me and the boys

When I was pregnant with Ezra, I was convinced I was having a girl for the first five months. We called him a “she,” and I daydreamed of dressing my little sweetie in all kinds of cute (but not cutesy) outfits full of bright, funky colors.

Then we had the sonogram to reveal gender (because I’m definitely one of those mamas that wants to know) and discovered that our adorable little “she” was actually a “he.”

Disappointed isn’t really the right word to describe how I felt. It was more like….thrown. I was thrilled to have a healthy little guy growing inside of me, but I’d been so sure he was a girl that it took a bit to adjust to the concept of royal blue and baseball instead of aqua (did you really think I was going to say pink?) and ballet.

Of course, we all know the rest of the story. After another boy, I got my long-awaited princess. And then, just in case I hadn’t gotten my fill of all things frilly, I got another double-dose of girliness in the form of identical girl twins.

But as much as I love all of my children equally, nothing could have prepared me for what a unique blessing having two boys back-to-back (they’re 18 months and 3 days apart) would be.

I don’t have wild guys. Although, don’t get me wrong—they’re definitely boys’ boys. They love a good sword-fight in the living room, using Mama’s best pillows as shields, and they’re obsessed with all things Lord of the Rings. They delight in frogging each other in the arm when I’m not looking and jumping down the last three stairs instead of anything so mundane as walking. And their shrieks during a tickle fight make my left eye twitch.

But I’ve never worried that they would climb on the roof and fling themselves off, just to see how many bones they could break. They’re not prone to smash things or speak in grunts. They beg me to let them take care of their baby sisters, and they both still insist on a kiss “on the lips, Mama,” every night before bed. 

They even like it when we match.

The other day, I got an order from JcPenney, and as I opened the box and pulled out a pair of leopard print TOM’s-style shoes that I’d ordered on major clearance, both Ezra and Simon, who were sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast, got really excited and declared how much they liked them.

“Oh, well don’t get too attached,” I said. “I’m not sure I’m going to keep them.”

“Ooooooooh, Maaaama. You haaaaave to!” they chorused.

Confused, I looked at down at my shoes and then back up into their eager, pleading faces. “Why?”

Up came their feet, and before I could say, “No shoes on the table,” Ezra pointed to the camo slip-on shoes I’d bought him the week before and said, “Because, Mama, they just like ours. Except yours have cheetah print. You have to keep them because then we’ll all match.”

(Cheetah print = leopard print when you’re a seven-year-old boy who doesn’t know about fashion).

Simon’s head bobbed emphatically while he pointed to his own identical pair of camo shoes. “Yeah, you need to wear yours today, Mama, so we can all be the same.”

And so I did.

solemates1

Because I know the day is fast approaching when they will no longer think that “matching” Mama is the height of cool.  Some day much too soon, I will ask for a peck on the cheek and be lucky to get a rough side-hug.

But right now, my sweet, sensitive, loud, dirty, thoughtful, rambunctious boys are thrilled to be my sole-mates.

And I am, and always will be, thrilled to be their Mama.

Do you have boys? I’d love to hear about the little men in your life.

19 Comments

  1. I’ve got a collection of 6 boys. They’re crazy, but I think the boys are easier than my girls. : ) With my “last” (turned out to be twins) we were all convinced it was a girl (turned out to be boys). : ) Joke of a lifetime! We’re still laughing 2 years later.

  2. I love little boys! I am a very blessed Mama of boy, girl, boy, girl who are all in their 20’s. My oldest son is married and he’ll aways have a special place in my heart since he was my 1st baby! My college boy has always been my “fan club president” and I’m trying to get used to the idea that his heart is now not just mine…he has a girlfriend. (I love that he called me to ask for menu advice for the Valentine’s Day dinner that he’s going to whip up for her tonight.) When they were little they were ADORABLE and funny and now they have those qualities plus millions more as young men. Glad you’re enjoying your little guys! Love your sweet family.

  3. I have two boys (13 and 10) and both pure down to earth, goodhearted country boys. There’s nothing they won’t try at least once. But they are the most affectionate, loving and snuggly young men. I also have a 13 year old daughter (boy/girl twins) and she is becoming such a lovely young women. But I’ve always said, there’s just something about boys that wrap around a mama’s heart. Can’t explain it but they just do. Don’t love them anymore than my daughter but there’s definitely a difference in the bond between mom and boys and mom and daughters.

  4. Adorable post! I have a 4 year old. Sometimes it seems like this world wants him to grow up too fast. I love that he still insists on kisses on the lips, holding hands, and big tight hugs. Between this post and your other post on being pro life, I am a big fan of your writing. Your ability to put into words some of my sentiments. Its amazing. You are very talented and busy and your happiness and love for God shines through it all.

  5. I have 3 boys (and 2 girls). The first two boys are 11 and 7 and they sound like your boys– rough and tumble, but not wild. However, my 3rd son is 5 and he is a man’s man. He loves thrill rides and jumping off of the playhouse roof. He loves meat and all that “man food.” 🙂 He loves to burp, too! :-/ It’s funny how God wired my boys so differently.

  6. I have a son and there is nothing quite like the bond between a mom and their boy. My guy is 12 and still snuggles with me regularly. We go on mom son dates often and he always insist on paying because “that’s what men do”! I know some day I’ll have to share him with another woman and I just pray she knows I trained him to cherish her and she will still allow us to go on a date every now and again!

  7. Aww so sweet! My first two were girls then two boys only 19 months apart! They are the best of friends and and have been such a blessing to us all! I’m currently 25 weeks along with my fifth baby….a girl this time! Thanks for sharing.

  8. My son is almost 4 and he likes it when we match. One day I dressed him and then he came into my closet to help me pick my outfit. Of course he had to pick the orange and brown striped sweater because it kinda matched his orange and grey striped shirt.

  9. I had two girls first and then a boy. but it doesn’t change things. last night my 7 yr old girl crawled into my lap, all legs she is and stated, “i’m almost too big for you” “NO!” i answered. because never will she ever be too big! As much as i love watching my children grow into healthy beings, i want to hold them even tighter and tell them, “you will never be too big for my lap!”

  10. I thought I would want to have a girl first. But I had a boy, then girl, then boy, which turned out to be perfect. My oldest would never be remotely interested in matching or anything. All he cares about with clothes is that they are comfortable, and he doesn’t have to think about them too much. But my youngest loves it if we match. Sometimes he gets upset because I’m wearing a color he doesn’t have, and we have to be creative- both wear stripes or something similar. 🙂

  11. I love the quote! I grew up with a younger sister and had a daughter first. Finding out that I was having a boy as my second kind of scared me. I had no idea how to deal with a boy. I am so thankful God knew I could do it. I am blessed daily by a sweet little guy who gives the best hugs, loves snuggling with his mommy and is a true joy in my life.

  12. Adorable! I have two boys and they are 12 months apart. They’re the jump off the roof type and they’re only 3 and 2. They’re little sister,18mo, softens things a bit, but only a bit ;).

  13. My husband a I are raising our three boys. They are all so different- number one is a quiet thinker, number two tried to “fly” off his top bunk using the ceiling fan and a blanket hanging from the fan when he was three (and is still adventurous like that at nine), and number three loves to ham it up. I love my boys!

  14. I had my first little boy, James, 5 months ago (09/06/2013). I can assure you he has stolen my heart!! There aren’t any words that adequately express the love for him. I also have a 12 year old daughter. It was so sweet to have a little girl and do all the princess, ballet and a lot of PINK. But our whole little family just adores this little guy!! Everyone thought Emily would be jealous of the new attention to another baby BUT everyone was wrong. She loves him to pieces. Sometimes well much of the time she tries to be the Mommy!!! Blessed.

  15. I raised 2 boys, they are now 42 and 35. the oldest was like yours affectionate but rambunctious and very boy. the youngest was the jump off the roof, hang yourself in a tree kind and let me say that was a treat. as the years passed I will say that the younger was the easiest to raise of the two because he was right out there with all he thought and felt. the older one became very withdrawn and secretive. as it turns out he has a severe type of depression. we knew so little then about this awful illness. hang on to every precious moment…they pass all too quickly

  16. I too was convinced I was having a girl, and I was wrong! I’m due with my first, a boy, in April. I too was just “shocked” but not disappointed. I’m on bed rest right now and just hoping he waits the 10 more weeks like he’s suppose to!

I love hearing from you guys!