Swim Lessons!

The boys finished a week of swim lessons last week. They learned how to kick, doggie paddle and blow bubbles. They learned how to keep their mouths closed if they go under and they learned how to use a kick board. Now, here is what Mommy learned:

• After a week of lessons they still do not know how to swim (like everything else, practice and practice and more practice)


• Ryan, if given the opportunity, could spend all day jumping from the side of the pool into the water completely carefree if anyone would be there to catch him or not. I still find myself checking my pulse for heart failure and him for gills and a fin.


• Evan, ever the cautious one, took the exact opposite approach and permanently glued himself to the pool steps unless Erin the swim instructor or Mommy was exactly 1/2 inch from his grasp (he even had a ruler).


• Pools are cold at 10:00 in the morning, even in July.


• Thank God for kick boards.


• Thank God swim lessons with a 2 year old and 3 year old are only 30 minutes.


• Thank God they are over.

But when all is said and done the lessons were great. I think they learned a few tricks but like I mentioned before it's going to take practice, repetition and consistency. Just like everything else with these kids once is not enough. But I know eventually they will get it and until then when it comes to water safety I will probably be my usual neurotic self constantly watching, and holding on to them forever wanting to keep them safe. Even if they don't know it as they continue to grow up on me a little bit more each day!!

Mommy goes on Vacation

A few weeks ago I was able to go spend a "Mommy Free" beach getaway down to the Outer Banks to see my cousin Lori. I had such a wonderful time breaking out of my routine and kicking back in the sand and surf. And just like all stay at home Mom's who eat sleep and breathe mommy hood I only checked on the kids and their dad about 17 times a day. Pretty good huh? I think so too.

It was great to be a way for a few days, but I learned that though I was technically off duty I can never turn off my Mommy switch. I realized this every time I saw little toddler boys playing on the beach. I would gaze at them, missing Evan and Ryan more than I thought would. Later at night, out having fun at a local beach pub, I would see families come in all freshly sun kissed from a day at the beach and I would miss my family even more. But that is okay. Because I know now more than ever how lucky I am. I am lucky to have the opportunity to take a break and spend time with my cousin who I love dearly. I was lucky to be able to unplug for a few days, sleep in a little and enjoy a nice cold beer at lunch time. I was lucky enough to put my feet in the sand and inhale the ocean as it's one of my favorite places to be. And most important I am so lucky to have Evan Ryan and Chris waiting for me at the airport full of smiles and full of love as Mommy came home.

Happy 4th!!!

Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Holiday weekend. Happy Birthday America.

God bless!!!

Hi Cousin!!

Hi Jackson,

It's Evan and Ryan...Your older cousins. Boy can we not wait to get our hands on you little man. Guess what we will show you!! All kinds of cool stuff. We have learned that our owners ( Mom and Dad) are pretty much push overs....well at least Mom is Dad can be somewhat irritating with his whole "you are going to get a spanking" routine but we are learning how to try and avoid those as much as possible. Don't worry we will show that and much more. Probably our favorite trick is called "let's have a poop party in our crib". Man, that was so much fun. Mom and Dad had the craziest faces that day. Really sometimes they are so dramatic. But again you will learn how to finagle your way out of just about anything, especially before your teeth come in because for some reasons these grown up's can't seem to resist a toothless grin. Boy were we pissed when our teeth came in but you move on and discover other cute attributes that you can use to your advantage (the naked hiney seems to work the best). Oh and here are a few more things we will show you as you get older and come in to your own:

*Teething - why screaming for 8 hours straight is totally cool.

* The art of Explosive diapers 101. Supplies provided.

*Spitting up - How to do it only when your owner has just changed their shirt or better yet, on or near their mouths. Hehehe....Ahhh...good times...good times....

*Learning to walk - How to fake out your owners with a "pretend fall" and watch them hurdle a sofa with their arms outreached in one big blur of panic as they try and catch you. It's Awesome!!!

*Learning the word "No" and saying it 500 times a day in squeaky voices.

*Endless Disney movies. How to find them on TV at any time... any day.....any where!!

And so much more to show you but that should do it for now. Now in our owners defense we will say that their is always plenty of hugs, kisses, snuggles, boo boo repairing, book readings, wardrobe changing and sometimes some unfortunate off key singing of Twinkle Twinkle little star. But it's the thought that counts.

Welcome to the world our dear friend and cousin. As you can tell, we can't wait to get our hands on you

Much Love,

Evan and Ryan

He is Here. Welcome Jackson!!!

Ten fingers and ten toes.... big brown eyes and beautiful dark hair. My sister and her husband Jason welcomed their first child into the world today. A son, Jackson Hayes Saine. And as his aunt I am more than biased.... I am over the moon. I am filled with such a wonderful feeling of grateful blessings that everyone is healthy and happy. My sister had a bit of a tough delivery that ended up in a C-section. She is tired and of course sore, but already I can see the look of love on her face. Before she went to sleep after a second does of pain killers she muttered to me about how if anyone messes with Jackson when he is older she "just won't stand for it." And my heart fills with love, because she get's it now.... She is where I have been for the last three and a half years. My twin sister and I are Mommies and it doesn't get much better than this. I am so utterly happy for them and already so in love with an 8 lb 23 inch little man who has no idea yet how loved he is going to be.

Welcome beautiful baby Jackson Hayes Saine. We love you so much!!!

Our Vacation To Cocoa Beach

My Ryan Then and Now but still the Same.

My early bird. 7 weeks exactly. Came into this world before he was really ready and on days I still think he is mad about that. He has this spitfire little way about him that Evan never had. But just when I find myself starting to compare the personality traits in my boys I stop and remember that as their mother that's really not my job. Well most of the time it's not my job. Instead I feel that a big part of my job is nurturing their differences and teaching them to be okay in their own skin and encouraging them to just be themselves. Evan is a lot like me. He has this sensitive side to him that I can relate to. I worry about his heart getting broken when he is a teenager and some girl crushes him (more about an idea brewing in my head on how to keep the boys from dating and driving until they are 25 in a later post).
But My Ryan, he is all together different. He always has been and probably always will be, and yet the thing is I am in awe of him. From the moment he came into this world early he has been a fighter. He fights for what he wants, he is strong he is a leader he is funny and sweet and somewhat of a bully at times but that's just who he is. We are into the two's right now with Ryan and there is no hiding the fact that he is a hard two year old. His stubborn streak is really starting to shine and has been really giving me a run for my money. But so did Evan, and so do all two year olds and I find myself still wanting to treat Ryan with kid gloves. He was early.....5 pounds when he was born via emergency C section on a rainy Saturday night. I only saw him for a few seconds before they whisked him away to the NICU and I could hear his breathing, labored almost rattling like a bird. Lungs they said, his lungs needed to be checked out first of all. His lungs, his ability to take in air and breathe. But his lungs were good. Only 24 hours on oxygen and much to the NICU nurses surprise he was okay breathing on his own after that. My Ryan, my fighter. I still remember the fist time I saw him laying in the NICU so small all ready hooked up to tubes and wires. He was sleeping of course but I overheard one of the NICU nurses comment on for being so early he was a feisty little dude. Yup, that's him, My Ryan. My heart, my insides, my hell on earth on some days but in a nutshell my everything. In awe of him is an understatement. I you could fall in love with your own child more and more every day that might sum it up. He's hard to like sometimes....But so easy to fall in love with again and again again and again. My Ryan....my sweet baby......I love you so.
Mommy