J+K=J+C

Last night, the kids enjoyed "Kids Night Out" at our local pool while Justin and I had a rare date night. We ate at one of the most delicious, and possibly most expensive, restaurants I have ever been to. It was awesome. It was in this neat little section of downtown Saratoga with lots of other restaurants that I can't wait to try. The place has a Michelin star and a wine list about 50 miles long. We thoroughly enjoyed each and every course, and all of the "chef's special plates" in between. We had a leisurely 2.5 hour dinner, complete with drinks and dessert, while the kids had a fun night out. It was awesome for all of us and we sorely needed it!

We all slept in this morning, went for our usual breakfast at the donut shop, and then got some pool time in this afternoon. Both kids took 3 hour naps!! And we had a picnic dinner at home while watching movies. It's been an awesome day so far, and a great start to the Labor Day weekend. We are so excited to have Daddy at home for one extra day on Monday, because he's been very busy at work.

Anyway, I thought I'd update a little about the kids. They are growing (and growing up!) so very fast, it's so hard to keep up with all their changes!

JACK:

Our little man is 3 now, and boy do you know it. He starts three days of preschool next week (T/W/Th) and neither of us can wait. He's excited to be at school more because he loves it, and I am looking forward to more bonding time one-on-one with Caroline.

He is still really into Rescue Turtles and building tents everywhere. He loves to build "water machines" in our shower (take all of my tupperware and various other parts and make long connections where water dumps into and out of various places in a stream. It will seriously entertain him for hours.) He's gotten into opposites lately, so he asks questions a lot like, "is it a long drive or a little drive?" and "is it really hot or really cold?" He also loves adjectives and describes things in big flourishing detail, like if he is "really really really really really really really mad" about something. He's gotten much better lately about playing independently in his room, building and destroying and rebuilding trains and legos. He's still a very much boy and finds mud, dirt, and bugs pretty much everywhere. He is super into saying "I loooove you" in this cute voice all the time. He is especially protective of baby Caroline and has a dozen nicknames for her including: baby bumblebee, baby Home Depot (?), sweet little muffin, and my personal favorite, Itty Bitty. When other kids are over here playing (like Spencer or Molly), and they go into Caroline's room or touch her toys or blankets, he gets SUPER mad and very protective, to the point of throwing tantrums about how "that's baby CAROLINE's things!!!" He loves it if I lay her on the floor in his room and he can play around her - lining up his cars in a circle just out of her reach, or laying train tracks around her. He constantly tells me things she can and can't do ("Mommy, she can grab this! Look! Way to go, baby Caroline!" or "Mommy, she's too little for candy. Don't give her any.") He is the world's best big brother in every way, and I mean that sincerely.

We have our struggles (potty training, tantrums), but what can you do? He's a very respectful, curious, happy kid. He's smart and funny and engaging. I love taking him places. He can help me now by carrying things, holding her hand, and helping hold bags/keys/diapers/etc. He is the youngest kid (BY FAR) who will go off the diving board at the pool, and everyone is always amazed at how good of a swimmer he is. He can really, truly swim. If he fell into any body of water, I wouldn't worry. He's safe now and that's a huge relief.

He loves the doctor and dentist. He has a runny nose today and made me give him a Vick's VaproRub bath tonight because it made him feel better. He's bossy and demanding at times (and I have NO idea where he gets that, HA HA HA.) He can work the iPad, my laptop, and the Apple TV all by himself. He knows certain words on sight, like his name and words in his favorite books like, lately, the Biscuit series. He wants a dog SO BAD and actually threw a tantrum today because we told him our house was too small for one. (One day!!!) He's such a good kid. I thank my lucky stars every single day that we were blessed with him.

CAROLINE:

We have the world's best baby! No, seriously, she is. She's on a fairly consistent schedule now, which is:

8am ish: wakeup. Eat, play, watch TV with Jack.
9:30ish: morning nap.
11ish: wakeup. Eat, play. Usually pick Jack up from school or go to the park or do something fun for lunch.
1:30pm: afternoon nap.
4:30pm: wakeup. (Yes really!) Eat, play. Dinner with the family.
6:30pm: bathtime, usually with Jack.
7:30pm ish: eat, bedtime.

Sometimes I hear from her around 4am, but not usually. She's totally content to sleep through the night (swaddled again, but oh well.)

The only times she's really mad are when she's in her carseat for more than 5 minutes, or when she's too late for her nap. Otherwise, she's an awesome baby in every way. Justin had to watch her on Thursday morning for a few hours while I had cavities filled. He decided to prop her up in Jack's bed to watch TV and watch him clean the fish tank. She was perfectly happy to just sit and watch and observe (and talk!) to him. He made the comment to me later that as a baby, Jack never ever would have done that. He had to be constantly entertained and we had to work for it. Caroline is a naturally calm baby! We went to Ikea a few weekends ago and got in the super-big elevator with both kids and a whole bunch of other people. I don't know what exactly she found so funny, but she just started a huge giggling fit of ridiculously cute baby laughing at the sight of anyone looking in her direction. Everyone on the elevator was laughing hysterically by the time the doors opened! It was so cute.

We are slowly introducing some solids (rice cereal, sweet potatoes, and carrots so far.) She is minimally interested. She likes the idea of sitting up and eating with us at the table, but can't quite figure out the spoon and swallowing yet. She will drink from a bottle if you make her, but it isn't her favorite thing. I think that I may have a lot more trouble weaning her from the breast, because she has immediate access to me 24/7, which is something that Jack definitely did not enjoy at her age.

She loves her bath and being outside. She loves going to the pool and watching the people. She absolutely adores her big brother. Anything he does is magic in her eyes. She is a huge talker and makes tons of sounds all the time (cooing, laughing, screeching, sighing, clicking.) She can sit up in the tripod position for about 10-15 seconds, then she falls over. In a week or two she will be sitting up like a champ!

I don't know how either of them are growing up this fast. I honestly get giddy with excitement when I think of everything coming up soon - holidays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, her 1st birthday, and next summer when she's walking and will be able to swim in the kiddie pool for real. We will LIVE at the pool next summer!!

Justin has been working a lot and that's been really hard on him, and us, but he promises it will be better soon. And he's been working very hard to devote himself to all of us when he's home, and we are thankful. We are so lucky and so blessed and I just wish I could have a video camera every moment of every day, because I know all of this will be over so soon!

For now, some recent snapshots:

Welcome football season! GO NOLES!

Abby brought her girls down for park time - here's Penny (11mos.)

And Molly, who is one week younger than Jack (b. Aug 1 2009)

Penny is adorable!

Miss Molly

That's Molly's feet and Jack's head. Molly is considerably taller than Jack!

Her tongue helps :)

Missy Moo Caroline Sue at the park.

Penny and Caroline hanging out.

The Baby petting the baby.

Being pouty about something of course!

She loves grabbing! And blankets.

Smiling in her carseat for one small moment.

My early morning wakeup call :)

Jack was very tired and made himself this comfy bed.

Doak shirt!

I made this pie? strudel? with some organic berries we got at the Farmer's Market.
Look at me, all homey and healthy.