The baby has figured out how to crawl and is everywhere! He had been rolling everywhere he wanted to go, which was so cute, but he decided this past weekend to upgrade his skills. While we had warned the girls time and time again what it would be like, I don't think they took us seriously. As a matter of fact, I know they didn't take us seriously. Because they're already over it. Now I'm warning them how this is nothing and just wait until he starts walking ;)
It feels like he's grown up so much in the past week. I knew this milestone was coming, but it still hit me like a ton of bricks. He's gone from my baby to this little boy. We're having to think about his 1st birthday. How did this past year go so quickly?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
We Clean Up Nicely
if I do say so myself!
My brother got married last weekend at the beautiful Cliff House in San Francisco. Nacho & I were both in the wedding party and the girls were flower girls. Little Man was just plain adorable! Nacho's sister graciously did our hair that morning, so many thanks for that.
And of course I would be remissed if I didn't show a picture of the happy couple, right?
Congrats to the new Mr & Mrs! May you have a lifetime of happiness.
My brother got married last weekend at the beautiful Cliff House in San Francisco. Nacho & I were both in the wedding party and the girls were flower girls. Little Man was just plain adorable! Nacho's sister graciously did our hair that morning, so many thanks for that.
And of course I would be remissed if I didn't show a picture of the happy couple, right?
Congrats to the new Mr & Mrs! May you have a lifetime of happiness.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Is It Really Fall?
Today is the first official day of Fall. But if you lived where I do, you'd find it hard to believe. We're supposed to hit triple digits today. Seriously? When I hear Fall I think of hot drinks, falling leaves and warm clothes. Yet here I am today in a tank top & carpis and with it already too hot to enjoy a hot cup of coffee or take the kids to the park. Samantha's teacher has already warned them that it will be too hot for them to play outside at lunch today.
I'm not really a summer person. It has it's own highlights like BBQs, swimming & longer days, but winter is really more my speed. Or it was before I had kids. I love bundling up under a blanket, with the fire place on and just relaxing. With kids, it just makes everybody stir crazy.
But Fall? It's the perfect compromise. Cool enough to bundle up, but still warm enough for the kids to actually go outside and play. It also is the start of the holiday season, which I LOVE. Ok and I'll be honest, "warm" clothes cover flaws much better than summer clothes.
Luckily today is supposed to be the hottest day of the week, so hopefully we just continue cooling down. Because I've already started planning for the next few months and hot weather isn't included.
I'm not really a summer person. It has it's own highlights like BBQs, swimming & longer days, but winter is really more my speed. Or it was before I had kids. I love bundling up under a blanket, with the fire place on and just relaxing. With kids, it just makes everybody stir crazy.
But Fall? It's the perfect compromise. Cool enough to bundle up, but still warm enough for the kids to actually go outside and play. It also is the start of the holiday season, which I LOVE. Ok and I'll be honest, "warm" clothes cover flaws much better than summer clothes.
Luckily today is supposed to be the hottest day of the week, so hopefully we just continue cooling down. Because I've already started planning for the next few months and hot weather isn't included.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Long & Lean....and a Superstar!
That's my little man!
We just got back from Jack's 9 month appointment and he did great. Hitting all his milestones, etc. And the doctor reminds me about the blood draw they like to do between 9 & 12 months to test lead & iron levels. This time I was prepared. With Sam, not so much.
See, when I had Samantha I skipped away from the doctor's office after her 6 month appointment when they told me there wouldn't be any shots at her 9 month appointment. And they were right, there weren't any. However they neglected to tell me they would be doing a blood draw instead. A what? That's worse than shots. I've since made it my mission to warn all parents who see this doctor about this because getting caught off guard like that sucks. But with Lu and again this time, I was ready.
And then he gently reminds me that the first flu shot for a baby is given in two doses. Shit, I forgot that. So he needed one today, in addition to the blood draw, and he'll get the second at Lu's 4 year appt. next month. And yes, our whole family needs & gets them because Samantha is still considered high risk and her doctors recommend it. Jury is still out on us getting the H1N1 vaccine. Their doctor recommends it for all 3 of the kids, but was honest that he's not sure there will be much left over after all the high risk groups (as per the CDC) get it.
So, here comes the shot. I'm expecting tears if for no other reason than it's naptime. But nope, nothing. Hmm...pretty cool. I pick him up, gather up our stuff and go out to get Lu the sticker I promised her. But the sticker basket is empty. Oh crap. Thankfully she is a go with the flow type of girl, sometimes, and tells me she'll just use the ones that are in the playroom. So off we had down to the lab. They tell me to hold Jack in a bear hug away from me (not high on the list for a baby going through seperation anxiety). The tech finds a vein, needle in and....
Wait. No tears!! Not a flinch. No squirming. He's just sitting there watching what they're doing. When they're done, he smiles at them. Everybody in the lab is shocked and I'm giddy. This is the one part I don't like being about a SAHM. All these doctors appointments and resulting tears always fall on me. But he was a superstar! And the lab tech saved the day by giving Lu two sheets of stickers, bless her heart! And I have give the lab techs today props. One stick. That's huge, especially for a baby. I remember when Sam had to have a blood draw after her seizure and they must have stuck her 6 times. She was a human pin cushion. After a week of being one in the hospital.
But anyways, back to Jack. Superstar. And his stats:
20lbs 1oz (37%)
29.1 inches long (75%)
18.74 head circ (95% - well duh*)
* my kids all have HUGE heads. Nothing to be worried about, but they're big!
So he's lighter than his sisters were at this age, but longer!
And on a side note, when I pulled out the girls' baby books today I noticed that Lu is as tall now (at just under 4 years) as Sam was at her 5 year appointment! Lu is going to be tall I think. Which should be obvious to me as I just had to pack away 3/4 of her closet because everything is too short for her.
Long & lean - those are my kids! Better than the other way around, right?
We just got back from Jack's 9 month appointment and he did great. Hitting all his milestones, etc. And the doctor reminds me about the blood draw they like to do between 9 & 12 months to test lead & iron levels. This time I was prepared. With Sam, not so much.
See, when I had Samantha I skipped away from the doctor's office after her 6 month appointment when they told me there wouldn't be any shots at her 9 month appointment. And they were right, there weren't any. However they neglected to tell me they would be doing a blood draw instead. A what? That's worse than shots. I've since made it my mission to warn all parents who see this doctor about this because getting caught off guard like that sucks. But with Lu and again this time, I was ready.
And then he gently reminds me that the first flu shot for a baby is given in two doses. Shit, I forgot that. So he needed one today, in addition to the blood draw, and he'll get the second at Lu's 4 year appt. next month. And yes, our whole family needs & gets them because Samantha is still considered high risk and her doctors recommend it. Jury is still out on us getting the H1N1 vaccine. Their doctor recommends it for all 3 of the kids, but was honest that he's not sure there will be much left over after all the high risk groups (as per the CDC) get it.
So, here comes the shot. I'm expecting tears if for no other reason than it's naptime. But nope, nothing. Hmm...pretty cool. I pick him up, gather up our stuff and go out to get Lu the sticker I promised her. But the sticker basket is empty. Oh crap. Thankfully she is a go with the flow type of girl, sometimes, and tells me she'll just use the ones that are in the playroom. So off we had down to the lab. They tell me to hold Jack in a bear hug away from me (not high on the list for a baby going through seperation anxiety). The tech finds a vein, needle in and....
Wait. No tears!! Not a flinch. No squirming. He's just sitting there watching what they're doing. When they're done, he smiles at them. Everybody in the lab is shocked and I'm giddy. This is the one part I don't like being about a SAHM. All these doctors appointments and resulting tears always fall on me. But he was a superstar! And the lab tech saved the day by giving Lu two sheets of stickers, bless her heart! And I have give the lab techs today props. One stick. That's huge, especially for a baby. I remember when Sam had to have a blood draw after her seizure and they must have stuck her 6 times. She was a human pin cushion. After a week of being one in the hospital.
But anyways, back to Jack. Superstar. And his stats:
20lbs 1oz (37%)
29.1 inches long (75%)
18.74 head circ (95% - well duh*)
* my kids all have HUGE heads. Nothing to be worried about, but they're big!
So he's lighter than his sisters were at this age, but longer!
And on a side note, when I pulled out the girls' baby books today I noticed that Lu is as tall now (at just under 4 years) as Sam was at her 5 year appointment! Lu is going to be tall I think. Which should be obvious to me as I just had to pack away 3/4 of her closet because everything is too short for her.
Long & lean - those are my kids! Better than the other way around, right?
Murphy's Law
If something can go wrong, it will go wrong.
And it went oh so wrong. Lu has a little stuffed cat that she has been attached to since she was about 1. Attached to, like it's an extra appendage on her. She takes that poor little cat everywhere and stands by the washing machine door the few times I've been allowed to wash him. She has a habit of taking him downstairs during the day and then forgetting to take him back up to bed, leading us to frantic search for where she may have put him.
Oh I didn't mention she likes to hide him?
Well, she does. And in the most obscure places sometimes. Like in their little toy oven or behind picture frames. Pretty much any place I wouldn't look. So we finally came to an agreement that the cat (named Uh-Oh because when she was little she'd throw him from the crib and when I'd come in, she point and yell "uh-oh" at him) would stay upstairs and she could pick another animal that could be the downstairs one. She agreed and yesterday was our first day. And she listened. Uh-Oh stayed upstairs, in her room. So imagine my horror when we couldn't find him ANYWHERE last night at bedtime.
I searched our entire house, unmade & remade her bed, looked in the closets. Anything I could think of. See, I get her attachment. I had a squirrel Rocky that I was equally attached to and my parents used to go the ends of the earth to reunite us if I had forgotten him somewhere, which I often did. So I was determined I was going to help her find Uh-Oh. But after 30 minutes and way past her bedtime I gave up. I was expecting the meltdown to end all meltdowns, but she shocked me. She told me she knew he has to be around and that she would just sleep with another stuffed animal tonight. See, they always manage to surprise me.
This morning, knowing he had to be in the house, I made her retrace her steps during "nap" yesterday. She claimed she stayed in bed, except for the 15 or so potty trips. I reminded her that I found a jacket in bed with her when I came to get her up and that's when the light bulb went off for her. She went, grapped her jacket and extracted Uh-Oh from the sleeve, where she had safely tucked him in.
Of course, a jacket sleeve! I should have known.
And it went oh so wrong. Lu has a little stuffed cat that she has been attached to since she was about 1. Attached to, like it's an extra appendage on her. She takes that poor little cat everywhere and stands by the washing machine door the few times I've been allowed to wash him. She has a habit of taking him downstairs during the day and then forgetting to take him back up to bed, leading us to frantic search for where she may have put him.
Oh I didn't mention she likes to hide him?
Well, she does. And in the most obscure places sometimes. Like in their little toy oven or behind picture frames. Pretty much any place I wouldn't look. So we finally came to an agreement that the cat (named Uh-Oh because when she was little she'd throw him from the crib and when I'd come in, she point and yell "uh-oh" at him) would stay upstairs and she could pick another animal that could be the downstairs one. She agreed and yesterday was our first day. And she listened. Uh-Oh stayed upstairs, in her room. So imagine my horror when we couldn't find him ANYWHERE last night at bedtime.
I searched our entire house, unmade & remade her bed, looked in the closets. Anything I could think of. See, I get her attachment. I had a squirrel Rocky that I was equally attached to and my parents used to go the ends of the earth to reunite us if I had forgotten him somewhere, which I often did. So I was determined I was going to help her find Uh-Oh. But after 30 minutes and way past her bedtime I gave up. I was expecting the meltdown to end all meltdowns, but she shocked me. She told me she knew he has to be around and that she would just sleep with another stuffed animal tonight. See, they always manage to surprise me.
This morning, knowing he had to be in the house, I made her retrace her steps during "nap" yesterday. She claimed she stayed in bed, except for the 15 or so potty trips. I reminded her that I found a jacket in bed with her when I came to get her up and that's when the light bulb went off for her. She went, grapped her jacket and extracted Uh-Oh from the sleeve, where she had safely tucked him in.
Of course, a jacket sleeve! I should have known.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Best Dad
I'm constantly being told that Nacho is the best dad there is. And I agree whole-heartidly. My kids are so lucky to have the dad they do. I don't understand why it's so suprising to people. I knew he'd be an awesome father, that's why I decided havig kids with him was a good idea! But I have to admit it makes me wonder - why do people always comment on dads being great, but never really about moms? I know, because we're the moms and the things that make dads great are just expected of us. Why aren't those same things expected of the dads though? Why does it make them above & beyond? It reminds me of when women say their husbands are "babysitting" the kids. No they're not. They're watching their OWN kids, which is their responsibility.
I don't need the acknowledgment nor does my husband. We know we're good parents. But it would be nice to hear once in awhile (about any mom, not just me), "you know, she's a really good mom."
I don't need the acknowledgment nor does my husband. We know we're good parents. But it would be nice to hear once in awhile (about any mom, not just me), "you know, she's a really good mom."
Thursday, September 3, 2009
5 Going on 25
If you read my last post you'll see I *just* described Samantha as 5 going on 15. In the course of a school day, she's apparently moved up to 5 going on 25. I had coffee with my best friend this morning while Sam was at school. This is our convo:
Sam: How was coffee with Auntie Jenn?
Me: It was fun.
Sam: What did you talk about?
Me: All sorts of stuff. How you're doing in school. Stuff like that. She missed you today and hopes she'll you soon.
Sam: I know. I'm just so busy. I'm free on Wednesday. *pause* Oh wait, I'm not free on Wednesday.
Sam: How was coffee with Auntie Jenn?
Me: It was fun.
Sam: What did you talk about?
Me: All sorts of stuff. How you're doing in school. Stuff like that. She missed you today and hopes she'll you soon.
Sam: I know. I'm just so busy. I'm free on Wednesday. *pause* Oh wait, I'm not free on Wednesday.
Back to School Night
Last night was our first ever back to school night as parents. Honestly, I'm still adjusting to being the parent and not the kid. The night started out ok with the principal and superindentant of schools talking. Except as the good parent I am, I stood outside talking to some other moms instead of listening. Bad I know, but I already knew about their handwriting curriculum because they use it as the preschool also. That's a good excuse, right?
After that we went to Samantha's classroom. It's been an interesting beginning to the year as her teacher was out all of last week after receiving devistating news that her father had passed away unexpectedly. So they're all getting used to be being back together. Mrs. M went over the work they'll be doing this year and hot damn, it's a lot. They are busy from that first morning bell until pick up. They do have recess & playtime after lunch as well as about 1/2 hour of free time right at the end of their day. But for 4 & 5 year olds, that's a lot of work. Makes me wonder how half day kindergarten jams it all in. Anyways, they'll be doing language arts (reading, writing, etc), math, science (earth, life & physical) and art. Due to budget cuts they had to let the PE teacher go, so she'll be taking them out when she can to do that. By the end of the year they need to be reading at a level 3 - not sure exactly how to describe it, but reading none the less. Oh and homework starts next week. HOMEWORK. IN KINDERGARTEN! She wasn't kidding when she said the days of milk & cookies in kinder were over.
We stayed afterwards to ask how Sam was adjusting, if she was behaving, etc. She told us that Sam was a dream student and thanked us for it! Although we know she's smart and can be sweet, she also has a 5 going on 15 attitude about her sometimes and she's been known to talk.. A LOT. Oh and let's not forget her preschool teacher told us she was tad bit bossy at her conference last year. So this was great news to hear last night. Apparently, she does what she is supposed to, gets her work done, is helpful and a delight to have in class. Maybe it helped that her and her best friend from last year were put in seperate classes (on purpose, btw). It hasn't seemed to faze Sam though, as she already has two new best friends. And so far they seem nicer.
All of this was especially good news after the conversation Sam and I had the other night. Last Friday I took the girls to rent movies since Nacho was at a baseball game with work. We didn't get around to watching the one Lu picked until early this week. It's an American Girl movie about a girl (4th grade) who starts a new school and is bullied. I did read the back before renting and knew it was the storyline, but I had NO idea they were so mean. Horribly mean. And the sad part is does probably happen just this way a lot. So I decided to use it as a teaching moment and talk to the girls about bullying and not always following what your friends do, especially if you disagree with it. Sam says all the right things in response (per usual Lu wasn't listening to me)....and then comes out with the following:
Sam: You know mom, me, S & A are really popular at school.
Me: Oh you are. That's good. What about the other girls in your class?
Sam. Nope. They aren't
Me: Why
Sam: Because they aren't in our group.
Oy Vey!!!
So then I got to explain about how they didn't have to be in her group to be popular, they could be in their own group. I'm glad she's self-confident, something I wasn't growing up. Here I am so worried about her possibly being bullied that I never stopped to think she might be the bully. Her teacher assured me last night though that Sam is happy to play with everybody and openly welcomes anybody into their play group. Thank goodness! But now I know we have to keep that conversation going.
Oh and apparently Lu is thriving being in preschool without her sister. So much so that they can't get her to be quiet. Even during library time. While the librarian is reading. Hopefully the newness of having her own voice will even out soon. Or it will be a long year for her teachers.
After that we went to Samantha's classroom. It's been an interesting beginning to the year as her teacher was out all of last week after receiving devistating news that her father had passed away unexpectedly. So they're all getting used to be being back together. Mrs. M went over the work they'll be doing this year and hot damn, it's a lot. They are busy from that first morning bell until pick up. They do have recess & playtime after lunch as well as about 1/2 hour of free time right at the end of their day. But for 4 & 5 year olds, that's a lot of work. Makes me wonder how half day kindergarten jams it all in. Anyways, they'll be doing language arts (reading, writing, etc), math, science (earth, life & physical) and art. Due to budget cuts they had to let the PE teacher go, so she'll be taking them out when she can to do that. By the end of the year they need to be reading at a level 3 - not sure exactly how to describe it, but reading none the less. Oh and homework starts next week. HOMEWORK. IN KINDERGARTEN! She wasn't kidding when she said the days of milk & cookies in kinder were over.
We stayed afterwards to ask how Sam was adjusting, if she was behaving, etc. She told us that Sam was a dream student and thanked us for it! Although we know she's smart and can be sweet, she also has a 5 going on 15 attitude about her sometimes and she's been known to talk.. A LOT. Oh and let's not forget her preschool teacher told us she was tad bit bossy at her conference last year. So this was great news to hear last night. Apparently, she does what she is supposed to, gets her work done, is helpful and a delight to have in class. Maybe it helped that her and her best friend from last year were put in seperate classes (on purpose, btw). It hasn't seemed to faze Sam though, as she already has two new best friends. And so far they seem nicer.
All of this was especially good news after the conversation Sam and I had the other night. Last Friday I took the girls to rent movies since Nacho was at a baseball game with work. We didn't get around to watching the one Lu picked until early this week. It's an American Girl movie about a girl (4th grade) who starts a new school and is bullied. I did read the back before renting and knew it was the storyline, but I had NO idea they were so mean. Horribly mean. And the sad part is does probably happen just this way a lot. So I decided to use it as a teaching moment and talk to the girls about bullying and not always following what your friends do, especially if you disagree with it. Sam says all the right things in response (per usual Lu wasn't listening to me)....and then comes out with the following:
Sam: You know mom, me, S & A are really popular at school.
Me: Oh you are. That's good. What about the other girls in your class?
Sam. Nope. They aren't
Me: Why
Sam: Because they aren't in our group.
Oy Vey!!!
So then I got to explain about how they didn't have to be in her group to be popular, they could be in their own group. I'm glad she's self-confident, something I wasn't growing up. Here I am so worried about her possibly being bullied that I never stopped to think she might be the bully. Her teacher assured me last night though that Sam is happy to play with everybody and openly welcomes anybody into their play group. Thank goodness! But now I know we have to keep that conversation going.
Oh and apparently Lu is thriving being in preschool without her sister. So much so that they can't get her to be quiet. Even during library time. While the librarian is reading. Hopefully the newness of having her own voice will even out soon. Or it will be a long year for her teachers.
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