Bedtime Stories

From very early on, we have made reading a part of Jack's bedtime routine. It has been so fun to watch his interest grow and change over time. He used to giggle and laugh so hard during the Dr. Seuss stories that I had to then switch to something else to calm him down.

Now that he is older, he definately has his favorites and they change. For awhile it was the ABC book. Currently, it is the Foot Book. He puts his foot into the middle of the book to show his foot as you read. He insists on turning the pages, and you better read fast because he turns them fast. He also calls out "mom" when we get to the pig page. (I don't know what that is about, but I am not too happy with it!) Jack insists that we read it multiple times each night, getting very upset if we don't read it at least 5 times. He absolutely prefers me to read instead of dad. Sometimes, when Stuart is reading, he will grab at my shirt and pull me over to the book so that I will take over.

We always finish the session with Good Night Moon. However, we have to stop when we get to the page that says "Good Night Kittens." Jack starts making happy noises and pets the page. He then takes my hand and puts it on the page to pet the cats. Recently he began grabbing my hand when I am on the previous page in anticipation of what is to come. After the kitten page, he has no more interest in the book. By the way, the Good Night Moon book is trashed. He has torn off the back page and eaten through many of the others. When is he going to stop putting everything in his mouth?!

I do love that he is so interested in books. He brings them to me all day long to read to him. It's a great habit for him.

Tantrums

Saturday we all went to the Fountain Hills Art Festival. We have been trying to find a painting for the family room that we could both agree on for a couple of years. We finally found one and even got a heck of deal on it. (We are both bargain shoppers and love to negotiate.) I had looked at the painting on Friday with some friends and when Stuart and I returned on Saturday, the artist immediately offered $100 off. Good sign he was flexible on price. Stuart got him down another $150. I then talked him into taking a final $50 off the price. We were very excited. Doesn't it look great?

Anyway, we got it home and up on the wall and Jack was very excited. He kept climbing on the couch to grab it and pound his fists into it. I kept telling him "no," and would pull him away from the painting. He then proceeded to throw his first serious tantrum. He screamed and cried. He tried to bite me when I pulled him away. The little booger even tried to grab my face to bite me in frustration. When I didn't let him, he bit his own arm. He was so angry and upset. We have never seen anything like it. By Sunday, the appeal of the painting seemed to have worn off and Jack left it alone. Tuesday, however, he thought he would give it another try. He waited until I was otherwise occupied and climbed up on the couch. He then looked over to make sure I was watching him before he slapped the painting. Then he laughed while I ran over to stop him. What is up with that?! Yesterday, he tried a new approach. He would climb up on my lap when I was on the couch and give me several kisses and then sneak his hand behind me to grab the painting. I would pull him away and tell him no, and he would kiss me again and then make another attempt. He is a sneaky boy. Don't let his sweet face fool you. This boy is starting to fight for control of the house. He may be little, but he has powerful tools at his disposal.

Dad is Home

I know I haven't posted anything for awhile. I have been feeling really down and have not been up to doing it lately. Stuart being gone was a big reminder of how isolated I feel living here; it feels like I rarely get to see anyone. I know I shouldn't complain and in truth it really makes me appreciate my husband, and our relationship more. It's been wonderful having him back, but it has, understandably, taken a good week for him to get back on the right time schedule. Jack is thrilled to have his dad back and takes it very hard now when he leaves in the morning for work. We are both so tired right now. It has been 4 months since we last had a date without Jack and it is starting to wear on us. However, I know how blessed we are and Stuart is so good at reminding me of that on a regular basis.

We also got news last week that my aunt Shelley is not doing well and has very limited time remaining with her family. (http://shelleyshelleyconway.blogspot.com/) I cannot begin to understand how hard it must be to try to say good-bye to your children. I am so grateful that so many have come out to support and assist them during this time. Everything else is trivial compared to that. I focus on so many small frustrations and forget that I have a beautiful family that is healthy and happy, and that is really the most important thing of all. I also appreciate some very good girlfriends I have that got me out of the house last Friday for a walk around the Fountain Hills Art Festival. Sarah and Sharon are always good for being there to listen and sympathize. They also know when to hit me upside the head and making sure I stop whining.

I promise to have more Jack posts soon. He has been a constant ray of both sunshine and frustration in this house and is our perspective.

Exhausted

I just got off the phone with Stuart and he has begun his journey home. He made it to Hong Kong and is getting on a plane to Taipei. After that he flies to LA and then home, so he will get in tomorrow night. I am worn out after this week alone. I thought I would share a summary of what Jack has been doing while dad was gone. Note that most of these are new activities he started in the last week.

This it the toy box we keep in our room. Jack dumped it out to make room for himself. Pretty tame, but it gets worse.


This is Jack with his Diaper Genie. He won't leave it alone. He will pick it up and carry it to me, no matter where I am in the house. This morning, I found him putting Stuart's car keys in it and later, his new shoes.


This one is self-expanatory. He is obsessed with the dryer now and I am having a hard time keeping him out of it.


Yes, this is the pantry, emptied out on the kitchen floor.


Yes, this is naked Jack with the computer keyboard. I have to explain that he and I were playing hide and seek in the office and the living room. He loves that game, and loves it when I jump out and scare him. I went into the kitchen to hide in there and he was out of my sight for no more than 30 seconds (no exaggeration) when I hear a crash and find that he has taken his diaper off and is now playing on the computer, naked. (I had better pics, but they were too graphic and I would hate to garner attention from CPS.)

And of course, Baby Jack loves water...

Missing Dad

Tonight I dropped Stuart at the airport for a business trip to China. I know I'm sad, but I already miss him. He is not only a wonderful husband, but he is my best friend (and sometimes it feels like he's my only one!) Jack did ok saying good-bye, but I think tomorrow morning will be rough. Stuart is the one he wants to see when he first gets up each day and they usually spend time together each morning. Can't wait until he returns.

Don't Forget to Vote

Trick or Treat

We tried our best to get Jack interested in the pumpkin, but after a first glance, he left it alone. He didn't like the slimy insides either.


The kid friendly versions were only slightly more interesting to Jack.

Stuart picked out his costume again this year. Jack loves to walk around with his make-shift spears (mops, brooms, dusters, wrapping paper tubes, etc.) So, he thought this would at least give him a pitch fork to play with for the evening. He broke the first one a couple of weeks ago, so we had to buy a second one for Halloween. They are great for hard to reach places in the house.


We didn't think he would wear the hood, but he was so excited to run through the streets, he didn't try to take it off all night.

I think the outfit is very appropriate.

He was more interested in chasing the only other 2 kids on our street then trick-or-treating. He played with cars in the driveways, tried to re-landscape some yards, and fell into the street multiple times.

He actually ran into one house and had to be dragged back out before he destroyed anything. Another neighbor made the mistake of offering Jack his choice of items from her candy bowl; Jack grabbed a bunch and threw it in her driveway. I think he just loved running wild in the street and checking out all of the Halloween decorations. The last house we visited had a dog and that just made his evening!

He really doesn't have any interest in the sweets, he just likes the sound the wrappers make. Our home is covered with Nerds candy because Jack liked the way they shook in the boxes and played until he got them open and dumped them everywhere.

We got very few trick-or-treaters. This was mainly due to the fact that there was an elaborate street party with very cool haunted houses a few blocks from us that drew the crowds away from us. As a result, we have tons of candy left. Can I send it to anyone out there? Anyway, this was so fun for us all. Last Halloween, Jack was only 2 months old, so this was his first trick-or-treating adventure. It didn't last long, but then again it was way too hot to be out in such a warm costume.