
Thanks Parenting 411 for naming 3 Stinky Boys and Me to your Top 20 Best Parenting Blogs. I’m so super psyched about it. And if I had a designer dress, I’d totally wear it while writing this post.
But I don’t.


Thanks Parenting 411 for naming 3 Stinky Boys and Me to your Top 20 Best Parenting Blogs. I’m so super psyched about it. And if I had a designer dress, I’d totally wear it while writing this post.
But I don’t.

You squeeze me tight and say, “Don’t let me float away.”
“Never,” I reply. “You’re my baby now and for always.”
I realize it’s the wind that you’re worried about
“These are really big gusts,” you snuggle up and shout.
Your 3 year old self is convinced it will happen
You just know you’ll drift away unless you take action.
So you scamper up my leg and to my neck you cling
“Momma, hold me tight,” I hear you begging.
My world stops spinning and I will myself to remember
This moment with you, I will treasure it forever.
Your words, your embrace, your weight in my arms
Your smile, your giggle, your little boy charms.
You won’t fly away now, but one day you will
You’ll have lots of adventures with the dreams that you fill.
And when you’re soaring in the sky, I will remember this day
When the wind whipped and you worried you might float away.

Words: they’re spilling so quickly from your mouth these days
Several syllables strung together I can’t believe that you say.
You’re so proud when you speak, you know it’s a big deal
You say ‘bulldozer’ when you see one and let out a squeal.
Your brother is impressed, even though he’s only three
“Momma,” Reichen says, “Latham talks just like me!”
You say ‘please,’ you say ‘thank you’, you say ‘excuse me’, too
You say ‘mine’, you say ‘Elmo’, and when you’re dirty you say ‘poo.’
You laugh when you say ‘giraffe’, you think it’s so funny
And when you see one outside, you point and say ’bunny!’
You’re 21 months and it’s all just beginning
It’s so exciting for us that your words are now trickling.
You’re my youngest boy of one and I can’t wait to hear more
My little Latham baby, your words will make you soar.
Who wants to cut these curls?

Daddy does.

Mommy doesn’t.

Good thing mommy always wins. Always.
You know what’s really handy, dandy about this little bloggity, blog thingamajig I have going on here? Every now and then, my handsome husband actually reads it.
The last time he hopped on was just before my birthday in December. He was looking for the perfect present for my 35th, and boy did he discover a doozy.
So, I thought, you know, just in case he needed an idea or two for future holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, or President’s Day, these lamps from Z Gallerie would look perfect in our dining room.
Don’t you agree, Dear?
Never, and I mean never, talk to your husband on your cell phone sandwiched between your ear and your shoulder after just microwaving yourself a Lean Cuisine.
Never, and I mean never, set your lunch on the floor to cool, while you pick up the tornado of toys left in the wake of your two toddlers while talking to your husband on your cell phone sandwiched between your ear and your shoulder after just microwaving yourself a Lean Cuisine.
Never, and I mean never, let your phone slip from where it’s sandwiched between your shoulder and your ear and watch helplessly as it does a triple gainer with a half twist to the floor where it pops up again into a flawless front somersault, back layout combination before landing into the Lean Cuisine enchilada lunch with extra cream sauce you just microwaved and set on the floor to cool while picking up the tornado of toys left in the wake of your two toddlers while talking to your husband.

It’s. Just. Not. A. Good. Idea.
I have a kiddie cabinet in my kitchen; it’s the place I stash all froggy sippys, dinosaur plates, and car cups. It’s also the place until today, I stored all the boy’s bottles.
Every day, when the boys eat lunch, I spend that 15 minutes or so cleaning the kitchen. Some days I sweep, other days I Windex the counter tops, or wash small appliances; some days I clean the refrigerator and wipe down the shelves, other days I better organize the pantry.
Today, I was emptying the dishwasher and stuffing all the plastic parafenillia into the kiddie cabinet when I had the best idea ever: if I get rid of the boy’s bah-bahs, as they call them, there would be so much more room in the kiddie cabinet. I mean, they don’t need them; they don’t even use them.

So, in between coaxing Richen to eat 3 more bites of chicken and begging Latham to stop dropping food on the floor, I packed their bah-bahs into 2 large Zip Lock bags and placed them in the pantry.
I did it without thought. And I did it without ceremony. I just did it.
I was living in my happy little world of oblivion when my husband came home and ripped me back to reality.
David: “Did you put all the boy’s bottles away?”
Me: “Yup.”
David: “That’s kind of weird, don’t you think?”
Me: “Hmmm? What do you mean?”
David: “I mean, it’s weird we may never use the bottles again.”
{PAUSE}
David: “Ever.”
Me: “I didn’t even think of it that way.”
{PAUSE}
Me: “Yeah, it is weird.”
What’s even more weird: during the last several months, I’ve put away a lot of baby stuff: clothes, bibs, socks, and toys. The boys didn’t need them and I put them away.
I put them away without thought. I put them away without ceremony. I just put them away.
I’m not sure if our future hold anymore bah-bahs or babys. But I do know: the next baby items I store, I’ll do it right.
I’ll put them away thought. I’ll put them away with ceremony. And I’ll put them away with the respect that period of time in our lives deserves.
When Santa brought packages for you overnight
You could hardly believe the incredible site.

You laughed really loud when you saw all the presents
You must open them now, you said, that very second.
“Latham,” you asked, “could he open a couple?”
“Yep,” I replied, “Santa said he stayed out of trouble.”

A huge helicopter, a jumpy house, and a really long train
All toys that you wanted and couldn’t wait to open and play.
Did Santa give me a present, you said I needed one, too
I thought, nothing’s better than Latham, daddy and you.
It was such a great Christmas, it couldn’t have been any better
But the most special part: we enjoyed every minute together.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is such a delightful ditty, it inspired today’s post. Please hum the classic carol in your head or out loud as you read, if your in-laws, children, and odd Uncle Bob don’t mind. But even if they do, you should probably hum it anyway. It will enhance this particular blog experience dramatically. Thank you for your corporation.
Have yourself a sugarcoated Christmas.
May your tummy be round.
Bakerella.com is where lots of yummy sweets are found.
So have yourself a sugarcoated Christmas now.