Ethan's First Haircut

We took both of the boys to get haircuts today. For Ethan, it was his first haircutting experience. He took it all in stride, and was actually very good. We didn't have a lot cut off. I mainly wanted to trim the ends and make it a little cooler for the summer. I was so sad to see his little blond curls go! They were so adorable! Here are some before and after pictures.

Reflections on my Childhood

An online course on managing time and stress has encouraged me to take a look at my own childhood. I have been resurrecting my childhood dreams. At one time or another, I wanted to be an astronaut, an actress, a writer, a veterinarian, a lawyer, a pediatrician, and a teacher (which is what I am today). I also always knew I wanted to be a mother. I guess in the back of my mind, I always envisioned staying home with my children, but I have not had the luxury of being able to do that. I still dream of homeschooling my kids, and I hope that the dream becomes a reality. I am trying to decipher my own dreams from those ideas that were put into my head by others - you know, those that tell you what you should do or should want. I have always been a people pleaser, and while that is not always a bad thing, it does sometimes keep me from opportunities for what I want. I want to raise my children to understand that while it is important to take the feelings of others into consideration, it is never okay to sacrifice who you are and what you believe in and desire for yourself.

Camping

We took the boys on their first camping trip over spring break. We went to Lake DeGray in Arkansas. We did some fishing, hiking, and a lot of relaxing around the campfire. It was a really great introduction to camping for them, and they both seemed to enjoy it. We are looking into making another trip before it gets too hot, but the mosquitos are already getting bad. Isaac enjoyed the fishing for a little while, but then he decided "There are no fish here!" and started collecting shells instead. It turns out he must have been right, because no one caught anything the whole trip! Ethan loved playing with the rocks. He ended up with a little blood blister on his finger because he fell while holding a rock in his hand. Both of the boys had their first taste of toasted marshmallow - yummy! Here is a link to the pictures. The password is camping.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v466/isaacsmom/LakeDeGray2008/

Oh Boy!

I never realized how fun and unpredictable being a Mommy to boys would be. I knew I would love being Mommy, but there are things that you just don't know about until you actually have a preschooler and a toddler ruling your home. For example, I never would have imagined that two little boys could be so thoughtful. Isaac is so happy when he can make Ethan stop crying and start laughing. It is such a pleasure to sit and watch the two of them playing at the train table together. Ethan, also, seems genuinely concerned if Isaac starts to cry. They have already, at the tender ages of 3 and 1, formed a bond of brotherhood that I can only hope will grow deeper and more meaningful as time goes by. My house is overrun with Thomas engines, cars, blocks, and trucks, and I couldn't be happier! I am so blessed, and I thank God every day for these precious gifts He has entrusted me with.

Precious Little Time

My boys are so precious. They are cute, cuddly, funny, and active. I know that one day way too soon they will not be calling me to march down the hallway or read one more book or dance ring around the rosie with them. They are starting to play together, which is so much fun to watch. I am so glad they are forming the bonds of brotherhood at such a young age. I hope that those bonds continue to bind them closer together as they get older. I hope that they will consider each other true friends throughout their lives.

We took Ethan to the pediatric cardiologist in Dallas yesterday. Thankfully, the doctor fully expects that the VSD will close by itself within the next year or two. We will have to go back in 6 months for a follow-up visit. Being told your child has a heart defect makes you stop and think about how precious life is, and especially how precious your little miracles are. I hope my boys will one day grow to understand that a parent's love is unconditional and eternal, just as the love of our heavenly Father is.

Motherhood

It is almost 4am and my precious 6 month old is awake. He has been up since a little after 2:30am, so I am starting to get tired. Yet, as I sat in his room just now gently rocking him, I couldn't help but savor the experience. There is no pleasure in life quite like rocking a baby to sleep in the quiet early morning hours. A joy that is indescribable fills my heart whenever I look at either of my two boys. God has given me so much. Motherhood is such an incredible blessing.

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July. We went to RiverBlast on the Red River. that has become kind of a tradition for us. Isaac loved all the fireworks, and seeing the B-52 fly-over, but I think his favorite thing was being so close to the trains and watching them pass. Ethan watched the fireworks for a while, and then fell asleep. I was surprised he slept through it as loud as they were! Of course once we got home the boys were wide awake and it was after 1am before they went to sleep, but we all had fun.