smile which makes him laugh.
My boys are still little but I am so looking forward to watching them grow.

Birthday Trifecta

Easter and moving kind of threw a wrench in Zack's birthday and we basically didn't do anything for him...scratch that...at this age it's not about doing it for him it's about me...I know that, but I love doing it.  We decided that birthday parties will be our kids present from us and if someday there is a special gift they want they can choose that rather than a party.  I took my teacher skills and put them to work for this low key party for Zack's friends.

On Saturday we had our families over to celebrate Adam's birthday, Zack's birthday and Grandma Marum's birthday:

I made 3 different cupcakes for each birthday person (beer and bacon, Oreo cookie, cinnamon blueberry with lemon buttercream)

This face is why I threw the party...he loved everyone singing 

We took advantage of the beautiful weather at a local park

I think if I make it to 94 this is how I would want to spend my birthday

See, this is why I tell Zack not to walk in front of the swings

Good Things Thursday: Week 1

So I have been tired...VERY tired.  It's what happens when you have a 4.5 month old who wakes up 4 times a night...EVERY NIGHT and who doesn't nap while brother naps and when you have a 2 year old who just doesn't stop...literally.  Add on boxes to unpack a house to take care of and my obsession with painting my house and you can see why.  I don't know if Hunter has been extra fussy lately or if Zack has been extra "two" or if it just seems that way because I am physically exhausted.

In comes my new series..."Good Things Thursday" where I can list the good things that happen during the week and not focus on the tantrums, the double cry sessions, the midnight feedings, the early wake up calls, the touch ups I need to make on the rooms I've already painted, the socket covers that have been off for a week but I don't have the energy to put back on, the lack of balanced meals etc...It's been a long week...I want to do this every Thursday so I am forced to make each day about something good.

Friday: I bought 10 super cute throw pillows for our living room and thanks to Target the total cost was within my throw pillow budget (yes we have a throw pillow budget, before we moved we made a list of everything we wanted to buy right away and came up with a budget for each...my list had picture frames, throw pillows, area rug, paint...Adam's list was TV, speaker, and various tools he NEEDED in order to build things for me).
Saturday: Adam took the boys to visit his grandma and I was able to paint the entire Kitchen and entryway...and We went out to dinner for a good friends birthday (I can pick 2 things, my blog, my rules)
Sunday: rainy day in pj's as a family
Monday: Ice cream with good friends including Hunter's new best friend 3 week old Luke.
Tuesday: Hunter didn't poop in the tub...this is actually pretty amazing...there is something about the warm water...
Wednesday: I finally got in 30 min of yoga...using Hunt-Dawg as my focal point.  He really enjoyed it so it may be our thing while Zack naps.
Thursday: Hunter only woke up 3 times (once before I went to bed and once at 6:00 am so it should really only count as once).

Mothers Day 2013

Seriously I am blessed...

I love taking care of my boys every day.  It's my favorite thing to do.  I have to say it was nice to a special day doing all the things I love...ok we pretty much just ate but I LOVE food...and on special days there is no need to count calories or eat veggies or pay attention to portions.
I went to church to teach my Sunday school class and when I got home to help Adam get the kids out the door I was surprised with some really fancy French Toast and some beautiful hand made cards.  We introduced Zack to wii bowling (not so successfully...but he sure did love jumping and waving the wii remote around).  We took naps, well I laid in bed listening to Adam put Zack down and Hunter wake up and Adam and Hunter playing...super sweet.
After nap Adam had another surprise for early dinner/late lunch.

For some reason I am obsessed with food trucks.  Maybe because they do a couple things and they do them really well.  Maybe it's because they serve small portions so you can get lots of different things.  I don't know, but they are pretty awesome.  And as luck would have it, Downtown Raleigh had a food truck rodeo.

not so sure about the vibrations of the speaker

OK actually this is kind of nice

How can someone covered in snot still be so cute?

I love my life as a mom, I'm not saying every day is perfect or that I love getting up several times a night and super early in the morning but I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

National Train Day 2013

If you have boys and you live near Cary you went downtown to celebrate national train day!

Zack got to sit in a real life fire truck.  Pretty much that was all we did.

Hunter had a blowout...I cleaned out my diaper bag and left diapers on the counter (thankfully I had one of Zack's diapers in the car...and by the time I took him back to the car, changed him and fed him it was time for lunch.
Adam and Zack wondered around getting free stuff and bouncing in the bounce house before meeting Hunter and I.

see how Zack has his hand on his ear?  He is saying "choo choo" which means I hear a train.  I love his ear thing and I don't know where he picked that up.

free sticker and a free lolly?  Zack is there!

Basically it was another of those well intended family outings that I had really high expectations for and it didn't work out.  This time the actual event would have been really fun as a family.  But things happen and we still had fun.

4 Months Old

Hunter is 4 months old today!

He is super sweet...

seriously I can't pick him up without wanting to squeeze him...

maybe it's because his head is so warm or maybe it's those cheeks...

Hunter is rolling over from back to belly...

he did that for the first time right after he turned 3 months and hasn't stopped...

He is laughing and smiling...

my favorite is the half smile...

According to his appointment he is 34% in weight and 17% in height...

I'm thinking linebacker...

We are starting sleep training and so far he goes to bed awake and falls asleep no problem (knock on wood), but I still feed him when he cries at all at night...

One thing at a time...

I love this kid...

Rub a Dub Dub...two boys in a tub!

Guess who had his first big boy bath????

THIS GUY

When I was pregnant I did a google search of things you need for a second kid.  Most of the things I felt were unnecessary, but one of the lists mentioned this bath seat.
 They said

They said it allows you to bathe a baby that isn't sitting up on their own with your toddler...and who doesn't need more time.  Poor Hunter missed out on nightly baths since most nights I was not up to giving two baths.

 Zack LOVED having Hunter join him in the tub...and I love that Hunter can get his nightly bath without the danger

 How sweet are my boys???

I mean seriously how sweet???