Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Pumpkin Patch

For the entire month of October we have been wanting to take Jack to the Pumpkin Patch. Almost every Saturday has been rainy and cold so its been put off and put off and put off. Finally this past Saturday we went, it was freezing but atleast it wasn't raining. We went out to Shantzholm and had a great time. Jack liked playing in the mini corn/slash/hay maze and loved looking at the animals. He didn't show to much interest in the pumpkins much to my disappointment since i wanted some cute Pumpkin themed pictures. We didnt' stay a very long time since it was freezing and my maternity coat is still resting warmly at my Sisters house. But we had a great time. We got a great pumpkin that we are planning on carving up with Jack this coming weekend. It should be a great time!
Climbing Hay Bales


Thinking about putting his head through, of course when he did I missed it!


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Hitting, Punching, Gnashing of Teethies

Lately Jack has taken to violence to express his emotions to Branden and I. I have been quite concerned about it because smacking seems to be his method of choice for dealing with any emotion. If he's excited he'll smack you, if he's sad he'll smack, if he's Angry OH HOW HE WILL SMACK YOU! We've been going over methods of getting him to stop and they do seem to be curbing this habit atleast a little. He gets time outs, or if we are holding him or playing with him he gets put down. He does not enjoy either of these things to he usually stops. But sometimes when he's really in a mood, it will do nothing to stop him. One night last week he was angry for no reason in particular and smacked me on my face. So I put him in time out in his crib for one minute. He cried and screamed and tried to climb out and after a minute I picked him up told him hitting was unacceptable and that I loved him. He promptly smacked me in the face again. So back in the crib he went. This repeated no less than a dozen times. The kid is stubborn. But since then he's gotten better. The hitting is less and less frequent.

I spoke with his daycare ladies last week and then said he has never once hit another kid there or them. So thats good (or maybe not) but he seems to be saving his very worst behaviour for home. As I was discussing it with them and expressing my extreme relief that he wasn't "that kid" the one that hit the others (especially since he is currently the oldest and in a room with several rather small babies) he smacked me in the face. They were shocked, I was unimpressed.


I am glad this behaviour is only happening with Branden and I and he isn't really a problem child at daycare or in the nursery. And our consistent responses of no, time outs and we love yous seem to be working. He is hitting less and less and when he does hit the last few days you can see him trying to resist. But those impulses can be hard to control for babies sometimes and he isn't always perfect. Its quite funny actually a few times in the last few days I have watched him fight the urge to hit me or Branden when he's upset he fights it so hard and you can see he's just not able to fight it so he will come over and hit all the while saying 'no no no no no:" because he knows its a no no. Its almost too cute to get him in trouble!

He is a wonderful child who I adore though and I just hope the hitting ends soon. Because quite frankly sometimes it hurts! and I hope its a normal stage of development. It seems to be from what I've read. More common for boys than girls, which makes sense since boys are so very, very rough and tumble!

Dear Pregnant Body

Dear Pregnant Body

I appreciate you, I really do. You are doing a wonderful thing and should be applauded for that. But at the same time I must confess that recently I despise you.

First of all my Pregnant Chest. STOP GROWING! You grew when I was pregnant with Jack, you grew again when I was breast-feeding Jack and you REFUSED to shrink back to your normal (already somewhat bountiful) size post breast-feeding. I thought you had reached your maximum possible size, but apparently I was wrong. You have decided to start growing on me again and I must say this is simply UNACCEPTABLE. Branden may admire and appreciate you, but I despise you. You make my clothes not fit, I am at max capacity in my shirts and bras and have no funds to buy more so STOP! You hurt my back, every night I want to cry because you throw my back all out of whack and it hurts so bad that after Jack is in bed I am in bed with a heat pack trying so hard to get you to stop hurting! And you are getting awfully hard to cover up. I strive for modesty I really do, but you my breasty nemesis make that hard for me. You are already large enough, you provided just fine for my first baby and if you stop growing I promise you will do the same for the second. So please give me a break and STOP GROWING!

Second, my dear sweet complexion. You were so kind to me and to Branden when I was pregnant with Jack. My body created some sort of wonderful hormone that somehow made not only mine, but Brandens skin perfect as well. Oh how we loved that 9 months of blemish free enjoyability. But what are you doing this time? Its like I'm a greasy 14 year old who spends her evening rubbing french fry grease on her face. Stop getting pimples! They make me feel ugly! and stop giving Branden pimples. We don't ENJOY!

Third Stomach, you know you have been causing me the most troubles. Please oh please stop making me barf. I appreciate that the nausea and barfing is not so unrelenting anymore. I appreciate the breaks. I DO NOT appreciate having to run from sacrament meeting to barf, I DO NOT appreciate having to run at top speed past my husbands study buddies just to have them hear me yack in the bathroom. I do not appreciate the horrified tears the eminate from my child when he sees me wretching! I do not appreciate the intense stomach pains that are not relieved no matter how many times I barf (excuse the talk of bodily functions here), poop, burp or toot. You KNOW that when I release gas you should stop hurting, but you insist on continuing the horrible pain. PLEASE STOP!

Fourth-Pregnancy Brain I'm assuming its you that is at fault for how tired I am and I just need to let you know I do not appreciate it one bit. I am well past the first trimester now and I was assuming the tiredness who come to an end as most pregnancy books promise. But you, you seem to be a rebellious brain. Making me tried WELL past the first trimester. I have things to do my dear brain. I need more energy more ability than just waking up, getting through the work day (barely) making dinner (barely) and finishing the dishes (barely). Instead of having to play with my son while sitting or lying down, I would like to run outside with him and chase him for hours as he is accustomed to. I am no longer a fun Mom because of you. I chase him once down the hallway and I'm toast and its not cool. Luckily I have a wonderful husband who is the best Father who chases twice as long, twice as hard to make up for my lackings. BUT i want to chase him myself. So please oh please stop making me so tired. And while I am talking to you brain, enough with the stupidness. You make me forget basic words. I can't hold an intellectual conversation anymore and the other day when I meant to say appetite I said apptitude. NOT SMART. I like being smart so stop making me dumb.

Fifth-Emotions. Get a handle on yourself. Bawling your eyes out whilst watching the Biggest Loser is not an acceptable practice. I am not a terribly tear filled girl and yet you have made me a sobbing mess. I could barely breath from how hard you made me cry at Forrest Gump the other night ( I was however slightly comforted when I looked ever and even Branden had a tear glistening in the corner of his eye, that is a great movie!) I was crying so hard at The Biggest Loser last night that Jack became most concerned. He brought me his favourite stuffed animal steve to make me feel better and when that didn't work he climbed up and gave me a big hug. AS pleasant and adorable as this was, my baby should not have to comfort me and my insane emotions I should be comforting him and his insane emotions.

Sixth, pregnancy Hair. I adore you. you make my hair less greasy I can go three days without washing without being a big old greaseball. You are growing fast and you are soft and lustrous. You may be the only part of my body I appreciate. So I love you!

In conclusion pregnancy body I know you serve me well in so many ways. You made me one perfect healthy amazing baby and I'm sure you're on your way to producing another. You get pregnant with a ridiculous amount of ease. You are a fertile myrtle body and I appreciate that. But I wish, OH how I wish you could do all these wonderful things with just a little less inconvenience to your possessor

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Jacks First Hair Cut

Today we took Jack for his first haircut. At first it was going much better than I expected, he was fascinated by his reflection in the mirror and his crazy silk cape and was being completely quiet and still. Then the lady sprayed his hair with the water and he FREAKED out and then spent the rest of the time acting like we were trying to cut off a piece of his soul. The hair cut turned out good though, no more wispy weird mullet. They gave us a first haircut certificate and a lock of his hair and did you know that first choice doesn't charge for first haircuts. I recommend them. The lady worked fast and made it as painless as possible.



here's Jack about to start the hair cut

And an after picture. its cute, but I think it makes him look so much older. He's totally a little toddler now and not my little baby. that makes me happy, but also a smidge sad.


And the new haircut with a cheesy in his hair. Worlds best Mom eh!

Sewing

Recently I've gotten back into sewing in a big way. I've been trying all sorts of little projects for Jack. Some have worked, some have not. Some are done and some are not. If this little nugget inside of me is a girl though I promise that my inner seamstress will be unleashed. There are just way to many cute clothes I can make for her and I"m really excited about that. As for Jack I thought I'd show off a few of the things I've made for him lately. The things that are finished are halloween related.


These are some halloween pj's I made him. I couldn't get a good picture, because he was playing with the keyboard and pretty much as still as he's going to get when awake. He is not destined to be a model. I made the bottems too small though, hence the racing stripes in orange material down the side. They are still too small on his tushy. My problem was that I used a pair of his pj's that fit him now as the pattern. But the material they are made of is stretchy and this material, not so much. So his booty hangs out the back, they are still cute though, dorky racing stripes and all and I've learned my lesson for next time.

This is his trick or treating bag that I made him. Pattern from this lovely blog here--->Barefoot in the Kitchen Mine is less girly than hers, obviously and I didn't make the lid because I tried and it kept being too small and I figured who needs a lid anyways. you want easy access to that candy. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how this one turned out and Jack has great fun with it already shoving random crap into it and taking it around the house. I also made one for my nephew Thomas, but gave it to him before taking a picture. His is dark blue material, its cute too, but in the future I wouldn't use such a dark material because you couldn't see the jack'o'lantern face as well.

Anyways those are my current sewing adventures. I'll let you know as I finish more.

Tips Anyone?

So I'm hoping that some experienced Mothers read my blog here and can offer me some advice/tips. How do I ensure my sweet little baby to be comes late.. or at bare minimum on time. I'm really stressing out lately about this baby being early like Jack was and I just don't want that to happen. I want to be able to work as long as I can and preferably I would like it to be a month late. (I am aware for you Mothers who went overdue that I will probaly be changing my tune those last few weeks) But the thing is. This baby is due April 4th. Meaning I should start my maternity leave atleast 2 weeks before it comes since Jack was 2 weeks early, making my maternity leave start mid march. Which means that it will end mid march next year. Which is a problem

Branden finishes school end of next April and we will most likely be relocating. We'll go wherever he gets the best job and although its possible it might be in Kitchener its not likely. So even if I save up some of my vacation to cash out at the end of my Maternity leave that leaves me with a month where he isn't working and neither am I (because if we're moving I dont' want to go back to my job here for just a month and find daycare for Jack and #2 for just a month)

UGH! So how to I go back in time and make myself get pregnant a month later! (If only we were good at planning the timing of our babies!) Or how to I make sure I'm like 2 weeks late instead of 2 weeks early!

I've seen soooo many tips out there on how to induce your baby to come, sex, castor oil etc. But where are the tips to make it stay in your belly?? Anyone??

Friday, October 16, 2009

Crazy



I think its fair to say that my child is a smidge on the psycho side of the spectrum. He comes by it honestly though having been born to two parents who have been known to get a little out of control from time to time. But somedays this child is just unstoppable in his craziness.
Lets take last night for example. Jack was excitedly running up and down our hallway (as usual) and got a little too excited at something and ran smack into the wall (this happens more than I would care to admit). But this time was an extreme. After his wall collision he cried for about 15 seconds and then went on running, spent some time on Brandens lap, but seemed fine and normal.
A few minutes later Branden notices some red stains all over our carpet and starts asking me what on earth I've done to the carpet. That's when we look at Jack who's toe had been sliced open on the baseboard upon his wall collision and was bleeding QUITE profusely and tracking it all around the house. There were little bloody toe prints EVERYWHERE and since he'd been on Brandens lap oodles of blood had dripped down Branden's pants and were covering him!
Here is my poor hurt and very bloody baby who is not even making a fuss about this. That is until we went and washed it off and band-aided it. He was not impressed with the Band-Aid. He doesn't' like having stuff stuck to his foot (he freaks out if he steps on a piece of tape or plastic and it sticks to his foot) so he was unimpressed. But seemed fine once we covered it with a sock. He even hopped up on our bed and spent quite some time jumping and marching around. Until we noticed he had bled through his Band-Aid and sock and was leaving bloody toe prints all over our sheets. Then we searched our house from top to bottom and found one lonely robeez to put on him to keep the blood in place. It was a catastrophe and he looked RIDICULOUS!
But this didn't' stop him from running around, throwing his chair all over the apartment, crawling when the foot hurt to much and just plain being insane last night. It didn't' stop him from marching on the spot for 5 minutes at my feet or climbing back up on our bed to jump for another 10 minutes. This child is just out of control!


Thanksgiving

Monday was Thanksgiving and we had a great long weekend. Friday night we went to our wards Harvest Dance. Which was alot of fun. My parents came and watched Jack so Branden and I could go unencumbered. We learned to square dance, which was I have to say shockingly entertaining and fun. Although I had to FORCE Branden to try it I think in the end he had fun doing it.
Saturday we rested for our next two days.
Sunday we went to church and then to Branden's parents house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was tasty and fun EXCEPT that for some random reason my pregnancy decided to attack and immediately upon finishing the meal I spent quite some time vomiting it back up in the bathroom while everyone listened on. So very lady like of me! The barfing, however, didn't stop me from gobbling up some pumpkin pie later.
Monday we did our Annual Timon Family Tradition and went to the apple orchard. Usually on Thanksgiving Monday the place is booming with people. But this monday was about 1 degree out. So it was a ghost town, except us all dutifully bundled up and ready to pick apples. Jack had a blast though, he didn't even seem to notice the cold. And did not eat a single apple, but had way to much fun throwing them around with great abandon. Other than the freezingness that did not leave me all day it was a grand ol'time!
Then we went back to my parents for a wonderful turkey dinner that I did not wretch up this time (yay me!)
I stole some pictures from my sisters facebook for you to see our Monday Apple Orchard adventures.

Jack Eating Dinner
Jack pushing the Wagon

Picking up apples to throw


walking, cutest sweater on him ever EH! Got it for $2 at a garage sale, it has a matching hat he ripped off, but I LOVE it!




My nephew Thomas and his Dad Grant. Adorable scruncho face eh!





Sitting in the wagon.





Excuse the enormity of my head in Branden's hat (I was cold) and focus on Jack's adorableness!