December, How I Love Thee!

Every year when the calendar flips to December, I immediately flashback to when I was preparing for my oldest kiddo.

I wake up and tell Matt funny stories of me being pregnant and go figure, he was already very active. He moved like a crazy person ready to bust out, and then, well, he did bust his way out almost a month early. Thankfully, the little guy was healthy.

This December I also flashback to last December when we brought Mia home. So, in case you care to relive it with me. This will be an annual flashback too.

http://3mtrain.blogspot.com/2009/12/8.html

I am so grateful for a complete family. Sure, Mia was with us last Christmas but to say Christmas 2009 was a blur, would be a severe understatement. We were operating on pure adrenalin, but so extremely happy to be altogether.

December is also Mia's birthday. Granted I wasn't there when she was born and didn't know she was being born, but we were always thinking of her. I think about her birthmother and the decisions she faced. Someday Mia will have a lot of questions and we will only have a handful of answers. I don't dwell on that fact, but I know it is inevitable. How ironic is it that I find this book today as I'm thinking about Thailand, Mia and her birthmother - Motherbridge of Love. Beautifully illustrated by Josee Masse - the text was donated anonymously to Mother Bridge of Love. This book is a great first step to explain the journey of a birthmother, a child and a mother. It's been a long time since I choked up reading a book, but this one did it. "The first one gave you life; the second taught you to live it." That's the point in the book that got me. This book is perfect. It's available at Amazon.

Toddlers...Part 1

Don't be fooled by their smiles...

THEY ARE TODDLERS!!!

Matt at 2

Mark at 2

Mia at almost 2

About 10 years ago, we quit eating AT restaurants. 3 Things caused this...

1. Matt had an absolute meltdown in one of my favorite nicer restaurants which led to several trips to the restroom and lobby and Chris and I eating separately in shifts. This was a first of many difficult moments with Mr. Matt. Up until this moment, we were able to take our perfect little baby/toddler anywhere with success. We thought it was a fluke until...
2. Matt threw a fork and hit someone in the back of the head at Chili's. It happened so fast that the guy didn't know what hit him. Hit him so hard that it landed back in our booth. Oh dear... he's never done anything like that before...until...
3. Matt thew a fork across my favorite pizza joint which landed safely in an empty booth.

It took us a while but we decided then, it was not in anyone's best interest to take this child to a restaurant for a very long time.

Once Matt straightened up at age 4 on his birthday like a switch... Mark was entering the almost 2's... Need I say more about our attempts at eating AT the restaurants while Mark was toddling... No, but I will. They were not successful at all... there would be NO sitting in the high chair, on anyone's lap or in a booth. The kid wanted to walk around the restaurant and visit with everyone...

When Mark figured out, we don't care what you do as long as you will sit there while we eat... we had a few good years of eating AT the restaurants.

Along comes Mia - everybody adores her - except the patrons at the last few restaurants we've chosen. Her little mug shot is on several hostess stands now with a note "Tell this family it's a 2 hour wait"... Was it the McAllisters night, Red Robin night or Chili's night that did me in??? YES - all of the above. That cute little bit is not eating out with me for a VERY long time. Tonight I finally just said, "I'll be in the car" and collected my girl and my purse and left all before taking the first bite of my food. She can't sit still, she's into everything, she wants my purse, she wants everyone's drink, everyone's food, then she doesn't want it. Woah - she's a busy mess.

So 3 strikes and you are out sista'!

It's take-out for me and my crew until 2013!!! ;-)

Toddlers - can't take 'em out but we want these 2 years to last forever because they are so darn cute and we just love 'em to pieces!!!

Football...Over and Out!

This picture pretty much sums up the final game of our season. We were playing an undefeated team who, well, was very good. This is Matt buried by the other team, face in the dirt. He actually had a very good game, but in the end, nothing we did would put points on the board.

This is Matt #71 jumping in the air after having his face smeared into the ground by 3 Notre Dame players. It was a 20 yard run so that was pretty exciting.

Matt's post game face

Mark's post game face

Mia's post game face - I like to think of this as her "Football is over dance".

Things Mia learned during football season:

1. Down, Set, Hut

2. What to do when she gets the football...RUN!!!

3. Push-ups - yes - she gets in a push up stance and bends her arms, bobs her head while saying One, Two, Five.

4. Knucks - I started this with her at swim lessons this summer but she gives "baby knucks" out to her "fan club" aka the football players & parents who think that's the coolest thing ever.

5. GO! GO! GO! when they run the ball

This weekend...no 8am Saturday football practice for the first time in about 14 or 15 weeks. YES!!!!