In What Language Does White Puppy=Black Cat?

Two months ago, while I was looking at Halloween costumes on-line, Annabelle spied a very nice looking plush white puppy costume. Since I refused to believe that she really wanted to be a puppy, I neglected to order said costume. One month ago, while still looking for costumes on-line, Annabelle spied that same white puppy costume and again, requested to be a puppy. Maybe it was her half-hearted plea, or general lack of enthusiasm, but for some reason I ignored her request, all the while believing that there was a much greater costume out there meant for Annabelle. What it was, I had no idea.

Flash forward to four days before Halloween: Still no costume. Annabelle still insists on being a puppy. I finally believe that she really wants to be a puppy... Now, to find a costume. I check back in on original white puppy: They can ship today... great! It can be here in 24 hours... even better! They only have it available in size 6-9 months... not so good. Crap.

Ready to pay a premium for overnight delivery, I search everywhere on the World Wide Web only to find that there are no puppy costumes available in her size... Anywhere. Who knew that there would be such a rush on puppy costumes this year? On-line shopping is no longer an option at this point. Time to brave the (gasp) malls...

Ten stores and two days later we come up empty and I am beginning to wonder if I should nominate myself for "Worst Mother of the Year". Is there not one puppy costume in sizes 2T-4T left in this world? What to do? I remember seeing plenty of adorable little puppy costumes in size 12-24 months, maybe I can squeeze her into one of those? So I actually drag my tired and hungry children back to the mall and then literally try to squeeze my almost 3 year old into a costume sized for an infant. Attention: Worst Mother of the Year awards committee, I'm over here!

Time for a new approach. I decide that I need to convince Annabelle that she does NOT want to be a puppy. I remember the black cat costume which Annabelle had showed a brief interest in (for about 2 seconds) while we were at one of the many Halloween stores... It was the last one left in the store, and it was in her size. Hopefully it would still be there.

With a bit of strategic convincing, which involved a lot of bribery and slanderous remarks about puppies, and a lucky break that the costume was still there a day later, Annabelle agreed to go as a black cat.

And what an adorable little black cat she was!

Jack HATED being in his costume.

He cried... And cried... AND CRIED!!! Until he was allowed to take it off.Even after we removed his costume Jack was still very upset, possibly traumatized? He never made it off of the circle. He was taken in the house to hang with Nana and missed out on all of the 'trick or treating'. Poor boy. Next year I'll let him choose his own costume rather than giving him his sister's hand me down. And I'll make sure I get him whatever he wants... well in advance!

Annabelle ended up going 'trick-or-treating' with all of her little neighbor friends. She had a blast and got tons of candy (for Mommy & Daddy). Annabelle was labelled "Cat Burglar" as she kept running into people's houses and coming out with extra loot! Luckily our neighbors' knew mostly everyone at every house we went to.HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Fall

Little Miss Mannequin

Thank You

Dear Annabelle and Jack,
Thank you for listening to my sleep request. Although we didn't quite make it back to the summer hours, everyone did manage to sleep through until about 7:30am without a midnight rave party. Much appreciated.

Love you both,
Mommy

A Letter To My People

Dear Annabelle and Jack,
In case you did not receive the memo, I just wanted to inform you that your Mommy really likes to sleep. That is to say that the hours between 7:30pm and 7:30am are intended for sleeping, your sleeping. My sleeping occurs a little bit later than that and is equally necessary, as Mommy gets very grouchy if she does not get enough sleep. She also get very large black circles under her eyes, and just in case you were wondering, black circles are not in fashion (at my age).

Furthermore, I would like to inquire as to what all of this late night crib partying is all about... Waking at 1am, three nights in a row, is not acceptable. Neither is the 2 hour sing song fest that follows, which, for some unknown reason, your father seems to be immune to hearing. I understand that you are both being all cute and playful, but really, couldn't you be all cute and playful during the designated waking hours (that would be 7:30am-7:30pm, in case you didn't receive THAT memo either) instead of whiny little temper tantrum throwing freaks? Yes Annabelle, I'm referring to you and the stunts you pulled today. I'm just saying, Mommy really needs her sleep sweetie.

So please, in the future, if you are going to wake in the middle of the night, keep the noise level down to a minimum. Also, as an added request, could we get back to the summer hours of sleeping in until 9am or so? Thanks.

Love,
Mommy

Monkey See, Monkey Do

That Jack Henry. There he goes, instigating mischief again.

He looks so innocent. Sweet little Jack, sat on top of the coffee table with his crayons. How cute, I thought. How could I possibly discipline him? Instead, I'll take a picture.

Later that evening... I left the room to get him a drink and returned, only to find him standing on top of the side table. But he looks so adorable in those pajamas, I thought. How could I possibly be mad at him when he looks so very squishable? I know, I'll take a picture.

The next day... Sweet innocent little Jack, sat on his little chair, eating his lollipop. How cute he is... I'll take his picture.

Two seconds later... She won't stop me, I'm too cute... I imagine to be what he is thinking.

He is right. I don't stop him. I watch him climb on top of the table while I take another picture.

Two seconds after that... Hey, look what Jack is doing! That looks like fun, maybe I'll try too. Jack, you always have the best ideas!

We can even hang out here for a while, Mom won't do anything... We're too adorable. She'll just keep taking our picture.

Two seconds after that... I take them off of the table. Then it's as if Annabelle uses her telepathic powers to communicate this: Hey Jack, follow me. I have a great idea...

Let's pull those little chairs over near the t.v. and climb on top of them, so we can dance, and touch stuff that we're not supposed to! Don't worry, we won't get in trouble. Mom is too busy taking pictures!

*The Monkeys have since been banned from using the little chairs, as they have become the stepping stools to mischief.

I Love, You, You, You!!

Jack and Annabelle's little friend Mark came over for a play date today... As he was leaving he pointed to Annabelle and said "I love you, you, you!" It was a first for both of them.

These pictures were taken this past Tuesday, after we dragged Mark to Annabelle's gymnastics class. I love how they are both, coincidentally, wearing shirts with the number ten!

Spoooooky

Yesterday we put up a few decorations in an attempt to Spookify the front of the house for Halloween. Annabelle had a great time "helping" put up the spider's web and flying bat, but mostly she enjoyed setting up the tomb stones. She spent an awful long time playing with that mound of dirt... I'm not quite sure what (or who) she buried there!

This morning, as the kids were outside playing, I was looking at the front of the house and thinking that it wasn't spooky enough. We could possibly use a few more decorations... A ghost, maybe a skeleton. Then I snapped this picture of Jack. Creeeeeepy.

Quote Of The Day

Nick and I were getting ready to go to my cousin's wedding... After seeing me all dressed up Annabelle asked: "Mommy, Are you a princess?"

Neighborhood Crime Watch

Hey Jack, do you see what's going on over there?
I think someone might be in trouble!!

This looks like a job for...
Binky Girl!

super crime fighter extraordinaire

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The...

Earlier today I was getting the kids ready to go for a walk. Annabelle, who was the first one ready, was standing by the front door waiting patiently with her effects; binky, blanky, sippy cup, soccer ball, while Jack was sort of ambling around looking for something. I ran upstairs to grab a sweater for the boy and on my way back down I spied Jack, running full speed towards his sister. I was curious to see what he was up to so I stayed back where he couldn't see me. I then watched him yank the pink binky out of her chops, stick it in his mouth and laugh... As if he knew she couldn't do anything about it because her arms were full. As soon as he saw me coming he scurried off, but I could still see that mischievous little smile hidden behind the pink bink.
Is it possible that he remembered this little incident from last year and was seeking revenge?

July 1, 2005

Eighteen Months

Jack is 18 months old today! In thinking about what to write about Jack I have decided that if every child were like him, I would probably have ten...

From the beginning Jack has been extremely low maintenance. I can even track his low maintenance-ness all the way back to his speedy conception: no stressful "trying"... One day he was just there (some people may call that an "accident", I on the other hand, like to believe it was fate). Then the pregnancy: happily uneventful with very little morning sickness. Labor/delivery was quick and painless, as was my recovery. All of that carried over to his personality...

Jack is very easy going. I would say that 95% of the time he is happy. The other 5%... Well, no one's perfect. He does get cranky when hungry or tired, and annoyed when he doesn't get his way, but it never lasts for very long. In general, Jack is a pleasure to be around.

Jack is very silly. He likes to play little games like "grab your nose" and "how loud can I make my sister scream". Usually the later game is carried out in a public place, like a restaurant. The other day he instigated a quick round of "Set Go AHHHH" in the car... As I was looking in the rear view mirror I caught Jack and Annabelle looking mischievously at each other and then I hear Jack, almost in a whisper, say: "set, go" and then they simultaneously screamed "AHHHHHHHHH". Laugh. Repeat.

Jack's vocabulary is expanding rapidly, he seems to be saying a new word almost every day. He has also become quite proficient at repeating... Just yesterday I asked Jack if he wanted a cookie and then said "Jack say cookie" and he repeated "saaaaay cookie". When I asked him to say thank you he replied "saaaay thank you" (wise guy).

Jack's favorite toys are his cars (or anyone else's). Most often he can be found with a car in each hand. Jack gets very upset if someone tries to take a car away from him, any other thing he will gladly relinquish... Just don't mess with the cars.

Jack is also very fond of his Teddy Bear, so fond in fact that Teddy has a backup (just in case). Jack doesn't like to go to sleep without his Teddy Bear and lately he's been bringing "backup Teddy" into bed as well... So, me thinks it may be time to get a backup for "Backup Teddy" (just in case).

At eighteen months of age Jack has been labeled the neighborhood vandal. He likes to go around "tagging" the neighbors' cars with chalk... Luckily they think he's cute. I bet they won't think he's so cute when he breaks out the spray paint.

Jack has recently started climbing on top of the little chairs and table. He is not very good at getting down from on top of the table and hasn't quite worked out how to ask for help... That little effort usually results in tears.

With each passing day Jack is becoming more and more of a little person and less of a baby. He is running around, climbing up stairs, (falling down stairs), voicing his opinion and growing like a weed. He has tons of teeth, tons of smiles, and he even blows kisses!

At his 18 month checkup Jack was 34 inches tall and weighed 29lbs 3oz!

Updated September 25, 2006: Today I caught the little vandal in action!

The Interpreter

Annabelle seems to be the only one who really knows what Jack says. I’m not sure if they share some secret toddler language that only those under four feet can understand or if she is making it all up... But if I had to guess, I would say that her understanding of Jack’s speech is all just a ruse, well crafted and geared toward benefiting herself...

Annabelle: "Jackie wants to go to the toy store."
Me: "What does Jackie want at the toy store."
Annabelle: "Jackie wants a red ball. And I'll have a yellow one."

Me: "What would you like for lunch?"
Annabelle: "I'll have peanut butter & Jelly and Jack wants a hot dog."
Me: "Jack wants a hot dog?"
Annabelle: "Yes. Can I have a bite?"

Me: at a store being nice "You can have one toy. What would you like?"
Annabelle: "I'll have the Dora/Diego/baby Jaguar" (action figure set)
Me: "Are you sure that's what you want?"
Annabelle: "Yes. Jackie wants this police car."

Annabelle: "Jackie wants to put his shoes on."
two seconds later "Mommy, look, my friends are outside!! Can we say hi?"

Me: "Jack, finish your dinner."
Annabelle: "Jack's not hungry."

Little Oompa Loompa

Look at those adorable little shoes... So new. So small. So clean.
I wonder who they belong to?

Blah Blah Blah

I was going through some stuff the other day and found a list that I had made last year when Annabelle was about 17.5 months old. The list was of all of the words that she was saying at the time. It got me thinking about Jack, who coincidentally, is now about 17.5 months old. I know all the books say that you shouldn't compare children, but we all do... So naturally I made a list of Jack's current most used words.
The findings were interesting (to me anyway): At 17.5 months old both Annabelle and Jack each had/have approximately 30-35 words that they could/can say and use regularly. About 20 of the words are the same, things like Mama, Dada, hi, bye, teddy, ball, car, etc... Then there were the different words... This is where it gets amusing (to me anyway). Annabelle was saying things like: Dora, backpack, and wild wild west... Possibly watching too much television?? Jack is saying things like: ready set go, cheers, and thank you... Leads me to believe we may be spending too much time in restaurants, especially when he raises a sippy cup as he says "cheers".

Cars

Hopscotch

I am beginning to wonder if knowledge of certain things is just inborn... Things like hopscotch.

Where in the world did my children learn about hopscotch? It certainly wasn't from me. And seeing as I am with them 99% of the time I was a bit taken aback when Annabelle not only asked to play hopscotch, but knew EXACTLY what to do once Jack finished drawing it out.
(and where did Jack learn to do that anyway)?

For the past two days hopscotch has been "the thing". Every few days there is a new "thing" and now it's hopscotch... From the first waking breathe to the last kiss goodnight every fourth word is hopscotch, preceded only by "can we play"...

They are getting pretty good at hopscotch.

Updated 9/2/06: When Annabelle got up this morning she looked out the window and noticed that Nick had parked on the hopscotch drawing. She then started shouting "Daddy, wake up! Silver car is on my hopscotch!"

A Year Of Blogging

I just realized that it's been a year since I posted my first blog entry... Hard to believe I've actually kept it up this long. Hurray for me for having so much extra time on my hands!!

Since I started with a picture of my favorite boy it only seems right that I post one of him on the blog anniversary... In this photo Jack has been "sectioned off" from the kitchen so that I can cook his (and Annabelle's) dinner. Since having the gate there is such a rarity, Jack decided to play a little game: Jack would chuck Teddy at me and then scurry off. When he would return to the gate I would throw Teddy back at him... repeat. He found this VERY amusing.
Side Note: That is popsicle on his face, not jaundice... And yes, he did have a popsicle before dinner.

Cruisin'

Little Annabelle went for her first official bike ride (on an actual bike path) the other day! For the most part she did pretty well with the peddling, but she did get stuck a few times on some rocks, sticks, and the occasional uphill slope.

After about 10 minutes Annabelle decided that she would rather run, so we ran... Lucky me got to run with the bike while Annabelle kept yelling "faster Mommy, FASTER MOMMY!!" (Did I mention that I was also pushing Jack in the stroller)?
August 18, 2006

Mr. Jack At The Park

August 17, 2006

Clown

Annabelle has started telling knock-knock jokes...

Annabelle: "Knock knock" (literally knocking on my forehead)
Me: "Who's there?"
Annabelle: "Mommy"
Me: "Mommy who?"
Annabelle: "YOU"

Annabelle: "Knock knock" (again with the forehead)
Me: "Who's there?"
Annabelle: "Jack"
Me: "Jack who?"
Annabelle: "Jackie my brother!" (pronounced brud-der)

Annabelle: "Knock knock"
Me: "Who's there?"
Annabelle: "bike"
Me: "Bike who?"
Annabelle: "MY BIKE!"

I'm beginning to see a pattern here.

I've also recently been "one potato-ed": "one potato, two potato, three potato, more. Five potato four potato, eight potato, more."

I'm not sure where she learned that one.

Safari Tent

I've been finding Jack playing under things a lot (the dining room table, the coffee table, the exersaucer, the highchair) so I thought it was about time I got him a tent to play in...
Super Safari Tent (complete with tunnel) arrived this morning!
Mr. Jack was so excited, he color coordinated his binky for the occassion!

Jack Confronts Mickey

Jack is still not too keen on sitting on the ride-on toys... He loves to push them around, and push all of the buttons and horns, but as soon as I try to sit him on one he immediately jumps off.

He's been having a love/hate relationship with the Mickey Mouse Fire Truck lately. He'll often play with Mickey on the back porch, he likes to hide things (like my keys) in the storage compartment under the seat, and I often find him wrestling with the car as he tries to maneuver it up the step, over the threshold, and into the house. Other times I see him trying to tip the car over in frustration... Today I caught him having a stare down contest with Mickey.

Even Better Than Christmas?

This picture of Annabelle and Matthew (the neighbor boy) was taken about two months ago. I thought it was pretty funny then but even more so now after talking with Matthew's mother yesterday... Apparently Matthew was very distressed on Saturday because our car was missing from in front of the house and he had not seen Annabelle all day. When we finally arrived back home and Matthew saw the car he started screaming "MOMMY, MOMMY, ANNABELLE IS HOME!!!!!" and then followed up with a "THIS IS THE BEST MOST HAPPIEST DAY IN MY WHOLE LIFE".