Amazing Life of Motherhood

The other day I was on FB sending a message to a friend. She had just had her first baby at the same hospital where all my little ones where born. I was instantly transported back to when my first child, John David, was born. Even though eight years have passed I can still remember the furniture layout in the room, the crucifix on the wall, our first sleepless night with a little one, how the pacifier is a better alternative to mommy in the middle of the night, and the first time my hubby held our swaddled bundle of joy. Back to my friend, I found my self writing to her "welcome to the amazing life of motherhood." I have kept thinking about that comment as I am surrounded by my little ones. I am truly blessed to have four little ones, and to be surrounded by their love on a daily basis. I am thankful for a wonderful hubby who gives me the opportunity to stay at home and see my little ones grow up and enjoy this amazing life. My life is pretty laid back and most of the time we have no set agenda. We do have time for reading and writing, but other than that we try to have fun. This "fun" is were I get to see my little ones develop their thinking skills, and show their individuality. Most of the time this results in some funny and crazy stories. Here are some from this week.

Emma might be the youngest, but completely understands that in a large family she has to speak up to be heard. This morning the kids and I had a play date to attend, and JP was leaving with his dad to go catch a showing of "Captain America." Emma decided to go outside to wave good-bye. Outside she says "mama, I like Captain America too." She so wanted to be the big girl and go watch a movie with daddy and grandpa. I am sure that in her head she was thinking that it was a superhero cartoon like the ones her brothers watch at home. I had to say that it was not a movie for little ones, and that parts might be scary. She said "I like Captain America I do, really." At that point all I could do was hug my sweet girl, and tell her when she got older she could watch Captain America.

Carlos has learned the power of chocolate addiction at a young age. Today at our play date the kids got some pop ice, and the mommies were having chocolate cake for dessert. Carlos ate 2 bars of pop ice but kept wanting some of my cake. He was successful in getting a couple of bites, but eventually I was out of cake. He quickly saw that there was still chocolate on another plate. I gave him a piece, and decided that it was time to clear the plates, so he could go back to playing with the other children. While I was rinsing the dishes, he actually attempted to get a piece out of the trash can. I gave him my mommy look, and he sadly walked away. Fast forward to this evening...he was the happiest little guy when he got his own slice of chocolate cake to eat. It is clear that he has inherited daddy's love for chocolate...ha!

John David is quite the helper, sometimes it is at my request, but most of the time it is self iniciated. For example, today at our play date he actually organized a bookshelf and a train table at our friend's house, on his own. He is always asking if I need any help, and if I say "no thank you" he finds ways to help on his own. Yesterday I was cleaning the dresser in my room. I was clearing all the clutter off the top. He saw that I had one item left. He picked it up and started walking away with it. I stopped him and asked him where he was going. He said he was talking the butter down to the fridge. He was holding my Palmer's Cocoa Butter. I had to explain that even though it said butter it was really lotion. He then replied "I was wondering why you had butter in your room."

I know motherhood has its ups and downs, but I must admit that most of my memories are happy ones. All those happy moments remind me of how amazing it is to be a mother, and how we must enjoy every day to the fullest!

Note: I know that this entry doesn't have a Sammy story, but it was hard to think of another good one since I just blogged about him. If I can think of one I will go back and edit.

Is the Tooth Fairy Real?

Sammy lost his first tooth today after mass. He spent this last week wiggling it and his work finally paid off. He was sooo excited to loose a tooth. After church Abuelito gave him $20 and he was excited...he said that he would have double money since the tooth fairy would come at night. I think he is already making plans on how to spend his money. He keeps talking to his brother about how much things cost, but has not asked me yet.
As he was getting ready to go to bed tonight, he asked if the tooth fairy was real. Of course I replied yes, and told him who else would bring him money. He then quickly replied "well if the tooth fairy is smaller that a dollar how can it carry it...it is way to heavy for them to carry." First of all I blame this comment on Tinker Bell and her friends. Obviously my son has watched the movies were it shows that they can not carry heavy stuff on their own. I told him then maybe he would get a quarter, and he said that was "still too heavy, and that even a penny is too heavy for a little fairy. Then I asked him, why the fairy is small, and he said "duh, how else is it going to get under my pillow." You know I had to keep myself from busting out laughing, and keep my serious face on.
The older brother, said he had an idea that maybe the parents give the money. I said why would parents do that. He said to make kids happy. Sammy then said, "what would mom do with the tooth?" John David said that "parents keep them in a special, secret place." Of course I told them to stop being silly, and told him that if he didn't believe in the tooth fairy then next time he wouldn't get any money. He then replied that he was just kidding. Mental note, must make sure my secret hiding spot has not been found, or better yet just in case must find new spot.
John David keep being himself and kept pushing the same issue but with Santa Claus. Really he is only 8....I thought I still had another couple of years. If he knows then Sammy will too. My boys are to young to stop believing...sniff, sniff. Hopefully we will be able to have another round of Santa in our house this year. I just love watching them set out the milk and cookies, and then watching them find their presents in the morning. Not ready for this tradition to end. Once again another sign that kids grow up way too quick, must remember to savor every minute with my little ones.

WD-40 to the rescue!

Let me start by saying that my boys just recently discovered the joys of gum! We have started sessions on how to blow bubbles, and pop gum in your mouth. I have to admit that they mainly try to pop my bubbles, but it is summer and it helps pass the time. Sammy will even pick gum for his dessert over ice cream. Gum is like any other dessert in our house, and they have to ask for permission. I give that permission more freely than my hubby. He doesn't think they need to be chewing gum. I tell him they are kids and to let them be.
Since I have four kids it is fair to say that I have seen and heard a lot of things. The amount of entertainment provided by my kiddos is endless and priceless. Let me state that not all people living under this roof with me, would think this is entertainment. After dinner tonight Carlos said something new, "mom my gum got really small." That should have been a big clue, but i just thought that maybe he had swallowed some of the gum. I continued washing dishes and told him to go wash up and get ready for bed. A minute later Sammy is showing me that his sheet has gum on it. I tell him leave it here and I will take care of it. I quickly run to the internet to google how to remove gum. Find a couple of mentions of ice and WD-40, and decided to give WD-40 a try. As I am cleaning I hear Sammy telling my hubby upstairs that Carlos got gum on his sheet. Anyone who knows my hubby can visualize with me the disapproving look he was probably giving Carlos as Sammy told on him.
The gum has been completely removed by WD-40 and now the sheet is in the wash. My kids have gone to bed, and my sweet hubby has not mentioned anything about my evening's entertainment. I am just waiting till he does, because I am sure he is going to say that is one of the reasons he doesn't want them chewing gum.
On another note...the internet is a huge reference for all the great stains my kids stumble upon. Don't know what I would do with out it.