The Birthday Keep On Coming

Three years ago, I went to my Doctor Appointment and our unborn Kellan was measuring big.  He wasn't due until August 29 but the doctor gave me the choice of being induced on August 23 or 25.  The 23rd was a Monday so that worked great for so many reasons: Flying Mom in on the weekend, not working past Friday and not putting Kellan's birthday on the same day as mine.  Surely, he would want his own day, right?  I know that I did.  What I didn't know that was since our birthdays were so close, his birthday would over shadow my birthday for the rest of eternity.  It has taken three years, but I think that I'm finally finding my happy place for my birthday, two days after Kellan's.  Taking full advantage to just relax!

After the party on Saturday, I perched on the couch and caught up on several of my favorite shows that had been on the DVR since last May.  Sunday, the boys treated me to an amazing breakfast on our back patio.  We had cinnamon rolls that I have been dreaming about since Christmas, the last time we had them.  They were SO yummy!  Oliver and I gorged ourselves on them.  (he was a big fan too)

After breakfast, we went to the pool to rest and relax.

It was PERFECT!

There was hardly anybody there, so it was easy to keep an eye on the boys.  Kellan usually goes between the kiddie pool and the edge of the big pool.  He did get in to swim around with us quite a bit this day, which was a huge improvement on his confidence in the water.  Oliver is quite the fish and was all about having fun in the big pool.  He even swam from the stairs to the ladder on the other side.  We are so proud of how far his swimming skills have come.

Daddy was awesome about being the #1 parent on kid duty so that I could fully enjoy relaxing.

Daddy and Kellan splished and splashed in the big pool.

I said this before, but Kellan is really having a confidence break through in the pool.  He used to cling to us for dear life and that was on the rare occurrence that he would get in.  On this day, he was kicking his legs out and saying "look Mommy, I'm kicking" so I put him on my back so that he could float and kick as he wished.  He loved it!!  

Keith gave the boys a show of jumping in the pool.  I just happened to have my camera handy and in action mode.

Kellan is all about the snacks and he's always the first to dive into them.

"CHEETOS!!!"

Mommy: Kellan show me the Cheetos again so that I can take your picture.

Kellan: I've showed you the Cheetos TWO Times!

Then, the fight was on.

GET HIM!!!

Before too long, Mommy was back in her lounge chair with a book that she was anxious to finish.  Keith took this photo (obviously) because he thinks that Kellan is just my style while he relaxes pool side.  He even has his arms up, which is also how he rest on the couch and sleeps.  Apparently, his Mommy is the same way.  Two peas in a relaxing pod.

The sunglasses are from Kellan's party.  There were sunglasses for every kid.  Sadly, they were a tad small for all of the kids.  It's a shame, because they were rockin' sunglasses.  Kellan still gave them a chance at the pool.

That afternoon, the kids had a much needed lunch and nap.  While the kids were happily putting down their PB&J, Keith said to me, "why don't you go to the pool and just relax by yourself for a few hours".  I looked at how happy the kids were, I looked at how serious Keith was and I left.  I headed back to the pool for two more hours of sun and relaxation.  Well...  this Mama hasn't had as much sun as she thought this summer as it snuck right on past my sunscreen and burned my face and chest a bit.  There were no complaints from me though.  It was a sign of my birthday bliss, pure fun in the sun with and without the boys.  Pure Perfection!

We took a few birthday photos before heading out to Cole's Third Birthday Party but the boys had a hard time because it was "too bright".  We still got some handsome photos.

I sure do love these boys to pieces.  Even if one of them tried to steal my birthday, I wouldn't change it for the world.  I tell them often, "I love you so much that I could eat you" as I nibble little kisses on their cheeks or belly and they giggle endlessly.  Really, sometimes I feel like I might explode with love for them.

Since it was too bright for the boys, we asked Oliver to take a birthday photo of Mommy and Daddy.  Quickly, it wasn't too bright for that.  Crazy nut.  He did a pretty good job.  We may have a photographer in the making.  Plus, this was with my big and heavy camera. I noticed that it was a little awkward for him, but I think we'll keep working with him so that we can have photos with Mommy in them too :)

Then, it was time for the third birthday of the weekend.  Cole turned Three on Monday, so his party was on Sunday. He had a Monsters theme, complete with a jumpy castle and Monster cake.  You can see who is front and center of that cake, our boys.

Make a wish and blow out the candles.

Happy Third Birthday Cole!

You can see who was second and third in line for cake.

Not a shy bone here while at Cole's house.

Look at those eyes!

Look at that big piece of cake!

Happy Birthday Cole!

Happy Birthday Mommy

Happy Birthday Kellan!

What an absolutely perfect birthday.  Thanks to Keith for the gift of R&R.  It was perfect and just what this Mommy wanted.

PS Kellan was born on August 23, 2010 weighing in at 9 lbs 8.5 oz and 22" long.  When he was being born, both Keith and I heard the nurse say "he's like a school bus and he just keeps coming".  The doctors parting words were "could you imagine if we waited a week?"  Uh... no... no I couldn't.  He was a hunka hunka burning love and a chunky monkey all wrapped in one.  We was definitely ready to meet the world six days early.