Language explosion

It's safe to say that Jack is fully lingual now. It started about a month ago when something seemed to click overnight, and has steadily grown since then. Last weekend while I had a cold (thought it was allergies) I took him in the car with me for a short trip tinking it would knock him out for a nap.... no.... he talked the - whole - time. Non-stop. About everything. Including the dirt on the side of the road. And when I was allowed to go through the traffic light because it had just turned green.
Yeah, he's lingual finally. And it happened all at once.

Kinda' a Surprise

:) I love my husby. He's so good to me!
Last night was the (overdue) 30(1)st 'surprise' party. I say 'surprise' because I had to bring the ice and keys so he could get into his office and cake knife... lol. Also, Dory knew... and well, she's a great secret keeper, I tell you! All week long it was, "There is NO PARTY, Mom."
However, the scope was a surprise, who was a surprise, etc... and may I say, it was wonderful...
I had the BEST cake I have had since my wedding cake. Period. To boot, it was GLUTEN FREE. AMAZING. I made myself absolutely sick on the sugar. And then had more when we got home.

Anyway, I'm rambling - and a picture is worth a thousand words.

Blogoversary!

I made it yet again. :) 3 years strong chronicling the kids and my life. Sure, there are holes, especially recently, but this is the first time in my life I have made it very far into journaling... so I think I'm just going to be darn proud. ;-) (Even if I have been a MASSIVE blog slacker lately.)

Dory Panic and Jack Cuteness

Part 1: Dory Panic
It was about 2:30am and Dory had been calling me to come and fix her covers. I headed upstairs and fixed them, but in the process she had woken up Jack so I went to feed him. A moment later Dory decided that she had to go potty so she got up. You see, here is where I had a normal heartbeat. Then it happened... as she was fiddling with the baby gate...
flash
boom... rummmble
Abby whimpers into a long whine, in her "I'm so scared of the storm" voice.
Dory: Abby, maybe you need to sleep with us.
Um, no. When the mattress is on the floor, for some reason I do not want the dog next to it, something about the small kids and the dog's ...
Abby: whineeeee.....
whining that makes me worry about...
Dory: Abby, it's to late to go outside, you will have to wait.
Silence. My heart stops.

You mean... she could, in the middle of the night when we are all asleep, wander outside on her own? Why yes, she could. It's her normal task now to put Abby outside to go potty. She can open locked doors without too much problem. My 4 year old could wander outside all by herself while I am asleep at 3am.
I had been half asleep, now my heart has started back a little too fast for it's own good.
So, my daughter is smart... and her smartness and right decision brings to light a situation I had never even considered that horrified me.
Thanks sweet pea, way to give Mommy nightmares.

Part 2: Jack Cuteness
7am, John has just left after a sleepy conversation, Jack has started to stir
You know how you can feel little eyes staring at you? I gave Jack a little nosh and decided to roll back over and finish sleeping. Jack got up to play. I thought.
Jack: Mama?
I peek one eye open and see him squatting in front of my face looking at me. Wow that was a clear sounding 'Mama'...
My one eye closes, sleep takes over...
Little fingers are suddenly felt on the just closed eye, working hard to gently pry it back open.
Jack: Mamaaa?
It has finally happened to me. I got my eyeball pried open.

I did it. It's done.

He no longer looks like a girl. I cut his hair. I have forever lost the last of the baby. It looks okay, I did it myself. Yes, this is all about me. Now I am off to cry.

Jack is speaking!

The last few weeks, starting with the Please, has been a boon of words. He has added 'Up', 'Cheese' and 'Ball' as well. I think there are more... but at the moment I forget them.

ETA: 'Fish'

Professional Photos

Went, in the end, really well today. They had a very auspicious start though. Dory only smiled after the warning of an impending spanking. Made me so sad, she would not respond to any of the other offers. Oh well. I don't do this often anymore and we were already getting pretty late on the scheduled one for Jack.

Peas?

Pease? Peaserrr?

Jack learned to say 'please' over a piece of banana on Saturday. I swear it is the cutest sound ever, as he rips at his shirt with the also new sign language please.... makes my heart melt!

And tomorrow is for our Princess Dorothy

We are taking her to see a Castle. She knows we have a grand adventure planned, but not where we are going. She has seen pictures of Biltmore Estate the past few days laying around. She even pointed out that the castle has a crown on. Seriously, it does! She mentioned while looking at the pictures she found that one day she would like to go there.
Well, Friday her dream comes true of going to see it. We are so excited for her. We plan on telling her as soon as we get the car loaded for the day. Taking as she sees fit, we will follow her lead for the day. If she wants to run around the gardens, we will. If she wants to stay in the house, we will... If she wants to just sit and stare at it... um, ok, we'll have to get her moving then.

Happy Birthday Princess Dorothy. Your very own castle for a day.

Weaning

What a trade, Mommy Milkies for Hot Chocolate. Two months shy of 4 years, and we are both ready. (Me a little more so, I think.) She's proud to have a real grown up drink, and I am proud of the time she was able to nurse. It's been a LONG weaning process (2+ years), but I feel like it was very well worth it.

Happy Birthday John

35 looonnnnnnngggggggggg years.

Dory wants to throw you a surprise party. She said we had to invite Craig. And Emily and Megan. And all your friends. And bake you a cake. :)

Signs

Clear as a bell Jack joined the world of sign language with the sign for 'More!' tonight in reference to apples. I can't wait to see him do more signs. There was no mistaking this sign from him! He has done several others, like bye-bye, but they are small and poorly timed usually, this one was perfect!

First Blood

Jack decided it was time for his first bloody nose last night. He crawled up onto the couch and did a frontward full flip into the toy box and onto the floor over the side arm. We both jumped sky high, he was MAD and bleeding from the nose... but perfectly fine. *sigh* And it begins. I have pics of his pseudo busted upper lip, I'll post them when I get them downloaded.

Standing up

Dory did it when she started walking. Just stood right up in the park. Jack slid it in on the sly. Yesterday he was playing in the morning and out of the blue didn't crawl to something to stand up, he just stood up after touching the rockers on the chair. This evening as he and Dory played a rough game of get the ball he did it several more times. So, somewhere in the past few days, he snuck that milestone it. He is free standing it now. Quite the accomplishment ya' know. His sister took a whole 1 month more to do that! LOL

Walking, talking and teeth

He got good today, we did some long overdue house cleaning and he just took off. No toys in his way to stop him. Zigging here, zagging there... stopping, turning and heading in a new direction... chasing the dog, chasing his sister, always chasing mommy.

He is also trying very hard to say his sister's name. It' so cute. Half the time is also mans the dog, but hey, it's still cute.

On the bottom, 4th tooth, on the left if you are facing him. :) Poor kid, so many teeth recently.

Teeth

he has new ones! One lower on the right and two one year old molars are working overtime.... his gums are so swollen right now. We are flying through teething tablets, he loves them and they really do seem to work.

Walking

More and more the last day or so, so much that I feel good about saying "He's walking!" In fact this afternoon he followed me down the hall all the way from the kitchen. He fell 2 steps before Daddy could see it... quite the feat for him. So, it's official, he was walking before a year!

New Tooth

yet another one, the 7th, on the bottom.

First Words

Jack decided to say something other than mama and dada today. He said 'bye-bye' as he was waving! It was clear and repeated more than one. All that while he had a raging fever today. It came and went throughout the day, and a rash cropped up on his abdomen but began to fade as quickly as it appeared. No other symptoms, just a wimpy, clingy, cuddly and overtired feverish kiddo who decided to start talking.

Dory's First Official Tea Party... and I think Mommy's too!

Amy had a Bridal Tea on Friday, the afternoon of the Rehearsal, and Dorothy and I were invited (Jack too, but we pawned him off on Daddy). Dory was so very well behaved, I was so proud of her. Our Hostess was wonderful and the food was amazing, absolutely beautiful! Dory enjoyed every last bite...

(I apologize to the lovely ladies in this picture... you are all way more beautiful than the awful pose I caught everyone in.... especially Amy.)


The flower girls and Dory were so very well behaved, and became fast friends.


One of the first real Dory pictures in quite awhile...


Then we get this protest. lol