Extra Lucky

Overheard on the way to Home Depot:

Champ: "Mom, why do you have two boys?"

Me: "Because I'm lucky."

Champ: "Well, you're gonna be extra lucky, cause you're gonna have THREE boys!"

Oh, the sweetness of a 4 year old. Sometimes they really wow you with the wonderful things that they say. (Almost makes me feel guilty for the sarcastic intentions of my "I'm Lucky" remark.)

Champ is absolutely convinced that we're having a boy. He really won't even entertain the option that the baby might be a girl. When I commented later that I'll be lucky to have a baby girl too, because all babies are special and we're lucky to have them, Champ disagreed. However, I think that when the baby comes he'll be super happy no matter what it is. He's one of those kids with "baby joy", he sees them and gushes about how cute and little they are. Other moms think he's adorable and I hear all the time what a great big brother he is/will be. And I agree, Champ is a big sweetie.

Bear thinks we're having a girl, because naturally they must disagree about it. Although I don't think Bear really even understands what all this baby nonsense is about, and I'm a little nervous about his reaction when the time comes. There are probably a ton of books I can buy about it, but I'm really not that kinda mom. He's kind of waffling between being a big boy and being my baby. He still has that wonderful baby fat, which makes him completely irresistible, but he really wants to be a big boy too. He recently started potty training himself. Just hopped right on and pooped. It was a little shocking, and I'm not really giving it a lot of time. When he asks to go, we put him up there. I don't want to be one of those suckers who works for a year an a half on the potty training. I might not be giving my child what he "needs" but who really wants to spend their days cleaning underwear? I have enough laundry as it is...

But I digress. Baby fever is getting high around here, which is a little disconcerting because it is 3 and half months away yet, and I'm really not ready to be a mom to 3! And my husband turns an awful shade of pale green whenever I remind him of how far along I am. You'd think that would be something he could keep track of given my expansion... Funny story, he asked the nurse about contractions and when to bring me to the hospital at our last appointment. She was a little amused that he wanted to know so early (I'm only 23 weeks), but that's the kind of guy he is. He'll probably ask at every appointment we go to from now on. Meanwhile, I'm just getting fatter and more uncomfortable and even though I shouldn't, I can't help but freak out about weight gain. But that doesn't stop me from eating whatever I darn well please... bring on the spicy chicken wings!

Absentee Blogger

So, I've totally been on hiatus, huh? Don't be angry with me, I've been busy. With what? I guess I can't say. Just life. It's been hectic. When my husband and I were pregnant with our first child we assumed that our lives would be less busy, we'd travel less and just be home more. So not true. Life continues at the same frantic pace, and you're left dealing with the stress of having to drag your kid along.

I've also had a couple things going on that I haven't necessarily wanted to blog about, as this blog was quickly discovered by my Dad and more recently by at least one of my younger sisters and my Mom. Isn't it interesting that I'm comfortable venting and revealing personal details to strangers, but am not really interested in sharing my thoughts with my family? I've already censored my thoughts and "stuff" a lot... and now knowing that my whole family is privy to it all makes me feel like a teenager who's Dear Diary has been passed around. I guess I could ask them not to read it, but know them and thereby know they'd read it anyway. So here I am, stunted in my creative endeavor.

Anyway, one of the things I "could not" blog about is my pregnancy. Yay! I'm having a baby! It's nice to say that. I'm not terribly superstitious about the 1st trimester thing, at least I wasn't in the past. Had I been blogging during my first and second pregnancy, I'm certain I would've said something much sooner. As it is, I'm about 18 weeks now and haven't been terribly public about it. We told our families right away and I've been telling friends when I see them, but as a "blogger" and on Facebook I haven't wanted to say anything. I'm sure some of my FB friends could guess, but I'm just not certain I want it out there. Is that strange? Maybe it's because I've done this all before and have 2 beautiful and healthy boys that I realize how delicate it all is and know that anything can go wrong. Maybe as I've gotten older I've become less comfotable with being the center of attention. Maybe I was so surprised by it that it's taken me extra long to wrap my brain around it all. Maybe it's because I know this is my last pregnancy that I want to keep it mine, keep it all to myself, keep it private and special. I don't know...

But now I feel comfortable talking about what's been in my head for so long. So, I'm due October 8th, and won't find out the baby's sex. We didn't find out with the boys, and I see no reason to find out this time either. I told my husband that if I know, I'll just start shopping, and we really don't need that, do we?

Three is daunting, huh? Maybe it's just me, but it makes me nervous. I know my husband is freaking out, but what doesn't he freak out about? It's that whole "we'll be out-numbered" thing. I have a hard time getting 2 into bed, I just can't imagine having another one in the queue. Or maybe with the boys turning 5 and 3 it'll be easier than when Champ was just 2 and Bear was a newborn. Awww, aren't I cute? I'm trying to talk myself out of a panic attack...

Anyway, I hope to be posting more, but really can't make any promises about it. It might not be interesting or funny, because I'm only funny when I'm hammered and, sadly, no booze for me. See, I love my baby! (But this is the last one because, damn, I love my wine.)

Bathroom Humor

You know it's time to get your kids out of the tub when you hear:

"Heeey! Don't put your finger in my butt!"

(To protect the innocent, and disgusting, I won't reveal who said it or whose finger I scrubbed raw.)

Overheard in My Kitchen

"Champ, you can blow yourself."

Pause

*SNORT!*

-Me, to Champ, after listening to him whine about needing me to blow on his tomato soup.

Deep Thoughts: The Snuggie

I know, I know. I feel like I'm officially on the bandwagon now. But this Snuggie-mania is out of control. People are rabid for it, in a completely mocking "I-can't-wait-to-tell-my-friends-that-I-bought-one-everyone-is-gonna-pee-their-pants" kinda way. Personally, I'm not so enthused. It's not that I don't get it, duh, it's just not that funny to me. And here's why:

Isn't it just a backwards bathrobe? This occurred to me when, after I put on my robe, my son asked me to put his blanket around his shoulders and commented "I wish my blanket had arms." Apparently the creator of the Snuggie also has a 4 year old.

So yeah, Snuggies are lame. We all knew this already. But my 4 year old really wants one, and I'm willing to bet my mother does too. So maybe they are onto something.

UPDATE:

Now, like I said, I'm late to this Snuggie craze, and apparently my thoughts on this are not original (lots of naughty words on this video, not for pussies):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h05ZQ7WHw8Y&feature=related

Janeabelle's Top Ten List About Being Home Alone

10. The quiet that enables one to finish a thought, write a list, read an email.

9. Napping.

8. Not having to meet demands, answer questions, and say no!

7. Vacuuming without screams, panic and 2 young boys trying to beat the vacuum to death with golf clubs.

6. Picking up around the house without having to worry about everything being taken out again or a new mess being created behind you.

5. Watching TV without interruptions.

4. Reading. Not the same page over and over, but actual progress.

3. Eating without anyone mooching half of it off or plate or gagging so loudly and persistently that you can't even eat it anymore.

2. Taking a shower and putting on lotion without having to worry about anyone barging in and asking you what "those hanging things" are.

1. How nice it is to have them all come back home again.

Octuplets

Wow. Octuplets. Can you even imagine? How incredible and insane and amazing to have 8 babies growing inside you. The human body is an amazing thing to be capable of such a feat.

This woman, Nadya Suleman, who recently became famous for giving birth to octuplets is not, I believe, a bad person. I admire her courage. I admire her for not "selectively reducing" her pregnancy. She may, however, have some issues with attachment and love, but I don't think that she's a bad mother because of it. She may not be able to give those babies everything in the world, but it seems that she loves them, and their 6 other siblings, very much.

I find fault with the media in this situation, who have vilified this woman. Made her out to be insane, incapable, and fame-hungry. I'm also disgusted that companies like Huggies, Inafamil, Graco and the like have publicly said they will not be helping this woman with donations for her new brood. Maybe we don't agree with her decisions, don't understand why she's choosing to create such a large family with little help, and maybe in our eyes this situation is not one we would want to be in, but are these companies and the media punishing the mother and as a result hurting the babies? That's what I see. I see a family who could desperately use some help from all over, but because of the unconventional circumstances, those who are in a position to help are pulling away.

It's discrimination, and it disgusts me. These poor little babies don't deserve to be neglected. The mother should have considered her circumstances before going ahead with the decision to create so many babies, but regardless of how they arrived on this planet, all babies are a gift from God and should be treated as such.

I don't know, I may change my mind about some of these details later, but I won't change my mind about this woman needing help, and I will forever be ashamed of those who turned their backs on her.

Pray for her and all 14 of her children.

Still Alive

Yeah, I'm still around. My husband and I went on a little vacation last weekend to Scottsdale, AZ. Technically, my husband was there for a conference and I really didn't see much of him, but it was still lovely. I should note that we left the children behind. I threw some Cheerios down. They were fine.

We went out to dinner every night. I spend loads of time in bed. I showered and did my hair every day. I shopped alone and scored a pair of divine Michael Kors zebra striped heels for only $40. I toured the most beautiful place on earth, and my future home, Sedona. It was absolutely restorative, particularly the Sonoran Sands Body Scrub & Massage.

Now I'm back, and after only 7 days that vacation feels like it was months ago. All that sleep that I thought I was storing up on, completely wiped away. Sigh. Anyway, I've been trying to muster up my creative juices to blog a little, but I guess I don't have any... So I'm going to lame-out and make a little list of things that I like.

• I like sunshine & being outside. Who knew? I'm kind of a couch potato and I'm as shocked by this news as the rest of you.
• I like having a giant mug of hot chocolate just sitting on my counter, like all day. I reheat it at least a dozen times managing to take a few sips before getting pulled away to the next disaster.
• I like reading other people's blogs, but only if they're really snarky, bitchy & funny.
  
• I like my husband's whims & odd quirks. Dude doesn't often come out of his shell, but when he does, we're having a good time and spending money (another thing I like).
• I like reading. I really prefer chic-lit and romance novels. Escapist stuff. But I'm in a book club and I've read a lot of really interesting books that I never would have picked out. That's the point of book clubs I suppose.
• I like cooking and eating and drinking. I like to do that with friends and wish we went to or threw dinner parties. Not exactly in that place in our lives, but one day.
• I like taking pictures of flowers and nature. I suppose it's easier than taking pictures of people, but the color of a flower and the way it's captured can be so remarkable to me.
  

Prickly Pear Cactus; Twisty Red Bark; Juniper Berries
Pictures from Sedona, AZ

• I like fresh sheets. The smell that envelops you and the crispness. Just thinking about it makes me want to strip my bed and get washing right now.
• I like my Facebook page. I like updating my status and I love that friends tell me they think I'm funny or interesting. I had a friend who made her status: "Melissa is wondering if anyone else checks facebook sometimes just to see what Janabelle has posted for her status. Always hilarious, S!!" This made my day. I still smile about it.
• I like watching my 2 year old suck his thumb. He's so sweet.
• I like Disney movies, obviously not the same one 17 days in a row as the viewers in my house are wont to do, but Disney is so funny!
• I like the quiet of my house when everyone is napping.
• I like opening all the windows on the first spring day (soon, very soon!).
• I like collecting recipes, especially for desserts.
  

In Sedona, my future home.

Something to Think About

This evening after a delicious dinner of fajitas, I was serving the boys pudding cups. I accidentally dropped one cup, and it opened a bit, leaking some pudding onto the floor. My 4 yr old promptly stepped in it (duh) and was sent upstairs for new socks.

As he came down he asked, "Was that my pudding you spilled?"

I said no, because knowing that question was coming, I gave it to his brother who would never know the difference (can't wait for that day to come), and Champ just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Okay."

I chuckled to myself because he's so predictable, and then it occurred to me, "Oh my God, children are natural liberals!"

As long as he wasn't affected or getting less, he really didn't care about the spill. Just like all those people out there who don't care that some people will be taxed more, as long as their slice of the pie remains intact, they don't care who gets hurt.

So very, very interesting.

Simple minds, I guess.

Anyone Have a Rock that I can Crawl Under?

So, I'm on Facebook all day. Seriously. ALL DAY. I'm not ashamed of this, but I know it's ridiculously excessive. I have a lap top, and I leave it open in my living room. When I have a spare second I check out my page, my email, Perez Hilton. I'm not sitting in front of it nonstop, but I do check it a lot.

Anyway, I don't really like to Instant Message my friends because I know I don't really enjoy it when people IM me. Facebook is kinda my alone time, my time to veg out and do my own thing. However, if I see my husband pop up on my available friends list, I'm totally going to IM him. And I did it today.

"Hey bitch." Heehee, I crack myself up.

"Meeting with Mr. Big Game, don't write again." He writes back.

Whoops! So I shut him down and didn't think much of it, until he called me later.

"So, I was in a meeting with Mr. Big Game, the Doctor, and Ms. Smarty-Pants, showing them how Facebook can be a useful marketing resource..." Begins my husband.

*Dreadful-sinking-feeling-in-stomach-and-all-over-body-flush-resulting-in-nervous-laughter*

"Was your computer screen projected?" Omg, I might hurl.

"Yes..."

*Hurling*

Luckily, this is something that my husband is capable of laughing about, and we laughed a lot! He's been with me long enough to know that I'm a total nut-job, and he's not really embarrassed by me or what I have to say.

"Well, at least I didn't ask you what you were wearing..."

The Happy Homemaker's Survey

I love filling little surveys out. They're not terribly original, I know, but are revealing none-the-less. And when I saw this in June's archives, I knew I had to fill it out. The questions are HILARIOUS.

DO YOU WEAR AN APRON?
Most often with nothing underneath. Oh, I mean, yes, I have one, but I don't wear it. I think aprons are really cute, in theory, but have yet to find one that fits well.

FAVORITE THING TO BAKE?
I like to bake cookies and brownies, but don't do it very often. Seriously, my husband and I don't have much will power when it comes to baked goods.

CLOTHESLINE?
No. Especially since I read that allergens attach themselves to fabrics hanging outside. My husband and son both suffer from allergies. There's not much one can do to prevent that, but bringing allergens IN is not wise.

DONUTS?
(Does this question seem kinda random to anyone else?) I like the classic Old-fashioned glazed donuts. The ones at Starbucks are super yummy. We also like those mini powdered donuts. When I was pregnant with Champ, I'd eat them by the box. Also very good after a night of heavy drinking.

ONE HOMEMAKING THING YOU DO EVERYDAY?
I'm pretty obsessive with wiping down my counter tops. I love Clorox Wipes. I used to sweep obsessively, but kinda don't care anymore. Now I'm really anal about toys & kid clutter. I really spend a lot of time keeping all of their shit where it belongs. Stuff has a way of getting all over the house. Anyone seen Toy Story? The scene where the little troops are doing recon and the Mom comes out of the kitchen and is like "Ug, I thought I told him to put these toys away?"... yeah, I really don't have a hard time believing that they move on their own.

DO YOU HAVE A SEPARATE DEEP FREEZE?
We have an extra fridge in the garage. It's full of milk, Diet Coke, and beer. We also have a big freezer, it's pretty full. The power to it went out two summers ago and it broke my heart to throw all that food away.

GARBAGE DISPOSAL?
Yes. I've had a couple incidents with it that required a 24 hour plumber. (Who actually has a plumbing emergency during business hours?)

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOMEMAKING RESOURCE?
My Mom, my laptop, my friends.

IRONING?
I used to iron before I had kids, but now I won't do it. First of all, who has the time? Second, I'm TERRIFIED one of the boys would pull the hot iron off the board. I dry clean everything that won't look nice out of the dryer. I should also mention that I don't wear clothes that really require ironing.

DO YOU HAVE A JUNK DRAWER?
Yes, in the kitchen. I hate it. Wish I could get rid of it for good, but where else would I put my rubber bands, matches, tape, twist ties, thumb tacks, little labels, random office supplies that I definitely thought I would find useful, candy, markers, broken toys, expired coupons, Pez dispensers, pencils that need to be sharpened, paperclips, etc etc...

KITCHEN DESIGN?
It's pretty boring. We moved in 2 years ago, and every 6 months or so I VOW that this will be the year that we get it all painted. It's brown, along with almost every other wall the original owners hired chimps to paint for them. At the risk of offending all the people out there who love brown, I fucking HATE it. It's okay during the day when the sun is out, but later in the afternoon and at night, it's like a cave. I'm thinking yellow, and there's a big wall by our table that I'd love to put a neat yellow striped wall paper on. My husband thinks I'm nuts, but I think it'll be great. In 2015. When it's finally done.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT HOMEMAKING?
Well, I pretty much bounced from job to job for quite a while, not really living up to my full potential. I just knew in my heart that sleeping in and watching soaps was what I was born to do. And I did pay $30,000 per year for my MRS degree, I figured it was time to get serious about that. So, here I am. Sitting on my thrown, listening to my beautiful children play happily with each other, the scent of my 5 course dinner, being lovingly prepared by my personal chef, wafting through the air...

DO YOU USE A MOP?
I use a Swiffer Wet Jet. Actually I just use the pads and have a spray bottle with Mr. Clean and a splash of bleach that I spray all over the floor. Does the job, I guess.

NYLONS?
The last time I wore nylons was because I was FORCED to. That's a long story. I could possibly be talked into telling it, but I'd have to be a little drunk.

DO YOU USE THE WINDOW OR OPEN THE DOOR TO PEEK INTO THE OVEN?
I open the door.

PIZZA?
Thin crust with pepperoni, onions, mushrooms and black olives.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET A QUIET MOMENT?
I'm sorry, I didn't hear your question... it's a little loud, wait, let me go into another room. Oh! Of course, quiet time. Yeah. Hmmm... it's been awhile. So long that I don't remember it. I'll have to get back to you on this.

DO YOU HAVE A RECIPE CARD BOX?
No. I have a little binder with recipes in it. I also have a coupon type file sorter full of recipes that I've pulled from magazines that I'd like to try. All divided into categories like poultry, red meat, pasta, sides. Really easy to find a new chicken recipe when I'm looking to do something different. If I make it and like it, I'll put it in my little book.

STYLE OF HOUSE?
Um, is Battle Ship a style? It's a tri-level. The outside is gray... I don't think it's a pretty house at all, but it's what's inside that counts, right? (Poopy brown walls, not with standing.)

TABLECLOTHS & NAPKINS?
No. Are you kidding? I have 2 little boys and a husband. But I do have some very cute place mats and cloth napkins that reside in a drawer and have been out twice. I love them too much to feed the animals off of them.

UNDER THE SINK? ORGANIZED VS TOXIC WASTELAND?
Pretty organized. Just dish soap, wash clothes, Clorox Wipes, and some extra hand sanitizer under there. All of our cleaning supplies are up so high that I need a step stool to reach them. My husband is pretty anal about home safety, and I guess I can't argue with him about protecting our children from ingesting poisonous chemicals, right?

HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK DO YOU VACUUM?
Another thing I used to be super anal about. We have a Newfoundland dog who sheds like crazy. I used to vacuum like crazy, but 3 or so years ago we started having her hair cut short (which is a big no-no in the Newfie breeding community). As a result, not so much hair everywhere. Also, my vacuum is kinda crappy. It's a hand-me-down and is really starting to suck... well, actually, NOT suck is more like it. I was desperately hoping for a Dyson for my birthday or Christmas. I even told my 4 year old that I wanted a vacuum, and anyone with a 4 year old knows that they are like a dog with a bone on topics like that. Alas, husband is deaf and didn't get the message.

HOW MANY LOADS OF LAUNDRY PER WEEK?
I really try to do laundry everyday. It's a nightmare if you get behind. It used to drive me crazy that my mom had so much laundry just sitting and sitting and sitting in the laundry room. But now I kinda get it. Once you're behind it's so hard to catch up. And she had 5 times the children I do, that's 10 kids for those of you not paying attention. Shit. Can you IMAGINE that? Seriously, I know what it looks like. It's NOT pretty. Also, it may seem like the boys have a lot of clothes, but they really don't. I have to do wash often if I don't want them to look like dirty orphans.

DO YOU KEEP A DAILY LIST OF THINGS TO DO AND CROSS THEM OFF?
Not really. Occasionally I'll make a list of things I want done over the weekend so my husband knows what I expect to be accomplished. Rarely does it all get done. I do have a list of little things to do, but it's been around for MONTHS and it's become part of the scenery. I don't even "see" it anymore.

WHO DOES THE YARD WORK?
Oh, Gardener takes care of all that. He's also rather clever in the sack...

WHAT'S YOUR NIGHT TIME ROUTINE?
Wash out my wine glass, make sure the dishwasher is on, make sure the beasts haven't migrated out of bed and onto the floor, take my vitamins, read for a while, and pass the fuck out.

Geese Suck

Particularly if a comforter full of their feathers explodes in a dryer. It's like someone shot a fucking bird in my basement. As if the dust bunnies needed the competition...


UPDATE:

I would like to thank my friend C for saying that things like this only happen to me. I was beginning to suspect that and am relieved it's not residual pot-paranoia, but instead, the far graver reality of my life.

FYI, I've scooped up as many feathers as my patience allowed and am ignoring the rest. Seeing as this happened in my basement, I'm not so concerned. They will give the cat something to do after pooping, or in the event that we get a mouse, will help him establish a cozy home. One day I will shop-vac the bejezus out of the basement, but not today. I'm busy drinking.

Deanna Pappas: Fame Whore

Yeah, I said it. You know you were thinking it. Seriously, first she dumps poor Jason and then when he gets his own show, she shows up. Because she's the type who wants her cake and wants to eat it too. What a bitch.

You know what else I'm thinking? I love ABC. Seriously. Not only have they come up with The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, they "scour" the country for the biggest fame whores and hot men (who are also whores) who are conveniently willing to find love. On TV. On a private jet. In the Bahamas. With a Doctor/Prince/Navy Officer/Englishman. Seriously, some of these twits would probably fall in love with a monkey if plied with enough alcohol.

Of course, I have some "favorites" this year. "Skeletor" is a particularly tragic character. Her husband was killed in a plane crash (which is terrible). I'm glad she had a plastic surgeon on hand to console herself with and make sure that life insurance didn't go to waste. Poor "Visualization Boards" probably didn't visualize getting the boot on national TV, but really, they're all so deluded (and drunk), that none of them can comprehend why. "But we had a connection..." Oh, and "Baby Momma" who left her 14 month old to be on the show. Really. 14 months. She won the "Send One Girl Home" contest by a landslide, only to not really be sent home. "Baby Momma" is now Pissed Off, and should be very pleasant for the others to live with.

Honestly, it was only lukewarm. It was like every other first episode, just killed 2 hours of my night. Until ABC pulled out their Ace (of Spades, the one with the poisonous dagger), the return of Deanna. Wow. Holy, holy shit. I'm shocked, appalled, and absolutely fucking giddy with excitement. This really will be the "Most Dramatic Season Yet!"

YAY! Monday nights have a whole new meaning...

(If you don't understand what I'm talking about, then this may not be the blog for you.)

Why?

Why.

One tiny word, so much angst. My oldest never really went through the "Why?" phase. But I'm making up for it in spades with my 2 year old. Good Lord, how do you answer this question over and over and over?

"Princess Jasmin's pet tiger is Raja." Why?

"That's the name she gave him." Why?

"Um, maybe she thought it was pretty." Why?

Seriously? How can I do this? I feel guilty not answering a question. I mean, despite all evidence to the contrary, he is a sweetheart and I want to do everything for him, but this is maddening. I know I'm not the first mommy to go crazy about this, and certainly won't be the last, but really, could somebody please tell me how to answer this??

Happy Birthday Max

My baby brother would be 9 years old today. It's a little surreal that so much time can pass, that someone can be missing from your life for so long. It's hard to explain the loss of someone who I didn't really know, it's not something I really grasp. I do feel it more keenly since becoming a mother. The loss of a child, an infant, is particularly tragic when you have children of your own. I wish I had a video of him, professional pictures of our day with him. Pictures of the funeral, the burial. It sounds so morbid, but I wish that was something I had known I would want. I don't have much I can share about him, but I can share the eulogy I wrote for his funeral.

12 January 2000

Dear Max,

You came as a surprise, a little unexpected miracle. I remember the joy and giddiness all of us felt to learn that we had been blessed with another rug-rat, another identical face to add to the pack.

It was so much fun to imagine what you would be like. Odds were in favor of another lefty like Tony; another thumb-sucker like Mary; another accident prone kid like PJ; a big heart like Beth's; Becca's work ethic; an angel face like Lucy's; charisma like Molly's; the innocence of Margaret; the music and wisdom of your Father; the love, patience, and understanding of your Mother; and sorry Max, but a temper like mine. It's no wonder that God decided he wanted you back.

Max, there are so many things that you will never do in this world. You will never know the feel of the sun on your face or the feel of the grass between your toes. You will never know the pain of a scraped knee, the heat of a fire, or the cold briskness of a Wisconsin winter. You will never bury your face in the fur of our kitties and come up sneezing from the allergies that all of us have. You will never have to eat chop suey, and we all envy you that. You will never suffer through your first stitches, your first day of school, and your first crush. You will never know the magic of falling in love.

But Max, you have something that all of us want. You will wake up every morning to the songs of the angels. You will spend your days in the arms of the saints before us. You will dine at Christ's table. And as you lay your head to rest on a pillow of clouds among the stars, your Heavenly Mother will kiss you goodnight.

So Max, until we reach our final destination and meet the angel who God could not part with, your brothers and sisters are going to make you a promise. We will live everyday like it is no other, experiencing everything for you. We will live each day so that we might tell you about it later. Everything that we do you will also do. Our days will be yours, and not a moment will pass without us knowing that we are giving part of it to you. Through us you will know this world. You're in for a heck of a ride Max, you had better spend a lot of time with St. Michael.

Meanwhile Max, you watch out for us and keep your sparkling blue eyes on your big sisters and brothers. We all know that our parents are the most wonderful guides for our earthly journey, but it is also comforting to know that someplace up above someone pure and wonderful and innocent will be guiding us like no one ever could.

We love you Maximilian.