Monday Post

So, updates are here...
Oliver officially weighs 16 & 1/2 pounds and measures 24 1/2 inches. My big guy.
Poor Jack had strep throat. The doctor prescribed some medicine, and as soon as he said oral suspension I threw my head down. Was he not aware of Jack's aversion to liquid yuck! I reminded him about Jack's medicine puke fests and he said that until he could think of another option (remember jack is also allergic to penacillin) just to get the stuff. Sure, I'll waste 40 bucks so I can scrub my floors.
Alas, we get the meds and the cutie little dropper was not with it-awesome! So I poured the meds into a small medicine cup and got a bucket ready. I admit that I was ready to bribe Jack. Horible, but what would you do- and don't say hide the meds- my kid knows. Anyway, he asked to smell it- sure. He then took the cup and drank the whole thing down without even a cough...WHAT?!? I called Sage, and he too could not believe it. Thank you mr. azithromycin, thank you...Jack is now fit as a fiddle- of course now Ollie has a yucky cough- but I'll take what I can get.
Totally not realated but a sweet story about a conversation with Jack....
There are pictures of my father in my house. When Jack has asked who it is I debated on what to say. So I told him that he was my dad and Jack's angel. So Jack has since refered to my dad as "My Angel".
Jack also tends to ask alot of questions about my dad which I am happy to tell. Any way that I can honor his legendary status in my mind is just grand. The other day we were in the car and Jack starts asking questions:
JHT: Mommy, is my angel very nice?
ME: Yes, and he was the coolest guy ever!
JHT: Look mommy a cement mixer!
ME: Your angel worked with cement he used to build houses and bridges and all sorts of stuff.
(5 minutes later)
JHT: Look Mommy theres a ladder in that truck!
ME: uh-huh...cool.
JHT: Mommy, is my angel in that truck?
(choke)
ME: No sweetie, I wish. Your angel is sitting up high on the clouds watching you.
(Jack looks intently out the window)
JHT: But I can't see him.
ME: I know, but he's there and he's in your heart too.
JHT: Where's my heart?
ME: In here (I pat my chest) Its where you feel your love.
(I look in the rearview mirror and see Jack pressing on his chest)
JHT: Mom! I think I feel him in there!
Ok at this point I'm about to melt into a puddle of tears. But leave it to Jack to bring my spirits back up with a good laugh...
(Looking into the rearview mirror I see Jack with his hands on his throat)
JHT: Hey mom, maybe if you just break my neck my angel can come out!

I Knew It was Too Good To Be True...

This guy is sick...

Ha-Rumph! His teachers said that he was really cranky yesterday. He told me his mouth hurt so I decided to play doctor and feel his glands...swollen. Say Ah kid, yup- red spots...grrr...
The timing couldn't be better though, I have a doctor's appointment for both kids today!
And for those of you who may be betting on Jaba the Baby's weight...know that he's had about 14 oz. since he's woken up this morning. He's trying to sway the game!
I'll post an update later!

Has It Really Been 3 Months?

So here is the full body 3 month shot of Oliver. I can't believe its been 3 months already. I was going to strip him down to his diaper and take a picture, but I didn't want anyone to bang their heads trying to get close and munch on his chunkiness!

If I may indulge myself for a moment...
He is such a good boy. He has a smile that brightens up my day. He is patient and loves his big brother. He goes to bed by 8:30 and doesn't wake up until at least 7 (gloat!)...I am truly lucky. I love to bend over him and kiss his fat cheeks. He will now grab my face when I'm doing this and let out his lovey noises. It makes my heart melt. He is just happy to be. He is strong and God knows he's healthy. He also now enjoys this:

My favorite part about the exersaucer is when Jack says... "Mom, I'm going to go play with Oliver James now!" He goes and pushes all the buttons for his little brother and spins him around (maybe too fast sometimes) Jack will dance to the music for his brother...and Ollie just eats it all up.
Sometimes, when Jack and I are talking, Ollie will just stare at Jack and smile. The connection is already there and it is the most amazing feeling...Ollie knows his family.
This last picture is my favorite...It's not well taken, its a candid after some posed funny pictures, but it makes me feel something that I can't even put into words. I'll stop talking about it now and let you all just feel maybe what I feel when I look at this:

...my heart...

Some Pics

My mom needs to figure something out all...

Love Affair

I hate stuffed animals. I always remember hating stuffed animals.
In fourth grade we had a gift exchange for Christmas. Everyone was supposed to bring a gift that would be good for a boy or a girl. I brought this cool art set. Anywhoo, we all sat in a large circle on the floor holding our wrapped gifts. The teacher read the story "The Night Before Christmas" and every time she said the word "the" we had to pass what was in our hands to the right. About half way through I felt it. The wrapping crinkled in my hands as I squished. I thought to myself: "What 4th grader wants a stuffed animal?"...Claire, she brought this in. She loves stuffed animals. Damn Claire (raise both fists and shake here). The next "the" couldn't come soon enough. It actually seemed like I might even end up with my own gift. Fantastic! The teacher must have had the same sense because we awere almost done the story and she told us to start passing the gifts the opposite way. NO! The non-descript stuffed present was making its way back towards me! So that you are no longer in suspense, yes, I got the stuffed animal. I don't remember what it was, probably a bear with a santa hat or something, but I got it. Its hard to act like you like something when your 10. I do remeber being so pissed as I looked at everyone else. It was the only stuffed animal, and I got it. Merry bleeping Christmas! That being said........
Blog-world meet Batty...Batty- blog-world

If you have ever met Jack you have most likely met Batty. For they are one soul in one body and a pile of fluff-n-stitch.
It was October and Jack's first Halloween. Our mailman frequents the local crane machine during his routes. I guess he enjoys it, that and at the time he had 3 daughters of his own. He won the bat and thought it would be nice to give to Jack.
Let me say that by being a stay at home mom, getting the mail is somewhat of a highlight. That plus the fact that Jack & I were always outside cemented a friendship with our mailman- Jon.
Back on track, I smiled and took the bat and handed it to Jack. I was sure it was going to end up in the pile of stuffed creatures that one accumulated when they have their first child. Jack had so many. But there was only one bat...it started as a mutual attraction and quickly turn into love. Serious love, like the kind you have in 10th grade and stuff and nothing is more important and nobody understands your love....get it?
But there is something more important than mere Batty himself...meet Batty tag....

The ratty piece of string is the original Batty tag. He holds it to his face as he sucks his thumb. Double whammy right? He puts this tag on his boo-boos to make them well again. This tag the holy host for my kid (sorry mom). This tag is also on its way out.
The dear mailman, seeing Batty's state has won 2 other identical bats for Jack. No go. He likes them, but they are not Batty. One is "Daddy Batty" and the other is "Fatty Batty"...yup thats right, he never said it was me, but what am I supposed to think in my fragile state!?!?!
This bat has been sewn up more than Frankenstein's monster- especially the tag. So, I, praying for a miracle, cut the tag off of one of the other bats and sewed it onto the Batty. My hope is that when the original has passed on that the newer one will be just worn enough to pass.
I fear the loss of the original. I also fear the fact that the tag says "Well made in China"...my kid could be breathing in lead fumes as we speak...Pray for Batty tag people...his days are numbered...I'm holding a vigil now and am prepared to sit shiva in the event of...I can't say it anymore...

Thumbsucker!

I win.
The other day Ollie found his thumb. Some parents use a bink- some get by with nothing (how?!?). We are thumb people, and Ollie found his.
Which means...
The past 2 nights he has slept from about 8:30 PM to 6:30-7 AM.
Suck on that.
Have great weekend.

Boobs

Boobs. I hate my boobs.
I've always had a love hate relationship with my orbs. Right now we are in a hate phase.
I remember when I got boobs. Over one summer, between 6th and 7th grade I went from the dreaded puffy nipple stage to a C cup. Great right? Not so much. I was one of the few girls at my co-ed grade school who came out so fully. There were a few problems. First, I did not have knowledge of fully supportive bras. Mine were more of the stretchy white fabric kind-no underwire. So when I moved I looked like I was carrying a tray of jello jigglers. The other problem was the boys. Once a guy asked if I wanted to play "poker"...ok...not smart- there were no cards involved. My initial reaction was to bitch slap him...which I did. Kids at that age also thought that if a girl had big boobs she was using them in dirty ways. They assumed that I had already "done stuff" since the arrival of the twins...stupid boys.
Over the course of high school I gained a small bit of respect for my ladies, but it wasn't until college until I fully appreciated them. Between the ages of 20-23 I loved my boobs. They were my big bouyant friends. Trashy as it sounds I knew that if I was at a crowded bar I could lean and get some quick service. If you got 'em right?- Don't judge me.
Now, as in post baby, I hate my boobs once more. I know that they are supposed to be a wonderful connection- yada yada, but my damn nursing bra is a G...thats right the
7th letter of the alphabet.
Now that I'm back to the gym it gets even worse. I wear a bra plus 2 sportsbras and I'm still making a milkshake everytime I move. In class today we were doing quick runs...you know, where you run really fast in place. YOu can make your own visual, but it wasn't pretty.
I know the grass is always greener...but a world where bra indents aren't there seems like the best place to me. I can't wait until I win the powerball...I'm going to have a nice perky B....

Party Like Its 1999!

So I've been struggling with what to write about in here lately. I know that I could goon and on about the daily happenings of Jack and his brother Oliver but I would like to digress to another time.
A friend wrote a note to me the other day wishing about summer and going down the shore. That made me think of the many long weekends spent in Sea Isle when I was in college. S.L. had this fabu home in Sea Isle and twice a year we would have "October Fest" and "Spring Fling"...so much fun.
The weekend would cost between 60-80 dollars. Why you ask? Well Mr. S.L. and company would get much desired beverages (since I hate beer, I could always depend on there being some delish coolers) and some killer food...oh yes the food! I was never a big fan of steaks, but my Lord, he would marinate these puppies and grill them up...me? hungry-NOW! There was also a rule. The Saturday night dinner was a formal affair. We would all pull ourselves together on saturday afternoon putting on dresses and suits to sit down to eat. There was a fish course and the steak course. The other thing was that you had to serve your friends. If you would be eating fish, then you served the steak meal and vice versa.
On Sunday anyone who was cool would stay to help and clean the house and leave a note for MRS. L. in her shore book.
These weekends were so fantastic- filled with boat races, drama and so much more. I still remember one of the last times I was there- Sage, Yos and I drove down and I can remember listening to Bon Jovi as we closed in on the house...
So anyway here is a pic I found of me and Sage from one of those parties. this one dates to 1999. No we were not dating at this point(not for another 2 or so years), and yes we are flagged...

Keg Stand Anyone?

Things got out of hand during Ollie & Sebastian's playdate today...

Tummy Time

This video may not be the most interesting to you. Its a minute of Oliie doing tummy time. Please excuse my annonying "mommy voice".
Personally, I am just impressed by my son's ability to lift his chubby cheeks off the ground!
Enjoy!

Welcome to the Isle of Sodor

So we had Jack's party this weekend. The past 2 parties were huge blowouts with tons of friends and family. This year we cut way back and had a small family party. Jack was thrilled to bits though because of what Sage made for him. He spent months on this...



The lid of the table can be put on and look like a normal coffe table. On the flip side Sage made a chalk board, and inside, well you can see the world he created.
Jack wouldn't stand still even for a picture...



He could hardly muster words. He just wanted to play. Later at the party he received all of the trains he so wished for. He wanted to bring them to the table as fast as he could. He didn't want to do cake.WHAT?!? Oh, no...I spent a good bit of my evening crafting this cake, therewas no way I was not going to stick a candle in it and sing.



We ended up bringing the cake to him and singing. He liked it, I guess. He pulled out a sweedish fish, said "mmm" and moved onto buisness. The rest of the weekend was Jack waking up at 6:30 and going right down to his playroom. He doesn't want to eat, sleep, anything! Just play...as t should be when you're 3!