Cats and Mothers

Seeing as how we have a house now, I want a pet. I didn't want one when we first moved in, but it's definitely growing on me. The painting is basically done, the garage has been cleared out, and there really isn't a whole lot of house projects going on right now.

Tonight James had a hard time going to bed (like usual). He climbed into bed with me and I showed him some pictures of the cats I was looking at (if I were to get Brad on board...). James went on to have this conversation (which I can't really remember verbatim, but I'll do the best I can): "Cats are boys AND girls. That one had a mommy cat... I love my big, human mommy" *snuggles into me*. 

One of the oddest yet sweetest moments. 

My Babies

Before Jack was born, my parents bought the boys these animal-pillows that came with blankets from Costco. They aren't nearly as big as the animal-pillows (the name is escaping me right now and I'm too lazy to google it...) that everyone else has. Gav got a black sheep and James got a white rabbit. When Jack was born they still had them so he got a brown bear. The boys liked them, but didn't play with them a terrible amount. They definitely loved the soft and cuddly blankets they came in. Later on, my mom came across a garage sale where they were selling the real ones for way cheap. She added a large tiger and another rabbit to our animal brood. Again, liked them but not crazy about them like most kids are. 

Fast forward to today.

Gavin has started carrying around the brown bear, the little white rabbit, and the large white rabbit and calling them "my babies". "Oh, look at my little babies over there! They're soo cuuute!" He'll purposely pile them up and come get you to look at his babies. "Hey, little buddy. It's ok, it's ok" Or the ever popular "My babies are sick. We need to take them to the doctor. Who's going to fix them?" Today I was playing piano and his large white rabbit had to assist me. Gavin just beams with his little babies and it is just too adorable and tender to see him with them. Of course since big brother is doing it, little brother is loving them too. I found the tiger today, so Gavin gave one of the rabbits the shaft and Jack has picked up the slack. He walks around with a death grip hug around its neck, making cuddle sounds. These boys are seriously so sweet. 

Not to make this post about this, but it does make me think about how much people forget how sweet boys are. All my boys have such a sweet nature and we try really hard to cultivate it. Why squash it? It's so much of who they are. I love my sweet boys.

First Sickness

I love fall. I don't mind winter (here- Idaho and sometimes Utah are a different story). What I don't mind and quite actually dread and despise is the sick season that accompanies this time of year. Ick. Ew. Gross. Stay away. So, of course, we have truly started the season and got our first illness this past week (or more).

Jack got sick last week. Nothing too serious, just a minor cold. But come Friday it was nasty and by Friday night, he had croup. My poor baby. We were close to going to Urgent Care but after a phone call to the nurse's hotline (love that thing!!), we felt reassured that he wasn't in need of immediate attention. After the phone call, Brad gave Jack a blessing. So grateful for that. Since he was already partially awake, I got our shower going hot and we sat in the bathroom with the steam for 10 minutes. Then I wrapped us up in a blanket and we sat in our backyard for another 10-20 minutes. He had no trouble going to bed and I slept in the room with him. In the morning, he was much better and we were both so grateful.

But by Saturday night, it was James' turn to be sick. Fever hit him out of nowhere. Sunday he could hardly drink or eat anything. Gavin seemed to be skating by, but Monday morning found him ultra sniffly and cough-y. Poor baby. When I got up with Gavin, James was already on the couch in the family room... and wearing different jammies. I asked him why and he told me that he had had a yucky cough. I couldn't get more out of him so I went to investigate- did he just cough up some phlegm and got grossed out? On his bed, there was a bunch of coughed up mucus with tinges of orange juice from the night before. Then I discovered he had coughed a bit more onto Gavin's bed. Going into the bathroom, I found even more coughed up mucus in the sink. Poor kid! I don't think he would have told me if I hadn't asked about his jammies. Though sad, I'm rather impressed that he basically took care of himself after going through something like that.

Since both beds needed to be changed and Jack was still resting in his room, I set to change both beds. Then I got my contacts in and washed my face. By that time, Jack was ready to get out. As I walked into the family room, I just see James laying oh so tiredly on the couch, his face in another coughed up mucus episode. Poor kid couldn't even move out of it! I got him up and into the bathroom to clean up his face then headed back out to take the messy couch cushion cover off (thank heavens it's removable!). I asked James if he wanted a bath and he said yes, but since he hates running water, I had him go lay down on the twin in Jack's bedroom. Once the bath was ready, I went in to get him. I asked him if he still wanted a bath and I just got the slightest shake of the head for no. He could hardly move and was ready to just pass out. I covered him up, got a blanket for a pillow, and let him fall asleep.

Three hours later he finally woke up. That kid was wiped out from this illness! Since waking up, he has finally drank A LOT, had a bit of pasta for lunch, and lots of Hawaiian haystacks for dinner. Gavin and him are very much enjoying playing together and we are enjoying hearing them being back to themselves. Jack is still struggling, but hopefully will be better tomorrow.

I'm really not looking forward to this sick season. I am praying and hoping we get a break and we won't have a year like last year. I felt like we got everything last year, it was ridiculous. I'm definitely going to try to limit our excursions out, not just for germs sake but just the holiday season in general. I don't need to be out in that and neither do they. Here's to getting better and STAYING better!

Tonight

This is the blog I really didn't want to start slacking... oops.

Today I went to Corvallis to spend some time with my sister (and drop off some food and books). We had a great time, and then it was time for me to leave around 2:30. When I got back, the boys and I had a lot of fun together. I haven't been getting away like I used to, just taking a break from my 24-hour job of being a mom. It has definitely been affecting me. Today was a much needed breather, for both the kids and I. Here are some of the silly conversations and songs we had when I got back-

Vampires and Zombies
James informed me that the zombies are good (if only! hello, nice walkers on The Walking Dead. thank you for not haunting me at night anymore!). For Halloween, we told the boys that vampires say, "I want to drink your blood!!" So James started to pretend to be a vampire... a nice vampire... a vampire doctor. He was going to drink my blood to make me feel better. Ooookaaaay. Then Gavin said he was a zombie. A doctor zombie. And he was going to eat the freckles off my arm. So on one arm I had a little vampire doctor slurping, and on the other a little doctor zombie delicately eating off  my freckles. Weird adorable? Yes.

Bushel and a peck
My grandpa used to sing this song to my mom, who sang it to us and our grandkids, and I sing it.
I love you
A bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck
A hug around the neck, and a bushel and a peck
I love you!
I've sung this to the boys off and on but not very consistantly. For some reason today it toootally stuck because I sang it at least 50 times. Every time I said peck, they got a kiss. For a hug, a fierce hug. At the I love you, we'd sing it loud and point to each other. Jack and Gavin were giggling so much, it was insane. But so very sweet.

Now You Are...
I had to help Brad put our blinds/curtains back up on our sliding glass door since we just finished painting that room (woooooot!), so I had to sit down on our dining area laminate floor. Of course the boys gravitated to where I was and Gavin started playing with my hair. He piled it up on top and told me I was now Sissy (aka Rach). Now I know Rach does not wear here hair in a haphazard mess on top of her head, so I asked him why I was Sissy. Very logical answer- because you are. Ah. Simple will of being. Gavin thought he was so funny, playing with my hair and telling me I was someone else. Then, a light bulb went on, and he realized he could do other people. All of a sudden my hair got messier and more tugged on while I was transformed from Sissy to Nana to Papa to Daddy to whomever, then finally back to good ol' Mommy.

Stop Growing
This one's for you, Nana! James loves to get up at least once after we put him down. He has really taken to the extra time with us. Tonight I had him wait for Brad to finish fixing the doorbell so he could go snuggle with him. While we waited, I told James to stop growing... he's just so tall now!

J- No! I'm going to grow as tall as daddy!
D and M- We hope you grow bigger than daddy
J- As tall as you, Mommy?
M- No, I'm shorter than Daddy. Grow tall like Daddy or Papa
J- Or gramma? As tall as my grandma's?
M-... they're short
J- So you and my grandmas are short? But Nana is taller than you, Mommy

There you go, Mom. My kid thinks you are tall. Should make your day :)

There were other wonderful moments, but that's all my tired brain can recall at the moment. I love these boys and they just melt my heart.