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.