My son the soccer star

We have only one more soccer game this season. This past game was on the same day as Big monkey's birthday party, and his grandparents were there to watch. He did everything we talked about not doing during the game, he was very distracted by the tremendous amount of fun he was going to have during his party after the game, I am sure.




Big monkey is so proud of his very first trophy! He carried it everywhere Sunday night after their "celebration".

Mommy is tired

What a GREAT, exhausting weekend. Big monkey had the best weekend ever - he told me so. I was so happy for him. He just really genuinely enjoyed being center of attention and turning 4. I don't remember how many times he talked me into letting him blow out another candle. Every time we sang happy birthday, he got up and danced until it was time to blow out the candle and make a wish. Too cute. I have many pictures to sort through and then I will post some. I am trying to recover from the festivities and my 8 mile run yesterday. I need a day to sleep!
Catch up soon!

Happy Birthday Big Monkey

Friday, October 17th is my baby's 4th birthday. I can not believe he is growing up so fast right in front of me. I wanted to follow along in bloggy world style and write a little about my first born:

Dearest Big Monkey,

Four years ago you came into your daddy's and my lives and you took your time about it. You were on your terms and no other terms! Mommy was in labor for 2 days before going into the hospital. Another 24 hours of labor later and 4 hours of pushing, mommy decided you could come into the world via c-section. It was not the way we had planned, but I was ready to meet you and was exhausted.
So there you were, my wonderful perfect little boy. Amazing in every way, and you still are. I am amazed everyday by the immense love I feel for you, how smart you are, how caring you are. You are the first to notice when I have had a haircut, or am the cranky mommy. You love to be my snuggle bunny at night still, and I dread the day this stops. You are so much like your mommy in so many ways. We both lack the enthusiasm for mornings, are know-it-alls, and enjoy an extremely organized day. You are the best big brother ever, always looking out for Little monkey and anyone else "smaller" than you. I love watching you take charge of situations, even at your young age. I love how you can sit and read for ages in your room at night. I love how you will just crawl onto my lap when I am sitting down and tell me I am the best mommy ever and not even want anything in return but a hug. You are my special big monkey. My first born. The little man I am learning things from every day. You will always have an extra special place in my heart since you were the first. Be patient with me as I grow as a mommy and as a person with every new stage in your precious life. You have changed our lives in so many positive ways, and I am so thankful to God for you.
Happy Birthday Big Monkey! Mommy Loves You!!


Brand new to the world, with daddy.

So sweet!

Always the funny guy!!

Fun Photo Meme

Connie tagged me for a fun meme. The rules are to choose the sixth photo from your sixth album and post it with a brief description and/or the story behind it. I had to go into iphoto as well and pick from my sixth album and so on. So here is my photo


Here are the monkeys last winter (before the Easter Bunny traded bobbies/pacifiers for the Lion King movie) snoozing away. The monkeys share a room and even share a bed. We have bunk beds that we can separate into two twin beds, but they seem perfectly content to sleep at opposite ends of the same bed. As you can see from the picture, this often ends up with two little angel boys sleeping side by side with their heinies in the air. I went in to wake them up on this particular morning and simply could not resist taking their picture. I am glad I did, it is a wonderful memory and they did not even wake up! I am dreading the day they are too big or think they are too big to share a bed, they will really be grown up then!
Thanks Connie, for taking me down memory lane!

And now six to be tagged:

Lacy
Aunt Sherry
Me & My Boys
Baby Boy Lori
Multi Slacking Mama
Sasha

Littlest Monkey appointment Week 14

Just got back from my doctor's appointment. It went well, eventually. I peed in the cup, stood on the scale (yay for gaining a bit of weight), had blood drawn, and laid on the table to hear the heartbeat. 10 minutes of searching for the VERY stubborn child later, and no heartbeat still. Okay, by this time I am panicking. This is something that happened with little monkey, but we were only 11 weeks along and it is not uncommon. But we are 14 weeks along here and there should be SOMETHING!! So my wonderful doctor tried to calm me telling me that my uterus was growing, no problems were occurring, we would take a look with the ultrasound. I peed again and then hopped on another table. Right away she found the heartbeat, yippee! But don't you just hate the serious looks ultrasound techs have when they are clicking and typing and pointing?!?! I thought I would throw up. I have been feeling a bit small this go around and it started making me panicky. But then I got to see the newest monkey and that heavenly feeling came just like with the other two. Little fingers scrunched up in fists by the face, nose profile, itty bitty feet, heinie, and fluttering of the heart. Just. Amazing. Loved it.
So, everything is fine. No visible markers for any complications at this point. Just a very stubborn baby, or shy! She said she could not tell the sex yet. There was no visible penis but it is early still. I told her I have two boys already and she looked harder trying to figure out the sex. But nothing. Oh, well. I am just so relieved and ecstatic that things turned out well and I got a sneak peak and some pictures!
I can't imagine not feeling completely blessed about this baby. I thank God every day for giving me the pleasure of being a mommy to three little monkeys.

A Vent

So here I go again. Going to get some frustration off of my ever growing pregnancy chest.
My father in law is a different kind of breed. We just have very different views on things, especially family and raising children. He is my husband's step father since hubby was about 4 years old. Has no experience with children any younger than 4 since he has no children of his own. And yet, he is all knowing on how to make a boy a man. Really, not getting started on that, I have other topics to go on and on about.
My husband kept putting off telling his family we are pregnant with our third. Not because we like to wait until the first trimester is over, but because he did not want to hear a lecture. And I think he is hurt by the fact that my family and the rest of our friends are always so happy for us. Yes, we were lectured after we found out we were pregnant with little monkey. I am sorry, I don't need to hear someone tell me how I can not afford a second baby for half an hour on the phone after I just told them the happy, albeit shocking, news. I just kept reminding them what a gift from God a baby is. My mother in law takes every available moment to tell me that two children are enough and I should feel thankful to have them and not over extend myself or my family. I have never hidden the fact that I would love to have a large family.
So anyway, my husband tells me (as we sit down for mass Saturday evening) that he told his dad and asked him how he should go about telling his mom (she is out of the country working right now). Apparently my father in law said he thought she was probably really stressed out enough with work and not to tell her until she could get through some of the stress! Yes, our new littlest monkey blessing is a major cause of stress to them. I could not even speak when he told me. I actually started getting teary eyed because it made my heart hurt that someone would feel the baby growing inside me is a cause of stress. We have never given them a reason to think we could not make ends meet. Our monkeys are well fed, happy, clean, well dressed and I think well taken care of. We have never asked them for ANYTHING, in fact I go way out of my way to NEVER ask for anything or make mention of things I need to get for the boys. I just don't understand. Anybody get this?!?!
I could go on and on about it, but I don't think it is good for my blood pressure.
Big monkey's birthday is Friday and we are having a birthday party for him Saturday afternoon. Pretty much always the same time of the year that we have this party. Father in law is not going to be able to make because he has a previous engagement. This is about normal. He lives less than 2 hours away and comes to visit the monkeys every 3 months or so. I don't mind the infrequency of his visits, in fact I am grateful. I feel bad for the monkeys, who do like him, and for my husband who worships him for some odd reason. At least I have my parents - wonderful grandparents that drive 5 hours for just a day visit if they can work it in!
Okay, enough. I need to get calm before my doctor's appointment later this morning. Get to hear the littlest monkey's heart beating away! LOVE IT!

Beautiful Monkeys

Here are a few pictures of my adorable monkeys from the weekend. They had a great time at the shrimp festival. Big monkey absolutely LOVES some shrimp. He even asked for it for his birthday party.. don't think so!!




Go ahead and tell me how adorable they are!!