Blessed

Anh & I know we are blessed. From the moment that Grant arrived and completed our family, we have been incredibly grateful. Actually, let me clarify. Anh & I have known we were blessed since Jaxon was born in 2005. Healthy baby Grant is just the most recent of our three blessings, and on a bright and sunny day in early June, we gathered as a family to thank God for his many blessings and to Baptize Grant.

It was truly a special occasion and being surrounded by family that made the trek from out of town made it all the more meaningful. Everyone has active, busy lives and the fact that they took the time to gather and celebrate with us is a true gift. Of course, being able to spend some time with 3 adorable little guys isn't exactly a hardship.

We're all very lucky to have Grant as a part of our lives, but I'd say he's equally lucky to be surrounded by such a loving group. Now, he can officially include two more admirers, Dr. Scott and Ms. Geraldine, who gladly accepted the role as Grant's Godparents.

Of course, it wouldn't be our life if everything had gone 100% according to plan. We had been told that Grant's Baptism would take place during the celebration of Mass. This was new to us because both Jaxon's and Baylor's Baptism had taken place after Mass with only family looking on. Well, we arrived early for Mass as instructed and took our seats in the front two rows, but no one ever came over to provide additional instructions. I told myself everything would be fine. Surely, we've celebrated the sacrament twice before and knew the routine. Surely, we'd be able to wing it when called up in front of the other parishioners.

The second clue that something wasn't quite right was when Father Ed and our visiting Deacon appeared and lead the congregation in the celebration of Mass. Father Tom is ALWAYS in charge of Baptisms. Odd...I reminded myself that Father Ed is completely capable of performing a Baptism. The third clue that somebody had dropped the ball came when Father Ed and the Deacon concluded Mass and exited the church. Yeah, we're all smart cookies. Ha! Still unwilling to fully accept that the Church had forgotten our special occasion, I told myself that it must be Father Ed's preference to conduct Baptisms after Mass, and I ushered our group into the smaller chapel where Baylor had been Baptized while Anh went to speak to Father Ed. Then, the lights were turned off in the church. Okay...confirmation that we were forgotten!

I was not happy. I was especially unhappy considering that the Catholic church doesn't make it easy to receive sacraments. No, they make you fulfill requirements and jump through hoops. We took everything in stride and completed all the requirements and even confirmed the date twice with the office. Yeah, I wasn't happy. In the end, Father Ed pulled together a lovely and intimate Baptism and all was right with the world and for our little Grant. It's a good thing because I had already decided nobody else was leaving that church until my son was Baptized. Thank goodness everyone realized that and willfully made it happen.

Scott, Geraldine, and Grant weren't cheated out of their special day, and that's all that matters. The smiles prove that while initially overlooked the importance of the moment was not forgotten or diminished.

In the end, the day was everything I could hoped for and more. Grant was the center of everyone's attention, and I'd say he enjoyed every minute of it!

Yes, plain and simple, we are truly blessed.

Quattro

Buon giorno!  It might look like we decided to celebrate Baylor's 4th birthday in Italy, but truthfully, we were only a few hours South of home at Universal Studios. I don't think the guest of honor minded one bit that we opted to stay in the States. Baylor much preferred the plan to ride roller coasters and hopefully meet a few super heroes.  

Knowing that our days would be spent among the masses of people that flock to Orlando's theme parks, Anh and I were relatively excited to be staying a calm laid-back family resort. At least the chaos would be left behind at the park. Our evenings were spent in Venice...at least that's what we pretended was our reality.

The boys were almost as impressed with the theming as we were. One would have expected them to be disappointed and prefer a hotel with loud, obnoxious colors and a circus-like environment. Maybe Jaxon and Baylor inherited the travel bug from us and enjoyed the idea of being in Italy. I can certainly say they'd fit right in with their love of Vespas.

Aunt Kelly seemed excited to tag along for the Universal adventure and to celebrate her nephew's birthday. It was great to have her with us. She contributed to the festive mood, and I won't lie. The extra pair of hands came in very handy at the park. Having a 1:1 ratio between adults and children made things a bit easier.

While this picture probably doesn't show it, Grant seemed to thoroughly enjoy his family vacation. He felt right at home in the hotel room. He passed out almost immediately in the bed. Traveling in the comfort of his car seat can really be exhausting, apparently. Grant really was a trooper the entire weekend. Never once was he fussy or difficult. Grant embraced the entire spectacle!

Slathered in sunscreen and armed with newly activated annual passes, we made our way to the theme park. We decided to explore Universal's Island of Adventure park on our first day, and we made a belie for the park's main attraction...

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!!! It was every bit as amazing as the reviews described. You really do feel like you've been transported to Hogwarts as soon as you pass through the gate. Sadly, those snow-covered rooftops do absolutely nothing to bring down the intense temperature and humidity in Orlando. It was only late May, but I was reminded of why I vowed never to visit Orlando theme parks during the months of July & August. That would be hell on Earth!

Of course, we had to try the Butter Beer as a means of cooling off. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't say it was particularly good either. If pressed to describe the taste, I'd say it was similar to drinking a cream soda with a butterscotch candy in your mouth. Odd, but not entirely disgusting. One tidbit of advice...enjoy the Butter Beer after the 3 roller coasters. We witnessed one man losing his stomach after exciting one the rides, and it wasn't even 9:30am!

Moving on from Hogwarts to Seuss Landing, we met up with a few friends.

Thing 1 & Thing 2

and The Cat In The Hat!!!

With all too many of Dr. Seuss' riddles and rhymes scrolling through our minds, we made our way over to see a few Marvel super heroes. Spiderman, Captain America, and Wolverine were all there!!! It was like they were just waiting for Jaxon and Baylor to arrive. Of course, the team was called away very quickly to squash some trouble that Dr. Doom was trying to stir up in another section of the park.

At that point, we stumbled upon a few other friends...Dr. Scott & Ms. Geraldine! Having them join us for Baylor's special day seemed perfect. After all, Dr. Scott is one of Baylor's best friends.

It was a thrilling & exhausting day for all! After sitting down to enjoy dinner and some much appreciated air conditioning together, we decided we'd had all the fun we could possibly handle. The kids were slap-happy, and the adults were almost as delirious. We made our way towards the exit, stopping briefly a few times to enjoy the water rides. Let me just say, the boys LOVE water rides. Getting soaked from head to toe is highly enjoyable for some. I don't include myself as a member of that club. While Baylor was most certainly the center of attention during his special weekend, it was Grant who deserved the MVP award. I said it before, and I'll say it again. He was such a little trooper!

Our bodies were shutting down due to exhaustion, but that didn't mean any of us wanted the fun to come to an end. Luckily, Spiderman and his trusty sidekicks had taken matters into their own hands. We returned to our hotel room to discover a surprise birthday party waiting. The cupcakes and balloons were courtesy of our new super hero friends, but Ms. Geraldine gets all the credit for the presents.

The smile on the birthday boy's face...Well, I'd say that was the result of a group effort. Congratulations, Baylor! We know this is a milestone you've eagerly awaited. It's going to be a GREAT year for you, buddy. Dad & I know it!

Put the Pedal to the Metal

The day has finally arrived! Baylor now meets the height requirement to drive his own go-kart at the local amusement park! We made sure to point out that eating his fruits and vegetables and drinking milk had a lot to do with it. Watch out, World! I said he meets the height requirement. I didn't comment on his driving skills...Okay, I'm kidding. He's actually not too bad behind the wheel. Must be all that practice with the golf carts?

Tempting the Taste Buds

The nightly dinner table torture sessions are over. We no longer deny the baby. Grant's taste buds now know that formula is bland, and as a result, he's eager to see what other options exist in the world. We have to take things slowly though by introducing one new food a week. This helps identify any food allergies that he might have. First item on the menu...Organic Winter Squash. He LOVES it! You can't shovel it into his mouth fast enough, and don't even think about wiping Grant's face half way through the container. No, that makes him think you aren't offering him anymore, and he goes CRAZY!

Looks like we've got a little foodie on our hands!

Mother Knows Best

Yes, Mother does indeed know best. I know what my 4 boys like and what they don't. I appreciated all the effort they went through last year to spoil me on Mother's Day, but I accepted and even embraced my fate this year. We spent the day together enjoying The Players Championship at Sawgrass. When the testosterone outnumbers you 4:1, you really shouldn't fight it. A golf tournament is way more our speed than a tea party.

Of course, it's hard to believe that this little fella' was BREAKING NEWS and one heck of present for me last year. How many women actually find out they're expecting on Mother's Day?

Oh my, and to say that Grant was a hit at TPC would be an understatement. Actually, I felt sort of like a walking spectacle. People weren't subtle about pointing our family out and making comments. Either they thought my boys were cute or we were mistaken all day for some celebrity golfer's family?

The comments and attention peaked when Jaxon and Baylor took their turns at the various hands-on exhibits. Take for example this virtual golf competition. The boys lined up for their turn with all of the other much older men. One group of guys let them skip in line because they didn't want to miss seeing the boys show off their skills. With all that attention, I was a bit nervous that the boys might feel pressured or shy...WRONG! They both stepped right up and drove the golf ball down that virtual hole with expertise! The crowd went wild! I confessed that they both take weekly lessons and the crowd seemed very impressed. Fingers crossed that some golf scholarships are in their future!

Little Grant was happy to play the role of sidekick this year, but something tells me that he'll expect to take a turn driving the ball next year. Grant is already on a mission to prove that he can do anything his big brothers can. He studies their every move on and off the course.

I just hope that Jaxon and Baylor don't follow in their "idol's" footsteps...Tiger Woods...at least, not his off-course extramarital footsteps. Thankfully, Anh is doing his best to introduce Jaxon and Baylor to some of the new, younger stars on the course. Fingers crossed that someone steals their admiration!

I have no doubt that a lot of women would be annoyed to spend Mother's Day on the golf course especially if they don't golf. In the end, "my day" was ultimately all about Jaxon, Baylor, and Grant. Of course, isn't that part of being a mother? So, my day was truly perfect.

4 Months

It's time for another update on our little man Grant. At 4 months, he's starting to show us a little more of his personality. Like his big brothers, Grant seems to be a tad impatient when it comes to his physical abilities. He's able to roll over in both directions now, but he hasn't figured out how to attempt forward motion. Instead, he has mastered rolling across the floor to get from point A to point B. We've also reached that phase where anything & everything goes into his mouth. The drool is also constantly flowing which tells us that we could spot teeth any time now.

Grant might look all innocent and sweet, but trust me. You don't want to be a bib or a baby toy in this household. Grant is vicious when he gets ahold of anything suitable for chewing!

 We've also established with 100% certainty that Grant is our first thumb-sucker. Both Jaxon and Baylor briefly sucked on their fingers, but they quickly abandoned the habit. Grant, however, has his thumb in his mouth any time he's relaxing or trying to fall asleep. Apparently, he finds it quite soothing. Anh & I just think it's cute. We'll wage war against the thumb in the future if Grant doesn't abandon the habit on his own.

At the moment, we don't want to do anything that might interrupt Grant's wonderful sleep schedule. Every evening around 8pm, he'll become a little irritable. Considering that this is the only time during the day that Grant is anything less than delightful, we cut him some slack. It's just his way of telling us that he's tired. As soon as Grant gives us the clue, we start the bedtime routing: Bath, Bottle, Burp, Bed. We're rewarded with 12 straight hours of sleep. Yes, Grant is the PERFECT baby. We've decided we're leaving him EVERYTHING. Sorry, Jaxon & Baylor.

Aside from fussing a bit before bedtime, Grant's only other true compliant against a life injustice, is when he's strapped into his infant carrier car seat. Luckily, he's usually a happy passenger if he has one or both of his brother's to keep him company in the back seat. Jaxon has proven to be my right-hand man since Grant arrived in January, and Baylor...well...he occasionally agrees to help. Take for example when Grant starts to fuss in the car. Baylor consoles Grant for a few minutes by telling him, "It's okay, Baby Grant. It's okay." Baylor will repeat this statement several times, and then declare in frustration, "Okay, Baby Grant. You're being annoying!" Oh my! Now, maybe Baylor knows how Jaxon feels from time to time about annoying little brothers.

The most exciting news regarding Grant's 4-month milestone came courtesy of Dr. M, Grant's pediatrician. First, we learned that our "little" man now weights 15lbs, 13 ounces and is 25 1/4 inches long. That places Grant in the 75th percentile. Still delightfully above average! After the measurements were taken, Dr. M gave us permission to start slowly introducing Grant to baby food. Yay! As if he understood Dr. M's conversation with us, Grant promptly started fussing anytime we decided to eat in front of him. Our baby is truly a genius!

Zap

10 days. That was the length of Zap's stay with us. Who is Zap? He was the 15 cent feeder goldfish that Jaxon won at the school carnival. Yes, I said WAS. Zap has gone on to the that big aquarium in the sky. Poor Jaxon was the one to discover him this morning. As he reported the news to me with tears in his eyes, I asked "Are you sure Zap is dead? He's not just sleeping?" A tear escaped one of Jaxon's eyes as he responded "He's stuck to the tube." The tube is the aerating filter, and yes, that would indeed mean Zap is dead.

I did my best to convince Jaxon that Zap's passing had absolutely nothing to do with the quality of care his proud owner provided. I'm not certain my sad little fellow believed me, but Jax seemed relieved when I told him I would bury Zap in the backyard and not flush him down the toilet. I knew Jax was really shaken by Zap's passing when he told me he would have to think about whether he wanted a replacement fish from the pet store. Wow! Maybe we won't be getting a dog or cat in the future if losing a fish is this distressing. Luckily, Jaxon came around by this afternoon and told me he does indeed want to get another fish. Wait...Did I just say "luckily?" Maybe the boys aren't the only ones that like having a fish.

Tonight as the boys were upstairs with Anh getting ready for bed, I realized that both Anh and Baylor were unaware of Zap's passing. I forgot to mention it during our busy day. I listened as Jaxon filled them in on the empty aquarium and his disheartening discovery this morning. Then I heard Baylor exclaim, "Oh man! What happened?" Jaxon repeated my explanation from this morning about how "Fish just don't live that long." and "We did everything right. It didn't die because we did something wrong." Thank goodness! Jax was actually listening and obviously feeling better about the loss.

Baylor, however, might want to work on his listening skills because as soon Jax finished explaining every last detail of the morning's sad event, Baylor marched downstairs and asked me, "Why did you kill the fish?" Ummmm...WHAT?! Why did I kill the fish?! I'm the one that bought an aquarium for a 15 cent feeder goldfish. If anybody wanted that freakin' fish to live, it was ME! Ugh! I calmly asked Baylor, "Why do you think Mommy killed the fish? I didn't kill the fish. He just died." Baylor looked at me with doubt and blurted out, "Jaxon said you did something to the fish!" What?!

Surely Jaxon doesn't believe I offed the fish? No, he doesn't. Baylor just tuned out after hearing, "The fish died." He heard Jaxon say, "Mom did something with the fish," but missed the part of the story where Jaxon explained that I buried it in the yard. It's good to know that Baylor thinks so highly of me. Well...I am Mean Mommy. Let's see how mean they think am this weekend as I fork over the money for the replacements. Yes, replacements. You know I'm not going to get away with just one replacement, and you know the boys aren't going to settle for 15 cent feeder goldfish either!