Baby Makes 4

   So it would seem that a lot has happened since my last post, most significantly is that I have given birth to our second son.  We have all been so excited for Baby O's arrival, so naturally he was late.  41 weeks and 2 days to be exact.

   We have been settling in to life as a family of four.  T loves his new brother, but still needs to learn about personal space.  Unfortunately T had a fever and cold when O was born and for the first week so we had to keep them apart as much as possible.  I felt awful telling T, "No, you can't hug your brother", "No, you can't hold O", etc.  T has been amazing through this adjustment, and now that he is better the boys can bond and be together.  I love watching T talk to the baby and when O cries T always comes over and says, "I think he wants his big brother".  I can't wait to see these two grow up together.  I only hope they are as good of friends as my sister and I are and R and his brother are.  I love that from now on they have each other to turn to in good times and bad (though I hope the bad times are few and far between).

   I don't have much else to say yet about life as a family of four aside from the fact that I feel so blessed.  I have an amazing husband and now two wonderful sons.  We are settling in nicely around here and I hope it stay that way.

Home Renovations

  Maybe it's because it's our first house and maybe it's because we aren't living in the renovations but I am so excited about our renovations.  It helps that R is a fantastic contractor with amazing ideas.  I look forward to the design and layout part of the renovations the most.  I love planning and seeing how it all works out.

  What really excites me about this whole process may just be a fantasy.  That is organization!!  Specifically, I can't wait to come up with a system to keep our entrance way tidy.  That means a place for our keys, our change, a system (that works) for our mail, somewhere for our coats, hats and mitts to go.  I love the idea of walking into the house and having a place to put things and have it look clean.  I hope this all works out the way I want it to, the way I think it can.  Here are a couple images I found of what my dream mud room may one day look like.

 There is so much to look forward to in our lives right now, I can't wait to share it with you as it all progresses.

Emotional Boys

I have been thinking a lot about how to raise a boy.  I want to raise him to be a good man.  A man who treats others well, who is fair and kind.  I also want him to be a man's man.  To be strong and capable but at the same time I want him to be in touch with his emotions and his sensitive side.  So how do I do that?  How do you create that balance?

I feel it is important for children (boys especially) to be given words and ways of expressing their emotions.  I try to label T's feelings whether he is happy or sad but also when he is mad or frustrated.  I don't want to (for lack of a better word) make him a sissy I just want him to be aware of his feelings.  We play rough with T, let him get dirty, fall, get hurt and get back up.  We give him trucks and swords and "boy toys".  On the other hand, when he cries we cuddle him and tell him, "it's okay" and we love him.  T has a doll and a tea set.  Is this setting up the right balance?  Is there such a thing as "the right balance"?

I find myself thinking of T as a future grown-up, a member of society.  I try to think of the kind of man I want him to become.  I think of the men I have known, those in my life now and those that are no longer a part of it for whatever reason, and I try to think of all the good parts of those men and try to compile what it means to be a good man.

How do you teach a boy to be a good man?  I don't know.  I think it has to do with the role models a boy has (both male and female) and the interactions he sees and participates in.  I don't know the answers here I just hope we are setting T on the right path.

I'm No Writer

So I've been writing this blog for almost a year now and one thing I should have pointed out sooner I guess is, I'm not a writer. I'm sure this is quite obvious reading my posts. I feel like I need to make somethings clear here....This is just me writing whatever comes out of my head/heart. I write as if I am talking to somebody. So if things don't seem to be written properly, I'm sorry. Also I try to proof read these posts but sometimes I miss things and sometimes I just don't have time. That my dear is how it goes in the Mummyhood.

I have had a few people recently, point out some of my mistakes and again, I'm sorry. I was never a great English student. I know the people who have said something aren't saying it to be mean but as someone who has struggled with dyslexia it hits a little too close to home for me. It's one of my sensitive spots.

Having said that, I hope you are enjoying these and failing all else I hope they give you a laugh.