Showing posts with label Patrick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patrick. Show all posts

12/20/16

And Suddenly He's Nine



I haven't written a birthday post for anyone in so long, but I will give the excuse that birthdays are always busy times for moms and living in the moment is more important than recording memories (I think?).

Today my Christmas baby turns nine!  He was due on Christmas Eve, but born on December 20th, just in time for me to be home.  (I might have drank a few tsps of castor oil to help him along.)  He was the best Christmas present ever I believe.  I remember he was born within an hour of arriving at the hospital, my midwife almost missed it, the dr. on call was super grouchy and I didn't like him at all, and that it wasn't a peaceful birth like Janey's because everyone was rushed.  But he was a peaceful baby!  The nurses were bored, there were only a few moms and babies on the floor, and they begged me to take him for a little bit to allow me to rest (which never happens for me, just the opposite if the baby isn't in the room with me!), and I said yes, something I usually don't do.  I have a Polaroid picture of him laying on a nurse's lap looking so peaceful, while they sat and chatted at the nurse's station. He had a fussy time that night and I thought, "Oh, no, I'm in for it, I have another colicky baby!" but while he wasn't super easy (very gassy and lots of bouncing) he was so easy to smile and so squishy and so laid back.

And he is still the same of course.  If there is one word to describe Patrick it would be agreeable, maybe sweet if I could slip that in there.  We have all agreed here that he is the nicest child in our family (even siblings say this!) and I was told this summer that he was "voted" the nicest cousin in the whole family by a certain group of girls:).  He never wants to upset anyone, it upsets him more than anything.  He is so so easy to please.  Just this morning he wanted pancakes for his birthday and we were out of the mix, so he said, "I'll just have a waffle." and I said, "Sorry Patrick I can't make that either" and I said, "How about french toast?" OK! Do you want syrup or powdered sugar? Doesn't matter-whatever you choose. That is how he is ALL the time. He goes with the flow.  He is easy to please.

He is such a nice brother. He loves playing with anybody, and is so excited for his older siblings to be around. He has been so tolerant with Janey, and truly loves her, and she worships the ground he walks around.

His teachers tell me he is so sweet and kind to others.

His dream is to play college basketball. Ever since he was so little his favorite thing is to shoot hoops, or throw a football, or anything and everything sports..any one will do.  His other love is nature-he loves any and all books about nature, dogs (sparked by his favorite book Where The Red Fern Grows), hunting, and fishing.

 We are lucky to call this little boy son, and he truly was a special Christmas gift to our family. 

 Happy Birthday Sweet Patrick!  We love you!
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1/5/16

December Days

I am going to try to catch up here after a little break.

Patrick turned eight. EIGHT! It seems so old. It's not easy to coordinate a birthday party and gifts so close to Christmas and every year I vow to be better at not being stressed about it all but I took a few notes this year to remind me next year. We had a small family party for him and it was so fun and relaxing. I made all the easy favorites and lots of good (easy!) desserts.




(Oreo Pie-recipe on back of Oreo pie crust)

The two older kids made it back from college safe and sound and with so much laundry.  Both worked (on their own initiative! yay!) through break. I do have to say that the first week home is always an adjustment for everyone.  The college schedule is quite different from our family schedule (as in-go to bed at a normal hour and wake up at a normal hour and eating meals at normal times) and always causes some angst (is angst the right word? maybe annoyance?) as we press the "reset" button on what "normal" is.  This is what coming home is for though right? Because no one should live the college life 24/7/365.  I think I am getting the hang of this though-this need for readjustment, the patience it requires, when to set my foot down and when to ease up. It is nice to have them home-they appreciate my cooking (which isn't fabulous at all) so much, and add a fun energy to the home. I love their friends, I love the extra help with the little ones, I love the good conversation.

On the same subject, I was laughing with a friend the other day who has many children older than mine at the fact that it seems as soon as you figure out this parenting thing across the board for all ages (even adult children) you are "done". There is no education but doing it as you go on, and learning while you are in the thick of it.

We took the three younger kids to a work party at the zoo-saw the lights and had a nice dinner with a Santa visit. Janey won't sit on his lap but stays just far away enough to reach for her gift.


Here she is dashing away.

On Christmas Eve after church and dinner the kids exchanged gifts and it was so cute to watch them receive and give.  Janey bought everyone a pack of gum since it's just about her favorite thing in the world. 

At some point in the break Jeff took the kids to see the Star Wars movie and all those light sabers came out again.

Christmas Eve.  

Diving in.

Later that day. And then all week till I couldn't take it anymore. It was a record year for the tree being up though, I lasted about a week after-and next year I am going to try a new place my neighbor told me about with fresh trees and a new stand that will allow me to keep it up till the Epiphany.  I swear our tree was cut in October! 

Her two favorite gifts. So easy and simple!

All in all it was a good Christmas. On Christmas Eve late at night I felt so sad about the kids growing older. I know I can't complain-I've had 22 years of having a child little enough to be really excited (a "believer" is a way to put it?) but I count the years down now and I shouldn't.  But it's an adjustment as the years go by-as busy and hectic and draining the little years are, they are gold too. I know I lived them and appreciated them and gave them my all (even with fuzzy headed lack of sleep with babies in arms) and I'm still doing that but memories blur and fade and change. I'm not good with change maybe. 

I also wanted to scale back this year and that was hard for me-I worried about it. I thought there would be disappointments with the older kids and there wasn't-or if there was I had settled in my mind it was something they just had to work through and that I needed to be peaceful about. But then I was so proud of them all. They were so grateful and I realized that much of my worry exists in my mind only. 

On to New Year's Resolutions, my favorite of all.

I am doing Whole 30-my friend Jane did it and lost a lot of weight and felt so much better physically and after a month (a year?) of eating not so healthfully, I am very motivated.  After 3 days I can see a change in my skin already. Bags of Dove chocolates (and Lindor and Symphony and whatever else I get my hands on) aren't the best for me go figure. I really indulged these last few months-I made and ate every treat I ever wanted knowing that January was around the corner. I have our wedding picture on my screen saver and taped to my fridge and I swear I'm going to get back down there finally, as close as my body will let me in a healthy way.  It feels like the time is right-Janey is three, and I have a little more time on my hands when it comes to exercising and getting in that right mindset. 

My mom gave me the book The Life Changing Habit of Tidying Up. I have heard of this often and it didn't appeal to me too much because I don't have many issues with purging my house of clutter and keeping things relatively organized, but I loved reading it-it is quick and very motivating when it comes to reducing clutter.  A few days after Christmas I had our closet looking wonderful and made Jeff ask himself "Does this bring me joy?" while he went through 50 t-shirts. Sometimes I had to tell him it just couldn't, there was no way possible, he must be mistaken, there was no joy there. :)  I was ruthless on my side of the closet of course. On to the rest of the house-lots of indoor winter time to accomplish that task.

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6/26/13

Safety Certified

Patrick graduated from Safety Town last week and learned lots of good stuff.


Safety sure has changed since I've been a kid.  We had no car seats, heck no seat belts (or maybe we had seat belts but didn't have to wear them?)...I remember bouncing around in the back seat with my sisters.  I got to laughing one day when I thought of all the unsafe things we did.  How many rabid raccoons and chipmunks and you name it, wobbling in the driveway in broad day light, did we take under our wing? Patrick had a whole session put on by the animal control officer. We would plummet down the hills on our bikes, pedaling to go faster, with our bare heads. We ice skated on creeks and ponds we tested ourselves...if we made it out to the middle it was deemed "safe". We ate berries that I'm sure in large doses could be poisonous. When I look at the things my mom used for us as babies-little seats, swings-all of which I'm sure didn't have five point harness systems-I wonder how we survived.  I sure do remember talks on stranger danger at school-the most terrifyingly inappropriate film was shown to us little first graders, and it scared the beejibbers out of us. I don't think I talked to strangers till my late 20's and I can still see scenes of that film in my head.  Don't take candy from strangers, was really the lesson behind it all, or you might end up dead in a drainage pipe.  Eeek!

Anyways-I loved Safety Town.  I love their approach (gentle, no murder scenes involved).  Patrick received a little certificate and a great deal of pride.  What I really wish he would receive is a little stamp that would stay with him for life-sort of like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval-a lifetime guarantee that he will stay safe always-through the daring boy years, into the invincible teenage years, and then beyond.  It would let my mother's heart rest a little easier.  Wouldn't that be great?
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3/13/13

A Quiet Day

A rainy day, feeling a little under the weather...

...equals a perfect day to skip school, play Candy Land and make cookies.

I love this kid.
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2/11/13

My Little Helpers

I think one of the most precious blessings of having a much younger sibling is the opportunity to learn how to love and care for babies and toddlers.  Each of my older children has had this opportunity many times, but seeing Andrew and Patrick so interested in Janey just fills my heart up.  Andrew has been waiting until I would say it was ok for her to hold her and carry her while he was standing....he was thrilled and so careful for the few minutes I let him.  (When I was reading The Kitchen House I told him about children his age whose daily job was care of babies Janey's age-his eyes were pretty big at that responsibility!)  I also taught him how to change her diaper and clothing which is not small feat because she certainly has the wigglies.  He is going to be such a good Dad.  

And Patrick of course needed to get in on all the action also, although his favorite thing to do is giving her hugs and kisses.  When she was fussy for a few minutes the other day I asked Janey, "Why are you so fussy baby?"  And he said, "I think it might be because we've all given her too many kisses." 





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2/7/13

March Madness, February-Style





February-it's SOOO boring!  I told the boys the other day, attempting to make the month of 'bored-out-of-our-brains a little better', "It's February, the month of love!"  And one of them said, "Eewwww that makes it worse!"  

Seriously, February, in the winter, with a bunch of boys, is enough to make any mom go bonkers.  I usually am worn down by now.  I don't think twice about walking past a boy hurling himself off the arm of a chair (my good chair!) to slam dunk.  One day years ago I let them take the sleds down the stairs-they had so much fun landing in a nest of blankets.  A few nights ago, Andrew found an old kitchen timer and set it up to see how fast he could run relays back and forth down the hallway-it was right before bedtime and I figured he hadn't met his entire energy expenditure of the day and had a few extra bursts to get out of his system.

We (I!) am looking forward to more light in the evening, warmer temperatures and being able to send everyone outside for long lengths of time.
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12/20/12

Happy Birthday Patrick!

Patrick is FIVE today.
When I started this blog the first photo I ever posted was this one:

He was just as little as Janey is now.

And now he's so big.

I can't believe he is five already.  I know I am always lamenting how quick time flies, but as I get older it seems like it flies faster and faster.  And five is just one of those big milestones.  

Patrick, my Christmas-time baby, has such a sweet soul.  He is so sensitive, and always a really good little boy.  He adores Janey and is always "petting" her and snuggling up to her.  He will be such a good daddy one day.  He loves sports-whatever is in season is his favorite.  He can't stand wearing long sleeves and long pants-his school clothes now.  He must be ready to be an athlete at all times, so he wears his t-shirts and shorts indoors-sometimes (if mom lets him-not too school!) he even wears them under his normal clothes-that he quickly sheds as soon as he walks in the door.  He loves puzzles and Star Wars Lego guys and likes to practice his flashcards.  His favorite friend is his neighbor Anderson.  When he sees him at the door a big shout usually goes out and he runs to open it.  

We love you Patrick.  You are such a joy.  Happy Birthday my Paddy.

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12/4/12

My Patrick Elf


I asked Patrick, while driving home after preschool last week,  if he would be my helper-elf when we arrived home and take all the packages from the front door (where they had been dropped off by the friendly UPS woman) to my closet.  I told him it was a big deal to be a helper elf, and the really hard part was that he couldn't open any of the packages and look in them because they were all surprises.

I could see a little look of resignation in his eyes when I told him about the no-opening part-it's so hard at 4 to wait, isn't it?

But then he took a big sigh and said, "Sure I'll help you Mom.  They're all probably filled with makeup and clothes anyways."  Make up and clothes-the worst of the worst I guess and what he needed to guard himself against curiosity getting the best of him.

*By the way, he wears that outfit in the photo above every single day at home.  The minute we leave to go out he changes into normal clothes and the minute he gets home, he changes right back into his favorite basketball outfit.
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10/19/12

Where's My Chicken?


2009

I'm going to try to shove him in this costume every year, just for a photo.  
Even if it takes bribery.  

2012
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9/7/12

Big Brother

Patrick is doing great relinquishing his "youngest" position over to Janey.  
He really does love her and "helps" me with her all the time.
He is always gentle and not always quiet.  She doesn't seem to mind all the noise in our household though.
Patrick has been a little clingy to me-if I am upstairs, he is upstairs, if I leave a room I will hear "Mommmm, where are you?" soon after-that gets a little old after awhile but I am sure he will outgrow it. (Soon?)
He moved up to the big boy's room and a little reward chart helped with that milestone.

I am excited for him to start preschool.
And to get a good routine going in the household.  I had four different school starts spread over 4 weeks and that wasn't easy.  I just want our"new normal" to begin and STAY for awhile. 




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8/3/12

A New Skill

Patrick learned to whistle...but can hardly manage it for long without bursting out in a smile...which of course, ruins his whistling capability.



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7/13/12

Sweet Dreams

Patrick insisted on wearing this costume  to bed.  He is still my baby for one more month.  I am treasuring the time spent with him as the baby of the family.  He's my ever present buddy, and just the sweetest most obedient little boy ever. 
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5/25/12

Two In One Day



___________________________
Don't forget to enter 3M Projector and Venus Razor give away here and here.
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5/17/12

Slow Days

Patrick and I headed to the park the other day to play baseball.  That means we take turns pitching and hitting-thankfully mostly ME pitching and HIM hitting.  The first time I hit, he "made" me run the bases (run for me right now means a fast walk) and then said, "Mom, why aren't you sliding?  You have to slide!"  It reminded me of the shin guard comment I got the other day and made me laugh.  I said, "Patrick I can't slide, I have a baby in my tummy!"  He looked at me like that was sort of a cop-out excuse.

Someone emailed me and asked me how I get everything done on my to-do lists and manage to not feel like I am going crazy.  Sometimes I DON'T get everything done on my to-do list and it just keeps getting transferred on down the line of days, which is OK because I know it will get done eventually. And sometimes I DO feel like I am going crazy keeping up but I know I don't have to feel that way, and if I do consistently, I need to make changes in my life.

But I thought about the answer to that question and I've said it hundred times, but I feel best when I am ahead of the game, so I try really really hard to do that-to stay ahead of the game.

1. I try not to waste time.  On this here computer, on too-long phone calls, or errands that aren't necessary.

2. I try to have a daily to-do list or schedule for the next day...that I make in the evening, NOT the morning when I almost feel like the day gets away from me if I don't start out with purpose.

3.  I stay home as much as I can.  I keep ahead on cleaning and laundry, doing a little here and there every day.  I say no to lots and lots of things that pull me away from my family life here.  I try to live my life knowing that being a mother and a wife and a house keeper is a huge job on to itself and I want that huge job, the most important one I'll ever have, to be enjoyable.
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1/17/12

Brothers

Andrew set up a school for Patrick and it was so cute it hurt my heart-complete with gym class (run around the house 3 times then do stretches) and reading time, and coloring lessons.

I just love when my kids get along.  I have to remember these moments because sometimes it seems they can't be in the same room together without some sort of argument breaking out.  These two can be great friends but Patrick can be quite demanding when it comes to playing things HIS way.  Youngest child syndrome?  Maybe.  They are more adaptable in many ways, but in other ways I think they make up for that in exerting their "right" to do things their way when they can.  We are working on that one.
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12/27/11

Patrick's Birthday

This has been a confusing year for Patrick.  He doesn't "get" the whole Christmas thing yet-between the presents for birthday/Santa bringing them on Christmas Eve and then Jesus's birthday celebration and HIS birthday celebration-we had some frustrating 'trying to explain' moments and I just decided to give up on all the confusion and let him think what he wants and next year he'll understand more.  He spent a few frustrating moments in tears trying to convince me that Santa was coming the night of his birthday.  It was all too much for him, and I totally get that, because frankly, it was all too much for ME too!

Here's his Santa classroom visit...on Patrick's birthday.  He asked for a pair of shorts (basketball shorts is what he means) and a helmet.

On his actual (quiet) birthday:


Jeff and I decided to have a Christmas/birthday family party for him the night before Christmas Eve.  Jeff invited his friend who has a gift for games-he has a whole birthday trivia repertoire where all the guests try to guess Patrick's answers.  Like "What is Patrick's favorite food?"  And let me tell you-only a few answers I knew, because you can just never really guess what Patrick is thinking in that little head of his.  He loved being the center of attention.



Abbey was  HUGE help to me that day, decorating and preparing.


The only thing was-I was plumb worn out by Christmas.  I think we have to space it all better next year.  Christmas birthdays are hard aren't they?  I used to get annoyed when people told me that-I was due on Christmas Eve with Patrick (he came the 20th), but now I am realizing the truth in that statement.  It's hard to give each its due and still have energy left to enjoy it all.  But I wouldn't trade him for the world of course, and I remember the year he was born-in the quiet hospital and then a great excuse to be at home on Christmas Day.  It was calm and peaceful and I had a new little baby and what more could I want?
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