Peek-a-boo Two

Dear Jack

2011-08-16T22:34:00.003-05:00

Dear Jack,

This week you start your 2nd year of Kindergarten. Even with school starting in 2 days, I'm not completely certain we made the right decision, but I do know that we made the best one we could- with much thought and prayer. I've spent night after night this summer awake, weeping & praying for you. Asking God to be tender and merciful to you. Praying and hoping that you will quickly make new friends and that you will also be able to hold on to those old friends that are so dear to you.

I have no doubt that you will, I just hope that it happens right away. One thing that every single teacher you've ever had has told us is, "Everyone loves Jack." And it's true. You've never met a stranger. You can talk to anyone. You love people and love to play.

I also hope you will know that you did not fail. Far, far from it. You came so far last year. You steadily progressed and grew so much. But, the truth is, it's hard to be the youngest in the class. Especially if you're a boy. And, the risks of not doing this were huge for you and for the rest of your life.

We want you to love to learn. We want you to be excited about school. We don't want you to spend every day frustrated because what you really needed was a little more time, not just more drills and practicing. We want you to know that you can do and be whatever you dream. (Except for a Jedi. Sorry sweet boy.) We don't want your joyful God-given spirit crushed because we were too scared to make a hard decision.

I know you can't read this now. And perhaps I'm only writing it right now to ease my anxious soul, but I hope one day, when you do read it, you'll know how much I love you and that you'll have always felt that love. You are a bright spot of joy in our household. I'm so proud to call you my son.

Post #265: Wherein I Begin Blogging...again...

2010-11-30T16:38:00.005-06:00

It's been a while. A long while. In fact, about 6 months. A lot has happened.

Jack turned 5 & had a Peter Pan Star Wars party. (It's what he asked for- who am I to argue with that?)

(my little Peter Pan- so full of life & joy)

We went to Disney Land (we were there on Jack's birthday! All other birthdays will now be a huge disappointment.).

(thus begins annie's obsession with minnie mouse...)

Jack started kindergarten. (Note- he started on the 2nd day of school. On the 1st day I didn't believe that he was sick & he threw up all over himself in the car. Mommy fail.) He loves school, but it's been a hard year. The kind of hard year that makes a mama's heart ache & think there might be more hard years of schooling to come.

We had a little family photo shoot.

We had fun fall festivities where, try as I might I couldn't get one decent picture of my children together.

(Jack & his sweet friend Grayson during their Thanksgiving play.)

My Annie turned 2. (2!! That's big!!! I can't believe she's TWO!!)

And we celebrated a sweet Christmas.

(Because everything is more fun with a pillow pet.)

The end of 2010 is here & I'm feeling nostalgic about how much my children have grown & learned & become even brighter spots in our lives & days. I'm excited to see what 2011 brings!

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T14:18:00.001-05:00

How did I get so lucky?

JK Art Gala!

2010-05-20T21:11:00.005-05:00

Tonight was an Art Gala for the JK class at Jack's school. It was amazing. His classroom was transformed to display the children's works of art. They spent many weeks studying the works of Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Giacometti, Mary Cassatt, Jacob Lawerence, Michelangelo, Calder & Edgar Degas. They then created their own works of art in the styles of these artists.

My mom stayed at home with Annie & Joh, Jack & I all went to dinner & the Gala. Jack was our gallery docent for the gallery. It basically meant he showed us his art & tried to resist body-slamming his classmates. He served us "delicious, delectable desserts" & sparkling water.

John & I were both blown away at the work the children created. John said he didn't know about some of these artists until he was in college & Jack, at just 4 years old, knows all about them. He would come home from school talking about Kandinsky & concentric circles, painting with knives like Van Gogh, and drawing ballerinas like Degas.

Jack has an incredible preschool teacher. This art unit is just one example of how much she has invested in Jack.

Hope you enjoy the pics as much as we enjoyed our evening!

Jack & his amazing teacher

Jack & his body-slamming BFF

Jack enjoyed many delicious delectable desserts

Me & my sweet boy

His Degas inspired ballerina is in the top left corner

Sunflowers

A whole class of Calder-mobiles

Giacometti inspired sculptures

Jack's sculpture was of Obi-Wan Kenobi

Mary Cassatt print

My dates for the evening

Dipping my toes back in...

2010-05-06T12:31:00.004-05:00

(I think Annie looks a wee bit scared in this picture. Smart girl. I'm pretty sure Jack tried to pop her head off seconds after it was taken.)

I'm tentatively dipping my toes back into the blogosphere. Since Annie was born, I've had little time or energy for blogging, although I've had many different posts & thoughts rattling around in my head, all profound & very interesting I'm sure. I've missed writing because it helps me process & organize my thoughts & life. Writing helps me to remember all of my blessing that I so quickly forget in the day-to-day.

I'm adjusting to a new pace in life right now. I'm learning to adjust my expectations of what the day is going to look like & how much I'm going to accomplish. Baby girl was born 16ish months ago, so, obviously, I'm a slow learner. Just as there's been little time or energy for blogging, there's been little time or energy for pretty much anything else. My home seems to have fallen into a state of disrepair. Come over on any given day & you'll find piles of laundry waiting to be folded, more piles of laundry waiting to be put away & piles of laundry in the dryer- waiting for an empty basket to call home. (If you don't believe me, look in my hall. That's where it all hides.) The simplest cleaning task takes me days to accomplish, only to have it quickly undone by the little people living in my house. The weeds in my flowerbeds are overwhelming & embarrassing.

I asked my mom the other day if she ever got overwhelmed keeping up with the house when my brother & I were little. She said no- she only ever felt overwhelmed when I was a baby & wouldn't stop screaming. (Yes- payback's a bitch as you can see in THIS post...) This reaffirms to me that my mom is awesome & has super-human cleaning powers. Or, my brother & I were occasionally able to play on our own so she could get stuff done. I have neither of these things, so I'm learning to adjust & live in my reality- not an alternate reality where I'm actually Superwoman.

This morning, I tried to have a good attitude & just accept the fact that I was going to get nothing accomplished. I hung out with Annie while she crawled on the counters & shoved things in the toaster oven (I bet you didn't know that a toaster oven is a terrific toddler toy, did you? Buttons, knobs & a door that opens & closes keeps little hands & minds entertained for at least 15 minutes.), pulled dishes out of the cabinets, rummaged through all of my baking supplies, and climbed into the refrigerator. She had a blast & a huge mess was left in her wake when she went to nap time. But, instead of focusing on the mess that I now have to clean up in addition to the huge list of other things I need to do during her nap, I just tried to enjoy the moment (something I'm not very good at doing...). During that time I got lots of laughs & giggles, little jabberings, smiles, hugs & kisses. It was pretty awesome, and even though I didn't get any chores done, it did feel like I accomplished a lot.

So, now I'm off to empty the dishwasher, fold laundry & wash diapers- all things that are going to be undone in a day or sooner. But, I can do it knowing that the time I spend with my children will never be undone or replaced. That makes living in my dirty, bursting at the seams house a whole lot easier.

Picture Update

2010-04-13T21:54:00.003-05:00

My sweet boy just started playing t-ball. My favorite part is seeing him in his uniform!

This little girl is growing up. And, turning into a blondie!

Easter Sunday with the Grandparents.

This is such an Annie face.

Why I Should Stop Cleaning: Exhibit A

2010-03-17T22:02:00.001-05:00

Ten on Tuesday!

2010-02-09T19:16:00.002-06:00

This is inspired by my friend Melanie's blog- she wrote a list of 10 things that make her happy. I've been feeling a bit like Debbie Downer lately, so this will be good. Join me in making a list of 10 things that make YOU happy!

1- Sleep- in any form. Naptime, bedtime, etc. Sleep makes me very happy.

2- Cookie dough. Enough said.

3- Watching Annie eat something she loves. It's hilarious. She talks to it, she holds it in the air, she throws her head back & shoves it in. Reckless joy.

4- Seeing Jack love on Annie. He loves his little sister so much. She doesn't know how lucky she is.

5- Date night with John!

6- Watching John & Jack play in the snow.

7- Listening to Annie laugh. She's not much of a laugher, so when you get her going you feel like you've won a big prize.

8- My mom. She's coming over tomorrow. That makes me very happy.

9- My girlfriends who love me very much.

10- LOST. We've been watching a lot of Lost lately. It's been super fun. No spoilers please. :)

Cake face!

2009-12-26T14:52:00.002-06:00

Annie is 1!

2009-12-24T08:31:00.003-06:00

Then:

Now:

Happy Birthday sweet girl!!

Musings on Motherhood- 4.5 years in...

2009-12-07T21:27:00.006-06:00

I came across this picture today. It's of me & Jack the day he came home from the hospital. Notice the distressed look on my face masked by a smile. I knew I was supposed to be happy. Here I was, bringing my first baby home from the hospital. He was healthy (obviously he had a great set of lungs!) & he was beyond beautiful.

But, I was freaked-out beyond belief. I couldn't sit. I could barely walk. I was more tired than I had ever been in my life. Three weeks from bringing him home not only did we have to be out of our apartment, but we were relocating to St. Louis- a place we grew up but hadn't lived for years & years. And, all Jack did was cry. We couldn't lie him down. He would cry & cry. He would nurse & be done & then 45 minutes be ready to eat again. All day & night long. I vividly remember whispering to myself during one of his crying bouts, "Don't shake the baby. Don't shake the baby. Don't shake the baby."

I thought this moment was what it was to be a mother. I could see no further than the situation I was in. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was never going to sleep more than an hour stretch again & that this child was going to cry for the rest of my life.

Fast forward 3 1/2 years...

We got another crier on our hands. She cried for about 9 months & then finally got happy. We thought we had "paid our dues", but not only was Annie's infant temperment eerily similar to her brother's, it ended up being more extreme. Surely our 3rd will be a dream baby, right?

But, these 2 babies have stolen my heart over & over & over again. There are few, if any, people that I would rather spend my day with than Jack. He's so funny, so sweet, Mr. Cuddly, & so full of joy. He tells me he loves me a zillion times a day (who wouldn't want to be around that??) & at 4 1/2 he has officially passed through infancy & toddlerhood & into the world of being a little boy. He loves to wrestle with John & his friend Grayson. He loves to play Star Wars (today he was Luke Sky Walker, I was Leia & Annie was "a BAD Storm Trooper") & he loves nothing more than to run around a playground.

Annie is still Miss Touchy. She loves her Mama more than anyone else, but Jack makes her laugh the easiest. Since the day she was born she hasn't liked other people to hold her & she isn't shy about making her feelings known. But, she also has the best smile in the world. She lights up a room. She's started playing peek-a-boo & giggles & giggles. Her favorite times are mealtimes, bath time & when she's only wearing a diaper. She's our roly-poly sweet girl. I love that I get to spend every day with her.

Having children has been the best thing I've ever done in my life. Cumulatively, I've had over a year of sleepless nights, 2 bouts with reflux, seizures, hip dysplasia & all around general crankiness for months from both of my babies; but I really wouldn't change any of it. My children have made me a better person. They have forced me to think of someone other than myself. I would do anything for them.

Today I sat in our rocking chair, rocking Annie who was feeling bad & battling a bad cold & Jack snuggled up next to me to rock too. I wanted to freeze that moment- snuggling with both of my sweet babies, their heads on my shoulder, just rocking & rocking.

I know these moments are fleeting. Jack has shown me that they stay little such a short time. I feel like I blinked & he become a boy. I'll blink again & he'll be a teenager & then a man. Same with Annie. So, I savor these moments I have with them. I savor the crying- even when it drives me batty. I savor the sleeplessness for I know that one day, much, much too soon my house will be quiet again & I'll wonder where my babies went.

Father & Daughter

2009-11-20T11:03:00.002-06:00

Looks like trouble...

2009-11-08T19:56:00.002-06:00

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-03T22:01:00.004-06:00

I forgot my camera on Halloween, so these pics are courteousy of my friend Emily.

The family.

(A side note- John has a Batman mask on his head, not a new, weird haircut.)

Jack & Ava Belle

10 months old!

2009-10-28T09:30:00.004-05:00

It's been a while. There are many reasons for that. Most of them involving a never-ending cranky baby that I've been holding & bouncing & loving on most hours of the day. Below are some unusually happy moments. I love these pics!

Miss Annie is 10 months old now. As you can see, she's graduated into hair accessories! At 10 months she is crawling, very, very slowly, but still crawling! She tries to pull-up on things (like daddy's files in the photo below. What I didn't capture was the box toppling over on top of her shortly after this pic was taken & her dissolving into instant tears!)

She's working on her top two teeth & currently battling a never-ending cold. She eats almost whatever we put in front of her as long as it's not fruit & has only recently developed a liking for actual baby food.

She's still a terrible night-time sleeper, but takes great naps now & for that I am very thankful.

2009-09-12T23:30:00.001-05:00

I've had lots of great blog entries floating in my head these past few months, but they never seem to actually make it to my blog. So, I've been relying on photos of my kiddos to fill the space until my wit & time return. Hope you've been enjoying them. They are just as delightful (& way louder) in real life.

First Day of School

2009-09-02T19:33:00.005-05:00

Jack started JK this year. I can't believe how big this kid is.

He loves school so much.

Jack & his best buddy Grayson are in the same class.

I think they might cause some trouble together.

Another Favorite Meal

2009-09-02T19:31:00.003-05:00

Apples!

2009-08-13T19:39:00.002-05:00

Annie loves, loves, loves apples.

Go Cardinals!

2009-08-04T21:57:00.002-05:00

Bowling!

2009-08-04T21:49:00.003-05:00

We all went bowling the other evening & had a blast. Jack was surprisingly good, although I guess the bumpers didn't hurt! He loved the shoes. When he put them on he started dancing & said they were tap-tap shoes. Even Annie had a great time hanging out.

Photo Shoot!

2009-08-04T21:46:00.003-05:00

One Last Birthday Pic

2009-08-04T21:41:00.004-05:00

Jack's favorite birthday present from the Maynor family.

Our house is so small that he has to walk sideways.

I love this picture so much.

Birthday Season in Pictures

2009-08-04T21:31:00.003-05:00

July is birthday season at our house. Poor Annie is the odd-baby out. She doesn't get to share her birthday with us, just with Jesus...

Jack's 1st birthday party on his actual birthday.

Don't look too close.

You might get blinded by the terribly ugly cake I baked.

Very excited by the Batmobile we gave him.

Can you tell the kid loves superheroes?

2009-08-04T21:18:00.006-05:00

My friend Emily greeted me on the morning of my birthday with 11 tasty dounuts. Yum.

Happy 33rd to John! I made him a yummy Oreo cake. It was gone in about 2 days.

Jack's Birthday Party Cake

My mom & I made all of the kids capes with their names on the back.

(Really, my MOM made the capes, I ironed on the letters...)

At the end of the party we were treated to a concert by a swim-suit clad bunch.

We turn 10 today!

2009-07-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

TEETH!

2009-07-22T13:43:00.004-05:00

Can you see Annie's first little tooth poking through? This picture was taken 6 days ago & already there is a second little tooth right next to the first. The sure are cute, but strike fear in my heart every time she eats! I haven't been bitten yet...

Happy Birthday Dear John!

2009-07-21T08:58:00.004-05:00

(photo courtesy of Jack)

Happy Birthday dear one. You will always be my favorite.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy

2009-07-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Four years ago today, we met this little boy.

I had no idea how much he would turn our lives upside down. I also had no idea how rich & full he would make our lives. And, I certainly had no idea how much I would love him.

This year I've had the privilege of watching him grow into an incredible big brother. Annie will soon discover how lucky she is to have been given such an amazing big brother. I can't count the number of times I've seen him comfort her when she cries. He pats her & says, "Aw baby. It's okay, brother's here." It melts my heart every single time.

He's an amazingly kind & sensitive little boy. We are so thankful he is in our lives.

Happy 4th birthday baby boy.

6 Months & 4 Years!

2009-06-30T21:18:00.004-05:00

Annie turned 6 months old last week. I took her for her 6 month check-up & Jack for his 4 year check-up on Monday. Annie weighed in at just over 16 pounds & is in the 50th percentile for weight & 75th for height. Her noggin remains in the massive 92nd percentile.

Jack is a lightweight at 32 pounds & 40 inches tall. He's in the 20th percentile for weight & 50th for height.

They are both hitting all of their milestones & healthy. 4 shots later, here are some pics for you!

This pic is courtesy of Jack.

Annie eating sweet potatoes.

We started solids a few days ago. She isn't loving it yet.

I'm already ready to move on to food she can pick up & eat herself.

She's much more interested in the sandwich on my plate

than the sweet potatoes than on her spoon.

Visitors!

2009-06-30T21:04:00.003-05:00

Our dear, dear friends Kevin & Laura (aka Kbo & Lola) came to visit this week from Jersey City. Their son, Linus, was born 11 days before Annie (and due 4 weeks AFTER her...) & we had yet to meet him & they had yet to meet Annie. We had a fun filled visit & it made us miss then even more than we usually do. The babies loved each other. The were full of smiles & touches & coos for each other. It was very sweet. We've already decided that Annie & Linus are getting married one day.

Smiling babies.

Tired babes & mamas.

Jack & Lola

Jack had a serious crush on Lola & in this photo he is soaking wet, trying to get her all wet.

Summer Fun

2009-06-30T21:01:00.003-05:00

We've gone to the Tower Grove wading pools a few times this summer & it's turned into one of our favorite places. Extra bonus is that I don't have to wear a swimsuit...

Happy Father's Day John!

2009-06-21T09:24:00.002-05:00

I am so thankful to have married a man that's not only a wonderful husband, but also a wonderful father.

Some questions I asked Jack this morning (ripped directly off my friend Melanie's blog...)

What's your favorite thing to do with daddy? (I asked this several times & got different answers.)

-Playing Candyland.

-Playing Spiderman.

-Playing the racing game.

-Having piggyback rides.

What don't you like about daddy?

-When he hits me. To which I replied- "Daddy doesn't hit you!" and Jack said, "Sometimes he does when we play!" Whew.

-When he does crazy faces & scares me.

What do you call daddy?

-Stinky head.

How does daddy make you happy?

-He hugs me & kisses me & tickles me & does his chores.

Photo Shoot!

2009-06-11T21:39:00.003-05:00

Cookie cutter kiddos.

Puddle Walk

2009-06-02T21:40:00.003-05:00

Jack, enjoying the aftermath of a torrential downpour.

And, what was Annie doing, you ask? Just hanging out.

Dan Zanes!

2009-06-02T08:22:00.004-05:00

We went to Chicago this past weekend to visit our friends Brad & Amy & to see Dan Zanes. We all love Dan in our house. His music is fun & thoughtful & not really kids' music at all. Most of our dance parties, of which there are a lot, are to Dan Zanes tunes. The show was amazing, as expected & our trip was so much fun. Even the car ride was great- very little crying & Jack got to test out the DVD system.

Waiting for Dan to come out!

Jack wanted to go down to the front right away to dance.

Very different from last year when he cowered in my arms for the first half of the concert.

Dan & his crazy hair.

Beautiful Boy

2009-05-31T21:13:00.003-05:00

Picture courtesy of my friend Gillian. I only wish I could take pictures this amazing.

The Whole Family

2009-05-27T21:49:00.004-05:00

ps- John got me my own computer (a Macbook- are you jealous?)- yes- my OWN computer. So, I might be posting more frequently...

Keepin' It Real

2009-05-17T20:00:00.002-05:00

I've only been a mother for almost 4 years. One thing I learned very quickly is that motherhood & worry seem to go hand in hand. For me, it started with my pregnancy with Jack & I'm very prepared for my children to be in their 50s & still be worrying about them in my 70s & 80s.

I was convinced everything under the sun was wrong with Jack. He had very good head control from birth, so, of course he had stiff neck syndrome (yes, that is real!). I thought he was autistic countless times. Epilepsy- check (of course, this one was confirmed by EEG & neurologist- however on the day of that confirmation the seizures stopped with no meds or intervention- God's extreme kindness to our family). Perhaps my silliest conclusion was when Jack was 6 or 7 months old & I thought he was deaf. Yes, deaf. I would walk around the house sneaking up on him & clapping my hands behind his head just to see if I could scare him. I even woke him up from his nap once by yelling his name in his ear. Nope- not deaf, just psycho, worrying mother on the loose.

With Annie I think I've been worrying a little less. However, my mind has been obsessed with Rett Syndrome. My sister-in-law's cousin has this & I also ran across a blog not too long ago of a woman with a daughter with Rett Syndrome. It's a devastating disease & strikes girls almost exclusively. You don't know they have it for a while because they develop normally & then start to lose skills.

So, a while ago Annie rolled over from her belly to her back for the first time. She did this several times, but until yesterday (when she did it just one time) hadn't done it for a while. Instead of rolling over, she prefers to scream bloody murder until I roll her back over onto her back. Being the calm, rational person that I am, I start thinking, oh, no!! She's losing skills. She's regressing! Something, of course, is terribly wrong with my baby!

I was sharing this with a friend who just stared at me & said, "Andi, she's fat. It's hard to roll over with that much junk in your trunk."

If you've seen Annie lately, you can confirm that she is, indeed, quite the chunk. She's robust. Not only does she have junk in her trunk, but a beer belly, thunder thighs & cankles. Perhaps she's just figured out instead of working hard to roll over it's easy, and more fun, to scream at her mother.

I know it's normal to worry about our children. I know I won't ever stop, but it's always good to have friends to bring you back to earth. So, thanks Melanie, for keepin' it real.

Theology With a 3 (almost 4!) Year Old

2009-05-14T21:53:00.002-05:00

It's tough to talk spirituality with a 3 year old.

I was talking with Jack about prayer. How prayer is how we talk to God. We pray together every night before bed- it's pretty sweet to hear him. I told him that God can give him things that mom & dad can't. Peace, patience, etc. I gave him the example of praying in the middle of the night if he's scared.

His response was, "And then Mom, God will come & cuddle with me?".

Tonight we were reading this book before bed (great, beautifully written book by the way) & we got to the part where Adam & Eve are turned out of the garden, but God says he'll be back for his children.

Jack turned to me and said, "Oh Mom, I guess God just had to go run a little errand or go to bed."

These both made me giggle.

John Brown, by John Hendrix

2009-05-06T20:19:00.002-05:00

Click here to see a post about John's new book. The preview copies arrived in the mail today. It is absolutely beautiful & I am so proud of him!

Purge baby, purge

2009-04-28T08:47:00.002-05:00

I am feeling overwhelmed with junk in our house. Not things that I picked out & loved, but junk. Junk from garage sales, junk that was simply on sale so we had to buy it. Junk. I've been inspired by some friends to purge & organize.

Yesterday I told Jack if he got rid of 15 toys, I would buy him one toy that he really wanted. It was hard. He immediately went to the bin of Annie's toys & started pulling things out to get rid of. I kept suggesting toys to get rid of & all of a sudden they were his favorite, really special toy. He ended up doing really well & I got rid of the horrible, plastic Thomas train tracks that haven't been played with for a year, so he'll get his new toy.

Last night when Jack was asleep I went to the basement & filled a huge Goodwill box with even more toys that he won't miss. Now I just have to keep him away from the box until it leaves the house.

I've also made a few guidelines for myself. No more garage sale toys just for the sake of cheap toys. If it's something I think the children will still play with a month from now, then I'll consider it. But our house is littered with someone else's junk just because it was a dollar. And I won't buy any more clothes that I don't love. A $5 t-shirt from Target isn't a great deal if it makes me feel even more frumpy than I already feel daily. And, at the end of our toy purge, if Jack gets a toy, he has to get rid of 2 toys. We'll see how long I stick to these guidelines. I just don't want our house to be overrun with stuff that I don't like & is taking up what little space we have. Besides, Jack has more fun outside blowing bubbles & throwing rocks than playing with plastic toys.

All that ranting to say, go purge some junk from your life today! It feels good!

Picture Page

2009-04-20T20:44:00.004-05:00

Annie's eyes officially turned green about a week ago.

Now Jack is the only one with blue eyes.

Post bath cuddle time. Jack is obviously having fun.

Tummy time.

Chunky monkey & full of cuddles.

Calling All Crock-Potters!

2009-04-14T18:05:00.000-05:00

Do you use your crock pot? Do you have a favorite recipe or two you can share with me? Two children means not much time to prepare dinner. We're starving over here!

No, He's Not Giving You the Finger...

2009-04-09T21:40:00.005-05:00

Here's a photo of our favorite household web-slinger. This costume is one the little klepto borrowed from his friend & we still need to return. (Seriously- the kid loves to "borrow" things. Stash your silver, hide your cash!) Sunday morning at Sunday school he was slinging webs at the teacher. Someone better teach that kid some manners. And, no, those aren't crocs on his feet, they're rocket boots. Get that straight before coming to our house!

Some of my favorite recent Jack quotes include:

"Mom, will you snuggle with me in my bed? I need some of your warm stuff. I'm cold."

"Mom, you have to do bed time, Daddy is too sparkly (AKA- scratchy)."

"I love you Elasta-girl." This was whispered in my ear while giving me a big hug. Yes, I am a superhero too.

Annie is battling her second ear infection in 3 weeks. Same baby, different ear. Little stinker. She's also been rolling over from her front to her back, batting at things, and wearing cloth diapers. I just love doing laundry, so I thought I'd give cloth a try. I actually really like them. I feel like I'm saving money & she looks super cozy in them.

Jack & John's Morning Coffee

2009-03-28T22:01:00.003-05:00

Yes, that is coffee in Jack's cup. Heavily weighed down with milk, but coffee just the same. The kid has drunk cold, black, day-old coffee that was left over in the carafe. He's making up for my dislike of coffee I guess.

It was Spring Break this week. Jack was dressed in costume every single day. He was either Buzz Lightyear or Spiderman. You really have to swallow your pride when you are dragging you child out of Target while he's screaming, "Money! Money! Get some money for my toy!!", dressed as Buzz of course.

I also heard myself say, "You don't shoot webs at your mother!" to Jack this week. I really am a mom!

But, I find myself wishing I could freeze Jack as this exact age for while. He's so weird & so funny. He hasn't developed the social self-consciousness yet (as evidenced by the public outings in costume & the web flinging at strangers). He thinks I'm so cool & I know that won't last for much longer. And the kid smothers me with hugs & kisses all day long.

No Sugar Coating Here!

2009-03-25T21:43:00.002-05:00

I was watching a mom & her 4 kids at the playground today. She kept directing them to pose while she took pictures. She obviously wanted to get a sweet picture of her cute kids, not a photo of her son hitting her daughter because she was stealing his chips while the baby is crying in the background. I wanted to tell her that the latter photo was much more interesting than the one she was trying to manufacture. It's much better to just tell the truth without the sugar than to convince yourself of a reality that doesn't really exist.

So, here at Peek-a-boo, I'm not going to sugar coat our existence with a new baby.

We love Annie. Love her to pieces. Her smiles melt my heart. I'm eagerly anticipating that first laugh. But, truth be told, we're not having a whole lot of fun.

Annie cries a lot. A LOT. If you knew Jack as a baby, that's how much she cries, especially when she eats. She cries more after she eats than before when she's hungry- just like Jacko. Annie won't take a nap unless we hold her. Not a real nap anyway. A 20 minute nap, but nothing substantial. This means no break during the day at all. And, when she's awake, you have to pay intense, direct attention to little Miss Annie.

We're tired. We're cranky. My house feels really, really dirty. My son is watching way too much television. I've cooked very few meals since the baby came home. John & I have spent almost zero time together.

But, all that aside, we love this little girl. I savor those sweet smiles so I can remember them when she's screaming her head off. I reassure myself by looking at photos of Jack as a baby- I need to remind myself that this time passes & we're left with a fun, fun girl. Then, we'll have another one & start all over. Surely baby #3 is the easy one, right?

3 Months Old!

2009-03-24T08:49:00.002-05:00

Sweet Annie K is 3 months old today!

Beautiful Girl

2009-03-24T08:48:00.002-05:00

Jack's Most & Least Favorite Person in the World

2009-03-02T22:23:00.003-06:00

This is Jack & Ava Belle (beautiful photo taken by Emily, not me!). Jack asks to play with Ava Belle a lot & they usually end up fighting like brother & sister, except, apparently when they dress as princesses.

My hunch is that this photo will be displayed at their future wedding...

Sweetness

2009-03-01T22:44:00.002-06:00

We've had a bit of a rough day at our house. A mama that feels sick, a daddy that is on deadline, a baby that's acting like, well, a baby, and a little boy that is realizing more & more that things have changed for good in his world.

But, I love this picture. Especially Jack's cute face. When I look at it what I see is baby Jack in the chair & big Jack in the red shirt. It's amazing how much Annie looks like Jack as a baby.

An Open Letter to the Crazy Lady in the Ultrasound Waiting Room

2009-02-21T12:26:00.002-06:00

Dear Crazy Lady,

I'm sure you had the best intentions. I'm sure you were just being friendly. I'm sure you weren't passing judgement on the sweaty, frazzled, overwhelmed, practically in tears mother of the baby bomb sitting next to you.

Yes, I said baby bomb. Because, Crazy Lady, not all of us have babies that sleep when they're tired & are happy all day. Some of us walk around on edge with baby bombs that are ready to explode at any minute for no reason at all. They don't sleep well in their cribs, they cry while they eat, and they make going out in public a bit of a nightmare. We love these baby bombs because we know that someday they will stop exploding & they'll be happy for more than 10 minutes at a time, but still, when they are loaded we're a bit tense.

So, Crazy Lady, perhaps asking me if my screaming 8 week old is "spoiled" was not the best thing to do. Perhaps, telling me, while I'm waiting to get an ultrasound of my infant daughter's hip for what feels like the zillionth time, that I'll spoil her if I hold her too much, was a bit harsh.

And, perhaps turning up the television so that Tyra Banks was blasting all of our eardrums so you could hear her over the crying that is taking place next to you, made the baby & the baby's mama even more tense. Or did you not notice?

Crazy Lady, don't inflict your craziness on any other unsuspecting mothers. Perhaps, just perhaps, they are already stressed out enough.

Thank you from the Peekaboo Management.

Jacko

2009-02-13T12:43:00.002-06:00

My New Favorite Photo

2009-02-11T11:26:00.001-06:00

Whaz Up!?

2009-02-11T11:22:00.001-06:00

Brother & Sister

2009-02-02T10:22:00.002-06:00

Crazy Baby

2009-02-02T10:18:00.002-06:00

Annie gets pretty wild when she's released from her brace!

We've been getting tons of smiles & coos. It's pretty great!

Three Things I Don't Understand About Babies

2009-01-26T09:04:00.002-06:00

They poop when they sleep.

Ummm...aren't you sick if you poop in your sleep? Annie does it all night long.

They sleep when they eat.

I like to eat when I eat, not sleep.

They don't sleep when they're tired.

I could fall asleep anywhere at any time. Not so with either of my babies.

Mothering Two: What I've Learned in One Month

2009-01-19T13:13:00.004-06:00

First- notice the name of the blog has changed. I've officially named it Peek-a-boo Two. Thanks to Kevin for the suggestion. You've won a very special prize. You're the official baby holder from the hours of 2am-4am. Congratulations!

Annie has been with us for almost a full month. That's hard to believe. We're all still going through some serious growing pains.

I've learned a lot of things in a month. It has mostly been a month of crushed expectations.

I've learned that just because you had a terribly, terribly difficult first baby, doesn't mean you're guaranteed an easy second baby.

I've learned that the second birth is a lot easier (and in this case, a lot faster!) than the first.

I've learned that when your first baby has reflux, chances are your second one is going to have it as well.

I've learned that it's a lot easier to change a boy's diaper than a girl's.

I've learned that I'm no good at asking for help & I'm not any better at accepting it.

I've learned that it's a lot easier said than done to nap when the baby is napping. Because, when the baby is napping you also have to shower, eat, pick-up, play with your much ignored older son, throw in a load of laundry, and steal a quiet moment to think. (oh, and write blog posts!)

But, I've also learned that my heart can expand to love another child. That this new love doesn't steal from the old one I have for Jack, but it multiplies itself to include another precious one.

I've learned that just because your baby cries a lot doesn't mean she isn't lovely & lovable.

I've learned that Jack is just as sweet & compassionate & sensitive as I have always suspected.

I've also learned again & again that I love being a mom. I love my kids more than I ever thought possible. I love to watch them sleep. I love to cuddle with them. I love to comfort them.

I told Jack the other day that I was a lucky mama. I got him for my birthday & Annie for Christmas. I've learned that my kids are the best gifts I could ever be given.

Brother & Sister

2009-01-12T16:18:00.003-06:00

Jack really loves his little sister. All of his angst about being ignored has been taken out on us thus far, not Annie.

You can also see Annie's little harness in this photo. Because she was so big she wound up with hip diplaysia. Big babies don't tuck well in the womb, so sometime their hip sockets don't fully form. She has to wear this 23 hours a day for at least 6 weeks, probably more. We're hopeful that this treatment will take care of the problem & we'll be able to avoid casts or surgery later down the road. She doesn't mind the harness at all- I think it's mostly annoying for us.

The Difference of a Year

2008-12-29T15:41:00.003-06:00

I believe that God renews & redeems. I believe that God mends broken hearts.

Last year on December 23rd we began to lose a baby that we had hoped & prayed for & already loved.

This year on December 23rd I went into labor.

Last year on December 24th we sat with friends, weeping as I continued to miscarry.

This year on December 24th, our daughter was born.

Last year on December 25th, the miscarrying continued as we tried to plaster on happy faces while our hearts were breaking.

This year on December 25th, we spent a quite & joyful Christmas in the hospital, getting to know our little girl.

Last year on December 26th, the doctor confirmed that the baby was gone.

This year on December 26th, we brought Annie home.

My heart still grieves the loss of last Christmas & I believe it always will, but at the same time my heart has fallen in love again with the arrival of this little one. I don't believe the timing of this was a coincidence. I believe it was perfectly planned by the one who perfectly loves us.

Annie & Daddy

2008-12-25T16:05:00.002-06:00

I'm pretty sure John is already Annie's favorite!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T01:28:00.002-06:00

We received the best Christmas present ever yesterday morning with the birth of our sweet little girl.

Anneli (said Ana-Leigh) K Hendrix arrived at 6:04am on December 24th after an incredibly swift & intense labor. Annie surprised everyone by weighing in at a whopping TEN pounds & measures 22 1/4 inches long.

We're resting at the hospital until Friday when we get to go home & be a new family of four!

From the mouths of babes

2008-12-19T10:59:00.003-06:00

This morning Jack stumbled into our room & started to crawl into bed next to me. He suddenly stopped & walked over to the crib saying, "Mama? Is there a baby in there yet?"

Looks like everyone around here is just waiting.

Eating my words...

2008-12-17T09:44:00.002-06:00

I had publicly predicted that I would no longer be pregnant as of the end of last week.

Well, it's the middle of the next week & yes, I am still very pregnant. Darn.

I hit my due date tomorrow, yet I already feel as if I'm overdue.

Yesterday my doctor said he didn't expect to see me at my appointment next week & I told him that I didn't expect to see him this week. He figures one of us is bound to be right at some point.

Sleep gets more & more elusive each night. I never thought I'd say I was ready to have a baby just so I could actually sleep again, but I am! I figure this baby won't possibly sleep worse than Jack who woke every 2 hours or less for the first 8-9 months of his life. Surely that won't happen 2 times in a row...

Where is baby?

2008-12-10T21:08:00.002-06:00

I was certain we were going to make a trip to the hospital last night. But, we're still here & no baby in sight. I've had a hunch that the little one is coming this week, but I'd like to make it to next Monday.

Things have been progressing just like they did with Jack, which is why I think the baby is well on its way. As of yesterday I am 3 centimeters dilated & feeling contractions every day. They are mild & don't hurt, but there.

I got very sad yesterday about the baby coming. I'm so excited to meet this little one & so excited to find out who's been rumbling around in my belly all these months, but I feel as if I'm already mourning my alone time with Jack. We've had so much fun together lately & it feels strange to be stepping into the unknown again. I'm just trying to enjoy our time together as much as possible right now.

Overheard in the Hendrix house this weekend

2008-12-06T20:42:00.002-06:00

Today while I was putting Jack down for his nap he said:

"Mama, you're so cute."

"Mama, you're the best."

"Mama, you're beautiful. Mama, I am too."

My favorite quote of the weekend was when we were pretend playing "airport" and he said, "Mama, the pilot needs to snuggle." while climbing onto my lap. Lately he needs to snuggle about 15 times a day. Perhaps it's because I'm so pregnant that having the thermostat set at 65 feels warm to me. The poor kid is a popsicle.

I'm not sure how I got the sweetest kid ever, but I'm sure glad I did. Feel free to stop by if you need a boost from Jack.

Rename This Blog!

2008-11-24T15:28:00.002-06:00

John posting:
Major programing note- This blog will need to have a new moniker once baby number two gets here. We can't keep calling our family blog 'peek-a-boo jack' without giving that kid a complex. Lets have some ideas people!

An offering to start:

Ursula Smursula

A Whole New Jack

2008-11-23T20:06:00.002-06:00

He wears underwear & pees in the potty.

He stays in our church nursery without screaming (this has been an issue since he was 13 months old- one of us pretty much had to stay with him in the nursery for the past 2+years!).

He tells stories, volunteers & requests songs in Sunday School (and somehow it always ends up being hysterically funny- at least to John & me).

He goes right to sleep most nights without calling us in 100 times.

This has all happened in the past 3 weeks.

November has been a big month in our house.

4 more weeks!

2008-11-20T13:22:00.002-06:00

Well, my due date is 4 weeks from today. Hopefully not too much plus or minus those 4 weeks. It's hard to believe that we'll be meeting this little one so soon & that very shortly we won't be able to imagine life without him or her.

Diapers are bought, the crib is set up & now we're just waiting!

Potty Mouth

2008-11-17T10:08:00.002-06:00

If you've ever been around a group of moms, then you know that a common topic of conversation is their child's potty habits. Somehow, a totally unacceptable & gross topic of conversation becomes completely normal & fascinating. Everyone has their diaper blow-out stories, potty training stories, etc, etc. I could tell you the pooping habits of my closest friend's children. Gross, but true, and not at all unusual.

Well, now it's my turn for some potty talk.

I've been trying, unsucessfuly, to potty train Jack since this summer. It was a big deal for him to move from diapers to pull-ups & he met the change with much resistance. Well, it turns out that pull-ups are diapers in disguise. We got to the point where Jack would tell me he needed to go to the bathroom, I would tell him that I would take him to the potty & he would smile & say, "No thanks mom. Maybe later. I'll go in my pants." He would really only sit on the potty for his grandma.

So, this week we did a big countdown to take away the pull-ups. He was not happy about this. I made a paper chain that I rigged (of course!) so that we would run out of pull-ups & chains on Wednesday night. This meant there were no more pull-ups & he had to wear his underwear. (I'm going to miss the days when I can rigg things to my advantage. One day soon he's going to catch on.)

Well, the boy has been wearing underwear since Thursday (with the exception of sleep times) & he's had ZERO accidents!! And, yesterday at church he actually went poop in the potty. He was sitting & told me he needed a diaper to poop in. I told him I didn't have any & he would either have to go in the potty or hold it until we got home. He paused & said, "Okay mom. I went." And he did! Then we called John out of Sunday School to come take a look. The 3 of us threw a poop party in the bathroom & last night had ice cream for dinner. (I had promised him that we could do this a while ago to celebrate the 1st time he pooped in the potty.)

This is a huge success for us. I can't believe it's been so easy so far. I totally expect some set-backs, especially when the baby comes, but right now I'm just enjoying this.

So, that's my poop story for the week.

Perhaps I need to duct tape the child's mouth shut in public...

2008-11-13T18:28:00.003-06:00

Jack & I were at Wal-Mart for over an hour today at 5pm, when I'm pretty sure the store is the most packed. I hate Wal-Mart. I rarely go there. It's overcrowded & hot. Really, really hot. But, I had to get our tires changed because, once again, I got a flat tire while John was out of town. Bummer.

Anyway, Jack & I were hanging out in the toys & a woman with an abnormally large bottom came walking by. If you took the average ample American bottom and multiplied it by 10, you might come close to what we were looking at.

And then it happened. The inappropriate comment from my son.

"Mama! That lady has a big bootie! Mama! Mama! Look! I like that big bootie!!"

This was of course said at the top of his lungs while pointing. He was thrilled at her bootie & pointed it out to everyone within hearing distance. I didn't know what to do, so I just picked him up & walked away, but I couldn't stop giggling myself...

Thank you friends!

2008-11-08T23:46:00.002-06:00

Thanks everyone for your kind words on my belly photo. Those are nice to read as I am rapidly growing out of my MATERNITY clothes! But, truth be told, both times I've pretty much liked the way I've looked pregnant (up until that last month when you get bigger than you ever thought possible!).

To answer the Jack question, he usually says the baby is a sister. But, he also says that the sister is growing in HIS belly, along with a brother. It's just a sexless baby growing in my belly according to Jack. Most other people think the baby is a girl, including John & my mom. I have no inkling either way. I think I just assume it's a boy because I've already had a boy & that's all I know. (And, I love little boys!)

Jack has also told me that he wants the baby to sleep in his bed with him. If it keeps me from waking up a zillion times a night like I did for months with Jack, I think it's a great idea!

My Little Pirate's Booty

2008-11-05T11:23:00.002-06:00

The Belly

2008-11-03T20:23:00.002-06:00

As requested, here is a photo of my gigantic belly, courtesy of my friend Emily. Only 6 more weeks to go. Ack!

Halloween!

2008-11-03T20:15:00.002-06:00

We had a great time on Halloween. Jack got to go trick-or-treating at school & at night. I can't believe how much candy that kid brought home. I had to carry his plastic pumpkin because it was so heavy.

We went trick-or-treating with our friends the Holcombes. Ava Belle was dressed as a rat & Jack was dressed as a pirate. They both made themselves right at home at the houses we visited & dug through pretty much every candy bowl, helping themselves.

Best Mom Moment of Today

2008-11-02T23:08:00.001-06:00

Unprompted I love you's. Jack gave me at least 10 today, followed by lots of kisses. So sweet.

30 Weeks

2008-10-11T22:11:00.002-05:00

I'm now 30 weeks pregnant. 30 weeks. That means I'm having a baby in 10 weeks, or less, or more. December doesn't seem soon, but 10 weeks seems way too soon. I'm excited to meet this little one, but feel like the time is bolting away, there is so much to do, and I'm not quite ready to mother a newborn again. Of course, Jack was born 3 days past his due date & even as I was in labor I thought, "aren't I supposed to have more time??" My goal is to have everything major finished by the beginning of December. I'm pretty sure that won't happen, but I can try!

I had another ultrasound on Thursday. The doctor wanted to make sure the baby was big enough (even though I've been measuring big & look big, to me at least). The baby is currently in the 60th percentile & weighs 3 pounds 11 ounces already. That seems big to me since I do have 10 weeks left & that's when the pounds start packing on. I'm hoping a 10 pound baby doesn't come out to greet me in December.

And, we're fairly certain by this most recent ultrasound photo (which I will post soon) that this baby is Jack's twin. I seem to be winning the gene war. At least Jack's a cutie. That bodes well for the rest of our kids!

Two of my new favorite photos

2008-09-21T21:18:00.003-05:00

Jack, holding John's new book. I love this picture. I think he looks like a doll.

We have about 5 photos of the three of us all together since Jack was born. I'm glad this one is a good one!

Thank You Varicella Vaccine, for Giving My Son the Pox

2008-09-13T12:36:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's true. Jack is apparently one of the 3-5% of people who actually get the chicken pox from the vaccination. We've delayed all of his vax, but I've been slowly catching him up on them. Two weeks before school started he got the varicella vaccination so he wouldn't get the chicken pox.

He now has the chicken pox. Nothing like I had as a kid- I was covered from head to toe. He has about 30 spots, no blisters, no fever. He just itches. It's supposedly not contagious, but I've still quarantined us, just in case. The worst part has been sleep. He's been sleeping so great for us, but the past 2 nights he's been in bed with me & up every hour or two because of the itching.

If You're In St. Louis...

2008-09-12T08:08:00.001-05:00

You should come to John's book release signing tonight. It's at Subterranean Books in the Loop from 6-8pm. Come by & buy a book or two, or three, or ten...

Barack Obama

2008-09-10T17:26:00.002-05:00

I swear we haven't been brainwashing the kid, but he likes to walk around saying Barack Obama over & over again. He thinks it's pretty funny. So do we.

He also doesn't care at all that I've been leaving him at preschool. I'm grateful not to have to deal with the tears & trauma that I was expecting, but I guess I thought he'd miss me a little bit!

In other news, I feel as big as a house. Yesterday the doctor said I was measuring a centimeter more than they would expect me to. I told him it's because I'm having a 12 pound baby. This kid feels way lower & way heavier than Jack. And, as a result I am way more uncomfortable than with Jack. So goes baby #2 I guess.

First Day of Preschool

2008-09-08T09:26:00.004-05:00

Jack went to his first day of preschool this morning. I was expecting lots of tears from both of us, but we both had big smiles & dry eyes when I left. I already feel anxious to go pick him up so I can see how his day went!

Would you like to see what's been growing in my belly??

2008-09-02T19:58:00.004-05:00

Yep, that's our baby! This was taken about 3 weeks ago at 22 weeks. I'm almost 25 weeks along which means I only have 15 weeks to go before we get to meet this precious little one.

Hopefully you can tell what you're looking at in these photos. They are both head shots. We only had the regular ultrasounds with Jack, so these seemed pretty shocking to us when we first saw them.

Jack is very excited about being a big brother & really likes the babies at our church. Most days he wants a brother, and for a while he would tell us he wanted a brother named Lyla. Two weeks ago he told my friend he wanted a brother named Jesus. Last week he didn't care about the name, but he definitely wanted a sister. He's either going to be disappointed with the name or the gender!

We're looking forward to our Christmas baby.

Jack's latest obsession

2008-08-15T13:46:00.003-05:00

Jack loves Buzz Lightyear & his Woody doll. He talks about them non-stop. We have a rule that Buzz is not allowed to sleep with him- no talking toys in bed. But, he tucks Woody into his bed right next to him every single night.

Strange Dreams

2008-08-11T21:53:00.003-05:00

Jack has been having nightmares the past few nights. He keeps dreaming that it's raining inside. Every night before he goes to sleep he says, "Mama, don't let it rain inside!" And then, he wakes crying in the middle of the night telling me that it's raining in the living room.

Poor kid.

9 Years Ago Today...

2008-07-24T17:34:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

2008-07-14T11:10:00.002-05:00

Breaking News!

2008-07-09T07:50:00.002-05:00

This is really only breaking news to us, but, Jack ate grapes on Monday night. Yes, you heard me, we're hooting & celebrating because my almost 3 year old ate not one, but 7 or 8 grapes!

I can honestly count on one hand the amount of fruit Jack has eaten since he went off baby food. A bite or two of banana, a sliver of strawberry, and one whole blueberry (that was over a year ago). He refuses to touch the stuff. But at dinner on Monday John & I were eating grapes & Jack yelled, "I like grapes!", took a bite of one, shivered & made a funny face & then ate the rest. John & I cheered & he kept on eating them. He even ate some yesterday.

The excitement never ends around here.

This Is the Messiest You Will Ever See Jack

2008-07-01T22:35:00.001-05:00

Jack, enjoying some cookie dough. This child never intentionally gets messy, except, apparently, when cookie dough is involved.

Looking Forward & Back

2008-06-20T08:28:00.000-05:00

I am not a mom who doesn't want her baby boy to grow up. I look forward to the day when we can play board games together, watch a movie on a rainy afternoon, and read chapter books together. I love each stage of Jack's life more than the last. I love hearing the next new thing out of his mouth & I love watching him interact & discover his world.

That's why I was surprised when I felt sad after we took apart his crib & put a big bed in his room a few months ago. My baby boy will be 3 years old next month. And, as much as I look forward to the years ahead & all he'll experience, my heart feels sad at all that will fade away.

At this point in his life he is completely honest. The idea of telling a lie doesn't occur to him. He says it how it is without hiding anything he's feeling. And, he believes everything we tell him.

He loves his momma & daddy. He's so excited to see us, to play with us, to make us laugh. He loves to hold our hands & wants 10 hugs & kisses before he goes to bed. I will hug & kiss this boy as many times as he wants because I know the day will come when he'll not even want me to tuck him in, much less kiss him.

He can't hide his excitement. When he sees something new or something he loves, he yells & points & laughs & wants to tell me all about it. And I will listen as long as he wants to talk to me.

Sometimes, I feel so much love for him that I think it will make my heart burst. Before he entered the world I didn't know it was even possible to love someone so wholeheartedly knowing that they can give you nothing but themselves in return.

And, I think about him becoming a teenager and I hope he still likes me. I hope I can still make him laugh.

I want him to be free to grow & explore & become the man he's going to be, but I also want to hold on to him so tight & hope that he'll never leave because he is my baby & he'll always be my baby. I know I have a long time before he's all grown up, but I also know it's going to go so much faster than I ever thought possible.

So, I try to savor the days we spend together. I try to listen to him when he talks, get on the floor when he asks me to play with him, and kiss & hug him until he doesn't want anymore.

Too Much Curious George

2008-06-17T14:12:00.002-05:00

I went to the doctor yesterday. Jack knows my doctor. He knows my doctor's name. He's seen my doctor many times & never says anything to him or in his presence except, "Great job Mama!" (Everyone needs to hear this after having their feet in stir-ups!)

Yesterday when my doctor walked into the room Jack shouted out, "Hi Dr. Monkey!" My doctor asked what he said & he yelled out again, "Hi Dr. Monkey!" and giggled.

There's an episode of Curious George where George is Dr. Monkey. Apparently this made an impact on Jack. At least my doctor thought it was funny too! And, I'm very glad the man doesn't actually resemble a monkey.

This is what happens when he dresses himself.

2008-06-04T20:47:00.004-05:00

Jack picked out his own clothes this morning. Suede boots (perfect for a 90 degree day), ratty sweatpants, and his Easter sweater vest from 2 years ago. He obviously gets his fashion sense from his daddy.

What More Could a Boy Want?

2008-06-04T20:31:00.006-05:00

Trucks, baby animals & snowcones!

I Forgot to Mention...

2008-05-28T14:32:00.003-05:00

that John got me a Wii & the Wii Fit for Mother's Day. Pretty much the best gift ever from the best husband ever. I'm off to headbutt some soccer balls & panda heads while the child naps.

I Might Stop Blogging About Sleep Sometime Soon

2008-05-20T08:09:00.002-05:00

Today we have an appointment at the St. Luke's Sleep Center with pediatric nurse extraordinaire Nancy Burkenmeier. We've visited her once before when Jack was 8 or 9 months old & waking up every hour. Last time it took us 3 months to get in. This time they had an appointment the next day. She gave us a plan to follow & he was happily sleeping through the night in less than a week. I kind of knew myself what to do with an infant, but just needed her to kick my butt to do it.

I, however, have no idea what to do with a kid who is almost 3. Do we let him cry it out or will that freak him out so much that he'll really never want to sleep in his bed again? All I know is that the kid has no idea how to relax & go to sleep & it's up to us to help him with that.

We really do have other things going on in our lives. I really do have other, much more exciting things to blog about. But, the sleep issue is so all-encompassing that it's hard to write about anything else.

So, hopefully coming soon will be a sleep success story, photos of the Dan Zanes concert we went to as a family (I had been looking forward to this concert for almost a year & it rocked), and some other cute photos of the boy.

Adventures in Sleep

2008-05-08T21:47:00.002-05:00

The sleep saga continues in the Hendrix household. We're quickly approaching the month mark that we took Jack's binkies away. We soon realized it wasn't the staying asleep that was a problem, it was the calming down enough to actually get to sleep that was the issue.

I started off very adamant that we were not going to rock or rub him to sleep. After much screaming that has been thrown out the window. Now I just want him to sleep & I seem to spend my entire day trying to get him to sleep.

We ended up moving him out of his crib & into a twin bed. That helped a lot. I think he felt trapped in his crib. But now we've started having to lie down with him just to get him to fall asleep. If this was a quick process, it wouldn't bother me so much, but tonight, for example, it has taken an hour and a half. And the longer it takes him to get to sleep the more fidgety he gets & the more he wants done for him. He "needs" lotion, kleenex, water, a different friend in bed, his toenails clipped (yes- he has asked for this several times), his socks on, his socks off, a different blanket, and the list goes on & on.

I am going crazy. I actually found many grey hairs on my head this week. I'm putting a call into our trusty sleep doctor tomorrow & am hoping she can help us with a plan.

I Broke My Son's Heart Tonight

2008-04-16T20:22:00.003-05:00

The binkies are finally gone. Yes, my 3 this July, walking, talking boy still slept with his beloved binkies. Today he happily traded them in at the toy store for this cool piano. Needless to say, the piano is of little comfort at bedtime. He told me to take it back & get his binkies.

This is by far the hardest bit of parenting I've done thus far. Harder than letting him cry it out at 8 months. Harder than taking the bottle away. Harder than dropping him off at his mother's day out program while he wailed for yet another kiss. He cried & cried like his little heart was breaking & I feel like the worst mother alive.

Another reason I love this kid

2008-04-12T17:41:00.002-05:00

So, I took Jack to the bookstore tonight. St. Louis has decided, after teasing us with a taste of spring, that it is, indeed, still winter. So, we escaped the house for a while & went to read some books. Jack loves the bookstore. Okay, in reality Jack loves going to just about ANY store, but he really loves the bookstore.

We sat in the kid's section to read. There was another boy surrounded by Thomas the Tank Engine books & other "boy" books. Jack decided to sit down and read this. Now, I'm not a huge Thomas fan- I find him rather surly & mean, but surely he's better than Barbie! Right?

The other parents grinned at me as I read to Jack about all things Barbie. When were were done reading he pointed to the pretty, sparkly Barbie & yelled, "Mama!"

I said, "Where do you see Mama?"

And he once again pointed to Barbie & said, "There! That's my Mama. So pretty."

How can I argue with that?

A double post is tacky, but the only thing that seems appropriate tonight!

2008-04-07T23:41:00.003-05:00