Baby Update

After the NT scan last Wednesday I felt it safe to come out of the pregnancy closet. Baby is measuring a whole week ahead (at this point that doesn't mean a whole lot because doctors consider anything within 6 days of the expected size to be normal, so what's one more day?) I have been experiencing fetal movement since last Wednesday or Thursday. It's early, I know, but I could feel Jack at 15 weeks, and I could see movement a few days after that, so it's not unexpected. Funny story though, Matt thought it was gas, thanks Matt. I told him to come and feel and he was like "Ugh, fine. I'm not going to feel anything - Oh!" and I was like "That's not me, that's the baby." "Ooohhh!"

Morning sickness is also finally starting to improve. Yay!

Head and Heart (Burn)

This morning we wore our pants on our head.

We also had chili for dinner. Yummy!

Breaking News!

We are now regularly sporting the 'big boy' underpants! Jack has gotten so good with communicating when he needs to go and holding it till he gets to the potty he's in training pants when we're around the house. He still wears his diapers for sleeping and when we go out, but I'm still so proud! He's really getting this potty training thing!

Imagination

The other day Jack was eating lunch and he had a pretzel in each hand. He suddenly started 'flying' them around in the air talking about airplanes. I was totally confused and then I realized, he's pretending that his pretzels are airplanes. This was confirmed when I have him his Kashi toaster waffle this morning and he started talking about wheels and cars and he started steering the 'car' (honestly, I'm not sure what the car was, maybe just the high chair, maybe the whole table?) with the waffle.

I think some more fort building is in his future, and I definitely have to get on building his play kitchen. It's clearly time.

I love you

Jack Says:

I'm going to be a big brother!

Things we learned yesterday...

Jack likes trains.



Jack really likes tractors.


Jack was ambivalent about the slide inside the shoe.

We greatly enjoyed the boat behind the Merry Miller's cabin. When I went to put Jack in the whale for a picture he would have none of it. He's no fool, he doesn't want to get eaten. Actually, my mom has a picture of me when I was in playgroup sitting in that very same whale's mouth... before the Fairytale items were moved from their original location. Maybe she can scan the pic so I can post it. ::Cough::

Finally we learned that Jack loooooves backhoes. We saw this at once upon a child and I took a pic of him in it with my phone and sent it to my parents. They insisted that they get it for him -especially when I told the story about when we left and he cried in the car for 10 minutes.... 'back-hoe' ::sob::

Which brings me to the conclusion that Grandparents are a bad influence. Seriously, where am I going to keep this thing?!

Playgroup Cookout

On Sunday afternoon the Mom's Group rented a pavilion at Patapsco State Park for a little cookout gathering. We had really good attendance, and it was so nice to see so many of our working mommies again! There was a playground close by, which the kids enjoyed.

Jack and Jill climbed up this hill. Seriously, I'm not making this up.

When Mr. Wes busted out the bubble blower the tots were beside themselves! Ria already knows how to operate the blower so she took the lead on bubble making and popping.

Jack was amused by all the bubble activity, so was Jocelyn.

Amedeo was very pensive before launching a bubble attack.

Leora enjoyed it all!

Finally, Jack was mesmerized by fire. Grrrrreeeat.

Ikea Sunday

Ikea is like church.

At church you sit through a sermon, some of it appeals to you and some of it doesn't. At Ikea you walk through the displays, some of it appeals to you and some of it doesn't.

After the sermon there are usually snacks for the congregation. After walking through the displays you can stop for a snack in the cafe.

At church you give money to the collection plate. At Ikea you buy a collection of plates.

At church you learn that Jesus was a carpenter, he built things with his hands and he died for your sins. At Ikea you learn that you are a carpenter, you must assemble your furniture by hand, and when it doesn't go well you curse a lot, and that's a sin.

When you go to church, you get a lot of things you need, and some things that you didn't realize you needed until you got there. When you go to Ikea, you leave with the trashcan and the lamp which were actually on your list and: a cutting board, a mirror, some storage containers, a new toy for the kids and a stomach full of Sweedish Meatballs.

I think it might be time to find an actual church...

2-Day Review

Friday Michelle and I went on our usual walk and when we got back she had to grab something from her car. Well Jack decided he needed to practice driving and then Emma realized that she didn't have enough control as a back seat driver so she took over.

Today we did Eric's campaign photos. The photo shoot make us so hungry that we had to go to Red Rock Canyon Grill afterward. Yum!


When we left the restaurant look what was parked outside! Jack was, of course, completely beside himself. He pointed out the lights and the wheels and tried to poke his head under the hood, with that kind of clearance we had to stop him quick because neither of us wanted to crawl under the fire truck after him.

Famous People

How do you feel about famous people?

There is a long story behind this, but I have this theory about famous people. There are 3 kinds- Those you would heckle or ignore completely (politicians I don't like, Kanye West and Paris Hilton are of examples of this group). The second kind is people you would politely smile at, but because you know they're just people you wouldn't bother them with introducing yourself or asking to take a picture with you (seriously, what if you were walking down the street and a stranger stopped introduced himself and asked for a picture? Weird, right?) Most celebrities fall into this category for me everyone from the Governator to anyone on Grey's Anatomy. Finally there is the "Oh my God, I cannot believe I'm breathing the same air as you" famous people. For me there are only 3 people that would make me completely spaz out: Joss Whedon, Patrick Stewart and Barack Obama.

So who are your top 3- "I'm so excited to meet you that I can't contain myself" famous people?

Important Toddler Terms

"Ha-Me" for about a week Jack said this and we couldn't figure out what it ment. Finally he came to me one day holding a toy that had come apart and said "Ha-Me" and "help me" was born.

"Mine" Jack's first 4-letter work. I know it's developmentally normal, I just can't help wishing he didn't have to go through this for-me about-me me-me-me phase.

"Ah Duh" all done.

"No" ::sigh::

"Towel" This one is funny because when he's ready to get in the bath if he would rather skip his bath he stands in the bathroom asking for his towel over and over again, as though we won't notice skipping the getting clean part. Hah!

So tell me, what are the most/least endearing words in your child's vocabulary?

Look, Up in the sky!

"Heck-o-per!"

Music?

Well, sort of. If you're on facebook be sure to check out the video version of this. Now I'm off to take some Tylenol for this headache!

30 Minutes

As a mom, finding an activity that will entertain my child for 30 minutes that does not involve TV is my Holy Grail. I am in constant search of something that Jack will find entertaining and that will allow me to make breakfast, unload the dishwasher, or play on the internet. Today instead of finding an activity for Jack he found one for himself.

Military TV

This afternoon I turned on the TV in the basement to watch some DVRed Sesame Street with our handsome, albeit sassy, man. Since I never turn on the TV down there, but Matt has been known to from time to time I was not surprised to find the TV on the Military network. Well, the minute Jack realized there was a "Top 10 Military Helicopters" show on I was forbidden from changing the channel.

So this afternoon Jack and I learned that the top 3 are:
3. UH-1 Huey
2. UH-60 Black Hawk
1. AH-64 Apache Longbow

Now all afternoon Jack has been talking about "Heck-o-pers".

I, armed with my fancy new helicopter knowledge, asked Matt "Do you know what the top 3 military helicopters are?" To which he replied "The Huey, the Black Hawk and the Apache."

Darn it!

Then he said "However, in the interest of full disclosure, I already saw that program."

Humph!

Clearly I'm going to need to step up the knowledge of random facts in order to keep a suitable place in this family!

Score!

I'd like to thank the academy, and the Howard County Fair Grounds for this tremendous honor. We rose bright and early this morning and trekked out to the big consignment sale of the season. Normally I'd prefer to move at a leisurely pace in the morning but because we're only looking for 'big ticket' items like cars, wagons and such if we get there late those things would be gone. Jack is, of course, totally on love with is car.

We also threw in a wagon for good measure.

And some shoes for this fall and next spring respectively.

Maybe the biggest find of all is the "I can read" Disney Pixar Cars books that I found. Coming in at a whopping 50 cents each these books have all his favorite characters and are the perfect size to keep in the car!

It is fall.

I didn't have the heart to tell him he's holding a broom. He was so determined to help me rake the yard.

This picture was taken about 3 second before Jack leaned down and licked the plate. Luckily, Monkey was ok to share.

Of all the people in this house to mimic, he picks the cat.

Non-Wedding-Wedding Pictures

This past weekend my cousin got married. We jumped in the car early Friday morning and drove out up to Long Island. Uncle Tom "Unka Tah" rode with us and we colored, watched Cars on the portable DVD player, and slept on the way up. There was no traffic, none in north NJ and none even in Brooklyn and Queens. I was impressed!

My aunt and uncles own stores in the Tropical Smoothie franchise, so when we got to LI at 1pm we decided to go to a store and check it out. Everything is whole grain, fresh, natural, even in the smoothies they only use all natural unbleached unprocessed sugar. So you know I was in heaven. At the end of the weekend Matt and I both found ourselves wondering how much it would set us back to get started here. (Not that we really have the time... but it's a fun thought!)

After the rehearsal we had a tropical themed dinner at.... Tropical Smoothie! This is the lovely bride, Kristin and her daughter Sierra.

The wedding party!

Jack thought the dance floor was a perfect place to drive his cars.

Gi-Gi had her dance partner for the evening.

Jack lasted a really long time at the wedding. Matt finally left with him at 10pm. He slept in every morning and his naps were pushed back so by the Sunday night wedding it was much easier to count on him staying up late without too much fuss. The appetizers and dinner also helped keep him happy. I got a bunch of toys at the dollar store and kept them hidden until key points in the evening. The 2 best things I had in my bag of tricks were: crayons and coloring books. Coloring is such a great quiet activity and I find he sits and colors even better when someone colors with him.

On the drive home we stopped for lunch at Christiana Mall in Delaware. They have these tables and chairs that are just the right size for my independent little man.