Glen

I love my sweet Glen. My horse loving, hug giving, talking up a storm boy. Glen is a very compassionate child. He will rush to give you a hug if you are crying and he wont hesitate to ask you if you are ok if he thinks you are hurt. I can never get enough of his hugs and kisses.
Glen has such a love for learning. He is so excited to do his homework every day like daddy. Daddy works on computer programming and Glen works on phonics. "Ocapus starts "O" says ah" What a smart little guy.
Glen loves to jump on the trampoline with mommy, run, read horse books ("Go wibrary, get horse books.") wrestle with daddy, and play with his cousins. Last night he was running all over the house and outside non-stop for almost an hour. Grandpa said we should put him in track as soon as possible. I swear Glen never runs out of energy.
Glen is also a night owl. I put him to bed around 8:00 and he almost never goes to sleep before 10:00 or later. He just lays in bed reading, softly talking or singing, or just staring at the ceiling. At least he is quiet so Benjamin can sleep. Sometimes when I go in there to check on the boys and Glen is still awake he tells me "Shh, Benjamin sleeping." Glen loves his brother so much. I am so grateful for my sweet Glen and his hugs and kisses.

Benjamin

Oh how I love this sweet boy of mine. Glen has always been a daddy's boy big time, but Benjamin is a mama's boy all the way. Though he spreads his smiles more evenly now, they used to be just for me. I love when he crawls into my lap and buries his face in my hair, I love how he reaches out to me and holds on so tight when he is in my arms, almost like he is asking me to never let go. Benjamin has such a loving personality. He loves to cuddle and play, he is patient and he loves to smile. Benjamin loves life. He loves to be outside watching people, he loves animals, especially dogs, and he adores his big brother. I am amazed that such a little person can be full of so much love. No wonder we are told to be as little children, where else can you get so close to perfection in mortality?

Sleepy Head

There is something very special about a sleeping child. It's not just that the kid is finally asleep and now the house is quiet for a little while, but a sleeping child is serene and lovely. There are tender moment as you hold your sleeping new born, scary moments after nightmare, funny times when he talks in his sleep or you find her but sticking up in the air (Ruffley butt tights and all :)
Some times I sneak into the boy's room and I hold one of them for a few minutes, just to hear them breath, to feel their warmth, and have a few minutes of squirm free cuddle time. I must admit I get as much comfort from them at times as they get from me.

I want to create a sleep book for my kids. A collection of my favorite sleep pictures. I will put poems, stories, or sayings with each picture. I hope it will be a soothing night time book, but also a look at how they have grown and a reminder of how they were. I will have to really pick and choose, I have so many I would make it a novel if I didn't narrow it down to my favorites. There are all the new born pictures from the time when all they did was sleep, cute poses in the crib, funny little positions, the transfer from crib to bed, there are so many already, how will I ever choose. Here are a few of my favorites.This is one of my favorite from when Glen was a newborn. He and his cousin fell asleep right next to each other.

Glen when he is about two. He learned to take off his PJ's
I love it when they fall asleep eating. (Benjamin about 7 months)
Benjamin could sleep anywhere (6 months)
Benjamin didn't like moving to the crib, he stood up and cried until he got too tired and fell asleep like this. (9 months)
When Benjamin was a newborn we thought the light bugged him so we made him this pillow tent for him to sleep in.
Glen loves his new bed. (two years)
Glen fell asleep hugging his "eyeball car" The first night he fell asleep clutching two horse books, but I couldn't find my camera. (two years)Nap time, he pretty much played til he dropped. (two years)

Benjamin played til he dropped. (3 months)

It's worth it

A few nights ago as I tucked Glen into bed and told him I loved him he surprised me by saying back "Love you mommy." I have never heard such sweetness. I melted into a puddle right there. I picked Glen up out of his crib and held him for a few minutes longer. It is moments like this that make all of the mom struggles worth it.
Since then Glen has been asking for hugs and kisses, telling us he loves us, and I think enjoying our reaction when he does. Can I help it if I squeal and run to give him a squeeze when he says "Love you mommy," those words make my heart feel so happy, I just can't hold it all in.
In the midst of the two year old turmoil, in between all of those No!'s and tantrums there is a bit of sweetness, just enough that we keep our sanity and love it. It is the times when he says love you and gives me a hug, when Benjamin shares his binkey, when I get hurt and Glen asks if I am ok, when Benjamin smiles, it is the times like this that make me never want to trade motherhood for the world. It is times like this when it is worth it and I love it.