NH Summer

This is how you know it is summer in NH:

- bug bites

- checking your kids for ticks multiple times a day

- you bring the fans in from the garage

- your kids take a bath every day

- the bath water after a bath is DISGUSTING

- the kids smell like sunscreen and bug spray

- your boobs sigh when you take your bra off at night

- the baby sits at the screen and yells at the big kids

- you check for ticks

- there are bear sightings

- people see moose (but I don't believe them)

- green green green green

- boats in the water

- flip flops come out

- rain

- green green green green

- you can smell bbq every day

- you hear lawn mowers at least once a week

- the kids go to bed without argument after playing outside all day long

Happy Mother's Day, Mom

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I hope there are beautiful flowers up there to bring you joy. Do you remember all of the crafts that Travis and I made for you over the years? I understand now how much joy those kind of things brings to a mother's heart.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. This is our fifteenth Mother's Day without you. Fifteen missed cards, flowers, crafts, lunches, smiles. It doesn't get any easier on each holiday.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I see you in the kids every day. In Riley's smile. In Isabella's quiet thinking. In Aiden's laugh. Three little pieces of you that I get to see every day. Three reminders of how you must have felt as a mom.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I hope every day that I am half the mom you were. That my kids love me half as much as I love you still. That I instill in each one of them the knowledge and wisdom you instilled in us.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I miss you so much. The most today and on the anniversary of your death. You were a wonderful mom. I wish I had realized that at eighteen. I hope you know that I know it now.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. Thank you for being the best mother you could be so that I can be the best mother I can be. I try to follow your example every day.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you.

Babyhood is leaving

This week Aiden has decided he doesn't like the baby swing anymore. He bucks and cries when put in it. Last week we moved him into the crib because he was getting too big for the pack n play. And he's too big and squiggly for us to wash him in the shower.

We've hit the 7+ months mark. The countdown to toddler hood. He's trying to crawl, he can sit on his own (when he wants to), he eats solids, and he's trying to say Mama.

At every milestone, I am so proud of him but there is a tiny part of me that whispers last baby. Everything he does is the last time I'll witness it. So I hope he slows down! I'm in no hurry for him to grow up.

I will cherish the sweet smelling baby snuggles as long as I can.

Highlights of 2013

As this year comes to a close, I am reminded that there were more bright spots than not this year.

- The arrival of Aiden is, of course, a big #1. He has brought so much joy to our lives.

- The arrival of my nephew, Andy. We miss that little man so much.

- My brother marrying Julie. Welcome to the family (legally)! We love you.

- Seeing my bff in April (and looking forward to her visiting in 2014).

- Moving to live down the street from my close friend, Stephanie.

- A white Christmas

- Having a beautiful new house

- Seeing Isabella with her little bff Amelia

- Sharing the year with fabulous friends and family

What were some highlights from your year?

Mommy vs Riley: Christmas Photo 2013

All I wanted was a picture of the five of us, smiling in front of the Christmas tree. I had our outfits picked out weeks ago (OK, maybe a month or two ago). I coordinated. Scoured stores for a white shirt for Riley.

All Riley wanted was to have a fit. "No picture!" "I don't want to!" *sigh*

Do you want a lollipop? No! Picture!

Do you want candy? No! Picture!

Do you want juice? No! Picture!

And on and on we went for almost an hour. I don't want socks. I don't want shoes. I don't want. I don't want. I don't want.

I want my 'let (blanket). Sissy brings him his blanket AND Roo (awesome big sister). Daddy let him take a picture of mommy. And suddenly he was willing to take any amount of photos mommy wanted. Over and over and over again (not that I am a perfectionist or anything).

Hard to say who won, but I got my picture so I like to think I came out on top. But he's three and he got candy. I'm sure he won.

Happy Thanksgiving

It was the perfect Thanksgiving. Our first snowy Thanksgiving in our new home. Aiden's first Thanksgiving. Being in the kitchen cooking while the kids watch the parade. The food filling the house with mouth watering aromas. Bundling up the kids for the short drive to Grandma's. Our family around the dinner table.

I am thankful for so many things. An amazing husband. Our smart, beautiful, healthy kids. A healthy Aiden after a difficult pregnancy. Our troops, working so hard and missing this holiday with their families to keep us safe. A roof over our heads. Food on our table. Family to share this day with. Friends that enrich our life. A best friend that is more family than friend.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of tasty food and your favorite people.

I am thankful for you.

I am a mom of three

Being a mom of three is a lot more work than I thought it would be. Isabella or Riley always  want something when I am feeding Aiden or trying to get him to go to sleep. It takes longer to get out of the house. I carry around a lot more stuff. I make more lists so I can remember everything.

Being a mom of three is a lot more rewarding than I thought it would be. Seeing the three kids together warms my heart in a way nothing else ever has or ever will. Seeing the huge smile on Aiden's face whenever Isabella is near him is so sweet and special. That baby boy LOVES his big sister. He's still not too sure about Riley. Haha. Both kids love to help with everything: feeding Aiden, giving baths, bringing him a blanket or a toy. Riley is always quick to tell me "Baby is crying! Baby is crying, Mommy! Get him!" Apparently he thinks I have lost my hearing ;)

I had forgotten how sweet and snuggly and good smelling babies are. How that first smile lights up your life. How good it feels to snuggle a litte sleepy, snoring bundle. How cute they are.

Having a baby again has also shown me how grown up my other two are getting. Isabella is wicked smart. And such a big help with both Aiden and Riley. And Riley is not a baby anymore. He seems much older than three most of the time. But sometimes he still wants to be the baby. Watching the two of them play together is so sweet, and reminds me of when my brother and I were their ages. I can't wait for Aiden to be able to play with them.

Being a mom of three has also taught me that I can do lots of things at one time. I can babywear Aiden, make Isabella's lunch and get the kids breakfast. I can feed Aiden and read Isabella a story. I can rock Aiden and watch Thomas the train with Riley. I can hold Aiden, eat dinner, and find out how Isabella's day was. I can carry the carseat and hang onto both kids.

Being a mom of three has taught me one really important thing: my heart can grown to encompass all three kids. I never thought I could love this much.