Four!

My baby is four years old today.
In celebration, here's a list of four reasons why I love John M. being 4:

1.) John, you love to prove to me that you're a big kid and can do things. Example: "Mom, I'm big so I can sweep that up for you!". Go for it, boy!

2.) You're starting to learn all of your letters and love to spell things for
me, although you always do it from right to left. When you see a stop sign, you
say 'P-O-T-S' and I say right, 'Pots!'. We'll clear that up one day.

3.) You're big enough to want to pour your own drink, but not yet too big for
me to scoop you up and hug you for a good long while.

4.) You make me things now; cards, signs, all sorts of artwork and I want to
keep all of it to remind me of how perfectly sweet you are at this age.

I was planning on doing a list of four reasons why four is probably going to
be a pain in the butt, but let's just end it on a positive note, why don't we?

I love you, my boy, for four million reasons.

Love,

Mom (even from right to left, it's still me)

1995 was THAT long ago, huh?

In 1995 on this day, at 12:07 pm, I saw this face for the first time. It was love at first sight.

I can't believe that face is 12 years old today. She loves shopping (see our plans below), IMing her friends, her cell phone, listening to music . . . I swear she's been a teenager for years now. But she's still my sweet girl who brightens my day with her pretty smile and makes me laugh with her silliness. I'm so lucky to have her. Happy Birthday, Anna! I love you.


(Raise your hand if you're going shopping at midnight for Black Friday deals.
(I'm asking as I raise my hand).
AKA 'Raise your hand if you're nuts'.
See you there.)

Shouldn't I be Governor or something?

Our new Governor-elect Bobby Jindal is just 36 years old. On Sunday, I'll be 38. I'm older than the Governor. If that doesn't make me feel pre-historic, I'm not sure what does.

That's just the way it goes right? You live long enough and you're older than everyone. Your doctor, your boss, your governor, everyone.

This has been the quietest birthday I can remember ever. I haven't talked or thought about it much. I had to catch myself just now to remember to blog about it. I keep forgetting it's coming up. My 20-year high school reunion is tomorrow and I can't decide if I want to go. Maybe that's overshadowing my bday too.

What I'd like is a quiet day outside with my family because the weather here has been beautiful. I'm thinking about having a nice lunch out somewhere and then maybe going here with my family. I haven't been in years and I think John M. would like it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I'll just be down here getting older. ;^)

Birthday Pics almost 1 month late

So, John M's been 3 years old for almost a month now, but I'm finally getting the birthday pics in.

His party was at a local 'farm' here, complete with a pony, goats, an oversized rabbit, and a hayride. Most of the kids loved it, but John M. cried about 90% of the time. The only part he seemed to really like was the cake and the presents. I wonder who he gets that from? Hmmmm....

T.h.r.e.e

My baby is three years old today. I know you're thinking 'he's not a baby anymore'. The thing is, to me, he still is. Maybe I want to hold on to his 'baby years' so badly that I just can't see him any other way. He's my last, you know, so give me a break.

So, Happy Birthday to John M. My boy, my only boy. Thank you, John, for showing me what it's like to mother a boy. Thanks for showing me all the differences, big and small. Thanks for loving to pee outside. Thanks for liking things with wheels; trains, trucks, tricycles, if it goes, you like it. Thanks for sweet little sloppy boy kisses that you wipe off as soon as you give them out. Thanks for being jealous when Daddy tries to hug me or lay next to me. Thank you for reminding me of 'June' all the time and knowing that a little piece of him exists in you.

I love you, my boy.