Baseball birthday

I'm a little behind on my blogging, but May has been busy! This May, I became thankful once again for planning my children's births two days apart. Double birthday parties have continued to be a homerun. Pun intended.

 

 

This year, the boys had their party at the UNC baseball game. Around 5pm, the skies turned black and we realized our party was in trouble. At 5:45, they cleared the stadium due to lightning and I emailed the party guests to stay in their cars. Thankfully, the skies cleared, gates opened, and the 10 pizzas we had on our trunk were eaten. The boys were ushered down to the field to throw out the first pitch! They did great and you'll notice Avery wandering out towards them. 

 

Brady was eager to get back to reunite with his friends, frustrated by our requirement for him to stop walking while the star spangled banner was sung. A little different from my patriotic three-year-old from a few years back. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes hard to parent them, but never hard to love them.

 

Letters to Brady: 6 years

Brady,

My baby is 6! But I know, you're definitely not a baby and definitely not cute. And you really love you mommy but maybe not in public. Watching you this past year start and almost finish kindergarten has been 85% heartwarming and 15% heartbreaking. You have thrived in school as I knew you would. You have been a leader since you were born and watching how you act around friends always brings me joy. It's weird and I don't always understand it, but your friends clearly have an affection for you and you are a kind friend. Your confidence is never lacking, and I hope that stays with you as you continue in to elementary school and middle school where life can get tough.

 

Another trait you have maintained since babyhood is a love of sports.  You love playing, watching, drawing, talking about, and based on some things I've heard you say while sleeping, even dreaming about sports. You can mix it up with the best of them and it's so fun to watch you play. 

You continue to be a wonderful brother to Jackson and Avery. Though a touch bossy like any first born tends to be, you encourage Jackson and even let him win sometimes. Usually around lunch each day, your brother starts asking, "When is Brady going to be off the bus?"  and my job of answering questions and occupying your brother gets passed to you at 2:30 each day. I never want to take for granted how well you and your brother get along, and I know you play the biggest part in that. And you are so sweet to your sister. You make her laugh and she makes you laugh and there is just nothing better than that.

 

Brady, you made me a mom six years ago and I couldn't have imagined loving motherhood and you as much as I do. And I also couldn't have imagined the frustrations and difficulties that accompany it. You've been on the receiving end of misguided impatience and explosive anger and through it all, you love me back. Thank you for that love and thanks for who you are. Can't wait to see who you become.

 

Love,

Mom

Letters to Jackson: 4 years

Jackson,

Hard to sum up the last year and how much you've grown up and transformed before my eyes. When you feel as much love about someone as I do to you, it's daunting to sit down and write a letter. Because words can't explain how when I see you sleep, I want nothing more than to lie down next you and watch you.  How much affection I feel towards you when you play with your brother and help your sister. How baffled I am by your logic and curiosity. How much joy I feel when I hear your belly laugh. How comforted I am when I get your hugs. When you came along, I stupidly worried that I would never love a kid as much as I loved your brother. Impossible I thought! But then you showed up and stole my heart.

 

You're a sensitive soul and it's no surprise that your three best friends at school are girls. You will play dress up in the morning with your girlfriend and have a wrestling match in the afternoon with your brother. And you might win. When your rage hits, there is no stopping you. And I know that feeling well.  Your feelings can get hurt easily and the fallout can be disastrous (see previous penis post).  You're a bit of a worrier and I'm often talking you down from one impending calamity or another. Last week you came out on a canoe with me (big step for you). When we were about 100 yards away from the buoy, you wanted to make sure I wasn't going to hit it. Then I proceeded to assure you for the next 99 yards that I would not even come close to hitting it.  But you will take your own risks!

 

You like to do things at your own pace and will. not. be. rushed. Getting out of the car can. take. so. long.  You certainly don't get rattled though and feel calm under pressure because you have never felt an ounce of pressure in your life. I could be yelling at you to put on your shoes quickly or you'll be forced to wear pants the rest is your life. You will not change pace. Not slower to be ornery, just steady because that's how you roll.

 

Like your brother before you, your sense of taste is specific and unchanging. With one exception, pants have still not been worn in 2017 and it's a good thing it's almost summer time. You like to pick out your own clothes and there is not always a logic to your choices but only Jackson logic matters. You like to change a lot, another gem you got from your brother. It doesn't help our already large laundry situation. 

 

Jackson, I can not wait to see what Four has in store for you. I love you with every ounce that I am. Happy birthday.

 

Love,

Mom

Flasher

Avery is about take a nap. Jackson has a friend over and they are playing quietly,  so for my next hour, I see productive, relaxing painting on the horizon.

Or not.

Jackson had a friend, Taylor, over after preschool last Friday. They were playing in Jackson's room and when I tried to go in, I couldn't, because the door was locked. I told Jackson to unlock it and he and Taylor stood there looking particularly guilty. I asked Jackson what he was doing and he started tearing up, saying, "I don't want to tell you," which is code for, "I was doing something I know was wrong."  A few weeks ago when he was at Taylor's, her mom caught them showing off their "assets" and since then, I have had a conversation with Jackson that private parts are private. My gut told me that was what was going on in the locked room, but I couldn't get it out of Jackson no matter how many times I said, "Jackson, I'm not going to yell at you but you need to tell me the truth." After a few failed minutes, I let him know he'd go into timeout (not sure if he's ever even been there) until he was ready to tell me. In the meantime, Taylor told me what I suspected, that Jackson showed her his privates. 

Fast forward about 40 minutes. Jackson has exhausted himself crying, but refuses to tell me what he did. I knew that he would pass out from fatigue before he broke. Unfortunately for him, he gets his stubbornness honest.  Meanwhile, Avery had taken a 5 minute car nap a few hours early which meant she did NOT want to nap. She's screaming in her crib as I try to give a wailing Jackson an easy way out by saying, "I already know what you did. Did you show Taylor your privates?" Then he started gagging, took a page out of his sisters playbook, and threw up. Poor Taylor, will she ever recover? At this point, I let him lie in the bed.

These are some tired, sad eyes.

 

He passed out, Avery passed out, and Brady came home to play with Taylor. When he woke, I sat next to him and gently asked the same question, reinforcing that he is not in trouble but that he needs to tell the truth. He answered by saying that he was still a little tired. And he laid in bed with his eyes open for the next 30 minutes. Eric came home early and finally got him to admit to him what he had done. I brought up the subject at bedtime and he said, "I told you I didn't want to talk about it."

He'd make a hell of a soldier. Capture that guy and throw any torture his way....not gonna break him.  Myself on the other hand, I felt quite depleted.

 But end goal probably successful -- I don't think he'll be dropping his drawers around friend's any time soon.