Knock on Some Wood Before You Read This

So, I don’t think I went into our whole potty training ordeal over here.  I think all that happened in the middle of the 30 day project, so you all probably got the idea we were potty training because of this.  Anyway, so I decided to get started with it about mid-way through the week before Jack’s preschool spring break.  And it didn’t go so well.  He pretty much only went on the potty when he was sitting on it in front of the TV… for like an hour at a time.  Randomly he’d pee without realizing it and I’d make a big deal about it.  Anyway,  we made it almost all the way through spring break week without much progress… let me rephrase that.  With zero progress.  He had zero interest in learning or listening to how it worked.  He didn’t give a rip about any of the thousands of bribes I came up with.  As a matter of fact, somehow he usually managed to manipulate me into giving him what he wanted without doing much of anything at all.  And after watching him purposely pee his pants (to the point of straining so hard that I could see the veins in his neck) while I was on the phone (clearly an attempt to get some attention), I finally threw in the towel.  And decided to revisit it once he was out for the summer.

So last Monday, Jack woke up and I told him I needed to change his diaper.  I asked him if he wanted to wear a pull-up and he said no.  So when I tried to put on his diaper he told me he wanted to wear big boy pants.  Uh, ok.  So I put on the big boy pants and was quickly distracted by something or other.  And after a while he told me he needed to go poop on the potty.  So we ran over and put him on the potty.  And he peed.  He did this all day.  No accidents.  And the next day he started pooping on the potty as well.  Just like that.   And (knock on wood) as of last Monday, he has only had four accidents.  He’s been wearing pull-ups at night and big boy pants for naps.  And we’ve been keeping our regular everyday schedule… the pool, Target, playing outside, going for donuts or ice cream or whatever treat on the weekends.  The accidents have all happened while he’s been either disoriented after just waking from a nap or while totally distracted while playing.

Let me tell you how totally and completely stunned I am.  This kid is nothing but a challenge these days.  And while I’m sure it sounds like I’m tooting my horn over here all proud and annoying, but really, I just can’t help but tell everyone – how proud of him and excited I am for him.  That he has some sort of control in his life (and it is already starting to show that it makes him feel more at ease with life in general… if that makes sense).   This kid.  He constantly amazes me.  Like the other day… while he was playing with a fake phone.  Pushing the buttons and muttering under his breath and he says “goddammit”.  No idea where he learned that one.  And just now.  He’s walking around in his Elmo underpants.  With Teddy’s crocheted blanket draped over his shoulders.  He looks at me and says, “I’m a princess.”

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Um, I Was Trapped Under a Very Large Pile of Tissues… or Something Like That

Ok, so I took a month off.  Yeah, I wasn’t really planning on it, but I was so tired of the blog after the 30 day thing and I kept saying I’d write something tomorrow until it was like today and it’s been over a month.  So, yeah, sorry about the ridiculous hiatus and all, hope I didn’t worry anyone.  So here’s an update on us, list style.  Because I’m feeling listy.

1. Teddy.  My little tank.  Ted weighed in at his 6 month check up at about 18 and a half pounds.  I took him in last week, along with Jack (because Jack was sick) to have him checked out to see if he had an ear infection and at that point he was 19.5 pounds.  Then I took him in Wednesday (he was sick) and he was 20 lbs 2 oz.  Monster baby gained a pound in a week.  This kid amazes me.  Jack weighed in today (well visit… yeah, they’re getting really sick of seeing me) at 28 lbs.  hehe… Jack sprat…
2. So the other day when we were at the doctor’s office… which time is not really relevant.  Anywho, I held my hand out to catch the elevator door and it CLOSED ON MY HAND.  Not kidding.  I managed to grab the door with my other hand to sort of hold it open, meanwhile screaming in my ridiculous scratchy voice, from being sick, “HELP ME HELP ME!!”  Not kidding.  Then finally I realized I could open the door by hitting the elevator call button.  So I did.  Nothing is broken.  I just have a ridiculous bruise and a sore hand and a big time bruised ego.  Yeah, I had to go back there today.  For another checkup.  Geez.  I think they all thought I was nuts.  They were all really sweet about it and took good care of me and all.  But seriously, I can’t believe I did that.
3. Jack handled the whole elevator situation quite well.  Well, not at first he didn’t.  I thought he’d be traumatized for life.  But when we were leaving and the nurse and doctor were helping me out to the car (yeah, so I could feel stupid all the way to the car and they could see my complete wreck of a car and dig in my wreck of a purse full of dirty tissues to get my nasty keys out… geez) anywho, as we were all getting into the elevator on our way out, Jack says, “don’t do that again mommy… you got to be careful or you get your fingers pinched in the door.”  He reminded me again today as we arrived at the office.  Yeah, thanks.
4. So.  E, my wonderful husband got me a fantastic mother’s day gift.  A plane ticket to Chicago to visit Andrea (my BFF) for a long weekend, by myself.  No children!  Woo Hoo!  So last week Jack got sick – bad cold with some wheezing we had to treat with a nebulizer (at urgent care) and an inhaler (at home).  He was finally better by Thursday and I was to leave on Friday morning.  But by Thursday evening I was coming down with it.  And by Friday I was sporting a sore throat and a cough.  Long story short I had a terrible sore throat, cough, hardly a voice at all and my head and ears were plugged up so I could barely hear anything at all pretty much all weekend.  Yeah, it was a major bummer.  We still had a good time shopping and hanging out but I was feeling pretty bad and wasn’t sleeping much at all at night.  So, I’m still pining away for a weekend away… just hoping that maybe I’ll get another trip away from home for my birthday.  Or something like that.  A girl can dream, right?
5. Teddy is a rolling, scooting, tootin’ fool.  The tootin’ part was for fun.  Although he does poop like a champ.  Let me rephrase that.  He poops way too much.  I am changing, on average, six poopies a day… yes, I’m still changing Jack’s poopies too (I will revisit the potty training again soon… hopefully, but seriously if I wait long enough he’ll just do it himself, right?)… where was I?  Oh poopies.  Yeah, six a day, and one day I counted seven and then said “THAT’S ENOUGH!  I’VE OFFICIALLY HAD IT, YOU’VE HIT YOUR QUOTA FOR THE DAY AND YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME TO GET THAT ONE CHANGED.”  For real.  So, where was I… rolling.  So yeah, he’s been rolling around like it’s his job for about a month now.  He rolled over at about five months then didn’t do it again for a few weeks then a few weeks later he started rolling around the room – just like Jack used to.  He’s a little chunky (uh, ya think, maybe 20 lbs????) so he has a hard time getting his fat legs under him to push up to crawl, so I get the sense he won’t crawl much or if so it’ll be late.  He sits up without help – which is awesome.  I’ve been working on that for a few weeks.  Starting with the bumbo, then the boppy (for a little less support), then a crash pillow, and now he’s pretty solid.  With an occasional fall, usually due to a larger force (aka Action Jackson knocking him over for fun because it’s fun to make him cry).
6. Jack is making me crazy.  I love him.  And he is so funny and fun.  But seriously.  He is making me crazy.  He has the devil in him.  The constant testing me and telling me no and the not listening and the freaking out I do on a regular basis to let him know that I’m almost crazy so you better get it together and listen to me mister or else you’ll see what crazy is all about, it’s all really making me crazy.  I do not enjoy the age of three.  The end.  I’m telling you.  The buttons have been pushed.  Oh have they been pushed my friends.  He says to me earlier today, “I’m sorry Mommy, I’m just acting like a lunatic.”  Don’t you know it.
7. So that’s about it for now.  I’ve been busy.  Sick and busy.  So I apologize for the ridiculous hiatus without explanation, until now.  Hopefully I will be back on a more regular basis.  Hope you’re all doing well!!!

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ABC’s and 123’s

So, it seems that we are back in the swing of things, here at the hacienda.  And although we have quite a bit going on to keep us busy, I am already bored and wishing for an exciting trip to look forward to.  I guess I should be looking back at a great summer, which included lots of traveling and spending lots of time with family and friends.  But instead, I’m sitting around here, cussing the continuation of our upper 90-degree late summer.  Ahh.  Supposedly there’s a break in the heat in our near future… starting tomorrow.  We’ll see.  So, I have a list.  IMAGINE THAT!

1. I have enrolled in a sewing class.  haha!  With my mother-in-law.  And I’m actually pretty fired up about it.  I am pretty creative and into any kind of artistic outlet, but I pretty much require someone to force me to get going, because I am incredibly lazy and the biggest procrastinator in the universe.  I’m excited to see if I can actually make something useful.  And continue to try to do things once the class is finished.  We’ll see.  I’ll keep you updated.
2. I’ve enrolled Jack (and I) in a toddler fitness class at the Y.  I’ve signed us up for the fall and holiday season… so I’m hoping it’s something we actually enjoy.  No, really, I think he is going to love it.  He has so much energy and loves to hang out with other kids.  So I think it’s going to be great for him.  And good for me too.  I need to get out and meet more people.  Which leads me to another topic…
3. One of my neighborhood girlfriends (one of the two), that is my age and has a son a month and a half younger than Jack, (blah blah blah… can I make a short story long or what) told us yesterday that they’re moving.  As soon as their house sells.  Oh no Mr. Bill!  Seriously people, I’m such a dope.  I was so bummed out I burst out in tears.  It’s just been so tough to meet people here – with or without children – and she is so much like me AND she has a kid my kid’s age.  Ug.  So, I’m totally bummed.  But I know she is really happy about being near her family and best friend again.  So I can’t help but be happy for her.  I know if it were me, I’d be elated.
4. VERY IMPORTANT NEWS!!  I can’t believe I didn’t tell you all this first… While on vacation in Chicago over the Labor Day weekend, Jack said his first sentence.  “No, Mama!”  That’s my boy!!  He also just started to say, “All done,” when he’s finished eating… although, I think he just says it when the food is gone.  He’s also been saying Milk, Hi, Bye Bye, and for some reason I can’t think of any other words he’s saying.  There’s several.  But he continues to be painfully stubborn and will only say things when he feels like it.  He counts.  Well, I know that’s what he’s doing and I can recognize the words two and three, but it sounds more like noises in counting fashion.  He does the same with the ABC’s…. which I actually have on video, but it’s was taped vertically so it’s sideways when I try to post it on the blog… so I just said forget it, because that is just stupid.  Nobody wants to get a crick in their neck trying to watch Jack sing his ABC’s.  It’s all just absolutely, painfully adorable and if I get a decent video of it, I’ll post it for sure.

Ok, so that’s it for the updates for now.  I had a bazillion things I wanted to share, but can’t think of them right now, and of course I didn’t make a list (like I usually do).  I do have a lengthy list of things I love for later in the week.  I’ll leave you with two photos of Jack and the neighborhood kids… the first one is from December of last year.

                     

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Jack’s First Haircut

Jack had his first haircut this week.  He was such a good boy… so brave.  Only freaked out a tad when she pulled out the clippers and I had to hold his big ole’ noggin straight.  Who ever heard of using the clippers for a first haircut? Oh, well, he survived.  And hopefully he will not be too traumatized that we can’t go back for a trim in a few weeks.  haha!  Poor kid!  But boy is the kid handsome!

Looking a little shaggy little man.

Snip snip… OOOhhh, momma look at this clippy thing, this is neat-o… snip snip.

Uh, OK, what the heck just happened here.  I was driving this nice shiney car, playing with this neat little clippy thing and the next thing I know I’m looking like Daddy!

The finished product… my big boy is so handsome, I could cry.  I can’t believe I didn’t cut that crazy hair sooner!

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You Are NOT Going to Believe This!

Jack took his first steps yesterday.  Woo Hoo!  Talk about a great birthday present, Turkey Boy!!

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The Big Birthday Bash!

    

             

  

On Saturday we had Jack’s big birthday celebration.  The party was a big hit and we all had a great time.  Jack was so cute with his cake and barely got any on his face.  Here’s a few pictures from the big day… including the cake table with the cupcakes and Jack’s enormous “smash” cake, Jack eating his cake, and the birthday boy in his slobbery outfit.  Oh, and I just had to include that picture of Auntie Robbin demonstrating a fine example of multitasking.

I’ll have more pictures later in the week of the rest of the weekend.  Toot’s came to town for Jack’s big party and we have about 785 pictures of our wild adventures! 

          

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The Day That You Were Born

Dear Jack,

Happy birthday, little boy!  One year ago today, you were brought into our lives.  And here’s the story of how it all happened…

I had had a problem-free pregnancy with you.  With the exception of hurting my back, early on in the pregnancy, while trying to vacuum the couch, with an upright vacuum.  But that’s another story… anyway, where was I… right, the pregnancy.  Great.  I craved relatively normal things, like Twizzlers, Squirt, German Chocolate Cake, and Tabasco pickles.  And salad.  Go figure.  I loved being pregnant.  You were a little turkey from the start.  “Dancing” in my belly to Johnny Cash, singing Jackson.  We decided right then, that Jackson was it for you.

On April 15th, two days before you were born, I decided at about 8pm that we needed to go to Home Depot and buy a patio set.  Pronto.  So, Daddy and I set out to Home Depot.  I remember feeling absolutely enormous (here I am, on that exact day) and waiting patiently while the Home Depot guy and Daddy loaded it up, in the car.  And I remember really, really wanting ice cream and the muscles in my belly were driving me batty… because I was having contractions.  We went to Marble Slab as soon as they were finished up.  And my belly continued to bother me throughout the night, making sleep difficult.

The next day was Easter Sunday.  I was having pretty regular contractions when we got up, but they weren’t close enough together to call the doctor.  Grandma and Grandpa Z went to Aunt Robbin’s parent’s house for dinner, but we declined a few days in advance because I had a funny feeling that you were on your way… and all I needed was to have my water break at Easter dinner.  Anyway, I made a crock-pot dinner at home and had planned to make a pie but I couldn’t because I was so uncomfortable.  By the time dinner was ready, I decided not to eat because we were pretty sure that you were on your way.

We were finally ready to go to the hospital at 9:30pm on Sunday.  When we got to the hospital I was only one centimeter dialated.  I thought they might send me home, because I still wasn’t in any pain at that point.  But they didn’t.  We waited in the triage until about 12am.  At that point, I was dialated to about three centimeters.  It was about then that I started to have a little bit of cramping.  But nothing too bad.  They decided to send us to a labor and delivery room because I had progressed so quickly. 

I hadn’t planned to have any pain medication prior to the epidural and wanted to wait as long as I could before they gave me the epidural, but my nurse was concerned about the lack of sleep I had and knew I needed some rest before I had to do the pushing.  So they gave me some Demerol.  Which made me act extremely ridiculous.  I must have told Daddy and the nurse that the Demerol was a great idea about 75 times.  Later in the night, I highly embarrassed myself, while talking to a doctor that Daddy and I referred to as Dr. McDreamy.

I got a little rest and at about 3am I got up to go to the bathroom.  I was pretty sure that my water broke, or started to, but no one believed me… and boy, was the doctor surprised when he went to check me after I got back in bed.  I didn’t see it, but I sure did hear it.  At that point my contractions really started to hurt and the demerol was no longer helping.  So they gave me an epidural.  Which didn’t take properly.  So I was in quite a bit of pain for a couple of hours, until the second epidural was in and working. 

The second epidural was fantastic.  To this day I recommend them to everyone.  You know why, because it was great.  That’s why.  Anyway, where was I?  The epidural.  Great!  I tried to get a little more rest, but had a hard time sleeping because I was so excited.

They checked me at 9:30am and I was ready to push.  We went from 7-10 centimeters so quickly that the news took me by surprise and I almost got sick and felt like I might pass out.  I was so nervous.  I started pushing around 9:45… well, we did a few practice pushes, then the doctor came in and I really started to push at 10:00am.  You were born at 10:40am.  It would have been sooner but your head was huge.  And well, I think you were being a little stubborn too.  I’m kidding.  The delivery was very easy.  I felt so good.  A couple of times the nurses told me that this was it and they’d yell “pushpushpushpush” and afterwords, when I hadn’t pushed your big head out yet, I’d say, “Oh geeze, I’m sorry, I’ll get it next time.”  I told the doctor afterwords, that if having babies was that easy, I could have 10 more.  Little did I know how difficult the recovery would be.

There was meconium in the water, so we had to have a high risk team there for your delivery to be sure that you did not accidentally breathe any of the water into your lungs.  So it was a little nerve racking after you were born because they whisked you away and I waited and waited (for seconds really) for what seemed like forever and when I didn’t hear you crying I almost started to cry.  But Daddy reassured me that you were just fine.  And when they finally handed you to me, all bundled up like a baby burrito, I cried.  Daddy cried too.  For the third time since I’d met him.  After you were born the doctor discovered a knot in your umbilical cord.  Tied loosely.  He told us we were very lucky but I didn’t give it much thought until last week.  A friend lost her baby girl in the last week of her pregnancy because of a very similar problem.  We were very lucky.

We named you Jackson Theodore Lorn.  Jackson, well, because you narrowed down our list of 24, while watching the Walk the Line DVD… Theodore is for your Dad’s Grandma Thelda and Lorn is for my Great Grandpa on my mom’s side.  Such a big name for such a sweet little thing.  And we were in love with you instantly.  Over the next several days, Daddy and I would just stand there and stare at you and cry.  You were so cute.  You kind of reminded me of Elmer Fudd, with your little hat slipping off of your head. 

Jack, I can’t imagine our world without you.  Or even really remember what it was like before you.  You are such a sweet little boy, so gentle and cute with your little friends.  And you’re so smart already.  It’s so fun to watch your little personality come out more and more each day.  I just can’t wait to see the person that you’ll grow up to be.  And to be with you along the way.  To hold your hand and help you find your way.  And to someday let go of your hand and let you do it yourself.  Just remember I’m always here for you, sweet pea.   I love you very much.  Happy First Birthday Jack.

Love,

Mom

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Jack’s First Snow!

Guess what?! We actually got that snow and rain and slush that they predicted last Thursday. But not the ice and the sleet. Not that I’m keeping track or anything. Anyway, we woke up to the most beautiful blanket of snow. Huge snowflakes gently falling. Sooo perfect. And EZ actually stayed home with Jack and I. It was a great day. I made up a recipe for pumpkin bread… because I do stuff like that sometimes. Just found a recipe for another kind of bread and improvised. Sure I could have looked it up online or in my Martha baking book… but it wouldn’t be as much fun that way. For dinner I cooked some turkey breasts in the crock pot… now that’s the way to go. And made a sweet potato/apple/cranberry casserole (winged that recipe as well). Yummy.

Snow! Ok, so now you can really tell how close my neighbor’s live to us. It’s fun. Especially around any holiday that requires fireworks… which in some parts of the south, is just about every holiday.

We went back and forth with whether or not we should go out and play because it was so cozy and warm inside. So finally we got all bundled up and went out. And as soon as we got out the door it started to rain. And continued to do so for the rest of the day. So it was a slushy mess. Luckily though it wasn’t freezing rain. We were a little concerned about losing power… that would have been no fun at all. oooohhh.

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