Take Me Away

We are off on our Spring Break trip!  The first part of the trip is a 500 mile drive to Kansas City.  We were a little scared of this trip because out last couple trips have been brutal.  Traffic.  Blizzards. Screaming, sick kids.  But this trip has been great!  Jackson is still a "threenager" and we can't get around that but at least he NAPPED!!  

Charley's been pretty happy too.  She's slept a little, read some animal books, and ate teddy Grahams while taking her socks off.

We will be in KC until Monday and then we leave the kids behind and head for MARCO ISLAND!  We are ecstatic and Nana is really excited to spend so time with the kids!  Can't wait!

Keeping On.

Whoa!!!  It's been 3 weeks without a post!  I'm just going to post several photos from my phone tonight and then later this week I'll get Charley's 21 month post up!!  Time is FLYING!!  We just finished parent/teacher conferences, Bryan has been working a ton, and Spring Break is next week.  We're busy people right now!  The kids are healthy (mostly), happy (mostly), and doing well!!

Charley is getting pretty good at brushing her teeth.  She takes it very seriously.

Jackson is getting better and better at being able to sit and focus.  He loves these Perler beads and will sit long enough to fill a whole shape board.  We have several of these ironed shapes floating around our house.

Last week is was warm(ish..50s?) and sunny so we played outside after school.  We were using our sand toys to build with the snow.  We have had lots of warm days and there's still lingering snow.  I'll be interested to see how everyone's lawns do because everything seems flattened from the weight of all the snow.

We went to our friend Josefin's third birthday party at Kids Town!

Charley knows how to party!

She also knows how to get around quickly which is why JJ plays in the dog kennel.  "She'll never get my toys in here!"

"Who, me?"  She's getting SO big.  But not really. All this walking is slimming her down.  She's lost a pound since her 18 month appointment!

We have one more week before Spring Break and then we're headed to Nana and Papa's!  I'm so anxious to leave the kids:/.  It'll be fantastic to have a real vacation!  We're headed to Marco Island with some friends while the kids stay with Nans and Papa!  So exciting!!

Caroline Jane~Twenty Months

Caroline Jane, at twenty months you:

• weigh about 25 pounds.  You've actually lost weight since you are moving everywhere now! 
• have really started walking now!  You are still a little unsteady on your feet but you are making such fast progress now!
• are sleeping and napping well.  You love your sleep and we love you so much for that.
• are getting some pretty long hair.  When your hair is washed it gets really straight and goes so far down you back!  As it dries it starts to curl up.
• are becoming pickier with your food.  You are noticing Jackson do this and you want to try it out as well.  You still eat much more than he does though.
• have really started talking so much more!  You repeat people all day long.  "Sit down" seems to be one of your favorite phrases. 
• love taking baths.  After dinner when Mommy asks if you are all done, you say "bats" while signing bath.  You would take one every day if you could.
• love your brother and you want whatever he has.  This month has really been the start of the sibling struggles.  You are so dramatic when he takes something from you.
• had a good visit with your pediatric pulmonologist.  He said you were a very well behaved, healthy patient and that we don't have to go back for six months.  You still take your Pulmicort every night but you are off all your other medicines now. 

Mommy and Daddy can't believe how close you are to TWO years old!!!

Around the House

There were several photos on my phone I wanted to make sure I documented before they got too far behind us.  With the nasty weather there isn't much fun, photo worthy excitement going on though. 

We are trying to get Charley to put her paci, dolly, and lovey in her bed when she's not in it.  We're failing miserably.  This girl is seriously attached to the paci and lovey.  When we're trying to get everyone out the door at 6:30am, the fight hasn't proven to be worth it.  The detachment process seems to be a job for the summer.

This was a pretty awesome fort we built on a snow day.  There was no new snow but the high that day was -12.  Brrrr.  Jackson loved this!

I love this picture of Charley's hair.  We have to put it up right now or it's always in her eyes.  I'm not really sure where her style is headed but I just can't bring myself to cut it.

Sleeping pictures are my favorite.  The crying for no apparent reason, launching toys at the cat, banging on the tv, and feeding her lunch to Claire all wash away and just leave this sweetness.

This is how I found Jackson's plate the other day after I told him he had to eat all the eggs off his plate before he could have something else.  Quite creative!

Friday night Bryan was still in Miami so JJ and I had a movie date.  He was so interested in Finding Nemo and asked about 328 questions.

Next week we are headed to Mimi's house to enjoy the long weekend!!!

Caroline Jane~19 Months

Last Monday and Tuesday I got two bonus days home with the kids because of the frigid temperatures.  I had these visions of creating the pink backdrop and getting some photos of Charley.  The last time I did this she was about 10 months old.  It turns out she has grown some and my space was a bit too small. Also, Charley had just gotten up from her nap and wasn't ready to let her paci go no matter how hard I tried!  The tears weren't worth it because then I really wasn't going to get a good picture.  I wanted her to hold her pink doll too but again, she had other plans.  Her lovie was just too good to put down.  All that aside, I think she's still a cutie. :)

Caroline Jane, at nineteen months you:

• are starting to talk more and more.  You repeat so many things we say.  It's not always the clearest but its obvious you're trying to say it. 
• are really loving shoes.  One day you were so upset because Mommy wouldn't put two pairs of shoes on you.  One pair was already on and you cried and cried as you tried to put the other pair on over the first pair.
• love books.  You like to flip through the pages and point to the pictures. 
• nod your head yes and no all the time.  It's one of your preferred ways to communicate.
• have such long hair!  It's a bit wild because it's got some curl in it.  You either wear it in pigtails or in a small ponytail because your hair is always in your eyes.
• are spending more time on your feet but you still aren't walking.  Your physical therapist is pleased with your progress though.  You are getting stronger and stronger and each week she is impressed with your new skills.
• can stand up in the middle of a room all by yourself.  It is still so hard for you though and your little legs just shake and shake as you try to balance yourself.
• give so many hugs.  You hug your toys, your friends at school, Mommy, Daddy, Jackson and even Claire! 
• have learned how to wink (kind of) and it's the cutest thing.  You concentrate so much and squint your eyes.  It makes Mommy and Daddy laugh every time.
• are completely obsessed with blueberries.  You are still a pretty good eater but you are getting pickier.  Blueberries are always a winner though.  You would eat a pint each day if we let you.
• had a Cystic Fibrosis test done right at the end of the year to check your chronic cough.  Mommy was so happy it came back negative.  You still have that barking cough all the time so you take a breathing treatment each night.  You sit so still for the evening treatments but you don't care for the morning ones when they are needed.
• love singing songs.  You have started doing the hand motions when you hear them.

We love you so much!

3.5

Dear Jackson,

 

On January 9th you turned three and a half years old.  It doesn't seem possible that you are so close to FOUR!  My, oh my, is your personality  blooming.  You have very definite opinions and you know exactly what you want.  You can be the sweetest boy and you can make Mommy and Daddy want to pull their hair out too.  You can be pretty funny too!  You love to make people laugh, especially Charley!

Charley thinks you are the best big brother and most of the time you like her too.  Now that she is much more mobile, you can get very frustrated by her and take her toys and yell at her.  You say "No, Cholly!"

 

You are loving playing games like Hungry Hungry Hippo and matching card games.  You "play" Mario with daddy and you get so excited when he gets stars.  Your love for DVDs has morphed a bit.  You are still really interested in sign language but now you mostly just want to sort and stack your DVDs and cases.  Your favorite shows are Paw Patrol, Bubble Guppies, and Mickey Mouse.  Your favorite music is Laurie Berkner and Raffi.

 

Now that mommy is back to work you are taking naps!  You sleep about 2 hours at school each day.  You go to bed around 8:00 and we wake you up for school around 6:15.  Bedtime has been so difficult lately.  You will do anything to prolong the process.  We put on pajamas, brush your teeth, read a book, read your Bible, then your bed time book, and then the Mommy Loves You song in one of many variations.  Then you try to delay it more by requesting different toys to be in your bed with you.  It wears me out but I know this phase will pass and I'll miss the extra time with you.

  

School has been the best thing for you.  You really love it!  Your current teachers are Miss Eswari and Miss Lauren.  They love you and always tell me what a good boy you are.  They are shocked that you give us any trouble at home.  You recognize all your letters and numbers and you can write most of them too.  You are getting really good at writing your name!  When I come to pick you up after school you are usually at the craft table, sand table, or dancing in the mirror. 

 

 

You make us laugh every day and we are lucky to have you as such a healthy and happy boy.  Your dancing, singing, and performances keep us smiling.  We love you so much, Buddy!  Happy 3.5!

 

 

Love,

Mommy

Christmas Catch Up

I have tried for two nights to get these photos loaded and something is up with the photo loader.  I finally have just decided that I'm using the photos that are up and apologizing for the neck stretches you'll have to do reading all of this.  Since Christmas almost a month ago, it's time.

 

A couple weeks before Christmas I had a Favorite Things party.  It was so, so fun and I will definitely be doing it again!  We ate, drank, exchanged gifts, and chatted and had a blast!

We set up all the Favorite Things so we could see.  I shared the glass canisters and others brought books, lotions, socks, travel cups, wine sippies, nail polish, caramel corn, scarves, silicone mats, burp cloths, and jewelry.  Everyone got to pick three different things to take home.



The next week was Jackson's Christmas program.  He did so well.  He cried a little when he had to leave us to go with his class but once he was there, he did so well.



 

See?  He LOVED it!

 

They sang Must Be Santa and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

After a long week at school, Mike, Lindsay, Nana, and Papa came for the weekend!  Mimi had already been here since the 13th.  We had such a fun Christmas weekend planned.  We had a great mix of planned activities and chill at home time.

 

Lindsay and Jackson made ice cream cone Christmas trees.



and Mike and Jackson played the guitar.

 

We exchanged gifts on Saturday morning and Charley was so please with her Rody until she fell off.

 

That night we had a sitter and went to dinner and our annual viewing of Let It Be Christmas at our church.  It's the nativity story told through Beatles music.

 

 

Sunday was our city day.  We had brunch at Pomegranate Cafe and then headed downtown.  It was so helpful to have several extra pairs of hands in the city!

 

This one is completely out of order but I had to decorate the basement for my family.  I wanted them to feel the spirit in the basement too!

 

Charley had the craziest hair.

Jackson, Charley an Mimi!

We started a new tradition this year that turned out great!  We packed up care bags to take to give to homeless people we saw.  Jackson is holding one of our bags before he gave it to a sweet man and said Merry Christmas.  The bad thing is that this little activity also taught him how to spot a homeless person from a block away.

 

We spent some time looking at the Macy's windows

 

and went  to KrisKindle Mart.

 

Jackson loved this traveling puppet show on the corner.

 

He especially loved telling jokes with Miss Lindsay all day....and weekend.

 

We even went to Daddy's office and had fun looking out the windows.

 

Nana loved the city and experiencing it with Jackson.  It helped that he was so well behaved.

 

When we got home Mike and Lindsay made us a fantastic meal!

 

Another fun tradition this year was opening a wrapped Christmas book each night.  It took a lot of time to wrap 25 books but he LOVED this!  Nana read this one to him.

 

On Monday before everyone left, we made some sugar cookies.

 

We had a blast visiting with my family.  The best part is that it wasn't even Christmas yet!!

 

Christmas eve was wonderful.  We did our usual Chicago Christmas tradition (which has only been twice.) :)

We went to church at 3:00 and then had dinner at Ted's Montana Grill.  The Starbucks in Downtown  Naperville closed at 6 so we got there just in time for some quick drinks before headed out to see Christmas lights.  It was so, so great!!

 

Christmas morning was fun too!  The kids loved their gifts and handled all the excitement really well.

 

Jackson was beyond thrilled with his new drum set!

 

Mimi had to get a photo of her with her grandbabies and their matching shirts before she left!

At the end of a fantastic break was our New Year's Eve party.  We hosted our small group and had a fondue night and played games. 

I was really looking forward to this break and it proved restful!  It was even better because with the Polar Vortex that blew through, we got two extra days off!!!

 

We had a wonderful Christmas and now we're looking forward to Spring Break!