I'm a hippie

As I nursed and rocked Coleman to sleep last night, like every night, I listened to the conversation between Caden and his Daddy.  Some nights I hear the frustration in their voices because they are tired, some nights they are silly and it is funny, and on other nights it is sweet and melts my heart.  Last night it was funny. The following is part of the conversation:
Caden: I am a Hodges
David: Yes you are
Caden: I am a hippie
Daivd (with a smile I can hear in his voice): yes you are
Caden: Daddy, mommy and Coleman are hippies too. We are all hippies.

It is funny to think that a year ago I was worried that he didn't talk a lot. He talked but wasn't really putting words together in phrases. Now there are days that I wonder, "when did he grow up?" He is super smart....way smarter than any other 2 year old (ha ha I'm just kidding). He frustrates me but I try to remind myself that he is most frustrating when I am putting to much pressure on him to be older than he is.
I need to remind myself....he is only 2, he is only 2.....and
I need to tell him "what a great job you are doing," and "wow that is awesome! you are only 2!"

What hippie doesn't want to be naked?

the switch flipped

So the "mommy-daddy' switch has flipped.
For the last month or so Caden has wanted me to do everthing.

No, I am not exaggerating.

 He wouldn't let anyone make him food, zip his coat, put his shoes on, turn on a tv show.  In the beginning it made me feel special but..... the last week or so it has been driving me nuts. (I hate to admit that but it did) I would be in the middle of doing any number of things (napping, nursing Coleman, eating, going to the bathroom, anything) and Caden would want something.

David (my husband) wold try to help but that would just cause a melt down....
"NO, I need mommy!" or
"NO, I want mommy to do it."'
The crying wouldn't stop.      I tried my best to be patient, he has been sick for the last month and I know he needed a little extra tenderness.

Out of no where the switch flipped about a week ago. Caden wanted Daddy to do everything one evening: sit with him at dinner, sit on the couch together, give him a bath.  (by the way Caden has never requested anyone give him a bath and actually allowed that person to actually give him a bath..and now it has happened twice!)

Ahhh......It was a breath of fresh air!

I know the tides will continue to change and he will prefer one of us over the other for the rest of his life, depending on his mood and needs.  I love him with all my heart, but there are 2 parents for a reason, to share the burden of frustration and joy of feeling needed.

My Kids

To continue with my introduction, I better introduce my (little) boys as they will without a doubt be the most common topic I write about.
My first born joined us April 17th

.

His name is Caden. He is now just about 2 3/4. Skinny as a rail and tall. He acts like he is a 13 year old stuck in a little boys body some days. He no longer calls me mommy or mama. I am now just mom. It was sad for me. I was not ready to be plain old mom.  I occasionally get a Mommy, when he is sad or hurt, but it is no longer my common everyday name. He can be super sassy with us too (I have NO idea where he learned that!)
He amazes us every day...good and bad. There are days that I'm amazed at how sweet and caring he can be. Then wait a day (or maybe 5 minutes) and I can be astonished at how stubborn and frustrating he can be.  He loves music and LOVES to learn and sing songs.  He currently is into building tunnels and bridges for cars/trains to drive through.
Watching him try to find the little bit of world he can control makes me realize what a smart boy he is but in the midst of the battle....I just want to stomp my feet and scream right back at him.  He can be a quirky little guy at times and I cross my fingers that these are just phases that will pass (please be a phase!) for example, getting frantic about a sandwich being cut in half or certain toys not being mixed with other toys. "this too shall pass"  right? please tell me I'm right!

He is our little hippie (or hibbie as he says it)

Coleman, better known as Cools-money around our house, is our second son. Cole joined our little family March 29th. He is now just over 9 months. Where has the time gone?

Coleman: 5 days old in his daddy's arms.
photo by Amanda Trei, Bits of Life photos

He is going to be a trouble maker. I can tell. He is super silly, laughs at his brother when his brother is being naughty and can scream like a banchie when he doesn't get what he wants.

In the last 3 weeks he has cut 4 teeth (not fun) and has become increasingly mobile. He has tried walking and likes it. He is too cautious right now to try it on his own with the push toy and I'm totally fine with that. He is constantly covered in bruises from trying to cruise, crawl, get into his brother's 'stuff' and just being a baby boy.

He also loves music. He can be in the middle of a fit and if David starts to play guitar, in a few seconds Cole will be smiling and trying to play the guitar with him.  Lately drumming (on everything) is his preferred activity....oh and driving his brother nuts. He adores his big brother and watches every move Caden makes with admiration. Caden doesn't get it, he is realizing that Coleman is an irritation, a little person that always wants to be in the same space, have the same toys, do the same stuff.  We are forever trying to explain to Caden that Cole isn't trying to bug him, he just wants to be like him "and it will be like that for the rest of your life."  Of course life lessons fall on deaf ears of a 2 3/4 year old.

yes, those are my brothers legos please don't tell him!

I can only hope the boys grow to have a close relationship. I realize there will be trials of hatred and friendship. I am the youngest of three. I can clearly remember some of the nasty fight but I can also remember the good times and luckily those out weigh the fights. I can't imagine my life with out my siblings and I'm glad that my boys will have each other through good and bad.

the beginning

We don't lead a particularly interesting life. We don't take vacations any where other than to visit family, we live modestly, We are learning to make the best with what we have.


I grew up in a little town in the suburbs (really far out suburbs) of Chicago. I look back at how I spent my time growing up and I hope that i can provide a similar experience for my kids. I didn't get everything I wanted but I got more than what I needed. My parents expected good grades and behavior in exchange for things like, a car and the privilege to go to college on their bill. I am so thankful for the way they raised me.


I met my husband my first year of college. We have been together since 1998! Holy crap! How has it been that long? How am I that old? We got married in 2007 in the Dominican Republic with a small group of family and friends. We have had our fair share of differences but always find common ground. 

 I am a special education teacher and work with kids in kindergarten through second grade. I enjoy my job and at times have been extremely frustrated with my job. This year has been a refreshing year. I feel like I have found my groove again.  I have worked with a quirky group of kids in the 6 years I have been doing my job. Some have left bigger marks (literally and figuratively) than others.  The ones that have moved on I worry about how they are doing. I will never talk too much about my job as it requires confidentiality and respect for my students and their families.

I'm new at this

So I decided to start a blog. Not sure what I will write about but this seems like something I will easily become addicted to. 
I will probably end up writing about my kids...a lot.  I love talking about my kids and sharing how amazing I think they are. I know, what mom doesn't think their kids are amazing, but I promise, mine are AMAZING. They are amazing in so many ways....amazingly cute, amazingly loud, amazingly frustrating, amazingly funny, amazingly stubborn. The list can go on and on. I love my kids but I also realize they are not perfect all the time.

see, aren't they cute.


I can't promise that this will be interesting, but I hope it will be entertaining at least some of the time. So for now I need to think about things to write about.