Ben feels like he grew up overnight. His hugs feel like they are coming from a boy- who is getting stronger not a chubby baby/toddler type kid I have been used too. He is bright and still as active as always. His baptism will be this year I can't believe I will have an 8-year-old. He is already asking to babysit. He promises James and Maddy when he does get to babysit their days will be filled with movies and popcorn. Which really he figured out how to make his own popcorn- from the popcorn maker one day and had drenched half a bowl of popcorn in a fully melted cube of butter-- he was not sad about the greasy mistake at all! Tonight driving home from my brothers Ben said- "you know mom, I really am not getting the summer I want. I haven't hardly watched any tv." #momwin! Currently Ben has been staying up past his bedtime to read- its been fun seeing him morf into a reader - even if he doesn't understand all the words he is reading...
James is my ham. He loves pictures of himself taken. He loves dancing and singing if the phone cam is rolling and tonight his girl cousins had him dancing in front of their skit while they sang. He is such a lovable kid! James hangs on Ben's every word and loves getting "training" from him. Even if this weekend's training was a punch fest so Ben could train him how not to be a "whimpy kid" The STINKER! (Ben not James ;) James enters Kindergarten this year. He is so excited. I got him a paw patrol backpack for school and he can't wait to be in the same school as Ben. James lives on the trampoline during the summer. Jumping as high as he can and making up his own little world out there. James is a lot better at playing pretend than Ben. Ben is very logical like Will (I remember talking to Will when we were dating about a movie he had watched- and we debated how unrealistic it was---I think it was a superhero movie- I told him- "WILL they aren't supposed to be based in reality- face palm - LOL I guess I understand now why I have such a literal oldest child and a not so literal second child #whosgeneswinmineorhis)
Madison is turning a corner on potty training (cue the fireworks and cakes and music) I can't tell you how stressful this has been for Will and I -- she is 4 and a half years old. We figure she just got hit with constipation at the wrong time and as a result, couldn't go when she needed to and the who scenario has been stressful for all three of us. She has started to talk a lot more and as a result James is starting to include her into his clan (he kind of ignored her before then) their friendship is finally budding. Ben has always babied Maddy - I'm talking he rolls out the red carpet for her all the time- it is so cute! It is so fun for me to have a girl - she dances with me and breaks out into singing whenever she is playing with a doll or feels excited - finally! someone I can relate to! I'm counting down the days until I will have someone to enjoy my hallmark movies with! I still am trying to get a handle on her character- but if I used some nouns right now they would be independent, full of thoughts, driven, and loving. She gets so sad if she thinks she has hurt something or someone - I have to convince her its going to be ok. She broke a handwashing jar the other day- it was 45 mins of hysteria and her begging- mom fix it mom fix it.
Will is back to school- two more classes until his RHIA certificate -- we think we will be done in December. I've started a business and have some really busy days that end at 2 or 3 am and those weeks can be tricky. My business is marketing for nonprofits. I love it and I love the people I work with- really hoping it takes off in a manageable part-time sort of way. Will is my best friend and my favorite person- I miss him all the time- ironically parenting feels like a lot of time away from him- even though he is in the same room. I don't want my kids to grow up but really look forward to the day that I won't have to compete for Will's attention or him mine. I appreicate our date nights more than anything now :)
Welp I think that is the whole run down. We'll be back with another edition someday hopefully sooner than later:)
Summer
ps I turned 40 last month- What a beautiful world :)
