I've been so grateful lately for the little moments I get with these boys. Most of things that make me smile or laugh are just the typical things that come from being a mother to these two awesome boys. I tend to get wrapped up in the bigger moments, but relishing in the sweet little things Devin and Landon do each day, just because of their individual personalities, brings so much joy. So much smiling lately--my cheeks are starting to hurt!
Devin continues to amaze me with his little mind. He is a sponge, soaking up everything he hears and sees. We've been on a vocabulary kick lately and must define every new word or thing he sees while we're out or while we're reading books. He's really making me use my brain! I cannot imagine my life without his bright smile in it. I love seeing him try new things and be proud of himself for recognizing a word or overcoming a fear or doing a big boy job. The big smile on his face after learning to fold all the clothes today was picture perfect.
Things like seeing Devin wear his dad's old, gross, smelly hat every day for the past two weeks, no matter what, because he wants to be just like his dad, or having Landon request to wear his bike helmet first thing upon waking up, make me smile.
Landon was on a kick for a couple of weeks where he wanted to wear a winter beanie and his sandals. When he'd come inside his hair would be sweaty because it was so hot and the hat was lined with fleece! The best part was that he always had it half over his eyes and pushing down his ears, making him look like a wee elf. He walked around for hours like this. And stickers. Devin and Landon believe that grocery stores only exist to give them stickers. Inevitably these stickers end up on Landon's head. This is his favorite place to keep them. He even slept with them on his head during one nap. This child has a one-of-a-kind personality.
And Aunt Dawn made his life when she handed down a bike for him to ride. He's been wearing that bike helmet and telling me that he needed a bike for so long. For his inaugural ride he insisted on wearing one glove. He would have liked to have worn the other, but he couldn't find it, so he made do.
Devin makes me giggle when I come down to check on him and find a huge stack of books next to his bed. This was totally me growing up. And there is no better alarm clock than a 4 year old bursting into your room with a book and the question, "Mommy! Guess what frogs can do? I didn't know they could do this cool thing. Look!"
And his love affair with the groundhog hole continues, though it has now become a dinosaur dig site. He is always digging up chunks of dirt and explaining to me what dinosaur this fossil came from. So much of life revolves around dirt and bugs right now, but that's okay. Because who doesn't love an announcement from Landon that, "I found a bug! I put it in my pocket!" and then hearing one minute later, "Where my bug go? I can't find it." Or having Devin attempt to sneak ants into the house because, "This is my pet! He needs to be inside!" One day I found his old shoe just inside the door covered with a paper plate. He was keeping a roly-poly bug in there and was trying to hide its presence.
Not every minute is full of smiles, of course. I still get super frustrated and get upset, but I'm trying to remember that these adorable things they do won't last forever. Each one came with their own personality and quirks and sweet smile. They.fight.so.much. And the yelling/screaming. Oh my. But they also play and giggle and say "please" and "thank you" sometimes. And a game of hide-and-seek between these two usually ends with both of them covered in blankets, gigging, and insisting that the other come find them.
Oh, how grateful I am to be a mother. I'm still learning how to be a good one most days, but all these little moments are adding up to one wonderful life. I love these two little boys so much.
