Sandy Point

This morning Cady, Jillian and Jack went to Sandy Point which is on the Chesapeake Bay. They had a blast and the snacks their loving mommies packed were quite the hit! Also, in related news I learned how to make a collage! It's a miracle!

Doctor, Doctor

Give me the news! I've got a bad case of lovin' you!

We've only taken his temperature 3 times in his entire life. It cracks me up how fast these sneaky kids learn things.

Like this- one time and now he 'knows how to use a screwdriver'. What's next? Skiing? Javelin? Base jumping? Mommy needs a break!

Cabin Feva

Needs More Cowbell!

When you're stuck in quarantine (conjunctivitis) for a whole weekend you have a lot of time to think, read and watch TV. I've tried to keep an even balance between the three. Right now I'm reading Emily Giffin's new book (I knew it would be cool because her name is Emily). Jack is reading Elmo's Guessing Game book, over and over and over again. I think it's adorable that he never seems less excited or surprised to find "ELMO" on every page of the book.

We've been watching a lot of HGTV and Planet Green as well, which has lead to the purchase of new windows for the house. Huge tax credit plus coupon for purchase of Anderson windows equals 40% savings.

Finally I've been doing some thinking. I found out that I lost a 'loyal' reader this weekend. (Not like Hollywood has lost-MANY, just in the "I'm not reading your blog anymore, so there!" kind of way.) Apparently my blog hasn't been read in a month and the URL has been removed from the list of favorites! It's a tragedy, really. It's always sad to lose a reader, but it's hard not to feel like I'm gaining so much more. I've gained a greater appreciation for the readers who are sticking with me through this tough time. So here's to you loyal readers, may you always find my blogs amusing, my son charming and my statements dripping with sarcasm.


But seriously, though, sometimes a highly-contagious illness that keeps you inside all weekend but doesn't actually make you feel sick is a good thing. Lots of family time with my two favorite guys and one furry cat sounds like a good weekend to me! When you can't rely on other kids to entertain and play with your own little sweetie pie you get to do a lot more car-crashing, block-toppling and memory-making and, frankly, that's good for the soul.

He's Been Holding Out...

This morning (despite some minor midnight illness) Jack woke up and decided to show off several words he's been hiding.

First: He stood in the doorway watching Ms. Michelle loading Emma and Charlie into the stroller. Walking together is a regular MWF activity so he knows it's coming. He turned to look at me and pointed at the stroller and said "Emma!" And then proceeded to call her by name for most of the morning.

Second: While reading his First 100 Words book he showed me the "Tractor" "Car" and "Truck" accurately naming them without mommy prompts. ('Tractor' was a first and he hasn't said 'car' or 'truck' since the blog where he said them both which was more than a month ago.)

Third: We correctly identified several examples of a "Bell"

Fourth: Followed immediately by two different "Teddy" (Teddys)

Fifth: After that we had "Apple"


Sixth and Seventh: "Daddy" and "Mommy" were identified, exclaimed, and used as names to address us.

Lessons II

The lesson of the day is: Seasoned parents always know about the cool stuff.

This morning Jack and I met up with Susan, Carter, Sophia, Emily, Brooks, Lindsey and Cadence at Pump It Up. I was skeptical about how Jack would respond to a warehouse full of inflatable toys. But Susan, being the seasoned parent of a busy boy suggested this little activity. As soon as we walked into the room Jack was practically vibrating with excitement (and so was I, running jumping, bouncing, sliding... when is this NOT fun?!) We did everything at least twice, but probably more than that. He laughed and ran and slid and jumped with no coaxing from me (except on the things that were too high to climb unassisted).

By the end we were both POOPED!

Tonight after dinner we had some home-grown sugar snap peas (the ones from seed) for 'dessert'.
Apparently we also really really like sugar snap peas. I'm wondering at what age Jack will become wise to my trickery and inform me that peas, blueberries and yogurt are NOT desserts. For now, I will enjoy my nutritional trickery, mwah ha ha ha!

Which would you enlarge and frame?

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

CSA Week 3

2 lbs potatoes, 1 bunch carrots, 1 cabbage, 1 lb spinach, 2 cucumbers, 3 heads of lettuce, 2 lbs squash (variety) 1 bunch spring onions, 1 loaf desert bread, 1 qt blueberries, 1 bar of tea tree & mint soap.

We had a slightly scary incident today. In leading Jack back to the car he sat down on the ground to protest leaving the farm. I had one hand carrying 15 lbs? of produce so with my other arm I tried to help him back to his feel. I know kids can hurt their shoulders, arms and elbows getting pulled around by adults so I tried to be careful in helping him get back up. Not careful enough. As I pulled (gently) up I heard a crack, what sounded like his knuckles in his hand all cracking at once. Well as he walked with me to the car it became clear that he wasn't using his right arm hardly at all. When I put him in the car I checked his wrist and he seemed perfectly fine. I tried to feed him some juice and cheerios holding the food on his right side. No luck he eat one or two O's but then switched immediately to his left.

I called the pediatrician when I got home and some woman who gets paid like 8 dollars an hour to answer the phone told me to take him to the ER to get an ex-ray. Um, no. I'm not paying for an ex-ray or exposing him to ex-rays when I know for a fact that it's not broken. Lindsey and I speculated that it was nursemaid's elbow - which when you read Wiki- sounds like I was way rougher than I was... but whatev, I'm pretty sure that's what it was. So we went down the street to check with some other local mommies and turns our 'Dr. Jess' was able to fix him right up using the treatment described by Wiki. By dinner time he was eating, waving and throwing food with both hands again. Disaster and costly unnecessary medical expenses averted!

Why tell you this? A. So you don't panic. and B. So you don't waste your time in the ER when any pediatrician (or skilled neighbor) can fix it! C. So hopefully you can avoid it all together, because apparently even pulling gently is too much (unless you're using both arms and so is your little one.) From what I have seen Jack's sheer size may have also been a contributing factor.

Never Gets Old... Yet

I'm wondering at what point the "Jack and Jill falling down" joke will get old. For now it's still funny!

Today we went to the Tire Park at the Patapsco State Park. There was lots to do and see.

Jack felt that climbing the ladder was an important activity. He's such the little daredevil! This morning at the pool he fearlessly ran all the way in till the water was to his neck. A few times he ran over from the zero entry to the 4 foot area and then crawled backwards and lowered himself into the pool. It made for an exhausting morning for mommy but my fearless little man had a blast!

Serious face.

Talking face.

Happy bridge face.

Father's Day!

We started the day with a Daddy-favorite!

The blueberries are from the CSA. When I got out the bowl I realized we were out of pancake mix I just made it from 'scratch' from the betty crocker reicpe. Which I've never done, but it was so easy and so tasty! It was also nice to know exactly what went into them.

Then we went to Home Depot to get Matt's self-selected Father's Day present.

We capped off the night with a yummy Daddy-centric treat.

Yesterday's Egg Rolls

The day before I sauteed some veggies (kale, lettuce, green beans, spring onions, and carrots).
The wrappers were found in the refrigerated salad section at my grocery store.

Then we roll.

Tuck.
And Wrap.

Fry in peanut oil.

Wick away some oil and... Enjoy!!

Did he just snort?

We may have caused permanent damage to his funny bone.

Positively Busy + CSA week 3

Jack started the morning off by putting all his 'trucks' on the coffee table and then insisting that he climb up and join them. This activity was followed by the 'pretend Mommy's lap is a parking lot' activity.

Followed by a walk at Arundel Mills mall with Michelle. (Which has become a regular Mon, Wed, Fri activity. The walking location always changes as does the walkers; sometimes we get the whole 'hood involved!)

We got home from the mall to find our Keens had been delivered! These are used (though they hardly look it) and they came from e-Bay for $25 (compared to the regular $48)! I got them in size 6, and Jack has lots of room in his 5's right now so I'm hoping ::fingers crossed:: we might get to use them next summer too!

Lindsey and I carpooled to CSA this week and though it was raining and the kids were enjoying playing with the food and in the mud and in the puddles we somehow managed to get away with quite the booty!

1 dozen eggs, 2 lbs yellow squash, 2 heads lettuce, 1 bunch beets, 1 box blueberries, 1/2 dozen cheesy rolls, 1lb green beans, 1lb sugar snap peas, 1/2 lb 'shrooms, 2lbs red potatoes and 2 jars of jam purchased additionally.

Do they poke holes in the box?

Next time we decide to have kids I'm going to order mine on Amazon. I hear you can get super-saver shipping when you order more than one. Also, I'm thinking the delivery is pretty easy.

~For Bridgette

Lessons

I've been thinking lately what lessons I want to teach Jack. I realized today that if I had to boil everything down to one single life lesson it would be this: You are responsible for your own happiness.

This means Jack is responsible for making himself happy, not making me happy or Matt happy or anyone else. I like that. It also means no one else is responsible for Jack's happiness, he shouldn't rely on a partner or friends to make him happy. He's going to be a beautiful person; he can easily find happiness within. I'm confident of that. Finally it means you do what you need to do to be happy, he will certainly find nothing but unconditional support from us.

Parenting is a mixed bag, but when I get all philosophical about it I'm beyond words with joy about the experience.

Also an important life lesson I want Jack to take with him through life is high fructose corn syrup is probably the work of the devil and should be avoided. This is hard, because there are an awful lot of things with it... like my bread :-(

Tooth Watch

We currently have 2 pre-molars, lateral and front incisors on top. For the last 6 months we've had just 2 sad lonely teeth on the bottom. Finally we have the emergence of our first lateral incisor on the bottom! I guess I can stop worrying my kid will need dentures to fit in when he goes to kindergarten.

Did someone say shopping?

I don't know if I should feel proud or concerned. Last night Matt and I had decided to go shopping at Ikea right after breakfast today. Jack must have overheard (and understood!) our conversation because after he ate his oatmeal he ran over to the door and grabbed his shopping bag.

We got some shelving organizers for the storage room. Sadly, this is an organization project we had been planning to do for the last 8 months. Better late than never! I have to say we have SO much room in there now. I don't have any pictures, but safe to say there is 3 times the floor space. My brother ::cough:: hint ::cough:: still hasn't found a new place to live and come to get the final 3 or 4 things. When it's really cleared out it's going to be a whole new room!

That's not what I thought he said

Today I went down to Whole Foods in Rockville/White Flint to meet Aliya. He and I worked together at GWU. I often found myself in his office talking about literature, philosophy, yoga and life (mostly life). He is a stay at home dad so he and I decided to have a morning coffee-type-play date. We had a great chat about staying at home and how it changes you.


Then on our way back Jack decided to take his nap for the day- all 10 minutes of it. We got home and I rushed him upstairs but I don't think he ever went all the way back to sleep. When I got him out of the crib I finally decided to make my life easier and get him a breathable bumper for his crib. I'm not worried about his limbs-he's been doing just fine in that department. But his pacis always fall out throughout the night which when teething leads to early morning crying fits. Lets hope this helps because this 4am shenanigans is not really working for me.

When we got back I decided to try Sesame Street as an entertainment source while I unpacked and cleaned up. Well, my life will be forever changes because Sesame Street + an apple = 30 minutes all to myself. Speaking of Sesame Street...

While at the store Jack was screaming "A-MA, A-MA" over and over. So I said, "Yes honey Ma-Ma is here". When I looked where he was pointing this was what I saw. Elmo. So A-Ma is Elmo. Ooooh. He's only seen Elmo on Sesame Street 5 times and he already has the character memorized! I'm glad he picks things up quickly but I'm sooo not into characters. ::sigh:: It's starting.

CSA Week 2

Here we are picking up the CSA for the second week. Inside that little room is all our food, glorious food.

Outside they have herbs and flowers. When they're ready for harvesting it's help yourself. I can't wait!

This week: 1 loaf of bread, 1 bunch of asparagus, 1 bunch of spring onions, 1 bunch of kale 2 heads of lettuce, 1lb spinach, 1lb sugar snap peas, 1lb green beans, 1qt blueberries, 1 tub of apple cinnamon creme cheese. On top of that I bought a chicken, local, organic and oh so exciting! This week they also had cookies, I wanted to get a pack of lemon glazed goodies but I forgot. Boy, am I regretting that one!

Tonight we had stirfry. Made by Mommy.

It was quite the hit, enjoyed by all!

Money changed hands

for more on that... go here.

If you can't beat the heat

Get in the pool.

Yesterday was a scorcher, so we banded together.

Swimmin' with the Crivellas

Yesterday we went to the pool with Carter and Sophie (and their parents).

Jack was amused by these little fountains.

Carter showed him how to do it.

Daddy practiced some of those important swimming skills.

There's my little swimmer.

I got one picture of Sophie but she was a little fussy so it's not very flattering! For cute Sophie pics go here.