Seems like years since I've blogged! So much has happened - well, in our world anyway. Sadly, we lost a very special lady in our lives, Jason's G'ma Peg. She will be missed in so many ways for so many wonderful things. Two grandmas gone in six weeks' time is scary and emotionally draining for everyone.
Jack is still talking all.the.time. He never stops. A sample of our daily conversations includes (but is not limited to):
1. Can pumas eat/hurt coyotes? Followed by foxes, jaguar, tiger, cat, dog, etc.
2. Do foxes eat dead animals on the road (I'm sorry I ever mentioned that)?
3. Is B (friend at sitter's) going to be at school today?
4. Is J (sitter's son) at school today?
5. Is this spring break?
6. Can Cade & Riley come over (he has actually started calling them to ask)?
7. What team are you on? I'm the Coyotes (much to hubby's dismay, as he is a Swede).
8. Can coyotes beat cougars?
9. Can we take BP?
10. I want to lay in your bed for a long time (every night pre-bedtime).
11. Can we listen to "Low Low"? Followed by "Turn it down, I'm sleeping (closed eyes)", then "I'm awake! Turn it up!"

Some days are like a broken record. I've answered these questions at least a million times apiece and they show no signs of waning - although we do get variations. I wonder if all three year olds are this way? I haven't been around many three year olds to know, but most days of the week definitely feel like Groundhog Day.

Charlotte has two shiny, new teeth and puts them to great use on my fingers and anything else that happens to get in the line of fire. She is crawling! Well, sort of. I would call it an "army" crawl, but I'm not even sure that's what it is - and she can fly! It is definitely time to bring the baby gate back out. She manages to charm everyone with her infectious laugh, baby blues, and her latest - the head toss she does when she is amused. She opens her mouth wide and throws her head back as if it is all just too, too much. She is a Miss Piggy and devours food, which I thoroughly enjoy. We like everything but green beans so far - even peas! She has not decided that it's time to sit up (she does occasionally, but mostly just falls over), but that's not stopping her. She is an absolute hoot. She wants everything Jack has and mostly he does a good job of sharing, but I can tell she is going to give him fits.

I am still nursing and it's going well. Much easier to spread out feedings than it was with Jack. Charlotte it so laid back about it. Nursing is one of my favorite things about the babes - just being with them, the closeness, and the part that is mine alone to share with them.

Hubs & I are busy bears as well...tackling some fun home projects and personal ones as well. In a week we will have a new deck and new wood floors! I am thrilled to no longer look at the stained old carpet our former owners left behind. Ok, we did most of the staining, I'm sure, but I will blame them because they were sort of jerks anyway. I ran a half marathon earlier this month and actually enjoyed it very much. My time was under what I planned running in and I think eventually I will do another one, despite the fact that my hips did not work properly the entire next day and I'm still not sure the old flexors are recovered. Hubs is getting ready to start coaching summer baseball again, which means life at the diamond will officially starting. I found a pair of cleats for Jack and he didn't take them off for about a week. He loves them and it may be the best gift he's ever gotten. He is thrilled to be the bat boy this summer and I can only imagine what he is going to learn from a group of 16 year old boys. Here's hoping what happens in the dugout, stays in the dugout.

Picture post later on - I have many new ones to share! Hope everyone is enjoying their spring thus far! xoxo

Jack is growing more and more independent every day. This week he is picking out his outfits - normally I give him a choice and he usually picks out his pants. He refuses to wear jeans to the sitter because (and I quote) "they come undone when I slide down the stairs and it hurts." Point taken. Elastic band pants or actual buttons to the sitter's house. So, this week has been baseball themed except for the shirt today that he decided was too big, so we opted for Star Wars instead. Yesterday took the cake. He was absolutely adamant about the socks and shoes. Exhibit A:

I explained that we usually don't rock the socks/sandals combo and that they might be easier to wear without socks, which sent him into a heap on the floor. We wore the socks. Note that one is upside down. Note that Charlotte (in the car seat) is not wearing shoes. I don't think her feet have grown since birth. She cannot wear shoes - she swims in them and they fall right off of her feet - if they don't first wind up in her mouth. Toes to mouth is her favorite way to roll. Speaking of rolling, she's rolling, scooting, and squirming. She barely stays in the Bumbo seat. So far she has unraveled a roll of paper towels, pulled a plant down, and examined a bunch of bananas, and gone for the knives (thank you hubs for intercepting that one) while sitting atop her perch. Either we get a tray or she is no longer the counter top helper. She is lightning fast - quicker than even Jack was. She goes in circles on her belly and scoots backwards. Her tooth came through (!) and she is sampling baby veggies. Sweet potatoes:
I have a nearly identical picture of Jack eating carrots. Speaking of which:
Charlotte's head is not quite as massive (he has power alleys too!), but fun to remember Jack at that age. Right now could be his most fun yet. He is discovering and playing and growing so compassionate and loving. He is very proud of his potty training and decided to make the backyard his personal toilet the other night...#2, on the steps. He came in, breathless, and reported that "Maddie ate my poop!". Yes, my dog. Should I even be writing this? The fact that he went outside is enough, but the dog. The dog! Thank heavens for privacy fences. So, not only is the dog demolishing the sock population of the house (I'm not sure we have any actual matching pairs), she is also the sewage department. She has also eaten two pairs of Charlotte's shoes (not that she ever could wear them, I guess), her jacket, numerous stuffed animal ears, and so on. But how can you not love her?
Anywho, I leave you today with more pictures of my babes. Oh, they make me smile...