Giggles With Daddy

Nothing is more rewarding than finding a new way to get a giggle out of little Luke. This video shows Luke's reaction to a simple game of peek-a-boo.

My Lens is Back!

A couple of weeks ago, my favorite lens stopped focusing. It made me VERY sad. I pretty much stopped taking pictures. It made me that sad. The other night, I saw John get out his tiny screwdrivers and soon my lens was in fifty pieces. When I woke up the next morning, my lens was back in one piece and focusing. Today I took a bunch of pictures. Having my lens back made me that happy. Thanks, John. 

A Trip Downtown

This morning we went to downtown Nashville, and Jack enjoyed seeing a few of his favorite things. We watched buses run their routes, trains from the Demonbreun Street bridge, and a digger and dumptruck at work.

Catching Up

I haven't been very good about posting pictures on the blog the last week or two. Here's what we've been doing in pictures.

Playing in the Sandbox

A Bike Ride in Crocket Park Last Weekend

Giving His Little People a Bath

Hanging Out with Our Little People

Tummy Time

Meeting Minnesota Friends at Arrington Vineyard

Teething

It's the End of the World as We Knew It

Wednesday night was the end of life as we knew it for the last 26 months. Jack decided to start climbing out of his crib at night with his sleep sack on. I knew that he could do it without his sleep sack, and he's done it many times during the day, but he upped his game Wednesday night. So, after a miserable, frustrating, and painful night in which Jack got out of bed a couple times at bedtime and many times at 2:00 am and in which I ended up with a knot on my forehead from things that go bump in the night, I got out my toolbox on Thursday morning. Jack's crib went to Luke's room, and Luke's crib was converted to a toddler bed for Jack. 

Our first day was pretty painful, but here we are on day two and things are already settling down. (I knocked on wood the instant my ring finger tapped the period key on my laptop.) As long as I'm willing to keep his door open, Jack seems willing to stay in bed. He's fallen asleep with ease at naptime and nighttime today! 

It's hard to believe that the tiny baby I put in that crib 26 months ago is gone, replaced by a smiling, giggling, easy-to-love monkey. What's even harder to consider is that in 22 months I'll be in the same disbelief regarding Luke's move to the toddler bed. Kids grow up way too fast.

Under the Eaves

Tucked under the eaves in Marion and Jane's attic was a box that I am really excited was rediscovered. Tiny baby booties, soft sweaters, favorite t-shirts, Indian costumes, teddy bears, baby blankets, and other sentimental keepsakes were stashed away for safe keeping. Luke and Jack have some fun vintage pieces in their wardrobes now. I was nearly giddy as I sorted through the keepsakes and picked out my favorites for the boys. How special that the box made it through all those moves the Seatons have made. Trust me, this sentimental mama will have her own box tucked under her eaves waiting to be rediscovered too.

Language Acquisition

Listening to a toddler learn the English language is funny business. (Ha ha funny, Jane, not peculiar funny.) John and I have had our share of exchanged glances and smirks and even some outright laughter as Jack is learning. Here are a few of the funny ones that have made us laugh lately.

1. "That's a dirty chip!"- The other night was taco night. We ate the last few Tostitos before moving on to the new bag of Doritos. I asked Jack if he'd like to try a Dorito. As I handed it to him, he yelled, "That's a dirty chip, Mama!"

2. "Mama, I need ou!" No explanation required unless you need ou translated to you.

3. "Nakey-boy Mama"- The other day while Jack was napping I decided to jump in the shower. Of course he was yelling for me by the time I got out. I quickly wrapped a towel around myself and headed to his room before he woke Luke. As soon as he saw what I was wearing, he said, "Nakey-boy Mama!"

4. "Look at the turkeys, Mama!"- When you first read this you think there's nothing funny about it, but if you heard Jack say it you'd laugh for certain. Look sounds like a curse word that starts with f when it comes from my sweet boy's mouth.

Little goofs, misconceptions, and his perceptions tickle my funny bone, so I'll try to keep track of them and do another post soon. I do not want to forget these moments.

9:14

For weeks, make that years, John has been talking about taking his sons camping. With spring's arrival, John asked me if I thought Jack was ready for his first trip. I suggested they try sleeping with the tent in the backyard first just in case Jack wouldn't sleep. At 8:00, the boys zipped themselves into their home away from home (sort of). Unbeknownst to them I cracked my bedroom window a little bit so I could hear how their night was going. Jack talked, and talked, and talked, and talked.... I could go on, but I won't. I heard, "What's that?" at least a hundred times. I also heard a whole lot of, "Jack, be quiet and go to sleep or we'll have to go inside." The words I didn't hear that sent the boys in at 9:14 were, "Daddy, I'm tired. Let's go to bed." I guess he's a little young for camping.

Brotherly Love

Grrr... I'm a Bear!

Not all of the photos taken this weekend were of booger pickin'. We actually got a couple of sweet ones of Luke. Jack is seriously difficult to photograph right now. He doesn't know how to stand still, and he has an aversion to the camera these days. I hear something like, "NO TAKE PICTURE!" every time I get my camera out. Luckily, Luke is a more willing subject. 

A sweet little smile at Jack who was riding his motorcycle FAST. 

Oh how I love that pouty little lip!

Oh, Lukey...

Oh, Lukey, there are so many things to love about you. I'm going to take this opportunity to write a few. 

1. I love the way your ears stick out a little bit.

2. I love that you giggle when I talk to you as if I'm the funniest person you know.

3. I love when you nestle in close and rub your head against my shoulder.

4. I love seeing you with your feet up in the air while your hands play with your toes.

5. I love when your screams sound just like I imagine a velociraptor sounding. 

6. I love that you've starting talking to me. "Goo!"

7. I love how you try to put your pacifier back in your mouth like you're a big kid.
8. I love that you squeal at the words Tick Tock because you know I'm going to do the song and dance with you.
9. I love how you watch your brother and give him your biggest smiles.
10. I love to watch you in the bathtub- kicking, squealing, and having so much fun.

Oh, Lukey, I love you!

John, All I Want for my Birthday is...

I told John that all I really wanted for my birthday was a sweet picture of me with the boys. This is what I got. Ha! This is quite possibly the worst photo EVER taken. No offense, John. Seriously, it's like that picture that you don't ever want anyone to see, and here I am putting it right out there in cyberworld. Sorry, Jack. 

A little better, but not much. 

We gave up, and John handed the camera over to me. Luckily, I took a couple photos that made the time it took me to download the photos onto my computer worthwhile. 

Happy birthday, Mom. Here's a booger. 

Best Birthday

When you're young, you count down the days before your birthday. At least I did. Since I've gotten older, birthdays have become just another day. Until this year. This year John went all out.

He coordinated a birthday brunch with his family. Brunch was a perfect idea because a) it's my favorite meal of the day. b) my youngest is happiest in the morning. Jane made a yummy, yummy meal AND sent home a carrot cake for after dinner. I felt bad that everyone didn't get to enjoy it because it was fabulous.

He bought cards from both himself and the boys. And he wrote the sweetest message in the card from him. He knows those handwritten notes are my favorite part!

And we just spent the afternoon together, our family of four. We didn't have somewhere we had to be or something we had to do. Those kinds of days are my favorite.

And to top it off, I got to listen to Jack sing happy birthday to me. This was seriously the best birthday I've had since my skating party in fourth grade. It was almost good enough to make me look forward to my next one. The icing on the cake would be if Luke decided his gift to me was going to be a night of uninterrupted sleep.



A+

In true teacher fashion, today was assessment Friday. Jack earned an A+ on his very first quiz. I cannot begin to explain how much fun it was having preschool with Jack this week. He enjoyed it so much, and so did I. Tonight I was reading a book to Jack about school buses. (Next week is B week you know!) John asked Jack what the kids do at school. His answer was, "Make cookies!" John and I exchanged a quick grin over Jack's head and agreed with him that kids definitely make cookies at school. They also cut A's out of playdough and make alligator crafts and put together floor puzzles and stamp and read books. All fun stuff!



Baby Spanx

Luke had his 4 month doctor's appointment today. He weighs 17 lbs, 6 oz and is 25 1/2 inches long. We may need to invest in some Baby Spanx.

In all seriousness, the doctor said he looks very healthy. We talked about tough love in the bottle category (I want him to take one. He doesn't think it's necessary.) and in the sleep category (I think he should sleep. He doesn't think it's necessary.). Other than that it was some shots, some cuddling with Mommy, and some shut eye in the car on the way home.

First Day of School

Jack has been suffering from a major case of school envy. Almost every day he asks me if Ross and Brylie are at school. Now, I know that Jack has absolutely no idea what school is, but he does know that his friends go and he doesn't. So a couple of weeks ago I decided that Jack was going to start going to school, but that he would be going at home and the curriculum was going to be the alphabet. 

The teacher in me has resurfaced. I've actually written lesson plans for this week even though they didn't have to be turned into the principal. I've gathered materials, spending my own money like teachers know they do all of the time. I've worked tirelessly in the evenings after the boys have gone to bed, been there done that a thousand times. I've even told John that I want to negotiate my contract before legislation changes. It all paid off even before "school" started. When I went in to get Jack after his nap, I asked him if he wanted to go to school. The smile on his face stretched from one ear to the other. And like I said, that was even before school started. 

We made letter A cookies. What two year old wouldn't think that school is the most magical place on earth after making cookies on the first day? 

One of my former co-workers gave me a lot of really good ideas. She also tole me not to expect Jack to get it right away. She said, "One day, you'll be driving along and he'll go "Mama, there's Grandma's G!!" and point to a sign and you'll know it's working!"  So, Jack and I are just going to keep baking, reading, crafting, and playing until that day comes. 

Luke- 4 Months

Our youngest is four months old today. Luke has changed so much this month. I feel like he is no longer in that newborn stage. His personality is starting to shine through, and it's a wonderful one! He smiles and giggles at anyone who will stop and chat with him. If I could just sit and talk to him the entire day, he would never fuss. 

Luke loves little ditties and rhymes. He gets especially excited when we do the cuckoo clock song and dance. He'll pay some attention to toys, but really he'd rather interact with me, Jack, or Daddy. He's an extremely social baby, and he wants to see everything. He's very interested in his fingers and toes. For that reason, diaper changes are his favorite times of the day because he can finally get at those toes that Mom has been hiding beneath his socks. He rolls from his back to his belly with ease and often. It's funny because he gets stuck on his belly and has to yell to get a little help. Within 30 seconds of rescue, he's done it again and needs some more help. He likes to sit in his Bumbo seat because he can see what's going on around the house. Really, he just wants to keep tabs on Mommy 24 hours a day. :-)

He's on a predictable schedule which pleases his mom. He's my alarm clock each morning at 0600. It's back to bed sometime between 0830 and 0900 for a little catnap. He takes his longest nap around 1230 when he can sleep with me. The afternoons that he manages a little catnap are his happiest days, but that doesn't happen as often as I would like. I start his bedtime routine around 1830, and he's generally asleep by 1900. I never know what to expect from the night. Some nights he sleeps through the night. Other nights he's up once or twice. 

The little booger absolutely refuses to eat from a bottle. Grandma, Sarah, and I have all tried coaxing him into giving it a try, but it just infuriates him like nothing else can. I wish I had ignored the lactation consultant's advice about not giving him a bottle or a pacifier the first month. I feel as if I missed my window of opportunity. 

I take Luke to his four month doctor's appointment on Tuesday. I'll be sure to update with weights and other measurements then.

All Boy

You know how people say, "He's all boy." I think this is what they are talking about.

Toes

Sometime in the last week or so, Luke found his toes. He finds them nearly as entertaining as he does his fingers.