Photo Share

Wow, it's been awhile.  Not sure why it has been so difficult for me to keep up. I guess its more the act of sitting down at the computer and plugging in the phone/camera than anything. But here I am for a quick update. 

I would love to jump in right where I left off but it seems that since so much time has passed, the old photos from January seem irrelevant. Everyone has grown and changed so much. The kids just aren't the people they were back then. Seems impossible but its true. So here are some of the highlights of life lately.

Nyah is reading and writing like a fiend and doing great in school and best of all, she loves it. George is the designated math teacher in the house and guess what Nyah excels in...math, obviously. He's such a great teacher.

Nyah enjoys doing everything on her own and would fix her own hair for school is I allowed. She's almost there. 

And she lost two teeth!

Elsa is the same happy wonderful smart child she has always been and it is pretty much summed up in her school photo this year. This is Elsa 100%. When I ask her teacher at school if Elsa has had a good day, the response I typically get is, "Elsa always has a good day." And it's true. This child is happiness.

Jude has had the most drastic change of all. He is talking up a storm and rambles out sentences that make George and I look at each other with such amazement because we had no clue he could say any of the words. Like, "I will do it myself, Daddy." 

And Daddy it is. Seems the tides have changed and Jude is finally starting to favor George a little more. He was such a devout Momma's boy for so long and I think George was starting to wonder but Jude is now George's shadow, doing and following and helping him at all times. It's precious. 

Jude recently had to get tubes in his ears after too many ear infections and so far so good. He's healthy and actually sleeping at night. Hopefully ear infections are a think of our past.

And he got a professional big boy hair cut.

He looks so old and handsome now, I can't even take it.

 It has finally warmed up here so we are spending every moment we can outside enjoying spring.

Until next time!

What's Happening

First thing is first. I am a slacker so here are some Halloween pictures. We were throwing around costume ideas and the girls kept coming back to dressing as princesses so I quickly made up my mind. In the dress up closet they went and out they came Barbie Cheerleader Princess and Rapunzel Bride. And the best part, they got to wear their costumes out of the house. They were thrilled and so was I.

And Jude was Captain Adorable, obviously.

The last guests has left after our three week marathon of company. It was so fun and has made November fly by. The kids have loved having guests, going through everyones suitcase and the extra attention. 

My college friend Caitlin came last weekend. She had technology, and Broadway show tunes on her iPad and pictures of wildlife on her phone so she was an instant hit with the kids.

Caitlin and I went to New Orleans for a night. Just the two of us. We had so much fun exploring the city.

We went out at night and tried to re-live our college days but I just couldn't hang. I mean, I can't even remember the last time I drove at night let alone stay out past 10 pm. It felt so nice to reunite with society. People are kind and the Blues sound wonderful. 

But Caitlin kept showing me cute pictures on her high tech phone that she had captured of Jude and it was torture, like a dagger to the heart at with each reveal of another picture of his dimpled smile. My first night away from baby boy was rough. Jude had a tough night too but George held it down at the house.

Though I had a blast with Caitlin, I couldn't wait to get on I-10 and drive west as fast as the law would allow. And I did just that, mostly because I missed everyone more than I could imagine but also because my breasts were about to explode. Guess Jude nurses more than I thought he did. 

I think I will wait another year or longer until I do that again. But it was good for me to be away, I get it. I now do the laundry and cook with more vigor. I am rejuvenated.

Can you believe this is what I have to look at all day? Elsa is the most precious, tall, sweet and talkative girl lately. Most questions start with, "Why, Mommy? Why are you driving?" "Why are you eating?" "Why is Jude sleeping?" She is wonderful, life with this girl is such a joy.

And this boy...

He is just as curious as Elsa is or ever was but he goes and does and explores what he is curious about no matter how high or how loud it will be or how big of a mess he will make. He is non stop action.

He is a frequent visitor to the bar now and he just started sitting at the table at dinner in a booster seat at dinner. He seems to be so proud to join us at the table and ditch the high chair. Last night he was being a comedian, saying things just to see us laugh. 

Meet Rainbow Princess. She had a Thanksgiving performance at her school and nailed it. She was pretty excited to be on stage. No shyness with this one. And she is starting to read! I am so happy for her. 

We will be hanging around here for the Thanksgiving holiday just relaxing and being with each other. I am so excited for us to all be together with no schedules. Should be good.

A Fall Day

Here is a video of a few minutes of our wonderful weekend. Filmed by Nana, edited by no one. Just a real moment, a glimpse of childhood, one day in October.

It is my absolute favorite video to date.

Hope you enjoy!

Mad Man & Lately

Our son is a mad man. I am here typing this post with wet hair post the most eventful shower I have ever had the pleasure of taking. Jude has been way into carrying, stacking, putting away anything he can get his hands on. It's his passion at the moment. His mission. And he won't stop.

Today, while I was attempting to be a normal member of society and take a shower post workout, he was on a mission all his own. Elsa was taking her afternoon nap so I had a little window of time while I waited for Jude finally give up and sleep (yes, she sleeps more than him. Mad I tell ya). So this is typically my shower time. 

I closed the bathroom door, the closet door, the toilet door and dared to step in, giving him free reign of the bathroom. 

I learned the toilet room door has to be closed the hard way, when I went in to use it one night and turned the light on to a teddy bear staring back at me from inside the toilet. Yep, he stuffed the toilet full of stuffed animals. 

I called George and he disposed of Jude's victims but not before we both took a moment to just stare at the toilet and shake our heads. And all I could think of is how hard Jude must have worked and how many trips he had to make to accomplish fitting three medium sized stuffed animals in the toilet. This didn't happen under my watch, of course. The toilet lid was left open so all evidence points towards Dad. Hi, George!

So I usually have no problem taking a shower with Jude in the room. I know he is safe, I have my eyes on him at all times and it gives him a change to continue his mission and carry objects from our drawers to the tub, over and over. It  brings him much joy. 

Well, today, mid-shower I did a spot check on him and caught him lugging an entire box of curlers to the tub. I probably had soap in my eyes or something and by the time I rinsed and jumped out soaking wet, he had dumped the curlers in the tub, with a thud, turned the water on and gave them a nice drench, all with the proudest little smile on his face. 

I don't know what to do. Basically what I am trying to tell you is that my life is over. He now climbs onto the beds and jumps dangerously close to the edge, of course. He climbs onto the living room furniture and jumps. The chairs in our living room are currently with legs in the air to prevent him from climbing up and taking a major crash. But he sees the upside down chairs as a new climbing challenge to master. If I gave him the chance I know he could climb out of his crib. I'm exhausted but secretly loving watching this curious, wild, determined boy at work. 

I realize someday that this will all make sense. Like when he picks his profession in life or his hobby or whatever, we will all be like, "Oh, yeah! We knew you would do this because you used to love to put strange objects in toilets when you were a baby." 

I know I probably won't have the change to write again in a timely fashion (since my life is over) so here is a little bit of lately.

George took Ny went to the El-lesh-you game on Saturday. It was the highlight of her life. They tailgated before the game in an RV or as Nyah called it, a house that moves. They had great fun, she got to eat cotton candy but was tired by half time and was asleep before they arrived home.

And the next day, it was like she and George had some secret pact or something. Like their bond was stronger. They had experience stuff together that I just wasn't a part of. She needed an extra kiss before bed last next night, and she headed straight for George to get it.

Happy October to all.