flying with roots

Hello my friends.
I have decided to tap out my words on a new blog with a different feel to it.
A blog about everything in our lives plus the added bonus of a glimpse into my life as a flight attendant. Maternity leave is coming to an end, my baby will be 7 months so I can't complain, and I want to journal what that life is like. I have been doing it for almost 10 years now and have so many stories to share plus the ones I haven't even been apart of yet. So please join me over here, while I share what flying with roots is like.  I will be writing my notes to the boys over there as well :) I love you all!

He says

This evening, while I was getting Jude changed and ready for the night, I heard this little delight...
L: Jude got boobs.
Me: Yes, he has boobs.
L: He got Mom boobs.

:)
Apparently he thinks his brother is a little busty ;)

6. months.

Jude

You are perfect
And I am so very glad to call you my little boy



You have tried peas, carrots and prunes. None of which you seem to be crazy about.
You roll around on the floor like a maniac. I often set you down, only moments later to find you 4 feet away.

You love your brother, and when he walks into a room you just light up. You will literally strain your neck in whatever way you have to just to catch a glimpse of him.

You love to laugh. A deep belly laugh, that delights my soul.
You love to kick your feet in the water during bath time.

You can put yourself to sleep!

You are getting better at car rides, and I love you even more for that.
You love kisses, and tickles, and being sung to.

I don't know exactly how heavy you are at this moment, but I know that you are a growing boy and started to wear 6 month clothing about three weeks ago.

You love playing, and chewing on toys.
And playing hide and seek with your brother.

I can't say it enough, but you are seriously the best baby ever.
I am only weeks away from loosing your gummy smile and your immobility and I can barely stand it. Time goes way to quickly and you are growing and thriving in every way you should be.

I am so honored to know you. And to be apart of your life in this role of your mother.
I find myself just staring at you, completely in awe of you.

I have big plans for you today, kid.

We will celebrate with peaches. Then we will do some jumping in the jumper. A good long nap, or two or three for you. And a billion kisses on your sweet face.

Happy half birthday, baby.

Our Easter Weekend

Our little family took a road trip up the coast of Maine, to meet up with Sam's family. This 4 hour trip brought us to this picturesque cabin in the woods. Just between you and me, we will be going back there. For two reasons. 1) because it is simply gorgeous and we had a really great time there as a family. I can totally see our little boys looking forward to our little trips up to the "cabin". 2) On the way up the coast we passed all of these incredibly random statues, like seriously the drive up there is spectacular and then on top of that they decorated the side of the road with random statues! It's so perfect. Well, on the way there I expressed an insanely strong desire to take pictures of all of these giant figurines and Sam crossed his heart we would stop and take pictures on the way home. I won't say much more about this but, on our way home Sam veered off onto a different road and said he thought I would enjoy that route instead. They didn't have statues on that route. So I threw myself a pity party, stopped for some sour gummy candy and made him swear we could go back.

Here is our little bungalow! It's the only way I like to camp. There was a fireplace and warm water in the shower. And a giant King size bed. Yes, that is camping.

Liam dyed Easter eggs for the very first time.
And he was so incredibly patient and really had a great technique.


We went out to a Lobster shack for dinner our first night.
My little angel sleeping, you can take this kid anywhere he is seriously so easy!
L with his cousin Aarianna
Jude wearing the same Easter pj's that his big brother wore on his first Easter.
Liam loves his Uncle Tom, I caught a couple of sweet moments between the two of them.

The boys and their Memere

This little one was soooo tired, hence the grumpy look.
My family. I seriously can't even begin to say how blessed I feel to have all three of them.
Memere and her boys
The boy who has a serious aversion to smiling genuinely
The father of two boys who apparently have strong aversions to looking at the camera
Liam loved being outside. I just love this series of him, just completely carefree.
And these are the only two statue pictures I can share with you...

This one so random, Pink Triceratops
And a very comical lobster
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

three

This was also written in the summer of 2010, but not much has changed. Except there has been a few more days that have gone by without talking to my mom. But that is due to the time change mixed with pure exhaustion.

three random facts about me

one: I collect these little painted pony figurines called the Trail of Painted Ponies each pony is painted by a different artist and has a theme. I love them so much.

two: I am addicted to wild cherry pepsi. I am so attached to pepsi products that I actually prefer eating at restaurants that serve them over coke products.

three: I call my mother everyday. The only days I have ever missed are when I have been out of the country.

A book lover

It might just be that Liam will pull out any trick to delay bedtime, I mean the list is quite extensive and impressive. We get shout outs for one more hug, finger kiss, rub my back, I'm cold, close door, open door, Pee!!!!, more milk, marshmallows. Uh Yeah. I just said marshmallows.

Even trying to wrangle him into his room is a bit of a process, until recently. Because the books are now chosen by him and he is always eager to pick out his selections (note, a Christmas book in April)....last night this was his original pile. He added three more. Reading can take up to an hour some nights. But really, who can complain about a kid who just wants to read and read. I can't.

And these are his recent favorite books. There is a lot of interrupting when you read these aloud. He wants to talk about every.single.belly. And that adorable fish "swimmy" gets called Timmy.

three

So obviously we are a family of four now but I was going through my past blog entries and there were a few that I didn't post. I thought I would, because I had obviously meant to do it at some point.

This was written August of 2010.

three random facts about Sam.

one: he puts his socks on before his pants, when he is getting dressed.

two: his idea of an hour break is to go mow the grass.

three: he has used girl hair product on occasion.

By your side

We are currently looking for a new home.

A home, whether it be big or small, old or new, can reach it's walls around our little family and hold us in it for the next few years.

A place where our life will unfold for what we hope to be a few years or maybe less.

A place that will house our children's earliest of memories, whose walls will absorb their laughter and tears.

A place whose windows will be covered in fingerprints and noses pressed up against them while the littles enjoy watching the outside.

Until our home comes along we ride side by side, venturing onto new streets and towns that either make my heart melt for their picturesque being, or make me cry out to move back to California because of how grandly they disappoint.

I have no idea where we are going.

All I know is that with our young ones making their noises behind us, my hand reaches out to yours to hold onto you.

I'm not so uncertain about where we are going, because I'm going there with you.

There is no other place I would want to be, than by your side.

L.X.

Ah, my young crazy boy, how you entertain us!

We are coming into that time they label as "terrible two's" I can feel it coming on and I am shaking in my boots.

Please go easy on us child!

You are pure spunk!

And charm.

You love to dance, wash your cars in the bath, ask for candy, and staying up late.

You love to make your little brother laugh by jumping or running around.

Spring is here and along with the warmer weather it has brought along family picnics in the park and playing catch with your daddy.

You like to try all of the "big kid" things at the park, it's as if you are just dying to grow up.
Every day is fun with you. And filled with kisses and hugs.

Their have been more times than I can count where you have given me the happiest of moments: just earlier today while watching Tom and Jerry on YouTube together I realized you had reached out to hold onto my shoulder. I adore the moments you want me close to you.
I will always have your back, Little one.

Love Mommy

Jude

I have written you a hundred letters in my head. Somehow the days get past me before I realize they are gone. Such is life.

You are a joy. Purely.

I can't contain my love for you.

I remember thinking at 3 months, I wish he could stay three months forever.

And I said it again at 4.

Somehow for whatever reason, God ignored my plea. And now you are 5 months, a boy who rolls, and who can reach out and grab toys in front of you. And I wish I could go back to just a few more days of you being 3 or 4 months.

I only wish that because I am selfish.

I don't ever want to hold you back from experiencing the world around you. And now that you are growing older I see you get to know it.

It's a wonderful world for you Jude. Filled with Lollipops, big grass fields that go on forever, sunshine that can warm up your soul, magical fireflies, and planes that soar through the sky. It's filled with laughter and love and miracles. It's filled with tiny birds, and caramel apples, big red barns and endless possibilities.
I hope you never for a moment feel that you are unloved, because that wouldn't be possible.
I see your daddy in you. Which makes me incredibly happy because I imagine a lifetime of people telling you that you resemble him. And what an awesome man to be compared to.

You are still just the most pleasant person to be around. I have tried to rack my brain for things that bother you and the only one I can come up with is car rides. You dislike car rides, that is all. How easy going you are, if you keep this up people will start comparing you to your father in more than just your looks.

Jude August, oh I adore you. My life has become infinitely better with you in it.

Dear me,

Here is a letter to my 16 year old self

Lulu, (I have a pet name for myself)

You are about to have your heart broken. And it will

feel unbearable. It really will.

But breathing will persist. And you will be better for the pain.

Your dad is going to sit on the end of your bed and cry with you. Let him.

He will be your best friend someday. And when he walks you down the aisle, you will embrace him and whisper "I loved you first"

You go to great lengths to never be seen in glasses, one day you won't care.

You'll find yourself looking in the mirror and not recognizing yourself without frames upon your face.

All of those baby names you have written down in that journal, just cross them out. You won't use any of them.

The ache you have to pretend you are other people will never ever leave you. At least not yet, and I hope it never leaves us because it is such a big part of who we are.

Go to college. Just do it.

Or maybe not, because instead you meet the man of your dreams.

So tell yourself you will go later. And move to New York. But take pictures, and live.

And start dreaming now of being a mommy to boys. They will be your everything.

You will still hate your thighs, but actually come to love being the color of milk.

God is faithful. Wrap your heart up with him, and you will be just fine always. Even if you do have to cry sometimes.