Monday, January 7, 2013

The Reveal

OH where to start. My blogging has been less than stellar. I can assure you it is not due to lack of material, but to too much material I simply cannot processes what to attack first and get so behind it seems hopeless!!

Lets start with some "brief" wrapping up.

The big reveal.
Yes, the day we found out what our little bundle #3 was going to be. With two boys under our belt the hopes were high for a little girl. Going in to the reveal I knew this was going to be my last pregnancy. It has been tough on me both mentally and physically...but honestly it is the mental part that has me closed down to the idea of 4 children. This topic however is for another post that I will (someday) write.

However, that said, I had spent many many many many hours thinking about what I would feel or want if it was a boy versus a girl. My conclusion was simple for girl. If it was a girl, it would be the perfect conclusion to the Riley family of 5. But, if it was a boy, I had spent some time thinking about and discussing with J the idea of adopting a little girl in a few years. Adopting is something we have been open to since before having children, so it was more a discussion of can we manage four children. 

Don't get me wrong, boys are AWESOME.....down right awesome, and we have been blessed with two very special and sweet boys at that. It's funny though because going into getting pregnant I was somewhat ambivalent to having a girl. I actually felt a little worried that it would throw off what is a great routine and balance we have with our boys now. But, as typically happens with me...once pregnant and hormones flying my feelings strongly change. Not to mention the endless number of people - often complete strangers - telling me I simply had to have a girl. And spending so much time with my mom these days realizing that I wouldn't have that relationship with a boy...

With all this, my mind was set that I needed a girl. Further, I truly felt for many reasons that I was in fact having a girl.

And thus we did our reveal, having the boys open large garbage bags full of colored balloons in front of tons of loving friends and family, both near and far. As you probably already know (since this post is two months old!) out came PINK balloons.

The reaction of my Grandmere is something I will never forget. Dressed in head-to-toe pink she was in tears when pink balloons emerged. Her long tearful embrace told me exactly why this little girl was the perfect addition to our family; she will continue a lineage of strong smart women whom I am so proud to be a part of and hope she too will feel as positively impacted by her mother and grandmother when she begins her family as I did.

So with the reveal of pink and the overwhelming feeling of peace and contentedness I felt, my family is now complete.

















Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Brotherly Fun!

At a recent birthday party, the boys had a blast in the ball pit together...








Sunday, December 2, 2012

Ayden and Babies...

Ayden is obsessed with babies. He cannot wait for "his new baby" to come.

In preparation, Ayden has been super "helpful" and interested in all of our friends' babies. Thankfully all of our friends have been beyond patient with Ayden's assistance and doting.

Here is Ayden with the newest member of the friend-family, "Baby Mason!" (Mason is Vanessa and David's first little one.)

I adore this picture. 
Ayden looks like such a big boy!! He was soooo excited and proud to hold Mason.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Play-Dates

This past week/weekend, Ayden has had a few play-dates with his new friend Eli.

First, the nannies arranged for a rendezvous at the Children's Museum.




Then, on Saturday, I dropped Ayden off at Eli's house for his first 'no-mommy play-date'. It was awesome. Perhaps I should be saying that I had this sadness of a new phase and having to let him go and and be on his own, but I didn't. He has been ready for this phase for so long, but no one to explore it with. I'm not sure my foot was through the door before he ran off with Eli and I didn't see him again for over three hours. He had never been to Eli's house and though we have known Eli's parents since before the boys were born, we just recently got in touch again and discovered not only that the kids go to the same school, but that they play wonderfully together. So, Ayden played, and mommy went to work without the guilty conscious of leaving the boys at home for Jeremy to handle. It was a win-win.

Here are some pictures that Sivan shared with me throughout the afternoon. Looks like the kids had a fabulous time.




And to top it off....despite the excitement, the later than normal time, and a cookie after lunch, Ayden made not the slightest fuss about going home and then took a great nap!! Success!!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Thanksgiving day

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. I'm not sure where the year has gone. 

Thanksgiving for me has become a little bitter sweet. It used to be one of, if not the, favorite holidays. I can remember many many Thanksgiving celebrations with oodles of family (and usually some friends) gathered around, so much talking and laughter you couldn't hear yourself think, kids (me included) running around, always underfoot, always causing mischief and always laughing. More delicious food than one could imagine, but most of all an overwhelming feeling of love and acceptance.

Whether these feeling were based in reality or not....it doesn't really matter. The fact is I felt that way, in my soul.

Then, life happened. Families split up, people moved and people passed on. My childhood Thanksgiving bubble burst. I felt this impact hardest the past few years. But this year I felt a glimmer of what used to be and that warmed my soul. I want my kids to have the same fond holiday memories I do and feel myself struggling between what I want things to be and what they are, but knowing all the while, that to be wonderful doesn't have to mean to be the same.

This year our day began with some family park time. The boys ran around giggling and full of joy. After a good nap, the family began to arrive and the turkey festivities began. My mom cooked a wonderful meal, Tata brought some delicious additions and Clark brought way too many pies :). We fed ourselves (more than adequately), shared stories and laughs, and mostly tried to hear each other over the constant noise of my two delighted little boys. [A special thanks to everyone for their patience with the noise level. I recognize that for people who do not have little ones around everyday, it can be quite a culture shock!]

Anyway, I'm turning a new leaf. This holiday season sparked my old holiday excitement; it is amazing to experience the holiday spirit through the eyes of my three year old!





Weird for me to think that soon Little Red will be a big brother....

So, what am I thankful for this Thanksgiving?? There just isn't enough time before the kids get up, so I'll leave you with this....

I am thankful, endlessly thankful, for the many blessings and good fortunes that overflow my life.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Thursday night photo shoot

The boys wanted their pictures taken...

Zoo trick or treat

For the first time, we actually made it to the zoo trick or treat. We went with our dear friends Candice, Kevin, Stacey, Jim and their adorable rug-rats.

This picture cracks me up because the boys both look so apprehensive and J looks just so happy to be wearing that ridiculous hat!!

The pirate station!  Aaaarrrrrgggghhhh!

The Candyland station.





Gavin loves Harry Potter's (fake) Hedwig.



Attempts to get all the kids together...