Roller Coaster: Up and Down

Roller Coaster: Up and Down - Jack 23.5 mths, Sophie 9.5 mths

As a mother, or parent, you know the day goes up and down. There are moments of, “Oh, I couldn’t possibly love this child anymore, she is SO beautiful!” to “Seriously? Is this child mine? What has possessed you this instant!?” My mom told me early on… it’s a roller coaster. Makes sense right? But as a new mom, and a friend to many “soon to be moms”, its funny that no one tells you the details about this roller coaster ride. Like that it starts instantly- like day 1 home from the hospital when the reality hits you at 3am that you don’t know how to make a formula bottle. Or that you will go over about 100 hills in one day… or in one dinner out with the family. I love to have my kids with me. Even if its miserable for all of us, dammit. We are a family and we are all going to be miserable together. I can’t count the number of times I have the “best” idea for us to do as a family… only to realize it was probably the worst idea. How many times have I looked at Tom from across the dinner table at a restaurant, begging, please? Make them stop? Or how many times has he shot back the look that either says, “Told you so. I didn’t want to bring them”. Or, “Well their your kids too”.  Isn’t it funny what your eyes can say, without saying anything?!

Well, we’ve had a few interesting weeks, and some ups and downs. We went on vacation. The kids were great actually. They did great on the airplanes, swam in the pools, napped well (for them), went out to dinner and played with their cousins. We went to the circus, where Sophie squealed both in delight and boredom, grabbed the ladies hair in front of me and oodled with a lady behind us. Jack stared intently at the tigers, was bored and jitterish through the clown moments, and then about died when the elephants came out. I had promised him for 3 weeks, that we would ride the elephants together… and he saw the other kids doing it, and he remembered. He was pointing and trying to walk to them. Dammit. No cash. Seriously Lindsey? (and it was 20 bucks, 10 a person by the way) And of course. The ATM’s are out. And crashing down the hill. Tantrum ensues. Jack is repeatedly pointing at those elephants. Ehh? Ehhh? And pointing at himself. I’m sorry honey. L And Sophie is passed bedtime. So she starts crying… so we leave. Within a few seconds, two beautiful peaceful sleeping babes in the back.

JACK, 23 mths

Jack’s language is starting to take off. He says about 30 words, Mama, dada, toash, go away, hot, brown, gigi, papa, pappy, mimi, poop, pee pee, ee ee, two, three, uh oh and down. He says the following letters, A, B, D, E, O, U, T, P and I. Last night we were watching a documentary about Alaska.. and I asked what color are the polar bears. “Whiiii” he says! YAY! And later I ask what an owl says, “who who!” he hollers! Heck yah! He also is very very good with sign language. He signs Dog, Hat, Car, Bus, Airplane (which he constantly reminds us that he road in one… with pappy), bird, bug, more, please, thank you, milk, bike.  He has also learned to “wink”. Half the time he blinks, but a lot of the time he lands a real wink. Melts my heart. Its our little secret “I love you”. I just look over and wink at him. And he winks right back and keeps on trucking. He has developed a huge love for cars, and the iron board ramp, and pockets. He loves to put his cars in his pockets.

Sophie, 9.5 mths

Wow. Where to start on this one? She is walking with help. Jack LOVES to help his sister walk, although he pushes her a little too fast. J She can walk well in the walker. She said, Mama one night… but lately her babbles sound more like Da da! She has waved a few times. She gives baby high fives. And she plays pat a cake. She climbs anything and everything. She climbs stairs. She has climbed out of the walker onto her head. She smiles and coos, and is just absolutely beautiful. Everyone comments on how beautiful she is. At the grocery store on Saturday, Sophie must have had 5 comments on how adorable she is. Equally as common, she gets comments about how tiny she is. I don’t know what she weighs… but I guess around 16. I think she is smaller than Jack… but I am not sure.   And our little peanut just took her first steps yesterday night!! About five to eight little steps... guess she wants to be walking at Big Brothers birthday party! 9 mths, and 1 week. Yep. She's got some Ater in her. ;) She gets her balance from her Mama.