Christmas 2009 - at home

Santa was very good to Jacob this year...

But knowing how our boy needs his morning milk, we let him enjoy it on the go as he really didn't want to part with all his Christmas booty.

Although, keeping him moving from one to the next was difficult as he wanted to spend time with each.item.received.

Even his beautiful, hand-made (courtesy of my Aunt Char) was over flowing with Santa's goodies...

Loving my little boy...

Since December 16th, I've had the rare opportunity to experience Jacob 24/7. No.Breaks.


This time has been wonderful and trying all at the same time. He is entering the terrible 2's, developing a mind of his own and sprouting wings. One minute he is wonderful and loving, the next he is trying my patience with every ounce of his independent soul. His desire to be his own person, and his desire to please me is an internal conflict I had hoped would wait until we were dealing with his teens... But like his mommy and daddy, he is starting this struggle at an early age...


(side note: Can I say how annoyed I'm annoyed this struggle is starting before we mastered potty-training, as this struggle is setting up a major road block on that path, but he is not old enough for bribes to work yet)


And it is wonderful and sad all at the same time. I love watching him grow. Looking at pictures today, and seeing how much he has changed over the past year renders me speechless...


How about you?

...and I'm the Grinch...

Or so Mr. M tells me this morning...

I had the Christmas tree down before he left for work this morning. I mean, it took me mere minutes, as we only had lights on it. Lights, that is, that came on it, as it is a pre-lit tree.

However, my day with J has been much more fun with one less thing for me to say - No! Jacob! to that additional thing...

As I was just interrupted by his drinking his juice, to then spit it on the floor, I obviously have my hands full...

However, I am the Grinch because I'm so tired, I have not downloaded my pictures, nor do I have the energy to do so today. Tomorrow is Sunday, so I doubt it will happen then either.

I do promise to get them up soon...

To our wonderful and generous family, thank you for all Jacob's toys and clothes. We sincerely appreciate your generosity.

We are back & waiting on Santa...

J & I are back, but I have not downloaded all the pics... Quick summary:


We had a great time seeing Grandma & Grandpa P. Wish Mother Nature had cooperated just a bit more, but so grateful that she did allow us to make our home before Christmas. (I seriously doubt Mr. M would ever forgive me if she hadn't...)

Very grateful to Grandma & Grandpa M for braving the ice storm to pick us up at the airport.

As a tease, since it will be after I get Christmas pics up before I will get back to really posting trip pics... Here was some of our fun...


In coats, socks, and pants one day....

Braving the elements to catch some 15 degrees warmer rays the next....
And yes, I was the only one loving (read: stupid or desperate) enough to get in the water with him... In all honesty, J didn't even make it that long...

But, we did get some pics AND THAT makes it worth it, right?

Just let Daddy keep thinking those sneezes are related to flying.... SHH!!!

And now, we are off to bed to let Santa pay his friendly visit at Casa de M.

Sorry!!!

Sorry, I've been totally not posting... And I admit, it will be bad for a bit longer...

J & I have been finishing up Christmas shopping, doing laundry, packing, and playing... If you caught that packing... and wonder what it means....

J & I are headed to see Grandma & Grandpa P in FL. Sadly, Mr. M will be home watching the house & the doggies, as he will be working.

We will be home in time for Santa's arrival, which is good, as I hear he has some fun things for a certain little boy...

In the meantime, Have a Very Merry Christmas!

22 Months

Jacob, I cannot believe it, but you are 22 months today. Where has the time gone? You've changed so much in these 22 months, and yet, with each change, I end up feeling like I can hardly remember what life was like *before* you could do these things.


I'm constantly amazed and enamored by you. Your mere existence has made my world so much better, so much more full, and my heart is bursting with love for you. Dreams for your future, while not mapping the course, just the overwhelming desire to help you become all that you want be and who you want to be.


In the meantime, I'm just going to sit back & enjoy you being you...

Whether it is watching you be silly trying to ride the golden goose, or sleep in your new 'big boy' bed... I'm at peace, when I'm with you...

Holiday Pictures - 2009

Last Saturday, Aunt Liz blessed us by accompanying me & J for our 2009 Holiday Christmas card pictures. I cannot tell you what an event saver it was to have her there...

First, Portrait Innovations was a bit over-booked. Then there is the whole, I set the appointment up for 10:40 thinking it'd be perfect timing to get in, get out & go eat. Only, as I previously stated, they were over-booked. running.way.behind. Which made for a hungry little boy, who was to over-stimulated to settle and snack on the cheese & crackers I brought. Although, Aunt Liz did try...

Here are some pics! Enjoy!

Big Boy... Big Room...

Over the weekend, J has officially beaten his crib and his pack-n-play. We no longer have any ability to protect him 100%.

However, we are trying...

I converted his bed, and re-arranged his room to fit his new state of being... He now has full access to all things in his room, but there is a gate at the door. A gate that I even have serious issues when I try to walk over it, so I know he will not be climbing over it any time soon.

His diaper pail, well that is on the move now... When J is free in the house, it gets locked away in his room... When he is in his room, well, it gets moved to the hallway... See, he thought it was a toy...

eeeewwwweeeee!!!!

Anyway... Here are some picks of his new & improved room...

Dancing to his own tune....

I hope he always keeps his love of having fun....

Exploring Nature

On Saturday, we took some time to stretch our legs on the way back from my brother's by stopping by my Aunt & Uncle's to say good-bye before they head to Florida for the winter.

J loved all the space to roam around in... Checking out nature, picking up rocks...



















Mostly, he loved NOT letting me get the picture I wanted... Which was of him on these stairs decorated for Christmas, so I could put it in a frame next to the one of me on those same stairs about his age...

Black Friday 2009

Some shopping, mostly traveling... Daddy working...


J & I started the day out early... Okay, early for J, but a typical work day for me. Heading first to Lighthouse Place Mall to catch the early morning sales at Tommy & Ralph. Then we stopped for McD's breakfast, diaper change, then back on the road for Uncle Jeff's & Aunt Kristi's.


J is such a good traveler... Granted, this time we (meaning Mr. M) bribed him. We set up a portable DVD player in my SUV so J could have Elmo (or as he says it with exuberation "ELLLLLLLLMOOOO") in the car. J was positively delighted to have Elmo on the go, so delighted in fact - he crashed out for a good 2 1/2 hours. (Which gives me hope our upcoming flight to Florida will go smoothly, since it will just be the two of us as Daddy is working)


Once at my brother's, J was delighted... He had so much 'new' space to run & explore. Cousins to terrorize... an Aunt & Uncle who were caught a bit off guard by a certain little man's "busy -ness"... Stairs to climb, then try to walk back down... Christmas trees to undecorate... (oh boy, I'm not looking forward to our tree going up) It was a whirlwind of fun...

















Jacob was soo good playing with Camryn, although I think she was a little shocked at his walking into her house with her toys, and taking over like he owned them... We obviously need to work on that a bit... As for Miss Mal's, well... J is a bull in a china shop... If we stayed much longer, I'd guess Mal's first word to be "Gentle" as that is what we had to keep telling him. He was enthralled by her. Kept saying "Baby", and wanting to touch her... My finger is just recovering from the teeth marks left when I said "would you like to come nibble Mallory's toes like I do yours?" Obviously, it was a good thing I protected those toes with my fingers or Mal may just be missing her right foot toes today...


Then in the morning, we joined them for their weekly Panera outing for a bagel breakfast.

















Memory Shots....

and.... of My little Man....

Thanksgiving 2009

Due to Mr. M's work schedule, spending Holiday's with the P side of the family is near impossible... So as typical for most Holiday's, we spent Thanksgiving as a family with the M side of the family.

And, as typical, Grandma M's food was wonderful.

rough housing with Aunt Liz & Uncle Jon earned many giggles & squeals of laughter...

Grandma P's find of a "Gobble Gobble" plate was filled, and devoured expeditiously....

After which, J was rewarded for being such a good eater...

Grandma M presented him with his own - homemade - Elmo cake....















to which, he quickly devoured....



















Leaving Mommy to wonder.... Where does all that food go?

21.5 month stats

Last Friday, I took J in to the Dr., as he had a low grade fever of 100.6. Since this seemed to be rising from his lingering infection that had him home last Thursday, I was worried... A week just seemed to long for this to be a typical virus. Luckily, his Dr.'s office agreed and was not busy.

The diagnosis... A double ear infection. The Dr said J's left ear was pink, as if that might be on the tail-end of what caused his fever to spike last Thursday, but his right ear was a flaming red. As this is his 2nd, basically undiagnosed ear infection (we caught the first at his 1st flu shot appt), we now have new ground rules for bringing him in for a check up. Prior rule of thumb was fever of 101.6 for 24 hours, now it is any low grade fever coupled with him not sleeping through the night.

He is also being watched to refer him to an ENT (ear, nose, throat Dr) as we believe this is genetic, as opposed to viral or contagious bacterial. (I had my tonsils & adenoids removed before I was 4 and tubes twice as a child. His cousin C had her adenoids removed and tubes before she was 3)

Now... For the important stuff...

He measured in at 36 inches ~ above 95th percentile *
He weighed in at 27lbs. ~ between 25th and 50th percentile*

*according to the calculator on Babycenter.com

Liz babysitting J - 1

Aunt Liz generously offered to watch J while I got some me time.

(read: time to disguise my roots & get my brows back to looking like a female)

What Liz did not know was… J had all kinds of plans for her… Nor, that she would be getting 2 or 3 weeks worth of workouts in the 2 hours I was gone.

At first, he was content to sit & ride...















Sporting the new Sox hat Aunt Liz arrived with...

But then, he decided having Aunt Liz chase him, while pulling the wagon, would be more fun...

Then he slowed down, as he found he can do his Grandma M trick outside with a bigger broom...















Aunt Liz enjoyed a moment of catching her breath...

And then, in a total like me style, enjoyed relaxing a few more moments, while J entertained himself safely....
















She said, he took these out of the garage, lined them up, then she'd say "Okay J, let's clean up" and he'd return them to their appropriate location... Only to redo it a few moments later...

not Me - Monday!

Welcome to MckMama's blog train of "Not Me! Monday's"....

Are you feeling guilty about anything? Or did you have any embarrassing event happen that left you hoping no one witnessed it? Or witness your spouse, child, dog... do something that horrifies you in "how did that just happen" sort of way?

If the answer is yes, then listen to Mama - MckMama that is!

"Well don't be! Not Me! Monday was born out of my desire to admit some of my imperfections and reveal a few moments I'd rather forget. You may find it therapeutic to join in and do the same thing!"

Write about what did not happen in your house in your blog, use her MckLinkey to link up your blog entry. What, you don't have a blog - that's okay... We'd still love to read your "not" happenings in her comment section.

Mr M. did not make me a single mom this weekend (okay, just Sunday). Nope! Not My Husband! He'd never do a thing like that... Never... He always ranks me higher than Bruce (Springsteen, that is) in his hierarchy of what is important in his life.

This would not happen in the same weekend that I find out J has not 1, but 2 ear infections. These ear infections would not have been brought to my attention simply by listening to my Mother's Gut phenomenon, as I'm always on top of these types of things... His Dr would not then tell me to start bringing him in when he stops sleeping through the night AND running a low grade fever, as those are his only sign's he's sick.

I did not book a trip for me & J to go visit my parents in FL. Nope! Not Me! I'd never plan a trip without Mr. M. I would not be so excited about this trip that I bought J clothes for it over the weekend, having already washed AND packed said clothes.

While shopping, I did not walk into the Stride Rite store to get J's feet measured, with zero intention of buying shoes. My son's feet did not measure larger than the size 7 shoes he was wearing. Oops! This did not send me into a shoe shopping spree. J does not now have a new pair of Nike's, a pair of loafers, AND a pair of boots all in size 8.

And I did not lament on how all of his too small shoes were brand new in August, being big on him then...

Lastly, I'm not soooo excited to share the Christmas season with my son this year, that I've bought Holiday DVDs, and boat loads of books (from Frosty to Why we celebrate Christmas? The story of Jesus) to read to him in place of his normal nightly books.

Oh... 1 more... I'm not so thankful that I don't have any real confessions this week, that I'm smiling as I type this.... Nope! Not Me! I'd never be grateful for the small things in life...

Bath Time...Play Time...

Enjoy....

....and....

....and the memory shot....

Grandma M's new trick is sticking...

While J - sitting, Grandma M taught J how to sweep.  She made it a game.  Now, it is J's favorite activity...

Oh, what hard work... I need to take a break...

Hmm... I knew I was doing something wrong...  I'd hear from other mom's on how their kiddos help them clean... And in my inexperienced first-time-mom brain, I thought it was J was just too cool young to help clean.

Learn something new every day... As he was even back to work on Sunday....

Yep, that's right J...  Get that dust!

Gee Mom, Payton just keeps creating more work for me shedding...

Yes darling son... Your father has already suggested I get her in to be shaved...

In the meantime, can you keep sweeping?

What a weekend....

With J not feeling well on Wednesday night, we took the whole weekend easy to ensure he was well recovered to return to daycare tomorrow. (He was with Grandma M today, pre-planned to accomodate Daddy's Bruce trip)

Thursday night started out my fun, with J crying non-stop every time I tried to lay him down to sleep. And I'm not talking fussing, I'm talking all out crying.

No fever, not hungry.

Nothing.worked.to.stop.the.escalating.tears. BUT me walking around carrying him... 

Finally, after 3 hours and my being close to tears myself, I tried sitting up in bed with him - he fell asleep. After a couple of hours sleep, I moved him to his crib. At that point, he transitioned to sleep perfectly (so long as I slept on his floor - okay totally doable).

With this kind of start, I should have known what kind of interesting weekend I was in for... And to explain why, I was so totally exhausted, there was no blogging to be had.

I got to experience (note* order not relevant):

• J's new tricks
• read climbing onto our dinner table & going after the light above it
• read also climbing on the couch, then up the back and finally onto the counter top
• J's strong affection for saying
• fun! "eewwweee" and shaking his head
• not so fun! "No!" while shaking his finger at me
• J's downward sprial migration to the terrible 2's
• read his strong desire to hit, pull my hair and earrings
• read also in general - melt down like only 2 year olds in training can manage

We did have some great moments. The moments that you want to capture on film, so I did... Just to remind me, on days like these... He really is a great & wonderful kid...

And this is just a phase....just.a.phase...just.a.phase...

Breakfast with my great friend Miss Kari


Snuggling on the couch...

Didn't he pull that blanket down like a pro?

and pestering petting Payton!

 

Please, don't remind me that it is followed by the horrible 3's... I need to grow into accepting that reality

Other cool news... I heard Santa has started shopping for this little guy... Do you think somone should whisper in his ear about the being naughty or nice?

and He call's me a jinx?!?!?

Yep... That's right... On Tuesday night, Mr. M said, in response to my comment on my B friend's 6 month old daughter finally recovering from the Swine Flu, "Wow!  Thank God (knocking on our wood cabinets) J has been healthy.  We are so lucky!"

Um, you didn't just say that right?  Wouldn't that be the exact type language you would tell me just set us up for a 'jinx'?

Yep.... And Yes, it is true.  J is sitting at 102.6 degree fever last night.  Only wanting to be held by mommy.  Sleep, not really in his list of wants or needs.  So we spent a lot of time watching Elmo & Comcast OnDemand Baby Boost DVD (Thank you Liz!  Best Birthday present ever!)  Most of all snuggling.

Thankfully, his snot is clear, while very runny, and his fever was down so I'm hoping this is just teething, but regardless, he gets a day of Grandma M loving to help get him back to full strength before he does his overnight there on Sunday so Daddy can go see Bruce in Milwaukee, and Mommy can work.  Joy! Joy!

Okay, so Mr. M is going to work on Monday too, just staying Northside to do it...

(I get more pity ignoring this detail though, don't I?)

His & Her Home Work Center

Since I work during the week, I try really hard not to let my blogging interfere with J time. Hence, why I am generally MIA on the weekends. And why most of my posts are at such an obnoxiously early time of day...

Today, I'm running late, so I will make this short & sweet... But I had to share, from a pre-haircut Saturday, J taking time out to *work* while Mommy blogged.



Okay, so maybe it was just time for him to drink his bottle glass of milk, but for a busy mommy - whatever works is my favorite motto.

Last fall visit from Grandpa P...2009

We said a fall goodbye to Grandma P back in October, and on Sunday, we said it to Grandpa P, as he is leaving to join Grandma in the warmer climate...
J did get a bonus of opening a Christmas present already though!  He is much more into the whole concept, and now Mr. M & I are very much looking forward to seeing how he reacts this year to his visit from Santa.

Isn't that nice of him to hand each torn piece to Grandpa, so it doesn't get left lost on the floor?

Of course, he had to check it out...

I'd say, it's a hit!

After The Bears Game dinner & entertaining J, Grandpa said good-bye! 

Bye Dad!  It was great seeing you again!  Be safe driving!  We love you!