Shaw

Easter 2011

2011-04-24T11:25:00.001-07:00

Jack was the first one up on Easter morning and was thrilled to see a trail of Easter eggs outside his room. He quickly found where the Easter Bunny had hidden his basket and eagerly began to pull out all of the goodies. He loves his new sippy cups, forks, books, and toothbrushes. Charlie woke up shortly after Jack, and I heard him squeal at the top of the stairs when he saw the egg trail leading downstairs. With Daddy's help, he collected the eggs that led him to his Easter basket. The look on his face when he discovered his basket was priceless. He has quite a sweet tooth, so his eyes were bugging out of his head as he opened each egg in his basket. The Easter Bunny even put dollar bills inside some of the eggs because he knows how much Charlie loves money.

Both boys were even more excited that we let them have a piece of candy before breakfast. Jack's expression was hilarious as he shoved the tiny piece in his mouth. He quickly tried to grab another piece and run away with it. Charlie stashed all of his candy and money into cups to display in the kitchen. We had to keep a close eye on him all morning so that he would not inhale all of his candy.

Later in the morning, we welcomed Mimi, Baba, and Uncle Adam for brunch and a second round of Easter baskets. There was more candy and goodies for both boys. Jack enjoyed the new books and a very cool light up egg, while Charlie fixated on the candy yet again. We are really going to have to find a good hiding place for the candy...this kid is obsessed.

After brunch, I insisted on trying to get a family photo. All of my boys moaned and groaned about it, but seriously, this momma needs pictures of her beautiful family. Of course it was a challenge to get everyone looking at the camera, smiling, and happy, but we managed to pull it off for the first time in a loooong time. See, it pays to be persistent!

Easter Egg Hunt

2011-04-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took both boys to the Roswell Easter Egg Hunt at Sweet Apple Elementary. It is a great event and had a huge turn out this year. Mimi and Baba joined us this year to help the boys find the perfect eggs.

The week leading up to the hunt, we practiced our egg hunting skills in the family room. Charlie seemed to be really excited about it this year, but when the mad rush for eggs began, he got a little scared. He recovered, but for the most part he was much more interested in eating the candy. Jack got the concept of putting the eggs in his basket right away, and he liked trying to put the broken eggs back together.

Ughhhh!

2011-02-18T18:00:00.001-08:00

I am well aware that it has been a long time since I have blogged on a regular basis - since last year to be exact. Okay, I know it's only February, but seriously, the fact that I have not updated the blog gives me major anxiety for some reason. Mostly because I feel like I am going to forget a sweet moment that my family shared, and it will be lost forever because I was too busy to document it.

So, for those of you who have been wondering where we are, I promise we are still around. Life has been super busy in a wonderful way since the New Year, and the day-to-day craziness has caused me to become a little slack in terms of writing. In the next month, I plan to catch up on all of the blog posts that should have been written. I will be updating for January and February.

Tonight, however, is not the night. Instead, I am going to clean the kitchen floor, finish a load of laundry, wrap some birthday gifts, gaze a my sleeping babies, and turn in early on this Friday night.

Now that I have confessed my blogging sins, I feel better. Thanks for listening!

Jack is ONE!!!

2011-01-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to our sweet, baby boy! Jack is one, and I can hardly believe it. He has grown and changed so much this year. Right now, he seems much more like a toddler considering he has been walking for seven weeks. He runs everywhere, and is so happy now that he can hang with the big dogs (Charlie and Samson). Jack has discovered a love for shaking his booty to the music and dances in circles with Charlie. It is hilarious watching him try to keep up with his big brother, and Charlie is taking very well to Jack being so mobile. Sure they have their rough moments, but I have to say they are really starting to get along very nicely and play together. Jack adores Charlie and laughs at him all the time. I love watching them together, and I know that it is only going to get better.

Jack is growing up so quickly. He weighed 21 lbs, 14 oz (25-50th percentile) and was 29.75 inches long (50th percentile) at his one year check up. The doctor said he looked perfect, and it was the first time I have not had any questions prepared for a well check up. It was such a welcome change from the first few months of Jack's life when it seemed like we lived at the pediatrician and all I had was questions. The happiest news I have to report is that Jack is completely off of his reflux meds. He was weaned off of the Prevacid by his GI specialist, and it is been about three weeks since his last dose. So far, there has not been one sign of reflux, and I can't tell you what a huge relief it is to be done worrying about Jack's belly.

This month, we have seen a big jump in Jack's cognitive ability. He is copying gestures and movements, pointing to what he wants or where he wants to go, and just getting so smart. I think he says "bye-bye" and "Dada", but it is not consistent enough for me to consider them his first words yet. Charlie did not say his first word until 15 months, so I am curious to see when Jack will start to talk. Jack loves to be read to and likes to flip through books. He reminds me of Charlie when he was one. They both love a good book. Jack is a happy little guy most of the time, but he is quick to let you know how he feels. Recently, he has taken to throwing himself back in protest or going limp in my arms when I try to move him away from something. He is a mama's boy, but he is also very independent. I have to keep my eyes glued on him, and I swear I have lost five pounds just since he started walking. I love watching his little personalty unfold.

In other news, Jack has cut his two bottom molars this month. He now has a grand total of ten teeth. His mouthful of teeth makes it easy to introduce him to all types of foods. He has gotten better about trying new foods but is still picky. He is not a fan of meat and only likes a few veggies (carrots and green beans). He loves fruit and is particularly fond of berries. Specifically, he loves blueberries. He starts to get excited as soon as he sees me take them out of the fridge. He loves his carbs and dairy, too. He'd be happy to live off of cheese and pasta. Both of my boys definitely inherited that from me. Jack is drinking whole milk from a bottle now. He is not taking to the sippy cup and usually tosses it around in protest. He also refuses to hold his own bottle. He is a head strong little bugger, and I can see power struggles in our future. Good thing he is so stinking cute!

This year has gone by faster than I could have ever imagined. Jack has gone from a tiny baby to a little person, and all the while I have fallen more and more in love with him. He stole my heart the second he was born, and I think he knows it. Every morning when I walk into his room and he flashes me a big grin, my heart skips a beat. He is my little love, and I am so blessed to be his mommy. Happy Birthday, Jack! Getting to know and love you this year has been a true gift. Mommy, Daddy, and Charlie love you very much!

A Love Letter

2011-01-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Jack,

As I sit here on the eve of your first birthday, I am overwhelmed with emotion. It is so hard to believe that an entire year has gone by, and my baby has grown to be such a big boy.

Your presence in my life has filled a place in my heart that I never knew was empty. That's why it is so hard to believe that a year ago this night, I was terrified that I would not be able to love you enough. I have a confession to make, sweet Jack. It pains me to admit this, but before you were born, I was not sure that my heart could possibly love another baby boy as much as your brother. These feelings of doubt caused me great guilt and anxiety leading up to your birth.

But Jack, the most amazing thing happened the moment you were born. As soon as the nurse placed your tiny body in my arms, I was in love. It was love at first sight - the kind of love that makes you dizzy, takes your breath away, and leaves you longing for more. In that split second I wondered how I could have ever questioned my ability to care for you. I took one look at your beautiful face and knew that I was yours and you were mine for the rest of time. You had my heart and always will.

I was so smitten with you, that I had a hard time letting you out of my sight. You had to be taken to the nursery shortly after you were born for your first bath and in order to take your measurements. My heart ached at the idea of being without you for even a minute. Reluctantly, I passed you over to the nurse. In the hour we were apart, I must have asked about when we would be reunited a dozen times. Once I had you back, I had no intention of letting you go again.

During your first few days, you and I spent hours together just cuddling. I watched you sleep, played with your tiny fingers, listened to your squeaks, touched your delicate skin, kissed your head, and just studied every inch of your perfect little body. All that time, I fell more and more in love with you. Our time together during those first few days will always be among my most cherished memories.

Jack, you have been such a happy addition to our family. I can't imagine life without you in it. Thank you for all of the love you have shown me! Happy Birthday Eve, Little Love!

Love,
Mommy

Merry Merry

2010-12-25T19:03:00.000-08:00

Christmas was extra special this year. Not only was it Jack's first Christmas, but it was also the first year that Charlie really understood the concept. We have been gearing up for the holiday all month by doing crafts and reading stories, and I could not wait to see Charlie's reaction on Christmas morning.

Our holiday traditions started on Christmas Eve with the baking and decorating of cookies for Santa. Charlie can be a great helper when he is in the right mood, however, this was not the case while decorating Christmas cookies. He managed to pull it together in the end, but phew, I thought Santa was going to have to miss out on cookies at our house. Of course, Charlie's favorite part was dumping sprinkles all over the cookies. I will be cleaning up nonpareils until next Christmas. Jack was a good helper, too. He volunteered to test a cookie to make sure it was good enough for St. Nick. After cookies we got the boys in their matching snowman pajamas (thanks Mimi), and read The Night Before Christmas. Charlie was definitely excited and kept saying that he thought he heard Santa. We let the boys open one present each and play for a little before it was off to bed.

On Christmas morning, Jack was the first to wake up as usual. We waited for Charlie to get up before we opened presents. The look on Charlie's face when he came down the stairs and saw his tool bench from Santa was priceless! He did not say anything but had a huge grin on his face. Both boys loved the tool bench so much that they kind of forgot about the other gifts. Next year, I think we will hide Santa's gift and wait until the very end to make the grand reveal. We eventually got around the rest of the gifts and stockings. Charlie was very appreciative of all of the new toys, and Jack was more interested in climbing the stairs and getting a hold of the video camera.

After presents and a yummy breakfast as a family, we got ready to visit with Nick's family. We ate Christmas lunch and then opened more presents than you could ever imagine. It's actually impressive how quickly we can open the mountain of gifts under the tree. The boys loved the gifts that they received, and I had a hard time trying to explain to Charlie that we needed to wait to get home before opening everything up. I caved and let him open one gift, his very own camera. He took our picture the entire 30 minute car ride home.

Once we got home, the boys took naps before round two with my family. Then, Mimi, Baba, and Uncle Adam came over for dinner and presents. The boys loved all of their gifts but spent most of their time playing with the kitchen that Mimi and Baba gave them. It was much like the tool bench, once they saw the kitchen, it was hard to divert their attention to anything else. After presents, we enjoyed a Christmas feast made with love by the fine people at Honey Baked Ham. My only contribution to the meal was steaming some asparagus.

After dinner, Charlie kept telling everyone that he was tired and that he wanted to go to bed (this NEVER happens). I knew we had had a busy day, but this was very out of character for Charlie. Turns out, Char was getting sick. At least he held out until the end of Christmas.

After my family left, we got our two exhausted boys ready for bed. Based on Charlie's comments, we thought he would pass out. But, a little Ibuprofen gave him a second wind. He was so excited about his new loot that he could not sleep. I ended up letting him get out of bed so that he could play for a little longer...hey, Christmas only comes once a year, right?

Our Christmas was amazing, and our boys received so many wonderful gifts and love from their family. We hope that all of our friends and extended family had a wonderful Christmas, too!

Here are just some of the 200 pictures I took. Click on the collage to enlarge.

Cabin Fever

2010-12-23T18:42:00.003-08:00

The weather has been nasty, and the boys have had one illness after another, so playing outside has not been happening lately. A few weeks ago, I mentioned playing outside, and Charlie just about jumped out of his skin. I know that he must have some serious cabin fever, and the idea of going outside must sound amazing.

Right before Christmas, the weather was great. Nick happened to be home early on a beautiful afternoon, and he took Charlie out to play. He used the box from Jack's new headboard to pull Charlie up and down the large hill in front of our house. The look of pure joy on Charlie's face was so wonderful to see, and I am sure it helped give Nick the energy to pull him all over the front yard for about 30 minutes.

Gingerbread House

2010-12-23T18:42:00.001-08:00

I bought a gingerbread house kit at Target and was so excited to put it together with Charlie. Unfortunately, Charlie was much more interested in eating the pieces of the kit than putting it together. He helped decorate the house for about two minutes, and then it became a battle to keep candy out of his mouth. I gave up trying to keep any sense of order to the decorating. I kept the control freak in me at bay, and let Charlie squirt frosting all over the house. It may not be a pretty gingerbread house, but it is truly the creation of a toddler.

Jack is 11 Months

2010-12-22T18:51:00.000-08:00

Words can't even come close to describing the sense of shock that I am experiencing as I sit down to write this post. Jack, my baby boy, is now 11 months old! How in the world did that happen so quickly? My baby is almost one!

Jack's big accomplishment this month has been taking his first steps. Initially, he was very brave and could not wait to practice his new found skill. Then he face planted into my metal laundry basket, and he became a little hesitant. A few days ago, he really started choosing to walk over crawling. It is such a wonderful feeling watching him toddle all over the place. I absolutely love the drunken sailor look as he wobbles around. You can tell he is proud of himself, because there is a huge grin on his face every time he takes off. I am sure it helps that we are cheering for him each and every time. At the rate he is going, he is going to be running around the house during his birthday party.

In other big news, Jack is now sleeping through the night. I can't say that I have been able to fully appreciate this milestone since both boys have been sick, and Charlie has been waking up screaming recently. My hope for 2011 is that I will be able to sleep 8 hours uninterrupted. Wouldn't that be nice? Jack still wakes up early and usually rises about 2-3 hours before Charlie. Even though I hate getting up before the sun rises, I have to admit, I like my alone time with Jack. It is like the calm before the storm. We cuddle, eat breakfast together, and play until Charlie wakes up. Many times, he is going down for a nap when Charlie is waking up. He still naps three times a day, and I am just so ready for him to drop at least one of those naps. It just makes it so hard to do anything. He is one of those babies that thrives on his sleep schedule, and if we deviate from the norm, he lets us know.

Jack is learning new things every day. He mimics everything and can wave bye-bye, clap, and shake his head. I happen to believe that he is saying "bye-bye", but Nick thinks I am crazy. I'll have to post a video later so that you can decide for yourself. Jack is also starting to shake his little booty to the music just like his brother It is so fun watching him become a little person. He is definitely not shy about letting us know how he feels. If you tell him not to touch something, his first inclination is to move faster to get to the forbidden object. When you take something out of his hand, he gets a death grip and gives you the evil eye while refusing to let go. Changing his diaper has become a total struggle. He arches his back and writhes around and screams the entire time. My happy camper has a strong little personality, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for him.

Jack's New Do

2010-12-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

Jack has been looking a little shaggy these days. He has so much more hair than Charlie did at this age, and it has just gotten out of control. His bed head is shocking! So, I decided that it was about time to go in for a hair cut. I had no idea what to expect, but I did not think it would be pretty. He does not sit still for very long, and he can't be bribed to sit still with lollipops and DVDs. I literally told the hairdresser to take off as much hair as possible before he flipped out. All of that worry was for nothing, because sweet Jack sat still munching on a Mum Mum and watching Elmo. He looked so stinking cute sitting in that chair. I wanted to cry when I saw my little baby with his big boy hairdo. But, I have to admit, it is a lot better than the Grandpa Munster hair he was sporting.

Fort Fun - Part 2

2010-12-19T18:48:00.000-08:00

The boys had a blast playing fort the other day. It was hilarious watching them go in and out, giggling and squealing the entire time. Of course, I had to catch it on video, because nothing...absolutely nothing...sounds better than their laughter.

Happy Birthday, Rylee Bug!

2010-12-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

Our sweet niece, Rylee, turned one on the 16th, and we helped her celebrate at her party this Saturday. She was quite the party girl and enjoyed everything from the smash cake to the presents. The birthday girl had a smile on her face the entire party. We were so happy to be a part of her special day, and we love her very, very much.

BFF

2010-12-11T06:39:00.000-08:00

We have become very close with our next door neighbors, The Dodds. Their oldest daughter, Leila, is Charlie's BFF. They have very similar personalities and get along so well. It has been such a blessing having good friends right next door, especially this year. Unfortunately, our friends are getting ready to move to California. I am so sad for Charlie because I know it is going to be hard loosing his bestie.

This picture of Charlie and Leila was taken at The Dodd's Christmas party last weekend. The mommies may have bribed these cuties with M&M's in order to get them to sit still for a picture together. Leila was so precious - she kept trying to hold Charlie's hand during the picture. Charlie was playing hard to get, however, and was much more interested in getting the picture over with so that he could get his reward.

Success

2010-12-11T06:22:00.000-08:00

This is what success looks like! Charlie has been diaper free now for two weeks, and we have only had three accidents (all of which happened in the first few days). Nick and I are so proud of how well Charlie has done with potty training this time around. We had tried a couple of times before this, and Charlie totally fought us. We did not want to push him, so we decided to wait a few months and try again. Since Charlie is 33 months old, 3 months from his 3rd birthday, and this was our 3rd attempt at potty training, I took that as a sign that we were ready to give it a try again. It looks like the 3rd time really is the charm in this case!

After changing two sets of diapers for the 10 months, I am enjoying the new change of pace. Plus, Charlie's little tush looks so cute without a diaper on. He seems so lean, and a lot of his pants are falling down without the extra padding. I may need to pull out some of his smaller pants to avoid the plumber butt look.

Way to go, Big Boy! We are so happy for you and proud of your accomplishment!

Happy Holidays

2010-12-07T10:59:00.002-08:00

You may remember this post from last month. It is an outtake from the photo shoot that I held in the back yard in hopes of getting the perfect picture for our family holiday card.

We probably spent about 45 minutes outside on a gorgeous day taking pictures. The boys could care less about getting the perfect shot. They were much more interested in playing with the leaves and soaking up the sunshine. Who could blame them - it really was a beautiful fall day.

So, I did not get the money shot of my two handsome boys smiling together, but I did get some sweet pictures of them cuddling. And let's face it, smiles or no smiles, they are just cute. When it was all said and done, I really loved a lot of the pictures. I had fun putting our card together and sent it out with pride last week.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Part 2

2010-12-07T10:59:00.001-08:00

Based on the previous post, you might think that our visit with St. Nick was a bit of a disaster. It certainly had me sweating, but it was not a complete bust. Although both boys screamed their heads off initially, Charlie did reluctantly agree to go back and visit with Santa. Nick and I were so impressed that he was brave enough to go back and sit in Santa's lap. It was sweet listening to Charlie tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas. For the record, Charlie would like a tool bench and two vacuum cleaners this year. So, despite the intial freak out, the visit ended nicely.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

2010-12-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

~~~

He's making a list

And checking it twice;

Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

~~~

He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows if you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake!

~~~

O! You better watch out!

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

~~~

Apparently Charlie and Jack did not catch the part about NOT pouting and crying.

Oh, Christmas Tree!

2010-12-02T18:32:00.000-08:00

We bought the boys their own Christmas tree this year. It is being kept in Charlie's room, and he is very proud of it. He is old enough to know not to touch the ornaments, and Jack is slow enough to catch before he pulls the tree down. The plan is to use this tree to hang all of the personal ornaments they will make and receive as the years go by. For now, that is only about five ornaments. To fill in the gaps, I added some green, blue, and turquoise balls. Charlie went with me to the store and picked out an ornament for himself and Jack. Hopefully that will be a tradition that the boys will both look forward to.

One, Two, Three!!!

2010-12-02T18:08:00.000-08:00

That's the number of solo steps Jack took towards me yesterday. He has been taking one step forward for a few days but usually falls. This time, he was hanging onto the edge of the couch, so I reached out to him and told him to come to me. He smiled and let go. One step...then another...a small wobble...and then step three. The best part was that he did not fall after that last step. He just stood there basking in the praise.

I was shocked to see him walk, and it was not a one time performance either. He took another three steps again today. Like with every other accomplishment my children have made in their lives, I was thrilled and devastated at the same moment. He is ten and a half months old, and I seriously thought that I had another month before my baby was going to walk. Walking is such a huge milestone, and to me, it bridges the gap between baby and toddler.

With his birthday just around the corner, I find myself in denial about the fact that the days of having a baby in the house are coming to an end. For example, I refuse to think about Jack's birthday. Charlie's 1st birthday was planned when he turned 9 months. I just got up the courage to order invitations for Jack's birthday last night, and I would be lying if I told you I am excited about the party. This momma wants to bottle my baby and keep him just as he is.

Come in My Office

2010-12-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Charlie is all about building little forts lately and calls them his office. He uses pillows, toys, and anything else he can find to section off little areas of our house. Usually, he wants to keep Jack out, but recently he has been asking Jack to come in. The other day he and Jack played together with Mommy on the sidelines. So cute!

A Special Message

2010-12-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

Charlie will be getting a special message from Santa in the morning. I can't wait to see his reaction. Hopefully it will get him ready for our trip to visit Santa on Saturday.

Potty, Potty, POTTY!

2010-12-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to announce that Charlie has had three successful days diaper free. We have only had two accidents, too! We are using M&Ms as incentive along with a sticker chart that earns him special surprises like stickers, books, etc. So far, he loves the whole process, and is able to tell when he has to go. I am certain there will be set backs, but for now, Nick and I are so proud of our big boy. Hopefully we can start the new year diaper free (fingers crossed).

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T14:40:00.000-08:00

We had a beautiful Thanksgiving celebration at Oma and Granddaddy's house today. Mimi and Baba even joined us for the festivities. Charlie was in heaven and bounced happily from one family member to the other. He certainly loves to bask in the attention of his grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Jack was a little shy at first with so many people around, but he quickly warmed up and really enjoyed playing with his cousin Rylee. They are only five weeks apart, and it has been so fun watching them grow and change this past year. It was nice seeing them interact together now that they are both getting so big.

This year, there were 23 family members present at our feast. Oma prepared all of the food, and it was delicious. Charlie refused to try anything and only ate two rolls for dinner. Jack slept through his first Thanksgiving meal and spit out the one bite of turkey I offered him after he woke up. It is hard to believe that some day these boys will be eating me out of house and home, because now they are both such boogers when it comes to eating!

After a busy afternoon with all of the people we love, we headed home and took a group nap. Jack passed out in his crib, while Charlie, Nick, and I cuddled in our bed. It was a great day, and we loved being surrounded by both of our families.

Here are just a few of the things that I am thankful for this year:

-My boys. I am the luckiest mommy in the world to be loved by Charlie and Jack. They are the loves of my life, and I am thankful for every moment that I share with them.

-Nick's job and how hard he works to provide for our family. He works long hours at a very demanding job. Because of his hard work, I have been afforded the opportunity to stay at home with my babies, for which I am forever grateful.

-Our health. I have so many friends who have had to deal with terrible illnesses in their families. We have been blessed with good health, and it is something that I am always thankful for.

-Our families. I always wanted my children who grow up surrounded by their grandparents. We live close to both sets of families and see them often. Charlie and Jack are so loved, and Nick and I have an amazing support system to help us as we raise our boys. There is nothing more important than family.

-Our friends. Nick and I have always been blessed in our friendships. We have friends from our youth, college, work, and our neighborhood. We may not see all of them as much as we would like, but it does not mean that we love them any less.

Our family is so fortunate, and it is so nice to be able to reflect on that fact. We hope that on this Thanksgiving, you and your loved ones are feeling just as blessed!

To Nap, or Not to Nap?

2010-11-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

Charlie has been fighting his afternoon nap for the last couple of months. Honestly, I could care less if he naps, and I look forward to a time when both boys are done with naps, and we can plan our day without being tied down by a nap schedule. Unfortunately, when Charlie does not nap, he then turns into a little monster around 5:00pm. The three hours before he goes to bed are filled with tantrums, time-outs, and tears. On the other hand, if he does nap, then he has a hard time falling asleep at night and will often be up until 10:00pm.

All of his little friends (with the exception of one) still take naps. He is not even three, so I am hard pressed to not let him nap at all. I always make him take a rest in his room for at least an hour, and some days he passes out, while others he sings at the top of his lungs. If he does fall asleep, I wake him up after 1.5 hours in hopes that he will be able to fall asleep at night.

Any suggestions from my mommy friends would be greatly welcomed.

Brotherly Love Down on the Farm

2010-11-24T07:18:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I love it when my boys actually play together nicely. Jack wants to do everything that his big brother does, and Charlie often has a hard time sharing his toys. But yesterday, it was perfection for ten minutes as the two of them played happily with our little red barn. Charlie wanted to put every animal in the barn, and at first, Jack was just happy to watch. Of course, that did not last long, and he started pulling the animals out as quickly as Charlie put them in. I explained to Charlie that Jack just wanted to help, and that seemed to pacify him. He and Jack were able to sit side by side and play together so sweetly. I know Jack is not old enough to really play with Charlie yet, but it is moments like this that make me happy that they are close in age. I know there will be plenty of fights and trouble sharing in the years to come, but I also know that moments like this will far outweigh all the rest.

Blue Moon

2010-11-22T19:18:00.001-08:00

We look for the moon almost every night with Charlie. It's one of my favorite things to do with him. Recently the moon has been absolutely beautiful and has been visible during the afternoon. Charlie always says that the moon is being silly when it comes out during the daytime. He seems to think it must be confused.

Last night, the moon was huge and particularly bright. We all went out on our deck to take a closer look. This picture doesn't do justice to how gorgeous the moon actually looked. It was surrounded by clouds and branches, and I could have looked at it all night. Nick Googled it to see why is was so pretty. Turns out it is called a blue moon, and it is actually considered bad luck because it is the 13th full moon of the year. It's hard to believe that something so spectacular could be considered bad luck.

Swinging

2010-11-22T19:06:00.000-08:00

Charlie actually asked me to take this picture of him (gasp). He was so proud of himself because he was swinging on the big swing today. He wanted me to take the picture so that we could show Daddy when he got home - so sweet. Charlie kept saying how happy he was and asked about a dozen times if I was proud of him. It was good seeing him so pleased with himself.

New Do

2010-11-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

This is what my hair looked like after I let Charlie "style" it. He was happy to use the hair dryer and spray it with water. I tried to explain that he could not use a hair brush because it would get stuck in my curls. I guess he did not believe me.

Jack is 10 Months

2010-11-22T17:15:00.001-08:00

Jackie-Pooh-Pooh is 10 months today! I attempted to take a few pictures of him in his glider, and he did not appreciate being asked to sit still. Sooo, I let him go, and chased after him to get his 10 month picture. Man, he is getting quick!

I happen to think that Jack is just about the cutest baby around. He is a happy camper who loves to play with his toys, laugh at his big brother, and spend time outside. I am amazed by how he will play independently for long periods of time. Sure he likes to have us around, but he is really happy to explore his little world all on his own. He crawls into the playroom all by himself and will make the rounds from toy to toy. It's so different from Charlie who never really showed interest in toys as a baby. His independence is a welcome change, but it also means that I have to keep my eyes glued to him. Charlie was always by my side, so I never worried about him getting into too much trouble. I have a feeling Jack is going to be up to no good as soon as he is walking.

This month Jack has gone from just pulling up to cruising along furniture. He has also been standing independently for about 10 seconds at a time. It's so crazy to think that he will probably be walking is a matter of weeks. We have introduced a walking toy, but I am not pushing it at all. Walking is like the final step into toddlerhood, and I am not ready to lose my baby yet.

Jack has also grown a lot cognitively this month. He is copying gestures that we make and has started to wave. He is constantly testing the power of his lungs and continues to be a loud baby. He and Charlie make for quite a pair. I swear I have a headache by noon most days.

We are still waiting patiently for Jack to sleep through the night. He has been all over the place with sleep and was getting up earlier and earlier. After the time change, he was up for the day around 5:30. One morning, I decided to try to give him a bottle to see if it would help him fall back asleep. It worked, so now I am feeding him around 5:30-6:00, and then he sleeps until 8:00. He may not technically be sleeping through the night, but I am happier now that I get to sleep in again. Jack takes three naps a day, which still makes it hard to get out during the day. It will be a happy day when we are finally down to one nap!

I can't even believe that Jack is only two months away from his first birthday. I am so grateful for his presence in our lives. He is my baby no matter how quickly he is growing up. I love you, Jack!

Tanglewood Farms

2010-11-11T07:19:00.001-08:00

We went to Tanglewood Farms last fall, and Charlie had such a wonderful time playing with all of the animals. It was such a fun day that I have literally been looking forward to going back all year. The weather has been so lovely, and we have been talking to Charlie about going to see the animals for a few weeks. He was excited to go to a real farm. The boys and I went with Baba, and had a fun time with the animals.

Charlie was hesitant at first and really did not like the animals right in his face. It did not help that he saw a little guy his size get head-butted by a calf. After a while he warmed up, but he was more interested in the cats on the farm than anything else. He spent most of the time looking for and chasing after those cats and snacking on the bread that we were supposed to be giving the animals.

Jack did not make a peep the entire time we were at the farm. He was just happy to be outside as usual, and really did not seem to notice the animals. Next year, he will definitely have more of an opinion.

After visiting with the animals, we had a picnic lunch. Charlie went back to see the animals with Baba one more time, and then we headed home. It was another great adventure with my boys. We had a blast with Baba, too. Here are some of the pictures from our trip.

Have I Mentioned...

2010-11-11T07:16:00.000-08:00

...that I LOVE this boy?!?!

Big Boy Bed

2010-11-10T19:11:00.000-08:00

Charlie has officially graduated from his crib into a toddler bed! I am so proud of our big boy and can't believe how easy the transition was.

I had not planned to move him for a few more months because I was so afraid that he would be up all night and be getting out of his bed constantly. Jack still wakes up at least once a night, and Charlie was also waking up a few times a week screaming. I really just did not want to add anything else to my plate. There is only so much that make-up can do for this tired momma.

It all happened because Jack's crib broke. We had to take the mattress out, and it was just leaning against the crib in his nursery. One day, I brought it into Charlie's room and asked him if he would like to try to sleep on it like a big boy. I told him that it was just like his crib, and he had to wait for a grown up before he got out. That was it. The little guy slept peacefully through the night and called for me in the morning when he woke up.

Honestly, I thought it was a fluke at first. There was just no way it was going to be this easy to get him out of the crib. But, the nights that followed were just as successful. We let him sleep on the mattress on the floor for a couple of weeks before making the big switch. This past weekend, we removed the railing from his crib and converted it into a toddler bed.

Charlie loves his new bed and has slept better in these last few weeks than he has in months. I love the fact that I can cuddle with him before he goes to sleep (even though Nick has dropped subtle hints that I might be pushing the weight limit on the bed). We are both so very proud of Charlie for sleeping in his big boy bed!

Happy Holidays

2010-11-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

This year I decided to take pictures of the boys myself for our holiday cards. Easier said than done considering Charlie screams every time he sees my camera, and Jack can't sit still for more than two seconds at a time.

This is just a glimpse at the mood during our little photo shoot the other day. In the end, I got some really sweet shots, and I am happy with our holiday card.

I was all proud of myself because I got 25 free cards by using my Pampers points, but then I read a few of my friends' blogs and found out about the chance to get 50 free cards from Shutterfly. It's too late for me, but if you have a blog, check it out.

The Newest Pumpkin in the Patch

2010-10-31T19:21:00.000-07:00

Meet Robert! He is the son of our dear friend Colleen and her husband, Dave. Robbie was born today on Halloween. He was 8lbs, 2 ounces, and I have to say he is one darn cute little pumpkin.

Congratulations, Wanek Family! We hope that you are soaking up every precious moment with your little man! We wish you all the best as you start the amazing journey that parenthood will take you on.

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T18:44:00.001-07:00

I feel like Halloween started about a month ago for our family because that is about how long Charlie has been wearing his costume. Back in July, I gave Charlie a choice between a pirate and a dinosaur (two characters that he loves to talk about). Without any hesitation, he announced that he wanted to be a pirate like Captain Feathersword from The Wiggles. It took a while to find the perfect costume. As soon as it came in the mail, Charlie wanted to try it on. I kept it hidden in the closet for a while, but as soon as October rolled around, and we were talking about Halloween, it became harder and harder to keep him away from the costume. He would ask to wear the hat out on errands, which was okay with me. He has even been sleeping with the sword for a few weeks. He was more than happy to tell anyone and everyone what he was going to be for Halloween, and we had even practiced saying "Trick-or-Treat".

When it came time to dress up for our playgroup party and trick or treating, Charlie lost all of his enthusiasm. He was not happy about getting into his pirate costume and protested going trick-or-treating. Fortunately, he has quite the sweet tooth, so I was able to lure him out of the house with the promise of filling his jack-o-lantern bucket with more candy than he had ever seen before.

We met up with a few of our neighbors, but Charlie and his buddy Leila did most of their trick-or-treating together. It was perfect because they were both moving at the same speed. At first, Charlie wanted to be held and seemed uncertain. After a couple of houses, he got into it and was okay holding my hand. A packet of Skittles also helped keep him going. We probably went to ten houses, and I could never get Charlie to say "Trick-or-Treat", but he did say thank you and waved goodbye. He and Leila looked so darn cute together, and it was a perfect night for Halloween. The weather was amazing, and I was so proud of Charlie for having such a good time. We both enjoyed visiting with our neighbors and seeing all of the kiddos in their cute costumes.

Poor Jack had to miss out on the Halloween fun. He woke up from his nap today with a runny nose. As the afternoon progressed, the nose got worse, and he was just not himself. I knew he would be miserable if we took him out. I figured he could care less about Halloween, so we decided to keep him in the house. He and Nick stayed home to pass out candy. Nick said he fussed the entire time we were gone. Looks like we have our first cold of the fall. I am sure Charlie will be sick in a no time. We missed having Jack with us, but I have to say, it was nice being able to spend that special time with Charlie.

Playgroup Halloween

2010-10-31T18:24:00.000-07:00

We hosted our third annual playgroup Halloween party last Thursday. The children all looked so adorable in their costumes, and the moms had fun trying to wrangle all of the kiddos onto the couch for a group shot. Nothing like M&Ms and the promise of a cupcake to get a toddler to sit still for a few seconds. Charlie was less than happy to sit for the picture and was screaming the majority of the time. He has really grown to hate having his picture taken. The above shots were to only ones that I got with his eyes open and his mouth closed.

Jack, Mickey, and Matney are missing from the group picture. Jack was napping, Mickey was too busy playing, and Matney was at Preschool. Next year, there will be four new little ones to try to get in a photo. How crazy is that?

Brothers

2010-10-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

Okay, so they do not really play together yet. And Charlie is definitely a little threatened now that Jack can crawl and is getting into his toys. But every so often there are times like this when they are just so stinking sweet together. We played with Charlie's grill and had a lot of fun cooking the other day. I was even able to convince Charlie to let me take his picture (which is a rare occurrence). Look at his sweet face in the pictures. You can tell he is having a good time. The world is really a much better place when Charlie Shaw has a smile on his face.

My Big Boy

2010-10-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since Jack started pulling up, but it still surprises me when I see him standing up like such a big boy. His new favorite activity is pulling up on all of the kitchen chairs and playing under the table. Nick thinks he enjoys it because it's like a little maze.

You Know a Toddler Lives in Your House When...

2010-10-25T06:12:00.000-07:00

...this is what you see upon opening the toilet seat. What a turkey! Might I add that he was quite proud of himself.

Pumpkin Carving

2010-10-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Charlie carved his first pumpkin today. Well, to be honest, I carved while Charlie assisted. I bought a pumpkin carving kit and let Charlie pick the design for his pumpkin. He was excited about a cat, but really wanted me to put a dog on the other side. I had to try to explain that without a template, his puppy would not look much like a puppy.

The best part was lighting the pumpkin tonight together as a family. We even had some extra time to take a quick walk to look for the moon. When we came inside, we enjoyed some yummy roasted pumpkin seeds.

Fall Fun

2010-10-24T18:51:00.001-07:00

Fall is my favorite season. I mean, really, who does not love the fall? Last year, it rained so much that I felt like we were cheated out of autum. That is why we are trying to fully appreciate every second of this beautiful time of year.

Something about fall brings out the teacher in me. There are just so many fun projects and activities that can be done. Now that Charlie is a little bit older, we have been able to do some fun crafts together. Below are some of the projects that we have done so far.

Burt's Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-24T18:13:00.001-07:00

We made our third annual trip to Burt's Pumpkin Patch last week. After two years, we have realized that the best time to go to Burt's is during the week. Nick has been traveling a lot lately, so we were so happy to have a long weekend with him and a wonderful day at the pumpkin patch without the crowds.

Charlie was excited to go this year and liked the idea of having the special task of picking out pumpkins for the entire family. He liked running through the rows and rows of pumpkins and really did not sit still unless he was in the wheel barrow. We offered to take him on the hay ride, but Charlie was less than interested. Who knows why, but he just did not want to go.

Jack loves being outside, and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was a perfect fall day. He was happy to sit back and relax in hi stroller and take in all of the sights. He liked standing next to the big pumpkins and even played the drums on one with Charlie. He was thrilled each time we showed him one of the little pumpkins, and decided they looked rather tasty.

After we had picked all of our pumpkins, we headed over to the picnic area and had our lunch under the falling leaves next to a stream. It was a great end to a really perfect day with my boys.

9 Months Old

2010-10-23T18:16:00.000-07:00

The changes in Jack this month have been monumental. He is officially mobile and very happy about it. He is crawling everywhere and climbing and pulling up on everything. It still shocks me to look over and see him standing up next to the couch or anything else for that matter. I get a kick out of watching him scoot all over the place, but it is a whole new ball game now that I have to keep up with him and Charlie. I just pray that I have a couple more months before he takes off walking.

Jack is now a formula baby. He refused to nurse shorty after turning 8 months, and I decided it was a good time to call it quits for good. Unfortunately, the week he was weaned was also the week that his formula was recalled...nice. Hopefully, he did not ingest too much beetle juice before we got the memo and switched over to liquid formula. In addition to refusing to nurse, Jack also decided that baby food was not for him. He would turn his head and slap the spoon as soon as it came close to his mouth. So, now it is only finger foods for Jack. He is a bit pickier than Charlie was at this age and definitely approaches new foods with caution. Sometimes he won't even try a food and simply begins throwing it off of his tray to show his disapproval. All of the food and formula has really made Jack a little chunk. I took him to the doctor last week because I thought he might have an ear infection. No ear infection, but I did find out that Jack is 20 pounds (a little less than Charlie was on his 1st birthday).

Sleeping through the night is still not on Jack's To Do list, but he only gets up once a night to eat around 4-5am. He wakes up for the day any time between 6:30-7:30am, which drives me nuts. I am not a morning person, and I was spoiled by Charlie's 8:00 wake up over the last two years. I am absolutely terrified for the time change. I will not be a happy camper if he starts getting up any earlier. Jack naps three times a day for an average of 45 minutes each time. Sometimes his middle nap lasts a bit longer. But, like his brother, he is not a long napper. I swear, Nick and I must have the worst sleep genes. Both of our kids sleep the absolute minimum number of hours for their age.

Jack continues to be a happy little man. He is babbling more and more. We hear a lot of bababa, dadada, and nenene sounds. Now that he is moving around, he is happy to play by himself for long periods of time. Occasionally he will crawl over and rest his head on someone, but then he is off to explore again. He is very much a momma's boy, and starts whimpering as soon as I walk into the room. It's a wonderful feeling to know that I can make him so happy. I honestly love being Jack's mommy and can't believe how fast he is growing.

Toddler Talk

2010-10-03T16:54:00.001-07:00

Tonight, Charlie was sitting in Nick's lap holding his face and looking at it very closely. I asked him if he knew what the little spots (freckles) all over Dadda's face were called. He quickly replied, "Sprinkles!" Dadda must be pretty tasty, because he is covered with lots of sprinkles according to Charlie.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

2010-10-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

What's good for Charlie is good for Jack. He probably tried to climb up onto that chair like his big bro for thirty minutes.

My New Ride

2010-10-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

We have been going back and forth about whether or not to buy a car with more room for our family. We have been researching and looking at all different types of cars for months now. Today, we finally made up our minds and went to buy our new car.

As soon as Nick came home with the car tonight, we loaded the car seats and took our maiden voyage as a family. Here are pictures of the boys watching a DVD and playing in the car while Nick got the car seats ready. We took this opportunity to switch out the baby carrier for a big boy convertible car seat (sniff). Now the boys have matching seats in the back.

Are you wondering what we decided to get???? Take a look at this picture montage, and see if you can guess...

That's right folks! We are now the proud owners of a Honda Odyssey (along with half of America). I have realized that there is a very good reason why every other car on the road is a minivan. It's because they ROCK! If you have children, a minivan is really a practical choice, and I am nothing if not a practical girl. I love my new ride!

The last photo is of Charlie enjoying a Bruster's ice cream cone. That smart kiddo actually requested that we take our first trip to get ice cream. It sounded like a great idea to us!

Happy Birthday, Leila!

2010-10-02T14:11:00.001-07:00

Our neighbor and Charlie's BFF, Leila, turned two this weekend. We have been talking about her birthday party all week, and we were excited to help Leila celebrate. Leila is a big Elmo fan just like Charlie. She had Elmo balloons and even an Elmo cake. Charlie enjoyed blowing bubbles, eating cookies, and playing with balloons.

We were having a fantastic time until Elmo showed up in person. Oh how I wish I could properly describe the scream that came out of my child. I was shocked by his response. Charlie was so traumatized by the sight of Elmo that we actually had to leave. I have never seen him move so fast up a flight of stairs. Poor thing cried the whole walk back to our house and kept saying that Elmo was too big. I think it's safe to say that we will be avoiding costumed characters in the future.

Ready...Set...GOOOO!!!

2010-10-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

Jack is officially a crawler. Slow and steady wins the race right now, but I know all too well how quickly that will change. Congratulations little man!

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways...

2010-09-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

I love your smile and the way your face lights up when you see someone or something that you love. It is a cheshire cat smile that fills your entire face and the entire room.

I love your laugh. A laugh so full that sometimes it seems like you might topple over. It is a sound that makes my heart happy.

I love the way you explore objects with your tiny pointer finger. You poke and gently nudge a new object as if to test it out before you approve it for play.

I love that when you are excited, you pucker you lips and draw in breath. Sometimes you even whistle. It's an expression that you make dozens of times a day, but it still brings a smile to my face each and every time you do it.

I love your tiny curls. They show up best after a bath, and I can't help twirling them with my fingers and day dreaming about what you will look like in a few years. Will you have a head full of curls or are these just baby curls that will disappear after your first hair cut?

I love the way you bury your head in my shoulder and act bashful when someone talks to you or smiles at you (which happens frequently when we are out). You slyly peak out and grin at the person talking. I swear I want to eat you up.

I love that when you actually settle down long enough to let me cuddle you, you always clutch a piece of my shirt and suck your thumb. You will definitely love a lovey some day soon.

I love your little profile - the chubby cheeks, the long lashes, the button nose, and of course the curl. I love watching you and memorizing every tiny feature.

I love the way you adore Charlie. You look at him and literally shake in anticipation of his attention. You laugh harder for Charlie than anyone else. I know that you will always feel this way about your big brother.

I love that you are my baby - my perfect, sweet Jack. Being your mommy is a true gift. I love you, I love you, I love you!

Jack is 8 Months Old

2010-09-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Another month has flown by, and our little Jack is seeming less and less like a baby. He is not yet crawling, but he is so close. He can hold himself up on his hands and knees, is pulling up on his knees, sits up from lying down, and can turn and scoot around on his belly and his bottom. Jack gets so frustrated when he can't get where he wants to go and is still not a fan of being on his belly. He wants desperately to crawl, and I am torn as to whether or not I want him to hit this milestone. Of course I want him to be successful and be able to explore his little world, but man, I am not ready to chase after him. Plus, crawling just means one more giant step away from babyhood. Today, I walked into Jack's room after a nap and found him standing in his crib. It's the first time he has ever pulled up, and he was crying because he could not figure out how to get down. I guess it's time to lower the crib.

This month will be remembered (not fondly) as the month that Jack cut six teeth. That's right folks, SIX teeth! He cut his first two teeth at four months, and I was expecting more to follow shortly after that. I waited and waited, while wiping up puddles of drool, but there were no teeth in sight. Shortly after he turned 7 months, Jack became very irritable and was digging in his ears all the time. I took him to the doctor just to make sure that it was not an ear infection, suspecting the entire time that he was just cutting his top two teeth. Sure enough, she said that he was cutting those top teeth plus two more on either side. Jack has been a little beast while cutting these teeth, and I do feel bad for him. The other day he bit down on my hand, and I thought I felt something on the bottom. A quick check revealed that, in addition to the four on top, Jack had just cut another bottom tooth. There is one more just waiting to pop up on the other side. No wonder he has been such a grump! It's crazy how teeth can change the way his little face looks, but it really does. No more gummy grin now. That eighth tooth is ready to come through any day now.

Jack is now eating three solid food meals a day. He also goes 4 hours between nursing/bottles. Nursing has become very difficult in the last couple of months. I am lucky if I can get him to nurse for three minutes. The baby who refused to take a bottle for months now prefers a bottle. He just seems to have lost interest. Instead of putting up a struggle for the next four months, I have decided to wean Jack. Right now, he is getting three formula bottles during the day and is being nursed twice. I am sad about the end of nursing, but at the same time, I am ready. I have been either pregnant or nursing since June of 2007. The idea of having my body back is exciting.
I love the little person that Jack is becoming. We fall more and more in love with him every day!

Surprise Visit with Pooh

2010-09-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

Lisa and the girls came to Atlanta on Labor Day weekend for a last minute visit. I swear we saw them more last week than we did during the entire month they were here in June and July. Of course we had a wonderful time. However, I was accused of posting unflattering pictures of Sidney in previous posts. I happen to love Sid and think she is just about the cutest baby girl. So, here is a picture that portrays just how precious she truly is!

Mum Mums are Yum Yum

2010-09-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

Jack loves Mum Mums. He looks so cute munching away on these biter biscuts. It's hard to believe he is eating solids and now finger foods. What a big boy!

Lazy Days of Summer

2010-09-12T19:18:00.001-07:00

One of our favorite things to do this summer was to go to the pool after dinner. Not only was the heat less oppressive, but we were protected by the shade which meant that we did not have to wrestle two children as we applied sunscreen. Tonight was another great night spent at the pool as a family.

I Will Miss This

2010-09-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago I attended a baby shower for my friend, Colleen, and her son, Robbie, who is due in November. The shower was given by a few of my girlfriends from college, and it was beautiful down to every last detail. One of the decorations for the shower was an advice tree for Colleen. Since I have two boys of my own, you would think I would be brimming with useful tips. However, when presented with an advice card, I suddenly drew a blank. I wanted to give Colleen good advice, not just fluff that she could read in a baby book. I wanted to give her the holy grail of baby advice that only a mother of two little boys could give to a mommy-to-be. I shared two pieces of advice that were actually lessons that I learned from both of my boys. I happen to think they are helpful little tidbits:

1. Don't mess with nap time. Maybe it's just my kids, but sleep is important, and every time I have tried to skip a nap, let someone take a nap in the car, or woken someone up, I have lived to regret it. It is hard to have life revolve around nap time, especially when a baby is little and taking multiple naps each day, but it really is in everyone's best interest to stick with a schedule and not mess around with it. Amen!

2. Aim boy parts down when putting a new diaper on. This is a lesson I had to learn after changing many a sheet, outfit, etc. with Charlie. I was always stumped when I would find one of Charlie's legs to be soaking wet in an outfit, yet his diaper was dry. How was this even possible? I shared my mystery with a girlfriend one night, and she asked if I was pointing his boy parts down. Well, I'll be!

I was pretty happy with my advice, but as I thought more and more about it, I realized that the advice I really wanted to give Colleen would never fit onto a tiny advice card. It was something that I needed more room and time to explain, and so I am using the blog to share this advice with Colleen, all of my mommy friends, and the mommies-to-be. It is not an original thought, and I must give credit where credit is due. I had read a post on another blogger's site a few night's prior to the shower, and I was brought to tears when she shared a life changing moment that she had as a mother. I urge you to read her post, because she is an eloquent writer, and explains herself much better than I am about to do. Since reading her post, I have tried to remind myself every day that...I will miss this.

There are many days that I am counting down the hours and minutes to bedtime. It sounds awful, but it is true. Some days are just harder than others - Jack is fussy, Charlie is being a total toddler, laundry is piling up, I never had a chance to shower, bills need to be paid, etc. But in the midst of the chaos that is my life as a mother to two babies, I am filled with more love than I can ever explain. I have two little people who light up when they see me, want only me in the middle of the night or when they are hurt, and who beam when I praise them or play with them. I have two beautiful children who, all too soon, will be in school all day, and then driving, and then leaving for college, and then getting married. It may seem like that is far away in the future, but if you talk to any mom, you will always hear the same thing, "It seems like only yesterday...."

Yes, I have years and years ahead of me to love and be with Charlie and Jack. But it will go fast, and I want to be present in every one of those fleeting moments so that i never look back in regret. Because I will miss this. If my floor is dirty, then so be it. If the laundry is spilling out of the laundry room, who cares? Some day Charlie or Jack, maybe both, will not want me around. They might think I dress weird, talk weird, heck they might even despise the way I breathe. But, right now, they want to be with me and love me best. I am mommy, and that is sacred in their little worlds.

The author's advice resonated with me so deeply. When you are a mom, everyone always wants to hear how much you love it, how perfect your children are, and how you can't remember what life was like before having them. The fact is, all of those things are true...just not every second of the day. As a mom, you will get stressed out, you will wish that something was different, you will want bed time to come a little sooner. And that is okay. When times like that happen now, I remind myself that I will miss this. I will miss Charlie wanting to be held all the time, I will miss my cuddles with Jack in the middle of the night, I will miss hearing my name 100,000 times a day, I will miss being asked to sing "Old McDonald" with every animal on God's green earth (and the vacuum cleaner), I will miss being asked to sit in Charlie's chair for just a little longer while he goes to sleep, I will miss all of it!

So, that is my advice to all who read this blog...You will miss this. Cherish every moment, no matter how crazy, and be present in your little ones' lives. All too soon, they will be grown up and won't need you the way that they do now.

Charlie 2.5

2010-09-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been 30 months since Charlie came into our lives and made Nick and I parents. Hard to believe we are now mommy and daddy to a two-and-a-half year old little man. And, oh, what a little man he has become. Here is all you need to know about Charlie at two-and-a-half.

-For the longest time I was concerned with the fact that Charlie was a late talker. I worried that he would never catch up. Well, Charlie has certainly proven me wrong! Not only has he caught up, but he is also ahead in some of his developmental milestones for communication. He talks non-stop and is constantly amazing us with the things that he picks up even when we think he is not paying attention. For instance, he came downstairs the other night after his bed time, and I had a program about babies on the TV (because I don't get enough in my own life). Nick and I were talking while Charlie half watched the TV. It was mentioned that the family in the show was going to Waco, TX for an event. A few minutes later, Charlie turned to me and asked if they were in Waco yet. His little ears hear everything, and he is just soaking up so much knowledge every day. We have definitely entered the "why" stage. He used to just ask, "What's that?", but now we have graduated to wanting to know every last detail about why something is the way it is. His speech has developed beautifully, but he still talks like a toddler and misuses pronouns and speaks in the third person. Currently, we are working on using "is" in place of "are". For example, "Where are he?" Charlie has a lot of funny phrases that continue to crack us up: "Oh well!", "Oh dear.", "Carlie do it.", "For a little while?", "Just a little bit?", and "Wait a minute."

-Charlie has grown to be a real animal lover. He always wants to read books about animals and talks about them all of the time. His favorite animal right now is the elephant. Nick and Charlie watched "The Jungle Book", and ever since then he has been fascinated with elephants. He also likes barnyard animals. He is particularly fond of the cow. There are three barns near our home, and we always look to see if a cow is inside. Lastly, Charlie is a big fan of cats and dogs. He has fallen in love with Samson and always wants him to be around. Too bad Samson would much rather nap than tag along with us all day. For the last few weeks, Charlie has been asking for a cat. I have told him that we can not have a cat because it would make me sick. Apparently he is willing to take the risk, because he keeps asking. I bought him a little cat figurine the other day in the hopes that it will be substitute for the real thing.

-Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. I do not understand what it is about the vacuum cleaner, but Charlie loves it. He does not want to turn them on because they scare the ever living daylights out of him. He just wants to pretend to vacuum. He also likes to have all of the vacuums out at once and knows their names: Shark, Dirt Devil, The Big One (Dyson). I don't think I will ever understand the vacuum fetish. I just hope he is this into cleaning when he is a teenager.

-Charlie continues to be a picky eater. He would live off of carbs and dairy if we let him (okay, so would I, but it's my job to make him eat healthy, right?). He has not eaten veggies in a year, unless you count a few bites here and there that usually end up being spit out once he realizes that it is healthy. I have tried pureeing veggies and adding them to foods, mixing small pieces into sauces, dips, etc. He does eat fruit but tends to like one fruit at a time and then gets burnt out on said fruit and won't touch it again. Meal times are always a challenge, and I am just hoping that the multi-vitamins that he gets every morning are filling in some of the gaps in his diet. Even though he may eat like a bird, he is growing and putting on weight. He is now wearing 3T clothing.

-If Charlie does not do something with music in the future, I will be shocked. He just lights up when music is playing and loves to dance. This really is not anything new, but I feel like it deserves to be mentioned because it is still something that he loves so dearly. Currently, his favorite song is "Old McDonald". We just started a music class, and I am looking forward to our special time together, just the two of us, each week at music class.

-One word to describe Charlie would be cautious. He is not one to run into a situation without fully assessing it first. This is especially true when he is in an unfamiliar setting. He is one of those kids who acts one way at home and totally different out in public - Goofy and loud at home and shy and reserved in public. He often hides behind me or covers his eyes when meeting someone new. This is hard for me to understand because I am not shy and love meeting people. Nick, on the other hand, is like Charlie and takes time to warm up to others. I had planned to send Charlie to preschool this month to help with language and socialization, but because of the anxiety that he has been exhibiting in new situations, I have decided to hold off until he is three. Instead, we are continuing with playgroup, taking music class, and having as many play dates as possible.

-Now that he is such a big boy, Charlie has become very strong and coordinated. He runs, jumps, climbs, throws, catches, and kicks very well. We have thoroughly enjoyed doing all of these things in our new backyard and spend as much time as we can out there (when it is not too hot). I am looking forward to the fall when we will be able to spend some quality time outdoors.

-With age, Charlie's imagination has really taken off. He comes up with the most creative stories and enjoys pretending. His favorite imaginative play activities include Playdough, drawing, cooking, and playing doctor. My mom always jokes that when I was little all I ever wanted to do was "tend". It looks like Charlie inherited his vivid imagination and love for pretending from Momma.

-Over the last 7 months, Charlie has had to make the transition from baby to big brother. He was only 22 months old when Jack was born, and it was a tough transition for everyone. Despite the occasional bouts of jealousy and rough play, Charlie has turned into the best big brother. He adores Jack and always wants to know where he is. His face lights up when I bring Jack into his room in the morning, and he can't give enough hugs and kisses to his little brother. Of course, Jack thinks that Charlie hung the moon, and I believe that fact is just starting to sink in with Charlie. Today at lunch, Charlie did something that made Jack laugh. He then sat there doing anything and everything to keep Jack giggling. And just the other day, Charlie came up, gave Jack a hug, and said, "I love you bigger than the sun, the moon, and the sky, Jack." Jack is lucky to be loved by someone with such a big heart!

Night, Night Charlie

2010-09-10T17:30:00.000-07:00

Putting Charlie to bed is always a challenge. That kid has more excuses to stay awake than anyone. He will procrastinate and drag out the process no matter what it takes as long as it means a little more time with us. Nick usually gets Charlie in pjs, brushes his teeth, and reads books while I take care of Jack's night time routine. After I tuck Jack in, it is my turn to tuck Charlie in for the night.

Tonight, he was pulling out all the stops: extra kisses, more water, looking for the moon, etc. After indulging him for over twenty minutes, I put him in his crib and told him that play time was over, to which he replied, "Wait a minute. I am talking to my momma." Sheesh! Just when I was starting to lose my patience, he had to go and say something so darn cute. That line definitely bought him a few extra minutes tonight.

A Beautiful Thing...I Think

2010-09-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

As I made dinner tonight, a beautiful thing took place. Fortunately the camera was right on the counter so I did not have to go far to document the momentous occasion.

Jack had just finished eating, so I decided to give him some toys and see if he could entertain himself in his high chair long enough for me to get dinner going. Of course, before I had even bent down to retrieve the pots and pans, he had thrown all of his toys on the ground. I asked Charlie if he would pick them up and give them back. Before I knew it, Charlie had made a trip to Jack's toy box to get some of his favorites and had pulled up a chair in front of his little bro. He sang to Jack and was happy to fetch any toys that happened to fall.

I actually got dinner started without one interruption. I was so thrilled to turn around to see Charlie belting out "Old McDonald" while Jack stared at him in adoration. I grabbed the camera and started snapping away.

I should have left well enough alone, because the situation went down hill fast. Charlie got a little too excited that I was taking pictures, and as you can see, grabbed Jack's wrist rather roughly. Poor Jack's expression says it all, "Woman, put down your over-sized camera, and help me!"

Excuse the wad of tulle in the background. I am making a tutu for a friend. That's right, I may not have a little girl, but I can still make a tutu.

Paging Dr. Shaw

2010-09-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

Charlie has never really enjoyed playing with toys. As a baby, he would get bored with the little toys that we gave him and was much happier being held and talked to, read to, sang to, etc. As a big kid, not much has changed. Charlie does not really have a favorite toy. He is interested in pretending, role playing, and anything that has to do with his imagination.

We recently got him a doctor's kit and a doctor's coat. He loves to give everyone check-ups, and it has really helped him become more comfortable with visiting his doctor. The other morning, he said he wanted to give Samson a check-up, so I explained that animal doctors are called veterinarians. He was thrilled to play vet and gave Samson a very thorough exam. Once Samson had had his fill of being poked and prodded, our giant stuffed lion and horse were the next patients in line.

It was wonderful watching how serious Charlie took his job. I see a definite career possibility on the horizon. Wouldn't you want your pets to be treated by Dr. Charles Harrison Shaw?

Big Ball and a Little Boy

2010-09-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

I blew up this enormous beach ball/sprinkler for Charlie a couple of weeks ago, and then the boys got sick (yes, I said sick. Germs invaded yet again, and I am beginning to believe that this is what life is going to be like with two kids.), so we never brought the darn thing outside. Instead, it has been sitting in the family room and has proven to be a fantastic source of entertainment for both boys. Jack's eyes just about pop out of his head every time he sees it, and he loves patting it and trying to take a bite out of the side.

He is looking like such a big boy these days, that I enjoyed seeing how tiny he looked in comparison to the mammoth beach ball. The last picture is just a random close up because I can't get enough of his face. I mean, really, look at those cheeks! I think I must kiss them at least a thousand times a day.

Like a Big Boy

2010-08-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

It is amazing to me how as a mom you can feel proud and sad at the same time - proud that your child has accomplished something wonderful and sad that they are old enough to accomplish it. Every time I turn around, Jack and Charlie are reaching new milestones. It fills me with such joy, but I have to admit it does hurt a little because it means they are growing so fast and becoming such big boys.

Last night, Jack's big accomplishment was sitting in the tub for his bath. Usually both boys take a bath together, so I have been waiting to take Jack out of his little bath seat. Bath time with Charlie can get a little wild and crazy, and I knew he would have a hard time not falling over with his wild child brother thrashing around. Charlie took a shower with Nick last night, so Jack had the rare opportunity for a relaxing solo bath. He was thrilled to sit up and play with his toys and thoroughly enjoyed the new vantage point. He was all smiles and looked so grown up sitting in the water splashing and playing.

Freddy the Frog

2010-08-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

We found a tree frog outside the windowpane that frames our front door. Charlie was excited to see a frog, and we named him Freddy. The little frog hung out around the front door all day. By the afternoon, I decided to catch Mr. Freddy for Charlie to see up close. I am not a big animal person, so I had no intention of actually touching Freddy. Instead, I scooped him up in a plastic cup and walked him out to our deck. Charlie was thrilled to see Freddy jump out of the cup and all around our deck. He was so cute talking to Freddy and trying to feed him leaves. I kept telling him that Freddy eats bugs, but Charlie insisted that he was just pretending. After Nick got home from work, he and Charlie walked Freddy down into the wooded area behind our house so that Freddy would be more comfortable.

Puppy

2010-08-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

One of Charlie's nicknames is puppy. I have been calling him that since he was an infant. While riding in the car the other day, the following conversation took place:

Me - "Puppy, look at the man mowing the lawn."

C - "Where's a puppy?"

Me - "There's no puppy. You are my puppy."

C - "Nooo, Mommy! I not a puppy. Samson a puppy, and Blackie Dog a puppy. Carlie not a puppy."

Silly me! I think I might need to find a new nickname for the little guy so that he does not think his momma is crazy.

***Carlie was not a typo BTW. Little man does not pronounce the "Ch" sound very well, so it come out more like Carlie. He also refers to himself in the third person very often.***

Party at the Splash Pad

2010-08-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I went to our friend Brock's 4th birthday party this weekend. The festivities were held at Riverside Park's Splash Pad. Charlie was slow to warm up, but he eventually got in on all of the water fun. He enjoyed himself so much towards the end that I could not get him to leave. I had to start walking away from him in order to get him to follow me.

The rest of the party was great, too. Jenny, Brock's mom, is pretty much my party-planning idol. She always goes all out for her kiddos' birthdays, and this party was no exception. The fish theme was evident everywhere you turned from the table clothes, centerpieces, and the handmade soaps and cookies given out as favors. The cake was Charlie's absolute favorite. Not only was it beautiful, it was also very yummy.

Jack is 7 Months Old

2010-08-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

Our baby boy is 7 months today. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I just posted his 6 month update a week ago, but I only posted about his accomplishments up to that point. So sit back, relax, and get ready to hear all about how much this little man has done this month.

We have added a new nickname to the list for Jack - wiggleworm. He has become so mobile and is slowly making headway towards becoming a crawler. He can turn around in circles on his belly, and will roll over and over to get somewhere. When on his belly, he also lifts his little bottom in the air and propels forward using his legs. He does not go far and gets terribly frustrated, but I know that he will be moving and shaking soon enough. Oh my, what will life be like with two bambinos on the move?!?! Not only is he making progress towards crawling, he is also just getting so strong. He bucks and squirms so much that it is hard to keep a hold on him at times.

Jack continues to be a loud mouth and is beginning to form definite syllable patterns when he is babbling. Today I heard da-da-da many times. Dada was Charlie's first word, so I will be interested to see if Jack will honor his Daddy in the same way. Nothing against Nick, but I would not mind hearing some ma-ma-ma's soon.

This month we started solid foods and are building up to three meals a day. Jack loves his solids as did his brother. I would imagine that after 6 months of the same meal, anything different would be a welcome change. He prefers vegetables over fruits, and his two favorites are squash and carrots.

The introduction of solid foods has helped greatly with sleep. Now that his tummy is full, Jack is sleeping much better at night and during the day. He still gets up once a night to nurse, but that is fine by me. Actually, I enjoy our nightly cuddle sessions. Now that he is older, nursing during the day is like trying to hog tie a pig. He is just so easily distracted, that it is rarely relaxing like it was when he was a little baby. Our time at night is really the only opportunity I get to really snuggle with Jack anymore. I truly cherish my 5 am wake up calls for that very reason.

Happy Birthday, Cayla Belle!

2010-08-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

Our friend Caitlin's daughter celebrated her first birthday last weekend. Cayla Belle is one of the most beautiful baby girls I have ever seen, and she has the sweetest disposition. We were happy to be with her on her special day. We also enjoyed spending time with our close friends.

Wiggle It

2010-08-21T19:09:00.001-07:00

Mimi and I took Charlie to see The Wiggles in concert last weekend. Charlie loves them and was so excited about going. In fact, we did not mention that we were going until the car ride over to Gwinnett Center. We knew that it was all we would hear about. He was so curious about where The Wiggles were and when we would see them.

Once the concert started, all of the excitement dissipated. I think it was just too loud for Charlie. He just sat back expressionless and would not leave Mimi's lap. As I scanned the crowd, there were children dancing in the aisles and crying in their parents' arms. Charlie's reaction was definitely something in between. I have not written off concerts all together, but I think we will probably wait another year before we try again.

My mom and I enjoyed the concert. The music was great, and the stunts where really impressive. The absolute best part of the concert was watching a little boy in the front row. He must be their number one fan. He knew the moves to all of the dances, had signs and gifts for the characters, and was dressed up as a mini-Wiggle. He was so into the concert that his enthusiasm was contagious. When he walked into the ladies' room with his mom after the concert, I almost felt like I should ask for his autograph.

Matchy Matchy

2010-08-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

If I had a girl, she would be in dresses every day, donning bows the size of her head, and have monogrammed everything. Since I don't have a little girl the dress up, I get my kicks dressing my two handsome boys in matching pajamas.

I am a person who loves pajamas. When I was working, the best part of coming home was getting into my comfy pajamas. On the weekends, I have no problem staying in my pajamas all day if I don't plan on going out. This past winter, while preggers, Charlie spent many days in his pajamas, and after Jack was born he spent even more time in his pjs.

We may not spend as much time in our pajamas these days, but I am loving the fact that Jack is old enough tho wear the same type of pajamas as Charlie. I bought this pair of pajamas on a whim and spent entirely too much money, but my goodness! It just does NOT get any cuter!

Brotherly Love and a Ball Popper

2010-08-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am not going to lie, life with two children has rocked my world. It has been an adjustment to say the least, and the boys and I are learning as we go. Despite our struggles, there are moments like the other day that make it all worthwhile.

As I washed my hands in the kitchen, I looked over to see Charlie bringing our ball popper over the where Jack was sitting. My first instinct was to call out to Charlie and tell him to be careful, but I had a feeling he wanted to play with Jack. Sure enough, he started showing Jack the popper and talking to him in the sweetest manner. Jack was thrilled to have Charlie's attention, and I could tell that Charlie liked showing Jack ho to do something and playing the role of big bro. Of course, I grabbed the camera quickly to document this amazing moment.

Their play did not last longer than five minutes, but it was a beautiful thing. I have day dreamed about moments like this, and I know that it is only the beginning. My hope is that these boys will be the best play pals some day soon.

What's My Name?

2010-08-15T18:26:00.001-07:00

For the longest time, Charlie has called me Momma. Recently, that has all changed. Now I get called everything from Mommy to Mom, and occasionally he says momma with a bit of British accent. He even called me Mother the other day. What a little goober!

A little over a year ago, I was just praying to hear the word momma roll off of his little lips for the first time. Now I hear many versions of momma about a thousand times a day. No matter which name he calls me, I am just thankful that I am his one and only mom.

The above picture has little to do with the subject of this post, but I just love his beautiful face.

AG and Amanda Tie the Knot

2010-08-15T18:01:00.001-07:00

Our dear friend Anthony got married to Amanda on July 10th in Roswell. AG, as we lovingly call him, and Nick have known each other since childhood. I met him as a Freshman at UGA. Nick and I were honored to have Anthony serve as one of the groomsmen in our wedding, and Nick was happy to return the favor last month.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, and the reception was wonderful...great friends, good food, and lots of dancing. It was two nights in a row celebrating with some of our favorite people. We wish Anthony and Amanda all the best as they start their life together!

Pooh and the Girls

2010-08-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

Pooh and her girls, Alex and Sidney, were here for a month. Unfortunately, it was right in the middle of the germ fest at our house. We did not get to see them as much as we would have liked, but we sure did have fun every time we could get together. The ladies all came over to play on their last day in town, and it was so nice having everyone together. Lisa and I marveled at the fact that we were sitting around watching our four babies playing together. We have certainly come a long way from our days in the dorm.

I had visions of taking a picture with all four kiddos, but it never happened. Someone was always taking a nap, eating, or just not in the mood for a picture. Here are some of the cute pictures that I did manage to get. How beautiful are these children!?!?

6 Months Old

2010-08-13T18:08:00.000-07:00

Jack turned 6 months on July 22nd, and yes, I am three weeks late posting about it. Life was crazy around here for a while, and something had to give. I love blogging about our family life, but it takes time and brain power...both of which I have not had a lot of lately. Things are much calmer now, so I am going to try to back-blog about what we have been up to this past month. I figured the best place to start catching up was with our little man's big accomplishments.

This month brought a lot of changes and growth for Jackson. He finally rolled over from his back to his stomach, started sitting on his own, and his fine motor skills really improved. Jack reaches out to grab everything and wants exactly what we have. This kid is strong, and he will twist and turn to try to get where he wants to go. It seems like he just wants to get up and go. He enjoys sitting up and playing with his toys and will play on his own for long periods of time. His exersaucer is his favorite toy, and he loves to spin around and around visiting with all of his toys. All toys and objects go straight to his mouth, and I am shocked that he has yet to cut any more teeth since 4 months.

We had a GI appointment on the 21st, so I got all of Jack's stats. That was nice, because some how I manged to forget to make his 6-month well check visit with our pediatrician. Little man weighed in at 16 pounds, 3 ounces and was 26.5 inches long. His weight went down a little, but it could be due to the fact that I held off on solids until 6 months. We have since started solids, and this baby likes to eat and eat and eat.

Most of the month of July, Jack was sick. He had a bad cold that made him miserable with congestion and coughing. He then got and ear infection to add to the misery. To top things off, the 10 day antibiotic course for the ear infection tore his little tummy to shreds. During this time, Jack moved into our bed at night, and Nick moved out. There was very little sleep to be had by all, and it was just rough. All is well now, but Jack has totally regressed with sleep. He no longer falls asleep on his own, wakes up multiple times at night, and will not nap...sigh. I am trying to remind myself that he won't be doing this forever and that it will get better in time. I just miss my sleep and feeling like a functioning human being.

Now that he is feeling better, Jack is back to being his happy little self. He still loves Charlie and Samson and would watch them forever. His laugh is infectious, and I can't resist tickling him just to hear the squeals of laughter. We think he is trying to compete with Charlie for the loudest child award. He can be heard throughout the house when he is babbling. It is fun talking to him, because he definitely talks back and tries to mimic the sounds that we make.

Even though it was a rough month for health and sleep, it really was a month of enormous growth for Jack. He seems much less like a little baby and more like a big boy. We are so proud of all that he has accomplished in the last six months and love him more and more every day.

Sick AGAIN

2010-07-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Shaw Family is sick again! Nick fell first, and Charlie and Jack were soon to follow. Even Mimi picked up some of our germs. I mean, really? Apparently the germs did not get the memo that it is NOT winter anymore.

Nick never felt horrible, but I made him go back to the doctor because he has been sick so many times since his bout with pneumonia last December. He is on a strong antibiotic and some other meds, but Dr. Mommy wants him to have another chest X-ray to see if the pneumonia is still lingering. Charlie had a runny nose and cough, but he is feeling much better. Jack, on the other hand, is pathetic. There is nothing worse than a stuffed up baby. He is generally happy during the day and just wants to be held more. As with any sickness, the nights are horrible. He has had three nights of waking up screaming because of congestion. The only way that I can get him to sleep is in my arms. So, last night (his worst) I kicked Nick and Samson out of bed so that Jack and I would have a more comfortable night. He was grumbling and thrashing around most of the night and even started running a fever around 2 a.m. Fortunately, he has been taking extra long naps to make up for the lack of sleep at night. I wish I could say the same for myself. At least I am not sick, right?

So, all of my boys are sick again, and I am over it! Not that we would be spending a lot of time outside considering it is up around 100 degrees, but we are missing out on a lot of fun play dates with friends. We have got to get better by next week, because Pooh and the girls will be getting back from Hilton Head, and we really want to spend as much time with them before they head back to LA in a couple of weeks.

It goes without saying that we NEED to get healthy around here. I am pretty sure my pediatrician's office suspects that I enjoy visiting them on a weekly basis. Pretty soon, I will be having girls' night out with the office staff, be planning shopping trips with the nurse practitioners, and will be inviting the docs over for dinner parties. I certainly spend enough time with them to make them my new besties!

Patriotic Pals

2010-07-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

Playgroup was at our place last week, and I thought it would be fun to have all of the kids dress in red, white, and blue and try to get come pictures of the little cuties - easier said than done, we have learned in the past. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get six toddlers to sit still long enought o take a picture??? It's been a few months since we last tried a group shot, and this time around the mommies discovered that bribery will get you far at this age. It was the best photo shoot we have had since they were three months old. We even managed to get some pictures of the three new additions to the play group. Aren't these kiddos cute in their 4th of July outfits?!?!

Stars and Stripes

2010-07-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

Our 4th of July celebration really started on Friday this year. Nick had a four-day weekend, so we have been spending a lot of time together as a family. We went to the pool yesterday and had the entire place to ourselves. Jack took his first dip and loved every minute of it. He lounged in his little baby float and sucked his fingers peacefully. Charlie had a fun time too playing with his water cups and balls and swimming with Nick and me. It was such a relaxing trip to the pool, and I have no pictures to share because I forgot the camera...oops. After our trip to the pool, Auntie Vicki and Uncle Justin came over with Cousin Rylee, and we grilled out steaks, potatoes, and corn on the cob. Dinner was so yummy, and we were thankful for the extra time with Vicki and Justin.

Today we spent some more quality time with Vicki, Justin, and Rylee. We had grand plans to take pictures of all of the cousins in their 4th of July outfits, but Jack napped pretty much the entire visit, Rylee was exhausted by the time Jack woke up, and Charlie refused to take part in the photo shoot, and yelled, "No pictures!" while we tried to take pictures of Rylee and Jack. Oh well, right?

After nap time, we headed over to Baba and Mimi's house for a cookout and fireworks. Dinner was so yummy, but Charlie was much more interested in desert. He was in heaven eating his ice cream out of the special 4th of July bowl that Mimi got for him. After stuffing our faces, I stayed over to see fireworks with Charlie, and Nick took Jackson home to go to bed since he probably could care less about fireworks this year. Charlie was happy to be up past his bedtime, and enjoyed playing with glow sticks, looking for the moon (which was hiding), and seeing the stars. He did not really care for the fireworks, however. Shortly after the show started, Charlie announced that it was "too scary" and wanted everyone to go inside. I had a feeling that he was not going to love the fireworks, so that is why we did not take him to a full blown fireworks show this year. After our mini-fireworks show, Charlie spent the night at Mimi and Baba's, and I headed home. It was a busy, fun day with our family! Our day was spent with the people we love, and I could not have asked for any more! We hope your family had a great holiday, too!

We Will Miss You!

2010-07-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Goodbyes stink! Today we had to say an especially stinky goodbye to Charlie and Jack's Auntie Vicki and Uncle Justin. They are on their way to New Orleans so that Justin can get his Masters at LSU. We are so proud of Justin and know that this is a wonderful accomplishment, but it does not make it any easier to see them leave. Charlie and Jack are so lucky to have Vicki and Justin in their lives, so we are already thinking about when we can plan a trip to visit them in their new home.

Vicki and Justin,

We love you both and wish you all the best as you start this adventure together! You are beginning a wonderful, new chapter as a couple, and we are certain that this experience will create a lifetime of special memories and friendships. Have an amazing time in New Orleans! Just don't have too much fun...We want you to come back, of course!

We love you and will miss you!!!

Love,

Nick, Lindsay, Charlie, and Jack

Pooh is Here!

2010-07-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

We have been anxiously awaiting my best friend Lisa's (aka Pooh's) arrival from LA. She visits once a year during the summer and stays for a few weeks. This trip is extra special because we are meeting Sidney, Lisa's baby girl who was born one week before Jack. Because we were sick, we had to hold off on seeing Sidney and Pooh's oldest daughter, Alex. Lisa was able to come over to meet Jack and play with Charlie, but we had to steer clear of the girls to keep them healthy. I was disappointed to say the least.

After waiting for a few days until our rash cleared, we were finally able to see everyone over at Lisa's parents' house. It was so nice having all four of our kiddos together and finally meeting Miss Sid. The kids played, ate, and did very little napping. It was definitely a lot more chaotic with two more children in the mix, but it was amazing seeing our beautiful children all in the same room!

Our second day together was spent at the Georgia Aquarium. Jack stayed home with my mom so that Charlie and I could have a mommy and me date with the fish. Much like our last visit, Charlie was less than impressed with the exhibits. He was more interested in Grandma (Lisa's mom) and going through her purse. The highlight of his trip was when Grandma gave him a part to an old pen. He held onto it like it was gold and called it his present. Go figure!

The Boy With the Curl

2010-07-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

You can't really see it very well in this picture, but Jack has one curl on the top of his head. I know it's still early to tell if his hair will be curly like mine. I just can't help hoping that he gets my hair. There are only a few physical attributes that I hoped to pass onto my boys and good hair is definitely one of them. It's just so much fun to see a little bit of yourself peaking through in your babies. Everyone seems to agree that Charlie is a little mini-me of Charlie, so I am enjoying the fact that Jack seems to favor his mommy.

Fort Fun

2010-06-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

The virus that has plagued our home caused both boys to have a rash over their entire bodies. The rash is not itchy, but is not cute either. We have been spending a lot of time inside so that we don't scare the general public. Today, both boys appear to be rash-free, but I decided it would be best to stay inside for one more day to ensure we don't spread our germs to anyone else.

It has been tough coming up with ideas to entertain two kiddos indoors. Today, I decided to pull out a card table and a bed sheet to build a fort for Charlie. Oh, man! What a good idea it was. We brought flashlights and pillows into our fort and had so much fun. Jackson was not as crazy about the fort as Charlie and Mommy, but fortunate for us, he takes plenty of naps. We sang, ate snacks, played doctor, read books, and pretended to take naps in Fort Charlie. It was such a simple idea, but it gave us hours of entertainment.

Does It Get Any Better???

2010-06-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

5 Months

2010-06-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Jackson has had the best month of his little life. He is all smiles and laughs and just a happy baby. His personality is really shining through more and more every day. His two favorite things right now are Charlie and Samson. He almost jumps out of his skin when either one of them walks into the room. He thinks Charlie is just about the funniest person on the planet and will belly laugh uncontrollably at Charlie's antics. His big brother eats up the attention and is usually willing to preform for him. The first time it happened, Charlie was pretending to vacuum, and Jack just thought that was hilarious. I had heard him laugh before but not like this. These were rolling, belly laughs, and it made my heart smile.

Jack continues to grow and get stronger. He is still not rolling from his back to his belly and can only sit up with help, but that is fine by me. I want to hold onto my baby for as long as I can. His coordination has really improved this month. He is able to grab for objects and pull them into his mouth. His new favorite play toy is his feet. He also likes "Ellie" the elephant and "Leo" the lion (one of Charlie's favorites too). He enjoys his exersaucer and bouncy seats and will amuse himself for 5-10 minutes, but he would much rather be with us. He loves to be held just like Charlie. Jackson also enjoys being outside. He gets so mellow as soon as he is in the fresh air. We recently put a patio under our deck, so it is the perfect shaded spot for Baby Jack to hang out.

He now has two teeth and has been using them to eat some rice cereal. Both of his doctors recommended the rice cereal at his 4 month check-up since it can help reflux babies. I decided to give it a try, and he now gets 2 tablespoons in his nightly bottle. Ever since adding the cereal to his bottle, we have gone from 6-8 hour stretches to 8-10 hour stretches at night. He eats at 8pm and usually wakes up sometime between 4-6am to eat again. The nights where I only get up once to feed him are so wonderful! Now, if I could only get Charlie to stop waking up in the middle of the night, I might start feeling like my old self. Jack is still taking 4-5 naps during the day and is usually awake for 1.5 hours at a time. I am so ready for the number of naps to go down. He does not sleep in my arms or the carseat very well, so it is severely limiting our ability to leave the house. Hopefully by next month we will be down to 3 naps.

Jack is wearing 3-6 month clothing and just graduated to size 2-3 diapers. I was changing both boys' diapers the other morning and I noticed that Jack's new diapers are only a bit smaller than Charlie's. He is growing and developing so fast. As with Charlie, it makes me happy and sad all at the same time. Sad that the time has flown by and happy to have such a healthy, happy, handsome growing boy!

Fun Visit

2010-06-22T19:02:00.000-07:00

My best friend from high school, Stef, and her little man, Declan, came for a visit last week. It was so fun to get all of the boys together. Declan is just about the happiest, most easy-going kiddo. Charlie woke up the next day and said, "See Declan now?" He really loved playing with the D-Man and Stef. We need another playdate soon before Stef goes back to teaching full-time in August.

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-22T18:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to Dadda, Grandpa, Granddaddy, and Uncle Walker!

Mini Vaca

2010-06-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

We rented a house on Lake Lanier last weekend with Nick's sisters. It was a wonderful long weekend with family and a great mini-vaca for all. Charlie absolutely loved the lake, adored the attention from his aunties and uncles, and had a blast being outside for three days straight. It was a perfect weekend and something that we would definitely love to do again in the future.

The Creep and The Crud

2010-06-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

We are typically a pretty healthy family. Ever since Memorial Day weekend, our house has been hit with a nasty virus that has manifested in just about every symptom you can think of: fever, cough, congestion, rash, and vomiting. It has also led to a few secondary infections: ear, sinus, and pink eye. The creep and the crud has invaded, and I feel like I need a Lysol Bomb to get rig of all of the germs. Since no such product exits, I must settle with getting the couch steam cleaned and the good, old-fashioned Lysol spray for the rest of the house. Hopefully we are nearing the end of this germ fest and life can get back to normal.

Memorial Day

2010-06-06T18:24:00.000-07:00

We had a busy Memorial Day weekend with friends and family. Even though the weather was not all that great, we managed to spend a lot of time outside and got a chance to go to the pool as a family two days. Jackson and I sat on the sidelines while Charlie and Nick had fun in the pool. Nick and I thought that Charlie would take a while to warm up to the pool, but we were very wrong. Charlie jumped right in and had no fear. We were both shocked and a little worried that he was not a bit more cautious. Looks like there won't be many trips to the pool alone with the boys.

We only spent a little over 30 minutes at the pool each time before the rain chased us away. It was plenty of time for Charlie to splash, laugh, and play. We even had a chance to test out a special flotation suit that we bought for him. He looked to stinking cute in that suit and was hilarious walking around the house before we left. He looked like a mini Iron Man.

I LOVE This Boy!

2010-06-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

Looking at these pictures, you would never know that this was the same baby who used to spend most of the day crying, a few hours each night screaming, and was up every two hours grunting in pain.

This is happy Jack, and he is the baby that I always knew was hiding behind the pain and discomfort. I still tear up when I think about how much pain he must have been in during his first few months. He still has a feisty personality and is quick to let you know when he is not happy about something, but this is the face that we see most often...chubby, red cheeks, big grin, and bright, smiling eyes. I love him and cannot imagine my life without him.

Quicksand

2010-06-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

In all honesty, the above picture would be more accurate if there was a toddler kicking and screaming on the floor instead of a crying baby. But, this is the comic that was included in my weekly e-mail update from Baby Center today, and it is the picture that inspired the following rant from this haggard momma.

I love Charlie. In fact, I could just stare at him for hours and still want more. He is such a funny kid, and I laugh out loud at him at least a dozen times a day. Today, I laughed so hard at an expression that he made that it literally brought tears to my eyes. Not only is he funny, but he can be the sweetest, most loving, affectionate child. He always wants to be held and will often rest his head on my shoulder or pat my back tenderly when I pick him up. He worries about Jack when he is crying and will often tell him, "Momma's coming baby. Don't cry." I could not imagine Charlie being any different than his is. The following vent is not about Charlie as much as it is about me.

We've all heard about the terrible two's. Really, I think it should be called the terrible toddler years, but I think it's a little late to make that change. I digress. All toddlers go through the terrible twos - some are worse off than others. It all depends on a child's temperament. Some of my good friends only have to use a stern voice in order to get their kiddos back in line. They startle at the mere sound of "NO" coming from their mommies. Charlie, on the other hand, hears the word "NO" and does it anyway...usually with a smile on his face. I swore that I was not going to use the words "No" or "Stop" when disciplining my child. Instead, I was going to calmly redirect my child by explaining the correct action to take in any given situation. I also planned to use logical consequences for discipline. If you throw your food then you have to help pick it up. I thought I had the perfect discipline game plan for when Charlie hit the terrible two's.

I was wrong.

For goodness sake, I am an education major. I have a degree that indicates that I have learned how to discipline a child. I also have 6 year's teaching experience where I was able to keep peace and order in a room filled with 20+ children. So, why in the world can I not keep my own child from spitting, throwing, hitting, and screaming?

I try to be diplomatic with Charlie. I explain things to him calmly and give him choices, but I loose my patience when he continues to do something over and over. For example, we were playing blocks this morning, and he began to throw them. I told him that blocks are for building and if he threw them again they would have to be put away. As soon as I did this, he began to throw blocks at Jack - all the while looking me straight in the eyes. I then told him that we could not play blocks anymore because he chose not to listen. This resulted in Charlie then taking a handful of blocks and hurtling them at Jack and me. At this point I raised my voice and told him to stop.

I want to be consistent with Charlie, but the problem is that I don't know what to do consistently...time out, removal of toys, spanking, redirection, etc. He does not seem to learn from any of the techniques that we have tried. I have a stack of books on raising toddlers next to my bed, but I know what will happen when I read them. One will contradict the other, and I will be left in the same boat that I am in now. Like everything else with parenting, I know that I need to do what I feel is best for MY child. The only problem is that I have NO idea what that entails.

Nick thinks that I worry too much (okay, I'll give him that one), and Charlie will be fine. I, on the other hand, feel like we are running out of time. Charlie is smart, and if he figures out that he can call our bluff, we are sunk. Have you seen Super Nanny? I feel like I am in quicksand many days because I keep trying to get somewhere with Charlie and keep slipping further and further away from what I had hoped to be as a mommy. I feel like I am failing him some times, and it makes me so sad. Maybe Nick is right, and I am over thinking it. I just want to do the right thing for Charlie, and it's hard knowing that I have not figured out what that is yet.

If you have dealt with or are dealing with a tough toddler (ie: one who would hit you if they don't like what you are telling them), then I would love your advice. I am wide open to suggestions.

Brotherly Love

2010-05-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

Charlie may pull a little bit too hard, hit him on occasion, and today, and he definitely shoved his fingers down Jackson's throat, but he really does love his little brother. He always wants to know where his baby brother is, asks to hold him, and loves kissing and hugging Jack. It's been tough sharing the spot light with Jack, but Charlie never needs to worry. He will ALWAYS be our baby.

Charlie's New Ride

2010-05-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

Nick loves to bike, and we have been talking about getting a seat for the back of his bike so that Charlie can tag along. Yesterday, while at Dick's, Dadda decided to get a bike trailer instead so that both boys can ride with him some day. Nick and Charlie took it out for the maiden voyage Sunday afternoon. As you can see, Charlie was very excited about riding in his "car" with Dadda. They rode around the neighborhood, but we can't wait to take the bike trailer out on the nature trail behind our house soon. How cute will it be when Charlie and Jack can ride together?

Photo Shoot

2010-05-23T18:25:00.000-07:00

Our photographer is trying to get people to check out her photo blog. She is offering a free 8x10 picture from Jackson's 3 month photo shoot if I can get 10 people to comment on his pictures here. If you have the time and want to see some gorgeous photography, I would appreciate your help towards saving $25. THANKS!

Jackson is 4 Months Old

2010-05-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

I seriously feel like I just sat down to write Jackson's 3 month update yesterday. I have said it before, but I really wish I could freeze time. Jackson has had the best month, and I want so badly to linger in this happy place for a little bit longer.

It seems that we have at last gotten Jackson's reflux under control. He does not have any more symptoms and is so much happier. I took him for his swallow test a couple of weeks ago, and he is breathing and swallowing perfectly. The gagging that he was experiencing was just a side effect of the reflux as opposed to a structural abnormality. It was a great relief to hear that. Jackson being healthy has caused a complete 180 in his personality this last month. He is now the smiling, cooing, happy baby that I knew he was. It still makes me sad to think that his first few months were so painful for him, but the important thing is that he is healthy and happy now. We have entire days without crying spells where the only times he gets fussy is if he is sleepy or hungry. It is beyond wonderful!

In addition to Jackson's great mood, he has also changed a lot physically. His hair has almost completely fallen out with the exception of a slight mohawk and a mullet. It's very redneck rocker chic. He has also gotten so strong. Jack is happiest standing and can support his weight very well for long periods of time. If he is laying on any type of incline, he tries to sit up. I can't tell you how many times I have watched him topple over. It looks like he is practicing crunches. It just seems like he is ready to get up and go. He watches Charlie run around the house like a little crazy person, and I know he would just love to be doing the same thing. I have a sneaking suspicion that Jackson might be my wild child. We shall see...

Another HUGE change this month is in Jack's sleeping habits. As of last week, he is now able to put himself to sleep. Charlie was well over 7 months old when he started falling asleep on his own, so you know I am excited about this recent development. I am not a fan of the cry-it-out method, so it takes me a little longer to help my kiddos help themselves fall asleep. Jackson still needs to be swaddled to sleep, but I now leave one arm free so that he can suck his thumb/fist/fingers. This seems to do the trick. Sometimes it takes him as long as 10 minutes and he may fuss a bit, but he eventually falls asleep without crying. It has made such a difference in our days. At night, I feed him around 8:00 pm, and he sleeps between 6-8 hours. This means that I am getting up to feed him 1-2 times a night.

Jackson continues to babble away and has recently begun screeching very loudly. I am pretty sure he is just trying to compete with his brother. I told Nick the other night that I can only imagine how crazy and loud this house will be in a couple of years. Jackson is the type of baby who gives you his best smile if you smile and talk to him. I love that about him. He is just happy to have the attention. His laughing has really picked up, and he giggles a lot when I tickle him. I nibble his armpits, belly, and sides and soak up the squealing. Really, I don't think there is a better sound in the world than a baby's laughter. Jackson has laughed at Charlie a few times, and I have visions of the future. Charlie will absolutely adore his one man audience in a few months, and I know he will do anything to get a laugh out of his Baby Jack.

This month has been amazing for Jack. I am so pleased with his progress. He has been such a wonderful addition to our family, and it feels like he has been with us for a lot longer than just four months. We all love him very much and are happy that he is doing so well these days!

Picture to be posted soon :o)

Chompers

2010-05-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

Jackson has been a total drool bucket the last few weeks, and he has been chewing on everything that he can shove into his little mouth. He is a big fan of gnawing on our hands and fingers. He looks like a mad dog going after a T-bone. His night waking has also increased and he has had some cranky days. Since Nick teethed at 14 weeks and Charlie at 4 and 1/2 months, I figured it meant that Jackson was getting ready to cut a tooth. I have been checking his mouth regularly, and his gums really never look swollen. Today, while he was using my finger as a chew toy, I thought I felt something sharp. Sure enough, the edge of a bottom tooth was poking out. Bottom left to be exact - same as his brother. Another similarity to Charlie is the fact that both of them rolled over and cut their first tooth only a few days apart.

So far, it seems like Jackson is doing pretty well with the teething. Charlie was a total beast and had horrible sleep issues when he cut four teeth in a month's time. Hopefully, the same won't be true for Jack.

My Kid Made the Honor Roll

2010-05-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

I used to hate seeing the bumper stickers that boasted about honor roll. I swore that I would never brag about my children like that. Well...that was before I had children. Now, I totally understand the bumper stickers. I don't think there is a parent out there who does not think that their child is the cutest, smartest, strongest, etc.

Charlie is becoming such a little man. He has been showing interest in going potty for a while now, but I am not in any hurry to potty train. I have heard horror stories about trying to potty train little boys too early. My pediatrician told me not to worry about it until closer to three. Sounded good to me. But, because he seemed interested, I decided to buy him a potty for Easter. I could not believe that the little guy sat down and peed the very first time he used it. Even with that initial success, I was in no hurry to start potty training 101. At first, we would suggest the potty every few days, and Charlie was always able to go.

Right now, he is pooping and peeing in the potty at least once a day. Sometimes, I let him wander around bare bottom, and he can even tell me when he has to go. We have only had two accidents. I am still not convinced that he is totally ready to be weaned from diapers. For one thing, he can't take his own pants off, so that presents a bit of a problem. But, I think I might start a little earlier than I originally thought.

Now, you might think that this post is too much information. And, yes, I realize that Charlie will some day read this and be totally mortified. But I am one of those parents who can't help being proud of my baby boy. In fact, i am so proud that, if they made them, I would have a "My Kid Poops in the Potty!" bumper sticker.

Roll, Baby! Roll!

2010-05-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Jackson rolled over from his belly to his back for the first time earlier this week. I was surprised because I rarely put him on his belly for tummy time. We are supposed to limit his time laying flat, and he hates tummy time. So, I usually avoid it. He was in a great mood the other morning, so I decided it might be a good time to try. As soon as I put him down, he rolled over. I put him back on his belly, and he immediately did it again. I ran to get the camera to record this milestone, and of course he would not perform. Charlie did the same thing to me. Little buggers! I kept the camera close by and managed to catch him in action later that day. The crazy thing is that he looks like he is close to rolling over from back to belly, too. I swear, he is so strong and just wants to go, go, GO!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

This Mother's Day is one that I will never forget. Of course it is extra special because I am now the mommy of two handsome boys. But today it truly unforgettable because of one person - my mom.

When Jackson was born, my mom came over to help with the kiddos. I sincerely thought that I would only need her for a few weeks. It never crossed my mind that Jackson would have all of these problems with his health or that I would be making regular trips to the doctor and other specialists. So, instead of a few months of help, my mom has basically put her life on hold to be here every day. Her main role is to take care of Charlie, but that is not all she does. When Charlie takes his nap, she quickly eats her lunch and then starts cleaning, doing laundry, washing dishes, etc. She always offers to take the baby and encourages me to go out or take a nap. In addition to all of this, she is always there to listen to my concerns and share in my joys.

If you have been following the blog, then you know that the last few months have been a struggle for our family. Mom has been there every step of the way supporting me and loving me unconditionally. She has seen all of us at our worst...sometimes all at the same time - Charlie's tantrums, my bad moods, and Jackson's constant screaming. No matter how bad the day, she always comes back. Honestly, I could not have made it without her. I truly owe my sanity and my children's happiness to Mom.

Dear Mom,

You deserve much more than a mere thank you. Even so, I know that "thank you" is enough...and a card, of course. I love you so much, Mom! I want you to know that I am beyond grateful to have you as my mom. Please do not ever doubt how much of a positive impact you have had on my life and the person that I am today. You are a beautiful, generous, and selfless mother. It is my hope that my boys will always feel as loved, as special, and as cared for as I have my entire life. On this Mother's Day, I am celebrating the fact that I am loved by such a wonderful woman!

Love,
Lindsay

Mr. Manners

2010-05-06T05:22:00.000-07:00

At this time last year, Charlie had not even said his first word. I can remember hoping that he would say "Momma" for Mother's Day. Now, he has an enormous vocabulary and can hold a very good conversation. Things may not always be pronounced correctly, but he is repeating words that he hears constantly. He understands what we say and follows directions very well (when he feels like it).

Recently, Charlie has started to say "please" and "thank you" without prompting. I love that he understands when it is an appropriate time to use these words. Please always sounds nice, but my personal favorite is when he says thank you. I have been a nanny and worked in daycare for years, so I have spent a lot of time around toddlers. Often, young kiddos are good at saying please because they know it will get them what they want. As soon as that happens, manners fly out the window, and it is hard to get a sincere thank you. Charlie is Mr. Manners, and he does a great job remembering to thank other people. I also just love the way he says it - "Et tu, Momma."

Puddles

2010-05-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

Not even the rain can keep Charlie from going outside to play. We had a lovely time stomping in puddles and catching rain drops the other day.

Happy Mother's Day, Oma!

2010-05-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Mother's Day with Charlie and Jackson's Oma this Sunday. The whole family gathered at the park for a picnic. We had a great time with everyone despite the HOT weather. Seriously, where is spring? Jackson was in a great mood, and Charlie loved getting a little extra attention from his family.

Who's Who?

2010-05-01T19:15:00.001-07:00

I stole this idea from my bff, Lisa. Here are pictures of Jackson and Charlie at exactly the same age. I tried to recreate one of my absolute favorite pictures of Charlie when he was a petite babe. Everyone seems to have very differing opinions about who Jack looks like and if he resembles his brother. Personally, I think he looks very different than Charlie did, but I am curious to see what everyone else thinks about these two pictures.

So, who's who in your opinion?

BABY #1

BABY #2