Brothers

The other day, I actually got my camera out. Mommy points!! James and Gavin weren't being totally against it, so I asked if they would hug each other. Third try, this gem:

Gah. Brothers, man. So dang cute.

Shatter

I am honestly surprised that this happened today, and not much earlier. Today, the floor lamp that we have had since getting married, was shattered. Culprits: two little boys, one of which was quite scared and the other one could care less (guess which ones!). The littlest one was sleeping snugly in his crib, thank goodness.

James decided to have art time today (which went really well and we had such a great time!). I attempted snowflakes (FAIL), Gavin colored beautifully on any piece of paper within his reach, and James cut cut cut paper and used markers. Once they were all done, I had the wonderful job of cleaning up all our messes. I was almost done, and was taking almost the last of the paper to the recycling bin (so seriously, like two seconds in the kitchen), when I hear a loud SHATTER. I thought to myself, "What in the world could have made that noise?? How did they get to a picture frame??" I take the two steps out of the kitchen to look into our great room, and behold this scene: James on his Buzz car, Gavin standing next to him, both near where the lamp should have been, and the lamp on the ground, the top shattered into lots of lovely glass pieces. I wasn't happy. I put the boys far away from the glass and started to pick up all the glass. I look over and James is just tense and looks like he is going to burst into tears. I went over to him, and asked him if he was ok. He looked up at me and said, "Mommy, I'm scared!" and just started crying. I felt so bad- a large object shatters right next to him and his mommy gets upset at him for it happening. Poor guy. I held him close, telling him that it was totally ok. It was an accident and I would take care of it. I wasn't mad at all. Calmed him down so much. I then let them watch a Tinkerbell movie on the computer, which they thought was such a cool treat. I got the great job of making sure every last shard of glass was gone. Joy.

I have been trying a lot lately to be softer with my children. I find myself getting too caught up in the non-perfect behavior and the craze of errands and whatever else will cause me to get too anxious and be too stern with my kids. Today, even though I lost my cool for a little bit, I was really happy with how awesome it turned out in the end. I really felt like it was a big milestone for James and I understanding one another and both of us listening. He is still apologizing for it happening, but then quickly adding on, "But we'll buy a fixed one!". Yeah, let's avoid the brand-new broken ones, little buddy. I love learning lessons from my kids and seeing the efforts of mothering paying off. 

Let Me Correct Myself, Mom

It's so funny when kids are learning to talk and use proper grammar. They start off by mimicking whatever you say. "You're so funny!" is followed by "You're so funny!" then comes the lesson of who "you" and "I" are and it's different for everyone. There are so many different things to teach them, and they don't always get it, and that's totally cool. For goodness sakes, they are just small little human beings learning a language!

The other day, I said something to Gavin. I can't quite remember what, but it went something like this:

Me: Gavin, you are so sweet!

Gavin: Yes, I are... am!

What now? My two-year old just corrected his own grammar? I busted out laughing (and I just remembered what it was about... it was not about him being sweet... it was about him being stinky... ha!). I don't know how their little minds process all that they have to learn, but it certainly does. They are amazing.

The Bad Guy

Friday, I was an emotional mess. After hearing about the horrific shooting in Newtown, CT, I couldn't keep myself together. 

After putting Jack down for his nap, and getting lunch ready for Gavin, James, and I, James had me say the prayer for lunch. I had composed myself for a while, and while saying the prayer remembered to pray for all those affected by this tragedy. As I was praying, I lost it again. I finished the prayer and had a hard time pulling myself together. James and Gavin weren't quite sure what to think. Gavin kept telling me, "You not crying! No crying." While James looked concerned, but laughed a little. I let them know that, no, Mommy was not being funny. Mommy was very sad. A bad man on the other side of the country had hurt little children, and that it made Mommy very sad. A simple question from a little boy followed, "Why, Mommy?" Oh, honey. I don't know why. 

I got myself together and we all started eating. A few minutes later, James piped up, "Mommy... I'm going to go fight the bad guy." This touched my heart. I know he pretends all day long to be a good guy and fight the bad guys, but the look on his face and the way he said it... he really wanted to go save and help people. "Mommy... I am going to go fight with my sword... Because I am a knight." This made me laugh and I am so grateful for my little James. My little (wanna-be) hero.

The Captain

Sometime this last year, there was an article in the Ensign. It was about raising young kids in the gospel and what tools you can have in your home that can help them learn more about it. At the time, I definitely was feeling like I was lost on how to bring it down to the boys' level. And to help them be a little more reverant during sacrament meeting. They recommended purchasing the church's picture book, the nursery manual, and the simplified scripture stories. I didn't even realize I could have these! I bought the picture book, the nursery manual to help with FHE lessons, and The Book of Mormon simple stories. I was happy to see how much they loved the picture book. 

When my parents visited in August, they brought some Book of Mormon heroes figures. The boys were SO excited to have them! They got Nephi, Captain Moroni, Helaman, and Ammon. The figures are modeled after the heroes pictures in the picture book. James was so excited to put his heroes on top of their pictures and match them up. It's been great having them more interested in the stories and learning about these great men. 

That being said, no pole is safe now when we are shopping. I'm not sure when this started happening, but it is happening more frequently. James started it, for sure. He walks up to any pole, holds it with his right hand, holds up his left foot, and declares, "I'm Captain Moroni!!". Gah- too cute. Now Gavin gets in on it and shuffles his way in to have a turn being "Captn Noni!". We even sometimes discuss how he is going to fight the bad men and how he's "gooood". 

We may not think little ones are learning, but they certainly are.

How Many Times in the Day

I'm not sure why (and I sure am loving it), but James has decided this last week to say, "I love you, Mommy!" countless times every single day. It's cute. It's funny. Sometimes it's a bit much, but that is usually when I'm super busy and I know exactly what he has to say. He's always been a huge love. 

It is definitely humbling at times, because he has started choosing to say it also when I'm sounding exasperated. He'll go, "Mommy! Mommy! Mom!" and I unfortunately do not always have the most patience with three kids, reply curtly at times, "What?!". "I love you, Mommy!" I'm pretty sure that isn't what he was going to say, but he realizes that is what I need to hear. Kids... such great teachers.

This past week at Target (this may be the same trip as runaway gav), we were in the dollar section (yay for dollar sections!), and James turns to me while he is perusing the merchandise, "I love you, Mommy!". That's how random it is. Literally out of no where! There was a lady a few feet away from him, and when she heard it, turned to him, a bit surprised, and just said, "Aawww, that is so sweet!". I told her thank you, he's such a love. Got me thinking, though- I wonder how common it is now to have children (or more importantly, parents) express their love so openly. We've always said it to our kids, as much as we can. I never want them to question if we love them or not. 

Thinking about his expression of love this week, if I remember correctly (I might have to go check before I go to bed) that it was around this time last year that he said "I love you" to me, with no asking/prodding/whatever, for the first time. I remember feeling so happy that he LOVED me! On his own! Now there is no question of it, for sure! I don't know what I've done to deserve him and his love like this, but I sure am grateful for it. Update: November 13, 2011. Said "I love you" to me for the first time, no prompting. What a year can do.

Runaway Gav

It finally happened. Yesterday... I lost a child. At Target. More like he lost me. Not cool.

Gavin has decided to embrace his two-ness lately and been a tad wilder while out of the cart. Especially at Target. He generally is a cautious boy, but he's two. Things tend to go out the window when you are two. 

I was in the guy section of Target, looking for stocking stuffers for dear husband. James and Gavin were goofing off about two-three feet away from me. Gavin started getting the mischievous look in his eyes and started going further away. I asked him to come back. Of course he didn't. I turned around and saw Jack almost completely turned around in his cart seat, starting to stand. Seriously, if the strap isn't perfectly tight on him, he can wiggle his way till he stands. Scares me half to death. I get back to the cart to wrangle the one-year old, and as I do so, Gavin decides to run off. James tells me, "I'll go get him!" Such a good brother.  He loves to corral his little brothers. He runs off after him, I get Jack properly back in his seat and cinch the belt. I hear a little boy making his way back. James comes around the corner, without Gavin, and says, "Mommy, he ran away." He looked so put out, like he couldn't believe his brother wouldn't let him bring him back and be good. I was livid. So not what I needed!

We set off looking for him, checking the section we had been in quickly to make sure he wasn't hiding. No Gavin. I started muttering some not so great stuff. We headed for the main aisle, looking down each small aisle for any signs of him. We walked all the way down to the boy toy section. He wasn't there or anywhere in between. I was worried that if we got too far from where we were originally that we'd miss him heading back. Knowing Gavin, I knew he'd head back the where we had been when he was good and ready. We headed back, double checking, looking for a Target worker to help us out. All of a sudden they had disappeared. Awesome. Went back, he still wasn't there. Next we tried down between the older boy and baby/toddler section. As I was looking back over to the other main aisle, I see little Gavin trotting by. "GAVIN WESTMORELAND!!" Yes, I yelled. A few people were around me and I yelled at my kid. He looked at me with his cute, sheepish grin. "Gavin! Get over here now!!" He started hesitantly coming back, still wearing that darn grin of his. "Now", pointing to the floor next to me. He started running more back to me and I knelt down to see him. And, lo and behold, I surprised myself by crying. I hadn't realized how scared I was. I just held him tight, rubbing his back, crying. "You can't do that to me! You have to stay close to mommy! I was worried about you! I'm so glad you are back." His reply: "I love you". Oh, you little boy. After that I picked him up and plopped him in the back of the cart. "NO!" You better believe you get the cart treatment after you run away. I hope that is the last time that happens, but I highly doubt it. Three rambunctious little boys... it'll happen again.

Right Now

Right now, I'm letting the boys watch Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. We have errands to run, but they love it. I was just sitting here, finishing an email. Gavin sits next to me, puts his sweet little head on my shoulder...

Gavin: I sitting next to Mommy... I love (or wuv) you!...

Me: Aw, thanks!

Gavin: *smacks a fishy kiss*

Me: *heart melts and gives kiss*

Gol, love him!

Obsessed Much

At precisely 3:15 this morning, I woke up to James standing on our bed saying something along the lines of, "Santa is bringing me Loki.". Since Saturday, every day James will talk about how Santa is bringing him Loki and/or Hawkeye for Christmas. He's seen the toys in the store (and he has the other Avengers), and has sealed the deal that that is what Santa is getting him. Saturday and Sunday, I don't know how many times we had conversations about it. Or him reminding us of it. He started asking me where they were and I said, "In Santa's toy bag, waiting to come here on Christmas." Now that has been added to our conversations about it. Back to this morning...

He wanted to talk about it. He snuggled right in next to me and mentioned Hawkeye (it's a little fuzzy...). Then the cat came up and was trying to get on my side table which I wouldn't let her, so I got up to put her out in the garage. Usually when James gets in bed with us (which is quite rare), I sleep on the couch so James can sprawl out and Brad can pass out. I got situated on the couch and then after a few minutes I started hearing some crying and Brad talking. Then Brad is taking him back to his bed. I found out later that James still was talking about them. It was raining outside, but I could of swore I kept hearing crying still. If I heard it one more time, I'd go snuggle with him. Heard it, went upstairs and waited outside the door. There was nothing... and there was the semi-sob sound. I walked in and he was trying so hard to hold it in. I got in bed with him and asked him what was wrong. "Daddy is GONE!" I told him to whisper (he shares a room with Gavin and Jack could easily hear him in the next room). I tell him it's okay, I'm with him now. He can't stop crying. This time it's over Loki and Hawkeye. For reals?? We are still on them?? I asked him if we wanted to go to Target and get them later on. He said yes, but still couldn't stop crying. I asked him what was wrong and he said, "Daddy is MAD at me!!" and just starts sobbing. My heart just broke. I scooped him up, planning on going downstairs to let him cry and talk to me and snuggle on the couch. I was surprised (seriously) to find Brad at the end of the hall. I told him what he said, Brad was definitely not mad at him. Seeing Daddy made a big difference and James was able to settle down. He decided we'd sleep in his bed (yay for twin instead of a king!!). After a while he finally drifted off, leaving me a oh-so-tiny portion of the edge of his bed. Oh well. I got a little bit of sleep and got to be with him. It's so nice being around the older two when they sleep. Hardly happens. 

I expected him to sleep in, but when I came down from my shower he was up and about... and happy. Which made my day :) I was baffled by this obsession. He could not stop thinking about Loki and Hawkeye. Luckily we had a discussion while out on our errands that if he got his heroes today, Santa would have nothing to bring him. And wouldn't it be so much more fun to wait till Christmas? He actually liked that idea... so, so far, we haven't had to buy them early. Let's hope he sleeps all night tonight and the talk of those two lessen!

Surprise Manners

This morning, Brad and I were lounging on the couch while James, Gavin, and Jack-Jack were playing by themselves respectively. Gavin took something James wanted. James promptly says, "Gavin, give me Skrull back!" To which Gavin responds by running in the other direction, into the kitchen, screaming, "No!" James then looks to me, sad faced, and says, "Mommy, he took him from me (*more pouting*)." I tell him to just wait his turn, Gavin will be done with it shortly.

Gavin then comes running back in the room, holding out his hand, saying, "Here, James. Here, James. Here, James." James, being him, doesn't realize his name is even being said. I call his name (like three times... man, does he have his own little world sometimes). He turns to me. I say, "Look, Gavin is giving Skrull back to you."

James: Oh, thank you, Gavin!

Gavin: You're weelllcome, James!

Wow. No prompting. Just wonderful manners. Brad and I beamed at each other, giving each other a high-five. For this was a parent win. But was it? I am beginning to think it was more like a little boy win. For though we provide small guidance, it is them who chose to be nice to one another in this instance. So we won as parents, by getting these sweet guys in our family.