Home

We are back home in Chicago. Chris drove back to Michigan Friday night to pick us up.

My Dad is also home. He was finally discharged late Friday night and is so happy to be home resting and getting uninterrupted sleep in his bed. He's got a road of healing ahead of him but he's well on his way. We are so grateful for the care he received while in the hospital. Our prayers were answered in that respect. 

We had a lovely week in Michigan. My parent's friends and neighbors would come over whenever they had some free time to play with the boys and I was so grateful for this. Often they'd bring coffee and food in tow too! There is such kindness in that neighborhood and they really take care of each other. One night while my mom was up at the hospital all the kids were crying and or/ fussy and/or getting into things they shouldn't be and basically making me batty. Just when I thought I was going to loose my mind, a neighbor texted to say they had a free hour and could I use some help? My response?

"Yes please!!! and RUN!"

Throughout the week, Colin loved going up to the hospital to visit his Pop-Pop. He saw it as a great adventure.

I was also glad we were still in Michigan when he came home so Colin could see that. 

See, there he is on the right side of the picture! My mom is on the left.

This past weekend was also my birthday. My mom completely surprised me with a pudding cake (my favorite!) on Friday night. I don't know how she found the time to make it with everything going on.

Although apparently she did have help :)`

Make a wish!

Gavin, Lauren, Colin, Chris, Me, Finn- who was supposed to have been in bed like his brothers :), Kyle, Madeline and Macy.

Mid pictures, Colin decided to show Macy how he can lift weights. 

Back in Chicago, we went out Saturday night with my brother Kyle, his wife Madeline, brother Gavin and his girlfriend Lauren and my best friend Laurie and her husband Brian (not in the above pictures because they met us at the bar :(. 

We had appetizers at our favorite neighborhood bar, dinner at Owen and Engine and there was lots of wine flowing. 

It was really truly the most perfect night out. Now that Kyle and Madeline live downstate, not to mention we have kids, we don't all get to go out like this very often. I loved every minute of being out with this crew.

This year, in addition to feeling a little bit old, I feel unbelievably blessed. 

34

Over the weekend I turned 34 years old.

My younger brothers like to tease me about getting older but I don't care one bit. So far the 30's have been a wonderful adventure. I married my husband, had little c and will be blessed with three more sons in the next few months. No doubt this year will bring many challenges but also also many joys and laughs.

My birthday was a perfectly low key, relaxing day spent with family. In the morning, a photographer came to the house to take some family pictures and capture this big belly, then I took a long nap and for dinner we sat around the dining room table, my parents, Chris, little c and my brother G, and enjoyed my mom's homemade pizza and pudding cake (it's the best!)

I also got some fun, thoughtful gifts such as a comfy bathrobe, a new lens for my camera, some scarfs and nursing wear. 

But the very BEST present? 

That I'm 27 weeks strong into this pregnancy. The boys still seem to be very content and cozy in my belly and for that I'm so grateful. 

And one more thing that I'll remember forever which happened on my birthday. Late that night as I was just drifting off to sleep I heard little c begin to stir down the hall. Since I can't get out of bed that easily or move very quickly, I usually usually nudge my husband and he goes to see what the little man needs. Just as I was reaching over to wake Chris, I heard Colin's little voice yell, "Mama!"

"MAMA?! He's calling ME specifically?!"

Colin has been a little late with his language development and although he has many more words now, "Mama" has been a very recent development in just the last week or two. 

And still, he's never called for me in the middle of the night. Usually he just cries.

Let me tell you, I dragged my pregnant self out of bed and wobbled down the hall just as fast as I could yelling, "Mama's coming!"

He just needed a drink of milk which I gladly got for him, basking in the fact that he called MY name. 

I'm sure that many years from now, after a thousand middle of the night calls for mom, the sound of Mommy yelled by my boys won't carry the same sweetness as this first. But for now, for today, it was the icing on the cake.

It's my birthday!

(I wrote this the weekend of february 5th and then forgot to post.... can I blame my forgetfulness on turning another year older? Or maybe it was the chocolate martinis consumed....)

This weekend I turned 33 years old.... not sure what to say about that. I don't feel old per say, it's just that lately when I see someone in their early-mid twenties, they suddenly look very young.

My birthday this year was really phenomenal. Here was the schedule:

Thursday night: My parents arrive from Michigan

Friday morning:

• Kindermusic with my mom and colin
• Brunch at Toast- yum!!! Colin slept through breakfast and I got to leisurely enjoy coffee, omelet, hash browns AND a side of pancakes with my parents
• Haircut
• Manicure
• Met my husband for a drink at the local bar down the street. He looked very cute and I felt good too because I'd just had my hair and nails done. Hanging out at the end of the bar with him, sharing drinks, just the two of us reminded me of when we were dating---that was in my TWENTIES- long gone :)
• My brothers, sister-in-law and all their dogs came over and we ate pizza, drank wine, laughed and laughed and laughed. After dinner my friend and her husband came over to help us celebrate.

Saturday

• Date night with my husband!!! Although their were a few snafu's at the restaurant we chose, it was great to be out together. Oh- and I was wearing this:

I thought that my husband had already given me a birthday present when he got me a much needed camera case two weeks ago. In fact he'd stated: "This is your birthday gift".

However, to my absolute surprise, he bought me a beautiful red dress to wear when we went out to dinner.

I don't know why, but I love when he buys me dresses to wear. I guess it makes me feel beautiful and desired. It makes me feel that even though I'm mostly in jeans, sweats and t-shirts lately, that he still sees me as a beautiful woman deserving of a beautiful new dress. It wasn't a dress that I'd have necessarily picked out for myself but I loved it, it fit like a glove and I felt amazing. Out of my stay at home mom sweats and into a red dress! It felt wonderful.

Really what made this birthday so special were those that surrounded me. I LOVE my family. I am blessed to have a terrific husband, adorable son, two wonderful brothers, loving parents and amazing sister-in-laws that I'd want to be friends with even if I'd just met them on the street. I know it all sounds ridiculous and cheesy but its true. Of course, my family isn't perfect and we have our moments when we disappoint each other. However, we really do genuinely like being with one another. There is no group of people I'd rather share the moments of my life with- good or bad.

Cheers!