I thought it was funny

Aimee likes to eat at "Mickle-donalds" and she likes looking for "Agilators"...

PS - As much of a wonderful distraction bubble gum is - if you give it to a 1 year old, it will surely end up in his hair.

Happy Birthday Jack!

A year ago today, this little guy came into my life... we love him SO much! Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Happy to Sad

Jack Helping

Somehow I managed to get the whole house packed up. Just barely...

Jack

For months now - I've wanted to sit down and start a post all about Jack. You always hear from other moms that you have thousands of videos and pictures of your first kid - but less and less of each child after that. I feel a bit guilty that I haven't set aside more time to blog about the little man. And now that we're gearing up for our move I have even less time to blog. I started writing this maybe a day before we found out that we were accepted into SMU. And now life is super-duper nuts, my days are filled with packing and organizing and still trying to maintain some sense of normal life for the kids...

On a typical day, I wake up to Jack (in my bed - see side note) smiling and doing his whisper talk. "Ta ta ta, buh buh buh" or something along those lines... :) I don't know if your babies have ever done this - but it is one of my favorite things.

(Side note: While Jack is phenomenally better at sleeping in his crib than Aimee ever was - he still wakes up twice through out the night. Usually at 3:30 and then around 5:30... I'm a little over feeling like a milk-cow all night, so we are working on this.) 

Now, like I said, he is usually in my bed because after the 5:30am wake up, I am just too tired and incoherent to put him back in the crib. He isn't usually up for the day until closer to 8, or earlier if Aimee wakes him up.

After our happy good morning time, it's time to get the breakfast ready 'cause this little guy loves his breakfast. And I better be quick about it too. Jack is not one to wait around patiently when he's hungry. I usually give him Cheerios to tide him over until I can cook him some eggs. He loves egg yolks! And toast, and Eggos, and yogurt... I really am surprised he isn't a chunky baby. He must have some sort of super metabolism.

Jack is quite content to feed himself. Most of his food makes it into his mouth, but quite a bit ends up in his hair, the high chair or floor. If he's bored with his food (a rare thing - but it has happened before) he likes to drop it over the side of the high chair, watch it hit the ground and say "uh oh".

His clothes are covered in food. So off they go - which is perfectly fine with Jack. I think he prefers it that way.

After we clean up the mess - I stick him in the play room with Aimee. Now that he is finally mobile, he is free to get into all of Aimee's things. They play ok together... A few months ago if Aimee snatched anything out of Jack's hands he'd just grab something else. Nowadays, he gets mad. He yells, sometimes it seems like he is saying "No" it sounds more like: "Nah nah nah!!" He'll wave his finger in her face..

On most days, I have minimal refereeing to do when those two play. I love it when they play well together, especially when Aimee makes Jack laugh. His little chuckles shake his whole body. It is music to my ears!

Back to our typical day: if I have the car we run errands! When we step outside Jack gets so excited! His eyes light up and get even bigger (if you can believe it). He "Ooos" and "Ohhs" while his little hands and feet shake and twist. He LOVES to be outside. He loves picking at the grass (and eating it) digging in the dirt (and eating it) coloring with Aimee's chalk (and eating it)...

But today - today we are running errands. Once Jack realizes that he is getting in the car, this can go one of two ways. One - he doesn't mind. He sees Aimee over there next to him and is perfectly content for go for a ride (as long as it's less than 10 minutes). Two - he really really really wants to be eating his grass and dirt, so he screams, arches his back and makes the whole buckling-him-into-the-car-seat an unpleasant activity. But don't worry, once we get where ever we need to be, he's back to his happy self.

Jack doesn't mind being in the stores, I keep about a dozen snacks handy in the diaper bag. Lots of old ladies stop and say, "Hello blue eyes" and "Oh my, look at those eyes!" (Yes, I am doing a little bit of mommy bragging here) - sometimes he will smile shyly for them, usually he just stares. It's kind of funny.

After errands, it is back to the house for morning nap time. Jack takes 2 - 3 naps a day. Two is the norm, 3 - I'm lucky. 1 - it was a rough day for all.

Jack lets me know he is tired because if I try to put him down for any length of time he cries. When I pick him up he burrows his head in my shoulder and says, "Mam-mam-mam" in a little fake-cry voice. It's another favorite thing of mine.

After he's well rested and wakes up - it's time to get this guy some lunch. Stat!

We do the food, then clean up, then play routine again. Today Jack is lucky because we play outside with neighborhood kids in the afternoon. I keep taking the sticks/rocks/grass/dirt out of his hands. He is undeterred to keep putting it all back in his mouth.

We go home and I attempt to put him down for another nap. (And change his clothes again - because they are filthy) For whatever reason - this late afternoon nap is much trickier. Jack has a harder time falling and staying asleep. And he usually wakes up crabby. Sometimes the only thing that will get him out of his crabbiness is to put him in the bath.

Oh the bath - once Jack is in there - all is right with the world.

I think Jack would play in the tub for hours if I let him. Aimee too. They still get bathed together and provide each other with endless entertainment.

Sadly, bath time must end. Today - Jack is ok with this. Some times he throws a mini-fit. Back arching, squirming and yelling. But like I said, today - he is ok with getting out.

He's dressed, hair brushed, and smells oh-so fresh. Now it's play time before he gets put to bed.

Getting him to bed can be tricky sometimes. If I am lucky, I can nurse him to sleep and stick him in his crib with no problems. I try to make myself enjoy the quiet time I have with him every night. Hold him. Look at his sweet face while he sleeps... and really try to soak up every minute of this time, because it goes by so very fast.

Dallas

Life is crazy. There is no doubt about it.


We are packing up our meager possessions and our kids and moving to Dallas. In like 12 days.


A bit random, right?? So I'll let you in a little fact: you can transfer law schools after your first year (and you can do it after your second year too - but you go as a "visiting student" and your degree will be from the school you spend the first 2 years) So, we are transferring to SMU, Southern Methodist Univeristy - in good ole' Dallas Texas.


Back to transferring - this is something that I didn't know you could do -  until Greg started tossing around the idea of applying to other schools back in the winter. Other than being so far away from lots of family members - I was totally content to stay here. I had it in my head that we would just power through 3 years of school, and I would get to enjoy living near my parents. Then, when we were done, we'd pack up and head back west.


It's not as easy as that...


With the economy being as it is, it's really hard for anyone to get a good job. Lawyers especially. There isn't a great market out here in FL, unless you head out to Miami or Tampa. While we really like Ave Maria, it's still so new - and very low on the law school rankings totem poll. Which is kind of a big deal for many employers.  Greg had some awesome experiences with Ave this year and had an amazing internship opportunity. But, he felt like he should apply to other schools. He did, we got a yes from one - but didn't feel great about it after the fact, and a no from another.


Well, until Friday evening - we figured that SMU was going to say no - and I put the whole idea of transferring out of my head. Friday evening, just an hour before we were going to go on a date (celebrating the big 3-0 for Greg) - Greg checked his voice mail. He got a call from SMU saying "Congrats! You've been accepted! And you have to let us know by Tuesday if you're coming!"


Say WHAT?!? It put a little bit of a damper on the date night. Our carefree evening was filled with some serious discussion about our options. Some happy birthday present, right? Here you go - time to make a life-changing decision.


Staying would be the easy thing to do. Honestly, the thing I would have preferred. I mean - uproot our family again? Take them to the middle of the country? Both sets of grandparents so far away... I was at a loss. And I was (am) an emotional train wreck. I love love love being close to my parents. I love all our friends here at this school. I love so many things about it. It seriously breaks my heart to leave behind what we have here.


But ulitmately, we made the harder decision, to do what is best for our family in the long run. We talked, fasted, and prayed all weekend. Let me tell you something, they aren't kidding when they say trials can make you stronger as a family. I feel so blessed to have the family that I do. 


So Sunday evening we officially decided that we would go. We told our families... another hard thing (for me) to do. Today we sent SMU our deposit. Informed Ave that we are leaving. I've already called a moving company. We are looking for places to live. Classes start on Friday August 19th (I have no idea why classes start on a Friday). I had to break the news to some of my on-campus friends (more emotional-ness)... 


I feel so blessed to have made the friends that I did. These people are seriously the best. 


I will try to keep you guys (or should I say "ya'll"?) posted on the latest. There will be lots of packing this week and the next. Sometime late next week we will drive up to my parents to hang out for a few days - then it's off to Dallas. 


Wish us luck.

More Summer Fun

While I have some time... here are some pictures from the last few weeks. 

Jack's lovely curls...

Pop-pop and Jack man

Story behind these. It was Saturday morning - no one had even had breakfast yet. Drew threw Liz in the pool. Aimee thought thought that seemed fun so she joined in too. There are some pictures of Drew playing his favorite game: throw the dog in the pool. No worries everyone. Abby loved it. 

The boy and his dog.

Zoo trip! The zoo was having a killer $5.00 admissions deal, plus some live music. The zoo keepers had a lot of animals out for people to pet. Aimee was a little nervous about the snake. I don't think Jack even noticed it. 

Part of the fam. Greg doing ... I don't know what. 

Me and the baby. He needed a diaper change as soon as we got there (of course!)

My lovely family. Never mind that creepy guy in the background. Or Aimee's expression... maybe this picture isn't as lovely as I thought. 

The little man.

Feeding the fish saltine crackers. Don't tell the zookeepers. 

Laughing at the monkeys. 

Dipin' Dots!! 

Some more pictures out of chronological order!! I think the above picture was from back in May or early June... 

Some randoms of the kids. Aimee accessorized her outfit all by herself. She was quite pleased and was doing twist-turning jumps. 

Posing for the camera. 

Jack being sad because I am not holding him.

Oh! Aimee's first official hair cut! I think for most kids this will happen around 1. Aimee just turned 3. Her hair grows soooo slow! Our wonderful stylist, Jessica - just trimmed up the back and evened it out a bit. 

Greg reading to the babies. :) 

Flash forward to the 4th of July. Pool day and BBQ! Everyone joined in. Jack is so cute in the water. He loves it!

We put a surfboard in the pool. It's pretty fun, you should try it! Elizabetta (family friend's niece from Italy) and I are helping Aimee out. 

The little man sporting his red, white, and blue.

Here is how the 4th went for us: The city of Cocoa was having a fireworks show and an orchestra. We had to park a mile away and walk to the park. Which was PACKED. It was sweltering hot too. We plowed through the crowds and found a spot to camp out and wait for the fireworks. From where we were sitting we couldn't hear the music, like at all. But once the fireworks started - we were happily surprised to find that we had the best seats!! The fireworks were right over us!! It was great. 
I was a little worried about how Jack would react to the show. He was getting tired and fussy before they started anyway. Then the first firework went off. The expression on his face was a mix of sheer terror and amazement. He couldn't decide if he was going to cry. (It was SO funny) He never cried. He just huddled real close. I didn't mind so much. Aimee was a champ. She was a tiny bit scared at first, but then enjoyed the show, shouting out each color she saw -  after every single firework. 
Afterwards, our parking spot a mile away ended up being a great thing! We walked past tons of cars just sitting in the traffic. All in a all - a successful 4th! 

Us. And the firetruck...

Mom, Dad, the babies. Aimee was pretty much determined not to smile for a single picture.

Whitney and the babies. 

Yesterday was beach day!! Me, mom, the kiddos, my soon-to-be sister in law, and some of my mom's friends made it to the beach. It was really fun. And exhausting... The beach on this side of Florida is SO much different than by our house. It reminds me a lot more of California. The waves are rougher, the water a little colder... But it was still a good time!!

Mom and Jack. 

Jack eating sand. Why do they do this? I will never understand... 

Jack looking at the camera, but I'm yelling for Aimee to come over to take a picture...

When she finally comes over, the water snuck up on us a little bit and she was nearly knocked over. 

Yay for beach day!!