For the First Time

Today, I had an,"Ah Ha," moment as people say these days. It was just your run of the mill insane morning having two little boys and a messy husband to care for and some how manage being and feeling very pregnant. A typical day...after a long night of Will awakenings... the morning began with the craziness of getting ready for Jake's first day of soccer and Jon's first day coaching, thoughts of my due date soon approaching and the unfinished errands I've been feeling stressed by and our constantly dripping kitchen sink... a normal morning... We made it to soccer and after unloading and getting myself to the field pushing the half full double stroller up a hill in my saggy, uncomfortable maternity jeans.... I had a second to breath. I gazed out onto the field to see my adorable Jake running around with a huge grin on his little face and my handsome husband in his Phillie's sweatshirt chatting up another soccer dad. I watched as my husband, somewhat nervously began coaching his first practicee... he was nervous, which you rarely see... although he would never admit it I'm sure. He was amazing. He handled the children with such ease and always had a genuine smile on his face. He made friends with the other coach and upon leaving commented on what a great guy He was. Tonight as I lay here resting my swollen legs, I am left with thoughts and pictures of my husband and what a great guy HE is.

Today and lately I guess... I feel like I have been seeing him for the first time. Jon is such a man of character and for me irresistible charm. I see the way he fathers our boys and how much love he shows them. I hear him say love you to them many times a day and we have countless talks about how cute they both are. I see the way he tries to be romantic even though he doesn't truly have a romantic bone in his body. I see the way it pains him to give a budget, as he would buy me the world if he could. I see the way he respects others and looks up to people always trying to become a,"better", man. I see the way he praises God and pursues a relationship with Him and with other men who desire the same. I just see him... my love... the one He designed me for. This tall, dark and may I say handsome man ...when I met him was a sort of short, guys guy who was a sporty and somewhat grumpy college kid. I knew he was different when I met him, but it has taken me years to figure out just how different. We are a normal couple who have their disagreements and annoyances... and he would never believe that I've been feeling this way lately with all my hormonal mood swings and pregnancy woes I have not been as quick to compliment him.
However, at the end of the day, when the kids are asleep, the house is quiet and I have a minute to think... I feel lucky. Lucky that God had a plan for us. I am still madly in love with my husband and yet he makes me feel mad most days. Isn't that what true love is all about? You make each other nuts, but you can't live without each other? I always want to be in love with Jon and I always want to remember why and tell him so. I tell him all the time that I want to be the couple that holds the grocery cart together when we are eighty... full knowing that Jon would never do so... it would probably slow the cart down and even at eighty I'm sure he'll still be on a tight "schedule," and I will be trying to stop and smell the roses...

My prayer tonight is that God can help me stop and SEE my husband more often for the loving, wonderful, passionate individual that he is and help me to feel the strong admiration and love I do for him in this moment every day of our lives together. Love you Honey. I can't believe we met a decade ago and I can't believe we have been married for five years and will soon have three little boys. Here is to many many more years of insanity, drippy sinks and socks left on the floor!

Yet Another Photo Update

Jake started soccer today and boy was it adorable! I was excited to see how he would handle it and I was so proud. It was pretty much bees on honey the whole time, but it was hysterical to watch. Jon is the coach and he did a great job too. There are six kids on his team and Jake jersey is number ten! As he says," One and zero make ten!"

Jake started back to preschool and he is now going three mornings a week. Some of the kids stay for lunch and every day he asks to stay for lunch too. Selfishly, I am just not ready for four hours without Jake around. We told him when he turns four, January... he can start staying for lunch too. He is such a school nerd like me! It makes me so proud. Will's adoption closing ceremony was perfect. We had the nicest judge who gave us a very heartfelt speech at the end of the proceedings about how much he lovers doing adoption ceremonies. how each child is a blessing and that no matter how your family if formed, you are blessed to have children. he is also said that labor doesn't make you a parent and that the love is created through your bond. I couldn't agree more Judge! He asked us to send him a copy of this picture so he can add it to his "happy thoughts" album that he looks at on his tough days being a judge in Camden, NJ. There were three or four other families waiting in the hallway of the courthouse and you could just feel the love and blessings in the air! An amazing end to a wonderful experience! I also included some pics from last weekend when we took a much needed day trip to B-more. Pop Pop played in the yard with the boys the whole day and they even cleaned out and added new fish to his pond. It was a big hit! Poor Gigi broke her foot so she was recovering, but we were able to see her and spend some time catching up too.

Three Boys... wow

Lately, I have been feeling a wee bit overwhelmed with the idea of three boys. I am honored and humbled that God thinks that I am capable of this task. However, Jake is in a new shall I say "hyper" phase. I am not sure what it is, but the more tired he is... the more wild. I'm not exactly a wild or hyper person and don't really know what to do with all of his energy. Will is also on the move now. He is crawling on all fours, pulling himself to stand everywhere including his crib and he moves quick! Jake loves Will to pieces. The boys wrestle already and Jake is way too rough with Will. Most of the time, Will completely welcomes it. However, I am trying to manage what is boys being boys and what is too rough. Am I really already dealing with this already?? Will is only nine months old! Crazy... We are outside as much as possible and my creative juices are majorly flowing around the Sharp house. We create race tracks out of everything... make up active games constantly... run laps around the yard weekly....go on treasure hunts several times a week... I'll do anything to use our energy! I am one tired pregs that is for sure. This past week, I have been feeling pregnant. It only took thirty seven weeks, but I finally really feel it!

I am so very excited to meet our new little man, Kevin. I cannot believe he will be here so soon. I am little nervous about having two soo little. Jake is very independent, but Will is still soo little. He loves to be held and loves his mama! So, I think he has a rude awakening ahead of him. Jake will be fine, I have no doubt. I think he thinks this is just how things work around here... every nine months... a new baby boy arrives! He tells me all the time we will have ten babies. Their names will be Jake and that we will need a new bath tub to fit them in. Cracks me up. I promise him that won't happen and he is always disappointed. I tell him that if I survive three boys, we may be lucky to get a sister some day... maybe...

Tomorrow is our official adoption ceremony and we will become Will's legal parents. It feels surreal because I never doubted that he was ours. Will is my son. I loved him from the minute I heard about him and have never felt anything other than a motherly love for him. The adoption process for Jon and I has felt exactly the same as actual labor... except, less painful for me! I am excited that the process is ending in a sense and look forward to sharing all of these experiences with him when he is ready or willing to hear all about it. I can't imagine our lives without him! My Willy Nills... love him.

I wanted to post some cell phone pics because sometimes I don't have my camera and it is occurring more often lately. I am always aware of the speed of time and can't stand how quickly it moves. I never want to forget a thing about my boys growing up. My two little boys... growing up too fast...soon to be three!!

Jake's first drawing of our family

Funtimes with Aunt Nikki and sunglasses

Still obsessed with golf

First haircut

Had to purchase this hat

First brothers see saw ride

He is eating everything!!

Off to Lancaster

Lately, we have felt the need for a vacation very badly. It's getting close to Kevin's due date though, so I thought it would not happen. Then, we randomly decided to go to Lancaster, PA for two nights and do Dutch Wonderland. We booked our hotel at 3pm and were there by 6:00 on Thursday night. We had a great time and could have stayed longer. I love Lancaster and all that it has to offer and it is close to home which makes it super convenient. Sleeping in a hotel room together as a family of four for the first time was interesting, but we managed and the fun out-weighed the fatigue! Here are some pics of our little adventure.

Family bath to wipe all the germs away in our skeevy hotel bath! Not sure if it actually helped, but it was fun! One day soon we won't fit in the same bath.