Looks Just Like...

I swear when I look at Finley he looks just like Taylor. The same smile and big bald head. I look at those eyes and see Taylor's eyes peering back at me. The same chubby legs, the same nose for sure, and the same little hands reaching out at me. And when I nurse him and put him down at night and get back up again a couple hours later, yup, just like Taylor. And oh, how the boy can eat, no waiting till he's older to start on solid foods, he wants it right now, just like Taylor. And like big brother, Finn likes to be held and payed attention to all the time. Some days it's like Deja Vu, and I have to stop and remember, this is not Taylor.



I swear when I look at Finley he looks just like Gavin. The same smile and big bald head. I look at those eyes and see Gavin's eyes peering back at me. The same chubby legs, the same nose for sure, and the same little hands reaching out at me. And when I nurse him and put him down at night and get back up again a couple hours later, yup, just like Gavin. And oh, how the boy can eat, no waiting till he's older to start on solid foods, he wants it right now, just like Gavin. And like big brother, Finn likes to be held and payed attention to all the time. Some days it's like Deja Vu, and I have to stop and remember, this is not Gavin.



Hey, wait a minute....Yes, I have a replicating machine in my belly. I have three boys that look so much like each other as babies it's unreal! But believe me, time will tell, and I can tell you - Finley is as much his own self as the other two boys. And though there have been times when I have had a strong sense of Deja Vu (mostly waking in the wee hours, bleary eyed, to feed him for the umpteeth time), I do so enjoy watching Finn grow and learn and become the little boy that he is. So, I say, Finley looks just like himself...(mostly!).

A Gift on Our Tenth

As a gift to you, my husband, on our tenth anniversary, I give you this:

YOU WERE RIGHT

You were right that it would be harder than I thought to move to a new country.
You were right that I would eventually come to like it here. (But not Love it!)
You were right that having a third child would be more work, but I say worth every bit of it.
You were right that a little organization makes all the difference.
You were right that I need exercise, not for my butt, more for my mind!
You were right that I need routine.
You were right that I should get up before the kids to make sure they get off on time.
You were right that once I get the furniture moved, I'd want to move it again.
You were right that sooner or later I'd learn to love the dog, too.
You were right that it's the cat shedding the hair all over my house.
You were right that as soon as I visited to the U.S. I'd be be back to my old habits.
You were right that we've made it this far we can make it through anything!

I am so glad we took the chance and jumped into this crazy life together. I am enjoying my time with you even more every day. I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe that I'd listened to you a little sooner! I'm just glad you were right and married me ten years ago!

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

If it's not Finley at 5am or David's snoring, then it's the cat and dog chasing each other at o'dark thirty. And honestly it's my own inability to sleep added on top of all that... But some how I just keep moving. I mean hey, what's more valuable to a mom: money, time, sleep? For me, I would pick time for sure. For example, all my kids have been in bed for two hours now, and I know it's just a matter of minutes before Finley's up wanting mama's milk again; but here I am on the computer, surfing, blogging, shopping, etc. instead of getting the much needed sleep I deserve. But I need a little me time, just a little OK?!

In a typical day: Wake early (sometimes really early); feed Finn; make coffee for David (and so very much for me, too); get breakfast and lunch for boys; get them dressed and on the bus; get myself dressed and try to remember to change Finley's diaper; head out to meet the other moms for a brisk walk and a much needed venting session; more coffee; run to the store which is 30 minutes away and everyone I know is there so I can never run in real quick; come home to a pile of laundry that always grows faster than I can get it done and put away; try to get Finn to take a nap for longer than 20 minutes; eat something not so healthy because I don't want to stop long enough to think about it; put together Ikea furniture I bought last week and haven't gotten to yet; try to figure out where the USB cable went to my camera to upload pictures and in the process clean out David's entire desk and -thank God- finally found the receipt I was looking for to get the Gameboy fixed; mop the floor while holding a fussy baby; nurse him again and put him back to sleep for the 3rd time; stop to read the headlines on the internet -something about the Hurricane, Palin - oh and Ike hit Texas; wash all of the morning dishes before I put them in the dishwasher to be washed; take a potty break while talking to the baby (I don't get to do this again by myself for at least two more years); hurry because the boys are getting off the bus; feed everyone snacks or leftovers from lunches half eaten; argue -if only for a moment- that we have to do homework; negotiate times for the computer and/or television; remember the wet laundry needs to go in the dryer; give in to some floor time with the baby before the moment has passed; throw together leftovers for dinner from the big party we had last Sunday that wore me out, but turned out nice in the end; convince kids they must bathe; oh crap, I forgot the dog's been outside all day; welcome David home late because he's training to leave for Afghanistan next week; tuck the kids all in to bed; and that leads me to this moment where I am trying to take some time for myself. Oh, what's that you say...my husband would like a little attention now, so I have to call it quits. It's almost midnight, I guess I can sleep when I die....

Back to School, Back to Blogging

Ok, I confess, school started a month ago. But I just can't seem to get my life organized enough to make this a regular habit...yet. So, Taylor is now in 5th grade and Gavin in 1st. Both love their teachers and classmates. Hallelujah! Taylor comes home each day with a plan for play and homework, so as not to miss out on one second of his spare time. For the most part this is working and he is managing his time well, on his own. Wow. The best part is that I haven't heard him say, "I don't want to go to school today, can I stay home?" which must have been last years mantra. Gavin always seems to love school. We're working hard to get him fluent in reading, well I'm working hard. It seems the school is far behind in schedule than our school in Maryland, and thus extra work for the mom.

If there is one thing that I have come to realize with the sixth year of school for our family under way; it's that a family must take responsibility for their own children's education. You just can't rely on public education to do the whole job for you. I am so thankful we have public education, and this is a particularly nice DODDS school, and heaven forbid I would have to home school, but...I always feel like there is something lacking in the overall education experience for my boys. (Thank-you "no child left behind") So, I'll keep trying to figure out what they each need and do my best in betweens meals, laundry, bill paying, house keeeping and breastfeeding to fit in a little time for each of them. I guess that's why I am self titled "Reign de la Maison" (Queen of the house)!!