Oh my...

Just when you are about to hit a wall... they go and do something really cute.

**Imagine video of Jack saying "Ma ma ma ma." right here because my computer absolutely refuses to upload the adorable video even after 2 hours and 30 minutes of loading it still wasn't done, and Matt will not allow me leave the computer on overnight in the hopes that the damn video will actually load.

Here's a Poll:

How much does your baby/child sleep:
A. 12 hours, don't hate me because my baby is perfect.
B. 3 hours, and I've got the bags to prove it.
C. 6 hours, it's alright but I wish he/she slept more.
D. I don't have a baby (yet), but I'm secretly judging you because your baby has sleep problems.

Then hit the comments below and post your reply.

Do as I say, not as I do...

So, we all know the "Back to Sleep" campaign launched in 1994 has reduced the incidents of SIDS enormously. We also know that Jack is a terrible napper, only napping on mommy, trapping her on the couch for 2-3 hours a day. Jack is also not a great night-time sleeper.

Well this weekend Jack fell asleep snuggled against my mom while we were tearing apart the house. We decided to put him down for a nap. (I knew this would be total bananas). So we lay him down, on his back- the INSTANT our feet hit the bottom step "WAAAAH!" No dice. So we decided that maybe what he enjoyed was the snuggling and we tried putting him down on his stomach. I know- I'm terrible!! I took the SIDS class, I know we're not supposed to do it.

He slept for 40 minutes!

I'm not going to put him to sleep at night on his belly, but hey if this means I can at least get a few minutes to myself everyday that would be fantastic. I know Jack can roll and lift his head- no problem -so developmentally he's really beyond the risk for SIDS but what if... ok so flame me all you want because I know I'm so bad but it's my blog and this is my latest fruitcake update.

Technology Strikes Again!

We have been experiencing technical difficulties lately... and thus we have not blogged. Forgive me Father, it has been 5 days since my last blog. Jack just loves reading. We read some books on Wednesday and we had a great time! Jack likes to turn the pages.

On Thursday the Moms met at the mall. We went for a walk and then went for lunch. Part way through the walk Jack gave in to the tired-ness and took a catnap.

Thursday evening Jack decided to eat his feet. This is normally impossible as his cloth diapers provide too much bulk. But when he is diaperless...

Then we started the weekend... working on the house. My parents called and surprised us with an offer to help us prepare for July 4th weekend when we will be laying the new floors. After surveying the damage, realizing we could never have the house ready for them when one of us has to entertain Jack leaving only one person to clean we enthusiastically agreed. Got a little Captain in you?

"Lets cut here, and there, and then rip!

Does it still look livable?

One of these things is not like the other... One of these things just doesn't belong...

It's been a long weekend for everyone. Even Monkey is plum tuckered out!

In other news, my mom was trying to rock Jack to sleep yesterday and his pacifier fell to the side of the glider. When he didn't fall asleep I went to get it for her because it's hard to reach while holding the babe. So I reach down beside the glider and then I find my water bottle! Man am I an idiot... at least now I have one large and one small, depending on my hydro-needs.

Manic Monday

Today was a very busy day. We are continuing to have minor sleeping trouble so after one midnight wake up which lasted about 45 minutes we woke up feeling refreshed in the morning. We both ate our morning cereal packed up the car and immediately ran 4 errands.

Dicks Sporting Goods

Home Expo (I love everything here - are you surprised?)

Home Depot (My second home)

Bed Bath and Beyond



Jack was a champ, quiet the entire time, and asleep for half the stops. I had to buy myself a new water bottle because I had mom-brain and must have left mine somewhere, like the store or the library or something. Jack is very interested in everything that Mommy eats, so this is one of the few things I 'eat' that I can let him play with because A. water is harmless and B. it's completely spill-proof!



Then Daddy got home and got to work on the kitchen again.

He had a little helper.
This was cute at first, and then the utter mayhem ensued. Most of my cabinets were empty; their contents all over my counter tops, table tops and floors. Panic set in....

But in the end we were able to move some cabinets
Just imagine the floors as bamboo, the cabinets painted white with new hardware, the counter tops a dark emerald granite, and the back splash as pale sage subway tile. This is going to be a tremendous amount of work, but in the end our kitchen will look fantastic! I might even start cooking in it ;-)

We have lift-off!

Tonight during bath time Jack decided he would rather sit than lay in the bath. He sat completely unassisted! (Not that tripod type sitting either, this is real bonafide big-boy sitting.) Another milestone, CHECK!

Weekend-o-fun

It was another busy weekend in the world of Jack. Saturday we drove to the land of Jon and Kate (plus 8) a.k.a. E-town to visit Matt's Grandmother. Here is Great-Grandma Newton, Jack, and Grandpa Newton. Our visit was loads of fun and Jack was a good happy boy the whole time!

Then we went to lunch at a local restaurant with Uncle Keith and Aunt Anne. Jack was not bashful about needing a diaper change in the middle of the restaurant (all the other tables were empty). Jack was a little bashful about being a nuddie-bird on camera.

Sunday the demolition began. Goodbye random 1/2 wall, Goodbye useless 'pantry', Goodbye ugly counter tops, Goodbye linoleum and nasty carpet...

Hello giant hole in my kitchen. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea... (I'm kidding of course, I'm just so organized that when I'm in the middle of projects I always experience the anxiety of living in mess until it's done. Which will be about 4/5 weeks this time around.)

2032

I am pleased to announce Jack's engagement to Ria. Archana have decided it is mutually beneficial for our families to enter into this arranged marriage. Because are kids are adorable and they will, therefor, make adorable babies.

We had a great time today planning fake arranged marriages, and coercing two certain moms to participate in Mommy and Me swim class, despite the swimsuit requirement. I will do a special update if we are successful in recruiting them!

Jack practiced his sitting skills today. He feels slightly threatened by Brooks, who is clearly the alpha-male of the group. Brooks is already majoring in sitting and minoring in bongo playing.

Emily and Brooks were kind enough to share their Peeps shades so Jack could play dress-up.

Thank you to Emily, Brooks (and Seth) for hosting another fun-filled yummy Moms' Group.

Teething

Can lead to excessive drool.

Happy Father's Day!

To celebrate Matt's first Father's Day we went to see Indiana Jones. It was certainly more strange than the other Indiana Jones movies, but we both agreed it was great to be able to see an Indiana Jones movie on the big screen! Jack got to try out his umbrella stroller, which is great when you need something light and maneuverable. We love it!!

We took Daddy to DuClaw for lunch. I had been recently with Susan, so I knew there would be a few extra beers in the sampler, Daddy just had to try it for himself.

Jack thought the beers looked baby-sized.

Party Animal

This weekend Jen celebrated her 30th bithday. Jack was there to rock the party.
Party animal.

Happy Birthday Jen, it's good that her son Andrew was there to help blow out the candles.

Jen, Andrew and Mike!

Before there was Jack...

First there were two.

And then I started to grow.
Lavender dress: Susan's wedding *wink*
Lime dress: Jen's wedding
Red dress: Tara's wedding
Black dress, not a bridesmaid.. but at Rusty's wedding

Very pregnant. And p.s. that bottle of Jergins did nothing to prevent the million stretch marks I got, so don't waste your money. (Thankfully they have all but disappeared now.)

You don't get more-pregnant-er than this. This would be the beginning of the worst day of my life, which fortunately was followed by the best say of my life... but still. And yes I gained about 55 pounds. The doctor speculates that about 25 pounds were from water retention, how gross is that?

And as promised here are my cankles. If you look closely you can see the swelling in my face migrating to my feet. ::shudder::

What makes it worth all that? My handsome little man, of course, and the fact eventually your face, your skin, your weight, your emotions, and your SARS all return to something resembling 'normal'.

Ode to Thursday..

Lindsey and Cady hosted group this week; the babies think it's very neat
that the mommies always find time to meet. Soon our children will learn to creep.

For now, Brooks will play Colin like a bongo - it won't be that long though

before these kids are finding trouble.

At the end of the day, it was so hot in our house that Jack insisted on being a 'nuddie-bird'.

Beware the SARS academic: sometime I'll post some swollen-Emily pictures so we can all have a good laugh.

So far this week...

The Clown and I hung out. Chillin.
Mommy harvested her peas.

Colin and I hung out.

We also went swimming. Mommy came with me.

Mommy went to one of her daycare classes (tonight) so Daddy fed me dinner. But then I decided that 'd rather feed myself dinner thank you, very much. Most of the time I like to guide the spoon into my mouth. I get really excited during meal time and the food just can't come fast enough!

The Island of Misfit Toys

Our story begins with Moms' Group, as it begins as a normal Thursday. Brooks is demonstrating the proper use of tummy time. Jack is demonstrating improper use of tummy time. This still makes for a normal Thursday.

Here we have Colin, Jaden, Amedeo, Joselyn, Brooks, and Ria (clockwise from left). Moms' Group has become more and more interesting as our babies are actually starting to interact with eachother.

And here is where our story takes a horrible turn. The clown, purchased this morning at babies'r'us was an instant hit with Jack. We played with the clown at group. We played with the clown in Target on the way home from group. But when we got home we realized the clown was gone.

Panic set in. We rushed back to Target. The clown was not in the parking lot. The clown was not in the lobby. We made our way back to the baby food isle, retracing our steps. At the end of the isle, laying face down and alone we found the clown. The clown was so happy to see us and we were happy to see her too. She almost ended up on the Island of Misfit Toys, abandoned and homeless. But we found her and brought her back home.

Now she's covered in saliva. Hmmm...

Later that night Jack ate his first baby cereal. The pediatrician said this would take time, many frustrating days of food being spit out and not swallowed. Jack ate like a champ! We've been practicing the airplane for the last 2 months with his pacifier, so a transition to spoon was no big thing.

Woo hoo!

Rain, Rain...

Go away,
Come again another day. Today a huge storm front rolled in. Jack spent most of the storm intetrested in the noises the rain made on the roof. Like an idiot, I thought "Oh no! The herbs." So I ran out onto the back deck and pulled the plants under cover. This or course left me completely soaked.


Jack was amused by all this, of course.