I love you...SO much!

I don't know when it began, but Aaron is starting to realize how much he really loves his family. I remember when this happened to Connor. One day he said to me, "I love you mom" Then he paused and said, "I REALLY do love you Mom!". It was like a realization of what those words really meant.

Aaron started coming to this realization recently, and now he says, "I love you Mom" then he will pause and say "SO much!". It really melts my heart when I hear that because it's finally ringing true with him.

He also has been complimenting me A LOT. Just a few minutes ago he said he liked my dress. He also says that he likes my hair, my eyes, and my nose. I don't know why he got on this complimentary streak, but I'm not complaining.

It's actually starting to rub off on Connor as well. A couple mornings ago I gave Connor a hug, and he looked at me and said, "Oh Mom! You are looking beautiful today!" Being over 9 months pregnant does not help self esteem, but when you hear the person that would point out a booger hanging out of your nose, you have to know he's speaking from complete honesty. That's what makes me feel really good about when they treat me this way. It's not all the time, but it really means the world to me.

They have even been loving eachother also. Grandma and Grandpa Reyburn took them to Disney on Ice a few weeks ago, and when I asked how they behaved they said great. Grandpa said he overheard a conversation while at Port of Subs that they were having.

They were sitting at the table and Connor turned to Aaron and said, "Aaron you're my best friend!"

Even though it's hard sometimes to hold Aaron every time he says he "Needs me" I know it won't last forever, especially with the new baby coming, so I try to give him the love he needs when he asks for it. I hope the positive compliments always keep coming out, and hopefully it means that I'm doing it myself as well. It really makes my life more full to hear the positive things that my children are thinking.

Every night when we go to bed I always say, "You're the BEST Connor in the WHOLE world!" and "You're the BEST Aaron in the WHOLE world!" I hope that they know that I really mean that too.

Daddy Time

After Christmas the boys new toys quickly became their "old" toys and they were back to asking me what to do. "Play with your new toys" I would tell them, but unfortunately they had lost their luster. Fortunately, we had bought a few sets of Legos, which are very expensive, but they do give us something to do. I began to work on the first set with the boys, and quickly realized that I wouldn't have to do all the work anymore. Both the boys were very good at placing the legos where I told them! Yay! Legos are for kids! So I enjoyed putting together a house and the Harry Potter Lego game with both the boys. It took a couple days, and when we finished the boys were both beaming with joy.

When we finished the Harry Potter game, Daddy came home and was a bit jealous. He wanted to build with the boys too. We played the game together as a family, and everyone loved it!

The next day, after Connor had begged me to start building the fire station he had received for Christmas, I told him that he should wait for Dad, and they could do it together. The problem I find with Legos, is that they are left wherever they are being built ready for the next day's or week's building session. I finally set up a "LEGO STATION" in the playroom where I wouldn't care if they sat there for weeks or even months. Our dining room table should be used for meals after all!

So Connor waited patiently for Dad, and that night they spent 2 hours together working on building a fire truck. Connor showed me and was so proud. Dad said he was a lot better at following directions, and that he built it on his own, he just had to pick out the pieces.

For a week the boys spent time after Daddy got home building the Fire Station, then a Dinosaur they had from Christmas. For me it left time to do chores, watch Despirate Housewives, or read my Nicholas Sparks novel.

As a result, Connor started talking about his Dad all day and couldn't wait for him to get home. He kept saying, "I love my Dad so much!" It is great to see them bond like that.

As the Fire Station project came to a close, I quickly suggested that we go get another set of legos for them to do together! Not only is it for them, but I wasn't ready to give up my mommy alone time also (hehe)!

The Calm before the Storm

The boys are patiently waiting for the new baby to arrive. They both have an idea that she can come any day now, and they are super excited.

A couple of days ago we decided to take the boys out to dinner since we had a gift card, and I knew we won't really be up for taking them out with a newborn baby. The gift card was to Connor's favorite restaurant Red Lobster.

When we arrived at the restaurant both boys sat down in their seats politely, took out their crayons and began to color and complete the activities on their kids menus. They chose what they wanted to eat easily. And when Aaron was all done coloring he rested his head on the edge of the table and studied the room with great detail.

At this point Brian and I had managed to talk about several topics and almost felt like we were not out with our kids at all. This was even a little strange to me.

As a matter of fact the only breakdown we had was when I was explaining to the boys that we probably wouldn't go out to eat after the baby was born, so this was a special night. Connor's eyes started to fill with tears and his awkward smile appeared tightly across his face. This was the smile that was supposed to help him to control his overwhelming sense of sadness since he loved to eat out with the family (Port of Subs is his favorite place besides Red Lobster LOL).

I quickly took back my comment, especially since the boys were being so good saying the baby would sleep so much and mommy would be more tired, we will probably go out more than ever before!

An older couple sitting at the table across from us got up to leave. The lady came over and said, "You have the most well behaved sweet children I have seen in a long time. You don't see such well behaved children anymore. You are doing a great job with these boys!"

I became overwhelmed with happiness. Usually the only comments I get, especially from older people (excuse my biased opinion) is when my kids are acting up in a grocery store or throwing a tantrum, so this was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. I thanked the lady from the bottom of my heart. I really appreciate it when someone compliments rather than complains. It's very refreshing.

After we said goodbye to the live lobsters at the front of the restaurant, we walked back to the car. I can't believe that just when we can FINALLY enjoy a meal out as a family we are going to be throwing a newborn into the mix. Oh well, I like to keep life exciting - and at least now I know there's a light at the end of that long toddler tunnel!

Boys will be boys!

So my sweet boy Aaron's new favorite words include the following: Poop, Pee, Burp and Fart. He literally will walk in the room and announce his presence by saying, "HI POOP!" and EVERY time he says one of these words he CRACKS himself up. He repeats it over and over, no matter whether we think it's amusing or not. Brian just laughs under his breath when these things occur, and says it's a boy thing. Funny thing is, I never remember Connor going through this phase.

This morning was a typical Saturday morning at our house. We woke up to Connor coming in to the bed to snuggle between us around 6:30am. He gets as comfortable as he can in a queen bed with a 9 month pregnant Mom next to him and we wait for the wake up call. Usually when I hear Aaron's morning whine, I turn to Connor and whisper, "Here comes trouble!" and we laugh together at our little inside joke.

Aaron comes into the bed painstakingly, and tries to jam himself into the already tight Connor sandwich we have made earlier in the morning. Eventually I sit up and let him take my spot. I ask the boys if they had any dreams and Aaron says, "Good POOP!" and starts to laugh. I ask him what his dream was about and he says, "PEE PEE!" and he laughs again.

I give up and say, "See Connor boys will be boys!"

Connor turns to me and answers, "Big boys don't talk that way, only little boys like Aaron." Then he turns to Aaron, "If you want to be a big boy you can't talk that way." Wow - Connor is laying down the law!

As I lay in Aaron's bed next to him tonight, we have a nice little chat and as he closes his eyes he yells, "POOP!" I shushed him, and he quietly repeats "poop...poop" I guess he's still my little boy, and that's the way he likes it.