For your information

This is a blog. Bri and I wanted to set it up so family and friends could keep up with the oh-so-exciting events of our household. And, we would like to keep up with your lives as well! So, comment away. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about (Hello, Mom and Dad!) get some help (hello, Michael!!) and type away. We're working on the picture posting. If you haven't seen the kids in awhile, (or ever for a lot of extended family) you'll be shocked at how adorable - and big - they are!

What it means to be Irish

Yesterday was our first St. Patrick's Day meal of corned beef and cabbage. Brian demanded that our family participate in this traditional feast since our children are one-quarter Irish. I am the only non-Irish person in this family, although I'm sure with my temper there has to be Irish blood in my veins to some degree. And, I actually liked the cabbage! Yet, another veggie that I didn't know I liked. My mother wasn't the kind of mom who forced us to eat the things we didn't like - we didn't even eat the things SHE didn't like - cabbage for instance. The leftovers from our feast that I felt so compelled to seal up in tupperware are already pushed to the far back corner of the refridgerator. Corned beef and cabbage isn't like leftover ziti or meatloaf - meals that somehow taste better with age. No one ever seems to get a craving for cabbage. I have had a craving for a good ruben though.
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Isaac received a few fatherly words of wisdom(?) and perfectly recited what it means to be Irish to me before bed -
1. God
2. Family
3. Hard work
4. Beer
I told Brian that in Missouri number four is "deer".

Baby Jack Pictures

After HOURS of attempting to get Jack's latest and greatest snapshots posted, I've realized it's not gonna' happen. Our computer has major issues and, since it's smarter than me on so many levels, the issues will remain and my pictures will go un-posted for a bit. I promise to win this battle with the computer! My pictures WILL be posted...Jack might be three by then but they WILL make it online! So, don't forget us - all you family and friends just checking in to drool over our adorable newborn. He's worth the wait.

Baby Jack

Healthy, Wanted, Babies

Isaac had the ultimate accident today. He peed while standing on the couch. Gross. Off he went to the bathtub and I threw Sophia in as well - more or less to keep track of her while I cleaned up Isaac. Jack was transported via his blue bouncy seat to just beyond the threshold of the bathroom. All three children were accounted for...and all three started freakin' out. Isaac was cold due to the pee covering his entire lower body, Sophia wanted nothing to do with actually getting cleaned up - she wanted to play with the bathtoys. And, Jack was the third and final contestant to join in b/c he decided he was tired and his siblings were keeping him awake. That was just a small portion of my morning. Lunchtime was even MORE exciting!!!
I forced Brian into adult conversation tonight as he tried to sneak off to bed early. I was stressed from the busy day and only found myself ending it all with the must-do chores of dishes and laundry. Brian was a delightful sounding board but since he looked like a deer caught in headlights I let him off the hook and he got to bed early without hearing all the details of smelly couch cushions and how I managed to keep Sophia's head above water as she threw a fit in the bathtub. I am realizing the challenge of raising three kids more and more lately and was feeling pretty sorry for myself until I read a magazine article about abandoned children in China - primarily girls - and a premature baby that died just one day shy of the 100 day milestone his parents were hoping for him to reach. Who knew a scrapbooking magazine would have such sobering articles?!? Anyway, I felt such a shift mentally! Thank God!
Our children are healthy! Isaac has ZERO problems with his bladder (other than controlling it) and Sophia has amazing reflexes or so I learned today while wrestling her in the bath. Jack's perfect from head to toe. And they are WANTED in our home. We had them on purpose and love them. So many babies in this world have health problems or aren't wanted by their families at all. How sad! So, my perspective has changed for the better. I thank God for my kids - even when they pee on the couch. Eh, the couch is borrowed anyway!!!

Beginning Seven

Yesterday, Brian and I celebrated six years together. On March 11, 2000, we officially became a couple after a long, heartfelt conversation in the lobby of our hotel in La Plata. When you meet "THE ONE" you just know it somehow. We met, fell in love and didn't want to ever part company so we married just four months later. Since our "I do"s, we've moved fourteen times, lived in four states, had four guinea pigs (all are in rodent heaven), purchased one lemon car, and have had three absolutely beautiful children. With the arrival of Jack in January we decided to trade in our moving truck for the American Dream.(gasp!, all you BRSMers!-or FIRE or whatever.) Yup, we want a home of our own and we want it by Grandma. Lucky for us, homes by Grandma are within our budget! So, in a few short months we will bid the ocean waves "SO LONG!" (and the Jersey traffic as well!), and our growing family will be moving out to the Midwest. Hopefully, our fifteenth move together will be more permanent and our seventh year the best yet.