Checking in

I've been M I A. I actually started a post that I will someday, somehow finish, but it's going to take a while. It's sad and sweet and it's about someone special, Christian, whom we lost recently too soon. I tweek the blog here and there..honestly because I want it to be just right. That's what he was. Annddd...here come the tears. This is why it's not finished!

SO..we've learned valuable lessons over the past month..love those around you with all that you have. You just never know when something is going to happen. Life is full of ups and downs and we are still fortunate to be on this Earth to experience all that there is out there. Good and Bad. Never take anything or anyone for granted..if you love someone, tell them. If you want to do something, do it. If you want to hug someone, hug them. You get my point.

Jake. He's been hugged and hugged and hugged all month long! There were a few days after Christian passed that I just couldn't put Jake down. I mean, i still want to hug and cuddle with him all the time.. but there were points in that week after that it's all I wanted to do. Jake is going to grow up..and he's going to go out on his own and experience life. I want him to have the best of everything and experience the world and to be safe. Be safe. The hardest thing I have had to see this month was a mother after she lost one of her four children. The saddest part of all is that it didn't have to happen. But it did. I keep thinking "if only". But life can't be "if only's". It just can't. That sucks. That REALLY sucks.

Tonight Jake told us, as I was changing his diaper: "I love my family." Melted my heart. He knows that his family consists of "Mommy, Daddy, Kitty and Jake". Someday he will realize that family is even more than those in our home. He's got one great big family!

On a funnier note..Jake gets on his truck and pulls up next to me as I set on the love seat - "Chicken Nuggets and Fries, please". Taps my hand and drives off. Been to a drivethru lately, ya think? We honestly don't go THAT much..but I guess he enjoys it ;)


Alex and I are off on a much needed getaway soon. MUCH needed.

Be safe.

Monkey See, Jake Do

Jake: "What you doin' Daddy?"
Daddy: "I'm going to lay on the floor:
Jake: "OKKkkkk Daddy, I lay on the floor too. I get pillows"


He LOVES his Daddy and loves to mimic him. Copies the exact way Alex will lay on the floor, down to his feet crossed at the ankles, or how his arms are behind his back.


Jake peed on the potty tonight. After bath he actually told us he had to, and almost knocked Alex over on his wait to the potty. We are so proud of our little man...and should probably do potty training boot camp soon..

September 10'!

Summer has come and gone. Sad. It was a hot one, so we are all looking forward to less air conditioners and more windows open with fresh air flowing through! We are trying to take advantage of the time we have now, to do stuff outdoors. The past 2 weekends we have had weddings, so it has been tough to do too much. However, this weekend we managed to get Jake to Roger William's Park twice (that means three rides on the Carousal!) and he and Daddy got to go to story time today at Barnes and Noble. Jake also got to go to the beach and Mystic Aquarium last weekend with Aunie Kaylin and his RI grandparents..and this weekend MiMi and Grampy took him to the Woodstock Fair ! What a lucky boy!! He is beyond exhausted, as we all are!

September brings lots of new things for our family..it's super busy at URI with the kids arriving this weekend..and grad school has started up once again. I pray that we use our time management skills better this semester and have as much family time on weekends as possible! It wont be easy..but some day it will be worth it. This semester brings new challenges for me, as I teach my first course, URI 101, as part of my 150 (ugh) hour practicum. It will be an interesting semester, for sure.

Jake continues to grow before our eyes and cracks us up! Just tonight with story time - he knew it was time to go upstairs to go to bed, but he did anything and everything in his power to delay. "I sing Itsy Bitsy Spider, okkkkkay?", "I read 'nother book, okkkkaaay?" his favorite meal is still popsicles and we can pretty much bribe him to do anything, as long as popsicles are in the equation. He is getting so big, and can run the playground like a champ. I still get a bit stressed that he will just fall at one of the large openings at the very top of the playground (really, are those necessary?) but for the most part he goes straight for the slides anyhow.
He is still cuddly and will wrap his arms around your neck and ask for a "big hug?" at any moment. Today he demanded that "daddy "tiss" mommy" (aka kiss) in the middle of the supermarket. We still have a few years before that is embarrassing to him, I suppose.
His memory is still something to continues to amaze me as well. The other day, out of the blue he told me "Auhnie was a mouse". There is a picture of Auntie Shelley in her living room, and she was dressed as a mouse. We haven't been over their house in a couple of weeks..so it's not like he sees it every day.

We hope you all enjoyed your summer as much as we did! Cheers to September, may it be a great month of new beginnings!