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)