Boys will be Boys

Having all boys is a way of life. I am accustomed to sword fights and rough play. I wouldn't have it any other way. My three little men are easy to please. On this cold winter day, staying in was our only option. Big brother Joey got out a bunch of his favorite toys and shared them with his babies. They were delighted to play with brothers toys, and I was delighted to see him share. They lasted this way for over THREE hours without any tears! This depressing cold day, turned into a blissful afternoon. Che bello!

Women Who Serve: January Recap

Being a mom requires 100% of my energy at all hours of the day. I've found that I can get so caught up in my three sons happiness and comfort, that I forget to take care of me. In fact, there are days I forget to eat anything at all.  Some days when my husband walks in the door and gives me a kiss, I realize I haven't even brushed my teeth. Something has to change! When I stumbled upon the Service Collaboration, I knew I had to join in. This year is all about selfless service unto others. 

The theme for January is to Serve Yourself. 

I completely agree that this is the best place to start. In order for me to be the best mom I can be, I need to also remember ME. Easier said than done! I think sometimes when we think service project, it has to be some huge thing. It DOES NOT have to be that way. Money is tight right now with my husband in law school, so I had to get creative. I haven't been feeling very put together lately. I decided I needed a makeover, so I invited my most fashionable friend, Izzy Harris, into my closet. She had me try on things I would've never thought to pair up. I was AMAZED by the outcome! I now have a dozen "new" outfits to wear and am feeling confident. (pictures to come) 

I also came up with the "One night a week challenge." This is where I made it a priority to have at least one girls night a week, after the kids go to bed. Whether it was going to a friends house to watch The Bachelor, getting frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog, or seeing a movie at The Hoffman Center. I cannot tell you how much it made a difference in my week. It had been so long since I'd eaten frozen yogurt that I'd actually forgotten how delicious it could be. My friend and I sampled half a dozen flavors to make sure we made the right choice. It was in that moment that I realized I hadn't eaten frozen yogurt without a little person asking for a bite in years. I didn't have to rush. No, in fact, I ate slowly and savored every flavor of my Sweet Frog cake batter and red velvet frozen yogurt with a smorgasbord of toppings. Oh the little things...

Taking the time to serve myself has shown me that I matter. In order for me to be present in my other relationships, I must be present in my own. E' vero!

 

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My Sidekick

Little Joey is my everything. Before he was born, I yearned for a baby. I never imagined I'd be blessed to have this imaginative and creative little creature. He makes life interesting. He has brought me more joy in these three short years, than I'd had in the 29 prior to his birth. I am the luckiest mommy there ever was. He fills my day with laughter and love. The more present I am in our relationship, the happier he is. Putting down my phone, and getting on the ground to play, makes for a great afternoon. His favorite thing to do is tell me stories, and my favorite thing to do is listen to them. I just sit and take in his imagination. When he's describing his adventure, his eyes get really focused and his face is ever so expressive. He comes alive! He makes a sword out of whatever is in his little hand. Joey has discovered his baby brothers are great playmates. He is very protective of them. He warns me if he thinks they're in danger. My favorite Joeyism was last week when he went up stairs to grab a book from his room. On his way up the stairs, he shouted, "Mom, I gotta go up stairs for two minutes, will you please watch the babies!" I die! This boy is out-of-this-world! In the mornings, I can't wait for him to wake up so we can spend the day together. Joey no longer takes a nap, so he is literally my sidekick. He is the Robin to my Batman, except he calls me "Super Woman." Thank you son, you are my everything.

DC in the Winter

Winter on the east coast is depressing. We have spent more days inside in January than I'd hoped. Despite the frigid temps, we finally enjoyed a day in the district. We visited the Hirshhorn Museum and the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. There's something so intriguing to me about modern art. I often wonder what in the world the artists were thinking when they created the piece. Modern art really intrigues me. Perhaps, because the interpretation is left up to me. Some what like life. 

I wasn't sure how the kids would do at a modern art museum. Joey enjoyed looking at something different for a change. Although, I think he'd forgotten what it was like to be out of the house because he had more melt downs than usual. The babies were just happy to be in their stroller and out on the town.