Happy half birthday!

Dear Jack,

 

Happy half birthday to our sweet big boy! You are such a joy to be around, Buddy, always so happy and smiley. You have the most easy-going personality, bothered by very little. You sit up so well now, making play time a lot more fun for you. When you do topple over, you immediately flip to your belly and start turning in circles or scooting backwards. You are quite a busy little guy, always moving! In fact, you won't even stop moving for diaper changes; you wiggle all over the place! You've grown so big and strong that you are almost able to wiggle yourself away from us. You are currently 20 lbs 8 oz & 28.75 inches, putting you at the top of all the growth charts (yet surprisingly our smallest 6 month old - your sister was 3 lbs heavier at this age!) Here's what has been making you happy (and ever-so-rarely sad) lately:

 

Favorites

Puffs - You had your first puffs this month and it was love at first bite! You get so, so excited when we bring the puffs container over to you and promptly open your mouth. You quickly learned how to move it around in your mouth with your tongue and mash it up with your gums (you still have no teeth in there!)

Peek-a-boo - We love playing games with you, and peek-a-boo is your favorite. Your brother and sister are really good at this one. They love to see you smile and jump when they say "peek-a-boo!"

Plastic bags - You love the crinkly sound a plastic bag makes when you touch it. When you get your hands on one, you usually shake it around wildly to make lots of noise. You especially like to play with the little bag the wipes come in.

Daddy - You and Daddy are finally becoming buddies! He can feed you (meals & bottles), put you to sleep, and keep you happy for long periods of time. You two make great playmates, too. He can get you to laugh and babble better than anybody!

 

Not-so-favorites

Strangers - You burst into tears whenever anyone even slightly unfamiliar gets close to you. There is a very small group of people that you will go to these days, and everybody else gets big ol' crocodile tears out of you. Poor unsuspecting strangers will try to talk to you while we're out and about, and they always feel so bad when you start screaming. Mommy's new most-used phrase is "Don't take it personally."

Long naps - You have perfected the 30 minute nap, but that's about all we get out of you. You take a morning and afternoon nap, with the occasional evening nap depending on how the day has gone. None are more than 30 minutes though. Your best shot at a longer nap is on preschool mornings when the big kids are gone & it's quiet.

Having your face wiped - Your favorite thing to do while we feed you in stick your hands in your mouth. Then you put those messy hands all over the place, requiring quite a wipe down when the meal is done. This really displeases you!

 

You just seem like such a big boy to us now. On top of nursing 5 times a day, you're eating 2 meals of baby food. We've just been given the green light to add a 3rd meal and some real table foods to your diet, which we think you'll adore. As has been the case since the day you were born, you don't turn down any food we offer you. You've gobbled up every fruit and vegetable we've offered without hesitation. Your digestive system is much better now that you're eating cereal & some real food, which is awesome for all of us! It's helping you sleep much better. You're no longer nursing at night, so we're getting some nice long stretches of sleep in there.

 

You are just the cutest little thing. You have this fuzzy hair that sticks straight up. And your blue eyes, paired with those long Reeder eyelashes, are just killer. You are going to be a heart-breaker, for sure. We love you tons, Jack-Jack!

 

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Five.

Dear Jack,

5 months old already? Good grief! You are like a completely different baby now! You suddenly seem so old to us - a newborn no more! That's probably because you're doing so many Big Boy things now! Most notably, you're eating solid food. We introduced you to baby oatmeal this month, and it was love at first bite. It didn't take more than 2 or 3 attempts for you to completely get the hang of moving the food to the back of your mouth. And you gobble it up fast! While it has significantly helped your digestive system, it hasn't improved your sleep yet. Full belly or not, you're still waking a couple times a night. You're taking fewer naps, down to about 2-3 short naps and 1 longer nap a day. You bring everything you can get your hands on to your mouth. Though none have popped through yet, you are definitely teething - so much drool! Here's what is peaking your interests this month:

Favorites
Mirrors - You just love to look at that beautiful face of yours in a mirror. Though we're pretty certain you have no clue that the boy looking back at you is actually you, you appreciate his smiling face. You also love it when Mommy or Daddy is smiling at you in the mirror, too (and you don't seem to be jealous that we're holding another baby!)
Your Pacifiers - You are still a pappy addict! You are instantly soothed by a pacifier, which is an awesome tool for us to have in our arsenal. Sometimes, all it takes is a pappy and a snuggle with Mommy to get you to sleep within seconds. You've started playing with it now, too, grabbing it with your hands and chewing on the hard plastic. You can fall asleep without it if you're tired enough (unlike your siblings - they never could), but you are certainly comforted by it most of the time!
Splashing - You're just now starting to enjoy bath time. You splash around like crazy with the most serious face, like you're trying to understand what exactly is going on. You splash so much that the entire kitchen is soaked by the time we're done. Because of this, and the fact that you've grown so big, you took your last kitchen sink bath this week! On to the little blue bathtub now!
The Wheels on the Bus - This is definitely your favorite song. Mommy sings it over and over again, all day long. You often fall asleep to "The people on the bus go bumpety-bump..."
Technology - You are already fascinated with technology! If a remote control or cell phone is nearby, your eyes lock onto it and you start reaching for it. You must have it! We know it's only a matter of time before we have to start hiding them from you.

Not-so-favorites
Strangers - Oh boy, stranger danger is in full effect! If you aren't in a really happy mood, you want nothing to do with strangers talking to you! Outside of Mommy, Daddy, and a few token family members, you are already very uncertain of others and make it known when they get near.
Getting into your car seat - You do not like being buckled into your car seat one bit! About 75% of the time, you start to cry when we set you in there. You're so smart that you just know it means you won't be held for a while. That being said, about 90% of the time, you're completely calm by the time we snap your seat into the car and remain that way wherever we're going. You stare at your sister in the back seat, gaze out the window, and play with the toys dangling from your car seat.  

Another huge milestone you've hit this month is sitting up unassisted. You can sit up without toppling over for a minute or two if you have something to play with. This has opened up a whole new world to you. We brought up some of the baby toys from the basement, like the stacking rings, for you to play with now that you're upright. If your toys get out of reach, you stretch so far forward to get them. You're also rolling both ways constantly and even starting to scoot yourself backwards a little bit. You're just such a busy little man now!

Jack-Jack, we just love you to pieces. Your smile is the absolute best; it makes even the hardest days melt into blissful ones. You are such a perfect little boy and we just love to watch you grow!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Sentences Only Parents Say.

I think every parent remembers the feeling they had when they first uttered a sentence they never in a million years thought would come out of their mouth. I remember it. I don't exactly remember what it was, but I remember an overwhelming feeling of "Wow, I am officially a parent. My childless self would have never had any imaginable reason to say that sentence."

Well now it happens on an almost-daily basis. I hardly flinch when it happens anymore, but sometimes it is just so ridiculous that it's hard for me to even believe. So I started writing down some of my favorites.

Without further ado, here is my first installment of Sentences Only Parents Say:

"Honey, your back is attached to you so it's always touching you."

"You may not kiss your brother's butt. We only kiss lips, cheeks, & sometimes hands."

"You don't give shots on peoples' faces!"

"Buddy, don't lick your sister's nose."

"Stop kissing the wall! That's gross...and really weird."

"Babe, they don't put pepper in gummies. Sugar? Yes. Pepper? No."

"No licking belly buttons."

"Don't hit the baby with the bobblehead."

"You can like the baby. You may not lick the baby."

"We don't stand on the couch and we certainly don't stand on our sister."

"Your feet aren't exactly clean so please don't put your string cheese stick between your toes."

"Do not eat the noodles that are stuck to your Skyline chair!"

(Upon further review of these, I've determined that I really need to just staple Joe's mouth shut. I'm shuddering remembering some of these situations.)

Joe is 3!

Our very rambunctious, loud, silly, empathetic, and sweet boy is 3 today! He's equal parts adorable and insane. He has more energy than we realized was possible for such a tiny human. Two was a very tough age for us with this guy - he's just too busy to stop what he's doing to listen to us. But it was also so completely awesome. He talks non-stop and has hilarious things to say. His vocabulary is that of someone much older, especially for a boy. He is so smart, much smarter than we give him credit for (poor 2nd child...) He has the most infectious giggle and a very high-pitched screech. He is the epitome of the expression "full of life".

I can't wait to see what this coming year has in store for him. Between potty training and preschool, he's almost completely transformed into a Big Boy. It's going to be fun to watch, that's for sure. Love this crazy boy to pieces!

Joe's Birthday Interview: Year 3
1. What is your favorite animal? A doggy. (This is a lie, he's afraid of dogs. He's big on the giraffes at the zoo.)
2. What is your favorite food? Bagels.
3. What is your favorite show? Scooby Doo. (He's seen it twice. He's not allowed to watch it anymore because we really don't need scary ghosts to be yet another reason he doesn't sleep at night.)
4. What is your favorite color? Red.
5. Who is your best friend? Owen & Molly.
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Super Why cereal! (Alphabits, with Super Why characters on the box.)
7. What is your favorite restaurant? Skyline.
8. What is your favorite book? Superman.
9. What is your favorite song? Buzz & Woody (You've Got a Friend In Me) and the Bear Hunt song.
10. What is your favorite toy? My planes and my Buzz Lightyear.
11. What is your favorite snack? Chocolate bears. (Teddy Grahams)
12. What do you like to sleep with at night? My puppy doggy and my duck.
13. What kind of birthday party are you going to have? A Lego one!

Four months old.

Dear Jack,

Well, kiddo, at 4 months old, we’ve officially reached the playful stage! You are such a spirited little guy who just loves to play. You’re finally at a point where you’re happy to play independently for quite a while, and we have lots of different places for you to be entertained so you don’t get bored. You were introduced to the exersaucer this month and you’re just so intrigued by all of the sights and sounds on it. You still enjoy your swing and bouncer, but you’re getting pretty close to being too big for them (how is that possible already?) One pretty exciting development that has seriously changed your playtime is that you learned to roll from your back to your belly this month! You started out the month rolling over onto your side, & within the last week or so you’ve turned that roll into a complete flip. Here are some of the things that thrill you (and a few that upset you) this month:

Favorites

Eating your hands - Those hands of yours spend so much time in your mouth. And I do mean hands, plural. It’s not uncommon for you to have 5 or 6 fingers in your mouth at one time. 

Tummy time on Mommy - One of your favorite “games” to play with Mommy is tummy time on top of me. You lay on my stomach and push up on my chest with your hands. You usually manage to push & kick your way up so that your face is right next to mine. Even though I often get spit up on, I don’t mind the opportunity for extra kisses! Your brother and sister beg me to let you have tummy time on them, too!

The Noble Duke of York - This song (and the accompanying motions) is one of the ways to get the biggest smile out of you. You really love bouncing up and down on our legs!

Brooke - You still have a deep love for that big sister of yours. She gets so many smiles out of you! She has learned to be very gentle with you (most of the time) and can cheer you up when you’re fussy. She’s even managed to put you to sleep a time or two!

Pulling Hair - Jack, this is one pasttime that is not very enjoyable for your long-haired mother & sister! You are such a hair-puller. You grab on for dear life and won’t let go. At any given time, you can usually find a strand or 2 of long blonde hair in your fist. Mommy is living with my hair up in a bun these days, thanks to you.

Mommy - What a Mama’s Boy you are becoming! Now that you are so much more aware of what’s going on, you totally understand who your food supply is and who will provide the most comfort to you.

 

Not-so-Favorites

Belly time in your crib - Thanks to your fairly recent ability to flip to your belly, you’ve become a belly sleeper. You seem to sleep a tiny bit better because of it, but boy do you get mad when you wake up!

Having your eyes wiped - Your tear ducts are still blocked so you live with green goop around your eyes. We probably wipe them 30 times a day and you’re not a very big fan.

Anyone other than Mommy - See above. If you’re even the least bit crabby and you can see or hear Mommy, you must have me. You’ll just stare at me with those big (still blue!) eyes and whine until I take you. It’s very pathetic, and yet, I fall for it every time.

 

It’s so crazy how fast this summer with you has gone. Even your sister noticed, telling us the other day, “Wow, Jack sure did get big quick!” At around 18 lbs, you’re just about to make the jump up to size 3 diapers and size 9M clothes. You’re getting really strong, too. You are already trying to sit up when we lay you down, lifting your neck and shoulders off the ground. Before we know it, you’ll be sitting in the high chair, eating solids, and cutting teeth (which has to be happening sooner than later with the amount of drool exiting your mouth on a daily basis.)

 

We are so smitten with you, Jackaroni & Cheese! (You’ve acquired quite a few nicknames lately, including Jackeroo and Jack-Attack, but this silly one is a family fave!) Love you!

 

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

One quarter.

 

Dear Jack,

 

Three months old already? Holy cow, buddy! What a fun month it has been! You keep getting bigger and stronger. You're still in size 6 month clothes, but fit just fine in some of your brother's hand-me-down 9 month sleepers. You've hit so many milestones this month that it's been hard to keep track! You rolled over for the first time this week, from belly to back. It wasn't just a fluke - you did it multiple times over a few days. Mommy shrieked when she saw you do it the first time; so very proud of our big, big boy! We also heard the first genuine laughs from you this month. You're a very ticklish little guy, and the laughs are just the cutest! And you're sleeping through the night more than half of the time, which is just pure heaven. Here's what has been peaking your interests this month:

 

Favorites

Your Hands - How convenient for all of us that your favorite playthings are your hands! Any chance you get, you put those hands in your mouth.

Daddy - You & Daddy are finally good buddies! You love to have little chats and you give him gigantic gummy smiles. Daddy is usually the bottle-giver when you need to have one, and you always take it from him without a fight. He is also having more and more success getting you to sleep lately, which gives Mommy more flexibility at night. It won't be long before you two are playing basketball and wrestling on the floor.

Hanging Toys - Since you don't quite have the hand strength to hold toys yet, toys that hang from various contraptions that you can try to grab are your jam. You enjoy laying on your play mat, kicking your feet and reaching up for the butterfly that hangs down and plays music. We have a bouncy seat that sits in the middle of the kitchen floor that is our go-to for you when we need to cook dinner or make breakfast for your siblings. You usually tolerate it for a good 10-15 mins before needing a change in scenery. You love to swat at the bugs that dangle down and try to pull them to your mouth. We also have toys that dangle from your car seat to help entertain you in the car. You love them all, especially the ones that hang low enough for you to pull them to your mouth!

Being Tickled - You are just now getting ticklish and absolutely love it. While your feet are slightly ticklish, the biggest laughs we get are when we tickle you up by your neck.

Standing - You have been a very strong boy from Day 1, so it's no surprise to us that you love to hold our hands and practice standing already.

 

Not-so-favorites

Getting Dressed - You are not a fan of getting dressed! Mommy thinks maybe you're scared when the shirt goes over your head. Or maybe we go too slow and you just don't like being put down for that long. Whatever is the case, you start fussing the minute we lay you down to change you.

Being Startled - You start crying if something startles you. And living with a very loud and rambunctious brother, you are startled often. Because you're not really old enough to understand that an approaching noise means someone is coming closer, Joe often scares you when he suddenly pops around a corner or stands over top of you while you're playing on the floor. We're trying very hard to teach him how to approach you more slowly.

Belly Pain - Your digestive system has gone on strike; you only poop once every 5-7 days these days. And none of us are super happy about this - it breaks our hearts to watch you struggle through the gas pains.

 

All in all, you're such a happy guy! Your coos absolutely melt our hearts and your smile is infectious. It's impossible to be grumpy around our joyful boy! Now that you are developing a little personality, we are just so excited to see how you will fit into our family. Will you be our calm, level-headed child (we don't have one of those yet...) or will you follow suit and be as passionate and stubborn as your siblings? One thing is for sure: you'll be loved harder than you could ever imagine!

 

We love you, sweet boy!

 

Love,

Mommy & Daddy 

 

Right now.

10 random facts about us right now:

1. Joe stayed dry in Big Boy underwear from breakfast until lunch today. This is a BIG DEAL. Of course, it only happened because I set my phone alarm to force him to try to go every 45 minutes. Otherwise it never would have happened - he has yet to go potty without being prompted to go. The potty training for this child is very slowly wearing me down; I'm gonna have a breakdown soon.
2. Jack rolled over for the first time today! He went from belly to back 3 separate times. He's becoming such a big boy!
3. Brooke's favorite thing to play these days is "cooking show". She's obsessed with the Food Network, and she has taken this obsession into the playroom with her. The husband and I are often asked to be the judges for her as she plays Chopped (a cooking competition show on FN). She presents her dish exactly as they do on TV: "Today I have made for you cream cheese soup and a spicy raspberry pizza topped with a cinnamon salad." Not surprising, she always wins the competition (though we are pretty tough judges.)
4. I really really really really really really really need a vacation. (I keep saying it out loud like some kind of Vacation Fairy is going to come whisk me away to a beach.)
5. The husband is just a few weeks away from graduating from grad school, & I could not be more excited for him. He's been busting his ass for 2.5 years, spending many weekends and vacation days working on projects and homework. The kids and I are thrilled to be getting him back full-time!
6. Jack is super ticklish and it's completely adorable. He has the same silent laugh his big brother used to have. It's far cuter than I can even describe.
7. Brooke is killing it with her reading lately! She can read so much more than we give her credit for. I love seeing how proud of herself she is. We really can't get anything past her anymore. Gone are the days of spelling things to each other so the kids don't know what we're talking about!
8. Joe doesn't ever stop talking. Ever. I'm serious, ever. He talks from the moment he wakes up until the moment he falls asleep. I've never in my life met a boy that talks so much. Someone once asked me if I had a word quota I had to hit every day because I talked so much - this little boy's quota is triple mine. Like mother like son, I guess.
9. Brooke & Joe were recently given kiddie umbrellas. They got to use them for the first time today, and it was single-handedly the best 30 seconds of their day, if not their week.
10. I'm way more overwhelmed by 3 kids than I expected to be. Not physically, but mentally/emotionally. By the end of the day, my brain is just fried. (See #4.) Parenting these 3 little friends at this stage (preschooler + toddler + infant) is the hardest thing I'll ever do. It also happens to be the greatest.