haaaaaappy happy birthday, colin!

My little boy is TWO years old!  How did that happen? He's still a baby...well now he's a toddler: a rambunctious, inquisitive, talkative, trouble-making one.

My life is so full and he plays a big part in it. He brings joy. He loves to dance and goes running for his guitar as soon as he hears john mayer, or any good guitarist. He always wants to help me cook, or clean, or turn on the 'washine mashing?' {i gotta get him to figure that one out} He loves to brush his teeth, or rather, devour all the toothpaste; he loves to wear mommy's things, and he follows his daddy around like his shadow. He loves trains, and cars, and talking and learning. His favorite colors are pink, orange and green. He loves his brother, he wants to do everything with him and show him everything he's learning.

I can't wait to see what happens in his life next. He will be extraordinary because he already is now. It's amazing to think that God fashioned this little soul for a something-to-be for a time-to-be and right now he's fulfilling his purpose with me and I can't thank God enough.

Oh little one, there is so much to say and so much to tell you. I am SO so blessed to be your mom.

Happy 2nd Birthday Colin!

{ Birthday } Night Out

Friday night was Jus' birthday.

We've started a new 'tradition' (Jus is as much obsessed with creating family traditions as I am with celebrating holidays) where we go out to a really nice steak house - just the two of us - for his birthday. He's not a real big party guy (even though I am) and though he loves hanging out with lots of people, he would rather spend his birthday with just his family (whereas, I love my family, but would rather spend my birthday with lots of people) So about a month ago, he said that all he really wanted for his birthday was to have a date night in the city with me! {insert 'awww's' here} soooo... we decided the two of us would head out to the big city and celebrate on saturday (instead of trying to rush out of work on friday and dealing with the added stress) making it Jus' birthday-night-out for the year 2012!

Of course Jus had to go into work for the morning, so I enjoyed the day with the kids until it was time to go. Since I had most of the day to pack up the boys' stuff and get them all ready, I was able to get them all loaded up, and over to pick up Justin from work just around their naptime. We dropped the boys off with the inlaws, who live right outside of NYC, and then we drove back into the city for our night out on the town.

It was nice. No kids menus, no high chairs or baby bags. It was a nice full night of adult conversation with no 'time-outs'. We had a nice walk around times square and got to walk into the stores on fifth ave for a bit. I almost talked Jus into buying a sports coat (I'll probably just get it for him later this month) and worked up a good appetite for our ribeye steaks at Smith and Wollensky's.  So, we were able to accomplish most of what we wanted to in the city.  Walking around midtown, check. Steakhouse dinner, check. Rooftop view of the city over drinks, check. Little late night music with a really pretty good cover band in Greenich Village, check. It was also getting pretty silly, because we kept pushing ourselves to stay up a little longer and check out another spot. I mean, we had the night off, we had to do it right! But after I caught myself nodding off in the car on our way out of the village, we decided we probably should call it a night.

It was when we proceeded to 'sneak' back into his parent's place so as to not wake anyone up that I felt young again =)

All in all it was a very fun night!

Happy Birthday Husband!

Today is my husband’s birthday – not a milestone one, but still one that is very special, because he was born 34 years ago, today! I love celebrating birthdays. It’s a brilliant excuse to indulge without getting accused of being outlandish. I mean, it’s your day! Take off from work. Go do something you have never done. Dance in the Rain. Enjoy some extra calories (ok, ok, but don't take it too far). I firmly believe we get to make one day of the year an exceptional personal day. Also, since I am quite a diva when it comes to my own, I require it to be a big-deal-kind-of-birthday.

But with that said, it is hard for me not to think like that for the people that I care about, and most especially for my favorite-est person in the world. With all that we have been through, he deserves more than just a day dedicated to commemorate his entrance into existence. I truly do wake up sometimes in utter disbelief that I am married to someone as wonderful as him. I hope a day does not go by without him knowing by my actions and words just how much he means to me. So in this effort, today I just want to profess a true admiration for my husband.

He’s a man among men, and truly deserves having it shouted from the treetops (I would say mountain tops but we don’t have any mountains in long island). I was drawn to him in the past, not only because he is tall, dark and handsome (which he really is!) but because of who he is. His character is captivating and as a lawyer, he has stood out in a culture that often lacks integrity.  He continues to mature and today he is man that is intelligent, but compassionate, tender and yet so strong. He has convictions which he will not compromise but somehow does so with such gentleness and grace. His confidence blends well with humility and is so damn appealing. To top it off, he makes everyone laugh.

We will have been married ten years this August, (we've been married almost a decade!! ahhhh!) and to say that I have been a handful to deal with, well that would be an understatement, and yet even through all of that PLUS the erratic-pregnant-hormonal-waves over the last several months, he continues to stick by me. I haven’t seen him throw his hands in the air (maybe he does behind closed doors!) and he still likes me for whatever mysterious reason that may be. And you should see the way he adores our boys. I am so in love with the fact that he is so in love with our little guys. I don’t often hear many promising statements about husbands & their children, but Jus, he can’t get enough of them. He has transitioned into fatherhood so effortlessly, I am truly blessed. He is a good, good man.

Jus, you are my partner, my soulmate, my best friend ...you are so smart, so hardworking, so gifted and soo hott. Love you babe. “You are so handsome, my love, pleasing beyond words!” SoS 1:16a

Happy Birthday Husband!