He leaves the nest.

After it taking me 2 months to start to get caught up on posts, I FINALLY wrote this one yesterday... only for it to be sucked up somewhere into the interwebz.  I may have muttered some expletives in my head. 

Logan: "Mommy, do you have a photo shoop tonight?"

When my boy asks, "Mommy, how did your photo shoop go tonight" I get all melty. I am watching my baby turn into an inquisitive, kind and thoughtful person, and that makes me proud.

These "shoops" are why I am about a million years behind on the blog. Ick. I hate feeling like unfinished projects are floating over my head like one of those mini rain-clouds. I can almost hear the thunder. But thankfully, due to recent happenings (like the babies finally getting into a nap routine and going to bed at 7:30 - can I get a HALLELUJAH!), I have minimum a few hours per day where there is not a mini-person attached to me. That also includes the middle of the night, but I will take what I can get.

This fall, I sent my baby boy off to War College Preschool!  To say this was a challenge for me is an understatement.  I wasn't worried about his learning ability, or his social skills. I wasn't worried about separation anxiety (his, not mine), or him not liking it.  I wasn't worried about the teachers, or the other kids, or even the germs (except, holy crap, preschool germs are vile and mutant and linger for frickin' MONTHS!). I felt prepared for all of this.  What I didn't feel prepared for was knowing that now, once he leaves my hand and heads into that school, that's it.  He will be in school for the rest of his childhood. Might as well be for the rest of time because our time of being the sole influence in his life is over.  Perhaps I am over-analyzing, but think about this for a minute?!  For almost four years Brian and I have had complete control over what Logan has been exposed to. To give that up is just... well, it felt weird.  It doesn't anymore, two months in, and this new routine has become so normal.  Plus, to see my boy thrive and learn, and love something that is just his to experience is amazing to me.  I know he loves it there, and that has been the driving force to stuff my inner-control-freak into the bottom of my Converse.

Another note: even though I already wrote this post yesterday, then lost it, it is amazing to me that I really have no recollection of what I wrote, and can guarantee this post is so completely different from the rogue post. Hmm... It really is interesting how a different day really gives different perspective. 


Anywho, back to my boy! I am not going to lie. I cried. Yep, who wants to provide me with Xanax when this kid goes to Kindergarten? Even worse, when the twins go to Kindergarten? Perhaps we will just need to have another baby then. (wink wink, McGowan)

Backpack ready to go

Little brothers ready for the big send off! 

Customary front door photos!

Peeking in his new school. Love the anticipation. 

He's ready to rock this. 

Found his hook with his name on it.

Didn't even hesitate for a second. Got right to work. 

This work turned into good 'ol trusty for the first month or so. 

Living vs. Non-living. 

And, because I wanted to, photos from Preschool Day #2. 

He is just growing up so fast. 

Logan, I love your face. 

We have all enjoyed this new chapter is Logan's life. Plus, thankfully for great friends and neighbors who stand guard at the van with my pre-Preschool crew, it isn't a half hour loading and unloading, buckling and unbuckling extravaganza. 

Cheese!

New photog post!

http://lindsaymcgowanphotography.blogspot.com/2011/10/toddlers-family-caden.html

Just when you think the toddlers are trying to kill you...

They say stuff like this:

Logan: "when I get bigger, I want to go to Mexico to visit my butterfly!" 

Me: "Maybe we could do that someday. Mexico is very far away, we would need to take an airplane."

Logan: "whoa"

Caden: "I went to Mexico!" 

Logan: "WHAT?! Did you see my butterfly?"

Caden: "Yep, I sure did."

Logan: "How long did it take you to get back home?"

Caden: "Sixty four and seven."

At lunch: 

Logan: "When I get bigger and bigger, I am going to marry Eliza."

Eliza: "Yep. He sure is."

Caden: "I am going to marry my mom." 

Oldie but a goodie.

This just has to be my all time favorite video of Logan. It still makes me laugh until I get a cramp.

What the cat?!

Yea, that's Logan's new saying and it's just not getting old.

What the cat?! was exactly what I was thinking whilst sitting in the chair in the living room and suddenly feeling my entire big toe being engulfed by a little baby mouth. Of course, it was Cooper. The Coop-man is my child who puts everything, everything, in his mouth. Logan never went through this oral stage, really, but the germaphobe I am, I was bound to have a child like this. At least he isn't a thumb-sucker. I would need some sort of medication for myself. Turns out, he is just a toe-sucker.

Thirty

To say I am behind in posting is an understatement. I digress.

I turned 30 a couple months ago. Is it just me, or do "the twenties" feel like they last a least a century? I mean, reflecting at who I was at 20, and now at 30... barely recognizable in all ways.  I for sure know I looked more well rested at twenty, and my boobs were far perkier. I was entering my third year of college at Iowa, and was just about to start dating Brian. (No, not that Brian... no, not that Brian... no, not that Brian... YES, the 4th Brian that I dated. in. a. row).  I was living in a three bedroom cockroach and spider infested apartment with Jenny and Stacey.  I worked as a nanny, drove a Chevy Beretta (in mint green, I know you're jealous), and was head-over-heels in love with my business courses.

So here I am. Ten years later. A husband, dog, house, and three kids later.  To be honest, my life is pretty much exactly how I had imagined. Well, minus having twins, because if someone would have asked me at age 20 if I thought I would have twins someday I would have laughed in their face and probably gone to take a nap.  Note: I napped in college. A lot. Probably my body knowing how much I would NOT sleep in my thirties.

So back to my birthday! Brian was stellar cool and surprised me with some of my favorite people, my favorite summertime beer, and some yummy food and fun.  Love that man. On my actual birthday, we took our first family trip to my numero uno favorite restaurant The Atlas where, on your birthday, you get a free meal.  We aren't talking a $6 burger. We are talking about a $30 steak. HELLO! yum. We followed dinner with some ice cream, swooning at how cute are kids are, and frolicking through downtown Iowa City. Okay, Logan frolicked, I took pictures, and Brian pushed the stroller.  Oh, and the best part? It was like 70 degrees.  Yea. For mid-July in Iowa that was like heaven on earth.

The proof.