Monday, August 23, 2010

No longer a baby...

He's a toddler! We went to the Dr. for Jack's 18 month check up. I really like Jack's Dr. He does a great job and is very thorough. I came with a whole list of questions this time and he answered all of them, and really took his time to explain "what the books say" and what worked for his family. (He is a family friend, so I appreciate his practical input.)

This was especially nice as I hid the pacifier, but then caved and gave it to Jack the day he got his stitches out. He was 15 months old and I tried to hold out until we left the office. Dan didn't know that was part of my plan, and the Dr. said "it's ok, my kids were on it after a year too!" I think it's nice to know the ideal, but it's ok if the Dr. does it, right?

Now for the exciting stuff...
29 lbs, 33 1/2 inches tall and his head is still in the 97th percentile.

Jack spinning the Dr. chair!
Before shots...
And after shots (long after shots- you can see his 2 bandaids.) He had 3 shots total and was a TROOPER!!!
Jack and Dan sharing French Silk pie at our friend's house. Notice Jack's REALLY short hair. (Dan did it, while I was playing piano for a baptism Friday night. He really does look older, but looks younger too, all at the same time!)

And the last exciting part of our weekend- a work picnic. Jack and I played on the playground equipment most/all of the picnic. He was so tired by the end. We took a family picture and hit the road by about 5:30.
Jack fell asleep in the car, we moved him to his crib. Woke up at 6:30, I was hoping to eat and play a little, but he didn't make it much further than our bed (Dan and I were relaxing/thinking about a catnap.) 9:30 he was back to his crib and slept the night.
I wish I could do this all day today! Happy Monday!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

SLEEP NEEDED!!!

Happy Tuesday! I am home, laying in bed, blogging before I take a much needed NAP! We took away the pacifier last weekend, cold turkey, and Jack is doing great 90% of the time. The only thing that is NOT going so well is the middle of the night stirring/fits/hysterics (thankfully, usually only 1 huge episode a night). Last night was not so bad so Dan and I both got a decent nights sleep. Aaaahhh! I felt much better this morning. Hopefully we are on the upswing!

A couple of funny stories-
Jack is making all kinds of associations. We went to McDonalds for an ice cream cone. There was a white AT&T van parked in the parking lot- Jack points to it and says "Dada." (It looks similar to Dan's work van. Trucks tend to be "Papa.") Saturday Morning, Jack and I were sleeping in the 2nd bedroom and Jack did the same when Dan blew his nose AND when his alarm clock went off in the morning.

He also is seeing similarities... We have a photo-mosaic poster of YODA in our family room. Jack points to it on Sunday night and says "Papa." I kindly correct him, "no, YODA." The Jesus on our piano also has gotten a "Papa" or two. We are teaching him "Jesus" so there is no mistaking. :)

Jack LOVES to help. He puts things in the garbage, helps to clean up (sometimes), but my favorite helping jobs are with me in the basement. He put water bottles in the refrigerator door and helps me move laundry from the washer to the dryer, or empties the dryer into a laundry basket. I got a great video of this, but I will save you the boredom.

A couple of fun activities from our weekend of no pacifier.

We made cookies together- they were delicious (but probably not germ free-thanks to Jack)

One of Jack's great ensembles- Dan's shoes, PJs, and a different pair of PJs on his head.

Pancakes for breakfast- we tried Peanut butter on one, syrup on another, but he liked the plain one the best.
A swim diaper on his head- he likes to play with our sliding doors!
Just having fun!

Dinner last night

Jack also went to Nursery for the FIRST TIME at church. He did pretty good (he fell asleep during Sacrament Meeting so he was a little out of sorts when he first when in, Dan stayed with him.) After Dan left he did great! Dan picked him up too- I just wanted him to be able to tell me everything he did, instead I had a happy kid! I'm alright with that!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

A lot on my mind...

I'm sure you all care about my inner thoughts- but let me tell you how my night went last night.

I worked, ran to Sam's Club, exchanged our cable box, and made it home. We were home just long enough to get some dinner packed, change into my frisbee clothes, pack a cooler and we were right out the door to pick up babysitters and get to our frisbee game.

We are late to our ultimate frisbee game (not to be confused with frisbee golf)- they changed the time to 6:20. We were never on time when it was 6:30, why would we be on time now??? Dan runs out to play (actually tells me to keep the babysitters occupied so he could go find a tree.) I get all of our stuff, the girls, and Jack out of the car and to the field, where I am informed that I will be playing the whole game because we only have 3 girls. I am used to playing like 1/4 of the game!

As soon as I have Jack settled, I run out to play. We lost 15-13, but it was a great game. A personal best for me! I didn't die (although I thought I was going to when the game was 12-14) and I had 1 "D" (which is smacking the disc to the ground so the other team couldn't catch it, it was a first for me), 3 catches, and one hammer throw to me that I had to jump for, I touched it! That is more than I have ever touched the disc before. I had no drops and one back-hand throw that was pretty good for me.

I was pretty pumped- all I could think to myself is "I might be in the best shape of my life" which comparatively is not really that good. (I am at one of my lowest weights, and I actually run, mow the lawn, and run after an 18 month old all the time, so maybe I am!) It motivates me a little to work harder and add a little more workout into my life- after frisbee is done of course.

Back to last night- We stopped for a cold treat on the way home, took the babysitters home, and then went home to shower and get to bed hopefully before 10. Even as we lay in bed, I was pretty excited until...

I read on my friend's facebook that they were leaving WI. and I crashed. I was an emotional mess! WHAT THE HECK!!! I guess that is one of the side effects of a really good workout- the high and then the low.

Dan and I watched a homicide show to hopefully distract me (and scare me), and I was sleeping by 11. Not exactly how I had planned the evening, but it turned out ok.

I am feeling much more in control today- although I am very tired and very sore. Dan and I might be moving around like old people for the weekend, but it's good because we will be home.

We're going to get rid of the pacifier this weekend. It would be wise to wait until we are both at our best to do this, but we will always have excuses. Wish us luck!

Oh- and all of this after a busy Tuesday- work, mow the lawn, party, city meeting, finish mowing the lawn, and laundry- that I still haven't quite recovered from.

THAT'S MY LIFE. I love my life, but it sure is exhausting some days!

Here's a couple pictures from our party the other day- I think we had 8 moms and 10 kids... or about that. It was a party!



Don't be confused by this one... he still does not eat Fruits & Vegetables, although, he is a little intrigued by some fruits!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Happy Birthday DAN!!!

Dan had a birthday, shout hooray!

Dan turned 28 on Friday. Dan and I celebrated by going to a wedding, Jack spending the evening with Grandma and Grandpa. However, we had lots of time to celebrate on Saturday because Dan had the day off! He went fishing in the morning, played with us in the afternoon, and went to a friends house for a delicious cookout/outside play and movie at night. We're pretty lucky to have such a great dad/husband!

5 things we love about Dan:
1. He is very funny! Always making us laugh and smile.
2. He loves to play- video games, computer games, and board games. He even likes chasing games with Jack around the house, which is very fun to watch.
3. He works hard. Even when Jack and I have a day off, Dan is out working.
4. He likes to grill out for us- Jacks favorite? Hot dogs or bratwurst, maybe even steak.
5. He is very thoughtful- on Saturday he brought something home for me (on his birthday fishing trip-oh yeah, with no fish) AND last night while I was in the grocery store he quickly/secretly went over to the gas station and filled my car with gas. He likes to surprise me once in a while.

Of course we love lots of other things too!
Like, that he went with us to pick up this little kid picnic table from the GHETTO last week. Jack loves it! It still sits in our kitchen for him to play, read, eat, whatever.
This is Jack playing at our friend's house. He loved the water toys, but didn't quite get the water guns. He was just so excited!!!



This is one of our "bad ideas" as parents. Now, whenever we go to the car Jack wants to go in the front door and sit in our seat. It is actually really irritating when we are in a hurry. Will he ever forget how much fun pretending is???


Notice when I ask him to say "mama" he says "dada" every time. But then when I ask him to say "dada", he will sometimes say "papa." :)

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

We love love love...

all of Jack's tricks! He is a smart kid and has really started "talking" the past couple of weeks. He is always surprising us with what he can say and do!

A couple of our favorites...

We're sitting at dinner time- Dan and I fold our arms and start to pray. Jack folds his arms and watches us. Us: "Amen" Jack: "Namen" Us: "WHAT??? (confused look, let's try again...) "Amen" Jack: "Namen" This went on for at least 5 times. Does he say it on his own, no. But soon he will!!!

Dinner at Grandma & Grandpas- He is very off schedule this last weekend so he is just a wild monster! We eat dinner, and Jack is a little antsy, wanting to get out of his chair. I say "Are you all done" and shake my hands (I think that is the sign language for all done- if it's not the real thing, it's our sign language.) He shakes his hands "Ah done." With that, how can you not take him out of his chair and let him play, even though his dinner did not last all that long.

Last night, we finish dinner and Jack is really tired. He needed a bath, and so between his tired cries I say "let's go to the bathtub." He follows me, and on the way says "bath tub, bath tub, bath tub." LOVE IT! In the bathtub he practices dumping cups of water on his head to rinse out the shampoo- he doesn't like when I do it, but he loves to do it himself!

Last story... I promise! Last week we were playing at grandma & grandpas. It was time to go. We said goodbye to grandpa, and I told Jack "we have to say goodbye to Grandma." Jack (knowing that Grandma just walked upstairs) goes to the bottom of the stairs and says "Grana." It was so cute.

That's our fun lately! My new phrase I am going to teach him is "Love you". Wish us luck!

We went to the grocery store- opened the marshmallows while we were there to keep Jack happy- I hate doing that but oh well! He brings them in the house and I put groceries away. I come back to this- he is saying "uh oh, uh oh, uh oh." It was great!!!

He is back to loving his rocking chair and reading books. This was him getting ready for church. Yes the Toy Story milk cup is a nice touch. :)

Playing with the plastic containers at Grandma and Grandpas.

I love to see his excitement for life. We got home a little late tonight from a friends house, and Dan & I just tickled Jack, and tickled him. Jack tries to do "zerberts" back to us, but he's not quite there yet. I just love being his mom!