Rodeo Drive, Baby!

This post is for Grandma Rosie who is waiting patiently for Miss Paige to be old enough to be a fun shopping partner. Paige wearing this outfit just says it all: That time is now!

Let's go already!!

I'm gonna lose it!

What do you mean I can't use your credit card?

Birthday Hats

These pictures were taken at our friend Reed's 3rd birthday party. Jack didn't want to wear a hat, so he missed out on the fun.

Crying Wolf

Jack told me his first lie yesterday. He was begging for his Amoxicillin while I was cooking dinner. When I told him that it wasn't time, he looked at me in his charming little way, and told me that his ears hurt. After six days of antibiotics (as well as other symptoms going away), I knew this wasn't true. Little punk told a fib just so he could get some "medicine juice". I'm glad that I don't have to fight him to take his medicine, but it is rather alarming how much he likes it. I guess while he's young I will have to keep the meds locked up.

Just now as I was giving Paige her lunch, he looked at me and said that his ear hurt. There was something about his eyes that made me think that his head or something else (maybe his ears) were indeed hurting. Instead of giving him the Amoxicillin, I did give him some Motrin. After taking it, I asked if his ear still hurt, and he told me it was his eye that hurt. I figured he had a headache. Less than five minutes later, I asked again if his ear or his eye hurt, to which he replied no to both. So now I don't know when to take him seriously: I don't want him to suffer needlessly, but on the other hand I don't want to cure his sweet tooth with a painkiller. Maybe I'll put some Smarties in an old Tylenol bottle, and give this to him when he seems fine, but is still asking for medicine. Sometimes it was easier when he couldn't talk!

Rough Night

Very early this morning, around 1:15, this little man woke up and never really went back to sleep. Rich and I struggled with him for about 5 hours trying to get him to just be quiet so as not to wake up Paige. He wouldn't tell us what was wrong, just kept crying/screaming. He didn't have a fever, but we knew he didn't feel good. It did finally occur to me to give him some Tylenol, and it kicked in about the time this picture was taken (a little after 7:00)...my reasoning skills are somewhat lacking in the middle of the night (my brain actually switches from it's rational mode to completely emotional mode). After going to the first doctor's appointment available, we learned that Jack is having his first ear infection. My poor baby! Now that he is on a heavy round of Tylenol and Motrin, as well as Amoxicillin, his spirits (and mine) are quickly recovering.

Night Night, Buddy!

Coffee, Anyone?

The last couple of days have been filled with a little (a lot of) naughtiness. Yesterday, while nursing Paige, Jack not only decided to get into my fingernail polish, but he actually broke the top off (the part that holds the brush), and proceed to paint himself, our carpet, and our bathroom cabinets! It was quite upsetting. With a little Borax, Woolite, Resolve, and a whole lot of fingernail polish remover (I created a drug to cure cancer...I wish), I was able to get it out. Then today while cleaning out the kids' closets, I came downstairs to check on Jack, when an overwhelming smell of coffee almost floored me. I suspected that he got into the used coffee grounds from today's coffee, when just before I turned the corner, I heard Jack yell, "Sally's Dirty!!" The old grounds were safe, but our brand new container (32 oz, I think) of Folgers was dumped all over our carpet, and Sally and Lightening McQueen were driving through it all. I need a vacation!

Gone Fishing

To prevent intruders from being able to open our sliding glass back door, we keep a wooden dowel in the track. (We also have 3 starved and miserable dobermans ready to attack as soon as a stranger crosses the threshold...oh wait, we just have 2 oh so naughty beagles who will bark themselves hoarse is anyone even approaches the house.) Lately, Jack likes to pretend that he is fishing with the dowel. I have to say that it's an improvement from beating the vicious dobermans, I mean beagles, or his sister with it.

Jack and His Dog

Just a little update on how Jack is doing with losing Bear. He has become very attached to his new dog, Charlie, and if he had his way, Charlie would go everywhere with him. Given our last experience, I am really trying to keep Charlie safe in our house at all times (although in a few moments of weakness, I have allowed him to tag along). I think that Charlie is the dog that Jack has always wanted: he rides him like a horse, jumps on him, cuddles him tight--all activities that are strictly forbidden when interacting with Bailey and Penny (who are by the way dead to me again--but that is a whole other post).

Playing "House" with Charlie

A Little Bit of Beauty

Jack and I played beauty shop on Saturday when I attempted to give him a haircut. I bought some clippers with guards, so I figured, how hard could it be? I mean it's nearly impossible to mess it up, right? I clearly wasn't anticipating the fact that my first try would be on a S.S. toddler (Screaming and Squirming). Considering the extra challenge, it really isn't that bad, although in certain light, a few long hairs can be seen. I also overplayed my hand when I tried to trim up the back with scissors, and he squirmed at just the right moment and a big chunk was taken out, which had to evened out. Luckily his hair grows fast, and it's so blonde that mistakes are less easily noticed. (At least that is what I tell myself.)

Still cute no matter what Mama does to his hair!

Yesterday, when Jamie watched the kids for me, she gave Paige her first piggy tails. She is so precious!! She obviously feels fabulous, as well, since she has totally been hamming it up for the camera. A girl just needs to feel pretty sometimes.

First Piggy Tails

Immortalizing Bear

Our neighbor, Jamie, suggested that if we were having a hard time with Bear's absence, to take his remains to Build-a-Bear-Workshop, where Jack would pick out a friend to take home, and put Bear's remains in the new friend. I thought is was a fantastic idea because it would keep Bear with us always, and be part of a new lovey for Jack. We went today, and Jack picked out this black lab puppy, whom we named Charlie. He really loves him, but I don't know that he is attached or will become attached to him. He wanted to take a picture with Charlie and Tyler together.

The Loss of Bear

We had a sad night on Friday when Jack's favorite lovey, Bear, passed on. I forgot that he brought them to the neighbor's house, and he got left outside, where their big goofy dog tore him up all over their yard (completely unable to be repaired). This was the first night in years where he didn't go to bed with him, so needless to say, it was a rough night for all (except for Paige, who was blissfully ignorant in her crib). We do have three other bears that are exactly the same, however Jack singled one out earlier, and renamed him Bear (previously known as Teddy). He's been a little out of sorts, but is recovering well. I think Rich and I were just as heartbroken, if not more, than Jack. He has taken one of the fraudulent Teddy's, renamed him Brian, and sleeps with him sometimes, but he clearly does not feel the same way about him. He also has been very cosy with a teddy bear named Tyler, from his Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Boyle.

Current Events

Jack wanted to read the paper while eating some cereal and watching the Backyardigans. He actually insisted on looking at the car ads. Apparently, he is really interested in Lexuses. Save those pennies!

After he was done with the cars, he had to check on the 700 billion bail out plan. Currently, he is undecided if it is a good plan or not.

Take Me to the Zoo!

Last Wednesday's playgroup was at the zoo. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is famous for it's successful giraffe breeding program; plus the kids can feed them triscuit-like crackers (if they feel brave enough to put the crackers on the long, slimy, black tongues of the giraffes...Jack is not).

Whoa! You're tall!

Another stroller picture

InvestigatingThanks for the crackers!
More investigating
Jack actually did pet this snake

More holding hands
Souvenirs

The wolves were actually seen roaming around. Usually there is too much noise, and they are shy animals, so they hide.

Poor Broncos

These set of pictures were taken when the Broncos played the Chiefs last week (and lost).

Jack and Paige are more interested in the brownie

Saddest little cheerleader

Healthy Eating

Jack has discovered vegetables! He loves his celery and carrots...he actually will eat a whole plate of carrots for supper if the supper I serve does not tempt his palette. I guess he wanted to share this nutritious snack with his best friend, Bear.

Baby Girl

Miss Paige is growing and growing! As of September 15th (at her nine month check up), she was 28 1/4 inches (75th percentile) and 18 lbs 14.5 oz (45th percentile). Her 3rd tooth broke the surface this past weekend. Besides all this, she is getting to be more and more of a handful. Gone are the days of my easy going little angel baby, and now she has an opinion.

Still a little bit angelic!

Practicing her Cabaret moves

Ready for the Circus

I'm going to be playing some catch up since it's been so long since I have posted anything. One Saturday morning, Jack taught himself how to do a somersault. He hasn't done any since, but at least I got some on "film".

Look at me!

Ready, Set, Go!
Heels over Head
Little bit of rasslin' with Daddy