Summer Fever!

Whoooo, Spring is in full bloom, but around here we have Summer fever! With the warm days comes our very awesome purple plastic kiddie pool...complete with mini stairs and slide! We had two outside days in a row and the boys loved it!
Gavin is a crazy little man. It amazes me that in one short year he can climb those stairs...sometimes even skipping one to reach the top faster. Then he joyfully plummets his little body into the cold water. He loves to be outside. This is really a huge understatement. He makes his wish to go outside very clear by taking my hand and walking me to the door, or by burying his head in my legs and saying "side". I am so excited to see him communicating so well. Sometimes too well. That child can throw a big fit for sure!
Tonight we had a play date with our neighbors and niece. The kids acted like they had been locked up all winter long. They were laughing, loud and messy. It was our "pirate party"! Call anything a party and the kids are ecstatic! It was so windy tonight, and I don't know how they played in the water, but I guess it was worth it...they had a blast! Ethan creatively hid a bucket of "jewels" and had the kids find them. it was nice to see him sharing his loot, and I am happy to say EVERYONE went to bed easily!
So, at the Milligan house we say "Bring on Summer. We are ready to play!"

Mom, I'm Teaching Brother Everything I know!

Wow! Did I actually hear those words come out of Ethan's mouth?
Growing up, Mom always warned me that my little sis was watching everything I did...the lesson behind the statement being that I should do the right thing cause I was teaching someone younger than me. And she was right in a lot of ways...Thankfully, my little sis survived and makes wonderful choices all on her own now!
Anyway, Ethan likes to teach Gavin to talk and helps me interpret the many baby babbling. Today Ethan's interpretation was, Let's Play. I am pretty sure that Gavin just said blah blah bah bee bee, but I liked Ethan's excitement and interest in the scenario!
Gavin does watch his big brother and is more interested in what he is up to than anything else. That child can wake up in the middle of the night and ask for "E-E" (Ethan). It is so sweet to see their brotherly bond develop, and it is my hope that Ethan will teach Gavin to by as funny and creative as he is!

Take a picture of the rhino's butt

"Boys will be Boys!" is an accurate description of mine! We went to the zoo today, and it was a good time! We stopped by and said hi to the rhino's, and I was doing my good Mommy thing and taking pictures of EVERYTHING! I took a pic of a rhino and showed it to Ethan (although I knew he could see them with his own eyes)...to which he replied, "Cool, Mom, Take a picture of the rhino's butt!". So I did. Have you ever seen a rhino's butt? I have to admit they are rather funny looking, and love the little moments when I can see the humor of life through my child's eyes. Laugh on, funny man!

Storms can be pretty cool...

...Especially if you take candy into the bathtub with you while you are waiting for the tornado to pass by!
Ethan was a little nervous about the weather tonight until Daddy told him we should take a bowl of candy with us the next time we hide from the storm...and a flashlight, of course!
Sometimes our life seams a little torrential too. Richard got into a decent car wreck today. I give it a score of 6.5! The event tossed our lifeboat around a little...again. But, as I think about it all, I realize that I have some things to be thankful for in spite of it all.
I am thankful that my husband wasn't physically hurt in the wreck, and that he came home to me in one piece tonight...although I cannot say the same for the car. I am thankful that I got to take Ethan to speech today, and while waiting for him, Gavin and I went in the front of the school and found rocks. Rocks are cool to all boys, and it was so fun watching him clench those things in his chubby fists and toddle around trying to find the perfect place to throw them and then squat down to pick them back up...and then do it all again. I am thankful that just for a moment tonight, I got to sit in a lawn chair and watch my boys eat Popsicles. They were happy. I was happy. For the moment.
My life is made up of a lot of moments. A lot of them...if I pay attention, are really awesome. I am trying not to use up all my energy on the storms, but whenever I do have to experience one, I hope to remember the candy bowl!
God has a better viewpoint of all of my life's storms and I will choose to rest in that! HIS flashlight is much more dependable than mine too!

To hold, or not to hold?

I am somewhat conflicted! Ethan turned six this week, and he is changing...Again! Guess that means I need to change too! To me, he is a mixture of little boy and big boy. He still needs my help doing things sometimes, but also needs to do things for himself.
He got a new bike for his birthday. No more training wheels. As he is learning this new skill, I get to look tough and encouraging to him, but on the inside I am worried that he will get hurt. Ah the dilemma of being a Mommy...learning when to hold on and when to let go! I am not quite as tough as Dad...thank God Ethan has both of us!
The other day he told me that I was his favorite. "Yes, Ethan, I am your favorite Mom", I pointed out...and he agreed that Dad was his favorite Dad. I didn't grow up with both Mom and Dad, and I am grateful that Ethan is!
In the end, I figure a skinned knee today is an easier lesson to learn at six than at sixteen. So we are both holding on to each other, but figuring out when to let go too!...just a little at a time!

I wonder what Gavin is thinking...

Every night I say prayers with my 13 month old, Gavin. Every night after I finishing praying with him...he starts jabbering. Is he praying too? I really think that the shorter their legs the longer their wings are. Sweet little angel boy! I am so thankful that God blessed us with another son!

It looks like my booby!

Ok, I know...two posts in one day, but Ethan cracks me up! Tonight at the dinner table (a favorite time for him to entertain me), I noticed he had his shirt up and was checking out his belly button. Keep in mind the child is almost six! I asked him what was up and he showed me his belly button, and I explained that that was where the "straw" connected him to me when he was in my belly, and that was how he got his food. To which Ethan laughingly replied, I think it looks like my booby...look, I have two up here!

I can do it myself, Mom!

What happened? My firstborn "baby" is blossoming into a boy...a person who thinks, acts, and talks without much regard to me. I used to view him as an extension of myself, but no more! He is making sure that I am getting it, and I am...loud and clear! He had a hard day at school, and decided to take it out on me in front of everyone at Wal-Mart...with clenched fists and angry tears streaming down his face he showed me defiance that he felt over the injustice of not getting chips with his slushy. After marching him straight back to the car to get an attitude adjustment Ethan not only locked me out of the car, but he also buckled his own seat belt...something we have been working on for a while that he seemed to have difficulty mastering. Anger can push us to do things we thought we couldn't do...?
Fast forward to today when he was happy and in love with me again. As I opened his door to help him with the seat belt, he sweetly said, I can do it myself, Mom! And he did. And I am learning that he can. He can express himself, interact with many people, play, be creative, and the list goes on. He just needs some guidance sometimes. Just like his Mommy!

Oh Happy Day

Daddy prepped Ethan well...all day I heard, "Happy Mudder's Day, Mom!" and "You're the best Mom!" and "I love you because you let me have picnics on the carpet!". Do you think that one day Ethan will thank me for still checking in on him after he goes to sleep at night, and for taking him to the park instead of scrubbing the toilet? I hope so, but until then, I will take all the slimy kisses, rocks that I find that have been through the washer and dryer, and telling him that his dance moves are awesome.
I am so blessed to be a Mother...and still have my Mother close by! I learned so much from my Mom...in spite of myself! :) Thank, Mom! I love you and am so glad you get to see me try my hand at Motherhood.
To all: Happy Mother's Day...today and every day!