Happy 12th Birthday, WonderBoy!

A few weeks ago, the Boy Wonder turned 12.

We celebrated his birthday with family on Easter and again several times that week with those who weren't able to join us on Easter.

We discovered an amazing bakery right in our neighborhood; actually, its the baker who's amazing. She's so creative that we can't pass by without picking up one of her sweet treats on a regular basis. Let's just say we've stopped trying to look for reasons to have cake because we're powerless under her spell.

WonderBoy decided he wanted to have a camouflage chocolate on chocolate cake (big surprise, right?!)
The baker was excited about creating something special and one of a kind for him so she requested his favorite toys for the top of the cake.
WonderBoy rummaged through the ridiculous amount of army men, tanks and aircraft he's amassed these last dozen years and came up with a few of his favorites. Although they're indoor toys, I had to wrestle with him to soak them overnight and then he and his father delivered them to the baker the following day. He couldn't understand why I insisted on washing them and he wasn't happy with me at all....

Until he saw his cake, that is....and then he was oh, so happy!



Sweetie was uber excited for her brother's birthday that she'd wrapped up a present for him weeks before. She's big on wrapping and loves to help me wrap anything, including leftovers. In fact, she now asks why her good girl treats aren't wrapped when she earns one for doing something special at home or at school.
She's become somewhat of a wrapping snob, actually.

So when she heard his birthday was coming up and I saw her wrapping this present for "brother" I wasn't surprised. I did have to contain my laughter when she chose one of her favorite coloring books (all good'n used up, colored in and tattered) and wrapped it all by herself; even putting a recycled card on top that I had stashed for our arts and crafts. I was cracking up wondering how he was going to recieve this, uh, unique gift as I watched her hide it in her closet.



Then she told Nana as the birthday neared, that she wanted to wrap something else for him. My mother tells me that the contents of the second gift and all the wrapping with lots of "sticky tape" as she calls it....was again done all on her own.

I was so intrigued when I saw her stashing it with the other one but she refused to tell me what was inside and each day she checked on them in her hiding place waiting for the celebration day.



I have to hand it to WonderBoy...he feigned complete and utter excitement when she handed him her special treasures (the used coloring book and a dollar bill). It just melted my heart. She was so proud.

Unbeknownst to him he was soon to be rewarded for his efforts when he finally opened the last gift...a special one from JR and me.

There was no need for him to feign excitement at all when he read what his gift was...because there's one place in the world that the Boy Wonder loves more than any other......and it was his wish to go there again this year.



Bet you know how this story ends...our young Prince got his wish!

We're headed out of the country in a few weeks to celebrate his 12th birthday (along with another special occasion) on our favorite little paradise where sand, surf, sun and scrumptous food and drinks await!

He's been walking on air since!
We all have.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweetheart!

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you,

pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.

Ralph Waldo Emerson




Three years ago today when I saw your face for the very first time,

I could hardly believe you were mine.

This morning as I stare at you sleeping next to me,

I am amazed that I feel exactly the same way.

I dreamed about you my whole life and some days

I wondered if you would ever really be more than a dream.

You have made each and every one

of these 1095 days the very best days of my life.

(even the ones when I told you that you drove me crazy!)

You captivate and charm everyone you meet and

although you are so very beautiful;

that physical beauty itself pales in comparison

to the incredible person

I see emerging from within you.

I hope you will one day realize how truly honored I am to be your mother

and to follow you on this incredible journey ahead of you called:

LIFE.

Thank you for making all my dreams come true.

Happy 3rd Birthday, my Darling.

You have my heart.

Mama

(Pictures of the small family celebration we had yesterday soon to follow)

About A Boy

A shy boy who came to this country when he was more than a decade old,

leaving all he knew behind to follow a dream of a better life.


Hearing the chatter of a language foreign to him;

he worked hard at learning to fit in with his new peers

and was so proud to be called an American.

He excelled in a sport that transcended language and privilege.


Those smoldering blue-green eyes and jet black hair

coupled with his trademark sweet manner worked together famously in ensuring

that the "new kid" would never be without company.



Still, it was a hard road.

A road that took courage, patience, perserverence and character.

The very traits that that beautiful boy still possesses today

in the man he has become.
The traits that make me so proud to be his wife.



Happy Birthday, My Love.
You make it all worthwhile!
Fortysomething never looked so good!

Happy 75th Birthday

To My One and Only

Original Prince Charming!

Daddy, you make life grand!
I love you.





(with all 3 of his beautiful grandchildren)

WonderBoy's 11th Birthday: Celebrating with Family

WonderBoy's 11th Birthday: Choreographer of His Own Perfect Day

We gave WonderBoy carte blanche to decide

how we'd celebrate his special day.

He chose to do a few of his very favorite things!

(And they just happen to be ours too!)

Happy Birthday, TigerLily!

Eighteen years have passed since I first held you in my arms.



To me, it is a yesterday I will never forget.
I always thought today was a day so far off in the distance.



I have had the pleasure of watching you grow and loving you

for every single one of the 6,570 days you have been here with us.



I couldn't love you more if I gave birth to you myself.
To others you are my niece, to me you are my very first daughter.

You have become everything I ever hoped you'd be and so much more.



I am so incredibly proud of you.

I am forever grateful to share our unique bond.

Happy 18th Birthday, Baby!
I Love You!

(To see some more gorgeous pictures of TigerLily

and read just how special she is to me click HERE)

Happy Birthday, JR!

You make our lives so much sweeter and we love you like crazy!

Dita, WonderBoy and Sweetie Pie

Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-Two

This morning when you woke and kissed me good morning, we stood nearly eye to eye. How can one little boy grow so much overnight?

You chuckle at that and remind me that the doctor says you will probably grow to be 6’ 4”. Laughing you tell me not to worry, that you’ll just have to lift me up one day to kiss me good morning when that happens.
Promise me, my son, that your kisses will never stop!

It has been 3,652.42 days since you were born.
Today marks the close of the first decade of your life and the beginning of the next.

Today, you are TEN!

I will never forget the first time I ever saw you, just one day old. I wasn’t expecting to feel anything special. But the minute I saw you…you took my breath away. I don’t ever remember having seen anything quite as perfect as your face that day.

As I reflect back today, I am certain I saw your beauty, but I did not know how incredibly strong you were, both physically or emotionally. It never dawned on me that it was your huge spirit and sheer determination that kept you alive those 9 months despite the fact that the deck had been stacked so clearly against you. I refused to let myself imagine then what you had been through just to get here or where you might end up now that you had, indeed, arrived. I tried to fool myself into believing that the mere fact that you made it as far as you had meant that you were strong enough to survive the life you had been born into.

There's a big difference between survive and thrive, I came to learn.

I had a very busy life you know; single, career girl in her prime…no ties… just starting out on my own with big plans, things to do, people to meet, social life to maintain and a world to see. That afternoon at the hospital, I pushed my rose colored glasses back up the bridge of my nose and went on my way.

In a matter of a few months my life (our lives) changed forever. Thinking back, now, I believe that the moment I met you in the hospital you magically and indelibly embedded your heart inside of mine. That is so YOU!

My world truly stopped revolving around me that day and I just couldn't put you out of my mind.
I took comfort, however, in rationalizing that you were put here for a reason. I remember thinking that your arrival was probably meant to be a catalyst to ignite a spark of change in someone who had squandered so much of her life and who, in realizing what a miracle your survival was despite the insurmountable odds she placed in your way, would certainly change because of it. I apologize to you today for only thinking of you back then in terms of your being a means to another's end, a tool rather than the person you were just hours old...the person you were to become. Old habits die hard. I had spent a lifetime wondering what it would take for true change to occur. When I saw the miracle of you, I knew there was nothing and no one on this Earth more incredible than you. If change was going to happen for her it would be because of you.

And so, you waited it out. A couple months passed. I’d swoop in time and again when something blew up or problems flared. I’d try to right the course, tidy that little messy world up, give you love and hugs, try to make your life better without interfering and hope for the best.

The winds of change never did begin to blow and you, little helpless boy, found yourself squarely in the cross-hairs of that world out of control.

In the blink of an eye, it happened…. "the call.” Some people wait years for the call. I wasn't even waiting and within hours you were fast asleep in my arms...just you and me, forever.

I never forgot the words I whispered in your precious little ear that night……never again, never again will I ever put anyone before you. I am so sorry you had to wait so long. I am so sorry that your life was put in such jeopardy by those who swore you were their priority. I promised you then that I would never let you fall and, baby, I never, ever will.

Turns out we were both put here for a very special reason. We were put here for each other!

Nearly 10 years have passed since you and I began our journey.

We have had many challenges and we met them all head on. I have never waivered in my decision and I thank God for placing my arms around you when the time came. My heart belongs to you.

Biology does not create the bond between mother, father, sister and brother. You and I together had the privilege of choosing Papa to join our family. That day, Papa committed to both of us because we are a team!

Then the three of us prepared for the long 9 months we had to wait for Sweet Pea to make her entrance.

When I think of us, I see you and me as the sturdy trunk of this family and those two lovelies are our precious, beautiful branches. We are a family that love created...one very special, hand-picked member at a time!

On this day, I celebrate the fact that I have been blessed and honored beyond measure to be your mother all these years. People often say how lucky you are to have me as your mother. That's because they can't possibly imagine how lucky I am to have you for my son.

When I look at you, I see your heart of gold, empathy for others, an iron will and resolve, a curiosity and sense of wonder unparalleled, a razor sharp wit and keen sense of humor. Your wisdom is far beyond your years. You are a zenith of electrifying, infectious energy with the ability to focus with laser precision when you want something. Your charm and the magnetism that has been your hallmark from the very begining, have only gotten better with time . Without a doubt, you are a remarkable young man. No one who knows you can resist your unique brand of exuberance, intensity and mischief. You have single handedly changed lives with yours and I have every reason to believe that you are well on your way to even greater things ahead.

You are MY MIRACLE….my WONDERBOY!

A decade later, I remain in awe when I look at you…. you still take my breath away.

Happy 10th Birthday, WonderBoy!

I love you with all of my heart,

Mama

Lucky Lady

Although both of my babies were sick and stayed home today while their Papa and I went to work in shifts;

Although there were at least 6 loads of laundry to do from the evil middle of the night stripping of the beds and pajamas dance that said "sicknesses" usually bring;

Although I nearly fell asleep during my afternoon meeting at work today in a room full of people;

Although it was only 15 degrees when I stepped out of our little infirmary and into the bitter cold air this morning;

I heard from lots of friends and family both near and far today congratulating me on making it another year;

Mom brought by a lovely dinner from her favorite Italian restaurant;

Dad sent me a very sentimental note;

I received the longest stemmed pink roses ever from my dear friend in the UK and a very special box from the NYC Trio (mmm good things come in small packages!);

I officially ditched the diet for the evening and ate some of my favorite snack chips and a piece of carrot cake;

My children ran to the door when I arrived home;

My darling husband had them sign and kiss a card for me (they raided my lipstick and smooched the daylights out of that card!);

I spent the evening in my sweats just relaxing and feeling the warmth of our cozy little home;

I had the privilege of seeing Tina's face for the first time and began to hope for her;

I cuddled my kids to sleep and listened to them breathe (that peaceful sound I love so much).

It was in those quiet hours that I reflected on years past, how time truly does fly and then looked in the mirror and welcomed the passing of yet another year and the beginning of this new one ahead of me wondering where it will take me.

I realize more each day that wasting time worrying about the things that don't matter only zaps the energy from the things that do.

The number means nothing....I am a Fire Horse. I am happiest when I am galloping freely. I have only just begun to hit my stride!

I am one Lucky Lady!