Hi Boys!

Somedays, I have a hard time deciphering if you guys like each other.  You will yell at each other, fight and just act like you would both pretend to be only children.  But, then, you will do something that makes me go "ahhh....how sweet."  Mostly, it happens at bed time - Joey will want to give Elijah a hug or kiss.  Elijah will ask for Joey to sleep next to him to keep the bad dreams away.  Those moments make me love parenting more than anything in the world.

Last night, you guys went to the bounce house for a parents night out.  When we picked you up, Joey was in the lobby and he was sad - he said "I can't find my brother Eli."  So, we found Elijah and all is right with Joey's world.  When we were in the car, Elijah said that the room with dinner was too loud and Joey started crying.  He asked for them to go somewhere quieter.  My heart swelled in pride that Elijah recognized Joey couldn't take the loud noise and took the initiative to ask to go somewhere quiet.  Finally, Elijah said he was in the cosmic bounce house and got scared.  You said you needed Joey to calm you down and asked the staff to find Joey for you.  So many "ahhh...." moments in just one conversation.

I am ok if you guys fight.  I am ok if you don't like each other for small periods of time.  But, overall, my goal is for you to be buddies and have a lifelong friendship.  I see rays of hope in the little things.

5 days went by and there were so many things that I said "Oh, I have to write that on your blog."  But, since I didn't do it IMMEDIATELY, the thought is gone.  That is what comes with old age boys - senility.

Saturday was super exciting.  We had swim lessons. I had to go figure out what your next levels will be.  I talked to Joey's teacher and I said "He will be level 1 again, right?"  The teacher said "He is super close but he needs probably one more session of level 1."  I told her "you know he isn't ever leaving level 1 because he likes putting his head on your chests."  She said "I know."  Yes, Joey, you are a ladies man.  I just shake my head watching you floating on all those bosoms.

Elijah moved from level 1 to level 2 this session.  In the middle of the session, you we.re moved to level 3.  I asked your teacher and he was  on the fence between level 3 and level 4.  You jumped in and we had you freestyle down the pool.  I was so proud watching you.  It was amazing!  You are moving into level 4 next session - breast stroke and butterfly.

We went bowling last night and had a great time.  I think Joey bounced for 2 hours in excitement.  What started out as a cheap night - $2 bowling, $2 shoes, $2 tacos ended up being super expensive.  WOW!  I don't know how people go out all of the time.

Tonight was parent teacher conferences and Elijah got good marks.  You are right where you should be and progressing like you should.  So proud of you buddy!  Afterwards, you got to choose Dairy Queen or TCBY for a treat.  You chose TCBY.  We loaded up our cups up with yogurt and dug in.  While we were talking, you said "I sure do wish I had a machine to go back in time."  I was surprised by that and said "Why?  What would you do?"  I was waiting for something profound and really excited to hear the answer.  It was "I would go to Dairy queen instead."  Cracked me up.

I had a really, really rough day today.  I am not ready to talk to you guys about it but my emotions and brain are just not firing right today.  I can't remember a time where I would cry every 5 minutes - even after Grampa Larry died it wasn't this bad.  But, one tiny silver lining in the whole day was that I was crying when Joey got home.  I asked for a big Joey hug and you gave me one.  You said "It will be alright, mom."  I kept crying - probably harder at that point.  You said "It will all be ok, mom."  It made me feel a tiny bit better.  Someday, we will talk about it but it is too raw for me now.

You guys are off school tomorrow and Friday so we have 4 days together.  I am sure that once I am sobered up from the stress of it, I will have lots of gems to tell you.

I'm back boys!

Hi babies!
2.5 years later and I am back.  I realized that I don't have a place to talk to you like I used to.  I post a few things on Facebook that get printed in a book.  I do scrapbook pages but those are usually a couple of months after the fact and I forget the details.  I miss talking to you to tell you little things.  And, let's face it - your mom isn't getting any younger so the little details slip my mind frequently.  I had a revelation last night that i could put those snippets here for you.

I can't go back and catch up 2.5 years but let me tell you where you are now.  Elijah - you are 6.  Some days, I think you are 35.  I just put you to bed and we spent 30 minutes talking about the presidential election and how you hope only someone nice is president.  What 6 year old talks about the presidential election?  I realized that I need to continue to talk to you because I have to deprogram you from your dad's views so you have some balance!  haha.

You don't love school.  Most days, you try to get out of it for any reason possible. I am not sure if you don't like it because it isn't as fun as daycare, if you haven't made friends yet or if you are bored.  We are leaning towards you being bored but we will find out more during conferences next week.  From all appearances, you have made a few friends and one even called the house.

You love your brother - most of the time.  Last night, Joey hit his head and you started crying because he was bleeding.  I asked you today why you were so upset and you said "You know why."  I really didn't know why you would cry as hard as Joey.  You said "It is because I love Joey."

Joey - you are closing in on being 5.  You talk about it DAILY - your birthday is in June and you are going to have a Tsum Tsum cake.  (You are obsessed with Tsum Tsums)  You LOVE school.  I kept you home because you were sick and you were mad at me.  I hope that passion stays with you as you transition from fun pre-k to Kindergarten.  All of our concerns about you not talking are GONE!  You talk up a storm.  Yesterday at the park, a man walked by and you said "Hi, how are you?  Have you had a good day?"  You are so polite even though you are developing a bit of a temper.

I have to keep reminding myself that you aren't a baby anymore.  In my eyes, you are still a NICU baby.  But, if I don't snap out of it, you will grow up to be rotten.  We are working on it but you are a tough egg to crack.  You think a smack on the butt is funny, you like to get sent to your room, you don't care if I take your toys away.  I am not sure how to get through to you!  We will figure it out.

You love your brother most days but you also like to be alone.  You can play with other kids or you can play alone.  You are like an only child.  You are also so lovey lately.  I am used to Elijah being affectionate but now you will say "I want to give you a hug."  We have been joking lately because you want to kiss Elijah all the time but he doesn't want to.  I hold him down while he giggles and you plant a smacker on his cheek.  I realized that might not be setting the best behavior of "No means No" so I am cutting back on that!!

Anyway boys - I just want a place to tell you random things every once and awhile and here it is.  Tomorrow, we have a few things on our plate - we have swim lessons, we have to go shopping and a birthday party.  You guys both love swim lessons.  Elijah just jumped to level 3 and Joey is probably going to stay in level 1.  You can't seem to float on your back Joe.  But, I think you just like resting your head on all those girls' chests.  haha.

Love you both!