Birthday

Just told Graham good night and that tomorrow was all about me. My birthday. One day about me, that I make 364 days a year about them. Actually 365. He laughed and said "probably true." At least he knows. I told him I was happy to make every day about at least one if not all of my kids. He said I cannot have three days about me so not to think it goes from our time tomorrow - Starbucks and pedicures with the three boys and then Andy joins for dinner!!! - to dinner out with all of them, my parents, Ava and Alyanne on Saturday. Told him he had a MONTH. Again, laugher and "I guess I did." Love that kid so much. 

(This partially stemmed from Andy telling me earlier today that they could make one day for me - or two partial days as we celebrate tomorrow and Saturday: that I make 364 days, or 365 about them.)

Beckman / Thompson Crew does Pittsburgh!

No school for the boys on Friday so we headed to Pennsylvania with Andy to see the rest of the boys and celebrate his birthday. Covered a lot of ground - TopGolf, PNC Park and Heinz Field (no tours or home events while we were there), Piccolo Forno (highly recommend), ice cream, friendly games of Balderdash, Finn's soccer, Randyland, Immersive Van Gogh exhibit (not the boys' highlight of the trip), Arsenal Bowling (turkey - first time - for mw in the 10th), ice cream, Phipps Conservatory (beautiful, not the boys' highlight of the trip), Schenley Park, frisbee golf with post hole interviews (maybe the trip highlight), Cinderlands Warehouse for Andy's birthday (a highlight), Spin scooters, ice cream and more ice cream (definitely a highlight) - lots of steps. A weekend of laughter, minimal arguments, beautiful weather and time together (missed Hayden who had Luther soccer in Minneapolis). The boys and I also met Graham T's girlfriend, Izzie. Was great to have another female around for a bit of the time!

Andy's birthday is today and since he's not on social media, the lateness of my public wish will not be noticed. Still though a happy birthday to this guy. Love you and glad we all celebrated you yesterday. (Update - a highlight for all except Andy. - Graham has passed his dad’s height!!!! What a bday gift!)

And a final highlight - seeing my OB (in the airport), who delivered all three of the boys.

Piccolo Forno
April 22, 2022

Immersive Van Gogh - April 23, 2022
Phipps Conservatory - April 24, 2022

Randyland - April 23, 2022

Frisbee Golf in Schneley Park - April 24, 2022

Cinderlands Warehouse
April 24, 2022
Celebrating's Andy's 47th Birthday (04-25)

Phipps Conservatory
April 24, 2022

Happy birthday Andy! - April 24, 2022 (day early)

TopGolf, PNC Park, Heinz Field
April 22, 2022

Finn's Soccer - 3-1 victory
April 23, 2022

Dr. Jane Engeldinger delivered all three of my boys!
April 25, 2022

Happy 11th Birthday, Pierce!

Pierce completes our trifecta and celebrated turning 11 on October 1! He's full of energy and my morning sleeper. His spirit is a mix of independence and acting older yet staying close to home, comfort and safety. He loves sports; could live without math or reading. Plays the piano at my request and took up the clarinet. He loves mac and cheese, egg nog, and Skittles.  I could pull my hair out with his questioning and complaining. I celebrate getting snuggles at night and hugs without asking. His love for Ryah grows every day and he quietly loves and adores his brothers. He sings in the shower, in the car, in the kitchen, at church and occasionally adds a dance move. Loves red, white and blue. Unexpectedly makes me laugh. The kid has my heart.  Love you, Meister.

Still (Max - 14th birthday)

He's 14.
6" 1' and 170 pounds.
In 8th grade
Braces on yesterday
Has a driver's learner's permit.
Prefers his friends over me (at least publically)
Has a girlfriend
Is busy busy busy
Is a great student
Challenges me
Questions me
Loves sports
Is helpful at home
Loves his phone
Picks on his brothers
Laughs at himself and others
Thinks his basement bedroom is fantastic
Knows a lot (or at least he thinks he does)

And sometimes he still asks to have his back rubbed at bed time. And he always says "I love you" when I leave.

Max has his mom's heart.

Seven and Steak

Given the choice of out for dinner or picking what to have for dinner at home to celebrate his birthday, Pierce picked home. Followed his brother's August lead. Steak, twice baked potatoes. No steak for Graham (orthodontist appliance) or me (the usual) but steak for the rest. This kid put down the full 8 ounces. Seriously.

(Dinner a day late thanks to Graham's football!)

Could it be 9?

Finding myself a bit in awe of the fact that Max is now 9. He'll wake in a few hours to celebrate his day - taking phone calls, opening presents and cards, eating donuts (picked over my homemade suggestions), picking out a bike, trying to avoid photos and laughing with friends. I'll live in his world and watch him enjoy his day - all with a huge smile knowing how blessed I am to have been made a mom by him. Happy birthday, Maxwell.

Happy birthday, Mitch

My Facebook post this tonight sums up our weekend but I think it warrants a few details

"Think I'd like to do this three day weekend over (except the leaky roof) because it was just that good. Started with family time, spent time with friends, watched football and basketball, wrote - yes handwritten - letters, and ended by celebrating Mitch Beckman's birthday (who I am VERY thankful for and celebrate all he brings to my life)."

Dinner on Saturday night to celebrate Mitch's birthday was fantastic - Chef's Table with Andy and Amy followed by a couple glasses of wine and great conversation at their house. All while our seven boys were together with two wonderful sitters, Shanna and Ellie, and then slept peacefully spread across floors and bedrooms.


The leaky roof - well, we have water dripping down into our screened in porch in multiple places and a few steady drips along the sliding glass door in our kitchen. Fun. Our builders found snow in the attic - mostly in an unreachable location - and believes the wind was just right to blow the one snow we've had this season of any measure, in through the roof flap vents. Let's hope it drys quickly and the wind doesn't blow this way again.


The most important weekend event - Mitch's 43rd birthday. I think it was mostly great because the boys were very excited and into celebrating. Max and Graham were concerned about him not having a sign and when they asked me, I reminded them that I'm not the sign person. That's Mitch and whoever helps him. They took it upon themselves to make sure he had a sign, actually signs. Max made "Happy Birthday, Dad" one letter on each sheet of paper and taped them all together. Graham hung a sign that said "You Love Wisconsin So Much Love, Graham." Their signs, hugs, help with breakfast, taking photos and video, singing and helping him eat his requested chocolate chip cookies and the Oreo cake made the day shine. For Mitch and me. Happy birthday, hon. Love you.

Prepared!

Beckman birthday prep done - balloons and streamers in room, balloons, sign and special plate in kitchen, crumbly cake made, treats for school done. Time to reflect on my Graham and wrap some presents! He is so excited for his birthday tomorrow - "it's a special one because it's my golden birthday. Only once." as he went to bed. The cool thing this year in addition to his golden birthday - Max asked to help with the sign and the balloons. They all love our tradition - not as much as mom and dad, though.

Devastated

We leave for Walt Disney World in just over 12 hours and my shear excitement has just vanished. I just deleted all the footage from Pierce's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse birthday party on October 15 and Max's football game on October 16. How could I do this? I am honestly devastated. I know it's not the end of the world but I am so hurt. I feel so bad for myself and for Pierce someday. It was chaos but such a great party - with Graham as Mickey Mouse, Pierce's excitement, the great decorations, fabulous friends.

Maybe the chaos is something not to be seen by anyone every again. No. It would have even made for a good story and memories.

Sucks. I even cried telling my mom.

Guess there will be plenty of room on the video camera for Disney. Pierce gets prime footage.

Birthday eve

Eight years ago I knew I would be a mom in a matter of hours. Those hours turned into another 16 hours and were obviously worth all the work. Actually, the eight hours seemed like forever both because of the labor and because I just wanted my first born to arrive. It was 10:30 p.m. when we thought we'd leave the hospital because induction wasn't working. Plans changed when I rose, went to put on my clothes and my water broke. A night of being sick, tough labor, difficult breathing for Max internally and me and laboring on one side all to get to morning, the signing of C-section papers in case we got to that point, then an epidural and finally at 3:36 p.m. Max would arrive with Mitch announcing his gender with tears in his eyes. A brief snuggle and love at first site and Max was quickly taken from us to check his breathing and his stats after a difficult delivery and an umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, I couldn't wait to have him in my arms longer. It was awhile before we had more than a minute because I was sick and he was being checked but when we did, I couldn't let go. Looking back, I'm just sad I didn't hold him even more in the first days!

It's been a ride of wonders, learning, laughter, love, tears, challenges, frustrations and everything in between. I could write so many things but I'll leave it as saying Max has blessed my life in too many ways to count and I only hope he looks back on his childhood counting his blessings for being a part of our family.

Today, we prepared to celebrate by making brownies for school, cupcakes for dinner and crumble cake for breakfast. Now, I just spent a time downloading videos and photos to make room for more, blowing up tons of balloons - have to fill the bedroom floor and hang them from the light fixture in the kitchen, and wrapping presents. I did wonder if an eight year old would want balloons but Max made it known without me asking - "Mom, will there be balloons in my bedroom in the morning?" Me - "Yes, of course." There was no doubt that he wasn't questioning it because he didn't want them. Mitch painted the "Happy Birthday" poster. Looks like we're ready.

It's 11:10 and time to go sit by Max's bed, watch him sleep and count my blessings.

Acceptance

Sometimes easy, sometimes not. I'm an accepting person of race, religion, sexual preferences, job change, etc. but when it comes to my family and friends with the topic of living further away, not enough time together, growing older, etc. well I'm it's harder. The one on my plate right now, not easy for me.

Right now, I have to accept that when I wake tomorrow, I no longer will have a baby in my house. Pierce will two years-old and he's the last little one in our home. I know many consider one to be the time when a child is no longer a baby but because I've so enjoyed the baby stage of all my kids, Pierce has still cuddled and loved like a baby in many respects and he's the last child we're going to have, I've held on to it a little longer. When I sing Happy Birthday tomorrow, the acceptance will begin. This could be harder than I thought. Sniff. Sniff.

The best part of today....

the end. I rocked Pierce all the way to sleep tonight which was a great way to end a day that basically started at 10:04 PM last night with him vomiting all over in bed. The two of us were up most of the night. I spent another day away from work but had good quality time with him. He actually seemed to feel good all day.

When I came out from putting him to bed, I sat on our bed and listed to Max, Graham and Pierce prepare for my birthday - wrapping gifts, making a sign, debating who would give me which present (they made a quick trip to the mall tonight) and what time they needed to get up to make me breakfast. Honestly, with everything going on, just hearing them talk and the fun they were having is gift enough for me. The night was topped off by Max and Graham being thankful that tomorrow is my birthday and Mitch being thankful for me.

Great family. Love you.

My Love, Love

I'm watching the Orange Bowl tonight where my loved Iowa Hawkeyes are beating the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 17-7! I'm also doing something very important (well, I'm taking a break right now). Mitch and I are blowing up balloons to fill Graham's room as tomorrow he celebrates his 4th birthday. We always fill the room of the birthday boy with balloons and add streamers and balloons to the doorway to mark the very special day. Tomorrow, it will be no different for Graham.

I can hardly believe that you, Graham David, will be four tomorrow. Four years ago, we had just put Max to bed, your Aunt Nell was here, and I was very impatiently waiting for 6:00 a.m. when induction for your arrival would begin. After a relatively smooth day, you arrived at 3:11 p.m. weighing 7 lbs, 12 oz at a length of 20.5" Since that moment, you, my Love, Love, have been on the move and inspiring, challenging and blessing our lives. Thank you for coming to us.


I love these photos from your arrival and the clear happiness in all of our faces. Tomorrow, I'll post photos of you, the four-year old. Tonight I'm focusing on the anticipation we were feeling four years ago and then your arrival. I will never forget that time and meeting you.

I love you. Mom

Back at it

I always say routine is good for our family but I'm reconsidering or at the least, reconsidering if we have the best routine.

Tomorrow we go back to the routine of school, work, afternoons at home, no holiday celebrations or guests to visit, regular bedtime and meals. Our usual life. Maybe routine isn't so good. Can we have one more week of fun, family and friends visiting, crazy sleep schedules, treats, entertianing activities and the holidays?

The thing saving me from the thought of tomorrow is that Graham's birthday is on Wednesday and he is SO EXCITED!

Birthday Dinner - 8/27/2007

Written by Sheila Baldwin - Max's godmother

Brad and I were so excited to host Max for his first "outing without family." I wanted to share two funny Max'isms from his birthday dinner at Boston's.


When he opened his gift, he asked about the certificate indicating the savings bond we had purchased for him. I told him that would be money for college. He said, "I don't like college. I don't want to go to college." I asked him whether he had ever been to a college. He said, "One--my dad's." I told him he might like college if he visited his mom's!

We had ordered a cookie for him for dessert, but asked the waitress to not bring it out until he had finished his dinner. Unfortunately, they didn't listen and brought it out too early. Max pushed away his dinner and said, "I'm full of chicken. I'm hungry for a cookie."

What a kid. What a great time!