Christmas in July

This is what happens when you tell a 4 year old to "go get dressed."

What, Mom? I look good!

Giant Jack's 9 month stats

I took Jack to the doctor yesterday for his 9 month check-up. I almost didn't schedule the appointment because he wasn't due for any shots and I knew once he returned to daycare next month that I would be taking him to the doctor all the freaking time. However, I couldn't resist getting his measurements.

Weight: 24lbs., 1 oz.
Height: 30 in.
FOC: 47.2 cm.

He is in the 90-97% for all three...perfectly proportionate! The doctor said he is the size of the average 15 month old. She went on to clarify that means he is bigger than 50% of 15 month olds! I asked if I was feeding him too much and she said no, he is just a big boy and his height matches his weight.

It is a good thing he is so sturdy because Ellie has taken to dragging him around the house and wrestling with him. For some reason, he seems to like it.

Ellie told me this morning that she and Jack are going to get married. I told her she couldn't marry her mother and replied with teenage condescension, "I know, mom. Not right now. When we get older." Hopefully, by the time she gets older, she will have outgrown that little notion.

Random Bullets

• I just had a full-on conversation with the hubs in which I agreed to something, but for the life of me, I have no idea what it was. That is because I was looking up decor ideas on the internet at the time. And I can't ask Tom what I agreed to because then I would be admitting I wasn't listening and the tables would be turned.
• Ellie is being especially attitude-y as of late. It kills me. When she was at Rosie's, she was acting up and then said something to Rosie along the lines of, "I am not acting like a snot!" Rosie was all, "Snot? Where did you hear that word?" And Ellie was all, "My mom." Rosie was quick to inform her that she is sure her mom would never use that word. Um, well, I might have told Ellie she is acting like a snot once or twice. Because she totally was. But hearing about that little conversation made me decide to rethink my word-choices.
• Our house has been invaded by crickets. Several times a day, Tom and I have to relocate a cricket we find indoors. Tom relocates them outdoors. I relocate them to the toilet. When we were in San Antonio, we found a cricket in out hotel room. On the 19th floor. I was convinced it had taken a ride in our suitcase, but soon I was seeing them all over the place. I felt a little comforted knowing that we weren't the only ones being invaded.
• I am currently snacking on dill pickles that have been in my fridge for possibly a year. I looked all over for an expiration date, but finding none, I am assuming that dill pickles last forever. They taste...delicious.

The rough life

Tom had to go to a coaching conference in San Antonio that fell on his birthday. He really wanted me to go with him, but I was hesitant to leave the kids again. It felt a little greedy when we already had our New Orleans trip. But Rosie and my mom were kind enough to step in for a few days so I could go.

We dropped the kids off at Rosie's on Sunday night in time for bed because we had to leave at 5am Monday morning. I wasn't worried about Ellie at all, but was really hoping that Jack wouldn't wake Rosie up early. Poor Rosie, Ellie started throwing up around 4am. What is with my daughter and her overly sensitive stomach? (I am still not convinced that it was the 4 turkey dogs I fed her for dinner. Contrary to rumor, they weren't a month old and I did cook them!) Anyway, Ellie was so adamant that she didn't want Rosie to call me and she didn't want me to come get her. She was intent on taking full advantage of her cousin sleepover. At least Jack slept in til 8 for the first time ever.

Despite all the drama and feeling guilty for leaving Rosie with my sick kid, I have LOVED this little vacation. It is the perfect balance. For part of the day, it is just "me-time." I have no household chores to get done or kids to entertain. I have been sleeping in, reading my book, working out, and laying by the pool. Then, Tom comes back and we go play. I think I might have to go with Tom to all his conferences from now on (although, Rosie might not agree!).

A little story about my two bald men

When Tom was a toddler, he had this rocking horse on springs. According to family lore, he would rock fast and furiously for hours. His parents worried about him getting brain damage, but still he refused to get off the horse. To this day, he still likes to rock. He prefers rocking chairs so he doesn't look crazy, but catch him off guard and you might see him rocking back and forth in any ol' chair.

Baby Jack is also a rocker. He rocks so hard back and forth that he moves his high chair across the kitchen and his exersaucer across the playroom. When holding him in your lap, he will rock so hard that you have to watch out or his head with collide with your face.

Yesterday, we went to my mother-in-law's to celebrate Tom's birthday (32, in case you were wondering). My MIL happened to find a little horse just like the one Tom had when he was little. She bought it for him for his birthday. Unfortunately, he is too big for it, but Jack sure seemed to like it!