Week Full of Fun

It was a big week, the highlights of which included a couple of Brookie visits, some Benny sporting events, and tons of time spent playing outside. The boys and I visited Brooke on Wednesday (and Michelle and Clint too!) and it was so much fun watching the cousins interact. Joey kept kneeling down and smiling at Brookie and Brooke was fascinated by the antics of the wild beast Benjamin. We spent some time snuggling with Brooke and also hit up a park that is near Clint and Michelle's house for some play time.

Ben also started swim lessons this week...again. You may recall that Benny was a swim lesson dropout last summer so we were all a bit anxious as to how the first big day of lessons would pan out. I decided to give lessons at the Natatorium a try this year...the main reason being that the pool is indoors and the water temperature is maintained at 83 degrees (the big reason for Ben's hatred of swim lessons last summer was the frigid water). Our first day of lessons was a HUGE success. Ben did awesome. He was very nervous before getting into the water but jumped in like a champ as soon as his teacher told him to. Dean, Joey, and I sat on the sidelines cheering him on. He had promised Brookie earlier in the day that he would show her a bunch of cool pictures of him swimming so about every 5 minutes or so he would yell over to me to "take more picture, mom!" Friday Michelle and Brooke spent the day at mom and dads so the boys and I crashed their party so we could hang out too! Brooke was a trooper as she was passed from person to person, her sweet little bottom never touching the ground. We are surely creating a monster! Dean had a race in Milwaukee this weekend so the boys and I were on our own...at least in theory, but in reality Uncle Craig ended up spending the whole day with us on Saturday! Ben's last soccer game was Saturday morning. He was thrilled to receive another trophy to add to his collection. He was perhaps equally thrilled, however, when Coach Angela treated the entire team to McDonalds after the game. We decided to top the day off with a trip to the zoo. Ben was so excited to see the new komodo dragon exhibit. Joey was enthralled with the baboons (probably because he is a monkey himself and identified with them). We also enjoyed the dolphin show, which was a first for the boys. It was a full but great week. As a final random note...Ben laid one of his classic "benisms" on me this week and it was too hillarious not to share. One night Ben was in the bathroom as I was preparing to put Joe to bed. I walked by and said "Man, Ben, your poop stinks!" To which Ben responded "Yeah it does! That is how man's poop is supposed to smell, baby!" Where does he get this stuff?

Brooke Marie Brand

My beautiful, perfect, amazing, fiesty little niece, Brooke Marie Brand (or Brookie B as I quickly dubbed her) made her entrance into the world on Sunday, May 24 at 2:54 p.m. She weighed a whooping 7 pounds 12.5 ounces and was 21 inches long. She is absolutely precious and I think looks a lot like her mommy, though it is hard to tell at this stage in the game.

Michelle was incredibe. I have never been more impressed with someone in my life. It was such an honor to witness her strength, determination, and focus. I was in Chicago for a weekend reunion with my college roomates when Michelle went into the hospital to be induced (Saturday night). She texted me at 6:45 a.m. Sunday morning to tell me that she was 3 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and having strong, regular contrations. I quickly showered and made my way toward Lafayette. I was so excited to see my sister and completely broke down when I entered her room and she was on her side looking miserable and vomiting into a little barf bag. I cried so hard that I even made the nurse tear up. She handed me kleenex and told me that she had three sisters and knew how much I loved my sister and hated seeing her hurt.

I think Clint knew how much I wanted to be with Michelle and he very kindly chose my arrival as his chance to take a break and go get some lunch. I really appreciate him giving me some time with my sister. I don't know if she even really 100% realized I was in the room, but it was such a blessing for me to watch her. She was totally in the zone and completely focused on getting through her contractions. When Clint returned I reluctantly left the room. I hated being in the waiting room knowing what Michelle was going through just down the hall, but I tried to respect the fact that she needed her husband by her side and not me. I got one more chance to spend a couple of minutes alone with her after Clint came out to tell us she was at 5 cm and had just had her water broken.

I will let Michelle share her birth story on her blog, but from my perspective the time from 5 cm to 10 cm to Brooke's birth FLEW BY! Michelle was in a tremendous amount of pain - she could not have any pain killers, including no epidural, due to a back surgery she had 8 years ago that involved placing rods in her back - but she was such a trooper. At one point when I was in the room she did look at least in my general direction and say "please, make it stop. I can't take it anymore."

All I really know is that Clint texted me at 2:40 p.m. with the short, but sweet message "pushing." His next text arrived at 3:00 p.m. and said "Baby Brooke is here and healthy." I read the text aloud in the waiting room to the cheers and tears of Brookie B's family who had eagerly been waiting for her arrival. My mom and Carmel cheered and sobbed and my dad just nodded his head with bright tears filling his eyes. It was an awesome moment...and then chaos ensued as we all began texting and calling with the news of Brooke's birth.

I couldn't wait to get back to see my sister and my new little niece. I was very selfishly frustrated that I didn't get to spend any time alone with them. In fact, my niece is now 2.5 days old and I have probably held her for about 5 minutes total! I can say however, without question, I love that little girl like she is my own. There is just something about her. I looked in her sweet face and thought, "there's my sweet girl." She is such a blessing to her family and I agree with John (Clint's dad) when he said in the waiting room after she was born that there was no telling what adventures lay in store for our girl. I can't wait to watch her grow up and be a part of her life.

I also have to say how impressed I was with my brother-in-law. Clint is a great guy, but it is no secret I am sure that I don't think anyone is good enough for my sister (sorry Clinto). Clint definitely exceeded my wildest expectations on Sunday. I was so proud of his strength and calm. He was exactly what she needed and was there for her to support her and love her every step of her labor. I love him so much for that and will always remember the way he looked at her when she was working toward delivering his daughter.

I also have never loved my sister more. She is such a beautiful, strong, brave, AMAZING woman. And now she is a mommy, too. Welcome to the club my sissy.

Fun at the Track

Today was Community Day at the track so the boys and I suckered Uncle Craig into coming with us for some fun in the sun. We had a wonderful time checking out the garages, the concession stands, the cars, and of course, the Firehawk. Joe was a fan from first sight...but was absolutely floored and completely confused when he heard Dean's voice come out of the mascot! He just stared and stared and then tried to give him a kiss! It was precious. Both boys loved the kids area that featured a bunch of bouncy things. Joe got sick of watching Ben have all the fun so he braved the bounce house and clung to the side laughing hysterically with a huge smile on his face!

Catching Up

WOW! Where has the time gone? I feel like I blinked and it is suddenly 20 days into May. Didn't we just finish April a minute ago? As fast as this month has gone, we have packed a lot into it. We wrapped up the end of Ben's spring basketball season. The Jayhawks played hard under the excellent leadership of their coach, Ben's Dad (aka Dean). Ben was awesome. He was hands down the best players on his team...says his unbiased mom. But seriously. He was. He shoots the ball well, rebounds, dribbles, plays great defense, and by far and away most important, he has a really great time!

Joe LOVES watching Benny play ball

Another trophy for the rapidly growing collection

We have also been attending lots of soccer practices and games this month. Ben is on the Bluebirds (coached by Angela Chaplin) and really enjoys playing with Kirin. His skills are not quite as pronounced in soccer, but he plays great defense! He loves being in the goal (even though there are not even supposed to be any goalies at this age) and enjoys throwing and kicking the ball in when it goes out of bounds. The after game snacks are always a hit with Benjamin!

Uncle Craig and Joe Bug checking out the action on the field

Ben's Biggest Fan!

Soccer Stud

We have enjoyed play dates with good friends at the zoo and at parks and even took Oma to the Children's Museum one morning.

A highlight for Joe Bug this month was feeding the ducks at the Broad Ripple Canal. I thought he was going to chase them right into the water!

We have also been spending a ton of time with the Chaplins, which is always a thrill for both boys.

BFFs...Ben and Kirin

Double Trouble...Joey and Trey

Joey's cheese face!

It has been a fun (but tiring) month. I forgot what a whirlwind the summer is with kids and now that school is out and we have long days of sunshine to fill up with fun, the boys and I are bound to be on the go and busy for the next 3 months. Whew. I'm already tired just thinking about it.