Bittersweet!

Today was a strangely emotional day for me. 😩

It's my last full day of maternity leave, my last full day of Dan and me getting to hang out all day. 😩😩

While I know I am ready to go back to teaching part-time -- and know it is good for me -- it's also very bittersweet. This may be the last day EVER that I will get to spend a whole day cuddling and doting on a newborn of my own. It may be the last time I have the luxury of letting Dan call the shots for the day and avoiding things on my to-do list in favor of napping, snuggling, and comfort nursing instead. 😢

I have tried to cherish this time, but the days still went by a bit too fast. I've tried to capture lots of mental "photographs" to imprint these precious moments with Dan in my mind. Hopefully, time won't completely erase them.💗💗

I know I'm not meant to be a stay-at-home mom. I admire those who do, as it truly is THE hardest job in the world. I applaud each and every one of you for what you do and sacrifice on a daily basis. Truly awesome. 🤗🤗

Each of my sons has already made me a better person, and I can't wait to see what the future holds. I hope they grow to see the passion I have for teaching and education and that they feel inspired to do what they truly want to do in life. Always. 🌟🌟🌟

In the meantime, I will try to sneak in as many baby snuggles and toddler hugs and kisses as I can. After all, these moments are FAR too fleeting. 👶🏻👶🏻😍😍💞💞

Time flies...

It's hard to believe that Dan turned 8 weeks yesterday. Where has the time gone?!! 😩😩😩

By this point, I was already back to work after Will was born. And I was ready....mainly. 🤗

I recently made the decision to return to work part-time next week. I will teach two classes at the Chinese learning academy I work at during the school year. This will allow me with a much-needed teaching outlet in the morning while still giving me precious time with my boys in the afternoons. Dan will begin daycare at the same school Will is in, and our back-to-work transition will begin. Hopefully, this will make my first full-time teaching day on August 23rd a bit more bearable! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I have treasured this time with Dan and will continue to do so. We are making an extra effort this week to go on fun outings and lunch dates with a wide variety of great friends. Dan is even accompanying me to my haircut tomorrow afternoon. 👍🏼

I continue to be amazed at what a sweet, chill, and happy baby Dan is. He rarely cries, is such a snuggler, and seriously knows how to sleep. Last night was a 9.5 hour stretch night, which would have been awesome had some idiot not continually rung our doorbell and knocked on our door at 2:40. NOT cool.😡😡😡

My boys are my world, and I continue to feel beyond blessed. We are figuring out our new rhythm as a family of four, which will only to ebb, flow, and evolve over time.💗💗💗

And I have to remember that Dan will not be a baby forever, so I must savor and take advantage of the endless snuggles and cuddling time now.👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻💞💞💞💞💞

Chores!!

I love this concept.

What do you think? How do or will you handle chore responsibilities and/or possible allowances with your children?? 💵💡🚽🚿

http://www.scarymommy.com/club-mid/why-i-wont-pay-my-sons-to-do-chores/?utm_source=SM

We survived!

We survived 9 days. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

9 whole days of having both boys to ourselves with no help from anyone else or school for Will. Add in that a 5 day "vacation," and it's safe to say we are WIPED. 😩😩😩

We were able to host some awesome friends in our home this weekend, though, including great longtime friends (going back to college), Dan's future godfather, and even one of my wonderful former students. 💗

This student, Catherine, is a rising senior at UMD studying bioengineering and kicking serious a** in a very male-dominated field. She was a serious varsity runner in HS and still hits the pavement most days. Most importantly, she has grown to be a beautiful, mature, and thoughtful person, inside and out. I felt honored that she contacted me and we were able to check-up over such a nice visit for the first time in 7 years. Moments like this make me so excited to be working directly with students again this year -- and also make me seriously consider going back to the classroom full-time as an English teacher. We shall see! 👍🏼

On the homefront, Dan had a particularly fussy day as he continues to go through his second major mental development, the world of patterns (Yay for the Wonder Weeks app and book!!). He demanded on being held all day, which made me extremely grateful for the Baby Bjorn Amanda lent me. I will pick up my own tomorrow, thankfully! 💪🏻

Will continues to be hilarious and was quite impressive on his scooter this evening, even in the crazy heat and humidity.☀️☀️

Dexter is SUPER protective of both boys, always. Tonight, while pumping, Dan was making unusual but cute snoring sounds. Dex was so concerned that he attempted to climb up onto his rock 'n play to make sure he was OK. He then didn't want to leave Dan's side once I left the room. For all of the daily abuse and rough play Dex endures daily with Will (and Dan in the future, I'm sure!), he is every the loyal, tolerant, and loving canine companion. 🐶💗💞😍

Now, if I could only convince Greg he needs a feline buddy to keep him company again... 🐱🐱🐱😂😂😂😇😇😇

We survived!!

Well, we're home! We survived!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

And now we need a vacation from our vacation.😩

You fellow mamas know the feeling of sheer exhaustion vacationing with your little ones evokes, the kind that cuts deep into your core and makes you want to hide under the covers.😩😩

Yes, I feel your pain, and yes, traveling with a toddler, newborn, and dog is NO JOKE. We were tested to the limit every day, and despite it all, we wouldn't trade this vacation time for anything else. We LOVED Deep Creek, made memories that will last a lifetime, and cannot wait to go back!🎉🎉🎉

For those of you looking for traveling advice with your littles, please take the following words to heart: 👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻

1. Less is more. Over planning and overpacking your day with endless outings and activities is a sheer disaster waiting to happen, for both you and your kids. 🤗

2. Go with the flow. Things will not go as expected, and someone will have a meltdown or a blowout diaper when you least expect it. Breathe. You will laugh about this in a few years, maybe even sooner. 😝😝

3. Keep your kids to a schedule. We had a rough plan for what we hoped to do every morning and afternoon but let the kids' moods and needs guide us. Ensuring Will had his midday nap was a must and kept him much happier and calm.💤💤

4. Figure out a method of organization that works for you. We went to Deep Creek with a loaded minivan, but every bag had a purpose. We kept bags and supplies for the beach in the van and minimized what we dragged back and forth in and out of the house. When you've already got a car seat and toddler to carry, this is key.👏🏽👏🏽

5. Have a bag of snacks, wipes, bottles, sippy cups, plastic bags, and versatile toys on hand at all times. Consider keeping this in the car along with a ready-to-go diaper bag. You will thank yourself later, trust me.👍🏼👍🏼

6. Baby wearing is an absolute lifesaver. My favorites for newborns are the Baby Bjorn and Nesting Days baby carrier. Both are sturdy and easy to figure out. The Bjorn was comfortable to wear during our hiking adventure to Swallow Falls and allowed me to remain mobile and wade in the water at the beach while watching Will. I never used carriers or wraps much with Will, but I'm seeing what a necessity they are with subsequent children. #musthave 🏊🏻🏊🏻

7. Yelp was an amazing resource for us to find kid-friendly eateries, even in the middle of nowhere.🍴🍴

8. As you can, divide and conquer kids and responsibilities with your spouse or partner. Greg spent much of his time with Will and me with Dan, for obvious reasons.🍼🍼🍼

9. Organize as much as you can for the next day the night before, even if it's the last thing you want to do. Believe me - it will make your mornings 10,000x easier, especially on the last morning of your trip when you're trying to load the car while your newborn wants to comfort nurse and toddler is having a hysterical meltdown for no apparent reason.  😩😩😩

10. Don't forget about your significant other. Show and tell them how much you love and appreciate them. Every day. Be kind and patient with them, especially when your kids are being particularly impossible. Yelling and getting impatient and angry with each other solves nothing. A little understanding, empathy, and support goes a long way.💗💗

Yes, we learned a lot this trip, especially about how strong Team LaBanca is. We also gained a bit of confidence in our ability to travel with 2 boys under 2.5 -- and a dog. We both feel strongly about exposing our sons to new places, experiences, and cultures early on. ✈️🚤

And this past week was certainly a step in the right direction.💞💞👏🏼👏🏼

Ugh!!

It's a good thing Daniel is so cute and adorable. 👶🏻

Today was challenging, quite challenging. 😩😩

Take an already really constipated baby and combine that with the traumatic 7 week mental leap, and you've got yourself what we call a HOT MESS. 😩😩😩 This is by far the most fussy and impossible he's been yet. 😩😩😩😩

Our great friends Ally and Matt came all the way from DC to witness this magic. 😁 I think they left our house reminded once again why it's better to wait to have children. 😳 They did just get a puppy now, which is a gateway drug to child, as far as I'm concerned. 👶🏻🐶😍

Once both boys were finally in bed by 9 pm, I hurried around like a mad woman trying to pack all of our necessary 10,000 bags for our 5 day trip to Deep Creek, as we leave tomorrow midday. This is where my OCD and love of packing lists and organization serve me well. In fact, such high intensity packing is like my version of the Olympics, where my gold medal is ensuring everyone has every possible thing they could need while away, even the dog. I find this kind of organization energizing and strangely therapeutic. Maybe that's why I still have so much energy now after midnight, despite not sleeping well at all last night. 😝😝😝

In other news, I went back to the Barre for the first time post-pregnancy! 💪🏻 The opening arm exercise sequence was surprisingly OK; it was the extended planks that did me in. I felt great overall, though! Even so, I am going to continue being kind and patient with my body and take things slowly. After all, a little human exited it a month and a half ago. 😝😜👶🏻

Wish us luck as we depart for our first vacation as a family of four (plus the dog)! Fingers crossed that Dan is over the worst of his leap and that we can ALL get a bit of much-needed relaxation at the lake. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🏊🏻🏊🏻🏊🏻

Find your sweet spot!

While Greg and I may still be in "the blur" and have a long way to go to get to our parenting "sweet spot" (see article), I already want time to slow down. It's already all going by WAY too fast, most days. 😩😩😩

In parenting, the days are long but the years are short. Be present. Be grateful. Unplug and just BE there for your kids. 👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻

And definitely read this article. 

Time may fly, but we can capture mental memories of each stage and maybe even find a "sweet spot" -- or two -- in each. 💗💗💗

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3617506.html

Friends matter!

I really miss being near my extended family. 😓😓

This reality hit me hard this week, especially with Greg working late most nights (tonight until 10 pm, and he has to go back in tomorrow by 6 am!!). 😳😳

It's not easy. Many of you know what I'm talking about.😁😁

My awesome MIL texted this to me tonight: "Thank God for your wonderful friends. They become family when you don't have family nearby." This couldn't be more true for us.💗💗

Tonight I am especially grateful for one family in particular. In addition to always being there for us (physically and mentally), they are amazing hosts and go out of their way to make us feel comfortable and loved. Take tonight, for example. They both knew Greg wouldn't be home until really late, so they invited the boys and me over for a delicious dinner and playdate, even asking what kind of cut of steak I preferred ahead of time. #ridiculouslyawesomehosts 🍽🍽

It was a wonderful evening and always fun to see our sons playing together. Jay even brought Andrew (his 2.5 year old son's) baby swing upstairs for Daniel to enjoy. This allowed me to eat dinner in peace and get some time for real adult conversation and laughter. #justwhatineeded🍷

Amanda and Jay are truly incredible, and I am so blessed that our sons brought us into one another's lives. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Tonight and every day, treasure the friends you have who are like family, regardless of how far away they may be. Especially in parenthood, they can be our lifelines and saving graces.🙏🏻🙏🏻

So, here's s virtual toast to Amanda, Jay, and all similarly awesome friends! Thanks for keeping us happy -- and sane -- on a daily basis! We couldn't do any of this without you. 💞💞💞

#momoftheyear

I am glad I survived today. 😁😁

It was epic. 😳😳😳

And yes, I enjoyed a bottle of hard cider at the end of it.🍾

Some top moments from this glorious day: 😝

1. Having to change Dan's diaper and then breastfeed him in a restaurant bathroom stall. Long story.😡😡

2. Having the lights go out in said stall (Damn motion sensors) and then having to exit the stall with Dan still attached to my boob and dance like a lunatic to activate the lights. They eventually came back on, thank God. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

3. Will acting like a total nutjob during his haircut, screaming like a banshee and disturbing everyone in the shop, including an Autistic teenager, who had to cover his ears and rock back and forth to drown out Will's noise next to his mother. I felt AWFUL. 😩😩😩

4. Attempting to feed Dan and find the exact YouTube school bus video Will requested, which changes every 0.05 seconds. Finally, I thought I found THE one. Oh great, a FIVE minute ad in Spanish to get through before being able to see the video. It held Will's attention for about 2 seconds. Yes, it was the longest five minutes EVER. When the video started, Will screams, "No, Mommy, no no no no no." Cue extraordinary toddler meltdown. I can't win. 😩😩😩

5. Attempting to cook another delicious Blue Apron meal with Greg. Smoke alarm goes off. Greg panics and loses it while disarming the alarm and swearing (Remember I said he has ridiculously sensitive hearing?!!!). Dan wakes up. Cue more comfort nursing.🍼🍼😩

And now cue bed, finally!!

Yay!!!

So, yes, yesterday was an awesome day. ☀️☀️

In addition to my doctor saying how well I've healed and how great my weight is, she also cleared me to workout again. 💪🏻 I know this may shock you, but I have yet to rejoin any of the various gyms I was affiliated with before Dan arrived (Yea, I've always been a little bit of a gym whore 😝). Life has been a bit too crazy on the homefront, especially with a newborn constantly on my boob, a toddler who enjoys screaming and melting down while the newborn is at his most needy, and a hubby with a crazy a** commute. 😩😩😩

I did, however, recently discover an awesome new fitness app -- Skyfit. It offers unlimited on-demand elliptical, treadmill, indoor cycling, strength training, and yoga classes (by fitness level) in addition to running training programs, ranging from the 5K to marathon. It's cheap too -- $9.99 month to month, $49.99 a year, and another in-between option that escapes me currently. I attempted to start a yoga class today, but then Dan woke up. 👶🏻 Can't wait to get started soon! 🙏🏻

Yesterday also marked our 8 year wedding anniversary. Time really does fly! We've actually been together 15 years this fall too! We even managed to have a friend and neighbor baby-sit both boys while we enjoyed a nice local dinner out. Plus, we actually got both boys in bed prior to 8 pm to *almost* be on-time to our reservation. Luckily, it's only a five minute walk away. This time away with just the two of us was perfect and allowed us to reconnect and really enjoy our company kid-free. Bliss! 💞💞💞

I continue to be so grateful to have such a hands-on husband who is an amazing father to our boys. He will be such a strong and influential role model for them, and I can't wait to see what the future holds. 💗

Here's hoping my short-term future involves working out again so I don't go completely insane!! 😝😝😝

Great day!

We took it easy today, and it was awesome. ☀️☀️☀️

Top 10 things/moments I'm most grateful for from today: 💗

1. Greg letting me sleep in after Dan's first nursing of the morning. #sheerbliss😍😍😍

2. Dan slept through the night for 9.5 hours! 👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻#keepitupdreambaby

3. It was much less hot and humid today, making a long family midday walk much more pleasant and bearable. ☀️☀️☀️

4. Really enjoying breastfeeding now. I'm so glad I stuck with it and treasure the time I have with Dan during it, despite feeling like I'm his personal cow all the time. Rarely have I been seen more on a chair in front of our TV before!💗💗💗

5. Greg = expert grocery shopper who can actually stick to a list. #goodman🤗

6. Both boys' utter satisfaction in my homemade macaroni and cheese. Tonight's special ingredient = Old Bay seasoning! #itwasahit🍽🍽🍽

7. Will being quite the social and happy boy on the playground, even showing great resilience after falling hard on his knee and drawing blood. #trooper 💪🏻

8. Audible has made it sooo easy for me to experience great audiobooks while BFing and walking the dog. #addicted🎧

9. I've still kept our new Betta fish Gogol alive! #shocker🐠

10. The amazing USA female gymnasts! WOW. Go get 'em in Rio, ladies!!! Definitely worth staying up for!!! #girlpower 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Compromise!

It's hard whenever you watch your better half reach a breaking point. 😩

That definitely happened for Greg tonight. We had a really busy day with both boys -- first at the neighborhood pool and then at a friend of a friend's incredible farm -- and I could tell both Greg and Will were losing it during the latter. They were done, overstimulated, and wanted nothing more than to go home. 😩😩

This is where knowing your partner and making compromises is key. I have always been much more of a natural extrovert than Greg, making friends easily and getting energized from being around others. Greg, on the other hand, is much more wary and guarded, taking awhile to open up to others, trust them, and gradually ease into a friendship. As a result, Greg has fiercely loyal and strong relationships with a small group of close friends. I have that but also a ton of not-so-close friends and acquaintances in several social circles. It's how we've always been. 🌟🌟

By the time he put Will to bed tonight (while I, per usual, nursed Dan downstairs), Greg looked like he had been hit by a truck. I encouraged him to get some alone time and literally had to turn off the lights in the basement so he could fully shut down stimuli and relax. This is how he decompresses and recharges before bed after difficult days/nights. He says his "autism" was setting in again.😩

No, Greg is not autistic, but he's definitely a bit quirky and OCD. He needs his space and time alone desperately, something I'm seeing now more than ever. I guess a newborn and toddler will do that to you.😂😂

So, perhaps today's insanity is a good lesson for me. Perhaps I need to help my boys SLOW DOWN on the weekends and just chill. 💤 Perhaps I need to stop making plans and see what the day brings, including what the current mood and feelings of Greg and Will are. And perhaps I need to be more sensitive to their needs, just as I hope they would be of mine. 💗💗

Balancing personalities, preferences, and energy dynamics in a family is never easy, especially when it involves compromise. Paying attention to what each person needs, however, certainly can go a long way. 💞💞💞

We have absolutely NO plans tomorrow. And that may be just what my boys need. ☀️☀️☀️🤗

Wake up!

I'll just leave this right here. 

You may agree or disagree with me, and that's OK. Our nation is in a deep state of crisis, and it's time for all of us to wake up, for our sake and for the next generation. 💪🏾💪🏻💪🏾💪🏻💪🏾

And if you've been ignoring what's going on or thinking it's not your problem, think again. 👶🏾👶🏻👶🏾👶🏻

Read on, listen, and learn. Please.

http://fusion.net/story/170591/the-next-time-someone-says-all-lives-matter-show-them-these-5-paragraphs/

Thirtysomething mums unite!

Beautiful, on point, and totally worth reading, whether you're a Mom or not. 💞💞💞

https://littlesloveandsunshine.com/2016/07/05/to-the-thirtysomething-mums/

Gratitude matters!

It's been awhile since I've written a gratitude list. Let's rectify that now! 🌟🌟

My top 10 moments of gratitude from today:💗💗

1. Extra snuggle time with Dan the man this morning. I am really treasuring my maternity leave and days with him.👶🏻💗👶🏻💗👶🏻💗

2. Enjoying a long walk with Dan and Dex before it got crazy humid. Combined with audiobook listening and a slight breeze, I was in heaven! ☀️☀️☀️

3. An amazing lunch at an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet with a great friend I met in grad school. Awesome food and conversation! Dan happily slept the whole time. 🍽🍽🍽

4. Finally getting to use some of my Target gift cards to pick up some essentials AND actually sticking to my very short list! Tip: if it doesn't fit on or below the stroller, don't buy it.😜😜

5. Will not having a complete meltdown leaving school or on the ride home. #smallmiracles💪🏻💪🏾

6. A fun visit from another good friend and neighbor who helped me bring the boys and dog to the playground and witnessed firsthand how insane life with a newborn and toddler can be.😩😩😩

7. A third great friend coming over to help with the boys and make us a delicious tuna steak meal from HelloFresh. Any of you guys subscribe to this or other food/meal delivery services? I'm debating whether to try this -- or Blue Apron.🍽🍽🍽

8. Successfully putting both boys to bed by myself.💪🏻💪🏾👶🏻👶🏻

9. We expected it to be one heck of a late night at work for Greg, so what a pleasant surprise to see him home at 7:30! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

10. A handwritten thank you note in the mail. Isn't snail mail the best?!! And WHAT has happened to the lost art of letter-writing??!😍

I continue to feel so blessed and filled with joy. And 3 visits with awesome girlfriends today? #solid 💞💞💞

What a weekend!

I need a weekend to recover from my weekend. Big time. 😩😩😩

Meltdown central Friday night, pool time with friends and the boys Saturday, non-stop nursing, staying on top of the Olympic trials, too many poppy diapers to count, reading 10,000 books to Will, running errands, cooking, getting together with good friends yesterday and today, and, of course, our disastrous trip to Frederick in heavy rain today. I'm tired. 💤💤💤

It's funny how much things have changed. Less than a year ago, Will was one of the only kids in our good college/DC friend group. Now, most of us have at least one kid or one/another on the way. Beruit tables and boxes of wine have been replaced my kids' cars, trucks, other toys, and even "lactation stations" full of nursing mamas. We all look a bit older and much more tired, barely able to handle a fraction of the alcohol we used to consume back in our young, DC days. 🍷🍷🍷

And yet, I don't think many of us have ever been happier or felt more fulfilled. I know I haven't. We are all beginning new life chapters together, and I hope our children will grow up to be life-long friends too. How exciting to consider! 👏🏼💗👏🏼💗

Parenting is THE hardest job in the world, so it's nice to have friends and confidants to cheer you along and commiserate with every step of the way. We are not alone, life can be insane, and we don't always have it together. It's OK. 💪🏻💪🏾💪🏻💪🏾

And our friends know that's OK. We're doing the best we can. Every. Single. Day. That's all that matters. 🌟🌟🌟

Do your thing!

I feel so lucky that breastfeeding is now going so well with Dan and me. It's less painful, convenient, and allows for such great daily bonding time with Dan. It's the ONE thing -- aside from just holding my boys -- that I enjoy sitting for long periods of time for. 😜😜

With Will, who hated nursing and never latched well like Dan does, pumping and bottles worked best. And that worked perfectly for us. 👶🏻

That's the key -- with breastfeeding, there is NO right or wrong answer. I get sick and tired of moms judging moms and preaching their personal values and beliefs on other moms. Let's stop the mom hating and start EMBRACING one another. Let's celebrate our achievements as moms, even if it means just getting out of the house in one piece in the morning, not losing it, or deciding to supplement to fully meet her baby's needs. We matter and do amazing things each and every day! 🤗

I always hoped I could and would breastfeed my babies. My mom formula-fed me, and I think I turned out relatively OK. She did what worked for her, and I am doing what works best with my boys and me. 👏🏼👏🏼

Don't apologize for your decisions as a mom or feel guilty based on others' opinions on what you should do. Frankly, it's none of their business. If you follow your gut and truly do what you believe is best for YOU and your baby, you've done quite alright. 🌟🌟🌟

Let's stop trying to earn the ridiculous title of World's Best Mother and embrace the World's Okayest Mother filled with joy, not guilt.💪🏻💪🏾💪🏻💪🏾

And when it comes to breastfeeding, make the decision that's best for you, your baby, and the boobies. Nothing else -- and no one else -- matters. This article is a great reminder of that.🍼🍼

Keep on being awesome just as YOU know how to, Warrior Mamas!! 💞💞💞👶🏻👶🏻👶🏻

http://www.ozy.com/pov/breast-feeding-sucks/3647

Finding inner strength...

Greg and I just held each other after the boys were in bed tonight, on the verge of tears. 😳😳

This whole parenting thing is the hardest yet most rewarding endeavor of our lives. We realized it with Will as a newborn, and we're sure as heck experiencing deja vu on a whole new level this time around with Daniel. 😩👶🏻👶🏻

If you're a new parent and haven't read The Wonder Years book or downloaded the app, do so. It offers a week by week, day by day analysis of why your child is acting the way he or she is based on what developmental leap he is currently undergoing or approaching. Particularly fussy days often precede major developmental leaps, causing you to feel like you have a new kid a few days later. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Dan is experiencing his first real leap currently, and it's terrifying him. He basically cluster fed (out of both necessity and comfort) every 1-2 hours today and cried every hour last night (rarely waking himself up during each crying spell, which I find incredible!). Needless to say, it was a long day today. I looked in the mirror and realized just how exhausted I look -- and am. 😩😩

But this TOO shall pass. 

Apparently, Dan will be like a new baby in a day or two. We can do this...🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Let's end on a cute, positive note here. Will now calls Dan "Danny," tried to give him a high five, and even offered him his pacifier when he was crying this morning. #adorable 😍😍😍

The older brother cuteness overload continues, and those small, precious, fleeting moments make it ALL worth it. 🍼💪🏾🌟🍷😍💗💞

Brothers!

Three incredible things happened today. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

1. Greg arrived home at 5:38 pm. I knew he wouldn't have the late night he expected (That will be next Tuesday instead), but this was such a wonderful surprise. I thought someone was trying to break into the house, but alas, it was him! 😳🤗

2. Will was in an amazing good mood both when he woke up AND for the ride home. This continued into the evening hours. I am wondering where my temperamental toddler went. Oh wait, their moods can change every 5 seconds. 😂😂

3. Will presented Dan with one of his prized blankets when Greg was holding Dan on the rug. Will thought Dan looked cold, so he gave up his blanket and wrapped it around Dan (Being as obsessed as he is with his blankets, this is an ENORMOUS gesture). Dan, in turn, reached out to Will, and Will grabbed his hand gently. Sooooo sweet. 💗💗💗

Yes, my heart is still bursting with happiness. 💞💞💞

If this is any sign of what is to come with the beautiful aspects of their brotherhood, bring on the tissues. Big time. 👶🏻👶🏻😍😍