The Jackster

So, I know I've been a little MIA when it comes to updating my blog recently... okay, for the past year or so... but I am really going to try and jump back on the bandwagon and start blogging again.  This blog, if it hasn't already, will turn into a Pintrest and Kids blog.  That's what happens when I when I became a mother of two.

But, my first blog back I am not going to talk about Pintrest and the rockin' outfit I made of Brady for Halloween, or my dear Lola who this blog hasn't even met.  Nope, I am going to write about my adorable nephew, Jack. 

In case y'all missed it.  Jack is Brady's "identical cousin."  Story in short: My sister Molly & I found out we were pregnant the same day, had the same due date, both went into labor 2 weeks early, and both had boys, within 9 hours.  It was all a pretty incredible story.  But, what's even MORE incredible, is how close the boys have gotten.  This year I've been ultra lucky because every Wednesday I get to hang out with him.  We go to "Bible School" (AKA Bible Study) and this year my mom signed up Jack.  My mom volunteers at the Children's Program at bible school, so I get to drive Lola, Brady, and Jack back and forth. After "Bible School" we go to the "play place" to eat (AKA McDonald's) before I take them back to school.  I truly wouldn't have it any other way.  Our families get together about once a week for a big McCartney Family Dinner, but I usually don't get much one-on-one time with Jack.  I cherish my Wednesdays, because I really get to know Jack on a different level, and, let's be honest, the kids is freakin' adorable.  But, what's even more adorable is the things he says!  This kid has a memory of a computer and can recite about anything back to you.... a month later.  It's incredible.  He even knows Spanish!  Let's recap some of our conversations, shall we?

While driving in the car...
Jack: "Hi Lola!  Hi Lola!  Hi cousin! Hi cousin!"
Me: "Is Lola asleep or awake?"
Brady: "Awake!"
Jack: "She's awake.  Why isn't she answering?"

I was singing "The Wheels on the Bus.."
Jack: "I'm really good at that song.  You are not really good, Browyn"

Jack: " There's a yellow tractor on the sidewalk!!  A yellow tractor! Amarillo!"

As we were following Grandma Mac to lunch.... (driving)
Brady: "We're coming Grandma!  We're coming Grandma! Wait for us Grandma!"
Jack: " Faster Browyn!  Drive faster!  Rapido!"

Jack: "Why is Lola crying?"
Me: "She doesn't want to be in her carseat.  She wants to play"
Jack: "Lola, you need to be in your carseat so you can stay safe."

Me: "Jackster, you're a goofball!"
Jack: "I'm not a goofball!  I'm a meatball!"

The boys are so cute together too when they play.  To be honest, they are either best friends, or fighting like brothers.  These moments make my heart melt though...

Jack: (Looking at the refrigerator magnets)  "Where's the O?  Where's the letter O?"
Brady: "I don't know, Jack.  Where IS the letter O?"
Jack: (Picks up the A) "I got it!! I got the letter O!"
Brady: (looks at the letter and giggles) "No Jack!  That's the letter A!"
Jack: "Oh...."

At night while tucking Brady in to bed..
Me: "Brady, what was your favorite part about today?"
Brady: "Jack."

And the best thing he said was today....

" I want a sister.  I will call her Browyn."  Yep, you heard it here first, folks.  One day I will have a niece named Browyn.   Can't wait for my sis to get knocked up now so we can make Jack's hopes and dreams a reality.  :)

 

 

 

 

Breathe

As some of you may know, I lost a friend in the Aurora theater shooting last month. She was my friend by default, my sister's best friend. Every day I miss Jessi, and I mourn for her loss, but also for the loss my sister has had. It is awful to see someone so close to you hurt so bad. I wish I could take away the pain that my sister is experiencing, as well as Jessi's boyfriend, mother, and friend that was also shot.

Whenever I see such a tragedy on TV I immediately pray. I pray for all the people involved, their families, and the shooters families. When I first heard about the Aurora shooting I was up for an early morning feeding with Lola. Austin woke up with me & couldn't go back to sleep. He turned on his computer and informed me of the shooting, and then told me that my birthday would go down in history for such a tragic event. Then, I did what I always do. I prayed. I thought about the friends I have in Colorado and I prayed for them....

A couple hours later my sister, Molly called me frantically. I remember ignoring her call twice, thinking she just wanted to be the first one to wish my "Happy Birthday." It wasn't until I received her text "call me immediately" that I actually called her. She informed me of Jessi... And that someone needed to tell our sister, Bridget, before she found from a text or a phone call. Still in shock & processing the information myself, I went to Bridget's house and had the hardest conversation I've ever had in my life.

Since the shooting, I've gone through all sorts of emotions. Shock. Numbness. Rage. Regret. Sadness. Even happiness when I think of the memories I do have of Jessi. For the first few days I was glued to the TV and Internet and was following the story so closely. I not only would have nightmares about the things I'd read, but while awake I would be so preoccupied and terrified that I was not paying nearly enough attention to my family. I was so preoccupied with this tragic event that I was missing the present. I am still very, very sad and heartbroken about what happened, but I have to remind myself several times a day that I need to be present, now, rather than be worried or upset about the things that have happened in the past. I need to remember Jessi's youthful and contagious happiness for life, and try not to worry about what could happen in the future.

It still does seem so surreal to me though. I see these things on the TV and I always felt so far away from them... So distant. Now, I see a similar event on TV and it brings me right back to that place I was 2 weeks ago... Once again, I need to concentrate on each breath I take in, each breath I let out, and be thankful for every moment that I am given.

Potty Training Flop

With the new baby on the way, Austin and I have been dabbling in the idea of Potty-Training Brady. Last week,we decided THIS would be the weekend to try it. We canNOT have TWO children in diapers.... and now was as good of time as any, before I get too big to bed down and "clean things up".

For the past few weeks, maybe even months, Brady has been going "pee pee" in his Elmo potty when Mom & Dad go in the "Big Potty". And by saying "going pee pee," I mean Brady would sit on his Elmo potty and give him High 5's, but never really go. Well, yesterday we went out and bought two additional potties, Pull Up diapers for when we were away from home, big boy underwear, and a stock of marsh mellows as rewards for going in the potty. We were ready. Set. Now time to go.

Or not...

This morning we woke up with the mindset that we were going to potty train him. After his morning milk, we sat him on the potty, gave him books to read, and eventually my iPhone to play games on and.... WA LA.... HE PEED!!

We were so excited!! Yes, some of the pee dribbled down onto his socks and underwear, but that was our own fault for not pointing his "parts" in the down position. Austin gave him his marsh mellow and we cheered for him. What did Brady do? He threw his marsh mellow into the potty.... with his pee. (Apparently we don't give him enough marsh mellows to know that they are food!) So, we gave him another. This one he ate, and loved. Then he realized he threw a "perfectly good" marsh mellow into his potty.... What would ANY kid do? Open up the potty and pull out the marsh mellow... and.... eat it. As I was screaming in disgust and Austin was running over to save the urine soaked marsh mellow from Brady's salivating mouth, it was too late. Gone.

Well, we tried to get past this event and started cleaning up. Unfortunately, with the little toddler potties we still have to clean out the potty, and any spillage from not pointing things in the downward direction during the pee. As Brady watched his parents clean.... he decided to stand in the kitchen and finish his pee on the kitchen rug, and he cried because he was getting himself dirty.

I tried getting Brady to come back to his room so I could clean him up (again), he ran around the house, covered his urine, running in every direction AWAY from me. I finally caught him, cleaned him up.... and put a diaper back on him. Yes, you heard it right folks, a diaper. It wasn't even 10am before I had given up on the potty training challenge. I realize now that is is going to be, by far, the hardest part in my parenting career up until this point, and I am not ready for it.

Movin' on Up!

One thing that is great about daycare is all the artwork Brady brings home. I love getting his latest "project" he's been working on & seeing how much is artwork improves from day to day, week to week, and month to month. These are some of Brady's creations when he was in his Infant 2 room. As you can see, he is quite talented.

How many children do you know that can make their own Rail-Road Crossing sign? I bet not many.
Red Barn? Just amazes me how he even left off paint where the windows and door should me. That is talent people, talent!!
This is my absolute favorite. When they handed me this one, I about fell over backwards. A robot? Seriously, kid? He is a genius. Obviously daycare is teaching him WAY MORE than Austin & I are.... He's even drawn the heart & little electricity thing.... Genius people! Genius!

Well, the thing is, he recently "moved up" in daycare classes. I have not been as happy with their curriculum. I think it must be more learning, less time for art. This disappoints me that Brady does not have as much time to make the beautiful things he was making previously. Here are just a few examples of what he's been bringing home lately....



I think it's a little obvious what is going on here.... These teachers in his new classroom do not know how to teach the arts..... at all. So disappointed.....

Brady's Little Chompers

In August, Brady "moved up" in daycare. This was a much needed change for him, because just about everyday we'd pick him up he'd have an "incident report" for biting other kids. The "bully" of the classroom got it the worst... I think Brady must have been making up for all the times the bully went after him. His teachers would tell us stories of Brady biting poor Elijah, being sent to time-out, and then when Elijah would walk by him, Brady would stand up and push him. I am not happy to say that Brady had become the new bully of the classroom, but his teachers assured us that it was because he was bored in his classroom & needed more stimulation. Apparently Brady had favorite books and toys, and if anyone touched them he'd attack.

Well, thank goodness he moved up to the "older" class. These kids weren't going to let him get away with him picking on them.... Well, except for one, kinda. Brady's "identical cousin," Jack started daycare the same time the Brady moved up and Aunt Molly insisted they be in the same class... I bet she regret that soon after. Molly would call me and say that JACK would be getting "incident reports" for biting.... but only after another kid would bite him.... And guess who it was that did all the initial biting? Yep.... Thanks, Brady.....

You'd never expect them to fight, would you?


Well, now it had now been months since Brady's last daycare bite (Cross your fingers!!) and Molly now just automatically assumes that Brady is the kid behind each bite. This is how the last conversation when between her & the daycare teacher after Jack's most recent bite mark.


Teacher: "Jack did get bit today, right on the tip of his nose."

Molly: "Oh no, by who? By BRADY?"

Teacher: (laughter) "No Molly, by a mosquito!"


Poor Brady has such a bad rap now...

Maybe he deserves the bad rap though.... almost a month ago Brady & I were at a baby shower for one of my good friends at work. Everyone brought their children & it was so fun to see them all interact. We had just started going to "playgroups" with people from work too, and its been so much fun. Well, Brady changed that quickly. One of the little boys, almost 1 year old, grabbed Brady's book (that was right in front of him).... I was watching Andrea open all her gifts & was not watching Brady.... but apparently I should have been.... he went right up to the little boy and bit his wrist so hard..... he immediately started crying.... I thought I was going to also! Brady immediately got put in time-out. It was the most embarrassing thing that may have happened to me thus far regarding Brady. Those bite marks probably stayed for a good 20 minutes, and I am sure he had a bruise the next day, though his momma assures me he was okay. But, since then, we've been kicked out of our playgroup..... oh sure, they say they, "haven't had any since", but come on? Everyone is afraid of Brady's little chompers!!

I will say, Brady (knock on wood) doesn't bite anymore.... well, at least not others. Now when he gets real frustrated and wants to bite, he bites himself. Yep, you heard it here first, folks. My son still gets sent home "incident reports," but now for biting himself. I'm not sure which one is better?

Just a little White Lie....

Today I spent the day with my mom. We had a day planned of going out to lunch & then going to see the new Harry Potter film. We were both excited, but, running late. We decided to eat at our favorite bagel shop for lunch, since they are much quicker than any restaurant.... Little did we know it would set us back much further than any "sit down" restaurant.

You see, we had just ordered and we were waiting for our bagel sandwiches to be ready. Mom was standing in front of a table, leaning forward & looking at an article that was framed on the wall. After she was done she backed up, and all the sudden tables and chairs went a-flying. It was quite bizarre really. We laughed about it a little, but then looked down. Mom's big toe had been completely sliced off on the top, and was bleeding like crazy. Apparently she had her toe underneath part of the leg of the table and it acted like a razor blade to her skin.

Well, we quickly left the shop, leaving our bagels behind (along with a few grossed-out customers), and went to the "doc-in-the box". We had just gone to the ER a few weeks ago with Brady to get stitches, and knew that they.... well, take a while. We figured this would be faster. We were wrong. Very wrong.

While waiting in the waiting room, mom had me send pictures of her toe to our family members so she could get a little sympathy. As you probably know, we have quite a big family... so she was getting very upset when nobody was responding to her very disgusting picture. She would even say, "Well what about Meghan? Meghan hasn't responded?" or "I can't believe Dad and Molly are in meetings and don't even care about me. I could be dead for all they know". As she continued to talk about how much her family didn't love her, she continued to take pictures of her toe, with "grosser" angles, to have me send again.

After we had seen the doctor over 2 hours later, we decided a different approach. I texted all my siblings, and my father, with this text:

"Does anyone know Mom's blood type? She needs a blood transfusion but is passed out and can't tell them"

Then the calls and texts came pouring in....

Molly: (She called, I ignored it, I was laughing too hard)
"Tell me if your joking"

Me: "Can't talk, in the middle of surgery"

Molly: "I am in an effing meeting. Tell me right effing now if your joking"

Me: "joking!"

Molly: "Not funny, at all"

Mom and I were cracking up in the exam room. We were literally crying with laughter, but it wasn't until people really started texting us her blood type that we really got rolling. Our personal favorite was short and sweet from Meghan...

"I believe it is O Positive"

(A minute or so later)

"Sure hope I'm right!"

(another couple of minutes)

"Is Dad available?!?"

That's when we thought we'd come clean. So, we missed Harry Potter, our lunch, and our afternoon, but we sure did have a good time.... for me, it was literally at everyone else's expense. Thanks guys! ;)

Make it or Break It....

As some of you remember from an earlier blog, I sometimes get... "carried away" with certain things... While I was pregnant with Brady, it was FarmVille... then I went through recovery... a hard, long, recovery... saying goodbye to FarmVille freed up so much time of mine, I didn't know what to do... Then I had Brady... and I became busy...

Recently we put the little guy into daycare full time. Not because I don't like to spend time with the little guy, but because my schedule is too erratic to be put in daycare part-time. Well.... this has cleared up a lot of time in my schedule recently.... Unfortunately... that does not always mean good things...

I was walking through Barnes and Nobles a couple months ago and saw a sign for "Secret Life of an American Teenager".... promoting the new season.... and what did I think? "Oh, that must be a good show!".... So.... you see.... I started to watch it... and watch it... and watch it... It was disgusting... just like FarmVille all over again.... Except it had one thing that FarmVille did not... an ending... Well... at least on Netflix.... I am now a devoted follower every Monday night... and I cannot get enought of Ricky, Amy, Ben, Adrian, and Grace... they have become my friends.... at least one day a week....



But who would fill the void the other days of the week? Well, once I told people that I liked Secret Life, everyone told me that I should start watching Make it or Break it... also an ABC Family favorite... Of course I would not start watching this show... that is NOT what I needed in my life...

But... I gave in... and I am now in another addiction. Now I spend my days off work with my new besties, Kaylie, Payson, and Emily... too bad that Lauren just won't go away. The thing is... my friends now need help.... their future is at jeopardy... you see, I still have 4 episodes left until I am "caught up," but the show is at risk for a 3rd season.... Why anyone would cancel this show is beyond me... I've even got Austin hooked on the show...



Well... Our only hope is Make it or Break it winning a Teen Choice Award... So, what was the first thing I did? Get on the website and vote for my shows... What was the response? FAIL..... I got a message saying I did not meet the "age requirements" to vote... What?!? BURN....

Well, I am still going to have a TCA party... and I may or may not be 17 when I get on the website to vote.... and I suggest you all do the same...