I just got the sweetest kiss. As I tried to hold on Liam as he climbed up me like a little monkey, he suddenly stopped, looked at me with those precious big, brown eyes, and then planted the biggest kiss ever, right on my lips. It was a very wet kiss, but the sweetest none the less.

I never thought I'd experience the relationship between a mother and a son. For some reason, I always saw myself only having girls. I grew up with a sister and the idea of having a boy kind of freaked me out. That sounds so awful. I'd obviously love any child God blesed us with, but I didn't think I'd know what to do with a boy, so I wanted to play it safe and have girls. After having Olivia and experiencing the awesome mother/daughter bond (which gets more and more awesome the older she gets), I thought I'd want a sister for Olivia to have tea parties with and play dolls like I loved doing with my sister. I loved the hair bows and dresses and frilly socks and thought it would be fun to do it all again.

Then I had my ultrasound, and when the tech announced excitedly that I was going to have a son, I looked at her rather blankly and murmured, "I am?" I'll admit I spent some of my pregnancy worrying about having a son. This may seem odd to some of you who either wanted a boy or didn't care what you had, but for me, a boy just seemed unfamiliar and made me nervous. Even after Liam was born and I'd already experienced that instant love, and even though I had constant urges to kiss his cute little face off, I still felt unsure and began reading books such as "Raising Boys" and "Your Boy: Raising a Godly Son in an Ungodly World" just so I'd be prepared. I know it's silly, what parent is ever truly prepared? Every child and situaton is so different.

I can say that today, I am pretty confident about raising a son-- at least as confident as I am about raising a daughter in today's world. This little man is so precious to me, and our bond is so tight. He is beyond attached to me, and he talks to me constantly. He yells, "ma" to get my attention and then talks animatedly about things he's excited about (I know he knows exactly what he's saying) which usually ends up being a series of loud sounds, except when he has a truck and he makes motor sounds to show me. The curly fuzzy hair on his head is addicting to kiss and the way he looks at me just melts my heart. I'll admit, I wasn't prepared for the climbing (oh! the climbing!) but boys will be boys, right? I even know a few girls who are climbers. Olivia definitely wasn't so it was all knew to me.

I love my daughter and son more than I tought possible, but I wanted to dedicate a post to my precious boy because I had 2 years to write about just Olivia. I feel so blessed to have both a daughter and a son. What was I worried about? God knew eaxctly what He was doing. And not only is Liam cute all on his own, but he looks so much like James that I get little reminders of my husband every time I look at my son. I love it!

I was really disappointed to hear last night that Jon & Kate Gosselin filed for divorce. I've been watching their show fairly regularly since it first aired and feel like I know them as a family. Even Olivia enjoys watching the kids. I actually found myself teary-eyed as I watched last night. Divorce is always sad, but in this case where 8 kids are concerned, it seems especially sad. The fact that the media is having a field day isn't good for the kids, either.

It makes me feel sad when I see people trashing them. I don't know Jon or Kate personally, so I don't feel right playing the blame game like I've seen on a few blogs and message boards. I know there's a lot of bad press out there about their choice to film their kids, but at the end of the day, regardless of what anyone thinks about them, they are a real family and my heart aches for all of them. It's going to be tough on those kids, as it is on any kid who experiences divorce and the whole thing just makes me feel sad. I was really hoping they'd work it out.

In a week and a half, we'll be taking a much-needed vacation to Destin, Florida to soak up some sun and play in the sand!

We love Destin because it's family-friendly and gorgeous! We've rented a lovely little 2 bedroom condo for a great price because we waited to book until just 2 weeks before. We only went for the weekend last year because Liam was only a few weeks old. I could hardly swim because I was still in the post-partum time. My stitches were just falling out and I was leaking milk. Not very glamorous at the beach. This year should be better. I'm hoping my ear will be better by then.

I haven't mentioned it, but I've had swimmers ear for 2 weeks. AWFUL PAIN. It ranks up there with natural childbirth and the time I ripped my big toe nail off. For several days, I could hear anything and I couldn't open my mouth because it hurt too much. My mom and James have been wonderful, and although it's not gone, it's better. I was initially mis-diagnosed with an middle ear infection, and didn't get the right diagnoses or meds until I went to the emergnecy room at 4:00 in tears because I thought my ear drum had exploded. It hadn't, everything was just swollen and causing pressure. Anyway, slowly but surely, it's healing. The pus and bleeding are gone. You know it's bad when you're bleeding out your ear.

Back to the beach! Olivia is excited beyond words. Yesterday, as I was changing Liam and getting him dressed, Olivia drags in a big shopping bag full of stuff, and announced, "Look Mommy! I started packing for the beach. Can we go today?" She was so cute, I wanted to take her right then and there, but I exlained that it wasn't for 10 days and we had lots to do to get ready. I made her a little countdown on our marker board on the fridge and drew a lame looking crab. Everytime we walks in the kitchen, she tells me how much she loves the crab and asks how much longer until we leave.

My parents are going with us, which is great. Even nicer, we have a big enough vehicle for all of us to travel together. Dad and James up front, me and Liam in the middle, and Olivia and my mom in the back. My mom is a player, as in play-er. :) She plays constantly with the kids, so no doubt, they'll be entertained the whole time.

Olivia is excited to weear her new Dora and Disney Princess baithing suits. Liam has American flag trunks and the cutest swimming diaper being made by a fabulous WAHM. Can't wait for it to get here.:)

Should be lots of fun. Have lots to do, though.

-- We're boarding our dogs for the first time ever. Have to get kennel cough vaccine for Gracie. Wrigley has had it since he gets groomed.

-- Pick up new contact lenses.

-- Transfer license plate to minivan from my old car.

-- Get pedicure! Debating on whether or not to take Olivia to get her toe nails painted. Do I want lovely mother/daughter time or time for Mommy to sit, sip an iced coffee, and read a magazine while having a glorious foot massage. Still unsure!

-- Buy some shorts even though I have ugly post-pregnancy spider veins. Oh well. It's freaking hot! Not going to worry about it.

-- Get poodle groomed.

-- Bake cookies to take in car. It's a tradition!

Better get busy. I'm off to go check out the place where we'll be potentially boarding their dogs for their doggy vacation.