XX? or XY?

We cheer for the Y around here, and evidently we selectively choose for Y chromosomes as well.

I spoke with the doctor before going into the sonogram room and he gave me a good scare about the risks for babies born to diabetic mommies. It was sobering. But Eric told me a few months ago that he felt confident this baby was going to be healthy. Eric is pretty close with the spirit and that really buoyed my spirits...plus he gave me a blessing that said as much. That means we were batting with a 100% chance that we were going to bat a 1000. Good odds. BUT when the tech zoomed over a well developed spine I breathed a sigh of relief anyway. And when she exposed that amazing pumping heart and specified the four chambers, I was impressed again that a true miracle is growing inside me. I started to cry I was so happy. He is a miracle. My actual thought was "She is a miracle."

I didn't think I cared if this baby was a boy or a girl, but I was certain this baby was a girl.

So I didn't cry while I was a gely-belly...

nor when we went out for dinner...

and not when I drove home by myself (Eric met us at the office and drove our little gents home).

But I admit disappointment, and I cried in the safety of my home, which made me feel let down at myself.

Augh! I should be grateful, generally I am a grateful person, and this was something to be grateful about. But I had started watching tiny girl hair-dos, and imagining what a feminine impact a girl would have on my boys. Now I think that if I were a little boy spirit up in heaven THIS is exactly the family I would want to come to. He has a perfect daddy to emulate. And his two brothers are Fun, capital F. We laugh a lot around here at these two comedians. And I like to think we are the ultimate MTC.

We are thrilled to have another Hatch boy.

I am grateful he has Y chromosomes...he had four heart chambers...he is a miracle.

Life as we know it...

I just got back from taking the boys to the pool. They LOVE it! It was just me and my little gents, so we ALL got in our swimming suits before heading over. As we got in the car this was Isaac's and my conversation:

I: Mom, the people are going to see you naked.
M: No they aren't. I'm not naked.
I: Yes you are.
M: Isaac, I'm wearing a swimming suit.
I: (concerned) Yes you are. There's a man...but he didn't see you naked. There's another man...but he didn't see you naked either.
M: Good.
***30 seconds later***
I: Mom, can you roll down my window so I can warn the people that your naked.
M: (humored) Okay. (roll down window)
I: (yelling) HEY PEOPLE! LOOK STRAIGHT CAUSE MY MOM IS NAKED.

It's good to know he has my back...or maybe in this case everyone else's.

One more sad note. Isaac is a DC baby. Not only does he have to be concerned about his mother's modesty, but he is often reminded that getting around in this area takes extra time because of traffic. I just noticed him playing cars on our window seal. As he pummeled his cars into one another I heard him say "Traffic! Traffic!" Hmph.

The happiest place on earth...

really is Disney World. At least when Seth in driving the race cars, we are talking squeals of delight. But interestingly enough, the happiest place on earth moves to the swimming pool when Seth is there. It, the happiest place on earth, generally follows Seth around and is currently in my front room. He is delightful. Eric has to unfold himself out these crazy contraptions...and airplane seats.

Isaac likes to relay the story about his ride with Eric. "My daddy said, 'HEY! Who's driving this crazy car?' (chuckle chuckle) And I said it was me!"

Eric took our family to Disney World for my birthday. And he didn't just buy everyone shirts before we left, along with a few tickets and then call it quits. No. No. No. He carried Seth around three parks...for three days, cleaned Isaac up when he had a major accident and then Seth when he had a major accident, and he packed the bags before we came home while I slept. I am telling you the man is a total STUD. I was brilliant for marrying him.

At Pizza Planet we found a little $ oasis. $5 for a kids meal: a tiny personal pizza, your choice of carrots or apple sauce, a cookie, and a healthy drink. AND the Caprici Salad was the best thing I ate in FL. We ate at a buffet the day before and I am embarrassed to say how much it cost. Ew. And we spent Isaac's whole college fund on water.

Here's my studly knight carrying our charges.

When Isaac saw this storm trooper picture he asked, "Is that a Storm Farmer?" Uhhhhh....close.

He also calls them Storm Supers.

DANGER: Energy level falling. I was tired. And I am pregnant. Our baby is due Thanksgiving.

The Mickey hat has an annoying elastic that is meant to go under one's chin. Seth liked the hat...sort of...I mean he chose it himself...but that elastic....

And here is Seth sporting the glasses from Isaac's favorite ride. "Andy's Room" is what we call the Toy Story Mania attraction.

Zurg! And my two favorite boys on the planet.

"To infinity and beyond!" That's how far we walked.

It was great. Thanks Eric for the best present ever. We'll be back.

Other observations to remember:

The line for the Dumbo ride is far to long.

Isaac and Seth are funny together. Like when Isaac kept repeating the line from Cars,"Hey Tiny, you gotta clean these tires up." And then Seth would say to his daddy, "Hey Tiny." Made me laugh every time.

Favorite rides: E=Kilimanjaro Safari, J=It's a Small World or Peter Pan,

Isaac=Toy Story Mania or Barnstormer, Seth=Race Cars

Sometimes PowerAde IS better than water

There is a LOT of sulfur in the water in and around Disney World.

This was the...

BEST

DAY

OF

HIS

LIFE!

I once asked Eric how long he has wanted to be a daddy. His response, "Ever since I can remember." Today out little Isaac started playing T-ball AND Eric got to take his whole family to a Nationals game. Truly, some dreams really do come true.

PS We also had a camera man come and sit with us for over 5 minutes. Isaac and Seth were up on the big jumbo tron. Evidently I am not the only one who likes to film them.

A Very Merry Un-birthday

March is an adored month around this house: Seth gets to go outside all the time, Jenny gets flowering blossoms, Eric gets March Madness, and Isaac gets his birthday!

E has to be gone for the big #4, so we had an early birthday party. Hats were custom embellished by E. Isaac, Amy, and Seth looked the cutest in them.

Cheese pizza was the center of our feast. It's Isaac's favorite.

Seth really dived in...I'm not exactly sure how one dives with one's mouth, but Seth did.

Birthday Tower of presents...

We started opening presents at the table, but in Isaac's mind presents should be opened in the front room, so we moved.

The ribbon seemed to go on forever...Isaac pulled it straight on, so it really could have gone on forever, just around and around the present.

More than anyone I know, Eric likes to get the perfect present for the people he loves best. He got an A++++ on Isaac's birthday present this year, the Bat Cave. We are talking hours of play.

Isaac and Mom,

We have been a happy pair for 4 years and 8 months.

Isaac loves to blow out candles.

He blew and blew, above the mark. So we lifted the cake to meet his blows. Happy Happy Birthday Isaac!

May the road rise to meet you...

I found this little Irish saying

Beagán agus a rá go maith.

Say little but say it well.

Saying "little" is hard...

especially if one has kissed the blarney stone....

which I have...

twice.

My first bouquet this St. Patrick's Day.

The 1st bouquet was brought to me in 2 and 3 little twigs at a time, and took about 15 min. to complete.

He just kept bringing them and bringing them...

And he kept making me happy and kept making me happy.

The little lad who kept bringing me clover love.

We wore green and ate corned beef and cabbage, and Eric actually liked it this year (gasp). I might not be Irish by blood, but I am Irish in my heart on St. Patrick's day. And this year we started a tradition with a little more meaning.

We talked about treasures.

True treasures.

"For where your treasure is there will your heart be also." Luke 12:34

If you look really closely, you may recognize a few faces on the gold coins at the end of the rainbow. For FHE we put them at the end of the rainbow. Eric got to pick the first treasure coin to put up. I suspected he would choose Isaac or Seth. He chose the gold coin with my picture on it. He chose me first. I got a big lump right in the middle of my throat. (Gulp) My cheeks turned red. I am still blushing after 8+ years of marriage.

We also talked about treating our treasures, well, like treasures.

Amy, Eric's younger sister, came for a visit. We are all Amy fans. Here Amy is playing Peek-a-Boo with Seth, and Seth is playing Peek-and-Peek-Some-more with Amy.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I do love this wee Irish day, full of shamrocks, corned beef and cabbage, and green.

If a picture paints a thousand words...

If a picture paints a 1,000 words,

And the eyes are the window to the soul...

Then if you take a picture of someone's eyes, it's like a thousand word essay of deep soul analysis,

Yes?

Well, this little critter is Cute!

1,000 words NOT needed. Just one.

GROSS!

But we'll keep him anyway.

The windows to his soul tell of mischief and fun. The little glint in his eye might be the first indicator. Those windows are clear as glass if that is what they show. Ice cream is a precious treat, especially when dad ok'd eating straight out of the carton.
Isaac eating with gusto.
I'm flying! I just know it!
Hmmmm. Their mommy wondered if she should help them or watch them figure it out. I watched and they figured it out before I got my camera. So...I threw the ball back up there.
Homely people can have cute kids.

Here's proof.

This picture, oh this little man, my oh, mighty my.

THAT is shear pleasure, almost to pride, for having dressed himself.
9,000 words, baby.

And mostly what you see in the eyes is right on.