I do myseff

Today I went to water the plants and Jack grabbed onto the watering can and helped me to water each plant. We’re one step away from “I do myseff“. And the temper tantrum that resulted when the water ran out (hence the paci) makes me not very excited about this new development. I did, however, manage to get a cute picture once we calmed down a bit.

Terrific Tuesday!

Today the mommies met at the park this morning in an effort to beat the heat.
Jack still was flushed immediately. Lately he always looks sunburned because every time we take him outside he goes all ‘hypercolor‘ shirt on us and – BAM!

Melanie and Jillian learned a funny and important lesson about static electricity!

Then after nap we continued to ‘beat the heat’ by enjoying the pool.

We enjoyed the pool so much that afterward we needed to relax. Whew!

New Developments

In the last week Jack has started communicating using body language. What makes this odd is it’s my body he’s using. When we’re reading a book he’ll grab my hand and make me turn the pages. He also points at things using my finger. The ultimate in body-language cuteness was yesterday after nap when he woke up and we came downstairs to the main level. Usually he plays for a bit and descends into the basement or hunts for snacks. Well this day went for what I thought was a leg-hug until i realized he was pushing so hard on the backs of my legs I stumbled forward to catch my balance, then he pushed me out the front door and reached up. It was as if to say “Time to go play down the street, Mommy.”

Also I’m proud to say he’s becoming a really good listener. It’s important to me that if I say ‘no’ to something he knows to listen. As far as I’m concerned there are 3 levels of discipline

1: “I wish you wouldn’t do that because it’s not convenient for me” i.e. taking clothes out of drawers or DVD’s off shelves which at most will get an exasperated “Jack…..” out of me and maybe I’ll try and distract him with something else.

2: “I have told you not to do that because there is mild danger or major inconvenience” i.e. walking too far away from me, playing with plugs or power chords in the middle of the room (no actual outlets in range) this gets a louder “Jack” and usually a command like “come here please.”

3: “Oh shit, stop right now you’re going to get hurt!” i.e. reaching for outlets, walking towards the street, trying to play with lawnmowers, trying to eat cat/dog food this gets a loud “Jack, NO!” where he always backs away/drops what he’s doing and sometimes comes to me for a hug.

Also yesterday Jack reached for his first kid-to-kid holding hands experience yesterday. The little girls in the neighborhood have been doing this for a while and I wasn’t sure if it’s because they’re girls combined with their one to one and a half year age difference. I’ve been waiting for the hand holding for a while now…. just because I think it’s cute. Well, yesterday the mack-daddy himself put the handholding moves on Emma and she was happy to hold his hand. She’s been trying to hold Jack’s hand for about 2 months now but he kept pulling away. Kids crack me up!

Mommy’s New ‘do

Welcome

Home!It’s so good to be back. We came home to a happy cat, thanks Lindsey! Some cool packages, thanks Amazon and Lindsey! And some new neighbors who are quiet smokers… meh, you can’t win them all.

A recap

We drove to ‘the Valley’. Jack fed mommy dinner.
We went to breakfast the next morning at at, wait for it……

We went to dinner at the cow restaurant. How quaint. Seriously though, don’t mock. The food was good, really good.

The company was good too! This is Steve and Sara our ‘Penn State friends’ and dinner buddies for the evening.

Jack enjoyed their super cool dino-mite gift!

Photos!

This afternoon I went to visit baby Sophie and Mommy Susan and Daddy Nick at the hospital.

The verdict is that being in the hospital itself is a pretty calm experience the second time around because you know enough to relax a little and not be scared out of your wits! Also not chasing around a toddler, or playing with a ‘big boy’ is pretty freeing. It’s the going home and having 2 sets of needs to meet that they report is the scary prospect.

Susan and Nick both seemed so calm and relaxed and confident. Everyone is doing well and they get to go home tomorrow.

Also today Jack got into his regular highjinx and mommy got a new ‘do.

Pregnancy Update:

Two down, one to go!

Jen gave birth to her son a few weeks ago: Joshua Michael
… and in this just in Susan gave birth to her daughter this morning at 7am Sophia Elyse is here!

One to go:
Kate you have got to serve Liam his eviction notice!!

Pictures to follow.

Walking Buddies

Jack and Emma have decided to be walking buddies, which is convenient because their mommies have also decided to be walking buddies. In a neighborhood effort to be healthier we’re trying to start walking together, Monday Michelle and I took the kids (her youngest, Charlie, was sleeping behind Emma in the tandem stroller). Hopefully as the weather improves we can walk round the ‘hood and get more of the neighborhood mommies to join us!

One of these things

FINALLY looks like the others…

I have never been so happy to be done with a project – ever.