Perfect Day

Not every day goes like this but today has just been so perfect.  The kind of perfect where you find yourself wondering what on earth you ever did to deserve your children and then you realize there is nothing and you just feel so blessed.

Basically, Joe is just done for.  I know she's our but just look at this face! I can't take this little one :o)

We started out with me coming to the realization that one hour is just not enough time to get out of the house these days if I don't want to feel stressed.  Getting the kids up and out of bed, nursing Grace, feeding Joey, showering and getting myself ready, diaper changes all around, getting both kids dressed, packing bags, snacks, water, etc. and loading two babies in the car ... is my new normal.  Joey fed himself breakfast and Grace played on her play mat while I showered (fast and with the door open of course :o).  I was lucky today.

Joey had his gym class and Grace was having trouble eating.  Grace comes with us, of course, and sits on the counter and watches or snoozes.  A hungry baby does not work well in this situation and I contemplated skipping and going to a makeup on the weekend but we pressed forward.

Gracie girl nodded off in the car and J and I sang songs and talked.  Our conversations are becoming so fantastic.  He is just so funny and smart and is making his own new connections all the time.  We were singing "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and got to the point "Jesus Christ is born"

...Joey stops and ..*crickets* ...
Joey: Is Grace born?
Me: Yes, Grace is born! Good job honey! (excited that he is actually thinking about what he is singing)
Joey: Mommy, are you born?
Me: Yes I'm born.  Everybody who is alive is born.
Joey: Is Grace born, Mommy? .... At the doctor?
Me: Yes honey. Remember Mommy was at the hospital?
Joey:  Is Joey born? .... Is Jesus born... at the doctor?
.... I let him have that one :o)

Joey was FANTASTIC at class.  He stayed where he should during circle time and followed along with all motions, he geared up and then yelled his name out when asked and had the whole gym laughing and clapping for him, he volunteered to be today's helper, encouraged the other kids, waited wonderfully for his turns, and was just overall perfect.  While he is doing well in class, it doesn't normally go this well.  A couple of the parents who were new today for the fall session asked me if Joey has been going there for a long time.  My heart swelled because I know what this means.  Joe and I talked about the kids who had it all together, the kids who "must have been going there a long time" after Joey's first class.  I have to admit that, as his mother, it's just hard not to love the fact that everyone fawns all over him and loves him, even the other parents.  He's not perfect, but he can turn on the charm and everyone seems to be so taken with him. It makes me so happy to see.

Master stacker .. and he likes things in order.

Gracie lady was perfect today too.  She sat on the counter and garnerd complements about how perfectly behaved and alert she is. She hung out for the first 55 minutes while people stopped to talk to her and let their daughters steal a peak and grandmothers told me about how their daughters have new babies at home, but not ones like Grace.  They say I'm lucky and I know it's true.

We left class and went to Target for a special treat. Gracie slept and Joey and I shared pita chips and roasted red pepper hummus.  Gatorade for him and soda for me.  We spent an hour and a half in Target and both kiddos were wonderful.  Joey helped me pick out clothes and Grace ended up perched on my arm holding my necklace as she does for the latter part of our trip.  It struck me how much J is becoming more of a companion than a baby.

Notice the (loose) patterning he has going on with no prompting.

We came home and Joey played with his new little blocks we picked up from the dollar bin. I fed Grace and took some pictures of her in the tutu Joe helped me make last night. He cut the strips of tulle for me :o).  Not every little girl has a Daddy who helps her Mommy make her tutus.  After food was in everyone's tummy Joey went up for a nap and I set Grace down for minute while I put my lunch together.  I came back in to snuggle her and found this.

Seriously?! She put herself to sleep.  These kids are the best.