More Kitchen Capades 

Christmas Eve at Disneyland

Okay, we maybe seriously insane. But we have decided to go to Disneyland for Christmas Eve. Both Jim and I have the day off and well we got this idea in our head and we kind of said "why not". I am sure that it is going to be a madhouse there on Christmas Eve. And I am not sure how the Jackaroo is going to be at Disneyland, but I guess we will find out. The last time we went to Disneyland, we decided to stay there for a weekend and go both days. It was easy because we could take Jack back to the hotel and take a nap. But he was also only 4 months old and he would go to sleep anywhere. But now we are just going for the day (it is only an hour drive from our house) and he doesn't just sleep anywhere. So we shall see.

Laura is going with us and she doesn't know about it yet. Thought we would surprise her when we pick her up Thurs night. I am looking forward to seeing the decorations they have and the parade at night. I have heard it really is spectacular.

Oh yeah and I get to try out the new video camera. That is if I can get through the manuals. Seriously this thing is like the most complicated thing. Will try to catch some video tomorrow on my day off. Well now it is time to get off to work. Blah.

Christmas came Early! Jim gave me this lovely digital camcorder today. He said that I got it early because he knew I would be upset by missing out by not getting Christmas morning on video. And he was right - smart man that I married. Yay me! "Doing the happy dance" 

I can start making movies as soon as I get a college degree by reading these manuals. So sometime in the next 6 months, I would say. 

"Hi Everybody" He was waving but I could not get the wave on camera. This was the closest thing. 

I can NOT keep this kid out of the dishwasher. He has a thing for the dishwasher. Weird child of mine. 

Can I get washed too? 

Thank You Grammy C. I really do love it, well after I get over being afraid of it. Sorry I did cry the first time. 

"Hmm if I shake it maybe I can tell what it is" 

A Milestone?

Well last night was a "fun" night. After coming home from Laura's Christmas program after 9:00 which is way past a Jackaroo's bedtime, we tried to put an overly tired baby to bed. I thought we were successful around 10:00 so I went to bed. Well he woke up at 11:47 pm. I went in and gave him some bottle, reassured him, gave him a binky and his favorite stuffed animal and left. I thought all was well. Then at 1:11 am he woke up and started screaming. So again I walked into his room and went through the going-back-to-sleep ritual. But this time was different. I think I got a glimpse of what I am in for as a toddler - his very first temper tantrum. You see, when I went to give him his bottle, he threw it across the crib and looked at me very angrily. Then I tried to reassure him and he wanted no part of that either. So I tried to give him a binky and well at this point the sweet little innocent child of mine threw the binky at me! But he doesn't quite understand the consequences of gravity and it fell back into his face, which you guessed it, made him even angrier. At this point, he is screaming at the top of his lungs and the whole house is awake. Even the cat is looking at me to shut this kid up. And nothing and I mean nothing would calm him down. He was plain angry and I have a sneaking suspicion that it was toward me. So I just walked out almost as angry at him as he was at me and said "Fine, go ahead and scream". After about 15 minutes, he finally fell asleep. Well that is until about 4:45 am and then he was up and awake and all smiles and ready to meet the day head on. Yay lucky me, I got to get up before 5 am!

So, should I write this date down in the baby book - "Day of first Temper Tantrum"?

On a better note, you will find the pictures from Laura's school Christmas program last night.

Laura singing in French Jingle Bells  

Doesn't she look so enthused? 

school Christmas program 

Laura at the Christmas program last night 

Laura's Christmas program

Tonight we went to see Laura in her Christmas program at school. I tell you it brings back memories of when I was in those little programs you put on for your parents. It was so cute because the little band of flute players played 3 songs and I think I could sort of make out which songs they were. Remember these are grades 1-5 so they are definitely newbies. But it sure reminded me of being in band playing the flute and thinking we were really good when in reality we sucked big time. But it doesn't matter because it just was soooo cute. I sure wish that Laura would take band and play the flute, but it isnt up to me.

Jack was just so excited during most of it. He was his little charming little self to everybody and waving to anybody and anything he came across. And boy was he in heaven when Laura and her friends were playing with him. I swear he pulls out the extra charm when it comes to girls. He is so going to be a ladies man when he grows up.

It was a really cute program and I took some pics that I will post tomorrow. Right now I am really tired and bed is sounding really good. Yay tomorrow is Friday!

Johnson & Johnson's Ad

I know you all have seen the commercial that shows a little snippet of life with a baby and at the end it comes up with the saying "A baby changes everything" on the screen. I remember when I was pregnant, I would start blubbering when those ads came on. But to be truthful, I pretty much was crying at anything and everything back then. But I have been thinking about really how much a baby changes everything single thing about you. It is like I don't hardly remember my pre-baby days. What did I do with my time? What did I do with all that sleep I got?

What has changed might you ask for those who are still in their pre-baby days. Well let me tell you.

1. Sleep - I can count on my fingers the number of nights that I have had uninterrupted sleep for more than 5 or 6 hours. In the beginning, I was just praying for 2 hours at once!

2. My house is NEVER clean. It may get picked up and toys put away, but give it 30 minutes and it will be a mess again. I have learned the hard way that I just have to cope.

3. Time - What is with time? I mean since having Jack, it has sped up and there never is enough of it. What is up with that?

4. "Me" Time - See before, I used to think that I could go home from work and do what I wanted. Well those days are over. Jack's needs and wants come first. I now crave the early mornings and late nights when everybody is sleeping for this elusive "me" time.

5. How I look at the world is extraordinarily different. I see everything through a parent's eye now, which let me tell you is very different than a non-parent's eye.

Well I have more on my list, but that elusive "me" time that I mentioned in #4 is over. Jack is awake.

Day at the spa

Well I am at work right now, but I just had to get on and say that I totally recommend a day at the spa if you can afford it. I have been a bit stressed of late. Maybe its Christmas, money (or lack there of), Jack and his fussiness, or a combo of all. But a day at the spa was just what the doctor ordered. I came home last night feeling like putty and oh so sleepy. I would of slept like a baby last night, but my baby didn't sleep like the proverbial baby unfortunately.

Anyway, if you are in the area, check this place out. It is fabulous!

I am so excited!

For my birthday last April, Jack's Daddy gave me a gift certificate to the Glen Ivy Spa for the full day of treatments. We are talking, body wrap, massage, facial, pedicure, manicure the whole works. Well I haven't been able to use before now. But today I am going! I am such a sucker for the spa treatments. Jack is at daycare and Mommy is going to day spa.

Bye bye!

Yep he twisted my arm again - Really he did. Another early Christmas present - the Gobble and Go Hippo. 

Uhoh Ran over Elmo! 

Okay now how do I get off this thing again?

Hmm have I solved a puzzle?

I may just have put 2 and 2 together! Yesterday I wrote that Jack slept in until 8:00 and it was a first. His usual wake up time is anywhere between 4:30 and 6:00. On the days I have to go to work, this works out just fine cause he is my alarm clock. Haven't had to set one since he came along that is for sure. But on these days, when I don't have to get up and out of the house by 7:00 am (about a 2 1/2 hour process actually), then I really would love to get some me time for about an hour. Time when I can sit down and drink my coffee, look on the internet and just have "me" time.

Ok, I am rambling a bit. Back to the puzzle. Well, this morning was a usual wake up time of 5:30 am. On a Sunday (yuck). I went in to see him and changed his diaper and as usual, it was a poopy one. Then it hit me, 98% of the time he has a poopy diaper in the morning. Here's where the putting 2 and 2 together - It's what is waking him up. See yesterday he didn't have a poopy diaper and I remember thinking "wow no poopy" but didn't put it together until just now. I know I know its like a DUH moment.

So that leads me to the next logical conclusion. How do I prevent him from having a poopy diaper at 5:00 am on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays (the days I don't work)? Now if they could just invent something that could do that I would be a happy mommy.

Okay my rambling about poopy diapers is done - for now. Who knew I could ramble on about poopy diapers?

The kid understands weekends!

Okay, the boy is STILL sleeping at 8:00 am! That means he has been sleeping for a full 12 hours. Well, I guess he is now an official weekender-sleeper-in kind of kid. Wait! I think he is starting to stir! About time cause Mommy has shopping to do!

Whoever took my child, thanks for bringing him back.

I just want to say thank you to whoever brought back the Happy Jack and took away that Jack that was certainly not my child! I am happy to report that the happy, smiley Jack is back! He had been temporarily replaced with this kid who was THE fussiest child on earth. Normally Jack is a very good natured baby who smiles up at you and lets you know how much he loves you. But for 2 days there, I swear there was a mix up at the store and somehow I brought home a baby who was not mine.

Anyway, I also want to report that he has a tooth and another one coming in right beside it. He also is waving at everybody and everything. He understands to wave bye bye, but he doesn't understand that you wave hello yet. But anyway, now part of the going-to-bed ritual involves waving bye bye to Daddy, the doggies, the kitty, the Christmas tree, the Christmas presents under the tree, and anything between the tree and his room.

I want to also give Beth from San Diego all my thoughts and prayers. Her son Lucas is going through Kawasaki disease, which is some very rare but dangerous disease. If you don't read the March 2004 Munchkin's board, here is a link to her story. Lucas's story. I hope that Lucas is doing better. A story like that makes you so grateful for the health of your precious baby.

"What you want to feed me this? Yeah right, do you know how bad this tastes?"

Jack holding his own baba.

The early Christmas present. He twisted my arm to get it early. Really he did.

Jack and his root beer addiction.

Visit with the Doctor

Today Jack went to the Doctor for his 9 month check up. He is a whopping 22 lbs and 29 inches long! He has come quite a long way in his 9 short months. He also is crawling at the speed of a bullet, pulling himself up to a stand and walking while holding onto something. He also holds his own bottle, says mama and dada, and I am sure other things that I cant quite figure out.

The doctor also confirmed that he has a chest cold. He has been coughing a lot and nights have been hard on the little guy. I know he doesn't feel good, but he sure has tried my patience today. Today was one of those days when you wonder why you wanted kids. For some reason, I have been so incredibly tired, and then having to deal with a fussy baby has really been trying on a mommy. But I know he is worth it all. Thank goodness he went to bed early tonight. I really was on the last bit of what little patience I had left.

And on that note, I am off to bed early tonight also.

9 Was the Number Today

Today was a big day in the Jackaroo house. Today Laura, Jack's sister, turned 9 years old. And Jack also turned 9 months old on the same day! Laura sure thinks its cool that both she and her brother were born on the same day of the month. And also they were both born in the same room at the same hospital. Pretty cool huh. Laura was right there in the room when Jack was born and she was the one who cut the cord. I really think that the two of them will be very close as they grow older.

But anyway, I think it was a pretty fun day, if not exhausting day for Jack's mommy. Laura and a friend Brianna were together all day long and we really tried to make a gingerbread house. It was all going well, but then all of a sudden it just sort of fell apart and it just died a painful death. In the words of Laura "this is hard" and it was. Next gingerbread house will try different frosting, if there will be another one. But it was a good day.

Tomorrow, I take Jack in for his 9 month checkup. I will update all his 9 month stats tomorrow. I have also bought a growth chart and will start marking it tomorrow. I had it personalized and will post picture of it tomorrow. I still can't believe that it has been 9 whole months since I gave birth. My goodness, the pregnancy sure didn't go this fast, I can tell ya that right now.

Hehe Trick candles are fun!

The bratz cake 

The Makings of a Gingerbread House

Laura and friend Brianna making a gingerbread house. Looks good here, however it soon fell apart. Death of a gingerbread house. So sad...
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Santa 2004 picture. Notice the look of panic on Jack's face. I don't think he was impressed with Santa at all.
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Cold mornings and waffles and teeth

Yesterday it got really cold here in California. It was in the 20's. Now I know that is not that big of a deal for the Easter portion of the country and for me who grew up in Michigan it used to not be a big deal. However, since I have lived in California for the last 6 years, now it IS a big deal. Anyway, I had Jack all bundled up in layers and his little jacket for the 3 minute drive to daycare yesterday.

Daddy made waffles this morning on his day off and Jack and I got to enjoy them. Yummy. Below is a picture of Jack eating his first waffle. I do believe that the kid loves waffles. He ate like 2 big pieces although the dogs did benefit from the droppings of the messy Jackaroo.

Jack also has a tooth!!! It hasn't come all the way through but there is defitely a tooth there. I tried to take a picture, but it was very much resisted. Will try later.

Jack with his little jacket on a very cold California morning. 

His first waffle. Daddy made waffles today. Yummy.