Bye Bye Binkie: Back Logged November 2013

When I was pregnant with Jack and swore that I was going to do everything right.  Well the problem was in the grand scheme of things the day we brought him home from the hospital was seriously one of the happiest yet, terrifying moments of my life.  I remember pulling into the driveway.  Jack was crying, my stress level was rising because I mean why was he crying?  We went inside the house, changed his diaper.  Didn’t stop crying.  Tried to feed him.  Didn’t stop crying.  Perplexed and semi-panicked, I remember looking at my mom thinking what do we do?  Then that was when Deb said do you have a pacifier?  I looked at her horrified and said “Mom we are not giving him a pacifier he is going to have messed up teeth if we get him hooked on a binkie”.  I remember my mom rolling her eyes and saying “Where is it”.  I pointed hesitantly to the cabinet as my mom reached up and grabbed the binkie.  She popped it in his mouth and instantly he stopped crying.   My next response was “Well maybe for a couple of days until he gets adjusted.”

 

Here we are two years and 2 days later after the day that my mom messed up Jack’s teeth (Just kidding Deb) and Jack still uses his binkie.  We decided at 2 we would get rid of it. I don’t know who is having a harder time with the transition Jack or I?  Right now that binkie to me is what feel likes separate’s him from being a baby to being a big boy.  It is the time in the day that I crave where he just quietly lies in my lap before bad and slowly drifts to sleep.  It is the bink that like that first day he came home still lulls him to sleep.  Jack has been great about growing into big boy “things”.  We got him off bottles by 1, went straight to a straw Sippy, and have even started getting him to go potty on the toilet before bath time.  But this whole binkie thing is killing me.  He has only had it for nap time and bed time for about 6 months.  But his school just got rid of it at nap time and are totally doing their part.  Now I know I need to do mine, but I think that I might just need to put it in the hands of John because I can’t do it.  I know I can but I just don’t want to…I am sure there will be many other moments in my life where I will not be able to let go, and like the wonderful man my husband is he will gently coax me to my senses.  In regards to this one I say a four day business trip to Vegas may be the perfect time to execute.  To the bink that saved us early on I will be forever grateful, but good bye because our baby is a big boy.

Sweet Jack: Backlogged December 2013

December 12, 2013

 

To My Sweet Jack,

 

Time is passing too fast and you are growing up before my eyes.  I can’t believe you are well into your two’s now and every day you are learning something new and surprising both your dad and I.  Over the past few months you have learned your months, how to count to 20, your ABC’s,  colors, shape, a whole bunch of different songs, and your vocabulary continues to grow stronger everyday.  It is just baffling to me how much you are learning at your new school, and how you run around applying what you learn.  I love in the morning hearing you sing in your crib, and when you are playing independently the discussions you have with yourself.  You like to count our toes (random I know), grab our faces with two hands and give us a big kiss, and your bear hugs are to die for.  You are sweet, loving, and so much fun to be around.  You eat like a bird and hate most things I make besides pasta but everyone tells me that is normal for your age.  You always seem to have a places to go and people to see flair about you, and it is very cute.  Being outside is your favorite, playing golf with your dad, and per the norm shooting hoops and kicking a ball round out your favorite past times.  You have taken a liking to Disney movies, especially the Lion King and really enjoy roaring.  It is kind of strange but I am just going with it.  You are obsessed with Thomas the Train, and loving going to the book store and playing with it.  You are an excellent helper around the house, and are extremely independent.  You have been attending a Montessori school for the past three months and I have been so incredibly pleased with your school, teachers, and curriculum.  You can pour your own milk, cut a banana, drink out of a cup without spilling a drop (as long as your use both hands that is) and will clean up whenever we ask (well 90% of the time).  As long as we sing the clean up song that is.

 

You were invited to attend your schools soccer camp despite being a year younger then what they normally require.  Your dad and I are very proud and love going to watch you.  It is adorable seeing you run around and also try to figure out what exactly you are doing.  Your coach says it is just good for you to be exposed even if you don’t get the formal aspect of it yet.  You also love going on Mr. Tommys Music Bus. 

 

Christmas is coming fast and this year is drawing to a close.  When I reflect back on you and your growth I feel so blessed that you are our son.  You have been resilient through so much change and have adopted to everything your father and I put in front of you.  2014 is sure to be a fun year welcoming your new baby brother, but for right now I just want to embrace every moment with you, my sweet little Jack.  I love you buddy!

A New Year: Backlogged from January 1

Back Blogged January 1, 2014

 

In life, all you can hope for is a chance- If you are lucky you get a chance at love, a chance at success, a chance at happiness. What you do with that chance is up to you.”

2014 the Semeraro’s are ready for you!  I can feel it this year is going to be awesome. 

2013 What a year.  I would have to say that 2013 taught me more, challenged me more, and put life in perspective more than any other year thus far.  We started the year with the excitement of crazy change and ended the year with perspective and growth as a family, as a couple, and as individuals.  It certainly was a year that had many fantastic memories.  Some of my favorites included Jack’s every growth milestone and seeing him grow like a weed.  Our trip to the Final Four and National Championship certainly goes down in the books as both JMS and I’s top memories. Go Cards!  An amazing trip to Europe to celebrate Cecilias wedding and just be together as a couple.  So many wonderful memories from that trip including “The BM Beard”, food/wine, “Be Greek”, the weird guys selling the dancing animals, just quiet moments together, time with mom and Jake, Erin & Kostis wedding, and many more.  It was pretty amazing!  And then came July….and the news of our impending arrival that we are now only 11 weeks out from meeting! A bit unexpected, but nonetheless ecstatic about.  With July came decisions, tough decisions, and the reality of where we were at and where we needed to go.  They were not easy, and still as we try to gain clarity don’t remain easy, but one thing for certain I know is that our Team is stacked with another strong member on the way to navigate all life throws at us.

 

This year I have learned to appreciate my husband more than I ever have before. I certainly have always known that John was amazing, but he is more than that.  I am so incredibly blessed to have a man that does the things he does and has sacrificed the things he has for the better of what is truly important in life despite everything else and that is our family.  This year we have grown as a couple more so then ever before, and years from now when we are old and gray I know we will look back on this year and the decisions we have made as one of the many pillars of strength that will have defined our marriage and what we stand for together.  Thank you JMS for being my “Center”.  I love you more than life itself.  I am so ready to tackle our goals together in 2014!