Superman's mommy must have enjoyed a few cocktails....

    When my husband and I first found out we were having a baby boy we were just thrilled to be blessed with a healthy addition to our little family. As a self proclaimed girly girl and world renowned worry wort I didn't quite know what to expect. Growing up it was just my sister and myself and our days consisted of dollies with long silky hair, Barbies with enough accessories to fill two Barbie Dream Houses, and my personal favorite- playing dress-up with our mother's old dresses and high-heels.

    I understood the physiological differences between boys and girls but no "What to Expect" book could really prepare me for whirlwind I was in store for.....and he is only pushing three!!

    From the moment he began to crawl he was interested in all he could get his hands on. If we told him no just once it made it all that more appealing to him. It was not in defiance but more pure unadulterated curiosity that drove him to try to figure out what things were, how they work,  and why in world is it making mommy act like a crazy person. He will take apart his new toy in minutes only to try to put it back together. (I believe we have an engineer on our hands)

    In the end, however, it is that part of his personality I love the most. The curious, adventurous, learn from trying attitude. And with a glass of wine (or two....ok or three) at the end of the week I might be able to keep my heart from jumping out of my chest during those "learning experiences".

Top 13 Things I have Learned (So Far) From Being A Mommy Of A Boy (AKA Super Hero)

1.) Diaper changes require a certain skill and cat-like reflexes in the early months. Be prepared ..there will be at least one time that he pees on you, your hair, the dresser, and the ceiling...all while trying to get out the door for work.

2.) There will be a time in your little boy's life that you will be the most beautiful girl in the world through their eyes. Nothing melts the heart more than a little voice that says, "Mommy you pretty" with tiny arms around your neck. Enjoy it now...pretty soon they will have posters of the next Brittney Spears plastered on their bedroom walls.

3.) Those decorative throw pillows you so very carefully took the time to pick out when you first got married..ensuring it matched the decor to a T....will now be used as a landing pads for the super hero's "flight tests".

4.) Oh and those decorative throw blankets are now forts....

5.) Nothing in this world can make a boo-boo or upset tummy feel better more than mommy's kisses and hugs.

6.) Little boys play pretend too...and even dress up. However the dresses are replaced with kitchen towel "capes" and the high heels are replaced with colander "knight's armor". But don't worry...you will always play the role as the damsel in distress or princess. (I taught my little one to say Queen Bee instead of princess )

7.) Naturally little boys have more energy than little girls. They need ample time to "run off steam" during the day. I first noticed this difference at a mommy and me class when Eddie was just barely a year. He was the only little boy in class and would not sit still like the rest of the class. The teacher laughed and said, "Oh- he is all boy! I have 3 of them at home!"

8.) The trying times when you are so stressed out and fed up that you don't want to give your attention are the times your attention and affection are most needed.

9.) He will try to slide down a flight of stairs head first

10.) If you are not a bug person...you will have to learn to embrace the fact that he is. Just think now you have another man in the house to "save" you from that giant spider.

11.) His little voice saying "I love you, Mommy" is the best sound in the whole world

12.) Every little boy needs a strong male figure to look up to. It doesn't always have to be the biological father. In Eddie's case he is lucky to have his own super hero daddy to look up to.

13.) Never underestimate the calming effects of a good cocktail at the end of the week

So tell me.....what are some things you have learned raising boys??

Summertime in a child's eyes....

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here-Nat King Cole

     A young baby faced boy sits on the bench swinging his feet back and forth. His cheeks are blushed pink from the sun’s warm rays and his eyes are as blue as the clear skies above. He sinks his teeth into the juiciest slice of watermelon with a smile. By his side is his loyal companion. A 4 year old bichon frise not quite 10 lbs. Her overgrown white coat is getting stained pink from the juice dripping down the boys arms. She licks the boys hands and face enjoying the sweet treat. Giggles echo in the summer breeze.

      Refreshed and cooled from his snack the boy gets up and looks around wide eyed at the family’s yard. In his eyes the modest sized yard is the size of a football field and filled with so many options for the day.

      Ahh summertime in a child’s eyes. It ignites all the senses including the innocent 6^th sense-imagination. The brightly colored summer fruit and snacks are just as delicious to see at as they are to taste: a bowl of deep red cherries or a deep purple popsicle. The smells that fill the air scream summertime: the salty ocean breeze, the bbq grills from the neighborhood cookouts, and my favorite- the smell of a freshly cut lawn. The sounds of summer that whisper in your ear: children laughing, waves crashing, crickets singing, music paying, wind chimes chiming and plastic tricycle wheels hitting the cement. You can feel the sand between your toes and the warm sun on your back.

      The little boy makes his way over to the side of the house and lifts the doormat up. He kneels down to take a closer look at his discovery. “Look mama, a bug a bug!” He watches the ants scatter and tries to pick one up. When unsuccessful he puts the mat back down and runs towards his pool and jumps in. Splash. “Arr Matey,” he says. His mama nods. “Today is a very good day to be a pirate, little one,” she says. “Now where to captain?”

Wake up Slow....

This song

It's meant to keep you

From doin' what your supposed to

Like wakin' up too early

Maybe we could sleep in

I'll make you banana pancakes

Pretend like it's the weekend now

And we could pretend it all the time...Jack Johnson 

        My husband and I have a little house rule that we both try to live by. Every single day when those reports have been handed in, the computers have been shut down, and we step foot out of the stuffy office and into fresh air we are officially on vacation. We erase any of the days stresses- day care drop offs/ pickups, 9 am meetings, the constant ringing of the office telephones, and that nagging pile (you know the “I really don’t feel like doing that but how long can that pile sit there” work) and breathe a sigh a relief. We make the most of the rest of the evening together. And even though it seems as though we don’t have many hours left in the day we find a way to pack in so much togetherness and laughter that is seems as though we were never even away from home. We eat dinner as a family, take a walk or go to the park, and just enjoy the rest of what the day has to offer. But my favorite part of the day is when we all crawl into bed together. The three of us under the fluffy white down comforter like a cloud in heaven. We cuddle, we read, we laugh….a time where we truly have each other’s undivided attention. And like clockwork every single night Eddie’s eyes get heavy around 8:30pm and he falls asleep in between Ed and I. We carry him to his crib where he sleeps till morning and the rest of the night is for the two of us.

       Just like we end the day on Friday nights we begin it on Saturday mornings. As soon as Eddie wakes up Ed or myself carries him from his crib into our room where we just lay in bed a little longer. Watch a show, read a book…wake up slow. We have been doing this since the moment we carried our precious new bundle home. “There is a special connectedness that happens there, a family in bed, socks on our feet, and no agendas to tend too. Monday through Friday our lives are filled with other people. Saturday mornings are just for us.” Then we make breakfast as a family (Eddie LOVES to stir the pancake batter) and we see what the rest of the day brings.

       Many people have given us their opinions and advice about letting Eddie fall asleep in our bed. “Don’t let your kids sleep in your bed-you will create a bad habit” “You will spoil them” “It will ruin your marriage.” All meant well I am sure(and I am sure I would think differently if it weren’t for the fact that from 8pm to 8 am Eddie sleeps in his own room)….but I will never forget my best friend telling me once about an episode of Rachel Ray where Salma Hayek talked about her children. When asked what was the best advice she has ever gotten she said her mother once told her, “Always rock your babies to sleep because one day they will be too big and you will wish you could hold them again.” One day my children will be too big to cuddle. They will have other places to be on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.One day they will have their own families to wake up slow with…..but until then I am going to savor every single cuddle, kiss, and hug I have. <3