Happy Birthday Kbo!!

Kevin & Jack 2 years ago today. Kevin's birthday, Jack's birth-day.
We love you Kevin.

The 30's are breathing down my neck...

Another 30 post. I a little over a week I'm sure there will be a 3rd 30's post.

I started feeling very down this weekend about my impending 30th birthday. That feeling kind of snuck up on me. I was feeling strange about the birthday, but not down until then.

I think I thought 30 looked a lot different than it does. It signals "adult" to me, but most days I sure don't feel very adult. I think I expected to feel more accomplished. I expected to have a career I was proud of (I'm sure mostly in case I run into someone I went to high school with! That's silly.), to have my Master's degree, and to be finished having kids. That's not the case for any of those things. None of those things really matter, I know. I have a husband & son that I adore and friends and family that love me, but I still feel down about 30.

Don't be surprised if you see me out clubbing this week. I've got to live up the rest of my 20's!

Breaking News!

Last night at dinner Jack willing ate his first green vegetable. He ate the top off of a piece of broccoli. It completely blew my mind. He will occasionly eat mushrooms if covered in cheese in a quesidilla, but he has refused every other vegetable that isn't completely pureed. We were so happy we gave him a big round of applause.

Mommy Ass

This summer, every time I put on my bathing suit, the mirrors in my house scream in horror. I'm not sure what it is about having a baby, but your whole body rearranges itself. Even if your back to your pre-pregnancy weight (and I'm not, but we won't talk about that...sore subject), things are just in different places than before the baby. And yet, it's summer, so I yank on my suit and try not to think about the view everyone gets of my behind as I chase Jack around the pool.

And chase him I do, because this kid loves the pool. The first time we went this season he was freezing, visably shaking, and still threw a tantrum when we pulled him out. And every time I dress him he walks over to the pool fully dressed & tries to hop back in.

I've wondered if I should just give up & get the swim suit with the skirt down to my knees. I'll skip the cute, sassy skirted suits (of which I've seen a surprising amount- they're not your grandma's suits anymore!) and really go all out.

I've also noticed a demographic lately that I will call the "Hot Moms". I would call all of my mom friends hot moms, but "Hot Moms" are different than your usual run of the mill hot moms. "Hot Moms" don't appear to have had any children. "Hot Moms" don't get mommy ass. I saw a "Hot Mom" at the pool today with a six pack. I kid you not. An honest to goodness six pack. My first thought was, "she seems nice, but I think I might hate her!" I think "Hot Moms" are probably genetic freaks, but they still manage to make every other mom in the pool feel a bit more insecure.

So, hug your wife today & tell her you love her mommy ass. If she's been to the pool today, she would probably like to hear it.

Funny Boy

Jack does a lot of really funny things every day. Here are two for your reading pleasure from today. Keep in mind, jokes are much funnier when in person...

I got Jack some new shirts today. It was time. Most of his from last summer have slowly become belly shirts. I handed him the shirts in the car and he smiled & yelled, "Wow! Wow!". Then tried to put one of them on while strapped in his carseat. Those of you who know Jack know that he loves to talk about his shirt (and your shirt!) almost as much as he loves to talk about his shoes.

I was putting him to bed tonight & we were rocking in his room. He asked me to sing to him & while I did he sat facing me trying to shove his pacifier in my mouth while giggling the entire time I was singing. I was trying to wind him DOWN, not up. I don't think it worked very well.

ACK!!!

I turn 30 in less than one month!!!

My awesome husband

Check it out. On newstands now. The new Paste magazine with the kickin' cover.

http://johnhendrix.blogspot.com/2007/05/paste-cover.html

Summer is here!

Jack loves the water. We filled this sandbox up with water, because we don't have any sand yet. He was in it for a long time. John put his slide in it so he could slide down right into the water.

Thanks Tirzah, for salvaging the turtle for us!

Dinner, Dinner and Dinner

Jack ate 3 dinners tonight. One at a friend's house. Then he ate what I made him when he got home. Then he wanted some of John's dinner, so I made him a bowl of that. Today he also had 3 mini smoothies, two bowls of cereal, 2 bowls of yogurt, some soup & bread, a PBJ sandwich, a fruit bar, half a granola bar, and lots of milk & water. I'm sure there were some crackers & sweets thrown in there as well that I'm missing. For the past 2 or 3 weeks he wouldn't eat anything. Literally, he would only drink. I guess he's making up for it.

If you can't find us, look in Jack's belly. He probably got hungry again and gobbled up his mom & dad. Piggy.

Bird is NOT the word...

MAMA is the word! I can't believe I haven't blogged about this yet. The one word I've been waiting for is finally being said with great regularity. Jack is finally saying Mama. It started last month when John was taking him out of our bedroom & Jack turned to me, waved and said, "Bye-bye Maaaaa."

Now he says it all of the time with only the occasional "da" thrown in (at least Das that are directed towards me & not John). He pats me and says Mama. He waves to me when he's playing with John and says, "Hi Mama!". He repeats it over & over & over when he wants me to pay attention to him.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled. I honestly thought he would be speaking in complete sentences and I'd still be nameless.

Just because...

I haven't posted a photo in a while. That's because these are the only ones I get these days- Jack reaching for the camera. Check out his shoes. Baby crocs. He talks about them all the time & chases down other kids on the playground wearing crocs. It's pretty cute.

Creeping Crud

Jack has hand, foot & mouth disease. Or mad hoof disease as we affectionately call it. We think it sounds like something only stable animals get. Well, apparently babies & toddlers get it like crazy too. There's nothing you can do except quarantine your child & wait it out while the little bumps spread & spread. So, that's what we're doing. Mama needs to see some friends soon or I'm going to go crazy!

I do have some small comfort in knowing that it's not the chicken pox. I remember having that as a child & I think a toddler with the pox would be horrible!

Jack drops a bomb...

Last night, I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth & running Jack's bath when he comes into the bathroom. He was completely naked except for his Cardinals cap. My first thought was, "hmmm...this seems kind of dangerous...", but I dismissed it as Jack said bye-bye and closed the bathroom door. A few minutes passed and I opened the door to leave and what was waiting for me? A little present from my boy on the floor.

Now that I think about it, I'm wondering why I was the one to clean it up when John was the one who let him run around naked in the first place. I guess it was bound to happen at some point!

(You can thank me later for not posting a photo of the moment...)

Done and done

I did it. After wanting to do it since I was in the 7th grade, I did it. I got a nose ring. John got me a gift certificate to a piercing parlor for Christmas & it's just been sitting there, waiting. And people have been asking when I'm going to do it. So, I told my friend if she cut all of her hair off, I would get my nose ring. She did. And I did. I just needed a push.

I would post a photo, but my nose fell off.

Don't tell my mom.

Purse wars

Much to John's chagrin, Jack loves to carry a purse around. It's not just any purse. It's a small, black, patent leather purse that he swings over his shoulder, puts his hand on his head (so the purse doesn't fall off said shoulder) and runs around screaming. John took him to the park this evening and a fit ensued when he tried to take the purse away from Jack.

I don't see the big deal. Babies like to push & pull & carry things. John is going to try to find a more manly bag for him. Meanwhile I think he's going to bury the patent leather purse in the trash.

(What I forgot to mention is that this afternoon he had the purse & a little pink baby stroller that he was pushing around outside in front of our house...I tried to get a photo of this, but wasn't fast enough.)

Dinner Time!

Jack loves Playdough these days. He yells "DOUGH!!" and runs to get it from the cabinet.

Photo Attempt #2

My dad dropped this off on our porch the other day. Jack loves it. He gets in & out of it all day long. He shouts "BYE-BYE!" and runs & climbs in the car. The other day he got in with my keys, cell phone & a travel coffee mug. Smart kid...

Photo Attempt #1

Okay...let's see how fuzzy this one is. I love when Jack is wearing his pjs. He's so cuddly. You can see the fridge open in the background. He likes to dig around in it & pull out snacks.

Candid Confessions

I'm already giggling to myself about my play on words in the title of this entry. It's not clever at all, but it's cracking me up.

You might have noticed a lack of pictures in my recent blog entries. Jack & I were at a birthday party back in March. He was cranky & when I started taking photos of the birthday boy he perked up & wanted to see the camera. So, of course being the smart mom I am, I handed over our $400 camera. He proceeded to drop it on the floor. Oops.

The photos started to look strangely out of focus to me after that.

I finally confessed to John about a week ago. I thought if I just ignored it, the photos would improve. No such luck.

So, I will post so photos soon. But, they won't be very crisp or clear unless a camera miracle happens!

Moms let their kids do dumb things just to keep them happy.

Tears, tears, tear

Good grief- did anyone watch American Idol tonight? I only caught the 2nd half. I was crying in the first 2 minutes when they were with the AIDS victims in Africa. Then Josh Groban came on to sing the only song he knows (You Lift Me Up, obviously) with the African Kids Choir and I was bawling so hard I had to turn the cheese-muncher off. When I finally get back to watching it an hour or so later I see all of those kids with malaria & the tears started rolling again.

I still don't know who got voted off. I did enjoy the Simpsons mini-episode & think Kelly Clarkson looks good with her long dark hair.

If I could write something that didn't sound cliche about the sadness that was shown tonight, I would, but I can't...

Smart Boy

Jack said his first 3-word phrase on Friday.

"Bye-bye diaper poo-poo."

This, of course, was after I changed his poopy diaper.

The makings of a genius.

Crazy Dreams

I can tell when I'm really stressed about something when it infiltrates my dreams. I've been really stressed about Jack's eating. At 21 months I still can't get him to eat any fruit that isn't in baby food form & vegetables have to be hidden in soups & such. I think he is eating a smaller variety of food now than he was at a year old.

So, last night I had a dream that my friend Tirzah gave him a banana and he ate the whole thing. Whenever Trizah sees Jack she offers him fruit & vegetables, in my dream it finally worked.

In the shower this morning I suddenly thought, "oh wow! Jack ate a banana yesterday!!" Then I realized that it was just my dream last night.

Too bad...

Hello everybody, so glad to see you!

Above is the name of Jack's current favorite song. I made the mistake of playing the CD that they gave us in his music class in the car. I wanted to know what it sounded like. Jack is stuck on the first song. He asks me to play it over & over. I probably listened to it 50 times today or more. I wake up singing it. It drives me crazy. BUT, I have made up some fun little stories to go along with the people who say "hello".

First we have clueless Papa John and Suspiciously Chipper Mama Lynn. (the song tells you your name- when we sing it at his class the children's names are sung instead, of course!) Next is Intentionally Ambiguous Gender child with his/her clear as a bell voice & slight lisp. Then we have the sprightly Inappropriate Uncle Jerry (now you know why Mama Lynn is so annoyingly chipper...) followed by Grandma Yvette with the hacking smokers cough. John and I now can't help but laugh every time we have to play this song.

The good news is that anytime Jack hears a song he likes he asks for it to be played over & over & over & over. Thus, we've also listened to Holla' Back Girl about a million times, along with some choice Leigh Nash & Over the Rhine tunes.

He's just like his mama. When I hear a song I like I play it a zillion times until I can't bear to listen to it again.

Zoo fun

We spent the whole morning at the zoo. Jack spent a good deal of time stealing cheerios from Rob. We came home red-cheeked & tired. A good way to spend the morning!

Kevin- the polar bear is for you!

Thanks Dad!

We came home yesterday to find a bag full of balls & this basketball hoop waiting on our front porch. Jack was very excited.

This post has nothing to do with Jack

I just went to The Container Store. I had to wipe the drool off my mouth when I left. It opened at the beginning of March, but I've been avoiding it because I know a trip to that store can lead to some unexpected charges on the credit card. What is it about a store full of containers that makes me go crazy?? I'm not particularly organized, but I do love little bins & buckets. I was good & kept my hands in my pockets. It just about killed me.

I have many, many guilty pleasures. I love People magazine. And who needs a Snickers bar when you have semi-sweet chocolate chips in the house? My deepest, darkest, dirtiest guilty pleasure is my secret love of chick-lit. I avoid these books at all costs (okay..most costs) because I believe they make me dumber. I don't need any help in that department these days. I think they rot your brain more than any trashy romance novel does. But, God help me, Sophie Kinsella just came out with a new Shopaholic novel & I want to get my hands on it. Seriously, a book with Shopaholic in the title? What's wrong with me? I'm also a sucker for a Maeve Binchy novel. And, this one might actually be worse than the chick-lit one, when we were in New York John and I used to sneak over to the Olive Garden. This only happened 3 or 4 times over the course of 4 years, but we really did sneak. It was right by his school & we would make sure no one we knew was around before we popped in. We always fooled ourselves into thinking the food would be good. But, I've never liked eating at the Olive Garden. I don't know why I thought I would like it then. It was just more expensive in New York, it didn't actually taste better.

All of this to say, I have a new one. A new guilty pleasure. America's Next Top Model. I used to hear people talk about this show & think they were crazy to want to watch it. I thought that about Project Runway too, until I watched it and fell in love. Project Runway filled the void that was left when Survivor jumped the shark & now ANTM is filling the void until Project Runway returns. Who knew reality television could be so good? I won't over-analyze my love for this silly show, but I think it's partially because I love any before/after makeover show. I usually don't take our Tivo suggestions, but I'm glad I checked this one out.

So, now I've exposed myself on my blog. Fitting since I exposed my son on the last post.

Because it's more fun to shop when you're naked...

A Little Poll...

Are any other kids having trouble with the time change? I thought we were in the clear. On Sunday night Jack asked to go to bed at 7:30, his normal bedtime. But, since then it's been 8:30 or later that he's going to sleep.

On Monday we went out to eat with some friends & when we got home at 7:30, Jack was finally hungry for dinner. He ate a whole sandwich & some yogurt & was still babbling and yelling in his crib at 8:45. Tonight he didn't eat until after 7 & I don't think he went to sleep until around 8:30 or so. When I put him to bed I thought for sure he was going to be up a while since he had been running around the house like a madman.

Don't get me wrong, I love getting up later, but it still seems awfully late for him to be going to bed!

On another note, Jack has been the greatest little boy ever this week. Hysterically funny. He's been giving us a running commentary on everything, all day long in his cute babble-speak. I have no clue what he's saying, but he's saying something! And he has been trying to make us laugh. We both really felt like he had been grouchy the whole winter. It's like we have a different kid. We've been able to be outside a lot- I'm sure that helps. And John has been with us all week since it's Spring Break. Jack loves it when the 3 of us are all together.

Photo Extravaganza

Jack & I are finally both feeling well. It only took 2 1/2 weeks, 1 trip to the doctor, and 2 prescriptions, but we're over the sick hump! Here are some photos of our days.

This photo makes me laugh. Not because it's funny in and of itself. Because it makes me think of my friend Kevin. Once, when we all lived together, and Laura was out of town, the boys stocked up on bachelor food (think fake crab meat, chips & anything with garlic). We were watching a dumb, dumb movie (Shawn of the Dead- I was disappointed that I was unable to sleep during this one) and Kevin came into the room with a huge plate of Oreos. HUGE. John & I just stared at him and his cookies until we all laughed. Jack was born on Kevin's birthday & I like to think he takes after him in small ways. Like the way he found the Oreos & started stealing them from the cabinet. And I think he might be almost as funny as Kevin. I'm waiting for him to develop a fondness for crab meat any day now!





Jack loves the bath tub crayons. My dad taught him to draw on himself so he actually comes out of the bath dirtier than when he went in.





It is finally warm in St. Louis. We've spent a lot of time outside the past few days. This is John & Jack at the best playground ever.





On Saturday morning Jack crawled up onto the couch & fell asleep. He's never done anything like that before. He's fooling us with those dumb pacifiers. Now I believe that taking them away won't be so hard if he willing falls asleep of his own accord, on the couch, in the middle of a bright room.

House Work

Here are 2 photos of some of our cosmetic house improvements.

This is our new couch. We love you new couch!




This is the color we're painting the living room. So far just the one wall is painted. But, we're planning on doing the rest this week. It only took 4 cans of paint to find this color.

Our Adventures

Okay, so there aren't really any "adventures" to speak of. Just a few cute stories.

Yesterday Jack & I walked to the Loop to go to the library & the post office. As I was about a block from home, I noticed one of his shoes was missing. Gone. Vanished. Not in his stroller. So, I turned around & headed back towards the Loop. In hindsight I should have gone home & gotten in the car as Jack had already been in the stroller for 45 minutes & was getting mad. But, I walked, thinking it was close. And I walked. And walked. Still walking. Right across the street from the PO was his little blue shoe. Lying on the sidewalk. I put it on him & turned back around to head towards home, again. By this time he'd been in the stroller at least an hour and the screaming started. He screamed the rest of the way home. I even gave him a chocolate cookie. It didn't work. I imagine we were quite the sight. A sweaty mama & screaming baby holding a cookie.

Jack & I have both been sick for a while. So, it's been tv-land & paci-land at our house. Yesterday I felt so bad & was so tired that I just sat down & cried. Jack was very sweet. He walked over, patted me, and handed me his paci. I guess he thought a suck or two would make me feel better too.

And, story number 3 isn't really a story, just a sweet moment. Jack usually sits in my lap while I dry my hair. He likes to watch us in the mirror together. But, today he was just piddling around our bedroom behind me while I was using the hair dryer. Then he stopped, leaned over my back, and gave me a big hug. He probably did that 10 or 11 times while I was getting ready. Then he would smile & chat with me. I loved it.

Tall Man???

The other day we were at Jack's playgroup. (Which, if I haven't already whined to you about this in person, has been canceled for the rest of the school year. I don't know what we're going to do. It was our morning outing at least one or two days a week. Our Parents as Teachers is severely understaffed, so they had to stop the group. I'm so sad. Jack loved it- he would just run & play & jabber with the other kids.) Anyway, at the end of the group they sing songs. Jack loves this. He bounces along with the singing, claps at the end of each song & then signs "more" so that we'll sing more songs.

The leader started singing "Where is Thumbkin". I didn't really remember this song. I certainly didn't expect her to go through all the fingers. I couldn't contain myself when she got to the middle finger & started singing "where is Tall Man?" while giving everyone the finger. I looked around thinking, surely I'm not the only one who thinks this is funny, right? But everyone was just singing along, giving each other the middle finger and helping their toddler do it too. I guess I need to brush up on my kid songs!

Decorating fun

We did a little more decorating in Jack's room the other day. You can see our handiwork on display- the new shelves, blocks & bird counting cards. Yes, he is sitting unattended on the dresser. That's what all safety conscious parents do!

John has been away for four days. He comes back home tonight. Jack & I have both missed him, but have had lots of laughs together. And lots of cuddling. And very few tantrums! Hooray! But, we're both tired & ready for him to come home.

Jack & Grandma

Jack loves his Grandmas more than any other people on earth. My parents babysat on Thursday & when we came home we were treated to a few surprise shots on our camera. This is Jack & Grandma sharing a sweet laugh. Enjoy.

An Open Letter to Winter

Dear Winter,

Oh Winter, where did we go wrong? I remember eagerly awaiting your arrival. You meant warm, fuzzy sweaters, hats, cookies & cocoa, soup by the fire, and, of course, Christmas.

But Winter, you have overstayed your welcome. We are tired & bored with you Winter. We long to see our old friend Sunshine. We miss the park, the grass, the birds. We're tired of wet shoes, slushy sidewalks & runny noses.

Winter! Our skin is dry, our hair is full of static, our toes & fingers are so cold. We are tired of being your frozen prisoners. We have cabin fever and need to be free to run & play & sing again!

Don't make us beg Winter, please just leave quietly and invite your cousin Spring to come and stay awhile.

The Hendrix Family

Sweet cheeks

New Toys

U.City has a great toy library. I checked out this water table there. Jack loved it. He even likes to stack in the water. He pulled the step stool out of the bathroom himself so he could stand on it.





Jack also had his first encounter with Playdough. One thing we learned- Playdough & water tables don't mix!

Tickle your eardrums....

Jack is not only enjoying my keys in this photo, but also Dan Zanes. He's every parent's answer to the Wiggles & Doodlebops. When I put him on Jack ran around on the couch jumping & screaming. He has 4 short little videos that show on the Disney channel that Jack dances to over & over.

Other music I've enjoyed this year include the Ditty Bops (not kid's music & not the Doodlebops- they are quirky & fun). My favorite new band of this past year is called The Weepies. Possibly the most terrible band name ever, but the music is delightful. Check them out.

Fun times

This kids loves to stack.

For your viewing pleasure

Fun with paints- just like daddy...




I miss his arms when they go into hiding for the winter.




This is the newest style with toddlers.




Jack & John love to hang out together on our bed.

He Speaks

Jack's first official phrase is "bye-bye balloon" which was said as his Trader Joe's balloon floated off into the sky. Of course in Jack-speak it sounds like "bye-bye bbboooo".

Mama, or anything referencing me, is still strangely missing from his repertoire of words.

So Sweet...

Jack loves to clap. He loves to clap for himself. He loves to clap for other kids. He claps defiantly when I say no & he means YES. And, he claps when people clap on the radio.

He fell asleep in the car this afternoon on the way home from church. A Prairie Home Companion was on, so there was a lot of clapping. He fell while some music was playing & when it stopped he woke up to clap along with the audience & then fell asleep again mid-clap. John and I couldn't stop laughing. It was just so sweet.

Uh-oh

Not only is uh-oh one of Jack's all time favorite words, it's also what I thought at his 18 month check-up on Thursday when the doctor's response to my question about when to take away the paci was NOW. They used to say later, but the dentists said 18 months is the right time.

So, this is going to happen in the next few weeks; when I get the nerve. And he just started sleeping through the night again! I'm scared and preparing myself for a lot of screaming that first night...

(but, how about my gross photo of paci soup??)

It's a beautiful, sleep-filled world

We're living in bizzar-o land at the Hendrix house. Not only has Jack slept entirely through the night the past two nights (yes, I know, not a big deal for your average 18 month old...), but he's slept until an obscenely late hour in the morning. On Saturday he slept (in his own bed too!) until 8:30 and this morning until 7:30. Both times when I went in he was just sitting there playing with his pacis.

I never thought 7:30 would feel like sleeping in, but it does!

So, if you call and we don't answer it's because, quiet possibly, we're living in an alternate universe where babies love to sleep.

Kitty????

Kitty, come play with me!!!!

That Mom...

I've been THAT MOM numerous times this week. We've all seen her. She's at your local supermarket, Target, mall on a cold and rainy day, pushing a shopping cart or stroller with a serene vacant stare on her face as her child throws a fit. And you wonder, why doesn't she take her kid home??? I found out why this week. Because if she did she would pull all of her hair out.

Jack threw a tantrum in Target when I put him in the seat part of the cart (he was previously in the big part & wouldn't stay sitting down, so the 100th time he almost pitched over the side I forced him into the seat). He screamed & screamed & screamed until I finally held him in the checkout line. All I knew was I couldn't go home or we would both have meltdowns. He's also been hitting me all week. If he was stronger I would have little tiny fist marks all over my face. We both need the weather to get nicer so we can run around outside.

This week as I've been grappeling with how in the world I'm supossed to discipline a toddler who doesn't have any impulse control to begin with, I've been concentratrating on not wishing away his toddler years, or rather toddler months. I know the time will come very soon when I'll miss his sticky little hands in my hair & I'll miss when the whole world was waiting for Jack to discover it. We get a thrill with every new thing he does & every new word he tries to say. He's learning so much right now it blows my mind. Yet, weeks like this are trying. I think if he could say the words he would say he hates me this week.

And so I ask God to give me the grace to raise my child gently, with patience and love and not with the frustration I often feel that makes me feel like such a bad mother. And I get blessed with dance parties, laughs & bath time at the end of each day.

Drinkin' Time

As I said before, Jack loves to drink in the tub. He just sits there and drinks from different cups & bottles for about a half hour. I think maybe I shouldn't let him drink his bath water, but he loves it so much!

Brush, brush, brush

As you can see, we're working on tooth brushing at our house. This photo might actually convince someone that Jack brushes his teeth, he's really just playing with the water though.

Yesterday was rotten. It seemed to be one mishap after another. I figure we were due for a bad day though since Jack has had a string of deliriously happy ones. I think he's working on those 2 year molars. Nothing makes him happy for more than 5 minutes & he sticks our keys all the way in to his mouth & chews on them. This morning I'm taking him to get blood drawn. He doesn't know it's coming...poor kid...

Bath time was great as usual though. The best time of the day! I've decided to call it bar time since Jack mostly sits and fills up cups of water & drinks them down. No wonder he wakes up in the middle of the night with such wet diapers!

Stay tuned for a year in review of all things baby Jack...I think I might do a best of list...I'll have to see if I have any energy in the evenings!

Nifty Gifties

Jack was sufficiently spoiled this Christmas. I already feel sorry for any other children we have. They'll get Jack's old toys for Christmas. We gave him an all terrain wagon. We'll all have fun cruising the neighborhood in this pimped out ride.




My dad made Jack & Connor amazing easels with a chalkboard on one side & a place to hang paper & draw on the other. At first Jack was more interested in climbing inside the easel, but got very excited once he figured out how the chalk worked.




And, the hit of Christmas is this tunnel from Jeff & Marcy. Welcome to our house of fun!

Blond boys

This is Jack & his cousin Connor looking pretty cute!

Our New House

We're all moved in & mostly unpacked. Just don't look in our basement. It looks like a box explosion. I didn't realized when John was throwing empty boxes down the basement stairs that he wasn't later breaking them down. Oops... Enjoy the photos!


The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...






Our newly painted kitchen






Jack's room

Home Sweet Home

We are officially moved in to our new house! We are living in boxes of course. I never knew how great it was to have a basement. It makes all of the clutter just disappear.

Jack has no idea what's going on, so it's been tantrum city over here. The Charter guy just got to view a full fledged 30 minute tantrum complete with arms & legs kicking. He'll adjust soon. The two of us are going a little stir crazy having to wait around the house all day for service men that may or may not show up. So, feel free to pop in- we'll be here!

Bye-bye 7131 Amherst

This is the current state of our apartment. Boxes & boxes, lots more to pack & movers arriving at 8:00 tomorrow morning. Every time we move (and that's been 5 times in as many years) I'm amazed at how much stuff we have. Stuff we don't need. At least now we'll have a basement in which to store all that stuff. I've vowed to weed things out as I unpack this time. So, come spring be prepared to venture over to our killer garage sale.

Jack left with his grandma this morning. I'd been looking forward to doing some hard core packing, but haven't gotten as much done as I had hoped. I think I'm more productive when Jack is around keeping me company. I always look forward to the quiet, but when I have it, I don't quite know what to do with myself & feel as if my favorite little friend is missing.

My motherhood failures...

You know things are bad if Jack has the paci. Not just bad, terrible. This is a daytime sight that is never seen in our home. Jack with the paci. It's for sleeping only. Not today. I gave in. The incessant screaming over the past few days became too much for me to handle.

If you know me, you know my disdain for the pacifier. I hate it. Really, really hate it. I think I'm as fixated on hating it as Jack is on sucking on it. I see kids running around with pacis in their mouths & it turns my stomach. It really does. I think because I fear that Jack is still going to want it when he's 3 and 4 and 5. And, it makes me mad that a little piece of plastic somehow offers him more comfort than his mother who grew him & nursed him & hugs him & loves him. I wonder if it's akin to smoking for babies. I wonder if kids gain weight when the paci is taken away like people do when they stop smoking.

As you can see from my paci rant, it's been a horrible morning. I went to a women's group at church and had to leave early with Jack, stopping to sob in the bathroom for about 10 minutes on my way out. And then in the car. And then at home. He's been a crank for the past few days. I'm wondering if those 2 year molars are already making their way to the surface, because he just cries & whines & fusses all day long. Or he could be bored. Or just out of sorts. Our house is in boxes & we spent the weekend shuffling around between friends & family due to the power outage (during which all of our food spoiled!). Maybe he just senses our stress. I wish he could tell me.

I really love Jack & don't like to complain. I love spending time with him, but when we have a few days like this in a row I tend to lose my fragile grip on reality!

So, I've been self medicating with Diet Dr. Pepper & if we had chocolate, I would be eating that too. In fact, if I knew of a box in which I had packed some chocolate, I would find the box & dig it out.

My boys

This is, by far, the best photo I've captured in a long time. We spent the night at my brother's house. Jack & John slept until 8 am!! It almost looks as though they're faking sleep for the camera.

Nomads, Saints & Indians

We spent the past few days being nomads due to the ice storm & consequent power outage. We spent the day with the Gordons, much to the delight of Elliot & Jack (and mama) and had a slumber party at my brother's house. We also spent some time in the snow. Enjoy the photos!




Jack loved being pulled around on the sled.




The boys sledding together.




I think this is a funny photo because it appears Jack has pushed Elliot over in the snow. In this case, that is not the truth, although Jack has been known to push & pull & bite Elliot at other times, just not this one.



Jack decided that Elliot needed a little snack.




And, after trying their hand at some cage fighting, our visit was complete!