I Remember

I remember when his sweet little voice went silent.

I remember when the only words he said, were echoes of what was being said to him.

I remember when he mastered requesting items. "More", and "Please", seemed like major victories.

I remember when he began (yelling) "Help me please!" when he got frustrated, rather than having a meltdown.

I remember when he started saying when he LIKED things.

I remember when I started giving him the option of YES or NO after questions, and he was able to choose which answer he wanted, and it felt like we broke through an enormous wall.

I remember when he began answering yes or no without being prompted.

I remember when he started answering "W" questions.

I remember when he started ASKING questions.

I remember when he started calling me "Mommy" when he would talk to me.

I remember when he started having conversations simply because he wanted to share something with me that he thought was cool.

I remember when he learned negation: "I don't want to do that" and "I don't like that". There is so much power in those words.

I remember when he figured out what it meant to miss someone, and then saying it in appropriate circumstances.

I remember when he started adding in his own cute phrases, "See ya' next home!" (instead of see you next time), "I'm sleeping on the stars!" (when he was laying on a blanket with planets and stars), and "Easy squeezy!"

My boy has worked so hard over the last two and a half years. He has been challenged and encouraged, and I am so proud of how far he's come. In several weeks he will start kindergarten in a mainstream class, with time for sensory breaks. I find that I get more nervous with each day that brings us closer to starting this new and uncertain journey. When I start to doubt that he can handle this transition though, I will look at this list of all he has accomplished already, and I will remember.

A Southern Wedding

This post has been a long time coming. 

Four weeks ago, I got on an airplane with this guy:

(I didn't have a photo of him from the plane)

And this guy:

Bye bye, Seattle. (With his lovey, Penguin)

They were fantastic travelers. We landed at 5:45am in Atlanta, GA. We were pretty much the only people in the airport besides the janitors, and, oh yeah, CHRIS KATTAN. That was a random sighting for sure, and it took everything in me to not yell, "Mango!"

We flew there, (minus Husband and Binker, because Binker doesn't like to fly), so that we could be at my brother's wedding. Now, I love the south, so I was really excited to go on the trip. I had two goals: eat some Chick-Fil-A, and get some genuine southern biscuits and gravy. I am happy to say that I found some delicious biscuits and gravy, and also got to try grits and fried okra. Yay, bonus food items! Sadly though, we were only there for three short days, (one of which was a Sunday, thus CFA was closed that day), so sweet tea with chicken sandwich I did not get to have. Guess that means I'll have to go back sometime!

Anyway, onto the purpose of this post. My brother's wedding. 

It was simply breathtaking. He and his wife, L, were married at a barn that has been turned into a popular wedding location. The setting could not have been more picturesque. Big, lazy trees, fields and fields for the kids to run through, wild flowers blooming all over, and farm animals! The kids had a blast feeding goats and petting dogs. There was even a baby goat, only one week old. After a sweet and touching ceremony, officiated by my brother's pastor friend, Chris, all of the guests made their way into the barn, which had been beautifully decorated by L and her mom; if only I had an ounce of their creativity! They are truly talented. Everyone enjoyed drinks and delicious food, and once the happy couple was introduced, everyone crowded onto the dance floor and partied the evening away.  Here are a few pictures from the wonderful day.

Intimate vows amidst a gorgeous setting

(Photo by Matthew Coughlin)

Love.

Sweet, delicate decorations

Right after the ceremony, flower girl (my niece, MJ), leading the way

Bug and MJ on the big tree swing. She was such a beautiful little flower girl!

Feeding goats

First Dance

My brother dancing with his sweet daughter, MJ

Dancing fools

MJ dancing with Boo 

Bug and MJ. Best friends

It could not have been a more perfect evening. The only people missing were Husband and Binker, but they were with us in spirit. I wish my brother, T, and his lovely bride many, many joy-filled years together. (I think they're off to a good start as they're spending the next two weeks in Paris and then on a Mediterranean cruise!) Congratulations, you guys!

Staying Busy

I just realized it's been over three months since I last posted. My blogging has seriously gone downhill, but I would really like to change that.

Things have been busy at our house. As I write this from our back deck, I am listening to the sounds of my children. Binker, (now five years old!), is playing with an alarm clock I gave him as a preschool graduation gift. Bug, busy as ever, is swinging one minute, then climbing the playset the next, then, faster than I can blink, he is running from one end of our yard to the next. And not-so-little Boo, is going down the "big boy slide" over and over, telling himself to "Go!"

I still can't believe my oldest will be transitioning to kindergarten this September. How did that even happen?! He has made amazing strides this year, his language continues to expand all the time, and he has mastered answering most "W" questions, though we're still working on Why, and How; those are the most difficult since the answers are more abstract than concrete. He is still in speech therapy, with the awesome Miss B, he's finishing up his second session of horse therapy, and he just recently started something called Astronaut Training, which is supposed to regulate his vestibular system, and ease some of his anxiety. I admit I am nervous to watch him leave the preschool he's been at for the last two years. I felt safe there, I knew what to expect, and Binker loved his teachers. There's no doubt though, he has outgrown them. He's such a quick learner; he's reading easily now, and he taught himself addition using one of his favorite toys - a calculator. He is ready for the next step. He will be in the mainstream kindergarten class this fall, which I am very happy about, and then he will use the Assist classroom when he needs a sensory break. The team at the school seems great and competent, and I am hopeful that Binker will continue to flourish.

Bug is starting pre-K in the fall. He is beyond excited to go to school. He's such a social guy, I just know he will love making new friends, and experiencing all the fun activities that preschool has to offer. Plus, they have an awesome playground, which he is most looking forward to.

Then there's Boo. He is really coming into his own little person, with a big personality. He is such a source of joy and comedy. I love watching him follow his brothers, Bug in particular, and try his best to copy everything that they do. He talks all the time, and sings too. His favorite cartoon is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and every morning he brings me the TV remote and says, "Mee-kee!"

Husband is still enjoying his job. It's crazy to think that we're halfway through this duty assignment. Three years sounds like a long time when you're at the starting line, but I feel the end rushing toward us now. I've been spoiled with him not having to be on a ship; no duty days, no underways. No deployments. I am worried about how it will be going back to that life; and obviously I worry about whether or not we'll be transferred somewhere. I feel torn about it. This past winter was hard on me, for the first time in my life I grew tired of the overcast skies that define this part of the country. I started to feel the itch to leave, and try something new. If Husband goes back to a ship though, having my family, my friends, and the support base I've got here is so crucial for the times he will be gone. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I know it will be here sooner than I think.


As for me, I've decided to take on a few projects this summer. The first one I completed was updating the boys' bathroom. This weekend I painted the cabinets, and the countertop, using the products by Rustoleum. The finished product looks amazing, I am so happy with it and can't believe the difference it makes. My intention was to "test" it out in the bathroom, and if I liked it, then to do the same thing in the kitchen. The only problem is that I did not realize how labor intensive the process would be, (AND messy!), so now I am trying to decide what to do. Here are some pictures though, for your viewing pleasure.

Original laminate cabinet and countertop

This was after I painted the cabinets (they're hidden under garbage bags), while doing the countertop. I painted the counter with the base coat, then sprayed these decorative stones EVERYWHERE. It took 12 hours for them to dry, then I had to sand, vacuum, sand, vacuum, rinse and repeat, until I got the perfect amount of smoothness. Then it was time for the top coat.

Done!! I love how it turned out, although the picture makes it look darker than it is. The cabinets are now a dark brown (color: Tudor), and the countertop is supposed to resemble granite (color: Desert Sand).

The only thing left I want to do in their bathroom is change the faucet. I'd love to get a dark one to go along with the cabinets and the dark flecks in the countertop. Next up: Staining our deck this weekend. Anyone want to help?!

St. Peanut Butter Jelly Day

St. Patrick's Day isn't a very big celebration at our house, we never do much for it. Last week though, I was walking through Costco and I saw a thing of pre-packaged corned beef, with the seasonings and all. I thought it might be a fun and easy way to take part in the traditional dinner of corned beef and cabbage.

I cooked it in the crock pot all day today, the delicious aroma filling our house. I didn't have any cabbage, so I had substituted with carrots, which I figured the boys would like better anyway. 

At 4:45, dinner was ready. Everyone took their seats at the table and we dug into our food. Mmm, I thought to myself, not bad. It was a bit on the salty side, but I thought that would only make the kids like it more.

Binker was the first to protest.

"I don't like it!"

He's been exerting that preschooler attitude more and more lately, which, is a double-edged sword. I love that he is talking a lot, and sharing his opinions, but it can get a bit exhausting when you spend an entire day being told by your 4 year old that he doesn't want to do anything you tell him.

I tried to encourage him to eat a few more bites.

"I don't WANT corned beef! Take it away!"

I looked at my husband, and sighed. How could he not like it?

Bug was next.

"Mommy, I don't like this," he said, while making a scrutinizing face.

Big sigh. I gave up.

"Binker," I asked, "Do you want corned beef, or peanut butter jelly?" (He NEVER wants a peanut butter and jelly sandwich).

Can you guess which one he chose?

And as soon as I started making a sandwich for Binker, Bug had to have one too. As well as Boo, who eats everything, yet hadn't touched his corned beef.

Around this time, I noticed Husband taking his plate to the sink, the food barely gone. I eyed him suspiciously.

"Oh, it was delicious, I just...found a hair in it, so..." he trailed off. He hovered over me for a minute, then said, "So, honey, we've been together several years now...and you've never made this dish before. Why did you decide to make it?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I never had it growing up, it's not like a tradition or anything, I just thought it'd be fun-"

"Oh, THANK GOD, it was awful!"

Looks like our St. Patrick's Day dinner will be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from here on out!