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.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
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.
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