Tuesday (posting on Wednesday of course)
For as bad as yesterday was, we had a good day today. Yesterday was like all of December, except I take a lot of blame for that crappy time, but yesterday I didn't lose my cool at all and there was still nothing I could do to make them happy. It was just time for bed around 5pm, but we still had 2 hours to kill. We've all been sick but are pretty much all better now, but we spent this week weaning from too much tv while sick. But Tuesday, the tv didn't even come on, not even for the Olympics. We managed a successful grocery store run with no whining or squirming, which is huge because they do not like to sit still no matter how fast I am. Then we got 2-3 hours outside time before we went out to dinner with Mia and Jen and their kids. Bobby has the worst table manners. He never stays in his seat and just gives me so much grief, and he influences the other kids to be cheeky, which is the worst part.  Regardless, good day and we got to bed on time still and Jack slept through the night to 6:15am! Bobby of course woke up at 3:30 to pee and then came in our room demanding that I read a book to him. Sleeping was rough for a while, but I think Jack is back to normal, making it through the night, usually only until 5am, but maybe that is changing too.

Maybe what has changed is that Jack is weaned. YAY. It wasn't that hard actually (at 18 months it shouldn't be) But we cut out the nap nurse for 7-10 days. The plan was a week then work on the bedtime feed, but then he got sick and cuddly and it's so easy when we're tired in the middle of the night. But Rick was big help and jumped in when he could, so now we just substitute books and drop him in the crib and there's been no major whinging.

And now the updates/boasting portion:
Jack loves books. LOVES them. If he has a book or a basketball in his hands, expect him to be backing up into your arms.

The trampoline is still a huge hit and gets lots of use.

SoCal - where the leaves fall off the trees in January

The bunk beds are great. I don't expect Jack will be in there until Christmas but that will certainly be interesting. He has figured out how to climb up to the top bunk alone. And to get down, he won't accept any help. Hence, my new gray hairs.

Always camera first, help second

Because he loves to climb, other moms on the playground, ask me, how did he get up there? (when there's only a rock wall or rope ladder) And he's fast, at running - obviously, but also just at disappearing when I look around at something else or talk to someone, he'll disappear around a car or into a garage on the street. So many panicking moments, that are created by about 10 seconds of eyes off.

Jack is not talking much. Almost not at all. But it's almost as if you can look at him and know he's playing us, like 'you know what I want, I'm not going to say it.'  A couple more words have started coming out lately, but not because you ask him a question.  "What is that?" gets nothing, but if he sees a bubble, he'll say so, e.g. If you ask him what an animal says, nothing, but if he sees a lion, he'll start roaring. And he's really good at mooing. But what he's really good at is signing. He loves to pound his chest like a gorilla, or tweet like a bird or raise his elephant trunk. Along with more and done and he expects instant results when he gives you a sign.

Did not fall for the paint in the ziploc activity

Talking, bad. Eating, terribly picky. Being awesome, nails it. Jack is just a really fun and cool kid. When he got better from being sick, it was so obvious. He perked up so much, was smiling, bouncy around and that's how he always is.  Jack has to be benefitting a lot from seeing a lot of 3,4,5 year olds around. He just wants to do what the big kids do and nothing holds him back from trying it. And our friends are great at including him too. What's interesting to see is how Bobby will push/hit Jack when they play if Jack pisses him off, but in a larger group, Bobby is great about "watch out for my brother" "let Jack do---" All we've ever said is that Bobbys role is to take care of Jack and not hurt him. So now we need to implement that in the home!

I can do it too! (I swear I didn't dress them alike on purpose)

Bobby is getting more into art, well drawing here and there at least. He likes chalk. He likes drawing with markers in both hands.

I never said it was amazing art

We skipped organized baseball this year, for many reasons, but since he's not even 5, that's totally fine. I do want to find some summer camps, especially once Baby Porkchop shows up. He really likes building lego sets still - very instruction oriented. He would much rather play with the couch cushions and what not than the loads of toys we have, but the bat cave and superheroes get some action (just like a doll house)

Stupid loaner lion from school

We are waiting on results from his kindergarden evaluation, but he's right on track or a total stud if you ask me. Fine and gross motor skills are great. Bobby can do the monkey bars, yay! Hopping and scissors and all that stuff. Memory and differentiation and sounds - he has all the basics a 4.5 year old should. We are working on him writing (easy) and spelling (hard) our last name...

Kite flying = non stop running