Abby & Samantha Take Disneyland

Think you're brave? Think you're tough?

Would YOU take your 4 year old niece to Disneyland all by yourself?

I didn't think so.

They had a great time.

Don't Call Him Scooter

Cuz Jack is officially a total crawler... as of a few days ago.

AND

Oh yeah. He's pulling up on things.

WHAT IS HE TRYING TO DO TO ME?!

WHAT IS HIS RUSH???!!!

The Dress Inspection

Abby loves to line up all the things she has for dress up... or line up her cards or her books... she really likes to "lion" things up.

I Don't Know How To Calm Down

Abby may be the very most perfect Abby that I could want but I know there are times when she can say things not nicely, when she can be impatient or selfish or whiny... but do keep in mind, so can I.

That said, there are few times when she literally just melts down. Those days have been behind us for several years and happily so.

Today she freaked out.

Over what? I'm not entirely sure. I believe it was a mixture of tiredness, hunger, and multiple boo- boos.

It was sort of like a cartoon. We were over at Pearl's house and they have these little kid lawn chairs and Abby's was set up on an incline (and Abby was a little loose with her leaning) and the chair kept tipping over. The second time she got quite a scrape on her elbow that she didn't even notice (they were playing in the cold water, so I don't think she could really feel it) and I didn't point it out, knowing that the blood would upset her.

Well, sure enough I saw her notice it and she really flipped out. I had to pick her up and remove her from the situation to try to calm her down and she wouldn't.

I uttered the most fantastic phrase ever to be heard at a pre-school, "I can't understand you when you're crying, you'll have to stop before we talk" and each time I said it she got about a half sentence out that was distinguishable. And finally I pieced together that she couldn't calm down. "The crying won't stop, Momma." And several other such phrases.

Well won't that just melt a parent every time?

So I just sort of talked and drew her attention to other things and sure enough that crying was having a really hard time stopping. We prayed (and God excused me for rambling on a bit continuing with the distraction therapy). A cold treat helped quite a lot but everything was setting her off again so away we went.

She calmed down very quickly and vegged on the couch for a good hour and was good as new... after she ate a cup full of goldfish and 3 taquitos.

It's Not Easy Being... EVIL

Abby is all into playing Cinderella and the Evil Stepsisters.

Oddly enough Abby does not insist on being the princess. I have noticed with her and her friends that they actually don't mind if not prefer being the stepsisters.

As she ordered me around in the rudest way she could think of this morning (I was Cinderella) I thought perhaps she isn't allowed to be mean much and this was an excellent vent for those tones and feelings.

It wasn't as easy as one would think though, to keep herself in character. As she banished me into my room and told me to lock the door, "and stay in there until I tell you and you canNOT come out so just stay in there and do the laundry... and snack... or read a book... you know, do whatever you want" (the tone strays from demanding to quite polite as the sentence progresses).

Abby & Jack & Wallace & Grommit

Abby insisted on holding Jack while they watched a movie. Note his hand on her arm... and that he fell asleep, comfy in her arms.

Do they look just the same? I can't tell.

Abby-roo

The thing that made it extra special is that she was conscious of her audience. She knew when she shook her little tail at the seated parents that it was cute and funny. But she was also looking just a tad intimidated.

Her ears came off during the final thing and she tried to keep going. She looked to her teacher who told her to just toss them. But two helpful little girls (or more?) would run and get them for her each time. And Abby (as the oldest 4 year old on the planet) held out her hand to try to stop them, kept whispering, "It's okay, it's fine" but each time the helpful good-hearted little ballerina would force them into her hand.

Miss Caroline finally rushed up and grabbed them from the floor to keep it from happening again and I think Abby was afraid she'd done something wrong.

Either way she just needed some *time* after the whole thing was over.

Zoozie and Gramma were there to witness the cuteness.

Cutest Light Testers

This side of Kansas.

Just some tidbits...

Abby has been dressing herself with no fuss, completely on her own before we even get up ever since the object of the day was to go to Ballet Camp.

I was only going to have her do one week but there has been such a musicality to her step since this started, such a lightness... I really think I'm going to have to cave. You can tell, parents that is, when something is really hitting a note with your child. This has nothing to do with becoming a prima ballerina, this is just about what Abby is totally enjoying and thriving in.

Oh, and just in case you need proof, she still doesn't want me to do her hair... because she wants Miss Caroline to do it there (in a tight braidy bun thing).

She did a SOLO in their little week end performance and she was so engaging, so charming, so adult. Pictures to come, don't you worry.

I know I've mentioned this before but she is so advanced in her language skills it cracks me up that there are still a few confusions that stick:
"Lions" = Lines
"Fingermales" = Fingernails

JACK the man is three months ahead in age as far as his advancement... the scooting/crawling/going back and forth between sitting and scooting etc. He is a whooping 18 3/4 pounds. Healthy, and very close to winning the tug of war with the nurse with the measuring tape.

He still LOVES me which is so very very cute. He lunges and giggles when I come back to a room. He loves everyone else too, but he REALLY loves me when he's tired.

He still LOVES Abby and doesn't seem to have any claustrophobia issues that I would expect him to develop after being constantly smothered by the love of his one true sister.

OH the intensity with which he wants the remote control... I cannot tell you. It is very serious business for him.

I'm thinking we need to invest in some male "dress up" for his future - fireman and cowboy and policeman superhero and... construction worker... I dunno, whatever they else they have as Abby is constantly modeling for him the fun of dress up and he's going to look mighty funny in what she has.

In continuing his theme of being easy in comparison to other miraculously beautiful wonderful children I have, he doesn't mind baby food. I'm just giving him fruits to play with currently but he'll consistently open his mouth for it for a good half the jar if not more every go.

He also LOVES to bang on things. He was completely entertained in the doctor's office for an hour this morning banging on the metal tray. It made a lot of noise but they were making us wait so I figured it was their own fault.

Jack- Seriously?

Okay, it's true I'm still not sleeping even though I no longer have a newborn, but a SIX MONTH old hefty boy. But at the same time... this child ... there are no words for the miracle ...

Here's what happens.

Today for example:

Yes, he was VERY annoyed most of today before 3 when I finally got home and could put him down for an uninterrupted nap time. But when I put him down (I mean, he was so obviously exhausted, I can't even tell you), he just... stared at the little light and music thingee and

went

to

sleep.

Now I know a lot of you moms out there lived your whole motherhood of babies with babies like that. But, it bears repeating, Abby screamed. Doctors tell you some babies just "need to do that" and not to worry about it.

Er hmm.

Fine, I didn't worry about it. That doesn't mean it wasn't absolutely miserable.

I know, all you moms who never had that happen think it was just because I was a new mom, anxious and unbroken in to the ways of the motherhood.

I tell you the truth. It was just what she needed to do. And it did not ruin her forever, she sleeps fine.

Anyway. So that was one miracle today.

Then we come to just now. An hour ago Steve brought up Jack for bedtime diaper change and outfit. I tickled him and laughed with him (this is Jack I'm talking about, not Steve), I rolled him around like he likes, then, as he watched me snap up his sleeper I just sort of let him play with my hand while I uploaded pictures.

And.

He
Fell
Asleep.


AGAIN.

On the carpet.

I'm going to try to transfer him to his crib, I don't expect much of a fight.

The fighting happens at 1 and 2 and 3 and 5 in the morning when NO he is not hungry, NO he is not hot, NO he is not cold, NO he does not have to burp (lady if you try to sit me in burp position one more time I am going to take you out), NO he does not need to poop, NO he does not want a new diaper (and don't you DARE try to change my clothes you awful excuse for a human), NO HE DOES NOT WANT THE BINKY (where can I turn for help in this God-forsaken house?)!!!!

What is wrong, you ask? I don't know. Come on over, maybe you can tell me once you've tried to reason with him. Oddly enough it's not a lot of screaming... it's just an extreme restless annoyance that progresses to screaming if no one tries to understand him.

The 5 or 7 (depending on when he last woke up annoyed) fussiness is totally clear. It is actually rather hilarious. He wakes up fussy just exactly like any other time, but the moment I sit him up rather than try to put him back down he is Smiley McDreamboat. He just wants to be up and play and grab Dad's nose.

SO that's where we are at. Sort of. To be perfectly honest, I have no idea how often he wakes up... it could be just twice. It probably is just twice... but it seems like more... much more.

Oh wait. On a related note I guess Abby's sleep is not totally fine. Abby still sleep walks... sort of. She definitely sleep sits. She sits up suddenly when I go in to feed Jack and talks... sometimes sings a ditty... then drops back down. She tends to fall off the bed. I just put Jack down in there and one arm and half her head were already hanging off the side.

Right. This was long and rambly.

Jack Loves Biter Biscuits

Abby's Dad

Abby's First Class

We had the end of school/ graduation ceremonies for Abby's pre-school today. And I cried. And I wasn't even sure why. (Samantha cried too though).

(how cool is this picture?)

Abby will be getting a bonus year of childhood by getting to go back to pre-school... and I get a year more of workdays and you get an extra year of Orange slushees as you try to use your entire crate of Oranges that you ARE still going to buy from me.

But this graduation was still important because this is the class she started in... before she was "social," before she knew what a "playdate" was - she started out with this class, with these friends.


And since she was the second youngest in her class, that meant that this class was special because they literally taught her a lot. From phrases and tones that perhaps I could have done without, to how to survive in the rough playgrounds of Pasadena. At one time or another she loved each of them DEEPLY and desperately needed to set up time away from school with them. She had quite a love affair with Henry within her first few months. She's been in love with Dexter since Christmas. She's had quite a friendship with Maggie and Campbell and Sarah. She's invited EVERYONE, including Miss Janet, to the condo (whether or not we were actually going).

If nothing else, having her be a part of this class, the class she would be with if she were following the standard state's deadline and she was always behind. It didn't worry me so much as ... okay, it made me a little sad for her now and then when she was trying so hard to do what the other girls (or boys) were doing and she just hadn't reached that step yet... or she was late to the game in general.

SO this was a special class, an important class... but the future is bright too. Just wait for the water works when she graduates with this next class (which includes Claire and Pearl). Think about it - Claire who's grandparents have been in the same Bible Study with Abby's grandparents for thirty+ years... who shared life and hardship and this whole parenthood and beyond thing - who's mom and Steve used to play together from Steve's birth... before they graduated pre-school, much less high school and college and first dates and meeting their spouses. .. yeah... it's on next year people.

PLUS Micaiah will have just finished his first year and then following that next year or the year after we start all over with Jack!


Yup, baby, I'm talking about you!

I dare you to be there and not cry. I just dare you.

Jack: Scooter

He's a bit more than scooting... he's semi-crawling if not downright... a crawler.

Holy Cow.

Abby Holding Her Daddy

I am so glad that I started taking pictures before there was really any picture to be taken. I often underestimate the bond Abby and her Daddy share. It is hard for me to grasp, but obvious as sunlight, that these two understand each other in a way I don't understand either of them. Recently I have become annoyed at the number of incredibly cute father/daughter moments I have failed to capture - either due to having Jack on my lap or the knowledge that theres not enough light or setting to capture what I really want to capture.

And even here, obviously, it's blurry, but its this trust and possessiveness that Abby has for "her people" that is was so hard to explain to people when she was a baby skeptical of some people and lavishly fond of others.

I think she's pretty fond of Daddy.

Jack - Just Where Do You Think...

You are going like that Mister?

In case you aren't catching on - that is Jack... my six month old... on ALL FOURS... trying very hard to go after the book a few feet away. In case you're still not catching on - the ALL FOURS practice is the step right before they figure out how to crawl. Abby crawled at 8.5? months. Somehow... I don't remember her doing it much. She went from crawling to wanting to walk pretty quick. I know two months doesn't sound like much, but in babyworld... or parentworld anyway... It's freaking CRAZY.

This picture was taken a couple days ago, he isn't crawling, but he has connected in his brain of his that his efforts can potentially pay off in the freedom and miracle of SELF-PROPELLED-MOVEMENT.

SO now he scoots, and lurches forward and... oh geez... this is too early... what am I going to do about the stairs?

Justification

I realized as I drove away from Gramma's house today with only Jack in the car that some of the stress in my life comes, of all things, from having to JUSTIFY every decision I make. Whether it's to my wonderful, sweet, intelligent, inquisitive daughter, or my grinning manly man of a son who just wants to stay home and play with his toys for five minutes for crying out loud why must I cart him around like a sack of potatoes... and don't even get him started on his right to nap undisturbed for more than ten minutes... and I wonder why I can't get him to sleep peacefully at night...

The point is I can't just pop us all into the car to go to the grocery store. I know I will have to explain, even convince Abby why we need to go and what we will and will not be purchasing while we are there.

Jack... I presume... feels the same and is just waiting for the words to actually tell me. He doesn't particularly like the car to begin with. I imagine he's just saving up his complaints until ... well he's not saving them at all... he's letting himself be heard quite clearly actually now that I think about it.

I even have to explain myself to adults... or, I feel like I have to anyway... Justify why I must go to the market tonight and leave Steve with both kids when he just biked ten miles and he doesn't feel well because he had three big-gulps of coffee and a mint tamale chaser.... or why I need to leave one child with this babysitter and take the other here and then swap them out making everything that much more complicated and time consuming and OH yeah I think I left my phone in my cereal this morning...

And I don't suppose it will change ANY time soon. But someday...

I'm not looking forward to my "empty nest" in order to find myself or follow my passions. I'm looking forward to that time of life so that I can get in the car and go wherever I so please whenever I so please for whatsoever I please...

Er. Hm.

And now back to how wonderful and cute my kids are.

Abby... Discussions

Abby and Wesley are sitting at the table alone eating pizza... one of their moms is conked out on the couch with a baby resting on her, the other is changing another child's diaper.

W: I'm going to be taller than that when I grow up.
A: No you're not.
W: Yes I am, I'm going to be as tall as this roof.
A: No you're not.
W: Yes I am. I'm going to be as tall as a bear.
A: (giggling) A bear as tall as the roof would be... Bears aren't on roofs
W:Bears are really tall.
A: No, only a...a... giant is as tall as the roof.
W: (intrigued) A giant?
A: Yeah!
W: Where did you see a giant?
A: At school.
W: Wow.
A: Yeah. Giants are HUGE.
W: Humongous.
A: Yeah. Humonunigous is so big.
W: Mm.

They lapse back into their own thoughts.