the latest "happys"

I'm so far behind on posting it's ridiculous. One again, it took a threatening email from Kristy to force me to catch up a little. :) Britton is still my little comedian and I swear Leyton learns 12 new tricks a day. Here's just a few of my latest favorites:

1. At dinner at my Mom's a few weeks ago, I was trying to hurry Britton through dinner because we had to leave early for swimming lessons. I told him to speed it along or he wouldn't have time for dessert. He stopped, looked at me with his most serious face, and said, "Eye on the prize Mom, eye on the prize." And went back to eating. :)

2. One evening, I mentioned to Britton as he was whining for what seemed like the 80th time that day, that he wasn't have a very good day. He once again, looked at me so seriously with a sad lip and said, "I just can't find my good boy button today Mom." Talk about tugging at my heart.

3. He tells me to "Stop ProSCRastinating!" (instead of ProCRastinating) at least once a day.

4. Today he told his teacher that "she wasn't very big." She is pretty petite, and she took it as a compliment - thank goodness. He's also told my Dad that "he's old." Can't beat the honesty of a 4 year old.

For Leyton:
1. In the last week, he's said a bunch of new words! He's not using any of them consistently, but it's such a rewarding feeling when he says one! He's said Bee, Apple, All Done, Down, and a few others I can't remember off hand.
2. He loves to dance and will generally "shake it" on command. We love it - a dancer just like his brother and his Daddy.
3. He loves to growl and does so at PJ regularly. They seem to have growling contests... Such boys!
4. Leyton is most definitely my monkey. In the last few weeks, I've caught him standing on the coffee table, couch, and in the tub (no water was in it at the time, no worries). If something is too tall for him, he's learned to pull something up to it to give himself boost. It's too funny to watch (when he doesn't realize he's being watched); I love to see the little wheels turning. :)

This picture of Britton is typical. Why yes, those are UNDERWEAR on his head. Don't worry - they were clean.

PJ and Leyton wrestling - a daily occurence.

Grandma

It's amazing how special Grandmas are. When you are little, they spoil you rotten, allowing you to eat things you wouldn't normally be allowed to, buying you anything and everything, and letting you get away with way more than you ever could at home. As a teenager, they don't judge, and just love to hear your stories (and still spoil you rotten). As an adult, and now a parent, I've seen my grandparents in a whole new light; providing wisdom and support when I need it. And now, my kids are the ones being spoiled rotten. My situation was a little different than most of my friends in that neither sets of my Grandparents lived anywhere near me (not even in the same state). Growing up, we alternated between Colorado and New Mexico; constantly visiting family. That was always our "vacation." My Grandparents were always thrilled to have us, and we loved spending time at their house in Colorado. She was a little lady - claiming to be 5'2", but as my Dad says, that was never verified. :) She had a way about her that was inviting to anyone. She never judged, no matter what any of her crazy grandkids did (myself included), and was always there to listen.

My Dad told a story at the Memorial that I'd never heard, that I want to share. I was the first grandchild on both sides. This was a huge deal in the Pettine family for several reasons. One, I was the FIRST. Second, and most importantly, I was a GIRL. In the Pettine family, "girls are a treasure," according to my Great Aunt Ann. We really are hard to come by. :) My Dad is one of four boys, and there are ten grandchildren. Only four are girls. Of the three great-grandchildren, no girls. So I was born late on a Saturday evening, and back then, I guess they were a little more strict on the visitation hours in hospital nurseries. My Dad was standing outside the nursery window looking at me, and he heard a commotion down the hall. My grandparents had driven in from Colorado to see me, and apparently the nurse was telling them they'd have to come back the next day because visitation hours were over (I was supposed to be born the day before, but totally denied my mother of a baby with a failed induction - then came on my own the next day. Stubborn, much?). As he's walking towards them, he hears my itty-bitty Grandma tell this nurse that SHE HAS BEEN WAITING 50 YEARS FOR THIS BABY AND BY GOD SHE WASN'T GOING TO STAND IN HER WAY. This just sounds exactly like my Grandma. Itty bitty is stature, but such a little firecracker. :) Needless to say, they let her in to see me.

There are few people that will talk Bronco Football with me like my Grandma would. On my last trip there, we had a lengthy discussion about Brandon Marshall (Broncos WR) and how she thought it was time to trade him. (I did NOT agree) And now look who's begging for a trade... I know she's smiling down on me for that one. She was the only other woman I knew that would sit and watch an entire weekend of football, and love every minute of it. She was an avid golfer, and love being outside. I know there is so much of her in me, and I miss her tremendously.


Love you Grandma!!!

Me, Grandma, and my Uncle Chris:

Britton, right after his "Nona" (she insisted on being called this by her great-grandkids - we're italian, just go with it. :) ) gave him his first taste of ice cream EVER at 9 months! I think he liked it just a little bit...

This is by far my favorite picture. I just love the look on her face with little Britton. Sadly, she never met Leyton, but I know she would have LOVED him.