I swear that boy can hear what I am thinking. There are so many times when I look at the clock and think "Oooh, Charlie has been sleeping almost an hour. I wonder when he will---" and he starts to wail. Or "Oooh, Charlie is quiet! I guess he is aslee---" and he starts to wail. Ah, looking on the bright side, we have a connection. I just wish it didn't interrupt his sleeping! I wonder how long this connection will last?
In other news, my most wonderful friend, Denise (who lost her pregnancy earlier this year) is pregnant! She will be having a mini-Charlie, since her due date is July 7!! I am SO excited for her, and she and her family really deserve this. She is going to have one of those early amnios, at 10 weeks, in case the rare Down Syndrome baby they had last time reoccurs this time. I really am over the moon about this! Especially since she was due two weeks after me (when pregnant with Charlie) and I am always thinking of that poor baby.
Also, my friend, Jenny, who used to live in my neighborhood, now does not. They built a lovely house in the 'burbs, and combine that with her brand-new baby girl, and I am positively green with envy. I want a big, brand-spankin'-new house in the 'burbs (well, a new one, anyway). I want a baby girl! And I seriously doubt that I will ever have either! Ugh. As we were driving around today, I was taking serious digs at my new friend, and my hubby asked me "Do you want to live out there?". No, I replied, I am just jealous! It was hard to admit, but now that I have, I feel a bit better. Because I don't want to be jealous of my friend, and seriously, I have no desire to live out where she does!! Anyway, we were out near there today, and took a drive around, and I felt SO much better. There were lots of Lexus and BMW and Audi vehicles around, and big, pricey homes (admittedly, hers is what she calls a poor relation to those, but they still abound!) and I just really didn't feel like I fit in. I feel like I fit in where we are (despite the uber-liberalism of our neighborhood). I like our old house, and I like living in the house we brought our boys to. And with the basement livable, I feel like we have enough room (for now). Do I want to be a lovely new house? Yes. Soon? Actually, yes, if I could find a place I would be all over it. But we want 1) our kids to go to a Spanish Immersion school 2) to be close enough to Chad's work but not too much farther from my family and 3) Something affordable . Right now, nothing like that exists. So, the plan is to stay put. And I really am happy with that. I love this neighborhood, especially in the fall with all of the beautiful trees. We have a park across the street, which I think will be even better for us next summer. Nice neighbors that I want to hang out with more. Stuff like that. And as for the daughter thing, not a whole lot I can do about that. I do want one more kid, one last try, but Chad isn't fully onboard. So, I am going to pick myself up and dust myself off, before someone mistakes this envy for my Halloween costume!
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Questions
So, one of the many blogs I read features this Mom and her twin girls. On today's post, she asked people to ask any questions they wanted, and since I am sometimes at a loss for things to write about (apparently my day-to-day life really is boring!!), I am going to use these questions for a few entries here. So, here is question one (in no particular order, of course.
How much do Jack and Charlie interact? Hmm, not a whole lot together. Jack is all about Charlie, though. When we went to the park yesterday, the first thing he did was run over to Charlie in the stroller and kiss him and say "Lubalubalubalub" which is "I love you" in Jack speak. Then he ran off to play. And, recently I have noticed that Charlie looks at Jack, which is a big step for him. Previously he hadn't noticed him so much, even when Jack was in his face!
If you had a weekend away from them, what would you do? Well, if I had a weekend away from them, but with my husband, I would want to go to a romantic cottage. Somewhere right on the water would be fabulous. Just reconnect and sleep late and do lazy things. If I had a weekend TO MYSELF (unheard of), well, probably the same thing! Sleep late, read and write and stay in a cottage on the water! Funny, huh?
What is your favorite part of your day right now? It is the morning. The mornings are usually less frantic, less hectic, less tiresome, less stressful. Jack naps in the morning, Charlie sleeps easier in the morning, I am a little more rested in the morning. I feel like I can focus and do anything in the morning. By afternoon, the tantrums have worn me down, I am counting down to 5 when I can use Jack's one hour of TV time for Sesame Street, plunk him down, and not deal with him (hopefully; sometimes it doesn't work quite like that). Charlie starts sleeping weird in the afternoons sometimes, and that sucks. So, mornings.
Which one of your kids will be the rebel, which one will be the goody two-shoes? Well, as it seems right now, Jack will be the rebel and Charlie my good guy. Jack is so into his terrible twos and climbing all over and throwing tantrums and getting hurt and screaming and demanding, that it is hard to imagine him being a good guy when he grows up! Whereas Charlie is still so sweet, and he when he is fighting sleep, all he wants to do is pull me closer to him, like he can't get enough of me, that it is hard to imagine him being naughty. But who knows what the next 20 years will bring!
How much do Jack and Charlie interact? Hmm, not a whole lot together. Jack is all about Charlie, though. When we went to the park yesterday, the first thing he did was run over to Charlie in the stroller and kiss him and say "Lubalubalubalub" which is "I love you" in Jack speak. Then he ran off to play. And, recently I have noticed that Charlie looks at Jack, which is a big step for him. Previously he hadn't noticed him so much, even when Jack was in his face!
If you had a weekend away from them, what would you do? Well, if I had a weekend away from them, but with my husband, I would want to go to a romantic cottage. Somewhere right on the water would be fabulous. Just reconnect and sleep late and do lazy things. If I had a weekend TO MYSELF (unheard of), well, probably the same thing! Sleep late, read and write and stay in a cottage on the water! Funny, huh?
What is your favorite part of your day right now? It is the morning. The mornings are usually less frantic, less hectic, less tiresome, less stressful. Jack naps in the morning, Charlie sleeps easier in the morning, I am a little more rested in the morning. I feel like I can focus and do anything in the morning. By afternoon, the tantrums have worn me down, I am counting down to 5 when I can use Jack's one hour of TV time for Sesame Street, plunk him down, and not deal with him (hopefully; sometimes it doesn't work quite like that). Charlie starts sleeping weird in the afternoons sometimes, and that sucks. So, mornings.
Which one of your kids will be the rebel, which one will be the goody two-shoes? Well, as it seems right now, Jack will be the rebel and Charlie my good guy. Jack is so into his terrible twos and climbing all over and throwing tantrums and getting hurt and screaming and demanding, that it is hard to imagine him being a good guy when he grows up! Whereas Charlie is still so sweet, and he when he is fighting sleep, all he wants to do is pull me closer to him, like he can't get enough of me, that it is hard to imagine him being naughty. But who knows what the next 20 years will bring!
Monday, October 25, 2004
The Perfect Day
Wow, today was one of those days that I hope to never forget. Not that it was all perfect, mind you. Jack still had his cranky toddler moments, still woke up snarky from his nap, and still refused to shower me with kisses and protestations of love, but it was really a lovely day.
To start off, the weather was beautiful. It was one of those gorgeous fall days, the temperature was around 55 but the sun was out and warm. The leaves are right around peak right now, and plenty of them are on the ground, which Jack loves to walk on and kick around. Anyway, I went to visit my friend, Jenny, and her brand-new baby girl, Maya. Seems like ages already since Charlie was that tiny! And, this is so mean of me, but it was nice to see that Jenny, who I try to model after, in terms of how to parent (only I want to be a more relaxed version, but I still think she rocks), was looking tired and had that just had a baby floppy belly (Jenny is an uber-workout person, and her body is always fantastic). And my sister came over to tend to my wee ones, since I wanted to concentrate on saying hello.
Then, my Mom met us over here, to check out my paint job in the hallway, and new things in the basement. We then trudged over to Lindsay's house to see her gorgeous new bathroom (I am gagging to do mine now!). And, since it was so lovely outside, we all decided to go to Como Zoo. Now, Mom had taken Jack (and Charlie) to this two twice this summer (I went with once), but Jack really wasn't interested in the animals. Not today! First thing we saw was the gorillas, and he was entranced! Then we went into the primate house, and he was loving it! Pressing his face and hands up to the glass, and the monkeys would get close, too! He loved it! It was so fun to see! And, when he would come out of his reverie, he would babble, like he was telling us all about it! On to the seals, then the aquarium (loved the big polar bear and Sparky the seal) and lastly, the big cats! He was especially into the cougar. Oh, it was so sweet! And most of the time I had Charlie in the Baby Bjorn, and he kept making little baby noises and giving me sweet looks! Oh, I just fell in love with my boys more than ever! And I breastfed while I was there! Now, I was proud of that, because I never got to that point with Jack (never felt comfortable nursing him, to be honest) and I didn't really give it any thought today, until I was already doing it! That was such a good feeling to me.
It was just a few hours, but it was so fun. And the fact that it is probably the last nice day until next year helped. But now I am excited for things like Story Hour and the Children's Museum! Maybe I will try and do more of that this winter. Gives us something to do, right?
To start off, the weather was beautiful. It was one of those gorgeous fall days, the temperature was around 55 but the sun was out and warm. The leaves are right around peak right now, and plenty of them are on the ground, which Jack loves to walk on and kick around. Anyway, I went to visit my friend, Jenny, and her brand-new baby girl, Maya. Seems like ages already since Charlie was that tiny! And, this is so mean of me, but it was nice to see that Jenny, who I try to model after, in terms of how to parent (only I want to be a more relaxed version, but I still think she rocks), was looking tired and had that just had a baby floppy belly (Jenny is an uber-workout person, and her body is always fantastic). And my sister came over to tend to my wee ones, since I wanted to concentrate on saying hello.
Then, my Mom met us over here, to check out my paint job in the hallway, and new things in the basement. We then trudged over to Lindsay's house to see her gorgeous new bathroom (I am gagging to do mine now!). And, since it was so lovely outside, we all decided to go to Como Zoo. Now, Mom had taken Jack (and Charlie) to this two twice this summer (I went with once), but Jack really wasn't interested in the animals. Not today! First thing we saw was the gorillas, and he was entranced! Then we went into the primate house, and he was loving it! Pressing his face and hands up to the glass, and the monkeys would get close, too! He loved it! It was so fun to see! And, when he would come out of his reverie, he would babble, like he was telling us all about it! On to the seals, then the aquarium (loved the big polar bear and Sparky the seal) and lastly, the big cats! He was especially into the cougar. Oh, it was so sweet! And most of the time I had Charlie in the Baby Bjorn, and he kept making little baby noises and giving me sweet looks! Oh, I just fell in love with my boys more than ever! And I breastfed while I was there! Now, I was proud of that, because I never got to that point with Jack (never felt comfortable nursing him, to be honest) and I didn't really give it any thought today, until I was already doing it! That was such a good feeling to me.
It was just a few hours, but it was so fun. And the fact that it is probably the last nice day until next year helped. But now I am excited for things like Story Hour and the Children's Museum! Maybe I will try and do more of that this winter. Gives us something to do, right?
Monday, October 18, 2004
Two Peas, Different Pods
I am not sure why, but I always thought that Jack and Charlie would be a lot alike. I am pretty sure it has a lot to do with how close in age they are, and now, that they are both boys, but that totally isn't the case. Now, I realize that they are young yet, and things could completely change, but this is the way I see it right now:
1. This one is pretty obvious: Jack is blonde, Charlie is dark (not sure what color to call it, an auburny-brown, I guess).
2. Jack looks "just like Chad" (everyone says so, anyway) and Charlie is a mini version of my dad (and I look a lot like him).
3. Jack is very outgoing, Charlie is quieter, until he warms up to you, anyway.
4. That sleep thing -- Jack was a great sleeper, still is, Charlie, well, not so good.
5. Jack is very comfortable alone, whereas Charlie doesn't like to be left alone. Could be the age, but I swear Jack was the same as he is now at the same age as Charlie.
6. Jack wasn't great at breastfeeding, but loved the bottle. Charlie -- not so good with a bottle but loves my boobies!
7. Charlie will tolerate being read to (it is too early for me to tell if he likes it or not). Jack always hated it, until just recently (ok, that could be something they have in common).
8. Charlie doesn't sleep in the car, Jack always did!
Ok, that is all I can think of right now. Onto other items!
My friend, Jenny, had her baby today -- a little girl, Maya Grace. I am very happy for them and excited to see her grow up. But a part of me is really jealous. Jenny and her husband didn't want girls (they have a son 3 months younger than Jack), they wanted two boys. But this pregnancy had been so different, they felt that it might be a girl, and were actually looking forward to it being a girl. Anyway, I am really feeling like I will never have that daughter. In fact, I dreamt of it the other night. I dreamt that I was in labor, and scared because it was my last baby, and soon I would know for sure if I would ever have that elusive daughter. Again, I love my boys so much, but I do long for a girl. Chad is still determined to not have any more babies, so who knows what will happen. I just feel really sad about it all right now, I guess.
In other news, I took the boys in for pictures today. For Charlie's 3 month pictures, and then I wanted a couple with the two of them. It was rough! Jack would not cooperate (can anyone say "terrible twos"?) and we only got 2 shots with both of them, both borderline nice, and ended up ordering the better of the two, just because I really wanted one at this age. And Charlie wouldn't smile, big surprise. In the end, we got 2 cute poses (total), but I suppose that is all we needed. And bless Lindsay's heart for going along with me. She really is my best friend.
1. This one is pretty obvious: Jack is blonde, Charlie is dark (not sure what color to call it, an auburny-brown, I guess).
2. Jack looks "just like Chad" (everyone says so, anyway) and Charlie is a mini version of my dad (and I look a lot like him).
3. Jack is very outgoing, Charlie is quieter, until he warms up to you, anyway.
4. That sleep thing -- Jack was a great sleeper, still is, Charlie, well, not so good.
5. Jack is very comfortable alone, whereas Charlie doesn't like to be left alone. Could be the age, but I swear Jack was the same as he is now at the same age as Charlie.
6. Jack wasn't great at breastfeeding, but loved the bottle. Charlie -- not so good with a bottle but loves my boobies!
7. Charlie will tolerate being read to (it is too early for me to tell if he likes it or not). Jack always hated it, until just recently (ok, that could be something they have in common).
8. Charlie doesn't sleep in the car, Jack always did!
Ok, that is all I can think of right now. Onto other items!
My friend, Jenny, had her baby today -- a little girl, Maya Grace. I am very happy for them and excited to see her grow up. But a part of me is really jealous. Jenny and her husband didn't want girls (they have a son 3 months younger than Jack), they wanted two boys. But this pregnancy had been so different, they felt that it might be a girl, and were actually looking forward to it being a girl. Anyway, I am really feeling like I will never have that daughter. In fact, I dreamt of it the other night. I dreamt that I was in labor, and scared because it was my last baby, and soon I would know for sure if I would ever have that elusive daughter. Again, I love my boys so much, but I do long for a girl. Chad is still determined to not have any more babies, so who knows what will happen. I just feel really sad about it all right now, I guess.
In other news, I took the boys in for pictures today. For Charlie's 3 month pictures, and then I wanted a couple with the two of them. It was rough! Jack would not cooperate (can anyone say "terrible twos"?) and we only got 2 shots with both of them, both borderline nice, and ended up ordering the better of the two, just because I really wanted one at this age. And Charlie wouldn't smile, big surprise. In the end, we got 2 cute poses (total), but I suppose that is all we needed. And bless Lindsay's heart for going along with me. She really is my best friend.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
These Are the Days
My boys are so sweet and getting sweeter everyday.
I have really come to a point with Charlie where I love him. I mean, I have always loved him, he is my son. But now I love him.
The sleep thing has been going great this past week. We have been putting him to sleep in our bed, and although he is only taking hour naps, he is napping! And going down easier and easier everyday. So now that that hurdle is out of the way, I feel like I am really enjoying Charlie for the first time. There was the period after he was born, our babymoon, but that was just euphoria over having a newborn and not being pregnant! Now I am appreciating who he is becoming. Sweet really is the best word to describe him. He smiles often, but not the big, full bodied smiles that Jack had, but sweet, almost shy smiles. And a lot of times he will snort and look away. He just melts my heart.
He is also quite the chatterer, but not for just anyone. Most people, like my sister or mom, have to really work at it, but not me. Last night, Chad and I were arguing, and Charlie just kept interrupting with smiles and chatter. Like he knew we were fighting and he was breaking it up. How can you stay mad when that happens?
He has a great little schedule going now, too. Wakes up, either eats or plays, then does the other one (plays or eats), then back to sleep! He is never up for more than 2 hours (the only thing I was able to glean from the Healthy Sleep Habits book) and it is working great. But if he deviates much from that, there is hell to pay. Like yesterday. I escaped the mayhem for a few hours, and Charlie was due for a nap when I left, but upon returning, he still hadn't napped. It wasn't pretty. Took him over an hour to go to sleep last night. Kind of a mood killer, ya know?
And of course there is my honey, Jack. He is getting so big! My mom cut his hair on Friday, and he looks like such a big kid now! Plus, I think he is growing, as his 2T clothes are starting to really fit him now. He can help put his shoes on, can reach the countertops (and often does), is talking like a madman, counts to 20, and is learning some colors! I just can't believe how time flies.
Oh, and does he love his brother! Jack went to Granny and Geido's (my parents') Thursday to Friday, and when Charlie and I went to pick him up, he ran over to Charlie right away. Barely a second glance for me, he was all about his brother. He was kissing him, and kissing him, and rocking him in his carseat. It was one of the sweetest things I have seen from Jack since he held the girl's hand in the park.
Jack loves being read to right now, especially when he is tired and wants to cuddle. And coloring is quite an obsession for him (he is on my lap right now, doing just that!). I am very happy about the coloring, I must say. My family is very creative, but Chad's isn't, so I have been afraid that Jack, who everyone thinks is a mini-Chad, wouldn't be! I am hoping to nurture that creativity in my kids.
I am really settling in and enjoying this all right now. I remember hearing when I was pregnant that the first 3 months would be hard, and it seems to have been exactly that for me. A friend of mine from high school came over the other day with her 15 month-old daughter, and she kept saying to me "I don't know how you do it". Part of it is that I don't know any better. I got pregnant with Charlie when Jack was just 9 months old. The other part is that you just do. There are good days and bad days, but there aren't a whole lot of them that I would change. I love my boys and our life together. It all seems perfect now and I am glad that we didn't wait any longer.
___________________________________________________________________
So, I just finished that lovely post, including how much my oldest son loves his little brother...only to watch that oldest lob his cup at the other, simply because Charlie was sitting in his own gym. Poor little guy. Jack, for not understanding that the gym was made for infants, and Charlie for getting a cup in the head. These are the days.
I have really come to a point with Charlie where I love him. I mean, I have always loved him, he is my son. But now I love him.
The sleep thing has been going great this past week. We have been putting him to sleep in our bed, and although he is only taking hour naps, he is napping! And going down easier and easier everyday. So now that that hurdle is out of the way, I feel like I am really enjoying Charlie for the first time. There was the period after he was born, our babymoon, but that was just euphoria over having a newborn and not being pregnant! Now I am appreciating who he is becoming. Sweet really is the best word to describe him. He smiles often, but not the big, full bodied smiles that Jack had, but sweet, almost shy smiles. And a lot of times he will snort and look away. He just melts my heart.
He is also quite the chatterer, but not for just anyone. Most people, like my sister or mom, have to really work at it, but not me. Last night, Chad and I were arguing, and Charlie just kept interrupting with smiles and chatter. Like he knew we were fighting and he was breaking it up. How can you stay mad when that happens?
He has a great little schedule going now, too. Wakes up, either eats or plays, then does the other one (plays or eats), then back to sleep! He is never up for more than 2 hours (the only thing I was able to glean from the Healthy Sleep Habits book) and it is working great. But if he deviates much from that, there is hell to pay. Like yesterday. I escaped the mayhem for a few hours, and Charlie was due for a nap when I left, but upon returning, he still hadn't napped. It wasn't pretty. Took him over an hour to go to sleep last night. Kind of a mood killer, ya know?
And of course there is my honey, Jack. He is getting so big! My mom cut his hair on Friday, and he looks like such a big kid now! Plus, I think he is growing, as his 2T clothes are starting to really fit him now. He can help put his shoes on, can reach the countertops (and often does), is talking like a madman, counts to 20, and is learning some colors! I just can't believe how time flies.
Oh, and does he love his brother! Jack went to Granny and Geido's (my parents') Thursday to Friday, and when Charlie and I went to pick him up, he ran over to Charlie right away. Barely a second glance for me, he was all about his brother. He was kissing him, and kissing him, and rocking him in his carseat. It was one of the sweetest things I have seen from Jack since he held the girl's hand in the park.
Jack loves being read to right now, especially when he is tired and wants to cuddle. And coloring is quite an obsession for him (he is on my lap right now, doing just that!). I am very happy about the coloring, I must say. My family is very creative, but Chad's isn't, so I have been afraid that Jack, who everyone thinks is a mini-Chad, wouldn't be! I am hoping to nurture that creativity in my kids.
I am really settling in and enjoying this all right now. I remember hearing when I was pregnant that the first 3 months would be hard, and it seems to have been exactly that for me. A friend of mine from high school came over the other day with her 15 month-old daughter, and she kept saying to me "I don't know how you do it". Part of it is that I don't know any better. I got pregnant with Charlie when Jack was just 9 months old. The other part is that you just do. There are good days and bad days, but there aren't a whole lot of them that I would change. I love my boys and our life together. It all seems perfect now and I am glad that we didn't wait any longer.
___________________________________________________________________
So, I just finished that lovely post, including how much my oldest son loves his little brother...only to watch that oldest lob his cup at the other, simply because Charlie was sitting in his own gym. Poor little guy. Jack, for not understanding that the gym was made for infants, and Charlie for getting a cup in the head. These are the days.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Is Your Oldest Your Favorite?
It seems like people who have more than one kid seem to focus on the first born. There is this journal I read of a woman and her 4 year old son and 1 year old daughter. Most of the posts are about both, but it seems like it really concentrates on the oldest child. And a friend of mine is due any minute with her second, and all she can think about it her first. Her husband is hoping for a daughter (they have a son and don't know the sex of this next one) so that his bond isn't interfered with this next baby. Don't they realize that this is going to be THIER KID? Just like that first one is? Is that first kid so exciting, every new step so wonderful, that the second kid just can't measure up? I just don't get that. I am a pretty big fan of a baby story, and so many people on that show say"I just can't imagine loving this next one as much as I love my first one" or something like that. Why can't you imagine that? I just never got that!
Of course, I am not perfect. I worry that Jack will be more attractive than Charlie, or vice verse. I want them to be equal in all things. But I already find myself creating differences between them, creating their own niches in life. I see Jack as the life of the party. Mr. Popular (but not jerky) and outgoing and gregarious. Much like his Daddy, but without all the unnecessary chatter. And Charlie will be Mr. Serious, College Professor and all that. But really love his Momma and is just a really sweet, quiet guy. Light and day those boys. Or at least that is how it seems so far. Am I creating the people will be, or just insightful so early in the game?
Lastly, the sleep game and my boy, Charlie. It is going ok. We are trying to get him to sleep in our bed. Better, but not great. And only day one.
Sigh.
Of course, I am not perfect. I worry that Jack will be more attractive than Charlie, or vice verse. I want them to be equal in all things. But I already find myself creating differences between them, creating their own niches in life. I see Jack as the life of the party. Mr. Popular (but not jerky) and outgoing and gregarious. Much like his Daddy, but without all the unnecessary chatter. And Charlie will be Mr. Serious, College Professor and all that. But really love his Momma and is just a really sweet, quiet guy. Light and day those boys. Or at least that is how it seems so far. Am I creating the people will be, or just insightful so early in the game?
Lastly, the sleep game and my boy, Charlie. It is going ok. We are trying to get him to sleep in our bed. Better, but not great. And only day one.
Sigh.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Sweetness and Light
Do you ever have one of those days that are great, even though nothing major happened and there were lots of bad bits? Yesterday was one of those days and my boys are what made it great.
First off, we are still doing the sleep thing with Charlie, and boy, is he stubborn! I guess he has to be or he wouldn't be here....I mean, what are the chances that you have sex ONCE, a couple of days before ovulation, and get pregnant?!?!?! COME ON. Sorry, I digress. So right now we are doing a half sleep in the swing, half sleep (and cry) in the crib. For some reason, I have having a hard time crying it out with Charlie. He is just so sweet and content and then gets so riled up when he is in the crib, that it is hard to do, I guess. And Jack slept anywhere, so we really didn't do cry it out for a long time, so maybe that is it, that Charlie is younger than Jack was. Anyway, there was lots of crying and sleep issues yesterday, which could easily make a day go bad.
But enter my eldest son, Jack. He really is so much fun right now, when he is in a good mood. The day really was prepped for disaster. I knew it would be hard with Charlie. Then, Jack started the morning screaming. Screaming when Chad changed his diaper (Jack had been in the sandbox the previous day, and ingested some sand, I think) and his butt was hurting. I guess (Chad gets him ready in the morning) Jack put his hand in the diaper, and proceeded to rub poop all over himself! Poor Chad, not a nice way to start the day. Then, Jack went on to scream through breakfast. But a little motrin and some alone time, and he was my sweetie again!
It was just a nice day. Jack has been say Mommy lately ("Mah-mee") and I love to hear it. He points to himself when he says it. SO CUTE. And of course I was getting him to say it lots yesterday. He is just a talking maniac! Counting up to thirteen ("tir-teeeeen"); we did lots of that. Singing, he likes to sing "Row, Row, Row your Boat". I don't know, it is hard to pinpoint the one or two things that made it a nice day. I was patient with Charlie, Jack was fairly good. We are still doing the nap dance (when will he nap? now? Now? NOW??) and spent a good portion of the day in his room, trying to see if he would sleep, but he played so nicely.
I don't know, I guess I am rambling, I just wanted to get a day like this on record. Not long now and I will be understanding everything Jack says, and there will be less of this toddler-ness, more kid-like with him. And as frustrating as it can be, trying to figure out what he wants when he can't tell me, it is also sweet and fun and wonderful watching him grow up. Hearing him say "yellow" and "purple" and "eight" for the first time. Watching him walk around with the phone, pretending to talk to people. Just being my sweet little guy and making life so damn good.
P.S. Charlie makes life so damn good, too, but in a more stable way. Jack seems to be more highs and lows right now, where with Charlie, all I have to do is pick him up and he smiles. Doesn't matter if he was screaming his head off moments ago, if he catches my eye, he smiles. His sweet, gentle smile. It is nice having that with him.
First off, we are still doing the sleep thing with Charlie, and boy, is he stubborn! I guess he has to be or he wouldn't be here....I mean, what are the chances that you have sex ONCE, a couple of days before ovulation, and get pregnant?!?!?! COME ON. Sorry, I digress. So right now we are doing a half sleep in the swing, half sleep (and cry) in the crib. For some reason, I have having a hard time crying it out with Charlie. He is just so sweet and content and then gets so riled up when he is in the crib, that it is hard to do, I guess. And Jack slept anywhere, so we really didn't do cry it out for a long time, so maybe that is it, that Charlie is younger than Jack was. Anyway, there was lots of crying and sleep issues yesterday, which could easily make a day go bad.
But enter my eldest son, Jack. He really is so much fun right now, when he is in a good mood. The day really was prepped for disaster. I knew it would be hard with Charlie. Then, Jack started the morning screaming. Screaming when Chad changed his diaper (Jack had been in the sandbox the previous day, and ingested some sand, I think) and his butt was hurting. I guess (Chad gets him ready in the morning) Jack put his hand in the diaper, and proceeded to rub poop all over himself! Poor Chad, not a nice way to start the day. Then, Jack went on to scream through breakfast. But a little motrin and some alone time, and he was my sweetie again!
It was just a nice day. Jack has been say Mommy lately ("Mah-mee") and I love to hear it. He points to himself when he says it. SO CUTE. And of course I was getting him to say it lots yesterday. He is just a talking maniac! Counting up to thirteen ("tir-teeeeen"); we did lots of that. Singing, he likes to sing "Row, Row, Row your Boat". I don't know, it is hard to pinpoint the one or two things that made it a nice day. I was patient with Charlie, Jack was fairly good. We are still doing the nap dance (when will he nap? now? Now? NOW??) and spent a good portion of the day in his room, trying to see if he would sleep, but he played so nicely.
I don't know, I guess I am rambling, I just wanted to get a day like this on record. Not long now and I will be understanding everything Jack says, and there will be less of this toddler-ness, more kid-like with him. And as frustrating as it can be, trying to figure out what he wants when he can't tell me, it is also sweet and fun and wonderful watching him grow up. Hearing him say "yellow" and "purple" and "eight" for the first time. Watching him walk around with the phone, pretending to talk to people. Just being my sweet little guy and making life so damn good.
P.S. Charlie makes life so damn good, too, but in a more stable way. Jack seems to be more highs and lows right now, where with Charlie, all I have to do is pick him up and he smiles. Doesn't matter if he was screaming his head off moments ago, if he catches my eye, he smiles. His sweet, gentle smile. It is nice having that with him.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Updates
Not a whole lot has been going on around here. We had our monthly playgroup yesterday at our house. It is us, and two of my friends from high school and their two boys (and one of the women is due any day now). Our (first) boys are all within 3 months of each other, and had my one friend (also Denise) not lost her baby at 20 weeks, we would have all had a second just 3 months apart. Anyway, at the last meeting, Jack beat up the other kids, and since Charlie was still so young and I was holding him most of the day (we were without the swing, and boy could I tell!) I couldn't deal with things so well. Thankfully, yesterday was better. No beating up, but Jack wasn't in to any sharing. He would take the toys right out of the other boys' hands! So frustrating! What am I supposed to do in this situation? Distraction doesn't work. Time out didn't really work. A nap and some food helped, but it didn't go away.
At least Charlie slept most of the time (swing).
In other news, Charlie will be 3 months old next week, so it is time to get serious about his sleeping. Need to wean him from the swing and into the crib! I have started to read a sleep book, and am actually hoping that it will cure Charlie, but will also help with Jack's sporadic naps. Yup, still playing that game. We shall see. I have to read 300 or so pages before they tell me what to do, so it might be awhile.
Jack is really a counting phenom. He counts up to eleven perfectly, and Chad says he goes even higher. What a sweetie. We are moving on to colors now, just for a little variety.
Nothing exciting, but all fun just the same.
At least Charlie slept most of the time (swing).
In other news, Charlie will be 3 months old next week, so it is time to get serious about his sleeping. Need to wean him from the swing and into the crib! I have started to read a sleep book, and am actually hoping that it will cure Charlie, but will also help with Jack's sporadic naps. Yup, still playing that game. We shall see. I have to read 300 or so pages before they tell me what to do, so it might be awhile.
Jack is really a counting phenom. He counts up to eleven perfectly, and Chad says he goes even higher. What a sweetie. We are moving on to colors now, just for a little variety.
Nothing exciting, but all fun just the same.
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