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.

Kitting for Kiddos!

Ha! In a grand return to blogging, I thought you might like to see some recent pics of Jack and his brand new sweater that has sat in the sidebar for what feels like forever. He was not thrilled with my photo session since he had just woken up from the nap he took on the way home from Church on Sunday. I am so stinking proud of this thing. I think it looks great. One of my favorite things about it is the buttons. They are of the 3 billy goats Gruff, Puss in Boots and Rumpelstiltskin! Completely cute little boy troll fairy tale buttons. I got them at Purls in Asheville.
There were a ZILLION ends to weave in. It will be a long time before I do anything striped again. That was murder. What possessed me to think a striped sweater would be a good FIRST sweater? GAH!

--
Bob sweater, by by Kim Hargreaves for Rowan
The Fibre Co. Savannah DK, doubled, in Lime, Bleu Marine, Linen, Marigold and Rum Raisin (a linen, cotton, wool and soy blend)
US8 needle
--

This just proves there are pictures to be had, even if I have been bad about putting them up! More to come, I promise. Think fall leaves.

All Fun and Games... until...

After everyone else left the party, we still had fun. Pile 'o kids style. Until Dory decided she had enough, of course. Such a big fuss for a little bump. More bruised ego than anything. Jack and LJ (Monkey) were having a blast though!

Happy Birthday to Bailey, as well. It's why we were over there playing, not that we need any excuse.

Pinchable? Absolutely. Kissable too.
As you can see, she just loved wearing her new hat(insert Ravelry link, of course). LOL

Sick Day Story Time

There seems to be some sort of plot to keep us from going to story time at the library. We've been a whopping twice in all the kid's days. Every time we are set and ready to go something happens, like they take a break for a month - or we get sick. Like today. We were all set for the 10:30 story time for Dory, and um, well... she's got a cold. It came on hard and fast last night.
So, I told her we would have our first one right here at home at the same time today.
Here was the program:

A, B, C, D, E by Justin Roberts on Great Big Sun
We handed out the shakey-shakies (egg rattles) and sang our ABCs.

The Z was Zapped by Chris Van Allsburg
Dory named each letter. Jack tried.

Number 1 by Hot Peas and Butter from Jack's Big Music Show, Season 1
Everyone did a boogie dance to the song.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
We talked about the difference between seeds and bulbs.

Mahna, Mahna from Muppet Hits (sorry, no link... )
Tried to clap the rhythm. It's a bit hard...

Hush!: A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho
Everyone joined in on the "Hush!" and we practiced some signs for the different animals and words we knew.

If You've Got 1 by Justin Roberts from Great Big Sun
We did all of the motions the song suggested. :) It was fun.

As they "put away" the rattles I ran upstairs, grabbed a rubber stamp and pad and met them in the hallway as they "left" and passed out pretty yellow daisy stamps to match the Growing a Rainbow book.

Our first mock story time was considered a huge success since Dory and Jack wandered around for 5 minutes showing everyone they could their stamps... including the dog.

oh, yeah...

Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!

His first real soled shoes. Luv.

A boy and his Castle

like I twittered 2 days ago....

Leaving Daddy at work

Jack has had a recent fascination with keys. Standing at the door pointing up at the hook until you hand them over, carrying them around for an hour at a time before he brings them back, attempting to open doors by banging the key against the knob since he can't get it to go in..... and not handing them over when we get in the car.

On Wednesday, just that occurred. Since I was in a good mood, instead of ripping them from his tiny clutches, I asked him nicely for them.

Mommy: Jack, can Mommy have the keys?
Jack: *clutching them to his chest and turning away* No.
Mommy: Jack, Mommy needs the keys so we can go get Daddy... Do you want to go get Daddy?
Jack: Dad?
Mommy: Yes, let's go get Daddy...
Jack: No.
Mommy: Jack I need them for the car to make it go.
Jack: *still clutching to chest* Go?
Mommy: Yes, go get Daddy.
Jack: No.
Mommy: Keys will make the car go vroom vroom!
Jack: Vroom! Vroom! *looks at keys thoughtfully*
Mommy: Mommy has to put the keys right here *points at ignition* to make the car go vroom, vroom.
Jack: *hand out to give over keys* vrooommmm
Mommy: Thank you, Jack. Let's go get Daddy.
Jack: vroommmmmmmm *as the car starts up*

So, Daddy loses out to the car. Poor Daddy. But it was a really, really cute conversation with Jack.

Sleeping

Jack usually wakes up midnight for another nosh. Doesn't bother me, he sleeps in a twin mattress on the floor in the nursery now right beside his sister's bed. Well, this evening when he started to cry, it sounded a bit odd. I didn't know why until I got up there. He was sitting up in bed twisted to the side patting his sister and trying to pry the thumb from her mouth while completely, sleepily, confused as to why she was wrapped up next to him.
She had a hard time going to bed tonight and apparently decided to crawl in with him after I left from putting them to bed.
It was so very sweet to see.

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.

NO! Don't Go!

Grand came over to play yesterday, and we had a great time. Jack was ecstatic to see her, wouldn't even let her go for a half hour once she got here. When Dory finally woke up from her nap she got to play for a good while as well.

When it came time for Gail to head home, Jack gave her a non ending hug, he wouldn't come back to me. (If you know him, you know that can be significant!) Gail asked him if he wanted to go with her, he replied with his 'eh-uh' grunt and a head shake... to us it looks like 'no', but it is his 'yes'. So, she walked out the door with him, and out to the car. We shut the door behind them and watched as they headed out. Dory FREAKED.

"Noooooo!!!!!!! She CAN'T TAKE HIM!!!!!"

I opened the door and said, "Well, then go get him!"

She took off running after them yelling the whole way. When she got there, she was in full blown tears and hysterics.

"Grand!!! You CAN'T TAKE HIM! NO GRAND!"

John and I were standing at the door trying not to loose it laughing. It was so funny, loving and sad all at the same time. Jack just looked at Dory like, 'What's wrong with her?'

Needless to say, Jack didn't go, Dory calmed down and the crisis was adverted. At dinner John claimed the whole scene was beyond his comprehension since he doesn't have a sibling. I understand though. :)

I'm not alone in this world.

Put your coffee down, soda too. You don't want it near the keyboard when reading Mo's New Year post. It could do serious damage.

I am so thankful I am not alone. How in the WORLD did the 50's stay at home mom ever do it? Or is she a completely different breed from the 50's housewife? So far today, I've had success, the kids room was cleaned by 9am. Don't expect it to look like that at 6pm when John gets home. Fat chance.

Food and predictions.

Well, I made it, albit late, to the food co-op pick up this am... and have run to the grocery as well for a few things... It feels SOOOO good to have all of the food. I guess it is food nesting. :lol:
John is running out later to get a shelving unit for out storage closet for dry goods that don't need to go into the deep freezer my Mom just gave us. Woo Hoo!!! It's like our own little grocery out there! *sigh* I'm such a dork.
John is also baking more bread and just made me an apple crisp.... his apple crisps are soooo yummy. And while he is out this afternoon, I'll be baking some cookies. Sound like some serious nesting? I think so.

Anyway, no more news other than more unplugging going on... John asked Dory this am, or last night one, when she thought Jack would come and listed off the days of the week. She quickly responded "Sunday". She's been right many times before, almost a bit psychic, so I believe her. John thinks so too.

Dory's arm seems to be as good as always now.

Evening Update

Blah... no real news other than some nesting has been accomplished. The kitchen has been cleaned up, a few things placed into the attic, went out for cloth for the back door windows so everyone doesn't get to gawk as they drive through the alley, finally put a latch on the deep freezer and put in a thermometer so we can start using it (nesting doesn't have to make sense...), baked by proxy (John is baking bread for me), and several other little things. Now I am going to reformat my iPod since it has decided to botch again (the nanos do that occasionally, but it's not a big deal) and go to bed.

Dory's arm is just a muscle strain and she should be pretty much fine in the morning. I will say thought that today has been one MASSIVE tantrum. Like she is getting the twos out in ONE DAY. You think she knows something?

On into the afternoon...

and there is nothing of note, just more mucus plug and pressure. No contractions other than occasional Braxtons.

Dory however had the most massive meltdown ever in the middle of one of our errands around noon. Ba and I carried her out and in the process might just have sprained her wrist or elbow. She is still melting down so I guess we'll know more after her nap. All I know is it still hurts 1.5 hours later. No, nothing is broken. Yes, she'll be just fine.... but she is NOT happy. Well, all I want to say is: Listen and obey next time!!!!! *sigh*

Oh, and I love you all, but don't call.... I'll keep posting updates when something actually *does* happen!!!

A new 'do

I went to get my hair cut at the Aveda Institute this afternoon, and sadly had to take Dory with me. I couldn't wait any longer for a hair cut and had no other time slots that I could take. That and my rockin' stylist Elledge (sorry if I spelled it wrong! I wish you the best!!!) graduates in just a few short weeks. How sad am I?

Anyway, Dory had a BLAST!!! She is DYING to go and get another hair cut now. While there: the girls played with her, put her hair up in curlers, gave her the grand tour twice, told her how beautiful she is, gave her a sucker (her first & she didn't eat it), 'styled' her hair, and the real kicker that she was so proud of...... painted her tiny nails sparkly purple!!!!



At this point both of the thumbs have been stripped of their color... but I did get the pix! And let me add, after this morning, she was a perfect angel this afternoon.

Tantrum alley.

Well, the past 2 days have started out quite well with tantrums. Yeah. (note the LACK of enthusiasm...) We are normally so good around here, but these past two mornings have been rough. This am we were supposed to be joining our mommy group for coffee and breakfast dressed up for Halloween. I tried to get Dory dressed, and she screamed in a puddle on the floor the whole way. The event was at 9:30, at 11am she had calmed down and said that she wanted to go and see her friends. When I told her it was too late, she replied no, it's not dark outside. So, these are the lessons we now have to be learning.

We started with the clock this past week, and so far so good... apparently it was just in 'time'. Anyway, no coffee for this tired mommy today.

We have been working on getting her to understand what whining is and that it will NOT get her what she wants, as well as the boneless meltdowns, and overall we're doing really well with that... I can't figure out what has triggered these two meltdowns.

I will say, this was the first time I had to miss something that I wanted to do as a way of punishment, it sucks.

Our morning...

So Dory is out of my sight for 3 minutes this morning while we are all attempting to get out the door and get our day started. What does she do in 3 minutes? Seasons the ottoman with Montreal Steak Seasoning.... A very thick layer since it is a bulk size container she is pouring it out of, 2-3 normal bottles worth covered the fabric and floor. I vaccumed, but it still smells like a yumy steak downstairs!

Someone has learned to catch!

Yep, in a wonderful show of hand eye coordination as well as dexterity.... Dory is now actually catching a beach ball when we throw it to her! We have played ball for a few months, and today has been a breakthrough over the bounce it off her head manuver that we have been practicing! We have a video, but since my camera is dead right now, you will have to wait a few days for the video. ;)

Learning to catch

She learns to catch tonight, last night it would just hit her in the head!

Crazy hormones

So, today was the first time that *I* have felt the effects of pregnancy hormones distinctly. The day quickly went from as planned to completely not as planned and for a few hours I was on the verge of bawling because of it. Totally not anyone's fault, but I was ready to just loose it, huge ball in my throat and everything, choaking it back. By the end of the day, I was fine, but man.... It was rough there for awhile. I wonder what this means as far as baby's decision to make his appearance... Surely it's all connected.

On the upside.... And on a cute note.... I at one point told Dory that I was sorry because the day had not gone as Mommy had promised it would and she didn't really get to see her friends like I had told her she would when she woke up, when we were running errands and she was unhappy, when she went down for a nap, and so on..... Her response? A very soothing and fully meant, "That's okay, Mommy..."
I could just bawl all over again thinking of how sweet and understanding it was, and how it means that my little girl is growing up.