Happy Birthday Boys!

Where did this past year fly to?  I can't believe it's been a year already since the birth of our first Grandson Henry... and our 2nd Grandson Liam.  They are such precious little fellas, and have literally been best buddies with each other since the day they were both born.  We are soooo blessed to have these two little guys as part of our family now.

Henry's Birthday - February 8th... I drove from Kansas to Cincinnati for a week of fun and snuggles with my Grandsons.  The drive to Cincinnati was as pleasant and quick as it is possible to make that 14 hour drive solo... but once I arrived complete chaos began... it's seriously like having twins with these two fellas... one of them needs some sort of constant attention at all times... a diaper needing changing, a bottle needs to be given, a boo boo that needs kissing, rocking cuddle time to put them to sleep, playing "peek-a-boo" and "I'm gonna get you" until you are hoarse and your knees are rubbed raw with carpet burns.... but.... after they are tucked in for the night and those two sweet little bodies are asleep, all sprawled out and actually snoring from their exhausting play day... I just wanna reach in, grab them up and kiss them all over!!!!  I had a MAH-VA-LOUS time with my week in Cincinnati celebrating Henry's 'actual' Birthday.... a dual Birthday Celebration for both boys will be in March.

On the way home from this trip wasn't anywhere as near as quick and easy as the trip to Cincinnati... it began with the frustrating task of just trying to get across the Ohio River by the detour route because the main bridge is under repair.... what used to take 10-15 minutes, now takes an hour of detouring!!! URG!!!  But I finally make it to an alternate bridge and my car dies in the middle of the bridge... with road raged drivers all around me because of the frustrations of the detour... the last thing they needed was me stuck on the middle of the bridge with a broken down car... fortunately it was just a glitch in the system and all I had to do was power down and power back up and the car was fine... still... those couple of minutes sitting in the middle of the bridge while I shut the car off and restarted were quite tense!  The rest of that day went fine until it was time to stop for the night in St. Louis.... when I pulled up to the hotel I usually stay at during these trips back and forth from Kansas to Cincinnati... it was not only all full for the night.... ALL the other hotels were filled to the brim too because of a HUGE swim meet that weekend in the area.  So back in the car I drive for another hour until I can find anywhere that has a room for the night... I was starting to feel like poor Mary looking for a room in an Inn.  I climbed into bed and fell instantly asleep.

The good thing about having to drive so much further the night before because of "no room at the Inn"... I was starting 2 hours further down the road and thus had 2 hours less to drive to finish getting home... I would actually get home around 2:00 pm and would be able to unpack, and relax a bit before Joe got home.  That was the plan anyway!!!  About 2 1/2 hours down the road I had a right front tire blow out while I was going 78 MPH (the speed limit in this area is 75 MPH)... but thankfully due to all my race track training, I kept the car under control and pulled to the shoulder without hitting anyone or anything... WHEW!!!  Half my tire was literally blown away!!!  Fortunately my car is equipped with "Road Side Assistance"... so I just pushed that little wrench button, and instantly a voice comes on my car speaker telling me my exact satellite position, and that someone will be there to help me soon.  It was especially nice that the road side assistance knew my location... because... I was literally in the middle of the prairie and there wasn't anything around me except for rolling prairie hills... not a sign... not a mile marker... NOTHING but VAST OPEN PRAIRIE!!!!!!  And because I was in the midst of the prairie when this happened... it took 2 hours for anyone to reach me... but in the mean time I just chilled out read my book and listened to the radio.  Then the fella showed up, changed my tire (putting on the spare 'donut') and advised me that the tire was only good for 100 miles, going no more than 50 MPH.  So I put on my emergency flashers and limped the rest of the way home (2 1/2 hours) going 50 MPH in a 75 MPH zone... but I made it home safe and sound... just 5 hours later than planned.

Liam's Birthday - March 4th... I am once again driving back to Cincinnati to celebrate his 'actual' Birthday (and Baptism) one weekend, staying the week and getting to be with my baby boys for another week playing with them, then we celebrate both boys birthday's with a family party.  I hope my travels to and fro this time are boring without any interesting stories to tell afterwards!  In both air and road travels this past year, Joe and I have had just about every single "OH NO" mishap experience imaginable... I think I have a blog about our air travels last summer... which still... is the all time greatest worst travel experience ever!  I'm packed and ready to hit the road next weekend to head back to Cincinnati!!

This will be another chaotic busy trip... the birthday celebrations, the Baptism weekend, my daughter Amber's Bridal Shower is the 2nd weekend I'm in town... also the tweaking and fine tuning of the wedding planning has to be done for her April wedding.  I have so much fun on these trips and visits, and am so worn out after I get home... it takes me a couple of days to recover my sleep... but every single moment is worth it.

Henry is now walking and toddling all over the place.... he feels like he is such a big boy now and is busy exploring!  He has discovered how fun it is to throw things in the toilet and then swish it around with his hands... he has learned to yank his socks off and put them on his hands so he can dust everything... he loves to clap and dance and catch bubbles.  He is a funny and sweet little lad who likes to sit and observe, and comfort anyone in distress.

Liam is also walking... not quite toddling, but sure trying hard.  He had a little boo boo mishap several weeks ago and was in a walking leg cast (from top of thigh to end of toesies) for 3 weeks... the cast never slowed him down... he kept clunking and crawling with it and standing up and walking around things as if the cast wasn't there... however... now he crawls and walks as if the cast is still there, but he is doing very well and will have a complete recovery.  The whole time he had his cast on, he never whined or complained... was just his happy normal self.  Liam is like a lightbulb... he lights up the room with his deep dimpled smile and his belly laugh... I think he is already quite the ham!

My prediction for these boys is... Henry loves to bang and hold things in his hands like drum sticks... he actually looks like he knows what he is doing... he loves to bang, he loves the different noises different objects make and he loves to dance... PRECIOUS!!!  Liam loves to chatter and squeal, and also loves music and dancing, also quite ADORABLE... I think that they would be a great band one day... Henry on the drums, Liam on the vocals and guitar... just saying... who knows what the future will bring... but 17-20 years from now when this fabulous new band is topping the charts....I'll be saying... I TOLD YA SO!!!  :  )  I'm a Grandmother.... I'm allowed to be proud of my Grand younguns wayyyy before they have actually accomplished anything to be proud of!  Right now we do a lot of YAYING, clapping and saying 'THAT'S A GOOD BOY' for everything they do!

What a difference a year makes... what a difference being a Grandparent makes... what a difference new lives make in our family... married in or born in... what a difference we all make!