McGrath Moments

How did this happen? How am I 30 years old, married with two children? Life goes by soooo quickly! When you are younger you can't wait to be 16 or 18 years old. Then you turn 21 and life is great! 30 felt so far off, but now it has arrived.

I guess it is just time to accept that I am OLD! Just kidding! The first 30 years of my life have been great and I am blessed. I can only hope the next 30 will be as wonderful. Well, maybe the next 30 will be great after I get over the hangover I am predicting for tomorrow. Tonight I have to party like I'm 21 again! It's my 30th Birthday!!

We had two births in the family this week. My sister had her first child last Sunday, October 11. His name is Carson James and he weighed in at 7lbs 15oz. Wow, what a day that was!! I am not going to go into all of the details of her labor and Carson's birth, as that is her story to tell, but after everything that occurred, I realized how much Braeden's birth still affects me today.

When Carson was born he was taken straight to the NICU. As many of you remember, Braeden was in the NICU for 5 weeks after he was born. As soon as I was allowed back to see my sister after her surgery and noticed the baby was not with her or James I started freaking out INSIDE. I would never allow her to see me break down after all she had just been through. Carson is at home now and all is well with him, but all these memories came flooding back after hearing he had to be taken to the NICU.

Those first few weeks of Braeden's life were the hardest of my life. Ed and I had just moved into this brand new house. I had been on bed rest for weeks and then on maternity leave for months, which means no income. It was freezing cold outside (the winter weather just seemed to add an extra something to my stress). And then I had this premature baby boy in the hospital that I would go and spend everyday with, only to sit there and wait for the next Dr's report on his progress-always waiting for them to say something that would forever change our lives. I can cry just typing all of this because IT WAS HORRIBLE!

All of these feelings came back with Carson. I didn't want Lindsey and James to deal with any of that. And thank goodness Carson is a trooper and he recovered quickly. What a cutie he is and a blessing to our family!

Ed's sister had her third child yesterday, October 17. His name is Emerson Cooper and he weighed 8lbs, 4oz. Congratulations to the Machanda's! We are excited to meet him.

You all probably remember my struggle with Braeden on what he is going to be for Halloween. He wanted Darth Vader and I wanted KU football player...well isn't it funny how things always seem to work themselves out. Our neighbor across the street has the exact same KU football outfit that I was going to buy for Braeden. She gave it to us so he can wear it and it was FREE!! Once he put on the pads and helmet, he was excited to wear it.

Aunt Lala and Uncle James bought Braeden an Optimus Prime outfit (Transformers, for those of you who have girls) and he wears it around the house all of the time. Not one word has been spoken about Darth Vader since!

So you see, I got two costumes for FREE and things are working out just perfectly. Braeden can wear his Optimus Prime costume as much as he wants around the house and by the time Halloween arrives, he will be excited to put on his pads and helmet and be the best KU football player he can!

Mommy lesson learned...don't worry about little things. Everything will work out.

Last year Ed bought a trip to St. Croix at a silent auction. He bought it for my 30th Birthday present and it was a trip for four, so we decided to invite our best friends Tiffany and Jeremy. Tiffany's 30th Birthday is only two weeks after mine, so it was perfect.

Ed and I at dinner at Pelican Cove Resort...an outside restaurant.

Tiff and I enjoying drinks at the pool at our condo resort.

A picture of the group at the "boardwalk".

This is actually the beach behind our condo. We visited St. Croix during the off season, so it was like we had our own private beach!

I just want to tell Ed thanks for such a wonderful trip! I vote you "Best Husband Ever"!!

Wow! This has been such a busy month and it has flown by. I have had very little time to update our blog and reading the Twilight series has not helped!!
Our excitement this month has been focused around Braeden playing soccer. He participated in the YMCA program. It just lasted a month and consisted of 3 practices and 3 games. Braeden did so well! Ed and I are so proud of him! He scored 4 goals in his last game!!
Braeden's team consisted of all 3 and 4 year-olds. We were very surprised to find out that one of my best friend's sons was on our team. Braeden and Chase had soooo much fun together. When one of them fell down, even if it was during a play, they would stop and help them up and make sure everything was okay. It was absolutely precious!
We had another boy on our team who is also in Braeden's class at Tots and Tales. He is quite a bully and began picking on Braeden during the first practice. Ed even started showing Braeden how to defend himself. Well, after a month of witnessing this child bully Braeden, Thursday I had finally had enough. After tackling Braeden to the ground in the middle of the soccer field, I marched myself out onto the field and removed Braeden from underneath him and proceeded to yell at this other child in front of everyone...even his own oblivious parents. DO NOT MESS WITH MY CHILD!!! I know that I can't defend him forever (as Ed reminded me last night), but for now I am Mama Bear and I will be there for my children. I love them so much!!!

Halloween is approaching and therefore the costume magazines have started arriving in the mail. Braeden decided to look through one and found the costume he wanted...Darth Vader. Well, he was unaware that I had already decided (like 6 months ago) that Brenna would be a KU cheerleader and Braeden would be a KU football player. I have already bought Brenna's outfit and I just found a NCAA KU football uniform for Braeden. What is a Mom to do? Should I give up on my cute idea of matching, themed costumes and let him be what he wants? I think not!

It is only going to get harder as they get older to make them wear a costume they don't want, so I think this will be the year to get my way. Right? Or am I being a horrible Mom? I think that once the football uniform comes, he will love it. Braeden is starting football in October, so he should be excited to get a real helmet to wear-at least that is what I keep telling myself.

Perhaps the solution is to buy both costumes. Braeden can wear his Darth Vader costume around the house for dress up, but he can be a football player for Halloween. I guess we will all find out if Braeden or Mommy got their way when my children ring your doorbell for trick or treats!!

Brenna's crib was recently recalled, so I wanted to get some pictures of her room before we put up her new bed. Can you believe her crib was recalled over 2 years after we bought it? Kinda scary!! Anyways, Brenna-here is what your nursery looked like!