27. Catch up on photo albums

UGH - well my plan to hae a space to work on the albums has failed. We made the decision to give Madeline her own room because she is not the best sleeper and wakes up Jack. Which means the children own most of the house now and I will not have space for a craft table. BOOOO! So the dining room table will again be my home base to drag out all my stuff. I just have to hope Gwen doesn't get into it. ~gulp~

Austin City Limits 2009

My parents and sister came to Austin a few weeks ago and we all went to ACL. The best part was that my parents brought 2 friends with them to babysit the kids each night - wow - how great is that?!?

Best parts of the weekend? No kids to worry about, great weather on Friday, great bands : Phoenix, John Legend, !!!, Airborne Toxic Event and Dave Mathews Band.

Not so great parts? The rain on Saturday, the swamp of Dillo Dirt Sunday and the crowds of people that would climb over us if we did not sit in a defensive strategy.

We had a lot of fun, it was great to spend time with my sister and family and see live music in beautiful Zilker Park.

73. Take a vacation with John

Hard to believe the last "vacation" I had was going with John to Dallas 3 months pregnant (note: pre twin discovery). We had another opportunity when my parents and aunt & uncle were in town and watched the kids for the weekend. John and I took off to San Francisco and it was wonderful. Not only was SF fun, but it was a much needed break from the kids. Not that I don't love them dearly, but a year of getting up around 5:30am wears on the soul.

We slept in, ate what we wanted, walked everywhere, stayed up sorta late, did a 10 mile long run together and some shopping. I didn't have to carry anybody, push a stroller, change a diaper or hear ANY whining. It was a real vacation. It was awesome. Unfortunely it isn't something we will get to do very often but will take advantage any time we can.

Where has September gone?

Wow, the month has really gone by fast without a lot to show for it. We have taken very few pictures, gotten very little done, and really don't have much to report. We are preparing for a fun filled October though! ACL, San Francisco, John's trip to MI, and Halloween!

So, let me think if I HAVE accomplished anything...

46. Read to Gwen every day - done. I restocked out books by buying some new paperbacks from school. Thank goodness, I was getting tired of the same ole stories.
50. Store unused baby stuff - better. I really need to sell more, but it has been slow going. Right now the clothes are the biggest problem but we still have some bigger baby stuff lingering around.
67. Return things that don't work out. I am totally in the dog house with John this week. No more Target for me - it is too dangerous! I am returning things out of guilt and have to get back on the wagon.
21. Join a book club - thanks to Renee for inviting me to her book club last week. This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time and I really enjoyed it. It was a great group of ladies and we had really good discussions, most of them NOT book related.

Just noticed I only have 10 months to get this shit done. Sigh.

A Letter to Jack-Jack on Your First Birthday

August 29, 2009
Dearest Jack –
Wow, I cannot believe that you are already 1 year old! You have grown and changed so much. You started out at a 5.1lb, little, tiny baby. Now you are 22.4lbs, a big, tall boy. I can still remember finding out that you were a boy at our second ultrasound. Daddy and I were both excited to be having a boy. And once you arrived you were so sweet. You have a special charm and smile that attracts people, especially ladies! You spent two weeks in the hospital, mostly because you were too lazy to eat, but you figured it out. Once you got the hang of eating, you never stopped! You were a sweet baby, as long as you were fed, and seemed content to wait for attention (since your sisters were demanding attention all the time).
Because you were so smooshed in my tummy, your head was a little misshapen. You had to wear a helmet for about 8 weeks when you were 5 months old. You didn’t seem to mind at all. I would decorate it with stickers and put your name on it. You LOVED your therapist, Amy. She could always make you smile and you flirted with her all the time.
Jack, you are a sensitive baby. Whenever you are teething or sick you do not suffer in silence. You usually keep me up all night with you. It is very hard to reason with a baby, but I try to explain that Mommy needs sleep, you do not care. A few times I think you have been faking so that you can stay up with me and get special time with Mommy. I know because as soon as I pick you up you stop crying and get excited. You get a devilish little grin on your face too. The past few weeks you have been VERY attached to me. You cry if I leave the room and follow me. If you catch up, you grab onto my legs. If you can’t find me, you lie down on the floor and weep. It is very dramatic!
Your favorite toy is the Animal Train that plays music and rolls across the floor. You really love to get under the kitchen table and move the chairs around the room. When you figure out how to climb onto those chairs we will be in trouble. You push anything that you can; boxes, bins, cars, and furniture. You are so tall that you can reach onto the table now. Nothing is safe from your reach, especially not the remote control.
You love your sisters and your Daddy. You like to watch Gwen rough house with Dad, I bet you can’t wait to join the ruckus. You are very sweet to Madeline, even though she swipes toys from you. You are learning to be a bit more aggressive though, yesterday you pushed her right off the slide. One of your favorite activities is when Daddy carries you in the front carrier. You go for walks, looking for golf balls in the neighborhood. You also enjoy eating! You complain about what we give you, but if you like something you will eat until there is nothing left.
Jack-Jack, Jackalope, Jackaroo, you are a sweet little boy. I am sad that you are no longer a little baby, but so excited to see you growing into a toddler. I love you very much and want to give you a big squeeze right now! Happy Birthday Jack!
Love, Mommy!

A Letter to Madeline on Your First Birthday

August 29, 2009

Madeline – today is your first birthday.  I am having a hard time believing that you are no longer a baby, but a busy toddler.  You are curious, funny, proud, detailed and pushy (with Jack).  You have changed so much in a year I can hardly believe you are the same little person. 

It was not too long ago that we brought you home from the hospital, then took you back to the hospital, then brought you home again.  For 4 weeks you were quiet, and then you turned crazy.  I never knew what “colic” was before you came along, but I shudder to think of your crying and screaming that we could do nothing about.  We desperately asked the doctor for medication, which they gave us, but it didn’t do much good.  Eventually you grew out of it, but it was a rough couple of months. 

At 4 months you finally began to sleep better.  You had been sharing a room with us, and then with Jack, but slept much better when you got your own room for a few months.  Around 6 months you were starting to crawl and then sitting up on your own.  At 7 months you started holding your own bottle, which was really great for Daddy and me.  At 9 months you were a crawling fiend.  You and Jack would hang out in the hallway upstairs, laughing and giggling at the marvel of being mobile.  You quickly learned to stand up on your own and are now cruising on the furniture and pushing things around the room.  You will be walking by the end of September for sure.

Madeline, you can say “Mama”, “Dada”, and “Ball”.  You also clap your hands, wave and point.  You are learning to communicate, looking at us when you want help.  You have 6 teeth and seem to have gotten over your urge to bite Jack.  We have a little slide in the play room and you quickly figured out how to crawl up it.  Even when you can’t make it too the top, you slide down and laugh.  You don’t seem to get frustrated, you enjoy figuring it out.  We do need to work on sharing; you are always taking toys from Jack. Even though he is bigger than you, you have no problem crawling over and swiping whatever he is playing with.  Your favorite toy is the Wiggles Guitar.  You push the buttons to make music and look at Daddy and I waiting for us to dance.  Lately, you have been cuddling with us, putting your head on our shoulder, it is very cute. 

You are a good eater.  You like to feed yourself.  You like green beans and Rudy’s turkey, but usually eat everything on your tray.  You love to drop your cup on the floor, too.  You look right at us, and if we don’t say anything you DROP it.  So silly. 

I cannot wait to see what the year ahead brings us, but I am also enjoying every day with you as a 1 year old.  I am often sad to put away your baby clothes that you have outgrown, but excited that you are growing up and doing new and exciting things.  You are an amazing little person already, Madeline.  I love you dearly – Little Mills, Mad Dog, Maddy, Sweet Madeline.

Love,

Mama

 

 

Picture Day!

We had the kids' pictures taken this weekend by Naomi at Pitter Patter Photos. It was an exhausting 90 minutes. I thought I had brilliantly scheduled it at a time after the babies had a nap, but Jr threw off my plans by sleeping in very late and not napping before we left. And, if I haven't mentioned before, Jr is... sensitive. Ok, a cry baby. G was her obstinate self. Only MadDog cooperated at all. Ah well, she got some good shots anyway, which is all I really wanted. These pics are our first preview.