Tooth Watch 2008

Nope, nuthin yet...

I don't care, stop talking about it... just give me something to CHEW

Abby: Texting... @ 4

Steve is going to end up one of those dads. You know the ones. The ones that are grabbing at their foreheads wondering how to slow their little girls down... wondering "When did I say she was allowed to date?" when she's in her LATE twenties, bringing a guy home to meet the WHOLE family for Thanksgiving.

Abby's first official text. Typed by Abby, to Mommy from Gramma's phone. 5/28/08:

Goodnight mom dad abby jack
abjtpg.adaddaa

One's Teething, One's Growing

Jack is still biting down as though his life depended on it. If a knuckle... anyone's knuckle comes near him he lunges for it like a ... an animal that lunges... (any ideas? I'm sleep deprived).

Abby is going through a growth spurt is my guess since her normally lackadaisical eating has tripled in the last two days. It's so hilarious when it happens because it's like suddenly I'm completely taken off guard. Her dramatics plus her ever-developing verbal skills just make it all the more... hilarious. "I'm the most starving girl ever thats been on the whole EARTH" "Momma, I'm so very extremely really hungry, I just don't know what to do!"

Abby & Jack: Happy Birthday Poppa

Your family loves you!
(A whole whole whole lot more than Jack liked this hat or Abby liked this braid)

(should be posted the 27th - will switch it tomorrow)

Envy...

Bronx (Aaron and Megan's dog) is staying at Gramma's house for two weeks. Abby is not pleased... in fact, she is hurt. "Why can't I stay at Gramma's for two weeks?"

Jack - The Grabber

Watch your food (Jack lunged for a bite of cookie from Gramma today).
Watch your hair.
Watch your plate (often dragged off the table by this mischief maker).
Watch your iphone (ooo you should have seen the bloodlust in Jack's eye as he tried to grab onto Steve's today).

He knows what he wants now. He tends to lean backwards, hands outstretched for balance and then he LUNGES forward for what he wants. The grass in this case:

Abby's Back

Abby's reaction to Jack's arrival was partially to become a homebody. She didn't want to be left out of the new family's activities and, wouldn't you know it, usually the new family activity was staying at home. So for about a month now I haven't been asked to psychotically over-book Abby's social calendar the way she likes it. Instead we tamely have lunch at home, play with Jack, and try to fit everyone into the cuddle chair.

Over the past week or so though things have slowly, but firmly, seemed to settle back into place. Abby had a successful "Mall Adventure" with Poppa, a wonderful never-ending day with Zoozie, an impromptu entire day at Gramma's AND school night sleepover, and finally today, after a day literally packed full of fun and frolic she was still desperately trying to invite herself to anyone and everyone's dinner table. Anything but be at home. This girl is trouble. But she's my girl and I like her just the way she is.

By the way, I only have four things scheduled on Abby's social calendar tomorrow, anyone want to add to it? because I'm quite sure it will not be enough for Abby's tastes.

Abby's Loves

Considering I happen to think Abby could follow interests in any number of areas - art, music, dance, anything to do with imagination or creativity, anything to do with society - i.e. involving people, or even astronomy (she loves the show 'Universe' on Discovery HD), I really need to remind myself to listen and take note when she shows a particular inclination or love for something. And despite the fact that it is difficult to get her dressed and ready for ballet, she is just showing week by week how much she is enjoying it. I think I am so interested in not pushing her into things I think are just for me (what do I think of as an ideal female talent or interest) that I am probably too quick to quit, or to let Abby quit I should say. This recent surge of dance interest has made me rethink putting a hold on ballet while she explores soccer.

But she's young. She can always go back.

But she loves it and with my mom here we could probably handle both for one semester...

But I don't want to stretch us all too thin...

But it's teaching her such wonderful focus. She is in that little routine apart from the big group and she must have been not watching and she got called out by the teacher and I was just waiting for a bucketful of tears or silence or not being able to continue, but she took the note and then took the hug afterwards from the teacher and then was happy as could be after class and all the more motivated to go back the next week....

But she's only a baby and there are lots of things to let her experience before we decide to lock her down and chain her to an interest... because of course, that's how we roll. ;)

sigh...

Teething and Sitting and Spitting

Jack is teething... has been teething... will be teething. This is how it feels sometimes.


On a happier note, Jack is also sitting... like a champ... who sometimes falls over as though intoxicated...

And finally, on a silly note, this is how Jack greets me in the morning or... anytime. His blowing bubbles trick has turned into a spitting bubbles trick. He's very proud of himself.

Chick Magnet

A rather blurry testament to the fact that Jack is a chick magnet. Besides Julia (who, to be fair, loves all things baby), Jack also has a little two year old at the pre-school who walks him to Abby's class and back out everyday.

Abby & The Beach

Abby hasn't always loved the beach. We've been doing a beach day or two per year since she was born.

The first time she was about as interested as Jack was this year. Less so. She slept about as much as Jack did this year. (flowered cream wrap dress).
The second time was the first official Gramma Picture Day... I think (pink jumper)
The third time she didn't care about the beach as much as she cared about the people at the beach. When forced close to the water she was wary and did not, at all, like the sand, not even a little bit. (bright green sundress)
The fourth time it was all we could do to keep her on the beach for a couple minutes to take pictures. She reluctantly played in the sand and, finally, at one point, stalked off intent toward home regardless of whether or not the rest of the family was going to follow. (olive green sundress)
The fifth time ran everyone ragged running in the sand, chasing the waves, giggling and having a great time. (bright blue dress)
This last time was more of the same, though still wary of that water and a little more directive about it. She wanted the perks of the water this time, but she was going to make sure she wasn't forced too near it. (oh how I wish I'd dressed her up)

Jack's First Day @ The Beach

The above picture pretty much sums it up. Jack was fascinated with the Ocean. He was fascinated with the sand. He didn't seem to know quite what to make of it all, but he was intently paying attention... intently.


(brought to you by Gramma's Birthday Picture Day)

Dad Energy Again

The different energy given when there's a different energy behind the camera...

Abby & Jack's Mother's Day

Just made them pose for two minutes... not nearly as simple it sounds perhaps... but it's at least reasonable.

Take 24: The One Where We ALL Blinked

Trying to get a mommy/children picture for Mother's Day we proved we apparently all have a little of my mom's blood in us. It all comes full circle.

Jack's First Swim

In all the hoopla I may have forgotten to mention Jack loves the bath now. He splashes with determination, not the cute little graceful splashes, but big manly kerPLUNKSH splashes.

The pool was no different. In fact, I'm not totally sure he understood what the big hubub was about. I mean, don't get him wrong, he liked the unconfined splashing opportunities. He liked that we were on his level and not reaching in over the bath unable to really connect. He didn't love how bright the whole experience was, but he didn't complain.

All in all he was cute.

Abby & Jack... the haps

Well, sheesh, a week and a half and no posts.

What's going on?

Abby has crossed some sort of development threshold. Her already ridiculously brilliant verbal communication has just sort of tightened up. Oh and she threw in a big stick of drama in there too. She frequently tells me, "I'm going to go adore Jack now." Its always a treat, sometimes bitter-sweet, to see her logic... she can be fixated on getting those books over there like she was headed to do when we ask her to turn around and do something else and the first response is none as she is focused on her goal, the second, she's just so betrayed that we don't understand that the value of her goal is just as important as the value of our order. She fell madly in love with taquitos last night. She was very sweet and worried for me when I was sick. If there had been a tv camera crew here it would have made everyone cry, "Momma, please wake up, its time to wake up" (I wasn't unconscious but might as well have been). She loves to write notes (that use up the WHOLE PAGE) like the one she wanted me to give her teacher while I was sick and she couldn't go to school (related slightly):

Dear Miss Janet, My momma is sick and everyone needs to come over and bring lots of presents and even Miss Janet has to come and no one can leave. It will be... I want it to be a party. But it's tomorrow... and Jack is the cutest baby you'll ever seen. Don't touch his head only his tummy. Miss Pat, Miss Milly and all my friends, even the boys, have to be there. You can have lunch and dinner with me. You can have treats with me. I don't think I'll have enough room in my car but its fine. It's okay. You can play with my dolls even.... (it went on but I ran out of paper).




Jack is still chewing on any knuckles that cross his path.
He just needs to catch your eye to give you a smile.
He gets especially happy (smiles then flails around happily) when he sees me and Abby.
He laughs at pretty much anything Daddy does.
He still rolls whenever he's put on the ground even if it puts him at great peril.
He likes formula if he must have it, but would prefer natural. (I hope I don't ever forget that completely pure squeal of joy he made when I got back from 10 hours at the ER and offered him the real thing)
Speaking of squeals. Jack squeals now. With happiness, anger, love, laughter... it's all a bit silly. (the nursing squeal was the longest in history).
Oh and the grabbing. He can grab and boy does he try. He focuses with all his might to try to get his hands to meet up together around an object which usually results in things being swatted to the floor or food plates being pulled into caregiver's laps. He's close though, he can feel it!