Jack Frost

We may not know Jack too well yet, but we know one thing for certain. He hates... really truly hates... being cold.

As Daddy discovered in a test that can only be described as very Daddy-ish (Steve placed cold hands on Jack's tummy and giggled as Jack screamed furiously then immediately calmed when bundled back up) we learned Jack doesn't like the cold. I think this is part of his issue with diaper changes (though Abby had the same aversion).

When wrapped up attached to me he'll go much longer between feedings... so not only does he hate cold but he also loves warmth. Fascinating.

Abby and her Auntie

As I was putting Abby to sleep last night she told me, "I want to sleep at Auntie Samantha's house. I want to be Auntie Samantha's kid instead."

Trust me, Abby, Auntie Samantha would make you sleep too.

Abby and Jack: Coping

Abby is still coping well. Before she left for her little Gramma and Poppa adventure she didn't ever want to leave the house... or, more specifically - me. Which was so sweet and sad considering how incredibly *not* a homebody she is.

So before Poppa picked her up Friday she was saying she didn't want to go and she wanted to stay with me and she would go with Poppa when she was happy. She couldn't go then because she wasn't happy. I asked her what would make her happy. "I don't know. Nothing!" Then, with perfect manners she turned the question around on me, "What would make you happy, Momma?" And I told her I was happy but I wished she was. However, as soon as Poppa got here it was like fresh air for her and off she went without a second thought. Well, I think she did ask to take Jack.

If it's not me she is worried about keeping close to, it's Jack. She's very concerned that we keep him close and that he know we'll take care of him. Daddy gets the lowest consideration unfortunately, but I don't think Steve can feel too badly since she still giggles madly wanting to wrastle with him and though she warns him often that she wants to cuddle with me and not him, as soon as he leaves she starts talking of how much she misses him and how she wants us to build him an office in the house so he doesn't ever have to go. Today, after attacking him in wrestling for a solid half hour (egged on by me yelling "Get him, Abby!" if she starts losing her sense of humor) she stopped and said, "I can't 'get him' he's my Daddy!" To which he replied, "It's okay, we're just playing" to which she responded by jumping on his chest with her knees. She doesn't take much persuading!

She misses family and Christmas already. Everyday she asks heartbreakingly for someone. Micaiah or Uncle Aaron and Aunt Meg or Auntie Samantha in the same way, "I miss Gramma so much, I wish we could see them again."

Jack is coping well too. What, you ask, is he coping with? Well, he's got this whole nursing "properly" thing and burping thing and pooping thing. I subject him to clothing changes and being strapped into a carseat for no apparent reason. The light is much too light, the portacrib much too lonely. He has a sister that loves him to a fault - who insists on sharing her princess bracelet with him, and holding him as much as his parents will let him. The diaper wipes are much to cold and diaper changes in general seem to be specially designed to make him mad.

He likes the swing okay... for a while. And sleep, he likes sleep pretty well...during the day anyway.

Jack in the Hood

Note the baby gray eyes. We presume they'll turn brown...

Jack's First Christmas

Abby's Christmas Dress revisited...

Abby and Jack: The Princess and the Pea

Uploading these in low quality because I want to upload so many.

No Soul Photography (aka Auntie Samantha) brings you another set of photos, this time of Abby and Jack.

Abby wants to hold Jack a lot. But she is very patient generally for Mommy to tell her when is a good time to hold Jack. Once she finally is given her time with him, these are the sorts of things she says... whether or not he is sleeping, happy, or crying his head off:

"Don't worry Jack, we'll always take care of you."

"Hi Jack! Hi there little fella"

"I think he likes me."


"I think he's saying he's comfortable on his big sister."


"I think he thinks I'm funny."


"He's pushing me down."


"Can you get him off me, he's kinda heavy."

Jack in Poppa's Hands

Jack's Awake Time

Abby and "The Biggest Lights Ever in my Whole Life"

We had a long day today topped off with showing Abby the Upper Hastings Christmas Lights. If only we could bottle up all her joy. It was so sweet and wonderful.

And she was so tired, she was practically mumbling towards the end.

There is just nothing more sweet and pathetic as an exhausted child (when they can lie down, not when you're forcing them to be socially acceptable after their bedtime). She was asleep before we finished praying...

Jack: All Wrapped Up

Jen G (formally known as trucker jen) lent me her Moby Wrap while waiting for the Moby Wrap that she ordered for me (thank you!!!). I did not believe her that I would be able to figure out said Moby Wrap as all it is is one long piece of fabric that you twist and cross and tuck and tie until you get it right for baby. But, being the social psychologist that she is, she demonstrated in a fashion that worked for my brain and I'm now well on my way to being a great beginner wrapper. I was going to say expert but the experts not only wrap their babies but look oh so coooooool when they are done. For the moment, I'm just pretty happy to have accomplished making Jack very happy all cocooned in the fabric.

Abby's Karate Chop (and Jack's first cookie night)

Abby and her silly Daddy on Cookie Night.

Jack was a trooper for his first.

Abby Looking at Santa

(@ school Christmas party)

edited to add: Santa hung around for most of the party and at one point was cornered by five or six kids. Abby was sort of on the fringe, acting kinda goofy (talking to herself but sort of directed towards Santa, giddy, doing twirls and other gawky type movements) and I realized she was both star struck and shy because she had absolute faith that Santa knew her, recognized her, and I think was hoping he's acknowledge her in some way.

Abby's first time holding Jack

Abby's Stealth

My sweetheart was at the kitchen table having her breakfast today and she said, "Hey Momma, can you not look near me right now? I want to get a candy from the ginger'bed tree."

Honesty... it's disarming.

Jack's Jaundice

Not bad - just a little yell'r. So we nurse alot (he's been completely willing to participate) and a little sun thru the window does the trick.

Jack's Peepers

That's eyes if anyone was wondering...

Jack in the Box

(still to be edited by the magical Steve)

Jack in a Basket

Jack's Hello from Mommy

You have the softest black spiky hair and the funniest lips. You aren't much for opening your eyes and you had two huge real tears your very first day of life (don't worry, they were manly tears). You, unlike your sister att this age, have a butt already and, very much like your sister, do have a propensity for cuddling.

We had a moment today. You braved the light and just looked at me. I looked back, said some things about how I feel about you. It wasn't too long, but it was eternal.

Abby's Wedding Ring

Abby got a gold ring from a 25 cent machine at Round Table today and as we were leaving she asked me to keep it for her:

"This could be my wedding ring."
"When I grow up it will fit me perfectly."
"Will you keep this safe for me for my wedding day?"

*all said with extremely hushed, sacred tone

Abby's "Day at the Park"

While I can't exactly say it was a nice day at the park, it was a beautiful day at the park. Cool and clear and peaceful.




We'd already had a pretty full day by our standards and Abby was saying "I was trying to tell you I wanted to go to sleep in the car" by the time we got to the park (though there wasn't enough time for that to actually happen and how previously she was trying to tell me, I have no idea - it wasn't with words).





It started out mellow. Not exactly what Abby had been hoping for I'm sure, but it was fine. The best part was for the thirty minutes it was just Abby and I at the park Abby spent the entire time singing the "True Love" song from "Enchanted"... Often under her breath, sometimes quite sincerely, but always, constantly singing.



There was a homeless lady asleep in the grass (later she was smoking watching the kids play) and a roaming man that had no apparent business there. Neither of which sparked any anxiety -- but did spark my notice a la Gina's talk about what to look out for at a park (Gina - missing child's producer on America's Most Wanted).



There were four girls basically Abby's age who came to play together and wanted nothing to do with Abby which was basically what did us in. Abby couldn't believe this. She went up to them... asked directly. Tried to tag along, tried to lead, tried to give them space... nothing worked.


She blamed her dress for not allowing to keep up and tried to pull it off. I tucked it rather fashionably into one leg of her panties (its so long it didn't look that weird actually).

She tried to get a drink of water from the water fountain and water got all over her front.

The whole thing was just not working out for her and finally, after she started reacting against me (who can blame her? I was there and the only one paying attention to her!) in defiant enough ways that I couldn't just let it slide, I was done, she was done... the day needed to be done too.

Oh well. I got some interesting pictures. She apologized in the car in that wonderfully sweet way she has, "I want to listen to that song again. The one I heard. And I'm sorry I didn't listen to you at the park."

Abby and her Cousin and Their Bedtime

Sometimes the routine is sacrificed for things like family dinner after church.

Sometimes this means we have two very giggly, very zombie-like, very sensitive munchkins to deal with.

Sometimes Zoozy is brilliant and brings new Vegitales to help.

Abby's Glitter Shoes

Oh, the glitter shoes!!

I can't get away from the glitter shoes.

Come rain, running, playing, sand, grocery store, school, sleet or snow, Abby wants to wear her glitter shoes.

I got the glitter shoes with a huge sense of impending guilt that I had just bought them and they would certainly not be used. Now I'm wishing that I was not getting quite as much of my money's worth out of them.

She voluntarily put on a pair of her normal shoes today for church and I shamelessly told her to "Abby, go get me that water bottle across the room" while I ran for the glitter shoes and hid them under a pillow lest she notice them and have a change of heart.

(That sweater, by the way is my favorite sweater Jen G knitted Abby which Abby insists does not need to be tied - as it's a crossed sort of thing it looks completely odd untied - I tied it this particular morning by distracting her and I almost slapped Steve when he called attention to it by complimenting her on how nice she looked. She picked this outfit by the way, in case you hadn't figured that out)

Gone to the Dogs

I wanted the blog addy to be abbyandjack.blogspot.com but it was taken... go there to see by whom ;).

So, just to clarify, even though I call it Abby and Jack the URL is abigailandjack.blogspot.com

Abby's Ballet Open house

Abby's solo (with Pearl following)


Miss Caroline's Class in... The Nutcracker (Abby second from right)

Abby's Monsters

Abby had, as far as I can tell, the worst nightmare she's ever had last night. She called out to me sharply in the middle of the night. This is something that isn't too rare - it happens if she's scared, confused, itchy, sick... not tired... Usually it just takes a quick kiss and hand through her hair to get her back to sleep or at least accepting that I can't stay and she needs to go back to sleep.

But last night she was wide-eyed when I went in there and wide-eyed five minutes later when I tried to leave. I was planning on putting my foot down - that's how we got rid of night-wakings in the first place. But I could just tell something was different. I can't remember what deal I offered, but when I said she could come into our bed she clarified in that heart-wrenching way she does, "You mean I can come in your bed right now?" and then stood like her bed was on fire when I said yes.

So she climbed into our bed, we told Daddy what had happened and he put his arm around her and she didn't make a peep. I held her hand (since she was pretty securely snuggled against Daddy) expecting her to fall asleep within a few seconds. I actually fell asleep first for I'm not sure how long and when I tried to let go of her hand I realized she was still wide-eyed awake and just plain scared.

I sort of pinched her hand into the fold of my arm so I wouldn't let go as I slept and the next time I tried to turn (quite a bit later) her hand fell to the bed with a satisfyingly unconscious thump.

Tonight she was exhausted (you know, the poor girl. Not only had I completely forgotten my lesson learned about Lunch Bunch Tuesday - i.e. that the extra time at school means she needs extra freak out time. But today when she was being difficult, I'd forgotten all about the nightmare and lack of sleep) AND we had another big running around sort of day. She was scared to go to sleep however so I sat with her just like old times.

We prayed and she asked anxiously, "Did God hear you?"

Assured that even if she had a bad dream, God would be right there next to her, she went to bed within two minutes. Now we wait... and Mommy searches the internet for 4 year old nightmare advice. She wouldn't talk about it, she didn't want to tell me. All I know is that there were monsters and they were killing people but she wasn't in the dream (i.e. being hurt) and neither were the rest of the family.

I can still remember telling my parents about the black panther dream one night. Once I verbalized it, I never had it again... or rather - I do think the panther showed up again rather soon after that but in a more neutral almost comical way.

A New Blog

There are times when I feel like I want to indulge in every little picture or thought I have about Abby or Jack and feel like I want a place where these sorts of things are uncluttered by the rest of things that I weB Log about.

So this will be more of a brag blog than Burnt. Not totally sure all the blogs will shake out where and how they "should" but I thought I'd start because... I wanted to.