our watery eyes

Everyone in my family is a bunch of cry-ers...when we're laughing really hard, we all, inevitably will have tears streaming down our faces. Its a Bredin thing. We all do it. We cry when we fight. We're a fairly passionate bunch, and happy or sad, we tend to let the tears roll down our faces fairly easily. Its when the tears start rolling that I know the emotions are kicking in, happy or sad, hilarious or angry. True in my own little household as well. We're in the living room right now; Jason is napping, Jonah is watching TV, laying on top of him, and I have the laptop on...my lap, of course. Which is why I can conveniently write this so I don't forget it. I just told Jonah we're having Erin and Danny, Mike and Alyson, Mitch and Alix, Ryan, and Martina over tonight. All college-age and older. Jonah says to me: "Ohhhhh -- I love those, people..." He does. Truly, some of his favorite people, right there. Ryan has been away at university all year, and these two are great little friends, despite the almost 20-year age difference! A few minutes of silence goes by (except for Jay's snoring. Oh my word. Jay -- even in the DAYTIME I have to listen to you snore. give a girl a break!) Then Jonah says to me: "Mama?" "Yes, Jonah?" "I'm a tiny bit crying." "Why, Jonah?" "I'm just so happy. You know how when Levi was born and you were crying 'cause you missed him so much, and you were so happy to see him? I'm just so happy, too." I love this boy.

Levi is 4 months

I can hardly believe 4 months have gone by...seems like those first 6 weeks were such a blur, to be honest. But I am loving this babe, oh my word -- I am just loving him. He is such a good baby - getting to be a very good sleeper, though he still wakes in the night -- the last week or so he's only been up once in 12 hours, so...I can definetely handle that! And he's just content and happy and such a little cuddle-bug -- if I could hold him all day long, I'm quite certain he would never let out a peep! And he ADORES Jonah -- it is the cutest thing. I hope these 2 will be the best of friends -- so far they are both quite smitten with each other! I am tired, so this is all I'm updating for now, but -- thought I should at least write something on Levi's 4 month birthday!!

Life lately...

Glad I spent time making this picture collage, 'cause that's all I have time for right now. It seems baby boy is finished his nap.

4 year old questions

I got this idea from Pinterest (where else?!) to ask the same questions every year on your child's birthday. Here's Jonah's answers from his 4th birthday: Jonah is: 4 years old 1. Favorite TV Show: BackYardigans (“Back-yar-gee-gans”) 2. Favorite color: Orange. and Yellow. 3. Favorite book: BackYardigans 4. Favorite toy/hobby: building towers with blocks 5. Favorite food: cereal 6. Favorite friends: Damien and Jack 7. Favorite outfit: “Rainbow one.” (me: “jonah, you don’t have a rainbow one.” Jonah: “I know. I want you to get me one.” I don’t think he cares too much about his clothes right now.) 8. Favorite fruit: bananas and oranges 9. Favorite snack: apples and Goldfish. 10. Favorite animal: rhinoceros, mooses and dinosaurs. 11. Favorite cereal: Harvest Crunch and yogurt. 12. Favorite thing to do outside: go on the sled.make snowmans. 13. Favorite restaurant: Swiss Chalet.(that's my boy!!) 14. Favorite drink: orange juice. 15. Who/what do you like to have in bed with you: blue blanket, star blanket, Larry, Austin, Tyrone, and white puppy. 16. What meal do you want for your birthday: fish tacos. 17. What do you want to do when you grow up? help people. 18. What makes you so happy right now? kisses and hugs. looking at animals. 19. What is your favorite song? Baby Oh. (Justin Beiber) 20. What do you like the best about yourself? I am the funniest.

My four year old boy...

As I begin to type, I wonder how much time I will have, seeing as I hear Jonah upstairs NOT napping as I have instructed him to do so he can stay up 'late' tonight when his family comes for supper to celebrate his birthday. But, who can blame him? Its his birthday - and he is excited. Today is not necessarily going as planned. He was a little disappointed when he walked down the stairs this morning and the only decorations that were up were the ones that have been up since his birthday party on Saturday. but, I convince him its fine. I do hate to disappoint, though. Since Jonah turned 2, I've taken him out for breakfast for his birthday. I love traditions, and when they change...I feel sad and disappointed. I intended to take him out for breakfast - even without a babysitter or a car, my intention was to walk down the road to either Sam's or Tim Horton's and stick with my tradition. At his request, it was going to be Tim's. (for a sprinkle donut, of course!) So, we bundled up and open the door...and its raining. It didn't LOOK like it was raining from inside. Anyways. I convinced him that sprinkles on our pancakes and a green Larry the Cucumber-shaped pancake would 'do'. He obliged. So...then little brother goes for a nap and I have some alone time with Jonah. We make a paper birthday crown. Its the best 'birthday-ish' thing I can come up with. He seemed happy enough, then decided he wanted to wear the crown he made in Sunday School a few weeks ago instead. No problem. He wanted cupcakes, so...I made cupcakes. He wants a cherry on top, but...I don't have cherries. He doesn't want to sleep, but I want him to so i can have a few minutes to myself. I went up to tell him he needs to stay in bed, and he was not being as calm as I wanted him to be so I got cross. A few minutes later, he has to poop, so I have to go up AGAIN. Only this time I feel bad, so I apologize for getting cross. He says "when were you cross?" Thank you for forgetting, Jonah. For a kid who seems to remember everything, it amazes me that he doesn't hold a grudge against me for all the many, many times I get cross and wish I were a little more patient and easy-going. I just read the blog post "Your Children Want YOU" that is all over facebook today...and I am listening to my boy calling me upstairs, and I am telling myself: its okay to skip the nap. He's four. Its his birthday. He's a good boy. and you are a good Mama. Just go get him and spend a few minutes with JUST HIM. Before baby boy wakes up and distracts. I want to write more about this boy I love so much, but...it can wait.

Reminded...

Today I am reminded of how incredibly blessed I am to have two healthy little boys. With such a difficult time getting pregnant with both of my boys, each time I actually did conceive, it was just such an incredible miracle and answer to prayer - and my heart cannot express the gratitude of having one of the deepest desires of my heart come to be. And going through pregnancy, full term - and having 2 healthy little boys, both sleeping upstairs in their beds...and now thinking of and praying so intensely for another little boy, Gideon - born 3 months early to my old camp friend, Robyn - and the heart-ache I cannot imagine of seeing your child struggling just to LIVE...makes me so keenly aware of the gift of having healthy children. Of having children at all, for that matter! I like to believe I don't take it for granted, especially with such struggles with infertility and wondering IF I would even have children for so many years...and now that I DO have TWO gorgeous boys...the fact that they are healthy and happy is something to be incredibly grateful for. And so my heart is so heavy for this dear little family, and it seems crass, almost to make anything about me at all in the same post, but: I am grateful for healthy children. And burdened for this little boy, and excited to see how God will answer the many, many prayers I'm sure are being offered up on his behalf. Modern technology has become an incredibly effective 'prayer chain'. Pretty amazing.

Spring!

It is almost 20 degrees outside!!! If you're from Toronto (Ang!) this ain't no thang, but...its the nicest day we've had so far!! And its been LOVELY just being outside, walking, playing, going to the park, hanging out clothes...I'm soooo delighted that the snow is melting and the ground is drying up! And my baby is sleeping, and Jonah is being a pretty good listener today, and I made some yummy granola bite things (Pinterest is breaking my bank these days, with all the yummy new recipes they're beckoning me every day to just TRY!!), and my floors are vacuumed and mopped, and there is just a HOPE of new life and change around the corner...I love Spring! I have beautiful tulips on my table...Jason has been replenishing my tulip bouquets, and the latest are a deep pink with yellow tips. I cannot believe I haven't planted tulips, but at least I have them inside to enjoy! And now...I must try to figure out what I'm going to make for supper. I'm thinking Barbequed steak, if my babe wakes up and gives me time to run to the grocery store...and roasted veggies...mmmm. Happy Spring! may the snow truly not come again for many more months...