Heaven on earth

Brady was baptized today. It was a beautiful day with just a dusting of snow. Once again the gown was worn that my grandma made for Erin. She and I, along with our children have worn it. The scene in our house was pure chaos: Ross and Olivia running and playing, the boys playing hide and go seek, the girls running around, the adults trying to talk over the sounds of happy children, a few tears, and of course all while eating a delicious meal mostly prepared by my mother. My niece Hope slept through much of it, and after awhile, Brady crashed too. The day was perfect, and it was all because of our precious baby.




I can't believe how much Brady resembles Ryan as a baby. I have been looking at Ryan's scrapbooks (I had time to complete his), and it's incredible how similar they are. Ryan turns nine in five days. It is very bittersweet looking at my original baby and seeing his reflection in Brady. I am blessed beyond words.

hmmm

I just wrote a long post, but then I hit delete. Do you ever have so much to write, but it doesn't come out right? That was me.

Today our old Priest came to see Brady. He is one of the neatest people I know. He is so funny, kind, and has more wisdom than anyone I know. Words do not do this man justice. Over the years I have had a few qualms about the Catholic church. Each time he explains something to me that I might question or disagree with, I feel better. He isn't pushy or even 'preachy.' I can't explain it, but I can not say enough good things about him.

It has been a week since my friend Elli lost her baby girl. Each time I look at Brady I feel so much sadness for her and another mother I know who recently lost her baby boy. I hear Brady make little sounds, look at me, kick his chubby legs, smile, or just smell him, and my heart feels so much sadness for people who have lost their babies. It's not fair. I don't understand it at all.......

Tomorrow is Brady's baptism. This will be a happy celebration that I look forward too. Hopefully the kids will behave. You never know what you are going to get out of them.

I will leave you with this picture of Olivia from today...you can gather that I influence her a bit!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We will be heading to church in the morning and then working at our church serving a turkey dinner to people who are either homeless or are alone. My mom signed us up to work, and the kids are really excited for it.
We plan to put up our tree tomorrow night. Well, I plan to have Thad put up our tree that is. Sunday is Brady's baptism as well. There is so much going on!
I must say that being homebound this year has really made me feel like Christmas isn't coming. I live in my own little world I guess. We did get pictures taken for our Christmas card. I could relate a little too much to AJ's posted regarding pictures. There was yelling, bribes, and even a time out before we got the dang thing taken.
Next week is Ryan's ninth birthday. Where does the time go. Stay tuned to hear about my birthday gift to him. I am so excited....but since he has been known to read this, I am not writing anything.
I will leave you with a picture of Brady. He is eight weeks old today. My dear friend Melissa sent this hat to him....I know, I know, he looks JUST like his daddy!

Please say a prayer

Yesterday my dear friend Elli lost her baby girl. She was having an emergency c-section when they found that her placenta had ruptured. Sophia Susan was an otherwise perfect baby girl weighing 6 lbs 14 oz.
I can not imagine what she and her family are going through. The shock, sadness, and most of all, emptiness she must be feeling is heartbreaking.
Many of you know Elli. She is one of the most kind, friendly, and positive people I know. She told me something today that I found to be touching. She said that maybe God chose them because they have strong faith. At no time has she felt betrayed by that either. Elli and Tim are grateful because they donated their baby's heart valves. Already, some other baby is living because of her. That was a small source of comfort.
Please say a prayer for Elli. She needs them right now.
PS: They do plan to have a service here in Moorhead in a couple of weeks. She has to heal from her surgery before she can travel, so I am not certain on dates. I will post it, since some of you have known Elli as long as I have.

oh boy

I guess I just didn't think this day would come so soon.......

Ryan briefly went to a birthday party after school yesterday before hockey. It was a classmate--a girl! Anyway he came home, went to hockey, and told me about the party afterward. We chatted about the food, cake, games, etc. He said they played truth or dare. My radar went up, but then I told myself that these are third graders, not seventh graders.
Moving on to approximately 8:55pm.......the phone rang. Thad answered it, told Ryan it was for him, and then came into our room where I was feeding Brady. I assumed it was my dad, because he calls occasionally to say hi or good night to the kids. Boy was I shocked when Thad said that it was the girls from the party!!! The girls??? I just didn't expect girls to call, but he is in 3rd grade. But, then I remembered calling the 3rd & 4th grade boy of my dreams--Ryan Gwaltney. (remember our skateland fight over him AJ?)
Being the nosy Bonnie I am, I scurried downstairs to listen. Of course Ryan was being cocky and acting like, "Oh my god, you girls are so lame." Then he hung up, the same way my Ryan hung up on me years ago. The phone rang again....and again later.
I asked Ryan if he likes any of these girls. He says no, but I know that one of the girls there was a girl he had a huge crush on last year. Anyway then he said, "Well one likes me." I asked how he knew, and he said, "Well during truth or dare, I asked if she liked anyone. She brought me in her room, locked the door, and told me."
As you can imagine, a few red flags went up for me, but I let it go. I am not ready for girls and phone calls. It is interesting watching the boy perspective of this though....

Now what?

My very bright and curious son Ryan now knows how to get to my blog! He told me this morning that he read Kate's 'two ovals' comment. I asked how he figured it out. "I went to dad's favorites, and it's tagged." Great. I know he also knows that it's TBRKO, because he has asked if I plan to add another letter for Brady.
This is my outlet, venting space, and also where I was going to share my birthday surprise for him. I really don't know what to do. Change my blog? Scrap it? Hope he stops looking?

oh...my.......goodness

The Stafford kids truly know how to keep us on our toes. I didn't want to post too quickly after Thad's special birthday post, but I couldn't hold this one in. Here is the latest discussion with our lovely girls...

Olivia (try to read it if you know her cute way of speech): "Brady (Bwady) is a boy, and I am a girl"
Me: "Do you know what the difference is between boys and girls?"
Olivia: "Brady has a boy private, and I have a girl private"
Kate: "Brady has a penis"
Olivia: "Yeah, Brady had a peanut"
Me: "Brady has a peanut?"
Oliva: "Yeah, peanut. And I have girl privates"
Kate: "Yeah we have...I don't know what they are called. Well, we have two ovals. Here let me show you."
Me: "That's okay Kate. Thanks though"

Please let me know that your kids are as open in discussing whatever with you.........PLEASE!

Happy Birthday Thad!

Thad turned the big 3-5 yesterday, much to his dismay. We celebrated on Friday night after hockey practice with a little food and, of course, cake. The weekend was busy mostly with Ryan's hockey games (three). You really can't fit much else in when they are spaced out over the course of a day.
Although we didn't get too terribly much time to celebrate yesterday, I want to take a moment to let you all know what a wonderful guy my hubby is. He is a very involved father. He works a job that wears him down mentally, yet as soon as he gets home, he is ready to help me, coach one of many sports, clean up, or play with the kids. I take him for granted way too much....so Thad, here is to you and all you do!

Oh and just for fun, here is a new picture of my little peanut...isn't he cute?

Olivia's special friend

Last winter, a new family moved into our cul-de-sac. It wasn't until springtime that we finally got to meet them. They have a daughter in sixth grade who has been a wonderful babysitter, a seven year old who has become another of Kate's closest friends, and then there is Tyler. She pronounces his name Tylo.
Tyler is six months older than Olivia. They are 'bestest' friends. I can't say how wonderful this little boy is. He has a smile on his face at all times, never whines or is crabby (yes it's true), and is as adorable as you could guess.
They began playing constantly this summer. My favorite images of them is riding her Barbie jeep together or riding their bikes together. They both light up around each other. They even decided this summer that he would be our new baby's special big brother.
Sunday was Tyler's fourth birthday. He invited her (and only her) for a special birthday lunch. When she woke up, the very first thing she said morning was, "Today is Tyler's birthday!" She spent the afternoon with him, and came home with a cute treat box.
She is lucky to have this sweet boy who puts up with her!!!!!!

Not liking this day

I need a moment to vent:

I have no real reason to vent, but I will feel better after I do it. Thad was paged out this morning as I was (unsuccessfully) trying to go back to sleep after Brady's second feeding. Apparently when someone is stabbed and Thad has to be awake, he can talk as loudly as he wants. So the girls were awakened early after staying up late. Ryan, who was at his first birthday party sleepover came home around 9:30 by informing me that he was up until 3:30am. Lovely! This means he will be a beast today!

By 10:30, Ryan is in his room as he made a pretty mean comment to Kate. I am trying to feed Brady prior to figure skating so I don't have to breastfeed in the freezing cold. Did I mention cold? It is freezing, very windy, and extremely slippery outside. That was fun driving and walking in once we got to skating. Of course the cars next to me on either side were very close, so I looked like a freak trying to get Brady out of the car. Only Olivia wiped out once on the way in thankfully!

As we are trying to leave skating, Olivia has to go potty, Kate is bleeding, and I see my gas light is on in my car. Alas, we made it home. Ryan is passed out in his room (hooray!), Brady is still dozing, and unfortunately I can't relax because I have to get Ryan ready for a second birthday party today.

I would love to curl up under the covers, but it's not going to happen. Maybe I should eat some junkfood. That is usually soothing....

Go Wayne

Barack Obama wasn't only winner this Tuesday. My dad, Wayne, was elected Clay County Commissioner for District 1. For those of you who don't know how my dad works, he doesn't go into things "half assed" as he would say. He has been going door to door since July handing out pamphlets and talking with people. I am proud of his hard work, positive message, and dedication to his goal.

He had a little par-tay on Tuesday night. It was cool because the Democrats and Republicans were in the same hotel too. I got to speak with our U.S. Rep Collin Peterson, met some other candidates, and saw the news people up close....no comment on that. Oh, and I also was a rebel and stole about four HUGE olives from the Republican food spread. Actually I asked the first time, but I did take the next three.

We brought Ryan along. Wow was he excited. He is almost nine and really took an interest in the election. I am seeing Ryan/Bonnie tendencies too. We both get little obsessive following the news coverage and just taking a huge interest in it all. I am glad he was a part of history being made.

Congrats dad! I love you!

Give me a break

A few things I heard yesterday from Ryan: (I will leave out names)

~Mom, such and such that he is taking his flag down if Obama wins.

~Mom, my bus driver told me Obama might get assassinated.

~Mom, such and such said that if Obama wins, we will have to go to school on Saturdays.

~Mom, such and such said that if Obama wins, he is going to take guns out of people's homes.

I can't believe think that a) one person alone can wreak havoc on the United States. Hello does anyone remember our government's system called checks and balances!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!? b) why would people suddenly hate their own country over what our founding fathers set in place? An election to let the voters decide.

On another note, I hope you all caught John McCain's speech last night. It was so, so, so amazing. I was just so impressed. He is a good guy. Heck, aren't they all?

A few things...

First of all, I hope you all get out and vote. Regardless of your positions on politics, this is too historical to describe. Just last year I was still telling my students I didn't think I would ever see a man of color or a woman in the White House. I am thrilled to be wrong regardless of the results!

Secondly, thank you Ria for posting my little pumpkin Brady on your blogsite. If you aren't familiar with her photography (I am certain you are!), go to: www.rialeephotography.com and click her blog. Ria you are amazing, and I am so grateful that you captured my beautiful baby as a five day old.....

Thirdly, remember how I have been complaining of Kate and Olivia's horrid behavior at supper lately? Well as I was entering school on Friday to help in Katie's classroom, the school counselor stopped me and told me I had to see what Kate made. Their class made a book on feelings. Try and figure this out:

I wasn't sure what "yacey" was, but Maret told me she wrote "I feel yucky." She then asked Kate was was in her mouth. My guess was vomit or boogers, but my dear Kate said, "Peas!" I guess she really does hate that stuff, not that I blame her!

Halloween

It's funny how sometimes I have nothing of interest to post. Now, I can think of several blog ideas for this week, so I may be updating daily!

First off: Happy Birthday AJ! For those of you who are newer readers, AJ and I met when we were in 3rd grade. My family had just moved back from Perham, and she was my first friend here. I learned quickly that AJ has the best laugh, and I was pretty good at getting her to do it. Someday I will dedicate a post to some funny memories I have with AJ.....

On Friday, I was a helper in Kate's classroom for her Halloween party. Let me tell you that I confirmed why I don't teach this age: I would be way too attached. All weekend I have been obsessing over whether or not some of these kids have good families, friends, a safe home, etc. It's ridiculous how much my heart is affected by this type of stuff. Anyway I had a blast. Some classmates scolded me because I called my daughter Katie. "It's Kate" I was told! I helped the kids make bead bracelets. I can't tell you how many beads spilled all over the floor while I tried to tie them.
I have to also say that Katie has the best teacher. She is kind, patient, and so warm and caring. Kate thinks she walks on water, and I don't blame her!

Halloween was fun too. It was a very nice evening, and because it was Friday, we were able to enjoy the festivities that much more. I ended up taking the three kids out while Thad hung back with Brady. They made a haul! I have been trying to use a little restraint, but dang I love sweets. I want to drop a couple more lbs before I go in for my six week check up. The way I have been 'snacking' is making me think it won't happen.

And finally, I actually had a picture taken with Brady. This is the first since a day or two after his birth!!!!! Pardon the messy kitchen, how I look, and the fact that he is crying....

Coming soon on the blog: Olivia & behavior, Kate's funny art picture, goofy memories with AJ, and who knows what else!