Mallie takes her dolly everywhere now. Before we leave our house, she inevitably stops, turns and asks, "Wha's ma poise?", then, "Wha's my beebee?" and finally, "Wha's ma strolleee?" ONce she has all the necessary equipment, we are allowed to leave. She insists on pushing her baby in it's stroller in the library, grocery store, etc. Everyone looks at her and talks about how adorable she is... but to me, she's just a woman on a mission- very serious and down to business- and completely oblivious about how cute she truly is.
Jack was talking to us about an Indians' game that he went to over a year ago, and recalling the whole thing in great, somewhat scary, detail. He was telling about this Chief Wahoo sign that was turning around and every time he referred to it, he called it "Swee Hahoo". Tommy and I were laughing and so was he because he knew it was wrong but couldn't pronounce it correctly.
If you close your eyes when Mallie talks, you will think you are in the presence of an old Italian woman who is trying to speaky the english. She says things like, "Take 'a ma shoes off', or "Take 'a ma socks off', or 'Don't touch 'a ma tupp' (Don't touch my stuff). I don't know why she throws that extra syllable in there, but it is reminiscent of the 'Old Country' and very amusing.
We rented Disney's Pocahontas last weekend. I love this movie and Jack and I watched the whole thing on the couch together. It didn't seem to keep Mallie or Tommy's attention very well. The end of this version of the story is very sad because Pocahontas stays in America while John Smith goes back to Europe to heal from his gunshot wound (very kid-friendly, huh?!) As soon as the credits came on, Jack turned and smothered his face in my stomach and began SOBBING, complete with the sniffles and wails. I had a feeling he would react this way because I've seen him get upset and emoitional about other movies and shows. When I asked him what was wrong, his tears turned into anger and he pointed at the TV and yelled, "That Moive Is A Stinker!!!!"
After Jack's birthday party the other night, he and Mallie broke out one of the toys. It was two baskets that each player holds and shoots out a ball to the other player. Every time Mallie shot the ball, she let out this 'diabolical' laugh from deep in her throat. It was hilarious.
Jack has been very busy these days with projects he creates. At least 5 times a day, he enters the kitchen craft corner, gets out his scissors and crayons and starts cutting a million pieces of paper and writing things on them. Sometimes he's 'selling our house', other times he has a 'trophy company' or is decoration his bike or making a basketball hoppp or choo-choo train. It's never ending in imagination and in the mess that he makes. Unfortunately, he chose a bad time for these projects because we're trying to keep the house clean for showings.....
We bought Mallie some new fall shoes a few weeks ago. One pair is patent leather and pink and she LOVES them. She is constantly wanting to 'put 'a ma shoes on'. These shoes don't 'go' with most of her outfits, so she's always looking especially flashy when she wears them.
Annie showed the first signs of 'pretending' yesterday. We were sitting on the basement floor and Mallie was talking on her cel phone and I had just gotten off my phone. I looked over and Annie was holding a piece of play lettuce up to her ear and saying, "abaaabaaadadadada'. I don't know that she had a good connection on that thing, but you wouldn't know it but her conversation!
We went to the new Panini's restaurant in Westlake last weekend. This is the site of the old M Bistro where we had Dede's 80th b-day party in February of '08. We were talking to Jack about the party and asking him if he remembered it. He didn't.... but 20 minutes later, he went over to one of the windows and said, 'This is where Auntie put her ipod'.... And sure enough, that was the window that Claire had her ipod for the party. Very, very scary.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Monday, September 14th, 2009
Well, tomorrow, Jack turns 4 years old. This time of year comes with many milestones in our family. School starts, each of the kids have birthdays 6 weeks after the next, and it feels like the years are slipping away so quickly. I cannot believe that Jack will be 4. He's becoming a big kid- funny, thoughtful, kind, smart, loving, independant. I love watching the person he is every day. It brings me more pride and amazement that anything else ever has. I know that we've done a good job parenting him (or at least the best we've known how!), but the person he is makes me really believe in the nature of people having a lot to do with who they ultimately become. There's no way I could have instilled the sweetness he possesses in the little time I've had him. He is just naturally that way, and I feel lucky that he was given to me that way!
Jack started school a week ago today. He is in Mrs. Pacetti's class again, but this time with a whole new group of kids (15 kids in the class- none of whom were in his class last year!) and with a new aide, Mrs. Gallagher. I'm already seeing a big difference in the activities they're doing in the classroom. They are trying to hold the kids' attention for longer periods of time. I also noticed that we haven't been good about practicing our writing/ coloring skills this summer. The first week back to school brought a lot of stress on me, watching Jack form his letters- much worse than at the end of last year! :( But we're working on it every day now- in actuality, Jack is wanting to know how to spell words and wanting to write more on his own... and I'm already seeing a big improvement.
Annie announced, in her own way, that she knows how to climb up the stairs. I had never seen Annie climb up one step. I was cleaning the house to get ready for a showing last Friday and left the kids down in the basement, playing. From upstairs, I heard someone crying in the kitchen and ran down to see what was going on. There was Annie, sitting on the kitchen floor, whining. I couldn't believe my eyes. Not only does she climbs stairs now, but she does it QUICK! If I leave the room and forget to put up the gate, inevitably, Annie has raced her little bottom up the flight of stairs, and can usually be heard giggling as she does it- because she knows she's not allowed to do it and thinks it's hilarious when someone is chasing her.
Annie and Mallie have become playmates. Annie follows Mallie, crawling around the first floor and laughing hysterically. They love chasing each other, and peeking around the corners for each other. Also, as soon as Mallie sits down to the dinner table, Annie stops whining and starts doing this goofy laugh to try to get Mallie to laugh at her. The two of them sit and laugh at each other the entire meal.
Annie is also walking now while pushing things. I've been trying to get her to do this for weeks now and everytime I tried to put her up to a push toy, she's just sit down and play with it. But on Saturday, Tommy tried to get her to do it, and away she went. She wasn't timid about it either. Off she went like a shot of light across the living room. It hilarious to watch her because her little chubby legs are so awkward but they go so fast.
I took Jack and Charlie to Memphis Kiddie Park this afternoon to putt-putt for Jack's birthday. Jack hit a hole-in-one on his first hole. He didn't even realize it! And Charlie made a hole-in-one on the last hole which qualified him for a free game of golf! He was very excited. They followed the game up by a ride on the train and an ice cream treat. I think they had a great time. We'll have Yaya and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa and Dede over for dinner tomorrow night to celebrate.
Jack started school a week ago today. He is in Mrs. Pacetti's class again, but this time with a whole new group of kids (15 kids in the class- none of whom were in his class last year!) and with a new aide, Mrs. Gallagher. I'm already seeing a big difference in the activities they're doing in the classroom. They are trying to hold the kids' attention for longer periods of time. I also noticed that we haven't been good about practicing our writing/ coloring skills this summer. The first week back to school brought a lot of stress on me, watching Jack form his letters- much worse than at the end of last year! :( But we're working on it every day now- in actuality, Jack is wanting to know how to spell words and wanting to write more on his own... and I'm already seeing a big improvement.
Annie announced, in her own way, that she knows how to climb up the stairs. I had never seen Annie climb up one step. I was cleaning the house to get ready for a showing last Friday and left the kids down in the basement, playing. From upstairs, I heard someone crying in the kitchen and ran down to see what was going on. There was Annie, sitting on the kitchen floor, whining. I couldn't believe my eyes. Not only does she climbs stairs now, but she does it QUICK! If I leave the room and forget to put up the gate, inevitably, Annie has raced her little bottom up the flight of stairs, and can usually be heard giggling as she does it- because she knows she's not allowed to do it and thinks it's hilarious when someone is chasing her.
Annie and Mallie have become playmates. Annie follows Mallie, crawling around the first floor and laughing hysterically. They love chasing each other, and peeking around the corners for each other. Also, as soon as Mallie sits down to the dinner table, Annie stops whining and starts doing this goofy laugh to try to get Mallie to laugh at her. The two of them sit and laugh at each other the entire meal.
Annie is also walking now while pushing things. I've been trying to get her to do this for weeks now and everytime I tried to put her up to a push toy, she's just sit down and play with it. But on Saturday, Tommy tried to get her to do it, and away she went. She wasn't timid about it either. Off she went like a shot of light across the living room. It hilarious to watch her because her little chubby legs are so awkward but they go so fast.
I took Jack and Charlie to Memphis Kiddie Park this afternoon to putt-putt for Jack's birthday. Jack hit a hole-in-one on his first hole. He didn't even realize it! And Charlie made a hole-in-one on the last hole which qualified him for a free game of golf! He was very excited. They followed the game up by a ride on the train and an ice cream treat. I think they had a great time. We'll have Yaya and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa and Dede over for dinner tomorrow night to celebrate.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
This is one of those entries that I feel like I can't type fast enough. SO much has happened that I haven't written down and I know that I haven't remembered it all. I cannot get the energy to write every night-even though I regret it.
Jack is confusing words like crazy. It's so cute that I can see how he is compartmentalizing all of the information he recieves throughout the day by the words that come out of his mouth. He called a raccoon, a 'coupon', a tennis racquet, a 'tennis rocket', and the neighboring street "Woodstock", "stocking".
Mallie is becoming a little conversationalist. She perched herself on the arm of the couch last night right next to Tommy. He was asking her questions and she was answering almost all them. SHe uses every word she knows, along with mumbling and flailing her hands all over the place. She is so serious about answering him and I can tell she thinks she is big stuff as she chats away.
I was giving Mallie a bath last night and rinsing her hair. She yelled to me, "Mommy! Look at me! I doing the backstroke!!"
Jack is getting great at riding the bike that Uncle Brian gave him. He rode to Bohlken Park two days ago. I was very concerned about letting him do this becuase all I could picture was myself dragging his bike home while pushing the double stroller. But he most of the time, he was ahead of us and kept up really well. Then yesterday, I let him ride to Linden Park. He, again, did really well. And that night, we rode to Auntie and Drew's! He looks like such a big kid while he rides. And I probably look like a whacko because I am constantly wincing and saying "oh god!' as he goes over bumps or comes close to the grass etc. I think I'm diong an OK job at covering up my craziness though- and he's really good at falling- hasn't gotten hurt once and always lands on his feet! :)
Jack got an eye patch at the eye doctor last week. She wants him to wear it 4 hours per day. The first day, I struggled like crazy to get him to keep it on for 1/2 hour while he watched TV. He was squirming and crying and totally frustrated and I felt awful for him. How annoying to cover up the eye you can see out of so you are left with blurry vision! I gave him a break over the weekend, and on Monday we started again. He had a rough first hour, but by the 2nd hour, he was doing great. He kept it on at Bohlken Park while we played baseball (even hit a few home runs!) He even wore it to the grocery store. (Some ignorant old lady there asked us what was wrong with his eye- which totally threw me off and seemed to throw him off too a little bit). But the 2nd day, he put it on and didn't even complain once. He got to ride in Auntie and Drew's bike trailer as a special treat for his great behavior with it. Then today- he actually went to put it on himself!!! I'm so proud of how he's adjusted and reasoned it through. He knows it's going to help him.
Annie is changing a lot lately. Her sweet little, sunny disposition is not as sunny any more. I don't know if we are working on teeth, or just frustrated about not being able to communicate (the other 2 went through that, just about 6-9 months later than Annie is now!) The girl whined and cried ALL day today though. From the moment she woke up, if she was left alone for even a second, it was an all-out sob fest. Any time I try to get her involved in a toy and walk out of the room to get something accomplished- she finds me and crawls up to the backs of my legs, stands up and rubs her face in my calves as she whines away. She's also adopted a new cry that is very throaty and whiny. It almost sounds like she's saying 'Ohhhhhh Gooooooddddd...." as she throws her head back. SHe's throwing her head back a LOT, too. She does not have any concern for what is behind her either- her crib bars, the doorway woodwork, the floor, etc. It seems as though I have a very frustrated baby on my hands.
Jack wanted to play with the neighbor, Robby this afternoon. Robby was kind of being a punk and not including JAck, but Jack, being Jack, was completely oblivious and proceeded to play a gamet of games in the kids' driveway. As we were leaving, Jack went up to Robby and gave him a high-five and said, "Bye Robby! It was good seein' ya Bud!" Then he strutted back home like he was the coolest thing on Earth.
Mallie knows the entire Frosty the Snow Man song and want to read the book every day, even though it is August. I sing each line to her and stop at the last word, and she fills in the blank. The best line is "He led them down the streets of town, right to the traffic_" And she says "COP!"
Annie is starting to make sound that sound like real words. SHe is saying "auntie' and 'yaya' and it sounded like she said "Hey dada!" when Tommy got home tonight. She says things that sound like, 'Yes', and is constantly experimenting with her new 'vocabulary'. It is so funny when she accidentally says words because Jack and Mallie praise her. "Oh! Mom! Annie said 'soccer'! GrEAT JOB ANN!!!"
Our neighbor's daughter is a softball player for Fiarview Park and their house was TP'ed a couple weeks ago. This sent Jack and Mallie into a tizzy. Why would someone do that!? WHatt happened to Robby's house!? They JUST couldn't wrap their minds around it. Mallie asked me, no joke, at least 200 times, "Why toyet papy on Robby hows?" And I just started answering the exact same answer every time: "Robby's sister has friends and they thought it was funny to put toilet paper on her house!" Then 10 seconds later: "WHy Toyet Papy on RObby hows!?" So I started asking her, "Mallie, Why is there toilet paper on RObby's house?" and she'd answer "sister have friend and it funny!!!" and then she'd laugh in a very forced way.
Annie is eating finger foods now. She will eat anything that is set in front of her. This is a great thing, for the future. Right now, however, it is posing several problems. First of all, she is a complete DISASTER after eating. I am talking, strip-down, hose-off disasterous mess. I'd be able to better deal with this if it was once a day, at dinner time, when Tommy's here to help. But she needs to learn to eat 3 meals a day and to try to wipe the child down 3 times while the other 2 are wreaking havoc on the house or neighborhood is a nightmare. It takes me an extra 10 minutes of clean-up time at each meal. WHich leads to problem #2, which is that it tkakes her foREVER to eat now! SHe really enjoys savoring every morsel and ends up taking a good 25 minutes per meal (when it woudl be only 10 or 15 at most with being spoon-fed). On top of the baby clean-up, there is the highchair clean-up (by the way- we have the most annoying highchair on Earth when it comes to convenience for cleaning- I'm disgusted by what is under the cushion on this thing and would die if anyone ever looked). There is also the surrounding floor clean up. SO, what used to take me 15 minutes at most from start to finish, is now topping out around 25 or 30. THat's just 10-15 extra minutes I don't have in my day. All of these are more annoyance-type issues, but the one issue that is harping on me is the fact that I have NO idea how much the child is actually eating. If I have a plate of food for her, and it is gone at the end of 30 minutes, that does not necessarily mena that it is in her stomach. Fractions of it end up on the floor, the said highchair cushions, her face, hair, cheeks, arms, fingers, legs, in her diaper, on her clothes, in her fat rolls, you get the picture. So I am in constant worry that she is not 'full'. (This is laughable, as you'd know if you saw a picture of Annie right now- she is anything and everything but Hungry!!) But, as a mom I don't want her tummy rumbling...so I have been feeding her baby food meals, after she eats her finger foods. THis is the most ridiculous thing ever because she's definately eating a lot of her finger foods- but then I am stuffing her with baby food. You'd think this was the first time I've ever done this. Such a Rookie move. But I can't help it. Let the issues with food begin!!! Sorry Ann!!!
Jack is confusing words like crazy. It's so cute that I can see how he is compartmentalizing all of the information he recieves throughout the day by the words that come out of his mouth. He called a raccoon, a 'coupon', a tennis racquet, a 'tennis rocket', and the neighboring street "Woodstock", "stocking".
Mallie is becoming a little conversationalist. She perched herself on the arm of the couch last night right next to Tommy. He was asking her questions and she was answering almost all them. SHe uses every word she knows, along with mumbling and flailing her hands all over the place. She is so serious about answering him and I can tell she thinks she is big stuff as she chats away.
I was giving Mallie a bath last night and rinsing her hair. She yelled to me, "Mommy! Look at me! I doing the backstroke!!"
Jack is getting great at riding the bike that Uncle Brian gave him. He rode to Bohlken Park two days ago. I was very concerned about letting him do this becuase all I could picture was myself dragging his bike home while pushing the double stroller. But he most of the time, he was ahead of us and kept up really well. Then yesterday, I let him ride to Linden Park. He, again, did really well. And that night, we rode to Auntie and Drew's! He looks like such a big kid while he rides. And I probably look like a whacko because I am constantly wincing and saying "oh god!' as he goes over bumps or comes close to the grass etc. I think I'm diong an OK job at covering up my craziness though- and he's really good at falling- hasn't gotten hurt once and always lands on his feet! :)
Jack got an eye patch at the eye doctor last week. She wants him to wear it 4 hours per day. The first day, I struggled like crazy to get him to keep it on for 1/2 hour while he watched TV. He was squirming and crying and totally frustrated and I felt awful for him. How annoying to cover up the eye you can see out of so you are left with blurry vision! I gave him a break over the weekend, and on Monday we started again. He had a rough first hour, but by the 2nd hour, he was doing great. He kept it on at Bohlken Park while we played baseball (even hit a few home runs!) He even wore it to the grocery store. (Some ignorant old lady there asked us what was wrong with his eye- which totally threw me off and seemed to throw him off too a little bit). But the 2nd day, he put it on and didn't even complain once. He got to ride in Auntie and Drew's bike trailer as a special treat for his great behavior with it. Then today- he actually went to put it on himself!!! I'm so proud of how he's adjusted and reasoned it through. He knows it's going to help him.
Annie is changing a lot lately. Her sweet little, sunny disposition is not as sunny any more. I don't know if we are working on teeth, or just frustrated about not being able to communicate (the other 2 went through that, just about 6-9 months later than Annie is now!) The girl whined and cried ALL day today though. From the moment she woke up, if she was left alone for even a second, it was an all-out sob fest. Any time I try to get her involved in a toy and walk out of the room to get something accomplished- she finds me and crawls up to the backs of my legs, stands up and rubs her face in my calves as she whines away. She's also adopted a new cry that is very throaty and whiny. It almost sounds like she's saying 'Ohhhhhh Gooooooddddd...." as she throws her head back. SHe's throwing her head back a LOT, too. She does not have any concern for what is behind her either- her crib bars, the doorway woodwork, the floor, etc. It seems as though I have a very frustrated baby on my hands.
Jack wanted to play with the neighbor, Robby this afternoon. Robby was kind of being a punk and not including JAck, but Jack, being Jack, was completely oblivious and proceeded to play a gamet of games in the kids' driveway. As we were leaving, Jack went up to Robby and gave him a high-five and said, "Bye Robby! It was good seein' ya Bud!" Then he strutted back home like he was the coolest thing on Earth.
Mallie knows the entire Frosty the Snow Man song and want to read the book every day, even though it is August. I sing each line to her and stop at the last word, and she fills in the blank. The best line is "He led them down the streets of town, right to the traffic_" And she says "COP!"
Annie is starting to make sound that sound like real words. SHe is saying "auntie' and 'yaya' and it sounded like she said "Hey dada!" when Tommy got home tonight. She says things that sound like, 'Yes', and is constantly experimenting with her new 'vocabulary'. It is so funny when she accidentally says words because Jack and Mallie praise her. "Oh! Mom! Annie said 'soccer'! GrEAT JOB ANN!!!"
Our neighbor's daughter is a softball player for Fiarview Park and their house was TP'ed a couple weeks ago. This sent Jack and Mallie into a tizzy. Why would someone do that!? WHatt happened to Robby's house!? They JUST couldn't wrap their minds around it. Mallie asked me, no joke, at least 200 times, "Why toyet papy on Robby hows?" And I just started answering the exact same answer every time: "Robby's sister has friends and they thought it was funny to put toilet paper on her house!" Then 10 seconds later: "WHy Toyet Papy on RObby hows!?" So I started asking her, "Mallie, Why is there toilet paper on RObby's house?" and she'd answer "sister have friend and it funny!!!" and then she'd laugh in a very forced way.
Annie is eating finger foods now. She will eat anything that is set in front of her. This is a great thing, for the future. Right now, however, it is posing several problems. First of all, she is a complete DISASTER after eating. I am talking, strip-down, hose-off disasterous mess. I'd be able to better deal with this if it was once a day, at dinner time, when Tommy's here to help. But she needs to learn to eat 3 meals a day and to try to wipe the child down 3 times while the other 2 are wreaking havoc on the house or neighborhood is a nightmare. It takes me an extra 10 minutes of clean-up time at each meal. WHich leads to problem #2, which is that it tkakes her foREVER to eat now! SHe really enjoys savoring every morsel and ends up taking a good 25 minutes per meal (when it woudl be only 10 or 15 at most with being spoon-fed). On top of the baby clean-up, there is the highchair clean-up (by the way- we have the most annoying highchair on Earth when it comes to convenience for cleaning- I'm disgusted by what is under the cushion on this thing and would die if anyone ever looked). There is also the surrounding floor clean up. SO, what used to take me 15 minutes at most from start to finish, is now topping out around 25 or 30. THat's just 10-15 extra minutes I don't have in my day. All of these are more annoyance-type issues, but the one issue that is harping on me is the fact that I have NO idea how much the child is actually eating. If I have a plate of food for her, and it is gone at the end of 30 minutes, that does not necessarily mena that it is in her stomach. Fractions of it end up on the floor, the said highchair cushions, her face, hair, cheeks, arms, fingers, legs, in her diaper, on her clothes, in her fat rolls, you get the picture. So I am in constant worry that she is not 'full'. (This is laughable, as you'd know if you saw a picture of Annie right now- she is anything and everything but Hungry!!) But, as a mom I don't want her tummy rumbling...so I have been feeding her baby food meals, after she eats her finger foods. THis is the most ridiculous thing ever because she's definately eating a lot of her finger foods- but then I am stuffing her with baby food. You'd think this was the first time I've ever done this. Such a Rookie move. But I can't help it. Let the issues with food begin!!! Sorry Ann!!!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, August 10th, 2009
I feel like there's lots to catch up on:
FIrst of all, Annie has sprouted her first tooth. I admit to being unimpressed with Jack's first tooth at 6 months and not even remembering Mallie's first tooth..... But Annie's has surprised me and taken me aback. At 9 1/2 months, I don't know if I had stopped expecting it and starting thinking that she would just be a cute little 'gummy' 16 year old....but feeling her tooth popping through yesterday shocked me!
I took Annie and Mallie to the doctor for their check-ups today. On the way home, I called Tommy and told him, 'The girls difference in weight is only 5 lbs.!" To which he asked, "well, which one is heavier?" This may not seem funny, but if you could see Annie, you'd realize that she is so big that the question was legitimate. Annie is in the 90th %ile for both height and weight. Mallie is in the 50th for weight and 25th for height. The doctor reminded me that this isn't any type of forshadowing for the future, as Jack was in the 90th %ile for weight at 9 months too and now resembles a string bean.
Jack and Mallie have been performing both fiddle and piano concerts featuring Jimmy Buffet's "Volcano" several times a day (i.e. if you miss the 9 a.m. performance, you can catch the 9:05 a.m. performance). Piano duets are performed (loudly) in the living room by banging the keyboard in synchrony and yelling "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know wha I ma gonna go when I don't know!!!!!!!!!!" Fiddle concerts are less loud, but equally hilarious. THey are performed in the outdoor arena with plastic golf clubs. One is held under the chin, the other acts as a bow. This takes so much concentration by the musicians that the lyrics are sung more softly and slowly.
WHen we got home from our Columbus adventure this Sunday (an overnight in Columbus to visit the COlumbus zoo- which was awesome...and the Dublin Irish Fest).... Jack promptly got out of the car and started scrounging around in the garage. He emerged with a diaper bag over his chest and shoulder with two wooden spoons protruding from it. It was his bagpipe. He used his elbow to squeeze air from it and the spoon to manipulate with his fingers to get the proper notes. When he finished with that, he stood on top of the cooler and played the wooden spoon as a flute, telling everyone in his audience, "this one is about someone that goed to heaven'- which was taken directly from a band we had watched early that day.
We celebrated Mallie's second birthday on Tuesday. She embraced her day, unlike Jack's 2nd b-day, where his fear of the song 'Happy Birhtday to You" ruined his time. SHe woke up asking about her cake. When it was time for cake, the smile on her face was from ear to ear. While everyone sang to her, her little shoulders shrugged up to her ears with joy and she wiggled around with excitment. She has been obsessed with all of her birhtday gifts, including her new shopping cart, dolly, purse, lip smackers, and dress-ups. Her dress-up trunk includes dangle earrings and high heels which are 12 sizes too big for her. SHe has been persistant about wearing and walking in them. And by the end of her party, she was suffling around in them, pushing her shopping cart as though she'd been born in heels.
At the end of Mallie's party, Jack, being the eternally gracious host that he is, ushered everyone to the door, saying, "Bye everyone! Thanks for coming to my sister's birhtday party!"....an Mallie being the myna bird, repeated, "Bye! Thanks for coming to my sister's birthday!!"
At a picnic this wekend with all the Gilbride cousins, Jack was WAY too busy to eat his dinner. At one point, he ran by me and Grandpa Gilbride and stopped to ask if he could have a brownie. I asked him if he had eaten his dinner. He said, "Yes." I asked him if that was the truth or if it was a lie. He said, "That is a lie." And ran away to continue playing with his cousins. I thought GRandpa Gilbride was going to bust open trying not to laugh in front of him.
Mallie got a shot today at the doctor's office. She was not happy about it and didn't do much to mask that from the sweet nurse who had the unfortunate duty of administering it. The nurse was full of apologies and gave her a cool band-aid. Mallie was so beside herself that she tore the band-aid off and yelled at me to 'Throw it away!" Then the nurse offered her a pretty princess sticker for being such a big girl. Mallie, still in hysterics wound up to whip the sticker back at the nurse, who kindly excused herself from the examining room at that point.
Annie is being a HUGE handful!!! SHe is learning that she is not supposed to do things and find that experience funny (which presents a problem in discipline!!) When she picks something up that she is not allowed to have, she gets on all 4's (really all 3's, while holding the thing in question in her hand), waiting for us to say something. When we say , "No Annie!", she throws it down and crawls away as fast as she can, laughing. The girl is only 9 months old and already finding her old lady and old man hilarious when we (lamely) try to excert any type of authority. It's going to be a long 18 years at this rate!!!
Annie has also learned a new trick from her Auntie DI. They were sitting out on a blanket for an hour or so a couple of weeks a ago and Di taught her, "How big is Annie?" SOOOOO Big!!" Annie, being the chubby little thing she is, struggles to raise her rolly little arms above her head and instead shrinks her head down to prove how big she really is. She is also clapping when someone says 'yeaaaaah!" and waving when someone says 'bye or 'hi'. I also told the doctor today about my crazy belief that she is saying 'ba ba', 'mama' and 'dada' intentionally and braced myself for a weird look from her. She said it's certainly early for that, but it's not unheard of and if she's doing it and I'm hearing it, it's certainly plausible!
Mallie and Jack learned about the man in the moon a few days ago from their Yaya. Ever since, they have been asking me about 'him'. "Why is there a man in the moon?' 'Is he real?" Etc. I have been explaining it, repeatedly that there are mountains on the moon. And when the sun shines on them they make it look like there's a face on the moon that we call the man in the moon. Mallie has no clue what is going on and is only asking about the man in the moon because Jack is. However, she is asking about it every time he does and I wanted to see, if by any chance in the world, she is picking up on any of this. So she asked me while we were driving, "Why there a man in the moon Mama?" and I asked her, "I don't know Mal, you tell me, why is there a man in the moon?". SHe relied in the most flip way, shrugging her shoulders, " I dunno..... mountains... moon..... sun shining....."
FIrst of all, Annie has sprouted her first tooth. I admit to being unimpressed with Jack's first tooth at 6 months and not even remembering Mallie's first tooth..... But Annie's has surprised me and taken me aback. At 9 1/2 months, I don't know if I had stopped expecting it and starting thinking that she would just be a cute little 'gummy' 16 year old....but feeling her tooth popping through yesterday shocked me!
I took Annie and Mallie to the doctor for their check-ups today. On the way home, I called Tommy and told him, 'The girls difference in weight is only 5 lbs.!" To which he asked, "well, which one is heavier?" This may not seem funny, but if you could see Annie, you'd realize that she is so big that the question was legitimate. Annie is in the 90th %ile for both height and weight. Mallie is in the 50th for weight and 25th for height. The doctor reminded me that this isn't any type of forshadowing for the future, as Jack was in the 90th %ile for weight at 9 months too and now resembles a string bean.
Jack and Mallie have been performing both fiddle and piano concerts featuring Jimmy Buffet's "Volcano" several times a day (i.e. if you miss the 9 a.m. performance, you can catch the 9:05 a.m. performance). Piano duets are performed (loudly) in the living room by banging the keyboard in synchrony and yelling "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know wha I ma gonna go when I don't know!!!!!!!!!!" Fiddle concerts are less loud, but equally hilarious. THey are performed in the outdoor arena with plastic golf clubs. One is held under the chin, the other acts as a bow. This takes so much concentration by the musicians that the lyrics are sung more softly and slowly.
WHen we got home from our Columbus adventure this Sunday (an overnight in Columbus to visit the COlumbus zoo- which was awesome...and the Dublin Irish Fest).... Jack promptly got out of the car and started scrounging around in the garage. He emerged with a diaper bag over his chest and shoulder with two wooden spoons protruding from it. It was his bagpipe. He used his elbow to squeeze air from it and the spoon to manipulate with his fingers to get the proper notes. When he finished with that, he stood on top of the cooler and played the wooden spoon as a flute, telling everyone in his audience, "this one is about someone that goed to heaven'- which was taken directly from a band we had watched early that day.
We celebrated Mallie's second birthday on Tuesday. She embraced her day, unlike Jack's 2nd b-day, where his fear of the song 'Happy Birhtday to You" ruined his time. SHe woke up asking about her cake. When it was time for cake, the smile on her face was from ear to ear. While everyone sang to her, her little shoulders shrugged up to her ears with joy and she wiggled around with excitment. She has been obsessed with all of her birhtday gifts, including her new shopping cart, dolly, purse, lip smackers, and dress-ups. Her dress-up trunk includes dangle earrings and high heels which are 12 sizes too big for her. SHe has been persistant about wearing and walking in them. And by the end of her party, she was suffling around in them, pushing her shopping cart as though she'd been born in heels.
At the end of Mallie's party, Jack, being the eternally gracious host that he is, ushered everyone to the door, saying, "Bye everyone! Thanks for coming to my sister's birhtday party!"....an Mallie being the myna bird, repeated, "Bye! Thanks for coming to my sister's birthday!!"
At a picnic this wekend with all the Gilbride cousins, Jack was WAY too busy to eat his dinner. At one point, he ran by me and Grandpa Gilbride and stopped to ask if he could have a brownie. I asked him if he had eaten his dinner. He said, "Yes." I asked him if that was the truth or if it was a lie. He said, "That is a lie." And ran away to continue playing with his cousins. I thought GRandpa Gilbride was going to bust open trying not to laugh in front of him.
Mallie got a shot today at the doctor's office. She was not happy about it and didn't do much to mask that from the sweet nurse who had the unfortunate duty of administering it. The nurse was full of apologies and gave her a cool band-aid. Mallie was so beside herself that she tore the band-aid off and yelled at me to 'Throw it away!" Then the nurse offered her a pretty princess sticker for being such a big girl. Mallie, still in hysterics wound up to whip the sticker back at the nurse, who kindly excused herself from the examining room at that point.
Annie is being a HUGE handful!!! SHe is learning that she is not supposed to do things and find that experience funny (which presents a problem in discipline!!) When she picks something up that she is not allowed to have, she gets on all 4's (really all 3's, while holding the thing in question in her hand), waiting for us to say something. When we say , "No Annie!", she throws it down and crawls away as fast as she can, laughing. The girl is only 9 months old and already finding her old lady and old man hilarious when we (lamely) try to excert any type of authority. It's going to be a long 18 years at this rate!!!
Annie has also learned a new trick from her Auntie DI. They were sitting out on a blanket for an hour or so a couple of weeks a ago and Di taught her, "How big is Annie?" SOOOOO Big!!" Annie, being the chubby little thing she is, struggles to raise her rolly little arms above her head and instead shrinks her head down to prove how big she really is. She is also clapping when someone says 'yeaaaaah!" and waving when someone says 'bye or 'hi'. I also told the doctor today about my crazy belief that she is saying 'ba ba', 'mama' and 'dada' intentionally and braced myself for a weird look from her. She said it's certainly early for that, but it's not unheard of and if she's doing it and I'm hearing it, it's certainly plausible!
Mallie and Jack learned about the man in the moon a few days ago from their Yaya. Ever since, they have been asking me about 'him'. "Why is there a man in the moon?' 'Is he real?" Etc. I have been explaining it, repeatedly that there are mountains on the moon. And when the sun shines on them they make it look like there's a face on the moon that we call the man in the moon. Mallie has no clue what is going on and is only asking about the man in the moon because Jack is. However, she is asking about it every time he does and I wanted to see, if by any chance in the world, she is picking up on any of this. So she asked me while we were driving, "Why there a man in the moon Mama?" and I asked her, "I don't know Mal, you tell me, why is there a man in the moon?". SHe relied in the most flip way, shrugging her shoulders, " I dunno..... mountains... moon..... sun shining....."
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
For some reason, I'm having a really nostolgic night tonight. Actually, I know the reasons, and there are several. First of all, I spent the morning with Emily Gilbride, who is 9 months pregnant right now. She is describing every last symptom I felt last fall : the cramps, low pressure, tiredness, and loss of patience(i.e. guilt) she has with the other two kids. I feel bad for her, but at the same time I know, from looking back on it, that my kids didn't suffer as much as I thought they did from that time. I felt so negligent as a mom and during that time, actually they grew in their sibling relationship, as well as by themselves, learning to play and entertain themselves. It's a necessary growing pain that is well, well, well worth it. That 3rd kid is such an amazing addition to the family. It makes it feel like a real family to me- not to say that #2 didn't.... but it's just a 'full cirlce', complete feeling.
Secondly, I talked to Meghan Nowlin a lot today about the end of her pregnancy. In so many ways, I don't want her pregnancy to end because it reminded me so much of that awesome time we had of anticipating Jack's arrival. But of course, I am coming out of my skin with excitement for them. To see two people like Meg and Ryan become parents is beyond exiting. They are so perfect, so ready, so excited themselves.... I keep flashing back to the days before Jack was born. I remember them so well- which is so uncharacteristic of me! Tommy and I were on pins and needles, always waiting for SOMETHING to happen, but not knowing WHAT!? I felt so anxious to be a mom and be DONE with being pregnant.. but at the same time, really at peace and just knew things were going to go smoothly. I know it was Ali at my side the whole time. It was great to be close to her then. I know the Nowlin's have a few guardian angels by their side like I did and Baby Nowlin is going to just glide into the world on their wings. It's so, so so exciting.
On the skirts of thinking about Jack being born, I gave that kid a bath tonight. I used to sit down, indian-style and plop him down in front of me to put lotion on him and jammie him up. Tonight, I put him down and went to put lotion on his face. I had to lean over and stretch away from me to reach him!! He's sooooo tall all of a sudden. I don't know what happened and it sent me into a panic attack that he's getting too old and going to leave for college. This, on top of the fact that he's blasting homerun balls out of our yard when we play baseball, his new favorite thing is riding his two-wheeler (with training wheels, but he's getting so good that I'm thinking about taking them off!), and he has an adult-style appreciation of music (asking for Tommy to play some ColdPlay for him tonight, and knew all the words). I don't know how 3 1/2 years passed this quickly, and more importantly, how he has learned so much in that time. He never ceases to amaze me.
Claire and Finn were over at bath time tonight and we decided to give Finn and ANnie a bath together. Finn did not enjoy it, as it was his first introduction to a big-boy bathtub and a LOUD one at that!! All of his cousins were 'helping' and I can only imagine how overwhelming it was for the little guy!!! In the midst of the upset, Jack decided that 'I need to take some pictures of this!!" and told us to "Wait a minute! My camera is downstairs!" He ran down to get his own camera and ended up taking some decent ad pretty funny pictures to hold on to to commemorate the event!! :)
Annie is also jumping ahead by leaps and bounds lately. In the past two weeks, we have taken her off her pepcid prescription and she is doing great- eating at least 5 or 6 oz. a feeding. SHe's starting to sleep through the night, at least the last few nights... I'm sure now that I'm writing this, she will be up all night toingiht!! :) SHe's getting on a decent napping/ sleeping schedule, if I am good about keeping her on it (i.e. not schlepping her around the city all morning, so she can sleep!).
By the end of the day, her little tops of her feet are black from crawling on my eternally dirty floors. She is everywhere, pulling herself up on chairs, tables, gnawing on chairs and toys and anything she can reach. SHe continues to think Jack and Mallie are the most hilarious people on Earth and enjoys to maul Finn any chance she gets.
THis weekend she popped up with a couple great new tricks. First, she started clapping. I've been waiting fo this one. It's so great. ANd she's sooooo happy with herself when she' doing it, which makes it that much more reason to clap!!! She is starting to clap when you say, 'Yeaaa!', too. THen, yesterday, she did the 'arms up' motion for ' How big is Annie!??" twice! Again, she's very happpy with herself, but we need a little more practice. She also is waving witha full arm up and down motion when you say 'Hiiiiii Annie!!!" She has also actually said "Ahhhhh!" (which I interpret as 'Hi!"while she does this, but mostly only when Jack tries to get her to do it. Again, this needs more practice, but she is definatley getting it!!
Mallie is also starting to be a 'big girl', too,as she reminds us constantly. The other day we were on a walk and she saw an American flag hanging on a tree. SHe looked back at me said said, "look Mommy! A America Tree!!"
She is saying the following ALL the time: "Watch this Mommy!", "Not Again!!!" (said this today when I took out her xylophone instead of her cat keyboard that she wanted...as though I do that ALL the time!!), " "What's that called Mommy?", and "What did you say MommY?" These are all great questions for her to know and will teach her lots of things... even though she asks them a million times a day! :) It makes me sick that she's going to be 2 years old next week. My kids are growin up!!! CRAZY!!
Secondly, I talked to Meghan Nowlin a lot today about the end of her pregnancy. In so many ways, I don't want her pregnancy to end because it reminded me so much of that awesome time we had of anticipating Jack's arrival. But of course, I am coming out of my skin with excitement for them. To see two people like Meg and Ryan become parents is beyond exiting. They are so perfect, so ready, so excited themselves.... I keep flashing back to the days before Jack was born. I remember them so well- which is so uncharacteristic of me! Tommy and I were on pins and needles, always waiting for SOMETHING to happen, but not knowing WHAT!? I felt so anxious to be a mom and be DONE with being pregnant.. but at the same time, really at peace and just knew things were going to go smoothly. I know it was Ali at my side the whole time. It was great to be close to her then. I know the Nowlin's have a few guardian angels by their side like I did and Baby Nowlin is going to just glide into the world on their wings. It's so, so so exciting.
On the skirts of thinking about Jack being born, I gave that kid a bath tonight. I used to sit down, indian-style and plop him down in front of me to put lotion on him and jammie him up. Tonight, I put him down and went to put lotion on his face. I had to lean over and stretch away from me to reach him!! He's sooooo tall all of a sudden. I don't know what happened and it sent me into a panic attack that he's getting too old and going to leave for college. This, on top of the fact that he's blasting homerun balls out of our yard when we play baseball, his new favorite thing is riding his two-wheeler (with training wheels, but he's getting so good that I'm thinking about taking them off!), and he has an adult-style appreciation of music (asking for Tommy to play some ColdPlay for him tonight, and knew all the words). I don't know how 3 1/2 years passed this quickly, and more importantly, how he has learned so much in that time. He never ceases to amaze me.
Claire and Finn were over at bath time tonight and we decided to give Finn and ANnie a bath together. Finn did not enjoy it, as it was his first introduction to a big-boy bathtub and a LOUD one at that!! All of his cousins were 'helping' and I can only imagine how overwhelming it was for the little guy!!! In the midst of the upset, Jack decided that 'I need to take some pictures of this!!" and told us to "Wait a minute! My camera is downstairs!" He ran down to get his own camera and ended up taking some decent ad pretty funny pictures to hold on to to commemorate the event!! :)
Annie is also jumping ahead by leaps and bounds lately. In the past two weeks, we have taken her off her pepcid prescription and she is doing great- eating at least 5 or 6 oz. a feeding. SHe's starting to sleep through the night, at least the last few nights... I'm sure now that I'm writing this, she will be up all night toingiht!! :) SHe's getting on a decent napping/ sleeping schedule, if I am good about keeping her on it (i.e. not schlepping her around the city all morning, so she can sleep!).
By the end of the day, her little tops of her feet are black from crawling on my eternally dirty floors. She is everywhere, pulling herself up on chairs, tables, gnawing on chairs and toys and anything she can reach. SHe continues to think Jack and Mallie are the most hilarious people on Earth and enjoys to maul Finn any chance she gets.
THis weekend she popped up with a couple great new tricks. First, she started clapping. I've been waiting fo this one. It's so great. ANd she's sooooo happy with herself when she' doing it, which makes it that much more reason to clap!!! She is starting to clap when you say, 'Yeaaa!', too. THen, yesterday, she did the 'arms up' motion for ' How big is Annie!??" twice! Again, she's very happpy with herself, but we need a little more practice. She also is waving witha full arm up and down motion when you say 'Hiiiiii Annie!!!" She has also actually said "Ahhhhh!" (which I interpret as 'Hi!"while she does this, but mostly only when Jack tries to get her to do it. Again, this needs more practice, but she is definatley getting it!!
Mallie is also starting to be a 'big girl', too,as she reminds us constantly. The other day we were on a walk and she saw an American flag hanging on a tree. SHe looked back at me said said, "look Mommy! A America Tree!!"
She is saying the following ALL the time: "Watch this Mommy!", "Not Again!!!" (said this today when I took out her xylophone instead of her cat keyboard that she wanted...as though I do that ALL the time!!), " "What's that called Mommy?", and "What did you say MommY?" These are all great questions for her to know and will teach her lots of things... even though she asks them a million times a day! :) It makes me sick that she's going to be 2 years old next week. My kids are growin up!!! CRAZY!!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sunday, July 12th, 2009
This marks the end of one of the busiest, most fun weekends I have had in a long time. It just so happens that I have barely seen my children since Friday afternoon, as well. Coincidence? I'll let you decide! :) Molly and Scott Martin got married yesterday. I was lucky enough to be a part of their wedding as a bridesmaid. So Tommy and I were invited to the rehearsal dinner Friday night. My parents, Uncle Crabby, cousins Ian and Jason, Claire and Finn all chipped in to baby-sitt. Yesterday, everyone dropped me off at Farrell's at 8:30 a.m. Tommy then dropped Jack off at my parents' house so Papa could take him to soccer (which ended up being cancelled). Then he took Annie to Claire's while he went to swim lessons with Mallie. After collecting everyone back at home, he got them ready to spend the afternoon with Meghan Nowlin (who is a trooper to volunteer her service being 8 months pregnant) and Uncle Brian. At 4 p.m. the shift change occured when Hannah, Tommy, Lauren and Emily arrived to stay with the kids for the remainder of the evening. When they say that it 'takes a village', they aren't kidding- especially in this case. I write all of this both to remember all the sweet people that helped this weekend, and because I feel so lucky to have such an unbelievable support system in place that help nurture our kids. I barely had to ask any of these people to help- they jumped on it as soon as they caught wind that we were going to the wedding and had such a marathon weekend ahead. I was able to completely let go and focus on my friend on her happy day without any concern that something might be wrong at home.
Yesterday afternoon, Emily, Lauren and Tommy took the kids for a walk to Bohlken Park. On the way, Jack noticed a statue of Jesus in someone's front yard. This started a whirlwind of questions including, "Who is that?", "Do we love Jesus?", "Why do we love Jesus?", "If God is already in heaven, then where will he go when he gets old and dies?", etc. Emily, wisely steered clear of answering these and let Lauren field them instead- seemingly to Jack's content. At the park, the kids went on the swings and Emily was telling them, "Yeaaaa! The swings! Aren't they fun? Don't we just love the swings?" Jack replied at the top of his voice, "YEAAA!! WE LOVE THE SWINGS AND WE LOOOOOVE JEEEESUS!!!!"
The other day I took all the kids on what normally would have been a quick trip to Target. There were several meltdown and blatant, in-mom's-face misbehavior. On the way home, I stopped to get myself a coffee at the Dunkin Donuts drivethru. As we waited in line, Jack continuously asked, "Mom, can I get a donut??" and I continuously answered him, "No, your behavior was ridiculous in Target and you're not getting a treat." When we pulled up to the speaker to order, I rolled down my window. Before I could open my mouth to order, Jack was yelling from his carseat in the way-back of the van, "YEAH! UMMMM- COULD I GET A DONUT PLEASE??? A DONUT WITH HOLES IN IT!?" I don't think they heard him, so they really must have thought I was a kook when I pulled up to pay with tears of laughter in my eyes and unable to speak to them!
Tommy "put Jack to sleep" the other night while I finished watching my show on T.V. When I came up for bed, Jack and Tommy were laying in our bed flipping between boxing and rugby on T.V. Tommy said he had tried to get him to sleep. But as soon as Tommy laid down in our bed, he heard Jack calling for him saying, "Ummmm...DAD!? Ummm... I'm having a rough day in here!!!"
Mallie's temper tantrums have been getting pretty lengthy and outlandish lately. I think we're hitting our terrible 2's. The other day, she screamed for 1/2 hour because she wanted to leave her tennis shoes outside. Others involved not wanting to stop washing her hands or brush her teeth. And most recently because Tommy borrowed my flipflops to take the trash out. There is nothing to do but ignore these, but they are becoming fierce. We had to take her to Costco the other day with her face full of red blotches and her eyes all puffy.
When Jack is trying to be a part of an adult conversation or tell an adult a story, he jumps into a new persona. He uses his hands alot more, takes his time getting his story out (because he really enjoys the attention on himself) and uses the phrase, "it was like..." a whole lot.
Jack was giving us a piano concert this week. As he banged on the keys, he sang, "OOOOHH Patty!!!! (our next door neighbor) I think your cuuuuuuuuuute!!! I love you!!!!!"
Before 8 a.m. yesterday Birdie girl had: a full-blown tantrum because she had finished brushing her teeth and didn't want the water turned off, emptied her entire pajama drawer, and smeared 1/2 tube of Desitin all over her face.
Tommy was driving the kids today after rushing out of the house without Jack's glasses. From the backseat, Jack called, "So, Dad, we decided to go without the glasses today?" And Tommy said, "Yes." To which Jack replied, "Hmmmm.... that's interesting."
Annie is becoming a force to be reckoned with. She is EVERYWHERE and can get there quickly. Her newest trick is to stand on her feet and hands as though she is about to do the bear walk. It is still so strange for me to see her do these thing, even crawl. I always marvel at how strong she is getting and how quickly it's coming along! I honestly believe she'll be walking in a month.
When I put Annie to bed at night, I lay her on her side in the crib. She take her little hand that is free and rubs the sheet next to her, up and down, up and down up and down, really fast. It's her little comfort move that helps her calm down at the end of the day.
Yesterday afternoon, Emily, Lauren and Tommy took the kids for a walk to Bohlken Park. On the way, Jack noticed a statue of Jesus in someone's front yard. This started a whirlwind of questions including, "Who is that?", "Do we love Jesus?", "Why do we love Jesus?", "If God is already in heaven, then where will he go when he gets old and dies?", etc. Emily, wisely steered clear of answering these and let Lauren field them instead- seemingly to Jack's content. At the park, the kids went on the swings and Emily was telling them, "Yeaaaa! The swings! Aren't they fun? Don't we just love the swings?" Jack replied at the top of his voice, "YEAAA!! WE LOVE THE SWINGS AND WE LOOOOOVE JEEEESUS!!!!"
The other day I took all the kids on what normally would have been a quick trip to Target. There were several meltdown and blatant, in-mom's-face misbehavior. On the way home, I stopped to get myself a coffee at the Dunkin Donuts drivethru. As we waited in line, Jack continuously asked, "Mom, can I get a donut??" and I continuously answered him, "No, your behavior was ridiculous in Target and you're not getting a treat." When we pulled up to the speaker to order, I rolled down my window. Before I could open my mouth to order, Jack was yelling from his carseat in the way-back of the van, "YEAH! UMMMM- COULD I GET A DONUT PLEASE??? A DONUT WITH HOLES IN IT!?" I don't think they heard him, so they really must have thought I was a kook when I pulled up to pay with tears of laughter in my eyes and unable to speak to them!
Tommy "put Jack to sleep" the other night while I finished watching my show on T.V. When I came up for bed, Jack and Tommy were laying in our bed flipping between boxing and rugby on T.V. Tommy said he had tried to get him to sleep. But as soon as Tommy laid down in our bed, he heard Jack calling for him saying, "Ummmm...DAD!? Ummm... I'm having a rough day in here!!!"
Mallie's temper tantrums have been getting pretty lengthy and outlandish lately. I think we're hitting our terrible 2's. The other day, she screamed for 1/2 hour because she wanted to leave her tennis shoes outside. Others involved not wanting to stop washing her hands or brush her teeth. And most recently because Tommy borrowed my flipflops to take the trash out. There is nothing to do but ignore these, but they are becoming fierce. We had to take her to Costco the other day with her face full of red blotches and her eyes all puffy.
When Jack is trying to be a part of an adult conversation or tell an adult a story, he jumps into a new persona. He uses his hands alot more, takes his time getting his story out (because he really enjoys the attention on himself) and uses the phrase, "it was like..." a whole lot.
Jack was giving us a piano concert this week. As he banged on the keys, he sang, "OOOOHH Patty!!!! (our next door neighbor) I think your cuuuuuuuuuute!!! I love you!!!!!"
Before 8 a.m. yesterday Birdie girl had: a full-blown tantrum because she had finished brushing her teeth and didn't want the water turned off, emptied her entire pajama drawer, and smeared 1/2 tube of Desitin all over her face.
Tommy was driving the kids today after rushing out of the house without Jack's glasses. From the backseat, Jack called, "So, Dad, we decided to go without the glasses today?" And Tommy said, "Yes." To which Jack replied, "Hmmmm.... that's interesting."
Annie is becoming a force to be reckoned with. She is EVERYWHERE and can get there quickly. Her newest trick is to stand on her feet and hands as though she is about to do the bear walk. It is still so strange for me to see her do these thing, even crawl. I always marvel at how strong she is getting and how quickly it's coming along! I honestly believe she'll be walking in a month.
When I put Annie to bed at night, I lay her on her side in the crib. She take her little hand that is free and rubs the sheet next to her, up and down, up and down up and down, really fast. It's her little comfort move that helps her calm down at the end of the day.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Monday, July 6th, 2009
AHHHHHH!!!!! It's 10:15 pm and Mallie and Jack are STILL awake upstairs. I have, at this time, put Mallie back into bed 5 times. Tommy has done it once. I am SLOWLY and PAINFULLY coming to the realization that maybe naptime isn't needed anymore. Or at least the 2 1/2 or 3 hour naps that they take...that I love....that I need and don't know if I can let go of. Oh LORD! I hear her up there AGAIN. She is up... now she's coming downstairs. This is truly ridiculous. Now she's sitting on my lap as I write this. I'm too tired....
Anyway, today Annie had her swimming lessons. Tommy took the kids to the splash park and met his parents and Joseph there while I was in the pool with her. She hasn't exactly been herself the past few days. We are wondering about whether she is teething or maybe has an earache. I always hesitate to call the doctor for a possible earache, because she will want me to come into the office to check it out and then I always feel like an overreactive parent when there's no ear infection.....Although, my mind always floats back to Mallie's 1 year old well visit check up. She was perfectly fine, to me...but apparently had a raging double ear infection that was causing her to get up in the middle of the night. I blamed this on teeth.
The really big news with Annie is that she is officially a crawler. She crawled across the basement floor on the 4th of July. SHe's been doing the up-on-all-fours and rocking thing for a week or so. But she really covered ground on Saturday and has been getting more and more endurance each day. This morning I put her in her usual place in the living room to play with her toys while I did the breakfast dishes. The next thing I knew, her little face was peering around the corner into the kitchen. SHe came right over and pulled herself up on the dishwasher and started going through the silverware! It's like having a new kid because we now have to re-baby-proof the house AND she is so much more determined and persistent (dare I say a bit irrationally angry) about getting to things. Not to mention the fact that she is into Mallie's toys now (which is a GREAT lesson in sharing.... albeit a very slow lesson learned) and into Jack's things (so now we're working on playing up high so Annie can't get to his stuff). There's just a lot to deal with now and it'll take some getting used to. She's real cute though and her little crawling motion couldn't get more adorable. I use the 'squeak, squeak' sound affect when she gets going because it's her movements are so small.
In other news, we had a great 4th of July. On the 3rd, Tommy was off work and we took the kids to the History Museum. We met my Aunt Di and my cousins Lauren, Tommy and Halle there. The kids had a BALL. Annie was awesome and the other two LOVED running around the museum with the big kids. We went to a party at Brian and Elissa Hricik's house that night. Then on the 4th, we had a relaxing day at home and went to Di and Kevin's for a cookout. Jack and Mallie did some sparklers (surprisingly!) and ran around with the other kids. We came home to put the kids to bed, but the neighbors were shooting off fireworks. I told them to just lay there and listen to the fireworks for America's birthday (which, by the way, Jack keeps calling Barack Obama's birthday). Anyway, I left them in their room listening to the fireworks and came down to watch the Boston Pops on TV. As I sat on the couch, I heard Jack yell, 'Mommy! Isn't this FUN!!?" This made me feel sorry for them for putting them to bed without seeing any fireworks and only making them listen to them in their bed! So I had them come down and watch the display with us on TV.
On his last day of preschool, Jack won tickets to the Cleveland Orchestra concert at Blossom on the 5th of July. So last night, we packed a great picnic dinner and all the kids into the van to drive down to the concert. We were soooo excited about it. We got there, set up our blanket and ate our dinner. Kids were running around and chatting and it was a great atmosphere.....Then the concert began and the whole thing changed. You could have heard a pin drop. It was truly like we were watching this concert at Severence Hall. I hadn't even prepared the kids about being quiet during the music (not that it would have made a difference). They were FULL of loud questions (Where is the conductor? What is he doing with his arms? Where are the violins? Etc.) So we moved to a less crowded area on the lawn. It seemed OK to let the kids kind of run around and dance. But an usher promptly informed me otherwise. He said the concert was being broadcast and he was told that they could hear children over the broadcast so to keep the kids quiet (I can only assume that he was not referring to my children specifically- Oh dear Lord, PLEEEEASE!!) So, up we got and home did trot (with our tails between our legs and me nearly in tears of disappointment and embarrassment).
This Blossom debacle has opened a whole other can of worms about discipline. I may be naive and totally biased.... but I honestly think our kids are pretty good kids. Not only sweet and kind-hearted (I pretty much think that about most kids) but pretty well-behaved and decent in public. Of course we have our flare ups....In fact, we've had lots of flare ups. But I've certainly seen worse- WAY worse. And our kids are still small. Jack's not even 4 yet! Tommy, however, is of the school of thought that it doesn't matter about their age. But that they should listen to us at all times. He says that he listened to his dad whenever he was told to do something...even at age 3 and if he didn't he was spanked. Now, I find it hard to believe that Tommy remembers what he was like at age 3- I certainly do not. But I just have kind of a hard time being that tough on a 3 and 1 year old. I consider myself a pretty stern mom and sometimes worry that I'm being too strict. I don't let them get away with much- especially in public. But, I also have age-appropriate expectations of them. If you take a 3 and 1 year old to church, they are incapable of sitting quietly for a full hour, unless they are tired. If you take them to a orchestral concert and do not tell them that this is a quiet event and to whisper, there is NO CHANCE of them doing so on their own. And even if you do issue that warning, they probably won't follow directions. Especially with a huge, open field at their disposal. Anyway, it's really gotten me thinking about who's way of disciplining is right, better, more appropriate. It's easy to say that I like mine.... But then there's a huge naggin question in the back of my head about whether or not I'm spoiling them and letting them get away with murder. Needless to say, I've been super-strict today with them. Mallie's been in time out 3 times and Jack twice- all completely justified. It's probably good to crack the whip a little once in a while to make them see that I mean business. I just don't want to be unfair with them when it comes to expectations. It's confusing and leaves them sad, scared, unsure, and feeling confused.
Anyway, today Annie had her swimming lessons. Tommy took the kids to the splash park and met his parents and Joseph there while I was in the pool with her. She hasn't exactly been herself the past few days. We are wondering about whether she is teething or maybe has an earache. I always hesitate to call the doctor for a possible earache, because she will want me to come into the office to check it out and then I always feel like an overreactive parent when there's no ear infection.....Although, my mind always floats back to Mallie's 1 year old well visit check up. She was perfectly fine, to me...but apparently had a raging double ear infection that was causing her to get up in the middle of the night. I blamed this on teeth.
The really big news with Annie is that she is officially a crawler. She crawled across the basement floor on the 4th of July. SHe's been doing the up-on-all-fours and rocking thing for a week or so. But she really covered ground on Saturday and has been getting more and more endurance each day. This morning I put her in her usual place in the living room to play with her toys while I did the breakfast dishes. The next thing I knew, her little face was peering around the corner into the kitchen. SHe came right over and pulled herself up on the dishwasher and started going through the silverware! It's like having a new kid because we now have to re-baby-proof the house AND she is so much more determined and persistent (dare I say a bit irrationally angry) about getting to things. Not to mention the fact that she is into Mallie's toys now (which is a GREAT lesson in sharing.... albeit a very slow lesson learned) and into Jack's things (so now we're working on playing up high so Annie can't get to his stuff). There's just a lot to deal with now and it'll take some getting used to. She's real cute though and her little crawling motion couldn't get more adorable. I use the 'squeak, squeak' sound affect when she gets going because it's her movements are so small.
In other news, we had a great 4th of July. On the 3rd, Tommy was off work and we took the kids to the History Museum. We met my Aunt Di and my cousins Lauren, Tommy and Halle there. The kids had a BALL. Annie was awesome and the other two LOVED running around the museum with the big kids. We went to a party at Brian and Elissa Hricik's house that night. Then on the 4th, we had a relaxing day at home and went to Di and Kevin's for a cookout. Jack and Mallie did some sparklers (surprisingly!) and ran around with the other kids. We came home to put the kids to bed, but the neighbors were shooting off fireworks. I told them to just lay there and listen to the fireworks for America's birthday (which, by the way, Jack keeps calling Barack Obama's birthday). Anyway, I left them in their room listening to the fireworks and came down to watch the Boston Pops on TV. As I sat on the couch, I heard Jack yell, 'Mommy! Isn't this FUN!!?" This made me feel sorry for them for putting them to bed without seeing any fireworks and only making them listen to them in their bed! So I had them come down and watch the display with us on TV.
On his last day of preschool, Jack won tickets to the Cleveland Orchestra concert at Blossom on the 5th of July. So last night, we packed a great picnic dinner and all the kids into the van to drive down to the concert. We were soooo excited about it. We got there, set up our blanket and ate our dinner. Kids were running around and chatting and it was a great atmosphere.....Then the concert began and the whole thing changed. You could have heard a pin drop. It was truly like we were watching this concert at Severence Hall. I hadn't even prepared the kids about being quiet during the music (not that it would have made a difference). They were FULL of loud questions (Where is the conductor? What is he doing with his arms? Where are the violins? Etc.) So we moved to a less crowded area on the lawn. It seemed OK to let the kids kind of run around and dance. But an usher promptly informed me otherwise. He said the concert was being broadcast and he was told that they could hear children over the broadcast so to keep the kids quiet (I can only assume that he was not referring to my children specifically- Oh dear Lord, PLEEEEASE!!) So, up we got and home did trot (with our tails between our legs and me nearly in tears of disappointment and embarrassment).
This Blossom debacle has opened a whole other can of worms about discipline. I may be naive and totally biased.... but I honestly think our kids are pretty good kids. Not only sweet and kind-hearted (I pretty much think that about most kids) but pretty well-behaved and decent in public. Of course we have our flare ups....In fact, we've had lots of flare ups. But I've certainly seen worse- WAY worse. And our kids are still small. Jack's not even 4 yet! Tommy, however, is of the school of thought that it doesn't matter about their age. But that they should listen to us at all times. He says that he listened to his dad whenever he was told to do something...even at age 3 and if he didn't he was spanked. Now, I find it hard to believe that Tommy remembers what he was like at age 3- I certainly do not. But I just have kind of a hard time being that tough on a 3 and 1 year old. I consider myself a pretty stern mom and sometimes worry that I'm being too strict. I don't let them get away with much- especially in public. But, I also have age-appropriate expectations of them. If you take a 3 and 1 year old to church, they are incapable of sitting quietly for a full hour, unless they are tired. If you take them to a orchestral concert and do not tell them that this is a quiet event and to whisper, there is NO CHANCE of them doing so on their own. And even if you do issue that warning, they probably won't follow directions. Especially with a huge, open field at their disposal. Anyway, it's really gotten me thinking about who's way of disciplining is right, better, more appropriate. It's easy to say that I like mine.... But then there's a huge naggin question in the back of my head about whether or not I'm spoiling them and letting them get away with murder. Needless to say, I've been super-strict today with them. Mallie's been in time out 3 times and Jack twice- all completely justified. It's probably good to crack the whip a little once in a while to make them see that I mean business. I just don't want to be unfair with them when it comes to expectations. It's confusing and leaves them sad, scared, unsure, and feeling confused.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, June 29th, 2009
Hard to believe that the first month of summer is over. It's going really fast, as is the rest of life. I keep looking at my kids and freaking out to a certain extent about how big they are getting. If life continues to speed along like this, I am going to be an empty nester in no time...and I'm not sure how I'm giong to do with that!!!
Anyway, for now the kids are small enough that they say and do hilarious things without even knowing it.
Jack has taken to adding one last prayer before bed that goes, "And please, God, sell our house." He asked me today if we were going to sell our garage, too, or just our house. And tonight before bed, he wanted to kow how we were going to get his bed to our new house (which, for the record, we do not have a new house!) and who would be driving the moving van. I mean, I consider myself a planner, but he defiantely has me beat on this one.
In Target the other day, I was looking for birthday cards and Jack was just kind of trapsing around with nothing to do. Until, that is, he spotted a kind-looking lady who was also shopping for cards. Apparently she looked like good bait, and he went right up to her and said, "I play soccer." Of course, she turned out to be a very nice lady and entertained all of his questions and stories. After about 5 minutes, I pulled him away from his new friend. He has no problem appraoching a perfect stranger.
When we go to the rec center, Jack and Mallie run ahead of me and stop at the front desk to chat with the ladies there. They just run up and yell, "HIIIIIII!" at these poor, unsuspecting ladies. Then they tell them, "We're going to kids' club" or "We're going swimming" or wherever we are going.....Actually, the way this conversation goes is more like Jack telling the ladies where we are going, and then Myna Bird Mallie repeats him word for word. They love the kids up there. Jack and Mallie (along with Cael) were some of the first kids to ever go to kids club there. So Miss Michelle and Miss Pam are huge fans of theirs and when we started going back after Annie was born, it was like two celebrities returning home!
At breakfast this morning, Jack and Mallie were waiting for their food and spotted poor Theresa next door going out to her garage. The two of the yelled, "Hi Theresa!!!!" about 30 times over and over again....and she continued (bless her heart) to return the salutations. Of course, Mallie says something more like, "Hi TeeeeTaaaa!!!" Theresa is such a sweetheart to both of them and always makes time to chit chat. They are pretty good pals. I just never know if they are over-stepping their bounds with her and don't want her to feel obligated to engage them in the 1/2 hour conversation they want to have with her!!
Annie is pulling herself up on things now. I went into her room after her nap and she was on her knees in her crib, holding on to the bars. I remember the other kids starting to do this, and it always made me laugh because they can get themselves up there, but then have no idea what to do from there. They just stand there, crying because they are scared to fall!!
Annie has also been babbling the syllable, "Baa baa baa baa" yesterday and today, over and over again. I made her a bottle this evening and when she saw it, her little face lit up and she said, "Baa baa!!!" clear as day and very purposefully. Tommy was holding her and I thought he was going to drop her because we were both so surprised to hear it. Even if she doesn't say it again soon, I'm going to consider this her first word, because it was so clear and undeniable!
Annie and I were sitting on the floor today plyaing and she started getting fussy and rubbing her eyes. Then she started babbling, "Maa maa" .... which, to me- the mom who is just ready to pounce on anything to tell everyone she is 'talking'- sounded like she was calling my name. I do think she is going to be talking by her 1st birthday though. She's practicing a lot already!
We played a game of pick-up baseball today at the park. We walked to Bohlken park and Jack brought his ball and bat to play on the big fields they have there. The grounds crew was working on the fields though, so we just started playing on the grass next to the playground. Within 5 minutes, 3 other boys came over to play with us. As each one came up to ask to play with us, Jack would run up from the pitcher's mound and say, "Oh, hey bud!", like he knew they guy his whole life. We had a lot of fun! Jack is extremely in to baseball right now. His hand-eye coordination is getting really good too.
Anyway, for now the kids are small enough that they say and do hilarious things without even knowing it.
Jack has taken to adding one last prayer before bed that goes, "And please, God, sell our house." He asked me today if we were going to sell our garage, too, or just our house. And tonight before bed, he wanted to kow how we were going to get his bed to our new house (which, for the record, we do not have a new house!) and who would be driving the moving van. I mean, I consider myself a planner, but he defiantely has me beat on this one.
In Target the other day, I was looking for birthday cards and Jack was just kind of trapsing around with nothing to do. Until, that is, he spotted a kind-looking lady who was also shopping for cards. Apparently she looked like good bait, and he went right up to her and said, "I play soccer." Of course, she turned out to be a very nice lady and entertained all of his questions and stories. After about 5 minutes, I pulled him away from his new friend. He has no problem appraoching a perfect stranger.
When we go to the rec center, Jack and Mallie run ahead of me and stop at the front desk to chat with the ladies there. They just run up and yell, "HIIIIIII!" at these poor, unsuspecting ladies. Then they tell them, "We're going to kids' club" or "We're going swimming" or wherever we are going.....Actually, the way this conversation goes is more like Jack telling the ladies where we are going, and then Myna Bird Mallie repeats him word for word. They love the kids up there. Jack and Mallie (along with Cael) were some of the first kids to ever go to kids club there. So Miss Michelle and Miss Pam are huge fans of theirs and when we started going back after Annie was born, it was like two celebrities returning home!
At breakfast this morning, Jack and Mallie were waiting for their food and spotted poor Theresa next door going out to her garage. The two of the yelled, "Hi Theresa!!!!" about 30 times over and over again....and she continued (bless her heart) to return the salutations. Of course, Mallie says something more like, "Hi TeeeeTaaaa!!!" Theresa is such a sweetheart to both of them and always makes time to chit chat. They are pretty good pals. I just never know if they are over-stepping their bounds with her and don't want her to feel obligated to engage them in the 1/2 hour conversation they want to have with her!!
Annie is pulling herself up on things now. I went into her room after her nap and she was on her knees in her crib, holding on to the bars. I remember the other kids starting to do this, and it always made me laugh because they can get themselves up there, but then have no idea what to do from there. They just stand there, crying because they are scared to fall!!
Annie has also been babbling the syllable, "Baa baa baa baa" yesterday and today, over and over again. I made her a bottle this evening and when she saw it, her little face lit up and she said, "Baa baa!!!" clear as day and very purposefully. Tommy was holding her and I thought he was going to drop her because we were both so surprised to hear it. Even if she doesn't say it again soon, I'm going to consider this her first word, because it was so clear and undeniable!
Annie and I were sitting on the floor today plyaing and she started getting fussy and rubbing her eyes. Then she started babbling, "Maa maa" .... which, to me- the mom who is just ready to pounce on anything to tell everyone she is 'talking'- sounded like she was calling my name. I do think she is going to be talking by her 1st birthday though. She's practicing a lot already!
We played a game of pick-up baseball today at the park. We walked to Bohlken park and Jack brought his ball and bat to play on the big fields they have there. The grounds crew was working on the fields though, so we just started playing on the grass next to the playground. Within 5 minutes, 3 other boys came over to play with us. As each one came up to ask to play with us, Jack would run up from the pitcher's mound and say, "Oh, hey bud!", like he knew they guy his whole life. We had a lot of fun! Jack is extremely in to baseball right now. His hand-eye coordination is getting really good too.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Friday, June 19th, 2009
This was a long week. We got the interior of our house painted in hopes that it helps sell it sooner. So I was really juggling 3 kids, living out of bags and trying to jump from house to house in the process. It's over now though and it looks good. Just some loose ends to tie up and get back together!
On Wednesday, CLaire and I took all the kids to breakfast at Joe's Deli. While we were there, Mallie was playing with the creamers in the plastic tubs and bit one and it exploded. Mallie has become very sensitive and anytime something like this happens, she is reduced to tears. Sometimes, she gives me a look from across the room, pulls it together until she can get to me and then her little lip starts quivering and the sobbing begins. THis is EXACTLY how Claire and I were as kids.
As we were driving home from Joe's, Jack called out, "Thank you for my breakfast Sloppy Joes'!!!!"
Mallie is sitting on the stairs as I type this. Tommy just put them to bed and she came down on her own, declaring, "Mama!!! I wake up!!"
Mallie goes to swim lessons now. She seems to really like it and she is definately not fearful of the water- blowing bubbles with her mouth on the first lesson!!! When we got home I told her to tell Jack about her lessons. She said "Jot! I go swimming!! I have dut-tee!!! (ducky- they gave them rubber duckies to play with)
Mallie is also repeating every word out of Jack's mouth. It is truly comical. When I say every word- I mean it. He will say, 'Mom! What kind of truck is that?" And for the rest of the trip to wherever we're going, she is pointing out trucks, saying, "mom! What truck is that!?" Last night Jimmy was over and she was eating ice cream. Every question he asked her, she replied with a really quick, "yea." She says it so fast and closes her mouth really tight after she says it. "Mallie, do you like ice cream? "yea" "Mallie, is it pretty cold?" "Yea." Etc.
We continue to have a hard time with Annie's schedule. She is getting up in the middle of the night 2-3 times. At 8 months, we really should be stopping this. She's having 12- 14 oz of formula every night!!! On top of everything she eats all day! Tommy keeps switching her scheulde, putting her to bed at 7 without a bottle, putting her to bed at 7:30 with a bottle, etc....and nothing is working. She was up at 5:30 this a.m. I switched her to eating 3 full meals a day of baby food and two bottles, this week... so hopefully this helps. But, so far, not so good.
We were driving around the Target parking lot the other day and Jack told me that there weren't any parking spaces in this 'area'. His other new word is actually.
We went out to dinner tonight and it didn't go too well. The kids ate first and by the time our food came, we had to take it to go. Annie doesn't like the hour of 6-7 pm and Jack hadn't napped and was going a little crazy. I stayed to pay the check and Tommy was going to take the kids. But ANnie started crying loudly, so he sprinted away with her without Jack and Mallie. I had to send them after him and as I shooed them away from the table, I looked up and they were walking through the restaurant with their arms around each other's waists. It was the cutest thing!!
I read Baby Sister to Jack and Mallie today by Tomie De Paola. It's his own memoriy about when his sister, and future bestfriend, Maureen was born. He described how he prayed for a sister, missing his mom in the hospital, not getting along and then becoming friends with his grandma as she watched them, etc. By the middle of this book, I was sitting on the couch, sobbing in between words. It took me about 1/2 hour to read the stupid thing because I kept having to stop and pretend to look at the pictures because I couldn't talk!!! It just brought back all the memories of when I had Mallie.... WHen my mom had Ali and then just the thought of this successful writer, dedicating one of his books to this life-altering experience for himself. It was so sweet and will be my gift to any big brother who is lucky enough to get a baby sister.
On Wednesday, CLaire and I took all the kids to breakfast at Joe's Deli. While we were there, Mallie was playing with the creamers in the plastic tubs and bit one and it exploded. Mallie has become very sensitive and anytime something like this happens, she is reduced to tears. Sometimes, she gives me a look from across the room, pulls it together until she can get to me and then her little lip starts quivering and the sobbing begins. THis is EXACTLY how Claire and I were as kids.
As we were driving home from Joe's, Jack called out, "Thank you for my breakfast Sloppy Joes'!!!!"
Mallie is sitting on the stairs as I type this. Tommy just put them to bed and she came down on her own, declaring, "Mama!!! I wake up!!"
Mallie goes to swim lessons now. She seems to really like it and she is definately not fearful of the water- blowing bubbles with her mouth on the first lesson!!! When we got home I told her to tell Jack about her lessons. She said "Jot! I go swimming!! I have dut-tee!!! (ducky- they gave them rubber duckies to play with)
Mallie is also repeating every word out of Jack's mouth. It is truly comical. When I say every word- I mean it. He will say, 'Mom! What kind of truck is that?" And for the rest of the trip to wherever we're going, she is pointing out trucks, saying, "mom! What truck is that!?" Last night Jimmy was over and she was eating ice cream. Every question he asked her, she replied with a really quick, "yea." She says it so fast and closes her mouth really tight after she says it. "Mallie, do you like ice cream? "yea" "Mallie, is it pretty cold?" "Yea." Etc.
We continue to have a hard time with Annie's schedule. She is getting up in the middle of the night 2-3 times. At 8 months, we really should be stopping this. She's having 12- 14 oz of formula every night!!! On top of everything she eats all day! Tommy keeps switching her scheulde, putting her to bed at 7 without a bottle, putting her to bed at 7:30 with a bottle, etc....and nothing is working. She was up at 5:30 this a.m. I switched her to eating 3 full meals a day of baby food and two bottles, this week... so hopefully this helps. But, so far, not so good.
We were driving around the Target parking lot the other day and Jack told me that there weren't any parking spaces in this 'area'. His other new word is actually.
We went out to dinner tonight and it didn't go too well. The kids ate first and by the time our food came, we had to take it to go. Annie doesn't like the hour of 6-7 pm and Jack hadn't napped and was going a little crazy. I stayed to pay the check and Tommy was going to take the kids. But ANnie started crying loudly, so he sprinted away with her without Jack and Mallie. I had to send them after him and as I shooed them away from the table, I looked up and they were walking through the restaurant with their arms around each other's waists. It was the cutest thing!!
I read Baby Sister to Jack and Mallie today by Tomie De Paola. It's his own memoriy about when his sister, and future bestfriend, Maureen was born. He described how he prayed for a sister, missing his mom in the hospital, not getting along and then becoming friends with his grandma as she watched them, etc. By the middle of this book, I was sitting on the couch, sobbing in between words. It took me about 1/2 hour to read the stupid thing because I kept having to stop and pretend to look at the pictures because I couldn't talk!!! It just brought back all the memories of when I had Mallie.... WHen my mom had Ali and then just the thought of this successful writer, dedicating one of his books to this life-altering experience for himself. It was so sweet and will be my gift to any big brother who is lucky enough to get a baby sister.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
Annie is starting to pull herself up on things. She's not standing yet. But she shimmies herself over to things, grabs hol to the top of them and pulls upwards, on her knees. SHe did it to the piano bench and Mallie's bed rail today. She's dying to crawl, too... but I think she'll be pulling herslef to standing before she crawls.
Annie has also decided that she prefers to sleep on her tummy. She's been rolling over every time I put her to bed and then crying because she can't get back over. But the last 2 nights, she immediately rolls onto her tummy and puts her little head down and goes to sleep.... usually after singing herself a little song. Last night she slept through the night for the first time in a LONG time and I think that's why!
I got video today of Annie laughing at Jack playing the keyboard. She gets herself laughing so hard that she cannot stop. It is absolutely the cutest thing. WHenever she makes eye contact with me, she stops and scans my face for a few seconds and then just starts doing this belly laugh.
Tommy and Jack were reading his Highlights magazine tonight. Tommy was reading riddles to Jack that he'd have to complete using the clues and a rhyming word. He was able to get all of them! To me, this was pretty impressive and he was so proud of himself.
Then he started getting silly with the game and saying words that didn't rhyme or make sense. He had us all in hysterics- especially Mallie. SHe didn't really understand the joke, but she knew when it was time for the punchline and was laughing the loudest and hardest.
Jack's been confusing words a little lately.... he asks if Lana is coming over to 'baby-sitter' him. He's been calling the plural of referee "ref-es'. The other day he asked me why the bananas had turned green. I told him that they are green first and will turn yellow when they ripen. He asked 'What does ripen mean?" and I replied, "It means that they are ready to eat". He thought about that for a second and then asked, "What will they eat? Do they eat kids!?"
Annie has also decided that she prefers to sleep on her tummy. She's been rolling over every time I put her to bed and then crying because she can't get back over. But the last 2 nights, she immediately rolls onto her tummy and puts her little head down and goes to sleep.... usually after singing herself a little song. Last night she slept through the night for the first time in a LONG time and I think that's why!
I got video today of Annie laughing at Jack playing the keyboard. She gets herself laughing so hard that she cannot stop. It is absolutely the cutest thing. WHenever she makes eye contact with me, she stops and scans my face for a few seconds and then just starts doing this belly laugh.
Tommy and Jack were reading his Highlights magazine tonight. Tommy was reading riddles to Jack that he'd have to complete using the clues and a rhyming word. He was able to get all of them! To me, this was pretty impressive and he was so proud of himself.
Then he started getting silly with the game and saying words that didn't rhyme or make sense. He had us all in hysterics- especially Mallie. SHe didn't really understand the joke, but she knew when it was time for the punchline and was laughing the loudest and hardest.
Jack's been confusing words a little lately.... he asks if Lana is coming over to 'baby-sitter' him. He's been calling the plural of referee "ref-es'. The other day he asked me why the bananas had turned green. I told him that they are green first and will turn yellow when they ripen. He asked 'What does ripen mean?" and I replied, "It means that they are ready to eat". He thought about that for a second and then asked, "What will they eat? Do they eat kids!?"
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday, June 7th, 2009
Today was Meghan Nowlin's baby shower! And it was great. It brought back so many memories of getting ready for Jack's arrival. It wasn't that long ago, but sometimes it really seems like it! It was SUCH a great time. I just remember feeling so excited and peaceful and quiet. The best and strongest memory I have was while Tommy was at work, after we moved into our new house and before I started teaching in the fall- I was painting Jack's room and listening to Lunasa. All the windows were open and the fan was on and it was just a perfect day. It was just a really, really happy time that I'm so glad I got to appreciate and will never forget.
Mallie's new motto is 'I a big girl'. Tommy asked her if she's going to get a haircut and she replied, "No, I get MORE. I a big girl.' Then, last night, she tooted in the bathtub and Tommy said, "Mallie! Did yu just toot!?" and she answered, very quickly and matter-of-factly, "No, I a big girl". She wants to eat her yogurt out of the container, because she is a big girl....etc.
Mallie's hair is getting WILD in this warm, humid weather. I am finally able to put it in pigtails or ponytails-or "tonypails' as Jack calls it. But, inevitably, she pulls the rubberbands out and ends up with some serioulsy crazy hair. It fits her personality so perfectly though. She's just so care-free and out there!!!
Jack is getting awesome at throwing and catching. He and Tommy are really able to play catch outside now. It's kind of awesome to see him doing this. He has a strong arm and can really whip the ball if he tries.
Annie is getting really close to crawling. For months, she's been perfectly happy sitting up and playing with her toys on a blanket. Now she is reaching for things that are further and leaning over. She's holding herself up on her arms and trying to move. I think she'll be all over the place in a month or so.
Mallie's new motto is 'I a big girl'. Tommy asked her if she's going to get a haircut and she replied, "No, I get MORE. I a big girl.' Then, last night, she tooted in the bathtub and Tommy said, "Mallie! Did yu just toot!?" and she answered, very quickly and matter-of-factly, "No, I a big girl". She wants to eat her yogurt out of the container, because she is a big girl....etc.
Mallie's hair is getting WILD in this warm, humid weather. I am finally able to put it in pigtails or ponytails-or "tonypails' as Jack calls it. But, inevitably, she pulls the rubberbands out and ends up with some serioulsy crazy hair. It fits her personality so perfectly though. She's just so care-free and out there!!!
Jack is getting awesome at throwing and catching. He and Tommy are really able to play catch outside now. It's kind of awesome to see him doing this. He has a strong arm and can really whip the ball if he tries.
Annie is getting really close to crawling. For months, she's been perfectly happy sitting up and playing with her toys on a blanket. Now she is reaching for things that are further and leaning over. She's holding herself up on her arms and trying to move. I think she'll be all over the place in a month or so.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
Jack had his first drop-off playdate with his friend from school, Nate Glanc this morning. Nate is a really cute kid and the two of them had a great time. They played "Animals in the Cage" where they ran back and forth from Jack and Mallie's room to Annie's room, throwing stuffed animals in her crib and yelling "ANIMALS IN THE CAGE!" Mallie joined in on this game too. They also played "Two Bad Guys", which involved a lot of growling and yelling and such. I was in the kitchen and heard them chanting, "TWO BAD GUYS" in the basement and then heard Mallie start yelling at them. They had her cornered downstairs, Nate with the laser gun and Jack with the huge Hulk hands. They were just playing 'Two Bad Guys'.... The next time I checked on them, Jack was sitting in the Elmo chair, with a makeshift microphone, commentating on Nate's basketball game. Nate would should the ball and Jack would say, "Oh!!! That's a 2 pointer!! If he loses the game, then he loses!!"
The other day I came downstairs to a somewhat distraught Jack in the basement bathroom. He had an accident and went to the bathroom in his pull-up (a little bit) and on the floor (a little bit) and made it to the potty for most of it. As I was cleaning him up, he sang the following song, to the tune of 'This Old Man':
I went potty
In my pull-up
And I went right by my shoe
But that's OK cause it was a little bit.
Oh no!
She's wiping my front!
And I don't want that to happen anymore!
Yesterday, Jack and Mallie were fighting about a sippy cup. Jack was taunting her with it and she was screeching. Jack kept saying, "Look Mallie, I can drink out of this cup" And all of a sudden, Mallie turned to him and said, "Oh, good job Jot!" And gave him a huge hug (patting his back). It totally disarmed him and he just stood there, hugging her back and looking at me.
The other day I came downstairs to a somewhat distraught Jack in the basement bathroom. He had an accident and went to the bathroom in his pull-up (a little bit) and on the floor (a little bit) and made it to the potty for most of it. As I was cleaning him up, he sang the following song, to the tune of 'This Old Man':
I went potty
In my pull-up
And I went right by my shoe
But that's OK cause it was a little bit.
Oh no!
She's wiping my front!
And I don't want that to happen anymore!
Yesterday, Jack and Mallie were fighting about a sippy cup. Jack was taunting her with it and she was screeching. Jack kept saying, "Look Mallie, I can drink out of this cup" And all of a sudden, Mallie turned to him and said, "Oh, good job Jot!" And gave him a huge hug (patting his back). It totally disarmed him and he just stood there, hugging her back and looking at me.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
I can already tell that our summer is going to FLY and that I am going to LOVE it. We are having such nice days being outside and running around. Even running errands is pleasant and I am getting so much more accomplished now that I don't dread bundling everyone up to get in the car!
Jack and Mallie are loving the time in the car these days, mostly due to the new Jim Gill CD we have. We went to see him in concert and they are REALLY into the music. Especially Mallie. SHe knows all the songs and sings them, with her pac in her mouth. SHe even does the motions to them.
We went to the Rec Center today to sign Mallie and Annie up for Kids' Club. THe Curious George theme song by Jack Johnson came over the speakers and Jack stopped in his tracks and announced to the entire plac "MOM! IT"S OUR SONG!!!" He then proceeded to do a strange little shimmy dance and play air instruments while we walked through the center and out the door- as though no one was watching him- when everyone was.
We lost power for about 3 hours last night. Annie was already sleeping when it went out, but Jack and Mallie thuoght it was the coolest thing ever (and secrectly, so did their dad). Jack sat on the couch and leaned on the pillow and started up this conversation, using his arms and gesturing emphatically about how the 'light man' is 'just taking a little rest'.
The other day I was putting Mallie's shoes on as she was making a very loud noise, over and over again. I finally, said, "OK Mallie, that's enough"... and she replied "No Mama, that not enough!"
Mallie went in to wake Jack up this morning and leaned over to him and said (in her voice she uses to talk to babies), "Hiiiii Bud!" They've been using this 'Bud' term a lot lately. They call birds they see 'Bud' and try to run after them shouting, "Come HERE BUD!!!" And they usually get really mad or sad when the thing flies away in terror. Jack also greets his neighbor friend, Robby with a 'Hi Bud!' when he comes over to play.
We went to Claire and Drew's for dinner tonight. Jack and Mallie were playing with beanbags there and got into a scuffle over the yellow one. Mallie hit Jack and Jack threw beanbag at Mallie. So they went to time out together and sat there (amazingly enough) until I went over to talk to them. I asked Mallie, "Why are you in time out?" And she answered me, "I hit my brother" and then reenacted the whole thing so I understood. I was impressed that she knew why she was there and she even said, "Sorry Jot". SHe's really getting it.....
Jack and Mallie are loving the time in the car these days, mostly due to the new Jim Gill CD we have. We went to see him in concert and they are REALLY into the music. Especially Mallie. SHe knows all the songs and sings them, with her pac in her mouth. SHe even does the motions to them.
We went to the Rec Center today to sign Mallie and Annie up for Kids' Club. THe Curious George theme song by Jack Johnson came over the speakers and Jack stopped in his tracks and announced to the entire plac "MOM! IT"S OUR SONG!!!" He then proceeded to do a strange little shimmy dance and play air instruments while we walked through the center and out the door- as though no one was watching him- when everyone was.
We lost power for about 3 hours last night. Annie was already sleeping when it went out, but Jack and Mallie thuoght it was the coolest thing ever (and secrectly, so did their dad). Jack sat on the couch and leaned on the pillow and started up this conversation, using his arms and gesturing emphatically about how the 'light man' is 'just taking a little rest'.
The other day I was putting Mallie's shoes on as she was making a very loud noise, over and over again. I finally, said, "OK Mallie, that's enough"... and she replied "No Mama, that not enough!"
Mallie went in to wake Jack up this morning and leaned over to him and said (in her voice she uses to talk to babies), "Hiiiii Bud!" They've been using this 'Bud' term a lot lately. They call birds they see 'Bud' and try to run after them shouting, "Come HERE BUD!!!" And they usually get really mad or sad when the thing flies away in terror. Jack also greets his neighbor friend, Robby with a 'Hi Bud!' when he comes over to play.
We went to Claire and Drew's for dinner tonight. Jack and Mallie were playing with beanbags there and got into a scuffle over the yellow one. Mallie hit Jack and Jack threw beanbag at Mallie. So they went to time out together and sat there (amazingly enough) until I went over to talk to them. I asked Mallie, "Why are you in time out?" And she answered me, "I hit my brother" and then reenacted the whole thing so I understood. I was impressed that she knew why she was there and she even said, "Sorry Jot". SHe's really getting it.....
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
I hate that so many days go by and I cannot get to a computer to write. I'm letting too many stories slip away and I'll regret it someday- Ialready am!
Tonight, Tommy had to go outside to take out the trash. He must have upset the neighbor's dog because we heard it start barking. Jack and Mallie were in bed, but not sleeping yet and he called me in. I asked what he needed and he said, "I think those dogs are saying, 'JACK! GET A DOG!'" He followed that up by saying that he should probably get a dog when he's a big kid, like next year when he's in the 4-year-old class.
Last nihgt, Tommy worked late. Before bedtime, Jack, Mallie and I were laying on the couch, chatting and reading. I looked over and Jack was in the corner of the couch with both arms behind his head and his legs crossed. He looked JUST like Tommy. I asked him who he was 'being' and he got a funny grin on his face and said, "Daaaaaaddy."
Mallie has become completely addicted to her pac. We are trying to keep it only in her bed, but the other day she went into her bed specifically to find it. Tommy found her laying in her bed the other day, just sucking away on it. And if she can't find it up there, she tears the bed apart searching for it. I finally gave up because she is teething and I think it makes her feels better. She'll be eating her lunch and take a few bites, then throw in her pac for a second and then go back to eating. We're calling it her 'after dinner pac'.
Mallie is also REALLY talking and reapeating what she hears. Especially things her brother says. Tonight, we were watching the CAVS game. They made a great play while we were upstairs getting ready for bed and Tommy yelled. Jack yelled back "Be quite down there!" and Mallie repeated him (With her pac in, of course).
Mallie is the HAPPIEST kid on earth when she wakes up. SHe needs zero waking up time. She goes from being out-cold to smiling and chatting in 2 seconds. It's one of my favorite qualities of hers because I certainly do not have it and it makes me cheerier to be around it in the morning and I don't have to pussy-foot around her when she wakes up, like I do for her brother!!!
Annie is eating real baby food now... applesauce, pears and bananas, along with her oatmeal. It's taking a while for her to like it... But she's getting there. I had to put her back on her pepcid prescription this week because she was really struggling with her bottles.... writhing around and not finishing even 5 ounces. SHe seems to be doing better now.
SHe went on her first picnic lunch today before Jack's 'Last day of school' party. She just sat on the blanket and watched the kids eat and watched the lawn-mower at the park. She is so content and happy. And chubby!!! SHe especially loves it when I lay her down and hover above her and snuggle her chubby little neck. Sometimes she laughs out loud and sometimes she gets really still and quiet. She loves to bump noses, too.... and when I tickle her tummy with my nose- that gets a big laugh. Another sure-fire way to get her into hysterics is to stand her up in front of me and say "Ma ma ma ma ma". DOn't ask me why, but this is just the funniest thing she's ever seen. It started out as a lesson to get her to say my name... but now I just do it for the cheap laugh!!! :)
Tonight, Tommy had to go outside to take out the trash. He must have upset the neighbor's dog because we heard it start barking. Jack and Mallie were in bed, but not sleeping yet and he called me in. I asked what he needed and he said, "I think those dogs are saying, 'JACK! GET A DOG!'" He followed that up by saying that he should probably get a dog when he's a big kid, like next year when he's in the 4-year-old class.
Last nihgt, Tommy worked late. Before bedtime, Jack, Mallie and I were laying on the couch, chatting and reading. I looked over and Jack was in the corner of the couch with both arms behind his head and his legs crossed. He looked JUST like Tommy. I asked him who he was 'being' and he got a funny grin on his face and said, "Daaaaaaddy."
Mallie has become completely addicted to her pac. We are trying to keep it only in her bed, but the other day she went into her bed specifically to find it. Tommy found her laying in her bed the other day, just sucking away on it. And if she can't find it up there, she tears the bed apart searching for it. I finally gave up because she is teething and I think it makes her feels better. She'll be eating her lunch and take a few bites, then throw in her pac for a second and then go back to eating. We're calling it her 'after dinner pac'.
Mallie is also REALLY talking and reapeating what she hears. Especially things her brother says. Tonight, we were watching the CAVS game. They made a great play while we were upstairs getting ready for bed and Tommy yelled. Jack yelled back "Be quite down there!" and Mallie repeated him (With her pac in, of course).
Mallie is the HAPPIEST kid on earth when she wakes up. SHe needs zero waking up time. She goes from being out-cold to smiling and chatting in 2 seconds. It's one of my favorite qualities of hers because I certainly do not have it and it makes me cheerier to be around it in the morning and I don't have to pussy-foot around her when she wakes up, like I do for her brother!!!
Annie is eating real baby food now... applesauce, pears and bananas, along with her oatmeal. It's taking a while for her to like it... But she's getting there. I had to put her back on her pepcid prescription this week because she was really struggling with her bottles.... writhing around and not finishing even 5 ounces. SHe seems to be doing better now.
SHe went on her first picnic lunch today before Jack's 'Last day of school' party. She just sat on the blanket and watched the kids eat and watched the lawn-mower at the park. She is so content and happy. And chubby!!! SHe especially loves it when I lay her down and hover above her and snuggle her chubby little neck. Sometimes she laughs out loud and sometimes she gets really still and quiet. She loves to bump noses, too.... and when I tickle her tummy with my nose- that gets a big laugh. Another sure-fire way to get her into hysterics is to stand her up in front of me and say "Ma ma ma ma ma". DOn't ask me why, but this is just the funniest thing she's ever seen. It started out as a lesson to get her to say my name... but now I just do it for the cheap laugh!!! :)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Annie has been reaching some milestones in the past couple of weeks. Some are milestones all babies reach, and others are those that my babies reach and make me feel like they are growing up too fast. First of all, she is really sitting up on her own. She isn't completely trust-worthy and definately needs her boppy piloow around her... but for the most part, she can sit and play for several minutes at a time. I think she really likes being able to sit up like a big kid and watch everyone running around. She's very entertained. In fact, sometimes, too entertained. When something makes her laugh or very excited, she arches her back and flips herself backwards... hence the need for the boppy.
On Saturday she took her first 'Duck Tub'. This has become a rite of passage in our house. When the baby is old enough to sit up well, we inflate the old duck tub (given to Jack as a shower gift) and give them their first 'sitting up' bath. Annie, as the others, LOVED this experience. She couldn't believe that she was able to slpash around with her hands and see her little feet in the tub. Jack and Mallie got in on the action (of course) and helped and we very excited as well. They showed her how to make the duck 'quick' by squeezing it's beak. The whole thing was a huge party in the bathroom. Duck tubs are great fun for the kids.... but ended up making the mom feel like she was going to cry because her little baby is old enough for a duck tub.
Finally, Annie has become a BIT of a cuddler. When she is sleepy, i pull her little legs up into her chest and she puts her head down on my shoulders. I feel like I see babies do this all the time with their mommies... but Annie has never been one to rest her head on my shoulder... I think she's too afraid of missing somthing going on. Anyway, she'll lay her head on my shoulder and put her face right in my neck. I nuzzle her and chat with her really softly and when i lift up my face to see what she's doing, she is usually smiling, with her pacifier in her mouth and closing her eyes. To me, it seems like the ultimately relaxing thing for her. At least, I'd have to feel pretty relaxed to be smiling with my eyes closed!!!
Annie is also becoming a little chatter box.. or at least she enjoys yelling a lot. She's not much of a babbler yet... but she does like the sound of her own voice. So she does long, drawn out 'aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh's' ALL the time. Yesterday, she started to do it in church and Tommy had to take her out. Once she starts, there's no stopping her. She isn't unhappy... just wants to hear herself.
I was scolding Jack the other day for jumping on the couch and told him that if he did it again, he'd be in serious trouble. Mallie, with her pac in her mouth, repeated me, "SERIOUS TROUBLE!' clear as day.
Mallie has been spitting when she's angry. If Jack does something to make her mad, she yells at him, "Bad JOT!" and then goes, "pppptttffft". She has also physically attacked him a couple of times, leaving scratches on his face. When I go in to break up the fight and discipline them, he tells me, "It's OK Mom, I'm OK" because he doesn't like it when I discipline Mallie.
We drove to the Eastside yesterday for a party and when I looked in the back seat to check on Jack and Mallie, they were holding hands as they sat in their carseats.
Jack and Mallie have been more than sweet to Annie lately. They greet each morning with kisses and sweet things to say "Hiiiii Yi-yi!!! You uuuuup??? I yuv you!!!' shaking their heads and making google eyes at her. She LOVES this!!! Especially from Jack. She cannot get enoug of her brother.
Annie, almost without fail, tends to get very fussy right as we sit down to eat dinner every night. I hvae been pulling her highchair up behind Mallie and she takes it from there. Mallie plays pee-a-boo, shakes her toys at her, talks to her, etc. And Annie sits there and babbles to Mallie and belly laughs. Since this started, Mallie has not been eating her dinners... but atl least the two of them are happy!!!
Jack has started a new thing... Timmy was over and we were sitting on the deck the other day. Timmy said, "This is really nice out here", to which Jack replied, "Isn't it, Timmy?" Then the next day I said, "Mallie, you're so cute" and Jack said, "Isn't she Mom?" I'm not sure where we picked this one up.
He also has been hesitant to try new things at school. Mrs. Pachettie and Mrs. Krueger have been working on this. At Grandpals day the other day (which Papa attended), the kid greeted the Grandpals by holding hands and singing "The More We get Together". Jack just sat with Papa at this part and said, "I'm not doing this part".... and told me when he got home that he didn't sing that song cause he was 'a little shy' which is his excuse for not trying new things!?
Jack started mini-kickers soccer last week. I have never seen him so excited for anything in his life. He couldn't eat breakfast and when he was 'done' he ran upstairs and dressed himself (which I've been trying to get him to do for months!) in his soccer shorts. He was totally excited and was the first one on the field, running around, kicking the ball as the other kids signed in. He is pretty good, too!!!
Mallie has been a huge helper around here lately. She jumps to help me with the laundry (or yawndee as she calls it). She pretends to shake out the shirts and towels like I do. She loves to help dust and wash things.
Mallie knows the words to "Frosty the Snowman'...especially the last word to each line. The best is when she sings, "He led them down the streets of town right to the traffic" and she yells "COP!!!" It never gets old!
Jack has learned from this song and calls the 'cops', 'caps'. We were sitting in a parking lot waiting for Tommy the other day and a police car pulled in. Jack yelled, "Look Mom! The caps are coming!!"
On Saturday she took her first 'Duck Tub'. This has become a rite of passage in our house. When the baby is old enough to sit up well, we inflate the old duck tub (given to Jack as a shower gift) and give them their first 'sitting up' bath. Annie, as the others, LOVED this experience. She couldn't believe that she was able to slpash around with her hands and see her little feet in the tub. Jack and Mallie got in on the action (of course) and helped and we very excited as well. They showed her how to make the duck 'quick' by squeezing it's beak. The whole thing was a huge party in the bathroom. Duck tubs are great fun for the kids.... but ended up making the mom feel like she was going to cry because her little baby is old enough for a duck tub.
Finally, Annie has become a BIT of a cuddler. When she is sleepy, i pull her little legs up into her chest and she puts her head down on my shoulders. I feel like I see babies do this all the time with their mommies... but Annie has never been one to rest her head on my shoulder... I think she's too afraid of missing somthing going on. Anyway, she'll lay her head on my shoulder and put her face right in my neck. I nuzzle her and chat with her really softly and when i lift up my face to see what she's doing, she is usually smiling, with her pacifier in her mouth and closing her eyes. To me, it seems like the ultimately relaxing thing for her. At least, I'd have to feel pretty relaxed to be smiling with my eyes closed!!!
Annie is also becoming a little chatter box.. or at least she enjoys yelling a lot. She's not much of a babbler yet... but she does like the sound of her own voice. So she does long, drawn out 'aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh's' ALL the time. Yesterday, she started to do it in church and Tommy had to take her out. Once she starts, there's no stopping her. She isn't unhappy... just wants to hear herself.
I was scolding Jack the other day for jumping on the couch and told him that if he did it again, he'd be in serious trouble. Mallie, with her pac in her mouth, repeated me, "SERIOUS TROUBLE!' clear as day.
Mallie has been spitting when she's angry. If Jack does something to make her mad, she yells at him, "Bad JOT!" and then goes, "pppptttffft". She has also physically attacked him a couple of times, leaving scratches on his face. When I go in to break up the fight and discipline them, he tells me, "It's OK Mom, I'm OK" because he doesn't like it when I discipline Mallie.
We drove to the Eastside yesterday for a party and when I looked in the back seat to check on Jack and Mallie, they were holding hands as they sat in their carseats.
Jack and Mallie have been more than sweet to Annie lately. They greet each morning with kisses and sweet things to say "Hiiiii Yi-yi!!! You uuuuup??? I yuv you!!!' shaking their heads and making google eyes at her. She LOVES this!!! Especially from Jack. She cannot get enoug of her brother.
Annie, almost without fail, tends to get very fussy right as we sit down to eat dinner every night. I hvae been pulling her highchair up behind Mallie and she takes it from there. Mallie plays pee-a-boo, shakes her toys at her, talks to her, etc. And Annie sits there and babbles to Mallie and belly laughs. Since this started, Mallie has not been eating her dinners... but atl least the two of them are happy!!!
Jack has started a new thing... Timmy was over and we were sitting on the deck the other day. Timmy said, "This is really nice out here", to which Jack replied, "Isn't it, Timmy?" Then the next day I said, "Mallie, you're so cute" and Jack said, "Isn't she Mom?" I'm not sure where we picked this one up.
He also has been hesitant to try new things at school. Mrs. Pachettie and Mrs. Krueger have been working on this. At Grandpals day the other day (which Papa attended), the kid greeted the Grandpals by holding hands and singing "The More We get Together". Jack just sat with Papa at this part and said, "I'm not doing this part".... and told me when he got home that he didn't sing that song cause he was 'a little shy' which is his excuse for not trying new things!?
Jack started mini-kickers soccer last week. I have never seen him so excited for anything in his life. He couldn't eat breakfast and when he was 'done' he ran upstairs and dressed himself (which I've been trying to get him to do for months!) in his soccer shorts. He was totally excited and was the first one on the field, running around, kicking the ball as the other kids signed in. He is pretty good, too!!!
Mallie has been a huge helper around here lately. She jumps to help me with the laundry (or yawndee as she calls it). She pretends to shake out the shirts and towels like I do. She loves to help dust and wash things.
Mallie knows the words to "Frosty the Snowman'...especially the last word to each line. The best is when she sings, "He led them down the streets of town right to the traffic" and she yells "COP!!!" It never gets old!
Jack has learned from this song and calls the 'cops', 'caps'. We were sitting in a parking lot waiting for Tommy the other day and a police car pulled in. Jack yelled, "Look Mom! The caps are coming!!"
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
There's been a gap between posts because I was bloggin outside the kids' room every night after I put them to bed to make sure Mallie wouldn't get out of bed. But she's getting better about that and I don't have to wait there for a long time anymore. That, and even if I did have to wait there, I wouldn't have a computer because TOmmy's been working so much lately. I guess in this economy, the work is good. But I have never seen him work so hard on anything before. He comes home at the regular time (over the past 3 1/2 weeks) and eats dinner with us. Then he sits at the kitchen table and works until 11:00 p.m. It's torture having him here and not being able to interact with him. Even worse for the kids. But, like I said, I'd rather him busy than not at work.
Annie is really growing and changing a lot. She's rolling over without any effort now. Mostly from her back to front. She's been eating her oatmeal for a little over a month now. She usually likes it and seems really full after a good meal. I give it to her in the morning and the evening. And she's getting 3 bottles in between. For several weeks, she was waking up in the middle of the night for me to rock her back to sleep and she only wanted to sleep in our bed after she woke up. Then, I got completely fed up with rocking her for 15 minutes at 2 a.m.... so I just plopped her down on a pillow between Tommy and I. As soon as her little head hit the pillow, she fell back asleep. She'd sleep a few more hours and then get up for a bottle between 4-5 a.m. and then go back to bed for a couple more hours. I didn't have any issues with this new plan. I was getting sleep and so was she. BUT! Last night, I fed her and put her to sleep at 8:45 p.m. Tommy and I woke up at 7 a.m. without Annie in our bed. I kind of panicked and made him go check on her. He did and found her on her TUMMY!!! This made me even more anxious and I made him go back in to make sure she was breathing. She is now officially a tummy sleeper because she rolled herself over for her morning nap too.
Annie is laughing and chatting all the time. She is a very happy baby, but she's pretty serious sometimes, too. She studies people's faces before giving them a smile. But once she's your friend, she is very smiley and fun.
Mallie is really working on talking. She has several phrases down that she uses every day. "Read Mo Book." (Read More Books)..."Yaaaa Mama Yaaaa"...(when I do something she wanted me to do). "Mo Ju peeee" (More juice please). Etc. She will come up to me and chatter away, with her little hands flailing. I do not know what she is saying and I feel bad because she obviously does. I just nod my head and say, "Oh!!! Wow!". Usually she throws a word or two that I understand in here and there, so I can get the gist of what she means. Mallie knows about 3 letters right now and makes sure we all she them when she sees an 'O' or and 'A' or and 'E'. She is still in LOVE with reading and loves to snuggle up with anyone who has time to read with her.
Jack is getting really good with his writing. He is practicing his numbers and letters all the time.
THe other day, Jack was playing outside by himself in the back yard. It was a beautiful day, so the neighbors were out, too. When I went to check on him, he had his pants around his ankles and was going tinkle in the backyard. I don't know how the neighbors did not see this, but I don't think they did. He told Tommy that "Mommy does this at the park".... which I do NOT... But I have let him go potty behind a tree at the park before, so I can't blame him.
I was putting Mallie to bed the other night and she kept getting up and running out of her room. She runs out, slams the bedroom door, leaving Jack in the dark, dowering under his covers because he's afraid of how mad I get at her. Then we can hear her little feet running into our room, around the bed and hiding on the far side of the bed. When we get to her, she's laughing and bouncing up and down with excitement. Anyway, I caught her the other night and put her back in her bed and said, "Stop it right now!". She responded with her little pacifier clenched between her teeth and said (in the exact same tone), "Top it Ra Now!" I had to run out of the room because I was laughing.
Jack asked me yesterday why he is a boy. I have been avoiding this question by answering, "Because God made you a boy", and thought that I probably needed to confront this now. So I told him, "Becuase you have a weiner". He said, "And Mallie has a weiner?" I said, "No, she doesn't". He said, "Yes, she does" and tried to pull down her diaper. THen we had to get into the provacy issue. So he asked, "well, what Mallie has?" And I said 'She has something else. Why don't we go downstairs and get a snack?"
Jack and Mallie sing along to the CD in the car. If it isn't on when the car starts, Mallie shouts at me from the backseat, "Turn Up!!!" She knows the ABC song pretty well and they sing it at the top of their lungs. She is always looking at Jack to make sure he sees how cool she is. They also sing 'BINGO'... But Jack thinks they are singing "B-R-N-G-O" I have explained many times that it's an 'I', but he doesn't care.
WHen Jack and Mallie fight, which is rare, they are usually playing unsupervised in the basement. I will hear Jack yell, "MALLIE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" And then she chimes in, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" and then he chimes in on top of her, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!", so the two of them are just standing there yelling at the top of their lungs. This doesn't solve any problems, but by the time they are finished yelling like that, they've forgotten what they are yelling about.
Mallie has the funniest characteristics when she is talking to someone. The other day, I asked her if she was going to read a book. She was headed for the back door and stopped and tilted her head toward the door, bent down, curled up her little arm and hand toward her face and started pumping it back and forth, saying in a really quiet voice, "No Mama... outside? outside?"
I asked Jack the other day if he was my favorite boy. He replied, "I your favorite Boy" and I said, "Do you love your Mama?" He replied, "Yeah, you're pretty cute.." Then he scrunched up his nose and said, "Yes you are, yes you are!"
Annie is really growing and changing a lot. She's rolling over without any effort now. Mostly from her back to front. She's been eating her oatmeal for a little over a month now. She usually likes it and seems really full after a good meal. I give it to her in the morning and the evening. And she's getting 3 bottles in between. For several weeks, she was waking up in the middle of the night for me to rock her back to sleep and she only wanted to sleep in our bed after she woke up. Then, I got completely fed up with rocking her for 15 minutes at 2 a.m.... so I just plopped her down on a pillow between Tommy and I. As soon as her little head hit the pillow, she fell back asleep. She'd sleep a few more hours and then get up for a bottle between 4-5 a.m. and then go back to bed for a couple more hours. I didn't have any issues with this new plan. I was getting sleep and so was she. BUT! Last night, I fed her and put her to sleep at 8:45 p.m. Tommy and I woke up at 7 a.m. without Annie in our bed. I kind of panicked and made him go check on her. He did and found her on her TUMMY!!! This made me even more anxious and I made him go back in to make sure she was breathing. She is now officially a tummy sleeper because she rolled herself over for her morning nap too.
Annie is laughing and chatting all the time. She is a very happy baby, but she's pretty serious sometimes, too. She studies people's faces before giving them a smile. But once she's your friend, she is very smiley and fun.
Mallie is really working on talking. She has several phrases down that she uses every day. "Read Mo Book." (Read More Books)..."Yaaaa Mama Yaaaa"...(when I do something she wanted me to do). "Mo Ju peeee" (More juice please). Etc. She will come up to me and chatter away, with her little hands flailing. I do not know what she is saying and I feel bad because she obviously does. I just nod my head and say, "Oh!!! Wow!". Usually she throws a word or two that I understand in here and there, so I can get the gist of what she means. Mallie knows about 3 letters right now and makes sure we all she them when she sees an 'O' or and 'A' or and 'E'. She is still in LOVE with reading and loves to snuggle up with anyone who has time to read with her.
Jack is getting really good with his writing. He is practicing his numbers and letters all the time.
THe other day, Jack was playing outside by himself in the back yard. It was a beautiful day, so the neighbors were out, too. When I went to check on him, he had his pants around his ankles and was going tinkle in the backyard. I don't know how the neighbors did not see this, but I don't think they did. He told Tommy that "Mommy does this at the park".... which I do NOT... But I have let him go potty behind a tree at the park before, so I can't blame him.
I was putting Mallie to bed the other night and she kept getting up and running out of her room. She runs out, slams the bedroom door, leaving Jack in the dark, dowering under his covers because he's afraid of how mad I get at her. Then we can hear her little feet running into our room, around the bed and hiding on the far side of the bed. When we get to her, she's laughing and bouncing up and down with excitement. Anyway, I caught her the other night and put her back in her bed and said, "Stop it right now!". She responded with her little pacifier clenched between her teeth and said (in the exact same tone), "Top it Ra Now!" I had to run out of the room because I was laughing.
Jack asked me yesterday why he is a boy. I have been avoiding this question by answering, "Because God made you a boy", and thought that I probably needed to confront this now. So I told him, "Becuase you have a weiner". He said, "And Mallie has a weiner?" I said, "No, she doesn't". He said, "Yes, she does" and tried to pull down her diaper. THen we had to get into the provacy issue. So he asked, "well, what Mallie has?" And I said 'She has something else. Why don't we go downstairs and get a snack?"
Jack and Mallie sing along to the CD in the car. If it isn't on when the car starts, Mallie shouts at me from the backseat, "Turn Up!!!" She knows the ABC song pretty well and they sing it at the top of their lungs. She is always looking at Jack to make sure he sees how cool she is. They also sing 'BINGO'... But Jack thinks they are singing "B-R-N-G-O" I have explained many times that it's an 'I', but he doesn't care.
WHen Jack and Mallie fight, which is rare, they are usually playing unsupervised in the basement. I will hear Jack yell, "MALLIE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" And then she chimes in, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" and then he chimes in on top of her, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!", so the two of them are just standing there yelling at the top of their lungs. This doesn't solve any problems, but by the time they are finished yelling like that, they've forgotten what they are yelling about.
Mallie has the funniest characteristics when she is talking to someone. The other day, I asked her if she was going to read a book. She was headed for the back door and stopped and tilted her head toward the door, bent down, curled up her little arm and hand toward her face and started pumping it back and forth, saying in a really quiet voice, "No Mama... outside? outside?"
I asked Jack the other day if he was my favorite boy. He replied, "I your favorite Boy" and I said, "Do you love your Mama?" He replied, "Yeah, you're pretty cute.." Then he scrunched up his nose and said, "Yes you are, yes you are!"
Monday, March 9, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Lots of catching up to do:
Today Jack told me that his dad told him that a ladybug crawled on his face when he was outside and bit his cheek. I asked him what Daddy said when that happened, and he said 'Ouch Criminy!!!" (which is a word Tommy does use all the time!)
We were pulling in the driveway from the Little Gym today, when Jack pulled up his pant leg and felt his leg. He exclaimed, "Mommy! I have HAIR on my leg!!!" I didn't really have time to reply to this, as I was hauling babies and bags back and forth from the van to the house. But when I returned to get him out of his seat, I heard him telling Mallie, "Oh Mals! I know why I have this hair on my leg! It's because I am getting big like a grown up". Mals was not listening to any of this, just squirming and whining to get out of her seat.
Annie took a nice long nap this afternoon. I heard her wake up on the monitor, but she never cried! I finished reading Jack and Mallie a book and went up to check on her. She was just rolling around up there, playing with her socks and smiling. SHe would have been happy up there for a long time!
Jack brought me a potato chip from Jack Jack today and told me, "Here Mom! A Ponado chip for you."
We were getting out of the car for Little Gym today and I told Jack that Mallie is going to be the littlest kid in the class and would he help her. He said, "Sure Mom. Mals, you have to listen to your teachers. I help you." Again, she was not listening to him, just pushing her way past him out of the van.
Annie is really purposefully reaching for things and grabbing them. She can sit in her highchair now and we put a toy on the tray and she will sit there and reach and grab for it for a long time. It keeps her so entertained!
We went away last Friday night and left the kids at different houses. Jack stayed with Tom and Mary. Mallie stayed with Auntie (because I thought she needed another kid to play with/ mother, which she did. She was so upset as we dropped Jack and ANnie off, and as soon as we got to Auntie's she went straight for Finn. She helped bathe and walk him that night, too). And Annie went to my mom and dad's. In the morning, I went to get Mallie while Tommy collected the other two at his parent's house. I walked in to Claire's and Mallie got very excited to see me. But then, she brushed by me and went to the front door and said, "Jaaaa?" She was so upset that he wasn't there. So we hurried home, for a very happy reunion and to watch the two of them play for the rest of the morning.
After Squeaky Sneakers today, Jack and Mallie climbed in the back of the van and straight into their seats. I was so happy and said, "Thank you guys for sitting right down!". Mallie exclaimed, "Mama! I sitting down!!" (clear as a bell). And I said, "You are Mallie!? You're such a good girl!" and she replied, "Seeeee! (Seat!)" And I said, "In your seat!? Wow! Great job!" And she said, "Day Doo" (Thank you!) It was the most grown-up and clear conversation I've had with her yet!!!
Today Jack told me that his dad told him that a ladybug crawled on his face when he was outside and bit his cheek. I asked him what Daddy said when that happened, and he said 'Ouch Criminy!!!" (which is a word Tommy does use all the time!)
We were pulling in the driveway from the Little Gym today, when Jack pulled up his pant leg and felt his leg. He exclaimed, "Mommy! I have HAIR on my leg!!!" I didn't really have time to reply to this, as I was hauling babies and bags back and forth from the van to the house. But when I returned to get him out of his seat, I heard him telling Mallie, "Oh Mals! I know why I have this hair on my leg! It's because I am getting big like a grown up". Mals was not listening to any of this, just squirming and whining to get out of her seat.
Annie took a nice long nap this afternoon. I heard her wake up on the monitor, but she never cried! I finished reading Jack and Mallie a book and went up to check on her. She was just rolling around up there, playing with her socks and smiling. SHe would have been happy up there for a long time!
Jack brought me a potato chip from Jack Jack today and told me, "Here Mom! A Ponado chip for you."
We were getting out of the car for Little Gym today and I told Jack that Mallie is going to be the littlest kid in the class and would he help her. He said, "Sure Mom. Mals, you have to listen to your teachers. I help you." Again, she was not listening to him, just pushing her way past him out of the van.
Annie is really purposefully reaching for things and grabbing them. She can sit in her highchair now and we put a toy on the tray and she will sit there and reach and grab for it for a long time. It keeps her so entertained!
We went away last Friday night and left the kids at different houses. Jack stayed with Tom and Mary. Mallie stayed with Auntie (because I thought she needed another kid to play with/ mother, which she did. She was so upset as we dropped Jack and ANnie off, and as soon as we got to Auntie's she went straight for Finn. She helped bathe and walk him that night, too). And Annie went to my mom and dad's. In the morning, I went to get Mallie while Tommy collected the other two at his parent's house. I walked in to Claire's and Mallie got very excited to see me. But then, she brushed by me and went to the front door and said, "Jaaaa?" She was so upset that he wasn't there. So we hurried home, for a very happy reunion and to watch the two of them play for the rest of the morning.
After Squeaky Sneakers today, Jack and Mallie climbed in the back of the van and straight into their seats. I was so happy and said, "Thank you guys for sitting right down!". Mallie exclaimed, "Mama! I sitting down!!" (clear as a bell). And I said, "You are Mallie!? You're such a good girl!" and she replied, "Seeeee! (Seat!)" And I said, "In your seat!? Wow! Great job!" And she said, "Day Doo" (Thank you!) It was the most grown-up and clear conversation I've had with her yet!!!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Saturday, February 28th, 2009
As we are sitting here, right now, Jack and Mallie are watching Thomas the Train. Mallie doesn't really get why Jack is so excited about it, so she keeps turning to him and saying "JAAA?" right in his face. He has his arm around her and just kissed her a minute ago. Oooops, now he's getting annoyed with the distraction from his show and is pushing her. So much for the tender moment.
I came into the living room this morning to Mallie emptying the diaper basket (one of her favorite activities right now). She was playing with the baby nail clippers. I asked her what she was playing with and she looked at me and said "Wee Wee Wee?" (as in, This Little Pig Goes to Market).
Jack had a bowling party for one of his friends from school this afternoon. All the kids in his class were there. He and Nate seem to be good buddies. They were rolling the ball down the lane (the ball went extremely slowly due to how heavy it was and how little they were!)...Then they'd run to the steps and lay down facing the lanes on their tummies to see how their shot turned out. It was hilarious to think about the speed a professional bowler uses compared to all the time these two had to run and lay down to relax and watch their ball!!!
Jack woke up from his nap this afternoon and came out of his room. Mallie was in Annie's room reading books. He walked by her and grogily said, "Hey Mals" She replied, "Haaa! (hi!)" Then said, "Bah? (book)" He had already passed her, but went back and said, "What? Oh, you're reading book? That's really good!" Then went on his way.
I came into the living room this morning to Mallie emptying the diaper basket (one of her favorite activities right now). She was playing with the baby nail clippers. I asked her what she was playing with and she looked at me and said "Wee Wee Wee?" (as in, This Little Pig Goes to Market).
Jack had a bowling party for one of his friends from school this afternoon. All the kids in his class were there. He and Nate seem to be good buddies. They were rolling the ball down the lane (the ball went extremely slowly due to how heavy it was and how little they were!)...Then they'd run to the steps and lay down facing the lanes on their tummies to see how their shot turned out. It was hilarious to think about the speed a professional bowler uses compared to all the time these two had to run and lay down to relax and watch their ball!!!
Jack woke up from his nap this afternoon and came out of his room. Mallie was in Annie's room reading books. He walked by her and grogily said, "Hey Mals" She replied, "Haaa! (hi!)" Then said, "Bah? (book)" He had already passed her, but went back and said, "What? Oh, you're reading book? That's really good!" Then went on his way.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February, 27th, 2009
This morning I was chaning Annie on her changing table in her room when I realized I didn't have any wipes. I called downstairs to Jack to bring some up for me. After the 3rd or 4th call, I realized he was completely engrossed in his TV show and not listening to me. But I heard someone coming up the stairs slowly. I turned to see Mallie in the hallway with the wipes in one hand, Desitin in the other hand and her pacifier in her mouth. She was holding the wipes out, as though she was very proud of herself. It was very cute.
I took the girls out to Copley to see Emily and the boys and their new house today. They were so excited to show us their new house! It was very cute. At one point, Mallie, joseph and Christopher were sitting on this little step into the family room next to each other. Joseph went to get Mallie's sippy cup for her and she leaned over to say 'Thank you!' to both Joseph and Christopher.
Jack was so excited to show me what he made at Auntie's playgroup this morning. He ran to get his craft, showed me and exclaimed, 'Look Mom! A frosnake!!!" (snowflake).
Mallie was in heaven this afternoon. I had Finn here and Jack was sleeping. She had 2 babies to 'babysit' all to herself. She talks so sweetly to them. At one point, she was gushing at Finn and said 'IIIIII Baaaa!' (which I know was 'Hi Bud!' because Jack had just said this to him!
Before going to bed tonight, Mallie ran up to Jack and said "Huuuu?" (Hug?). He gave her a big bear hug and she looked at him and said "Haaa Faa?" (high five?) So he gave her a high five. Then she said 'Hiii?) (up high?) and he gave her a high one. She isn't saying these things very clearly, but it is completely obvious what she means.
Annie slept soooo much today! She slept from 9-5 a.m., then took a nap on our way to Copley from 9:30-10:45 a.m. Then slept the whole way home and longer- from noon till almost 4. Then took yet another 1/2 hour nap this evening. I think she is feeling some of the effects of the shots she had yesterday.
I took the girls out to Copley to see Emily and the boys and their new house today. They were so excited to show us their new house! It was very cute. At one point, Mallie, joseph and Christopher were sitting on this little step into the family room next to each other. Joseph went to get Mallie's sippy cup for her and she leaned over to say 'Thank you!' to both Joseph and Christopher.
Jack was so excited to show me what he made at Auntie's playgroup this morning. He ran to get his craft, showed me and exclaimed, 'Look Mom! A frosnake!!!" (snowflake).
Mallie was in heaven this afternoon. I had Finn here and Jack was sleeping. She had 2 babies to 'babysit' all to herself. She talks so sweetly to them. At one point, she was gushing at Finn and said 'IIIIII Baaaa!' (which I know was 'Hi Bud!' because Jack had just said this to him!
Before going to bed tonight, Mallie ran up to Jack and said "Huuuu?" (Hug?). He gave her a big bear hug and she looked at him and said "Haaa Faa?" (high five?) So he gave her a high five. Then she said 'Hiii?) (up high?) and he gave her a high one. She isn't saying these things very clearly, but it is completely obvious what she means.
Annie slept soooo much today! She slept from 9-5 a.m., then took a nap on our way to Copley from 9:30-10:45 a.m. Then slept the whole way home and longer- from noon till almost 4. Then took yet another 1/2 hour nap this evening. I think she is feeling some of the effects of the shots she had yesterday.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and we went to pick Jack up from preschool. He was barely in the car when he started telling me: "Mom! The priest came in my class and wanted to give everyone dashes. But I told them I didn't want dashes." I asked him what Mrs. Pacetti said when he said 'no' to the 'dashes' and he told me, "She say that OK Jack." Today it came to light that he didn't want the 'dashes' because his forehead is too 'tickly'. (Really, Jack is very timid sometimes and a little hesitant to try new things. So I'm sure having something that looked like dirt smeared on his head by a stranger wasn't something that appealed to him- I don't blame him!)
Another story that illustrates how shy he can be in a new situation: Jack said he and his class we playing 'Buzz Buzz Sting' the other day (essentially Duck Duck Goose adapted to the bumble bee lesson that day). I asked him if anyone tapped his head and said 'Sting!'. He said someone did tap him, but he didn't run after them in a circle because he 'was too tired'. I know he was probably intimidated when everyone cheered for him. This is one of those things that I am glad that I am not there for because I always end up feeling bad for him in these situations and trying to make him feel better. Really, he needs to be exposed to these new and unfamiliar things and maybe next time, he'll be more comfortable to try them.
When Tommy got home today, Jack came upstairs from the basement with his legal pad to take our orders for 'Jack Jack'. He stated (in an almost Ukranian accent), "Hello. I Jack Jack and I wear my glasses on this day. So, want you want?" It was hilarious that he introduces himself and welcomes us, explaining about the glasses. This was followed by, "Coffee or beers? We have big beers for grown ups and little beers for kids." I was dying.
Tommy and I was having a heated discussion about the house we are bidding on tonight. We weren't upset, just animated. Jack looked at us and said "AAAHHHHH! Guys! STOP! I really tired of listening to you guys. I'm trying to write this order".
When he sat down to dinner, waiting for Tommy to pour his milk, he said, "AHHH!!! My dad's killing me tonight. I don't want milk!!" (we're trying to get away from his use of this phrase, but it's still hilarious when he does).
Annie had her 4 month check up this morning and I took everyone because I wanted Dr. Skoch to look at Jack's eyes and I wanted Mallie to have a doctor's office experience that didn't include her getting shots. As soon as I stripped Annie down to her diaper, Jack decided he really needed to go potty. Mallie still had her coat on.... So I sent Jack down the hallway to go and stayed with the girls in the examining room. Then I realized that I should never have sent my 3 year old roaming the doctor's halls, so I took the girls to follow him. Annie was naked and Mallie was in her coat yelling, "Jaaaa!!! Jaaaa!!!" searching for him. We were quite the sight.
Annie weighs 16.9 lbs now. She is rolling from her back to her tummy every day now and almost rolled the other way at the doctor's office. She's doing everything a 4 month old should be. She's perfect!!!!
Jack and Mallie were very busy today reading to each other. Jack is getting very interested in 'reading' books on his own and it never fails to amaze me about how well he remembers the actual words from these books! But he brought down a 'bathroom book' of Tommy's today about baseball. He and Mallie were paging through it on the coffee table, chanting 'Baseball Game! Baseball Game!!!" or in Mallie's case "Baaa Baaaa Ga!!!" The next time I walked into the room, they were on to another book (Dr. Suess) and Jack was cupping Mallie's chin in his hand, saying, "What you think Honey??" She was standing there still as a statue looking at him.
Mallie's latest thing is to lay on Annie....well not 'on' her, but between her legs with her huge, heavy head on Annie's little tummy. Jack thinks this is hilarious and Annie seems to find it slightly entertaining, if not interesting. Mallie is just happy being that close to her sister. I really never have to worry about Mallie hurting Annie. She may make her uncomfortable (as in this situation) but she knows when to stop.
Another story that illustrates how shy he can be in a new situation: Jack said he and his class we playing 'Buzz Buzz Sting' the other day (essentially Duck Duck Goose adapted to the bumble bee lesson that day). I asked him if anyone tapped his head and said 'Sting!'. He said someone did tap him, but he didn't run after them in a circle because he 'was too tired'. I know he was probably intimidated when everyone cheered for him. This is one of those things that I am glad that I am not there for because I always end up feeling bad for him in these situations and trying to make him feel better. Really, he needs to be exposed to these new and unfamiliar things and maybe next time, he'll be more comfortable to try them.
When Tommy got home today, Jack came upstairs from the basement with his legal pad to take our orders for 'Jack Jack'. He stated (in an almost Ukranian accent), "Hello. I Jack Jack and I wear my glasses on this day. So, want you want?" It was hilarious that he introduces himself and welcomes us, explaining about the glasses. This was followed by, "Coffee or beers? We have big beers for grown ups and little beers for kids." I was dying.
Tommy and I was having a heated discussion about the house we are bidding on tonight. We weren't upset, just animated. Jack looked at us and said "AAAHHHHH! Guys! STOP! I really tired of listening to you guys. I'm trying to write this order".
When he sat down to dinner, waiting for Tommy to pour his milk, he said, "AHHH!!! My dad's killing me tonight. I don't want milk!!" (we're trying to get away from his use of this phrase, but it's still hilarious when he does).
Annie had her 4 month check up this morning and I took everyone because I wanted Dr. Skoch to look at Jack's eyes and I wanted Mallie to have a doctor's office experience that didn't include her getting shots. As soon as I stripped Annie down to her diaper, Jack decided he really needed to go potty. Mallie still had her coat on.... So I sent Jack down the hallway to go and stayed with the girls in the examining room. Then I realized that I should never have sent my 3 year old roaming the doctor's halls, so I took the girls to follow him. Annie was naked and Mallie was in her coat yelling, "Jaaaa!!! Jaaaa!!!" searching for him. We were quite the sight.
Annie weighs 16.9 lbs now. She is rolling from her back to her tummy every day now and almost rolled the other way at the doctor's office. She's doing everything a 4 month old should be. She's perfect!!!!
Jack and Mallie were very busy today reading to each other. Jack is getting very interested in 'reading' books on his own and it never fails to amaze me about how well he remembers the actual words from these books! But he brought down a 'bathroom book' of Tommy's today about baseball. He and Mallie were paging through it on the coffee table, chanting 'Baseball Game! Baseball Game!!!" or in Mallie's case "Baaa Baaaa Ga!!!" The next time I walked into the room, they were on to another book (Dr. Suess) and Jack was cupping Mallie's chin in his hand, saying, "What you think Honey??" She was standing there still as a statue looking at him.
Mallie's latest thing is to lay on Annie....well not 'on' her, but between her legs with her huge, heavy head on Annie's little tummy. Jack thinks this is hilarious and Annie seems to find it slightly entertaining, if not interesting. Mallie is just happy being that close to her sister. I really never have to worry about Mallie hurting Annie. She may make her uncomfortable (as in this situation) but she knows when to stop.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February, 24th, 2009
Tonight Tommy was reading these little nursery rhyme books to the kids before bed. He read "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear" to Jack, who insisted upon acting out the book. So, "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Say goodnight"...and he did it. "Teddy Bear shine your shoes", and he pretended to shine his shoes....then (a strange lyric), "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear- ski doo". In Jack's mind, according to his interpretation, he did a 'Walk like an Egyptian" motion with his hand on each side. Not sure where that came from...but it got a laugh.
I was trying to explain Mardi Gras and Lent to Jack today. At dinner, I told him Mardi Gras is the day you get special treats. And Lent is after Mardi Gras and it's the time that we think about God and Jesus a lot and thank them for all the things they have done for us. He said, "Oh, like all my coats?" It's a start.
We dropped Jack at school today and Mallie was upset when we pulled away. She was yelling, "Jaaaa! Jaaaa!". I turned to her and tried to distract her by chatting. I asked her, "where did we take Jack? Where is he?" And she had this pathetic look onher face and whined, "CoooooO!!" (school).
This afternoon we were chatting at the kitchen table and I told Mallie to tell Jack where we went when he was at school. I told her, "Tell Jack we were at the store!" And she turned to him with raised eyebrows, like she was going to tell him th ebiggest secret, and said, "stahhhh!!!" He was such a nice sport about it and said, "You went to the store Mal? Did you buy these? (pointing at his nurtigrain bar he was eating.) She had lost interest in the conversation by then...but it was a very cute exchange while it lasted!
Annie rolled over yesterday!!! We went to RR Library for a music class. I put her on her back on a blanket on the floor. Immediately, she lifted her feet and tried to go to one side. It took a lot of huffing and puffing, but she finally made it to her tummy. And once she got there, she did not like it! I was so excited that I stopped Jack, who was totally involved in his song and dance in the class and told him. He got really excited and said, "Great Job Annie!!!"
I was trying to explain Mardi Gras and Lent to Jack today. At dinner, I told him Mardi Gras is the day you get special treats. And Lent is after Mardi Gras and it's the time that we think about God and Jesus a lot and thank them for all the things they have done for us. He said, "Oh, like all my coats?" It's a start.
We dropped Jack at school today and Mallie was upset when we pulled away. She was yelling, "Jaaaa! Jaaaa!". I turned to her and tried to distract her by chatting. I asked her, "where did we take Jack? Where is he?" And she had this pathetic look onher face and whined, "CoooooO!!" (school).
This afternoon we were chatting at the kitchen table and I told Mallie to tell Jack where we went when he was at school. I told her, "Tell Jack we were at the store!" And she turned to him with raised eyebrows, like she was going to tell him th ebiggest secret, and said, "stahhhh!!!" He was such a nice sport about it and said, "You went to the store Mal? Did you buy these? (pointing at his nurtigrain bar he was eating.) She had lost interest in the conversation by then...but it was a very cute exchange while it lasted!
Annie rolled over yesterday!!! We went to RR Library for a music class. I put her on her back on a blanket on the floor. Immediately, she lifted her feet and tried to go to one side. It took a lot of huffing and puffing, but she finally made it to her tummy. And once she got there, she did not like it! I was so excited that I stopped Jack, who was totally involved in his song and dance in the class and told him. He got really excited and said, "Great Job Annie!!!"
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February, 22, 2009
Tonight, I am going to start off with kid stories before going into the latest drama going on.
Today we went house hunting and took Jack and Annie with us (they were bothscheduled for good naps at this time)..and left Mallie with my mom and dad. Jack woke up after us seeing the first house and couldn't figure out where Mallie was. He kept asking, "Where's Mallie?" and not understanding that we were picking her up in a little while. He wasn't upset that she was at PapaYaya's, but that she wasn't with him. It was almost like he was missing part of his own body. Once we got to her, he exclaimed, "Mals! We missed you. You were not with us!"
Today while Tommy did the open house, I took the kids to Applebee's and then to the library. Everyone, without exception, at Applebee's, looked at me as the single mom with 3 kids. It was actually comical- especially when the chatting manager came over and asked Jack if he went to church today and he responded, "Yeah, I went with my dad". Everyone was absolutely PERFECT for the entire outing. I was so proud of them, and of myself for handling the whole afternoon out with the 3 of them. It was a lot of fun.
Mallie entertained everyone at my parents' with her version of "B-i-n-g-o" tonight. It sounds more like "da, da, da, da, da, da"......to the tune of BINGO. But it was hilarious.
Mallie, usually, is extremely independant and does pay me much attention when we are out together. Tonight at my mom's, she pulled something down on herself out of the kitchen closet while I was talking to Claire in the bedroom. I heard the crash and told Claire, "that was one of my kids" at the time....not realizing how upset Mallie would be! She didn't get hurt, but for over an hour afterwards, was so upset! She would not let me out of her sight. She sat on my lap at dinner and afterwards. As much as I wanted a night to myself over at my parents'- it also felt good to be needed by the bird!!!
Jack just told me before going to bed- "Mom! Maybe when I get older and bigger, I could call Yaya, Kak!!! Is that a great idea?!???"
OK, and finally- I will write about the house we looked at tonight- just in case it works out and becomes our home- I'd like to know what I was thinking the first dayI saw it. First thing to say- it needs a lot of cosmetic help. But the floor plan and space is soooo great. I love Bay and Tommy loves this neighborhood, even though I don't know anything about it. I looked upstairs and could see us using the bathroom to give the kids a bath and let them run around. I love the kitchen (in my head).... and there is so much room for the kids. The 3 season room is absoutely AWESOME. There are so many things standing in our way here- but if it were to work out- I would be thrilled for kids to have this great home. All of our wish list items are there- except the fenced-in yard....and the price. But if we got it for what we wanted it--- we'd have the money to spend to fix it up perfectly!!! If it doesn't work out- I'm trying to not get too attached. We'll figure something out. I know for a fact that we will end up where we are meant to be. I am not freaking out!!! It's weird!!!
Today we went house hunting and took Jack and Annie with us (they were bothscheduled for good naps at this time)..and left Mallie with my mom and dad. Jack woke up after us seeing the first house and couldn't figure out where Mallie was. He kept asking, "Where's Mallie?" and not understanding that we were picking her up in a little while. He wasn't upset that she was at PapaYaya's, but that she wasn't with him. It was almost like he was missing part of his own body. Once we got to her, he exclaimed, "Mals! We missed you. You were not with us!"
Today while Tommy did the open house, I took the kids to Applebee's and then to the library. Everyone, without exception, at Applebee's, looked at me as the single mom with 3 kids. It was actually comical- especially when the chatting manager came over and asked Jack if he went to church today and he responded, "Yeah, I went with my dad". Everyone was absolutely PERFECT for the entire outing. I was so proud of them, and of myself for handling the whole afternoon out with the 3 of them. It was a lot of fun.
Mallie entertained everyone at my parents' with her version of "B-i-n-g-o" tonight. It sounds more like "da, da, da, da, da, da"......to the tune of BINGO. But it was hilarious.
Mallie, usually, is extremely independant and does pay me much attention when we are out together. Tonight at my mom's, she pulled something down on herself out of the kitchen closet while I was talking to Claire in the bedroom. I heard the crash and told Claire, "that was one of my kids" at the time....not realizing how upset Mallie would be! She didn't get hurt, but for over an hour afterwards, was so upset! She would not let me out of her sight. She sat on my lap at dinner and afterwards. As much as I wanted a night to myself over at my parents'- it also felt good to be needed by the bird!!!
Jack just told me before going to bed- "Mom! Maybe when I get older and bigger, I could call Yaya, Kak!!! Is that a great idea?!???"
OK, and finally- I will write about the house we looked at tonight- just in case it works out and becomes our home- I'd like to know what I was thinking the first dayI saw it. First thing to say- it needs a lot of cosmetic help. But the floor plan and space is soooo great. I love Bay and Tommy loves this neighborhood, even though I don't know anything about it. I looked upstairs and could see us using the bathroom to give the kids a bath and let them run around. I love the kitchen (in my head).... and there is so much room for the kids. The 3 season room is absoutely AWESOME. There are so many things standing in our way here- but if it were to work out- I would be thrilled for kids to have this great home. All of our wish list items are there- except the fenced-in yard....and the price. But if we got it for what we wanted it--- we'd have the money to spend to fix it up perfectly!!! If it doesn't work out- I'm trying to not get too attached. We'll figure something out. I know for a fact that we will end up where we are meant to be. I am not freaking out!!! It's weird!!!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Saturday, February, 21st, 2009
I'll start this entry with our day yesterday. We started off at the Natural History Museum. I was kind of proud of myself for getting all 3 kids fed, dressed and out the door and to the east side by 9:45a.m. Jack went to his dinosaur program byhimself and sat and listen and learned some new things about dinosaurs- especially t-rex's!! And Mallie, Annie and I played in the discovery zone room. Then we all took a tour of the museum as a big group. Afterwards, I took the kids outside to see the animals (which is an AWSOME place to go- even in cold weather!), then back through the museum. We were all alone and the musuem had just opened to the public, so it was nearly empty. It was just the 4 of us in the galleries and it was really neat to get to go at our speed and for them to run around and investigate things without being worried about who they were running into! It was a fun morning. We had lunch in the cafeteria and went home for naps. Afterwards, we headed to Papa Yaya's to eat McDonalds's and drop Annie off so the rest of us could get to Sesame Street LIVE!!!
That show needs an entry in and of itself. As much as I prepared them, I don't think the kids knew what to expect. After sitting in our seats for 5 minutes, the lights dimmed, and BAM-O!!!! Spotlights started flashing and drums started rolling. It was a very upbrupt and frantic beginning to a children's show. Mallie was sitting in her seat at the start and leapt into Tommy's lap and was strangling his neck. Jack had his immediate knee-jerk reaction of clapping his hands on his ears. This was all followed by a very loud, and manic song and dance show for an hour and a half. I was completely over-stimulated by the end. The entire theater was in melt-down mode by 8:00 and we still had about 20 minutes of the show to go! My kids, somehow, got over the trauma by the end of the first number and ended up absolutely LOVING the whole thing. Mallie sat in her seat with her box of popcorn, bopping her head to the songs and clapping at the end of each number. She also was waving furiously at the characters up on stage. When it was over, Mallie bee-lined out of the row and down the aisle. As I chased her down, I realized that Jack was following me, running behind and sobbing. I sat down in an empty seat to figure out what was wrong. He was so swept up in the emotion of the show that I think he was crushed with the finale. (He is JUST like me- I get to emotional at any movie, or especially live theater- even one of this caliber!!) Overall- this was a huge success of a night and I guess we'd do it again to see how excited the kids get. (Maybe it would be better next time, knowing what to brace myself for!)
On the way home, Jack announced that he had to go potty, immediately after leaving the parking garage. That's a long haul home with a full bladder (that's the size of a peanut!!!) So I was offering suggestion, after suggestion of places we could stop to let him go downtown. Tommy was angry and frustrated and wanted to get home and kept telling Jack to 'hold it'- which was absolutely not going to happen. So we pulled over in the St. ignatius parking lot and I put a diaper on Jack and let hime go. As he was standing there, letting his bladder go in the car (it must've felt so strange to him to consciously go potty in his pants!!!)- Jack exclaimed, "IT's WORKING!!!" This diffused any tension that was there between Tommy and I!!!
Today was Brendan's 6th birthday party at Pump It Up. Jack ran right in and was playing in the lobby. I thought we should try to go to the bathroom before going in to the trampolines and when I suggested it, he said, "Hold on mom, I need to say 'hi' to Brendan". He walked right up to him (he was standing with all his buddies from school). Jack looked so little to me next to them- but he said, "Hi Brendan!" and started chatting with his friends. It was really cute.
Mallie was fearless on all the huge trampolines there. She went into one inflatable with Ryan and several of the 'big boys'. She just stood there, bouncing around with them. It was hilarious.
Mallie REFUSED to nap today. Once Jack finally fell asleep, she came downstairs and sat with Tommy and I at the kitchen table while we talked about stocks. Annie was sleeping, too. I think she loved being the only child for a little bit. She was so content going from my lap to Tommy's.
Tonight, Tommy was getting the older kids' jammies on when I came upstairs. Jack ran out of the room and I was standing next to Tommy and grabbed his hand and gave him a hug. Jack came running back in and saw us and said, "Oh no!!! Not THIS again!!!!" We laughed and looked at him and asked, "Not what again!?"- to which he replied by pointing at me, then Tommy and saying, "THIS! the kissing!!" This is the funniest thing I have heard out of Jack's mouth in a VERY long time.
That show needs an entry in and of itself. As much as I prepared them, I don't think the kids knew what to expect. After sitting in our seats for 5 minutes, the lights dimmed, and BAM-O!!!! Spotlights started flashing and drums started rolling. It was a very upbrupt and frantic beginning to a children's show. Mallie was sitting in her seat at the start and leapt into Tommy's lap and was strangling his neck. Jack had his immediate knee-jerk reaction of clapping his hands on his ears. This was all followed by a very loud, and manic song and dance show for an hour and a half. I was completely over-stimulated by the end. The entire theater was in melt-down mode by 8:00 and we still had about 20 minutes of the show to go! My kids, somehow, got over the trauma by the end of the first number and ended up absolutely LOVING the whole thing. Mallie sat in her seat with her box of popcorn, bopping her head to the songs and clapping at the end of each number. She also was waving furiously at the characters up on stage. When it was over, Mallie bee-lined out of the row and down the aisle. As I chased her down, I realized that Jack was following me, running behind and sobbing. I sat down in an empty seat to figure out what was wrong. He was so swept up in the emotion of the show that I think he was crushed with the finale. (He is JUST like me- I get to emotional at any movie, or especially live theater- even one of this caliber!!) Overall- this was a huge success of a night and I guess we'd do it again to see how excited the kids get. (Maybe it would be better next time, knowing what to brace myself for!)
On the way home, Jack announced that he had to go potty, immediately after leaving the parking garage. That's a long haul home with a full bladder (that's the size of a peanut!!!) So I was offering suggestion, after suggestion of places we could stop to let him go downtown. Tommy was angry and frustrated and wanted to get home and kept telling Jack to 'hold it'- which was absolutely not going to happen. So we pulled over in the St. ignatius parking lot and I put a diaper on Jack and let hime go. As he was standing there, letting his bladder go in the car (it must've felt so strange to him to consciously go potty in his pants!!!)- Jack exclaimed, "IT's WORKING!!!" This diffused any tension that was there between Tommy and I!!!
Today was Brendan's 6th birthday party at Pump It Up. Jack ran right in and was playing in the lobby. I thought we should try to go to the bathroom before going in to the trampolines and when I suggested it, he said, "Hold on mom, I need to say 'hi' to Brendan". He walked right up to him (he was standing with all his buddies from school). Jack looked so little to me next to them- but he said, "Hi Brendan!" and started chatting with his friends. It was really cute.
Mallie was fearless on all the huge trampolines there. She went into one inflatable with Ryan and several of the 'big boys'. She just stood there, bouncing around with them. It was hilarious.
Mallie REFUSED to nap today. Once Jack finally fell asleep, she came downstairs and sat with Tommy and I at the kitchen table while we talked about stocks. Annie was sleeping, too. I think she loved being the only child for a little bit. She was so content going from my lap to Tommy's.
Tonight, Tommy was getting the older kids' jammies on when I came upstairs. Jack ran out of the room and I was standing next to Tommy and grabbed his hand and gave him a hug. Jack came running back in and saw us and said, "Oh no!!! Not THIS again!!!!" We laughed and looked at him and asked, "Not what again!?"- to which he replied by pointing at me, then Tommy and saying, "THIS! the kissing!!" This is the funniest thing I have heard out of Jack's mouth in a VERY long time.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thursday, February 19th, 2009
Oh My Gosh!!!! I do not know how I went so long without this release of blogging. We have had a very, very long day here and each time something happened that made me feel like a vein in my neck was going to burst, I thought, "Well, at least this will make for a good story in the blog." We did a 'no nap' day so that they would go to bed early tonight. They are in bed now at it's before 8 pm, however, they almost did not make it alive. It is almost a form of child-abuse to not put them down for naps. They are miserable by about 4 pm, not to mention my state of mind. I become so short-tempered and irritable that I can barely speak by the time Tommy comes home. Naps are so, so, so, very important.
We started out great. Auntie came over and Jack was being funny, delivering all types of delicacies from Jack Jack. At one point, he was trying to ask me a question while I was talking to her. He was badgering and badgering until I snapped and said, "WHAT JACK!?" and he replied, "I think I need a new mommy".
Mallie could not get enough of her Auntie or her cousin Finn this morning. She was chatting with Finn and keeping him entertained for a very long time. He seemed to enjoy her!
Then Mallie got to have snuggle time with her cousin Emily. She sat and read books to her on the couch forever! Mallie was in heaven.
This afternoon, we began the meltdown. We made puppets, played a version of checkers that Jack made up as we played (he won both times, amazingly enough!), played Jack Jack, made a tent, made dinner. It wasn't enough. Everyone was screaming and fighting and crying. Including myself. I lost track of Jack for about 10 minutes and when I found him, he was upstairs, coming out of the bathroom. His pants were wet and so was his sweatshirt. He said, "There is too much toilet paper in the potty" and then started jumping around and laughing in hysterics because he was so anxious that I was going to freak out (note to self: I freak out too much and cause my 3 year old anxiety- huge problem.) Sure enough, there was, indeed, too much toilet paper in the potty. It hadn't overflowed, miraculously, but was teetering on the brim. I believe it did not, in fact, run over because Jack had taken it upon himself to fish whatever TP he could out of the bowl with his bare hands and deposit it in the trash can. A nice gesture, but completely disgusting and horrendous. I washed his hands, closed the door to the bathroom, stripped him down and waited until Tommy got home.
Jack and Tommy played their video games tonight. They were playing golf and Tommy had a near-miss on a hole to which Jack exclaimed, "Oh Man Dad! You were robbed!!!!". I haven't seen Tommy so proud in a long time.
We started out great. Auntie came over and Jack was being funny, delivering all types of delicacies from Jack Jack. At one point, he was trying to ask me a question while I was talking to her. He was badgering and badgering until I snapped and said, "WHAT JACK!?" and he replied, "I think I need a new mommy".
Mallie could not get enough of her Auntie or her cousin Finn this morning. She was chatting with Finn and keeping him entertained for a very long time. He seemed to enjoy her!
Then Mallie got to have snuggle time with her cousin Emily. She sat and read books to her on the couch forever! Mallie was in heaven.
This afternoon, we began the meltdown. We made puppets, played a version of checkers that Jack made up as we played (he won both times, amazingly enough!), played Jack Jack, made a tent, made dinner. It wasn't enough. Everyone was screaming and fighting and crying. Including myself. I lost track of Jack for about 10 minutes and when I found him, he was upstairs, coming out of the bathroom. His pants were wet and so was his sweatshirt. He said, "There is too much toilet paper in the potty" and then started jumping around and laughing in hysterics because he was so anxious that I was going to freak out (note to self: I freak out too much and cause my 3 year old anxiety- huge problem.) Sure enough, there was, indeed, too much toilet paper in the potty. It hadn't overflowed, miraculously, but was teetering on the brim. I believe it did not, in fact, run over because Jack had taken it upon himself to fish whatever TP he could out of the bowl with his bare hands and deposit it in the trash can. A nice gesture, but completely disgusting and horrendous. I washed his hands, closed the door to the bathroom, stripped him down and waited until Tommy got home.
Jack and Tommy played their video games tonight. They were playing golf and Tommy had a near-miss on a hole to which Jack exclaimed, "Oh Man Dad! You were robbed!!!!". I haven't seen Tommy so proud in a long time.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Tonight, after baths, Jack was somewhat delirious from sleep deprivation. He'd had a long day without a nap. He was trying to ask me why he can't have a bubble bath anymore (because it makes his skin itchy), but wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. So he asked me, "Mom, why can't I have a boo-boo?". He asked this several times before realizing and laughing and asking what he really meant. Then I asked him, "Why don't you tell me why you can't have a bubble bath" to which he repied, "Where it is?" (again, being delirious). So I started making fun of him and we were both laughing so hard that our eyes were watering. After all of this, he went in to our room and looked in our mirror at himself with his glasses. He was just staring at himself with his mouth hanging open before he exclaimed, "Hey! I look like a different guy!"
For a special treat in the evenings, I've been giving Jack and Mallie hot chocolate. They love it and ask for it all the time. Mallie has been asking for a "teeeee?" when she knows it's time. Tommy has been getting them to call it 'hot cocoa' and tonight Mallie ran into the kitchen yelling, 'toe toe! toe toe!' As I am typing this, I am sitting outside their bedroom while they fall asleep and she is still calling for 'toe toe'.
I don't remember if I wrote this already or not, but Annie is almost rolling over. She lays on her playmat for a really long time now. She is soooo deliberately trying to reach for her parrot that hangs down. It is so sweet (although so frustrating!) to watch her try so hard to work her little arms and hands to grab things. She's getting good though. And then she'll pick up her little legs straight into the air and flop them to one side or the other. She hasn't gone the whole way yet, but it's getting close!!!
We looked at a house tonight. This was our first house in our house search. It isn't a story about the kids, but I want to write about it, because someday, when we're in the house we're meant to be in, it may be fun to look back on our path along the way! This one was on S. Melrose in Westlake. It was big and at a good prive with a huge front and back yard and in the perfect neighborhood. However, the lay-out was choppy and there were a couple of rooms that had to be accessed through other rooms (a bedroom that you had to walk through another bedroom to get to). I couldn't picture our family there. The only bathtub was downstairs and that seemed like it would be tricky for bathtime. I know our house is out there! I can't wait to find it!
For a special treat in the evenings, I've been giving Jack and Mallie hot chocolate. They love it and ask for it all the time. Mallie has been asking for a "teeeee?" when she knows it's time. Tommy has been getting them to call it 'hot cocoa' and tonight Mallie ran into the kitchen yelling, 'toe toe! toe toe!' As I am typing this, I am sitting outside their bedroom while they fall asleep and she is still calling for 'toe toe'.
I don't remember if I wrote this already or not, but Annie is almost rolling over. She lays on her playmat for a really long time now. She is soooo deliberately trying to reach for her parrot that hangs down. It is so sweet (although so frustrating!) to watch her try so hard to work her little arms and hands to grab things. She's getting good though. And then she'll pick up her little legs straight into the air and flop them to one side or the other. She hasn't gone the whole way yet, but it's getting close!!!
We looked at a house tonight. This was our first house in our house search. It isn't a story about the kids, but I want to write about it, because someday, when we're in the house we're meant to be in, it may be fun to look back on our path along the way! This one was on S. Melrose in Westlake. It was big and at a good prive with a huge front and back yard and in the perfect neighborhood. However, the lay-out was choppy and there were a couple of rooms that had to be accessed through other rooms (a bedroom that you had to walk through another bedroom to get to). I couldn't picture our family there. The only bathtub was downstairs and that seemed like it would be tricky for bathtime. I know our house is out there! I can't wait to find it!
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