Happy Happy Birthday

d1 turned 5 years old last week and it just seems so surreal that 5 years have passed since he entered our lives. It has gone by so quickly and that scares me at how fast the next 5,10 and 15 years will go. Now I think I can fully appreciate the song ‘Don’t Blink’ (thanks Kenny!)

To my firstborn - You came into this world on June 8, 2004 and captured my heart from the moment I first held you in my arms. You are such an amazing boy with a thirst for knowledge and a love for sports. You have big, beautiful, blue eyes and a smile that melts my heart. You light up at the idea of dessert and there isn’t anything in the world you would rather do more than to have ‘monster time’ with your daddy. It’s still hard for me to accept that you are going to begin kindergarten this fall but I am so excited for you. You are such a smart little guy and I know you will continue to amaze me with the things you learn every day as you begin this next phase in your life.

My constant prayer for you is that you will grow strong in the Lord and follow His examples in life. One day, when you are grown and gone away, I pray that we will have raised a well-rounded, confident, respectable young man who knows just how much we love him. We are truly blessed to have you in our lives and we will never take that for granted!

Children are a gift from the Lord; a child is a reward from Him. (Psalm 127:3)

Some Highlights

First let me begin with this - right now, D1 and d1 are boarding a plane bound for St. Louis. d1 is ringbearer (his 2nd gig - he's got this role down) in D1's cousin's wedding this weekend. I'm holding down the fort back home with d2 and d3 - I just couldn't see anything but stress and chaos if we all had traveled back. Anyway, I'm a tad nervous since this is d1's first flight (that he remembers - we flew with him at age 1). He is so excited and hasn't stopped talking, literally, since he's known about it a couple of days ago. I know they will be just fine but I, by nature, am a worrier and can't help but think about Air France right now. I will just be glad to hear that they have landed!!

On to happier topics -

*When picking d2 up from school earlier this week, he came running in from outside with a big smile on his face, yelling 'Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!' When he got to me, he leaped into my arms, put his hands around my neck, planted a juicy one on my lips and said, 'I sure missed you today' in his cute munchkin voice. So melts my heart.

*For the past two nights, d3 has SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!! Here's hoping we're on to something semi-permanent. I am loving the uninterrupted sleep.

*d1 turns 5 on Monday. He is growing up so fast, as they all are, and everyday he says or does something to amaze me (and, at times, infuriate) but I am just so thankful that he is a healthy, happy little boy who has a thirst for knowledge (I know by all the questions he asks). I know it's cliche but it really does feel like just yesterday, he was learning to walk or shooting his first basketball into his Little Tykes goal. Now he's riding his bike (without training wheels) up and down the subdivision and showing his little brother how to hit a golf ball and catch a football.

*We leave for the beach in 2 weeks!! I can't wait!! I desperately need a vacation!!!

Crazy Week!!!!

So this past week - WHEW is all I can say!! (I started this post last week, just now finding time to finish)

*Monday - my first day back to work, D1 leaves without d1 and d2's car seats. Had to pull out very old car seats and 'squeeze' them in, quite comical. Helped take my mind off leaving d3 for the first time with our sitter.

*Wednesday - d3 wakes with a slight fever at midnight, on-call nurse says take him to ER. End result - virus, maybe? They really didn't know.....fever never returned. But 3 hours later and who knows how much $$$, we were back home....

*Thursday night - HAPPY TIMES! Kenny Chesney at the Bi-Lo Center and we had awesome seats! He always puts on such a great show! Thanks to SS for watching d3, older boys were with other sitter.

*Friday - one of my bff's from home and her husband arrive for the weekend. We had a good visit. Unfortunately, d2 took yet another tumble and roughed up his 'bad eye' at Frankie's Fun Park on the giant slide. Another shiner!! Not sure what to do about this child and his injuries. I fear what lies ahead if he's not even 3 yet.

Here are some more recent pictures of d3 and then of all 3 of my lil' guys...

So content in his tub, underneath his fish towel

Sleeping soundly

On our way to church - check out roly poly in the middle!

Another Accurate Cartoon of Our Life

The cartoon says it all! It's been awhile but I'm back to the blogging world (now that I'm back to work with high-speed). Life has been pretty hectic for our family but we're starting to get everyone on schedule, including d3. He will be 6 weeks old tomorrow and it's just flown right by. I'm trying to cherish everything with him and soak it all in. He's a very good baby and is starting to sleep longer stretches at night, which makes Mommy and Daddy happy! Big brothers are adjusting to the latest addition and love to love him - almost to the point of suffocating him but it's all good. I will post more pics soon!!

Little Man Has Arrived

After a long 40+ weeks of pregnancy and a not-so-fun labor, baby d3 has finally arrived. Dayne Josiah Darnell (aka 'd3') was born on Tuesday, April 7th at 12:35pm. He weighed 9lbs 3oz and was 21 inches long. He is our biggest boy out of the three and has quite the appetite already. Kinda like a mini-d1. Here are some pictures of the baby boy and his big brothers....

Preparing for Baby Brother's Arrival....

Yesterday, we took d1 and d2 to a 'Sibling Class' at SRHS to learn all about how to be a big brother. They watched a video about being 'Super Siblings' and then were invited to do some hands-on training with a baby doll. They learned how to hold the baby, feed the baby, change the baby's diaper and swaddle the baby. Then we took a tour of the labor & delivery wing as well as the nursery (although we won't be delivering at this particular location). They were so well behaved and so patient - we were VERY proud of them!! After we were through, they asked why they couldn't take their baby with us and we explained that it was the hospital's baby doll but I thought it would be a good idea for them to have their own babies to care for at home. I emphasize how I thought it was a good idea - D1 wasn't really on board but he went with it (he's a man, of course!).

So, after the class, we go to Wal-Mart and pick out the 'manliest' babies we can find - two of the same, of course, to avoid fighting - and head out. (Side note: while in Wal-Mart, d1 started goofing off and I leaned out to grab him before he walked backwards into a ladies shopping cart and my heels give out and I just about wiped out for all of Wal-Mart to see. Close one! But wow, did it hurt my enormous abdomen! I was pretty embarrrassed but whatever. )

When we get home, we gave the boys a newborn diaper and a receiving blanket so that they could practice what they learned in their class with their own babies. They were very kind and careful and we just kept explaining how we would need to treat the 'real' baby that would come soon and how we never handle that baby without Mommy or Daddy around. They seem to get it but we know it will take some time. Off to bed they went last night - with their babies beside them. It was very sweet - d2 especially likes to kiss his baby....over and over and over.

So, this morning, as soon as the boys get up, what do they want to play with right away? That's right, their baby boys. Much to D1's chagrin, the boys are still enjoying playing 'Daddy' to their babies and I think that's okay. This is going to be a big adjustment for them and this is good practice for d3's arrival (which should be any day now!). I'm sure D1 is just hoping that these babies don't replace their love for basketball, football, and body slamming that occurs daily in our house. I would be okay if it did for awhile....I could use some peace from the constant injuries they sustain while trying to 'take Daddy down.'

D1 and I both know that this is going to be a transition for both boys but we are particularly worried about d2 the most right now. He seems to already be having some jealousy issues, possible regression (when he talks to me like a baby, which he has not done in a very long time). One morning this week, after I disciplined him for a naughty act, he asked me if I still loved him. He's never asked me that and it broke my heart. Maybe it has nothing to do with the new baby but maybe it does and I think I cried off and on all day long when I thought about it. He is a sensitive little guy and I can't stand the thought of him feeling like we don't love him. Soooo, this weekend, D1 and I are going to take d2 out for a 'big brother' afternoon that is all about him and give him 100% attention that he typically does not get much of (such is the life of a sibling). D1's aunt and uncle will take d1 while we do this and give him his own attention but d2 needs a little extra TLC right now from Mommy and Daddy and we're going to give it to him while we still can. We both understand that after d3 arrives, how important it is to block out time for each child individually but we are also realistic in knowing that it's much more easier said than done. We've read the books, articles, etc. and 'know' some ways to help this transition but if anyone would like to offer advice or experience for what worked for them, I'm all ears.....

Blizzards, Baby Showers, Beautiful Boys & Burns

I'm borrowing the post title from M because I found it very catchy and cute for a random post so thanks.

This weekend was great, much better than last weekend (temperature wise) as we were able to enjoy upper 70's and low 80's temps all weekend long. Absolutely gorgeous!! Definitely better than the 'blizzard' we dealt with this time last week:

Now, D1 and I are no strangers to this weather. In fact, the 2-3" of snow that we got at our house is mild compared to what we were accustomed to in Missouri. But the boys didn't really remember the massive amounts of snow we saw when we lived there so it was exciting for them. But we definitely saw how 'rare' it is here in the South when our neighbors were outside taking pictures of the snow. Not their kids, but the snow. Kinda felt like we were in a tourist country.

So, fast forward to this weekend....my good friend B threw me a diapers and wipes baby shower at her house on Saturday and it was so much fun!! We got tons of diapers and wipes for Baby d3 as well as some other great personalized gifts and even a Mommy gift for a free pedicure with my friend!! Cannot wait to enjoy that one!!! Thanks, B!! But seriously - we probably have enough diapers for at least d3's first 3 months of life, which is AWESOME!! And wipes - yeah, probably until he's 4. Such a huge blessing to have these ladies in my life. Love ya!!

Later that afternoon, I met B and her oldest boy (d1's best bud) at a local playground where they played and had a good time. Finally, I took d1 and d2 for ice cream...at 5:00. Yes, before dinner. This was a special treat because normally I would never do this (it's hard enough most days to get them to eat dinner) but I explained to them that this was our special day and talked to them about how d3 would be here soon and I would need all their help and also tried to talk to them about how much I love them all the same. Not sure how much was really absorbed since they were so wrapped up in their ice cream cones but I tried...

Now onto my beautiful boys....I had D1 take a picture of us before church on Sunday because my big boys looked so cute and I actually liked what I was wearing (thanks to another friend's maternity wardrobe), even though D1 cut off the cutest part - the skirt. Oh well! In any case, d2 wouldn't look at the camera so it's not the perfect picture but what I love about it is that d2 didn't want to just stand there and say 'cheese.' He had to have his arms around me and the belly, which symbolizes a lot of how he's been acting lately.

Wow, do I look tired or what? I really didn't feel tired...maybe it's the allergies I'm dealing with. Hmm.

Anyway, d2 seems to be regressing himself back to being a baby, which I know is normal, given the impending arrival. However, I really thought it wouldn't happen until the baby actually ARRIVED. Nonetheless, we are trying to reassure him that he will always be our baby but he's also growing up into a big boy and that big boys get to do cool things like....

Cook dinner with Mommy....and here's where the burn comes in. This is something I have been able to do with both boys as a way for us to bond, since (as you can imagine) I'm really in no position to be playing tackle football in the backyard. Tonight, while d1 was outside riding his Gator, d2 wanted to help me with dinner. We made the pork chops together, and were starting to make the noodles when he was moving his chair to the stove. He climbed up his chair and placed three of his fingers on a burner that was recently turned off. He only wimpered at first so we thought maybe he just touched a warm pan but soon saw that he had indeed touched the burner since we saw three large blisters starting to form. We tried several different techniques to try and help his pain but, as anyone knows who has burned a body part, the pain comes and goes so he would be okay for awhile and then he would start to howl a cry that broke my heart because I knew how much pain he was in. I felt terrible because if I hadn't turned my back, it might not have happened. That cry went on for about an hour or so and then I think the 'burn' finally went away. This morning his poor little fingers have big 'ole blisters on them but he doesn't seem to mind much. He was excited to show his teachers his 'boo-boo.' If you are a regular reader on my blog, you will know that this boy is extremely accident prone. And he's the mild-mannered child of the two. Doesn't really seem to make sense to me but then again, not much does these days.