Visitors!

This weekend we had some special visitors!! Uncle Tom came back from 'Sanfrisco' to visit and brought his girlfriend, Alba, by for a visit. Jack was kinda stand-off-ish when saying goodbye to Tom and Alba but then after they left he said something like "Uncle Tom needs his girl. She's nice."

Speed Racer

Jack loves to play dress up with Henry. Henry is more than willing to oblige. He loves these racing goggles.

This picture makes me think of that new HP ePrint commercial.

Boo!

Year One Jocelyn-pumpkin, Jillian-lion, Cady-ladybug, Leora-bunny, Amedeo-bat,
Jack-dinosaur


Year Two

Amedeo-turtle, Brooks-bear (go Baylor!), Cady-cowgirl, Colin-tiger,

Jack-James Dean, Jillian-astronaut, Jocelyn-Eyore

Year Three

Jocelyn-sunshine bear, (Henry's monkey suit waited for him while he napped)

Jack-firefighter, baby Jessica-pumpkin, Jillian-sadie hawkins dancer,

Amedeo-lamb, Brooks-giraffe

Then Henry woke up and they became Henry as Monkey Man and Jack as the Firefighter!

It's a beautiful thing

Cookies. All in a row.

Super.

I can now say that I have performed the Heimlich on my baby in a restaurant crowded with onlookers. Oddly, I totally kept my cool. You know how sometimes you stay calm in the moment but then later you feel all shaky? That didn't happen at all.


Why is it that something simple like being at a petting zoo can cause full "I'll make a scene if you try to pick that thing up off the floor because I'm so grossed out right now" panic attacks but my kid choking results in calm relaxed non-panicking problem-solving mommy?

Enchanted Fall

At one time, an outing with the boys was totally overwhelming. Jack wasn't able to listen and Henry's needs could be measured by the minute. Now Jack is nearly 7 months older (than when Henry was born) is a much better listener and Henry is much easier to take out and time the feeding/changing/napping. Making outings with just me and the boys actually fun!

Dinner Time

I thought Henry was done.Jack disagreed.

I was lying down

on the sidewalk

and took a few pics

of the leaves.

"What 'choo doing, Mommy?"

Morning Snuggles

They don't often allow these little moments to happen, because neither of them are inclined to sit still.

I think this might be the first time they've ever really held hands.

Boys.

Little Campaigners

Yesterday we went to support our friend (my friend from High School) Eric. He's running for State House of Delegates. Jack was ready to roll up his sleeves and help his son Colin with his campaign.

They held a strategy meeting in their Campaign HQ.

Colin gave a few speeches to let voters know where he stands on the issues. (later bedtime, more cookies- in case you're wondering).

Henry listened to the issues with rapt attention.

Jack also made a new BFF, Dave, (also a friend of mine from HS). When asked to give Mr. Dave a hug he seemed willing at first and then decided he wasn't quite ready for bromance.

Wish I was here

I mean, seriously, it's a river... when does a river look like glass?!?!

My little foodies

Their love of food starts early. (Henry)

As they grow so do their tastebuds. (Jack)

Christmas is coming

I know, I know.

"It's only October! Chill out."

I'm type A, I can't help myself! So here I sit getting excited about the holidays, and I've come to this conclusion: Christmas is harder with two. With one you buy them the gifts you want them to have; they open said gifts; you eat some cookies and drink some nog and call it a day.

I want things to be fair and equal, and my mother provided a compulsively good model for that. Which is kinda interesting because she was an only child, so it's not like she had any experience to pull from.

Anyway, so I find myself wanting to model fairness even now. Despite the fact that Henry is too young to notice or care about presents and we don't need ANY baby or cruising-toddler type things. Which puts me in an odd situation, I mean what do I buy the kid, socks?!

Jack is too young to understand about money so I can (and will) skip the worrying about whether or not I'm spending the same amount on each child. I do, however, need the number of gifts to be the same.

So what do you get for a baby when you don't want to get another chewy, ratting, talking playskool or fisherprice or melissa and doug toy? All I've got so far is a custom embroidered cloth diaper (which Henry will wear but is clearly a present for me.) Ideas? Suggestions?

(I should mention they are able to share clothes, so I don't need winter or spring wardrobe stuff either!)

Apples & Pumpkins

We went to the local pick-your-own to let the boys pick out their pumpkins and to stock up on apples. We go every Columbus day and I look forward to it for the whole month ahead of time. Henry enjoyed his locked and loaded position.

Jack loved having his own bag of apples to fill. He took the job very seriously!

We got a picture underneath some Stayman apple trees.

Then we picked.

Jack showed us how it's done.

Then we took a picture next to the prize winning pumpkins. I think they could have been bigger... or maybe it's that Jack is bigger and thus the pumpkins seem smaller...

Some Excitement

My friend and roomie from college, Laura, came to visit this weekend. She and Jack played pirates and then she and I went out for a kid-free dinner! It was fabulous, and Jack just loves his new pirate-friend Laura!

Then we discovered that Henry's first tooth has emerged! Which is about 3 months sooner than Jack's first teeth came in. I wonder if this means they will loose their first teeth closer to the same time...?

If only...

I think we all do this to some degree or another:

If only I was a size smaller...

If only I was married...

If only I had clear skin, more free time, less free time, could sew, had a maid... whatever.

We put these conditions on being happy, more relaxed or being allowed to buy new jeans.

Here's what I tell myself:
If only we had sold this friggin' house...
If only I didn't have the skin of a 14 year old boy...
If the kids were just a little older...
If I were on anti-anxiety medication...

... then life would be easier.

How dumb am I? Life isn't easy. And frankly if it were easy when things went our way it wouldn't be nearly as satisfying... it'd be like "I just won the lottery... must be Tuesday."

So here's my question: What do you tell yourself "If only..."

If you've never commented before or rarely comment I'd love to hear from you, just like I want to hear from my 'regulars'. Be honest!

(This is another late-night blog that I'm choosing to publish and not delete. I think I might be turning over a new leaf!)

Charlie's Birthday

Today is our friend Charlie's second Birthday. At the store the other day Jack helped (actually helped) pick out Charlie's present. Tonight we went to walk it down to his house and Jack said to me, "I need to go give Charlie his Buzz [Lightyear]." So cute! So we get down there and Jack runs the present to Charlie and says "Happy Birfday, I have your present!"

Honestly I'm just so impressed he didn't try to A. keep it B. open it for himself or C. fight Charlie for it after he opened it.

He was, however, too shy to accept the 'thank you' hug.

Charlie was pretty psyched! Buzz Duplos... I discovered the Cars Duplos in the same isle at Target... not good, my friends, not good.

The one I don't delete

This is my first Late-Night Confession.

I will not delete this post. I will try to remember to use spell check. (In the interest of full disclosure: This is not one I've started before and failed to finish.)

Trying to sell my home SUCKS. It makes me feel like my whole life is on hold. Even thought I try to live, really live, in spite of the HOURS it takes to clean my house every few days and the 50% of Jack's toys and 50% of Henry's baby gadgets that are in storage in my in-laws basement.

Which brings me to the upside- My In-Laws. To say our relationship used to be strained was the understatement of the century. It was awk-ward! Then we put our house on the market and when we had a showing and two small kids to feed and keep entertained our best option was crashing at their place (which is practically down-the-street.) Well showing after open house after showing things became not awkward. They became, dare I say it, FUN! Instead of worrying about what it would be like the next time I saw them, I looked forward to it. They've been a great help, feeding us, entertaining us and helping watch the boys. Putting the house on the market has fundamentally altered the fabric of our relationship.

I still desperately want to sell my house but man has it been great that it's taking a while!

A Pattern

It seems to me that about this time of night I start a blog topic, something meaty. Maybe scandalous. Maybe just controversial. But by the time I'm done typing my thoughts out I've decided that I can't make enough sense of my verbal diarrhea to zip it up into a nice little package and hit "Publish". Why is this?

Am I concerned about putting my actual thoughts out there? Am I worried that you're going to think I'm talking about YOU? I don't even know, really. It just seems there is a hump that I can't get over. I don't have writers block- I'm clearly able to get all the thoughts out on paper but there's something about the revision that makes me think "Why would anyone want to read..." "This is going to make me sound..."

I'm not that cool. Why am I worrying about this?!

Because

... I said so.
... I couldn't say it better myself.
... If we teach our children nothing else, it should be to respect differences especially when we disagree with them.

Go Here.

or Here.

It's like a Monty Python movie, but it's real.

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is something I look forward to all year long. Every year the husband and I swear that "We're definitely going to dress up next year."

Last year: Jack screamed bloody murder and was terrified at the thought of riding a pony. This year: Cowboy.

Last year: Henry swimming in utero like a little sea monkey. This year: 6 months old, and sleepy.

Jack learned about the bees. This is him showing us the queen.

Would you like a little Cirque de Soleil with your jousting, glass blowing, Celtic bands, theatre, yummy food, elephant & pony rides, sword swallowing and general merriment? Sure thing!

We brought the double stroller just in case Jack insisted on riding but he walked, almost the whole day. He of course immediately passed out in the car as a result.

Maybe next year we'll take the kids one weekend and another weekend we'll go by ourselves without the kids. How decadent would that be?!

Happy Birthday, Henry!

6 Months?! Already?!

Henry, you're such a sweet, happy boy! Your big brother Jack has started to include you in his activities and you couldn't be more enamoured with him! You can sit on your own. You love food, all food. You're easy to put down for a nap, which Mommy finds to be very helpful! The other day I was holding your hands while you stood and you tried to take a step!

Today was Train Day

Today we made a train.

Jack tried to pick Henry up himself and put him in the 'train car'. I helped.

After taking Henry on a full circuit around the house Jack turned to me and said "Mommy, I need Henry out. He's too heavy." I managed not to laugh. Barely.

When Henry went down for his afternoon nap I made Butternut Squash soup (which was Yum! btw) and Jack proceeded to play conductor for the duration for the cooking and blending. He gave me my train ticket and then took my ticket "to punch it" about 50 times.

All of a sudden Jack has taken to playing with Henry. He wants his little brother to be involved. After not thinking much of him for the last 5.5 months I'm so psyched to see them starting to really bond!