Jacob got a Kodak digital camera for his b’day from his Nana and Pops. Let’s just say it created a monster. We downloaded 250+ pictures in the first month of ownership! And he would go to his room to do this…take pictures of himself and his brother. One morning he woke Caleb up by taking pictures of him (see second row, first picture). But you have to admit…they’re really creative and funny. When we realized what he was doing (and there are hundreds of similar shots) we couldn’t help but laugh out loud! We call it "the many faces of J and C". It not only entertains them…it entertains us! Are they characters or what?!
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He is a typical 4-year old…
whines to get his way
screams at his brother to get the upper hand
has his own opinions about his clothes, his eating habits, etc.
pretends he never wants to go to bed and is never tired (although miraculously still takes an afternoon nap everyday and will go to bed by 8 every evening)
talks and talks and talks and talks
asks a lot of "Why?"’s
is a speed demon on his bike (with no training wheels)
has the bump on his head to prove it (even 8 weeks later)
But when he sleeps…
I see those full lips and baby-like cheeks, and I always see that face that I looked at in the hospital the first time I met him.
I remember that he still likes to snuggle and hold my hand in public.
I am reminded how funny and smart and witty he is.
And how he makes me laugh out loud every day.
And I want to capture these moments because 4 and 1/2 years have flown by too fast.
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Christmas Card REJECT!
Caleb and the Toys R Us catalog
Caleb – snow day -
After more than 7 weeks on the couch, I’m back to work today.
Have been waking up in the middle of the night, making lists of things I need to do in my head. I think it’s more of a nesting thing right now…feeling the need to be ready at any moment. But everyday thinking, I hope he doens’t come today…the house is a mess!
Setting up and washing baby stuff, Christmas shopping and wrapping, regular laundry and dishes…boy, real life is exhausting! I’m even driving again (I only ran one stop sign today…it’s a new one!) And we’re on our own this week with meals…what a blessing that we’ve had meals from friends for almost 2 months! I guess it’s time we start cooking again.
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A drink from Sonic.
Had it 3 times last week.
Even had a craving for it the night of the snow. It was 24 degrees outside and icy and Derek still went and got it for me. Ahhh…good husband (bad fairy), very good husband.
It’s the…
Cranilla Craze.
Mmmmm, if you like cranberry juice (I do), it’s heaven.
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This contains adult-sensitive material…if you are a child (which is highly unlikely considering I don’t know any children that read my blog, but…) please leave the room.
Jacob lost a tooth yesterday. His 6th. It was less expected than the first 5 which dangled from his mouth for weeks before he got the nerve to pull them. Yesterday, he went in to the bathroom unannounced and came out with a tooth.
We helped him put it in his little panda pill box (the special designated tooth box that we bought in China).
Fast Forward to 6:43 am.
TEARS.
No TOOTH FAIRY.
"She didn’t come!!"
WHAT?!
The tooth fairy forgot.
Bad, bad tooth fairy.
Talk about heart-dropping, guilt-inducing, fairy failure.
Our explanation…weekends are her busiest time…she’s bombarded with teeth. She will most definitely be here tomorrow night.
Now we can only hope that Santa is a little more on the ball!
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Am I the only one totally interested in this right now? Could it be because it’s the middle of the night…again…fourth time in a row this week! And I’m up browsing the web for completely useless but fascinating information on mammals and their gestation periods? Must be a pregnancy thing! Oh, and I have a fig newton and a glass of milk by my side.
Gestation period is the time from fertilization to the actual birth in animals. In humans this period is 266 days or approximately 9 months.
The shortest gestation period known in mammals is approximately 12 days. It is shared by the American or Virginian opossum (Didelphis marsupialis); the rare water opossum, or yapok (Chironectes minimus) of northern South America and the eastern native cat (Dasyurus viverrinus) of Australia. All three of these marsupials give birth to their young while they are still at the embryonic stage. The young then find their way to a small pouch where they mature, like a kangaroo. This pouch stage lasts up to two months after which they stay close to their mothers for another month or so, usually holding tight on the mother’s back.
The longest gestation period known in mammals is that of the African elephant (Loxodonta Africana). These elephants carry their babies in the womb for about 660 days or 22 months. Camels and giraffes carry their babies for about 400 days. Other animals that have gestation periods closest to that of humans are: dolphins – 276 days, chimpanzee – 237 days and cattle – 280 days.
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Feeling like I could do a lot of complaining this morning…lack of sleep, sore ribs and back, not getting anything done, etc. So I decided this would be a good time to conclude my month of gratitude with another list…I certainly need to focus on the positive this morning.
1. A healthy baby that might go full-term! I think of all the premature babies that struggle for life and then sometimes struggle later on, and I’m so grateful that we have been spared that heartache.
2. A name for the baby! SAMUEL.
3. Grapefruit…my new breakfast of choice.
4. My super sweet little boys who are so protective and nurturing…I really am amazed at how good they are to me. "Mom, let me do that." "Mom, go lay down." "Mom, I’ll make my own lunch so you don’t have to."
5. Christmas. I love this time of year…especially the lights on the tree. It was close to 80 degrees here yesterday, but with all of the Christmas decorations up, I felt like I needed a hot chocolate. There really is something magic about this season.
6. Word search puzzles and cross stitch. Not sure how I would have survived bed rest without those two things! I’ve completed 88 word search puzzles in the last 7 weeks…I think I could enter a contest!
7. Service. Our family has been the recipients of countless hours of service lately. And at times it’s been difficult to accept. It felt unbalanced…with us not being able to give back. But recently we’ve found small ways (usually of the store-bought variety) to try to give, particularly to other women who are pregnant and sick or on bed rest. And that’s a good feeling. Giving and receiving. It’s been a good life lesson…there definitely are times and seasons for everything…a time to give, and for us recently, a time to receive–hopefully with grateful and humble hearts.
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Had a wonderful holiday last week…enjoyed having Derek and Jacob around, the beautiful weather and a great, relaxing time with family. We went to my Mom’s house on Thursday and again on Sunday for family dinners. I realized how rare it is to get everyone together and I appreciate those times more than ever…especially since we all like each other. 🙂 Still no pics to share, but I have "load new Canon software" on Derek’s to-do list this week, along with loading some software on my new (but used) laptop from my brother (thanks Mike and Liv!).
Along with nursing a strained back, I have a list of to-dos myself this last week of bed rest: laundry, on-line Christmas shopping, find a PTA Historian replacement, etc. Oh, yea, and REST! It’s my last week of freedom, or is next week my first week back to freedom?! I guess it depends on how you look at it. We’ll see…
And I know I’ve made this joke several times during this pregnancy, but I just can’t resist now that I have a picture to prove it. This pregnancy has felt SOOOO long (and I know you all agree) that I’m pretty sure I’m having a baby elephant (who’s gestation is 22 months) instead of a baby human! Here’s the sonogram to prove it…
So sweet…I think he has Derek’s feet and my nose.
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Sonic Ice
Root Beer
Baths
Scented Lotions
Good Books
Christmas CDs
Cushy Socks
Trampolines (for bored little boys)
and Holidays…love the Holidays.
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