Happy birthday mommy...and other adventures. :)

Oh where has March gone!!  Another month of colds and sneezes behind us at last.  I was literally dancing at the thought of spring this month.   We got outdoors, re-connected with friends, aired out the house and celebrated mommy's 35th birthday.  (Yes...I know...35 AGAIN!  Isn't that amazing?)

My birthday cake was a GIANT gingerbread girl.  Tommy determined that my theme should be "An Outside/Inside Party" so we brought the outside in...with flowers, leaves, etc.  

Oh and I got the BEST birthday presents this year!  On the eve of my birthday, Tommy informed me that he wanted to wear underwear to bed.  (We've been potty trained during the day hours since the summer, but night time had still evaded us.)  So...no pull-ups for Tommy that night.  And low and behold?  He was DRY the next morning.  Success!!  He has been wearing underwear ever since.  Happy birthday to me!

Then, on the night of my birthday, Kevin had to leave on a business trip for the week.  So I was home alone with all three boys.  Grant must have known his mommy liked her sleep...as he went nearly 7 hours between feedings that night!  7 HOURS!!!  And ever since?  He averages 5-6 hour stretches at night between feedings.  We are *sleeping*.  Can you imagine?  Seriously...this child is a dream baby!!  A FAR cry from the 3 hour stretches we were getting with the boys at this stage.  Oy!

Then...to keep the surprise streak going... Cole woke up this morning dry and has determined that he is also done with night time diapers.  He woke up from naps with no accidents and is not even making a big deal about it.  Hooray!!!  This is such a HUGE milestone in our lives.  The twins are officially 100% potty trained.  :)  Did I really just type that?!?

Grant has been nothing short of an angel.  We are so smitten with this little guy and loving every second of the "singleton" experience.  Everything is just so much easier!  From feedings to tubs...everything has been so enjoyable.  Kevin and I find ourselves actually competing for his attention - it's funny!

As for his personality...he is just a happy, relaxed little guy.  He loves to smile (he has Kevin's beautiful smile) and laughed at me for the first time today.  Actually, he has been cracking up in his sleep for the past few weeks, which has been so funny.  The room will be silent... then little giggles erupt from the bassinet.  :)  But today was the first *official* giggle-fest with mom.  I just can't get enough of him.

Here he is at 7 weeks.  I took about 30 photos of him today and ALL of them were beautiful.  He is just such a handsome little guy.  Those cheeks are insanely kissable and soft.  And his eyes are huge.  He gazes right up at you when you hold him and he makes you feel like your the only person in the world.  It's pure joy.

On the home front, we're making a pretty big improvement that should change our lives drastically.  We're in the process of moving the laundry room to the second floor!  We had two extra closets that backed up to one another, so those have now morphed into our future laundry room.  We are nearly complete...just a few finishing touches...but it's looking GREAT.

Now I don't have to worry about the boys when I need to put a load in.  Those of you who know our house, will remember how tucked away the old laundry room used to be.  I never knew what chaos or mess I would return to upstairs!  Once, Tommy dragged a stool over to the fish tank and threw my *brand new* box of checks from the bank and the ENTIRE container of fish food into the water.  When I spotted him standing there, he just started saying, "sorry! sorry!" over and over.  In the grand scheme of things, this laundry room move is really our gift to Grant.  :)

So...that is March in a nutshell!  Lots of sniffles, surprises, baby cuddles and laughter.  Cole and Tommy are at such a great age and Kevin and I find ourselves laughing over something they've said or done everyday.  We feel so lucky right now.  And with good reason!  Life is good.  :)

Okay...I've been hiding in my room typing and now the boys have sensed my absence.  "Mommy!!  I need orange juice!  Mommy!  My Dodge train needs batteries!!  Mommy!!!!  Cole is looking at me!!"  Looking at him?  Oh...does this bring back childhood memories!  :)

Shhh....it's a SECRET!

A few days ago, Tommy decided that we should spend our morning building a "secret machine".  I asked him what that was and he went on to give me all sorts of explanations.  Basically, it is a machine that you put your secrets inside of and it locks them up.  Cole added that even the machine itself is a secret!

Hmmm...a bit of a fuzzy explanation, but to their budding imaginations, it made complete sense.  We went out to the garage and selected a box, pulled out our paints and went to work.  It was during our decorating that the boys decided that we needed to have a "Secret Party" to unveil our machine.  They chatted as we were working about who we would invite...what colors the balloons would be, etc.  As I listened to them, I thought...why not let them do it?   So the ball was set in motion for the boys to host their very first party -- a "Secret Party".

We worked on a special video invite (specific details edited from this video for privacy reasons):

Went to the party store and got special colored balloons and secret presents for everyone.  Decided on a menu: American Chop Suey with homemade banana cake for dessert.  Then decorated the table according to their instructions.  Everyone had to bring a "secret" to place inside the machine.

The "Secret Machine"  

Lever on left turned it on and off.  Lever on right made it go fast or slow.  Secrets were slid into the opening in the middle.

The table with the machine revealed.

The dramatic napkin cover up...keeping things suspenseful for guests.  

The dinner party was a big success!!  The boys were so proud of everything and it went off without a hitch.  They even revealed secrets at dinner!  Tommy's secret was that the party was *actually* a Thomas the Tank Engine party and everyone lifted their plates to find Thomas napkins.  Cole's secret was that it was actually a Scooby-Doo party and everyone lifted their party hats to find Scooby-Doo blowers.  Confusing I know...but it made SO much sense to the boys.  :)  Our little revelers were so exhausted by the end of dinner that they actually fell asleep before dessert was served.  A job well done.

Tommy has asked me repeatedly if we can plan parties for other people now.  Oy!  I think I've created a monster!  lol  But clearly the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.  ;)

Happiness is...

...being surrounded by amazing friends and family.  We've had meals dropped by our house three nights a week since Grant was born, beautiful gifts for our little man and even gifts for the new big brothers!  Yesterday, our friend Sue came by with what was literally an extravaganza of food, gifts and fun for all of us.  One of the biggest hits is the "Bundle Me" - a super cozy sleep sack for the baby carrier.  Grant clearly loves it!!!  Thank you Sue!  And thank you to everyone for making our special time feel even more so.  We are so lucky!!!  xo

Happy birthday Grant!! ONE MONTH OLD today!!!

Well it's been an exciting month ... and we're happy it's behind us!  While I'll miss that newborn stage (so tiny, curled up on my shoulder, belly button still hanging on, little swirls in his peach fuzz hair, *sigh*) we're glad to be done with the colds and viruses that February brought our way.

He is still technically a "newborn" but growing in leaps and bounds.  He was 9lbs, 14 oz at his last weight check yesterday!  His little face is filling out...his hair is growing...he's long and has already outgrown newborn clothes.  Have I mentioned that he is the SWEETEST baby?!?  We just can't get over how laid back and content he is!  He stares into your eyes when you hold him and he loves shadows and contrasts.  He literally gasps with pleasure when a piece of my dark hair falls into his field of view.  He loves the black and white photos of the boys around the house.  He loves the boys.

Speaking of which, the boys are equally amazing.  They have proven to be the best big brothers and have dealt so well with all the craziness around here over the past two months.  I am so proud of them!  It's actually matured them quite a bit.  Tonight, I brought Grant over to "say hi" to Cole who was watching old cartoons on TV.  Cole turned to Grant...rubbed his head and said, "Hey pal, we're watching Dune Buggy!"  It was so cute!

Since we've been cooped up, the boys needed a fun activity...so mom delivered!  I had been saving this castle for months, having found it at a sale for next to nothing.  What an awesome activity this turned out being!!  We've been busy painting, decorating and playing make-believe.  The boys went to bed with plans for their next big painting day.  Tomorrow they are apparently tackling the "attic" wherever that might be.  :)

MARCH!!!!!!!

Just had to post that it is officially MARCH.  We couldn't be happier to welcome spring and the warmer weather!!  Yippeee!

Oh...and on a side note...Grant weighed in at the pedi's yesterday at 9lb 5oz!!!  He is getting bigger everyday.  :)