Eating Dinner Can Be Really Exhausting

 

Austin wondered over, "Uh Oh!  Where Baby Grayson go?!"  And then, "Oh!  There he is...  Why he under there?"

And then, of course, as I started to take off his bib, he awoke and was ready to finish his dinner.

05.01.2014

 

Firemen to the Rescue...of a Waterhose

We have a "pocket hose" in the backyard and as I was watering one day, the outer lining busted and the inner water tube started slowly creeping out.  Cooper and Austin pulled a Superman move--ran inside as little boys, back out as firemen.  They were ready for the "water explosion" they were sure was going to happen at any moment!

I love how Austin is checking out Cooper, studying how his big brother is standing and holding his axe, so he can be the exact same.

 

Austin was ready to use his axe to pop the tube, but there wasn't a need, because only a few seconds later it popped!  And I had two giggly firemen. 

05.06.2014

Outside Wagon Ride...with Guards

I took Grayson on a wagon ride outside today with two guards. Glad to know he has so much protection.  The boys took turns pulling the rope, then pulled the rope together.  Our street is on a hill, so they worked together pulling Grayson, then back toward the house, they quickly realized the wagon was moving faster and faster down the hill!  Coop had to jump in front of the wagon a few times to slow it down.  Grayson loved every minute, flapping his arms and squealing the entire way.

 

 It really stinks when your popgun slides off your shoulder and gets tangled around your feet.  It's hard work being a guard.

 And then, the big boys took over the wagon...  Coop ran as fast as he could pulling that rope.  Austin kept saying, "Whoa...faster...whoa...I scared...faster...whoa!!"

Staying Home

Staying home.  I love it.  I have all three boys home with me every single day.  Coop goes to school four mornings a week, but he's home by lunchtime.  (He does stay for lunch usually one day a week, but even then, he's home by 2:30.)  People are often shocked when they find out I don't have Austin in some sort of school or Mother's Day out program a couple of days a week.  I usually hear, "Oh...you have your hands full."  And yes.  Yes, I do have my hands full.  Overflowing a lot of the time, actually.  But, I can't imagine life any other way, really.  Sure, it's hard.  I'm overwhelmed.  I'm exhausted.  I'm tired.  I'm busy.  Really busy.  I've become a professional juggler, and it's amazing what I can do with only one hand, while holding a baby or a two-year-old.  Or heck, both at the same time!  I often smell like spit-up and/or poop.  Yes, poop.  I change a lot of diapers each day...  But, I'm a mom.  A mom of three.  THREE BOYS.  Where we are right now is going to change before I know it.  I try to remind myself of that every day.  I won't have all three home with me everyday.  Cooper starts kindergarten next year, and Austin will start preschool next year.  There will be two mornings a week when it's only Grayson and I ... what am I going to do with myself? 

I'm thankful for being home with them so much.  And thankful I get to capture their lives, their days, their little personalities.  Like...

Cooper setting up his "fireman work boots" with his "fireman overalls" just like real firemen do.  Because, really, you never know when you'll be needed for an emergency.  (They always have their pants tucked into their boots, so when the alarm rings, they quickly get their feet in their boots and pull up the straps to their overalls.  Bam.  Done.  On to the emergency!)

 

And there you have it.  Ready for an emergency.

I also get to see this happy little guy after each nap.  I love that he wakes up happy.  I love that sometimes he'll play in his bed for a good 20 minutes before he's ready to "call" for me.  I love that I get the sweetest hug and kiss from him after I pick him up...each and every time.

 

Thankful for moments like when I capture this sweet little exchange.  (I started taking pics because the light was good.)
Me: Coop, what did you whisper to him?
Coop: I told Grayson that he is the best super hero baby, and I'm glad we have him.

 

I love getting to see little bits of "Austin" around the house.  I remember Coop at this age, and my heart smiles when I see things like these.  I just wish I could be inside Austin's head while he's setting up some of these things.  Curious about his words and thoughts.

His special puppy sleeping on a Bevo pillow in the middle of the playroom.

 Dinos in a "tent" on the brown chair.

 Covering up Mater and Lightening McQueen with his blankies for...naps?

 And this one, I have no idea.  But I love it.  Found it in the middle of his room.

  

Oh, Austin Buddy.  My sweet little Joyful Mess.  My days would not be complete without his joy and without his mess-ness.  Like when he dressed up like Peter Pan, threw a green ball under the tv cabinet, then went running through the house with his flashlight and long yellow bat saying his was going to "save the day!  save the ball!"  And he did.  And he was proud.

I've been waiting for the day when I could push all three on the fort swings.  Talk about a happy heart!  This makes smelling like spit-up/poop worth it.

So, there.  Staying at home might be really tough.  And exhausting.  And sometimes I want to sit in a corner and plug my ears.  But can you imagine if I had missed these fun moments?  If I hadn't been there?  I can't.  Thankful I get to do it all over again tomorrow.  And the next day.  And the next.