MAMA!!!!

It's official!  Grant's first word is mama!  Actually, he says mum too.  He calls to me when he is done with cheerios, naps, a toy, etc.  Just like his brothers!  Maybe that's how he learned it?  :)  I'm trying to get it on video.  As soon as I turn on the camera, he just stares at it and gets quiet, so I'll have to do it on the sly. But he says it all day long.  Mommy's sweetheart.  Just look at that face!!

Look mom! Both hands!!

Went for a walk with a friend the other day with our little people and Grant decided to show off a new trick! I had to stop to snap a photo. So proud!

Tommy saw the photo when he got home and said, "Oh this is perfect mom. Now he can drink his bubba alone and you can spend the time with me". :)

Guess who's birthday is coming up?!?

Help Tommy and Cole SAVE their fourth birthday!!!  We're calling in all our superhero friends to help the boys save their AMAZING fourth birthday this weekend.  :)  Details coming soon...  

Fever Central

It's official!  School has started.  And with it...all the lovely viruses and colds that little kids feel so obligated to share with each other.

Yesterday, Tommy started acting a little off...and sure enough...by the time I got them home, he was running a high temp.  Ever since his seizure, high fevers make me nervous.  So into the tub he went.  Even with a cold bath, tylenol and one sponge bath, he never got below 100.  His highest temp spike was at 4am when he went up to 103.5.  Thank goodness I was awake and checked on him.  Those fevers just take over his little body so quickly.  He'll go from 101 to 103 in the blink of an eye.  (And that is when we have to worry about seizures.)

And so it has gone on...all night...all day today.  Up and down.  When he wasn't running a temp, he was bouncing off walls, wrestling and carrying on as usual.  Then...this afternoon...Cole curled into a ball.  Sure enough?  High temps.  But like Tommy...once it's under control...he was back to his crazy, silly self.

It's a rainy day here in Boston - and as a friend pointed out - it was the perfect day to stay in jammies.  And that's what we did.  I spent the day with one little superman, one spiderman and one power ranger.  We had no where to go and it was heavenly.  Now...time to get better!

Dear Family...

I think the best part about being a mom has been watching the way my boys love our family.  And on the flip side...seeing how much my boys are loved.  Cole, Tommy and Grant have a HUGE family around them.  (And of course, our definition of family extends to include our beautiful friends.)

The fact that my boys know you all by name...that they REQUEST to have family gatherings...ask me (on a regular basis) when we are having another party...and then suggest (like today) that we go to Grandma's this weekend because they miss her.  It just makes my heart swell.

I just wanted you all to know how much you mean to the boys.  How often they refer to you each by name. Every day...I get to experience these beautiful moments when the boys reflect on your impact on their life.

So...as their mom...and because I love you all so much...I just wanted to say THANK YOU.  You each have made such a lasting impact on my little men.  And your influence will shape the men they will eventually become.  Again...my heart swells...we are so lucky!!

New jammies!

Seriously...I know I'm his mom...but HOW cute is he?!?  *love*

Happy birthday Grandma!

Here are my little red sox fans wishing Grandma a very happy birthday!!!  We had a great celebration over the weekend with the whole family.  The boys climbed all over Uncle Steve's tractor, we enjoyed a great meal and some amazing (early) fall weather.  It was the perfect weekend!

We LOVE you Grandma!!!!!  Hope you had a great day!!!

Rainy Day Fun

We are a little zany around here when it rains.  I have NO idea how this all got started, but the next thing you know we were spelling the boys names.  I love that we are all on the same page when it comes to this stuff.  The boys and I start something silly...and it becomes something awesome!!

iPhone access!!

I just downloaded a new app that allows me to update from my phone. This is great for those funny moments worth sharing...like a few moments ago in the store when Cole noticed a toy he liked and told me about it.
"That sounds too old for you.". I replied. "Mommy...what age am I again?" he asked. "You're four." I told him.

He ran back to the toy and exclaimed, "Mommy! It says here... for kids four and up!!!!"

First day of Spanish immersion pre-school!

Our first day at Spanish school was a success!   The boys did great and seemed to really have fun.  I can tell because Cole asked if we could go back there after naps.  :) Here are some pictures from the school.  It is so bright and cheerful and the boys' teacher is super sweet.

The children are greeted with cheerful graphics on the walls.  It's so cute.

Little signs are everywhere...this one teaching them "tree" which we had studied at home the other day.  The boys were so excited to see it!

This is the boys schedule at school.  

We were first to arrive, so the boys had their teacher (and all the play-doh!) all to themselves.  Her name is Ana.  Here she is high-fiving Cole.  

Class commences!!  Good bye mommies!

Two happy boys with popsicles and one of their crafts from school.  Little signs that say 

"Mi nombre is Cole" | "Mi nombre is Tommy"

Overall?  ¡Era un buen día! (It was a GOOD day!)

This kid JUST won't smile....

We try and we TRY...but we just can't get him to smile.  Giggle?!?  No way!  Ticklish?  Not a chance!!  He is always SO serious and glum.  See?

¡Mis niños hablan español!

Translation?  My children speak Spanish!  Or rather...they are going to learn.  :)  Tomorrow is the big day...the boys begin Spanish immersion school.  They'll be attending Spanish pre-school twice a week for three hours.  It's full immersion, so no English is spoken, but the place is so warm and loving you feel embraced the moment you walk in the door.  During our visit to see if the boys liked it, the teachers were amazing with the kids and both boys immediately felt comfortable.  Tommy even participated in an activity!  And as we were leaving, he turned and said to the teachers, "adios!"

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures, but in the meantime...we've got to hustle.  Off to regular pre-school in an hour!

Let the games begin!!

So it's finally starting to happen...  Grant is on the move.  And his mission?  Cole and Tommy's toys.  This. is. not. good.  Here you can see how happy Cole is over Grant wanting to play matchbox cars with HIS cars.

After Cole saying "NO GRANT!" And putting Grant back under his play gym several times...Grant kept on coming back for more.  Cole had to abort and start moving his cars.  But not before Grant returned...

...pulled himself upright....and captured an unclaimed car.  "Ew!  It has baby drool on it!"  Cole cried.  Well done Grant.  This kid has spunk.  Look at the determined look in his eye....

ROUND ONE:  Grant = 1 | Cole and Tommy = 0

First Day of Pre-School!!

My guys are seriously the BEST and BRIGHTEST!  I couldn't be more proud.  This morning went off without a hitch.  Cole had a few moments of anxiety, but watching him handle it all made my heart sing.  It was a GREAT day.  Here were are...dressed and ready for school.  The boys picked out their own outfits which was cute.

At pick-up, they were so cute.  Tommy came out first...looking quite pleased!

He then waited with his face pressed against the glass for Cole.  A few times, I had to remind him to step away from the door.  He was oblivious to everyone else.  He even told a little girl to get out of his line of vision because he "couldn't see his brother".  Then...(insert angels playing harps)...Cole arrived. Everyone marvels watching them together.  They are like two halves of a whole.

Upon entering the car, the boys found $1.25 each waiting for them on their seats.  .25 for the gum ball machines and $1 for something at the dollar store.  Our local dollar store is AMAZING and has the coolest stuff.  Off we went to find the perfect "first day of school" prize.

First stop?  The gum ball machines!

Then?  Our big prize for the day?  Army guns.  *sigh*  I know, I know...guns?  Little boys?  But they are playing army men around the house using guns made from rulers and laundry clips.  Its becoming hard to ignore...and hard to avoid.  Boys will be boys!  It's like denying a girl a kitchen set to play with.  It's kind of weird how much feels programmed into our DNA.

The whole ride home they shared stories about their day at school.  It was GREAT.  It was a moment I've always dreamed of...they made me laugh, they made me proud and I took so many mental snapshots that I hope will never grow dim in my mind.  My beautiful boys are in school and loving it.

Visit from Grandma!

Hurricane Irene was good for one thing -- a visit from Grandma!!  The boys were SO excited that Grandma lost her power and was coming to stay with us.  We had the best visit.  We took the ferry into Boston and walked around Faneuil Hall with the kids, spent leisurely days poolside, enjoyed some great meals and spent a nice day by the beach at my parents.  So hard to say goodbye.  Come back SOON Grandma!!!  To say we love you is an understatement!  xo  

Pre-school Orientation!!!

Today was orientation for the boys pre-school where they got to meet their new teachers and check out their classrooms.  This year, the boys are going the same days...but they have different teachers.  This makes life so much easier for everyone.  The boys love knowing that their soul mate is only a classroom away, drop-offs will be FAR less traumatic and I'll actually get some time to spend some alone time with Grant.  Win, win, win!

We left the house around 8AM in order to pick up some "school supplies" first at Target.  (Thank you to Staples for all your awesome commercials that convinced my children they need: folders, notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, rulers, markers, scissors and tape.  Really?  They are in pre-school! But anything to make them excited about school and learning.)   Donned in their Batman raincoats, off we went.

Picking out the supplies was so funny.  I loved how - like an old married couple - they talked over their folder and notebook selection.  Settling on Marvel Comics Superheroes of course!  And they agreed to share a large pack of pencils as they were "cool" tye-died ones.  After loading up on enough essentials for a child entering 8th grade, we jumped in the car and headed to school.

Our plan was to hit Cole's room first - say hello - then run to Tommy's room.  (Different when you have to divide your time.)  Surprisingly, Cole seemed pretty excited about the whole thing up until we got to the door to his room.  Then he got a little nervous and had to be coaxed into the room by Tommy.  Once he warmed up though...he seemed to enjoy himself!  His teacher is wonderful and really warm and loving with the kids.  I loved this little sign that was below each cubby.  Think this would work in our house?  :)

Take off backpack - place snack on shelf - hang up jacket - hang up backpack - go sit down.

At the end of our visit, he walked up to his teacher and said a sweet muffled goodbye.  This is HUGE for Cole.  Clearly, age and experience makes all the difference!!

Tommy was the complete opposite.  He ran into his room...found his cubby immediately...

He searched out his teacher and gave her a present (a package of googlie eyes!) and then scouted out the whole room.  He immediately noticed what toys Cole had in his class that were missing in his and vice versa.  (Of course!) And found all the little signs on the walls that bore his name.  He said hello to all of his teachers aides and then turned to me and said,  "Okay mom, let's go."

Next stop?  I promised them donuts.  Incentive enough to get a move on!  Tomorrow is the big day!!  Wish us luck!!!

Cutie at 7 months!!

Sweet as pie!  At 7 months Grant:

- can sit up 

- roll over and maneuver around the room doing so

- eats solids and is a "puff" addict

- has two bottom teeth and the top ones are cutting

- babbles and squeals

- LOVES his brothers 

- is wearing 12-18 month clothing

- hates his high chair

- LOVES his daddy and his papa

- is SUPER ticklish (love this)

- loves his nana blankie and teddy bear Pineapple

- is my cuddle bug!  I love sneaking him into our bed in the morning for 

early morning conversations and cuddles.  

He is just the SWEETEST little baby!