Baby fever is hitting our house. Between me being unable to move, the kids' excitement for their new brother, the chores and errands to get ready for the new guy, and the general disbelief and entertainment for all at my HUGE stomach, very little time goes by around here without talk of 'the new baby'. Mallie has been the biggest proponent of helping me get ready. She has helped me haul boxes from the attic, do laundry, fold laundry, organize toys and put things away. She is THRILLED that this is happening and is definately going to someone I rely on in a big way in a few weeks. I am so proud of her maternal instinct and tender little heart. She genuinely loves babies, and I am very happy that she's going to get her very own soon! :)
Annie is also excited. Her last words to me every night before I leave her room (through her pacifier) are, "Mom, can I hold the new baby when he comes out of your tummy?" It's definately on her mind. She will go one of two ways when the baby comes. Either I will see her flourish and become a real big sister who is proud and excited to help. Or she will regress and have a hard time with me dividing my attention. We shall see. And Jack, will get a kick out of this baby for sure. But he will probably be disappointed with how little he will be able to do at first and a little impatient with me, since he is expecting to play a huge game of baseball with me upon my arrival home from the hospital.
The Easter season was enlightening for Jack this year. He had a hard time with the living stations of the cross they saw at school on Good Friday. He told his teacher that he cried a little bit when they nailed Jesus to the cross, and she told him that she cried a little bit too. He spent a lot of time thinking about Jesus' death, almost to the point of me wondering if we exposed him to too much. But he really has an interesting way of thinking things out and a definate spiritual side that helps him understand more about that subject than other kids his age.
When Mallie refers to 'the next thing' i.e., the next Christmas, her next birthday, etc., she calls it the third. Tonight she asked me how old she will be on the third birthday. She's been talking about 'the Third Christmas' since the day after Christmas. Between this and her 'yesternight' phrase, she has her whole time sequencing vocabulary figured out! :)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Jack had a fun day playing with his friend Xavier today. He was so incredibly excited before we dropped him off. He kept saying, "This is going to be GREAT Mom!" We dropped him off before the girls' gymnastics class and Xavier's mom dropped them off here to play after lunch. The boys seem to get along great and they didn't have any problems finding things to do. Jack's highlight of the day was 'warring' with Xavier at his house and coming up behind him and shooting him. He's told me the story 50 times and although I still don't understand the thrill, it's fun to see him so pumped about a new buddy!
After the playdate, I told Jack he could spend the money he's been saving, his 'chore money', to buy a new toy to play with during his spring break this week. (this was obviously partly to save my own sanity, but also because he's been talking about Batman toys forever and doesn't really have any to play with). We pulled into Toys R Us (or the Toy Tore, as Mallie calls it) and Jack's first comment was, "Mom, why do they spell Toys R Us with an R and not with the word 'are'?" I thought this was very perceptive of him and it totally reminded me of something my sister would say. She hates stupid abbreviations like that! :)
Annie and Mallie have been very interested in the new baby. They love to feel my tummy and seem astonished at how big it is getting. Mallie watched me pull my 'over the tummy' maternity leggings on the other day and the look on her face was priceless. When I asked her what waas the matter, she said, "Whoa!!!! That new baby is getting really, really big!" Just before I put her to bed tonight, I was on my knees in the hallway, and she came up to me and hugged 'the new baby' and nuzzled her little nose all over it. Every night before I give Annie her goodnight kiss, she holds on to me and says, "Mom, can I hold your new baby when he comes out of your tummy?" It's her last words to me every day.
I had my OB appointment on Wednesday afternoon at 1:20. I dropped Mallie off and Annie and I headed to Dr. Jhaveri. As I pulled into the parking lot, the receptionist at the office called to move the appointment back 2 hours b/c the doctor had a delivery. So, this meant I had to bring all 3 kids with me. After another lady named Erin barged in front of me when they called 'Erin', we were left to wait in the waiting room for over an hour. The kids were very well-behaved, but by the time we actually saw the doctor, things were falling apart. They got to help hold the instrument to hear the baby's heart, and made many loud comments as I re-clothed myself after the doctor left the room, (i.e., 'Mommy! I can see your butt!!!") Very embarrassing and the point of the story is I will try not to bring everyone with me to the OB in the future! :)
Mallie just asked me as I put her to bed, if someone is making a story about us. I asked her what she meant and she said "I think God is making up a tory about you and me and Jack and Daddy and Annie". I thought it was so cute and I asked her if it was going to be a happy story or sad story and she said, "A happy tory!!!"
Tom and Mary came over today because they were watching Abby and needed a little break. Annie was thrilled to have them sitting on the couch as a captive audience for anything that came to her mind. She started a very lengthy and colorful story about 'huge reindeer' in her backyard that were 'caring' her 'really a lot'. She also was taking care of a baby doll named 'Bian' who was 'growing up' (throwing up) and needed a bucket and to take a bath.
Annie had a bit of a rough time at gymnastics today. I am noticing that she gets nervous and a little embarrassed at any class I take her to (i.e. story time, etc.) and gymnastics is no exception. When it is time to do the warm ups and stretches, she gets quiet and clingy, and then the emotion turns to anger. I am never sure how to handle her when she is like this, but ignoring the anger seems to work. However, being that we pay a little more than I normally have for gymnastics class, I feel the need to push her a little more. She wasn't thrilled with me during class and was pretty whiny and angry (hitting me several times and yelling at me). Not sure if we'll be renewing Annie for the next session. Mallie is still doing great though and LOVES it. I suggested she sign up for the next older class, in which the kids go by themselves without moms. She was not a fan of the idea.
Annie's favorite word these days is 'stinkerpot', or as she pronounces it, 'tinkerpot'. And everything is a 'tinkerpot'. I am, Mallie is, Tommy is, yogurt, TV shows, the car, school, etc. She says it at least 5000 times a day. It is extremely annoying.
We were listening to the Star Wars theme in the van today. Jack told me, "Do you hear that low part Mom? That's the cello!" When I asked him how he knew that, he said he remembered learning about the cello at this ONE music class I took him to when he was 3, right after Annie was born at the Beck Center, focusing on the cello. I am still in shock that he remembers this. And it made me realize that all of those field trips we took when he was so little made an impression and I should probably be doing just as many for the girls.
On our way home from the toy store tonight, after buying a new Batman, Batmobile and super heros, Jack said we needed to go back to the store to return the toys. I asked him why and he said he had given up playing with cars and super heroes for Lent.
After the playdate, I told Jack he could spend the money he's been saving, his 'chore money', to buy a new toy to play with during his spring break this week. (this was obviously partly to save my own sanity, but also because he's been talking about Batman toys forever and doesn't really have any to play with). We pulled into Toys R Us (or the Toy Tore, as Mallie calls it) and Jack's first comment was, "Mom, why do they spell Toys R Us with an R and not with the word 'are'?" I thought this was very perceptive of him and it totally reminded me of something my sister would say. She hates stupid abbreviations like that! :)
Annie and Mallie have been very interested in the new baby. They love to feel my tummy and seem astonished at how big it is getting. Mallie watched me pull my 'over the tummy' maternity leggings on the other day and the look on her face was priceless. When I asked her what waas the matter, she said, "Whoa!!!! That new baby is getting really, really big!" Just before I put her to bed tonight, I was on my knees in the hallway, and she came up to me and hugged 'the new baby' and nuzzled her little nose all over it. Every night before I give Annie her goodnight kiss, she holds on to me and says, "Mom, can I hold your new baby when he comes out of your tummy?" It's her last words to me every day.
I had my OB appointment on Wednesday afternoon at 1:20. I dropped Mallie off and Annie and I headed to Dr. Jhaveri. As I pulled into the parking lot, the receptionist at the office called to move the appointment back 2 hours b/c the doctor had a delivery. So, this meant I had to bring all 3 kids with me. After another lady named Erin barged in front of me when they called 'Erin', we were left to wait in the waiting room for over an hour. The kids were very well-behaved, but by the time we actually saw the doctor, things were falling apart. They got to help hold the instrument to hear the baby's heart, and made many loud comments as I re-clothed myself after the doctor left the room, (i.e., 'Mommy! I can see your butt!!!") Very embarrassing and the point of the story is I will try not to bring everyone with me to the OB in the future! :)
Mallie just asked me as I put her to bed, if someone is making a story about us. I asked her what she meant and she said "I think God is making up a tory about you and me and Jack and Daddy and Annie". I thought it was so cute and I asked her if it was going to be a happy story or sad story and she said, "A happy tory!!!"
Tom and Mary came over today because they were watching Abby and needed a little break. Annie was thrilled to have them sitting on the couch as a captive audience for anything that came to her mind. She started a very lengthy and colorful story about 'huge reindeer' in her backyard that were 'caring' her 'really a lot'. She also was taking care of a baby doll named 'Bian' who was 'growing up' (throwing up) and needed a bucket and to take a bath.
Annie had a bit of a rough time at gymnastics today. I am noticing that she gets nervous and a little embarrassed at any class I take her to (i.e. story time, etc.) and gymnastics is no exception. When it is time to do the warm ups and stretches, she gets quiet and clingy, and then the emotion turns to anger. I am never sure how to handle her when she is like this, but ignoring the anger seems to work. However, being that we pay a little more than I normally have for gymnastics class, I feel the need to push her a little more. She wasn't thrilled with me during class and was pretty whiny and angry (hitting me several times and yelling at me). Not sure if we'll be renewing Annie for the next session. Mallie is still doing great though and LOVES it. I suggested she sign up for the next older class, in which the kids go by themselves without moms. She was not a fan of the idea.
Annie's favorite word these days is 'stinkerpot', or as she pronounces it, 'tinkerpot'. And everything is a 'tinkerpot'. I am, Mallie is, Tommy is, yogurt, TV shows, the car, school, etc. She says it at least 5000 times a day. It is extremely annoying.
We were listening to the Star Wars theme in the van today. Jack told me, "Do you hear that low part Mom? That's the cello!" When I asked him how he knew that, he said he remembered learning about the cello at this ONE music class I took him to when he was 3, right after Annie was born at the Beck Center, focusing on the cello. I am still in shock that he remembers this. And it made me realize that all of those field trips we took when he was so little made an impression and I should probably be doing just as many for the girls.
On our way home from the toy store tonight, after buying a new Batman, Batmobile and super heros, Jack said we needed to go back to the store to return the toys. I asked him why and he said he had given up playing with cars and super heroes for Lent.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday, March 15th, 2011
Today on the way home from picking Jack up from school, he saw a big group os kids walking home from St. Angela's. He said, "Hey! Look at that big group of graders walking across the street!" He calls them 'graders' becaues they are the 'big kids' and not the kindergarteners (in grades). But for a minute I wondered if he was calling them 'greaters' as if they are bigger and better!? Either way, he will be a grader next year, and when I told him that he got a big smile on his face! :)
If there is music playing, no matter what time or where we are, if I ask Jack to 'Dance it out', he stops whatever he is doing and gets his groove on. He can definately feel the beat and enjoys making me laugh with this.
Once of my favorite things that Jack says is when he is pretending to be upset and challenge what Tommy or I says. He says, "Oh yeah!?? You think so?" For some reason, this always makes me laugh. I think mostly because he knows he's kidding and tries to be serious about it.
We were reading the other night and Jack mistook the word 'chickens' for 'kickens'. This may have been the funniest thing he's ever done (for himself). He could not stop laughing and had tears rolling down his cheeks.
Mallie has been wheeling and dealing us over the past couple of weeks. We have been having problems getting the kids to shake hands at the sign of peace in church...so for better or worse, we've starting bribing them. Tommy told them they would get a quarter for each person they shook hands with. It worked for Jack, but when we asked why Mallie did not shake anyone's hand after church, she replied, "I will just find another way to get my money". When we tell her that if she doesn't finish her dinner, she will not have anything else to eat for the rest of the night, she replies, "Oh, that's OK, I will just eat in the morning." She's got it figured out. And she's only 3.
Mallie and Annie's favorite game is 'Mrs. Patton and Mrs. Rapps'. They play in my closet, wearing my high heels and walking around calling each other Mrs. Patton and Mrs. Rapps. There isn't much more to the game than that. But it sure occupies their time!
The girls started gymnastics class last week. They seem to really love it and took very little time to warm up to it and hae a great time. Even the teacher was impressed with how quickly they jumped in and how well they did. They look too cute in their pink tights and leotards that Yaya got them for Christmas.
The kids are just getting over a week's worth of illness. Jack got sick last Monday and we determined on Thursday that he had strep throat. On Friday, I took the girls for their strep tests and both were positive. Annie is still getting over it and had a fever all day today. When Annie is sick, she definately milks it. She tells us a million times a day 'I so sick." "I so sick in my tummy.' 'I need my medicine in my tummy.' 'I grow up' (which is her way of saying that she threw up). She also does these fluttery, half-opened eyes.
Annie calls paper towels 'wiper towels', the remote is the 'gamote control', the tv is the 'tvt'.
Mallie helped me make dinner tonight and announced to everyone that we were having 'beef tew!"
If there is music playing, no matter what time or where we are, if I ask Jack to 'Dance it out', he stops whatever he is doing and gets his groove on. He can definately feel the beat and enjoys making me laugh with this.
Once of my favorite things that Jack says is when he is pretending to be upset and challenge what Tommy or I says. He says, "Oh yeah!?? You think so?" For some reason, this always makes me laugh. I think mostly because he knows he's kidding and tries to be serious about it.
We were reading the other night and Jack mistook the word 'chickens' for 'kickens'. This may have been the funniest thing he's ever done (for himself). He could not stop laughing and had tears rolling down his cheeks.
Mallie has been wheeling and dealing us over the past couple of weeks. We have been having problems getting the kids to shake hands at the sign of peace in church...so for better or worse, we've starting bribing them. Tommy told them they would get a quarter for each person they shook hands with. It worked for Jack, but when we asked why Mallie did not shake anyone's hand after church, she replied, "I will just find another way to get my money". When we tell her that if she doesn't finish her dinner, she will not have anything else to eat for the rest of the night, she replies, "Oh, that's OK, I will just eat in the morning." She's got it figured out. And she's only 3.
Mallie and Annie's favorite game is 'Mrs. Patton and Mrs. Rapps'. They play in my closet, wearing my high heels and walking around calling each other Mrs. Patton and Mrs. Rapps. There isn't much more to the game than that. But it sure occupies their time!
The girls started gymnastics class last week. They seem to really love it and took very little time to warm up to it and hae a great time. Even the teacher was impressed with how quickly they jumped in and how well they did. They look too cute in their pink tights and leotards that Yaya got them for Christmas.
The kids are just getting over a week's worth of illness. Jack got sick last Monday and we determined on Thursday that he had strep throat. On Friday, I took the girls for their strep tests and both were positive. Annie is still getting over it and had a fever all day today. When Annie is sick, she definately milks it. She tells us a million times a day 'I so sick." "I so sick in my tummy.' 'I need my medicine in my tummy.' 'I grow up' (which is her way of saying that she threw up). She also does these fluttery, half-opened eyes.
Annie calls paper towels 'wiper towels', the remote is the 'gamote control', the tv is the 'tvt'.
Mallie helped me make dinner tonight and announced to everyone that we were having 'beef tew!"
Thursday, February 17, 2011
February 17th, 2011
I am sitting downstairs in our new house, listening to the kids playing in Jack's room. They LOVE the house...and so do I. We had a couple of move-in/ new-house glitches that we've had to overcome. And besides the fact that I was in early stages of pregnancy and had very little energy or patience for those, we've taken them as paar for the course. It's totally worth it, and will be even more so once the weather really warms up and we can enjoy both the outdoor aspects of the house along with the indoor, and the new neighborhood. We are thrilled.
The kids are changing and growing every day and never cease to amaze/ amuse me. They also, lately, never cease to exhaust/ drive me crazy. I've been in a definate funk for several months, which has been compounded by the exhaustion of pregnancy and the winter duldrums. Very hard for me to see out of the fog sometimes and I find myself staring into space a lot. I'm not worried about myself, except for the time I'm wasting feeling like this. There isn't much I can do about it while I am pregnant, so we'll see how much the spring/ summer help, along with my state of mind post-baby and reassess a new plan of attack then. That is enough for me right now, to know that it won't be forever that I'll be feeling this way. I just hope it's enough for the kids because they have been dealing with distant and crabby mom for a pretty long time. I don't want them forming memories of me sitting on the couch or staring out the window or planted in front of the computer as an escape. They are my life and the worst part of feeling like this is the helplessness and guilt of not being able to be the mom I want to be for them. Again, I would never allow this to go on, so we'll keep looking ahead to better times!
I'll fill you in on them now. We'll start with Jack. He is doing great with school. We are past the adjustment to being at school all day. It was kind of rough for a month or two or three. But now he seems to love it. He was his class 'VIP' a couple of weeks ago and was literally chomping at the bit to get to school every day that week. Other things that excite him like that are buying lunch at school (twice a month), the teacher/ student charity volleyball game, Winter Wipeout on TV, his basketball games on Saturday mornings, and seeing his cousins. He's a happy go lucky kid and I know how blessed I am to have him.
Mallie is doing better in school lately. She's amazingly shy and barely speaks while she is there. She seems to love it though and readily gets out of the car to go. I planned her class' Valentine's party this week and when I am at school, she wants me in her sight. She had a couple of melt-downs when I had to leave the room for a minute. But, overall she is getting better there. Mallie is very in to getting dressed by her big self these days. She is extremely capable and I can trust that if I leave an outfit out for her, it will be on her quickly and correctly.....unlike her brother who dilly-dallies, gets distracted and when the final product appears, needs to be re-done. Mallie even goes so far as to help Annie get dressed, as well. Annie has been going to her for help on many things. Mallie is extremely patient and nurturing. I rarely hear a peep out of her. She goes along with the flow and is very pleasant.
Annie is going through a bit of a terrible 2 phase. She is very angry a lot of the time, exclaiming 'Dang it!' or "I HATE_____!" or 'Not again!!" She dropped her naps several months ago, even though she still needs them desperately. 90% of our problems are from the hours between 3-7 when she is exhausted and nothing is right. She's very fiesty and is in the stage where no matter what is given to her is wrong and she lets you know it with a loud yell. I am working on redirecting and punishing, but the lack of energy is hampering that. Annie is also very funny and she knows it. Although it is totally inappropriate, her favorite word is 'Poopies' and she says it a minimum of 2000 times a day. She also has a soft side and is extremely interested in the new baby in my tummy. She tells me several times a day in a very high pitched voice, "There's a new baby in you tummy and he's gonna come out and i gonna hold him right after sissy and it's gonna be soooo cute!'.
Mallie and Annie are attached at the hip. They are best buddies and really look out for each other. They play really well and one of my favorite past times is sitting outside their door and listening to their conversations. This will only be getting better because ANnie moved into Mallie's bedroom in a big girl bed last night, so I can only imagine the conversations as they fall asleep!
The kids are changing and growing every day and never cease to amaze/ amuse me. They also, lately, never cease to exhaust/ drive me crazy. I've been in a definate funk for several months, which has been compounded by the exhaustion of pregnancy and the winter duldrums. Very hard for me to see out of the fog sometimes and I find myself staring into space a lot. I'm not worried about myself, except for the time I'm wasting feeling like this. There isn't much I can do about it while I am pregnant, so we'll see how much the spring/ summer help, along with my state of mind post-baby and reassess a new plan of attack then. That is enough for me right now, to know that it won't be forever that I'll be feeling this way. I just hope it's enough for the kids because they have been dealing with distant and crabby mom for a pretty long time. I don't want them forming memories of me sitting on the couch or staring out the window or planted in front of the computer as an escape. They are my life and the worst part of feeling like this is the helplessness and guilt of not being able to be the mom I want to be for them. Again, I would never allow this to go on, so we'll keep looking ahead to better times!
I'll fill you in on them now. We'll start with Jack. He is doing great with school. We are past the adjustment to being at school all day. It was kind of rough for a month or two or three. But now he seems to love it. He was his class 'VIP' a couple of weeks ago and was literally chomping at the bit to get to school every day that week. Other things that excite him like that are buying lunch at school (twice a month), the teacher/ student charity volleyball game, Winter Wipeout on TV, his basketball games on Saturday mornings, and seeing his cousins. He's a happy go lucky kid and I know how blessed I am to have him.
Mallie is doing better in school lately. She's amazingly shy and barely speaks while she is there. She seems to love it though and readily gets out of the car to go. I planned her class' Valentine's party this week and when I am at school, she wants me in her sight. She had a couple of melt-downs when I had to leave the room for a minute. But, overall she is getting better there. Mallie is very in to getting dressed by her big self these days. She is extremely capable and I can trust that if I leave an outfit out for her, it will be on her quickly and correctly.....unlike her brother who dilly-dallies, gets distracted and when the final product appears, needs to be re-done. Mallie even goes so far as to help Annie get dressed, as well. Annie has been going to her for help on many things. Mallie is extremely patient and nurturing. I rarely hear a peep out of her. She goes along with the flow and is very pleasant.
Annie is going through a bit of a terrible 2 phase. She is very angry a lot of the time, exclaiming 'Dang it!' or "I HATE_____!" or 'Not again!!" She dropped her naps several months ago, even though she still needs them desperately. 90% of our problems are from the hours between 3-7 when she is exhausted and nothing is right. She's very fiesty and is in the stage where no matter what is given to her is wrong and she lets you know it with a loud yell. I am working on redirecting and punishing, but the lack of energy is hampering that. Annie is also very funny and she knows it. Although it is totally inappropriate, her favorite word is 'Poopies' and she says it a minimum of 2000 times a day. She also has a soft side and is extremely interested in the new baby in my tummy. She tells me several times a day in a very high pitched voice, "There's a new baby in you tummy and he's gonna come out and i gonna hold him right after sissy and it's gonna be soooo cute!'.
Mallie and Annie are attached at the hip. They are best buddies and really look out for each other. They play really well and one of my favorite past times is sitting outside their door and listening to their conversations. This will only be getting better because ANnie moved into Mallie's bedroom in a big girl bed last night, so I can only imagine the conversations as they fall asleep!
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