Summer Fun Part 2

July and August 2012 - 

We got Jack a book called "I'm Going to Be a Big Brother".  He loved to read it.  Some how the guest bedroom became the books home.  So, whenever Jack got the urge to read this book, he'd run into this room and jump on the bed.  Here is Jack and Daddy reading the book.  Jack's favorite page was the one that says "Something's stinky".  Referring to baby's stinky diaper.

One of Jack and Mommy's favorite things to do this summer was go to the pool and go swimming.  We usually went one afternoon after I picked him up from his preschool summer camp.  We would swim for about 45 minutes and then have a snack.  The snack was always Juice and graham crackers.  Sometimes Mimi would join us.  We stopped going to the pool after Kyle was born.  Actually, we were supposed to go the afternoon Kyle was born but obviously didn't.  The cutest thing - when I picked Jack up from his first day of preschool in September, he asked "Go swimmin' mommy?".  I laughed and said "no, swimming is probably over for a while."  This was after a whole month of not swimming.  Jack has the craziest memory.

Jack became a great helper this summer.  He loved to help get the groceries out of the car, open doors, throw things in the trash (his favorite).  Here he is bringing in his very large bag of Veggie chips that we got on our trip to Costco.

Helping put wipes and diapers on the stairs to take to his room.  Love Amazon subscribe and save!

Summers around here are crazy hot and being that I was pregnant I didn't want to go to the park much.  Instead, we went to the mall quite a few times.  The mall has a small play area for kids.  We usually went right when the mall opened, before it got crowded.  Here is Jack on the bridge.

Cute picture of Jack reading daddy's sports coffee table book and wearing daddy's Dallas Mavericks visor.

Jack's new obsession has become his firefighter hat.  

One day as he was wearing his firefighter hat he asked "where's my hose?"  This was the first time I had heard him actually connect the two - the hose and hat go together.  We didn't have a fire fighter hose, so instead I gave him the top part of his broom.  He took it and then waved it around and made a "shhh" sound for water.  So I took a video of it:

New favorite show - Jack and the Neverland Pirates.  Mimi got him this t-shirt.

Daddy was able to go swimming a few times this summer with us.  Here Jack is showing daddy how to be a crocodile in the water.  Not an alligator, a crocodile.  Jack was very insistent on that.

Jack had a lot of fun with his cousins this summer.  It was the first time he was able to actually "play" with them.  Aunt Emily's birthday.  All of Jack's cousins posing for a picture.  

This picture makes me laugh.  Jack and the cousins on the couch using 3 electronic devices.

Daddy's A&M visor.

One Saturday we went to Southlake's town square as a family.  I had never been.  We went because Ben's phone needed some assistance at the Apple store and the closest one is in Southlake.  While daddy was getting his phone worked on, Jack and I took a stroll to the middle of the square.  

We were at the square for maybe 10 minutes.  The Apple store couldn't help Ben's phone.  We thought since we were out there, let's stop by the Babies R Us nearby and look at a double stroller.  While I was looking at the strollers, daddy and Jack roamed the nicest Babies R Us/Toys R Us I had ever been to.  I guess if you are a store in a city where people have lots of money, you have to be really clean and fancy.  Anyway, here are some photos of Jack having fun.

Jack got to go to his best friend James birthday party.  It was a Sesame street themed party.  Jack doesn't watch Sesame Street but he knows all of the characters.  Here he is in front of the picture wall.

The first Sunday after Kyle was born was Preschool parade day at church.  During one of the songs in the service, all of the preschool classes parade through either on foot, in strollers, or in buggies.  This is to help recruit preschool workers.   Jack is in this red buggy front right seat.

Jack and James having fun.  James and his dad came over one Saturday so the little boys could play and the big boys could watch college football.  I think the boys had fun.  I was also able to take a nap while Kyle was napping.  Side note- one thing I've learned from having a 2nd baby...there is rarely a time during the day when you can actually take a nap.  The boys are on opposite schedules.  So this nap was a treat for me.

Jack loves his baby brother.  I was so surprised at how much he has enjoyed having him around.  I honestly thought we might have some jealousy problems, but so far Jack has been great.

Summer Fun Part 1

Since I've stopped doing monthly posts on Jack, I thought I'd tell a little bit about his summer.  This summer was special to me since it was the last one with just the two of us/three of us as a family.

June - 

One day Tessa, one of Jack's favorite cousins, got to come over and play.  Jack loved it. They had a blast, or at least he did.  This was the first time that he would go upstairs and play without me having to be in the same room as him.  I got a glimpse of how it will be when Kyle gets bigger.

One of Jack's favorite things is to play in his tunnel.  He would take his Yo! Gabba Gabba people through it one at a time and then line them up at the other end of the tunnel.  He also liked to be chased through it while playing with daddy.  And he liked to play peek-a-boo.  Jack would be int he tunnel and say peek-a-boo and then we'd ask him which color he was hiding in.

Jack loved to dance to one particular song on this magnetic toy.  He loved to dance with mommy.  So, he would press the button till he heard the song he wanted.  He might have even known how many times to press the button.

Riding on the horse at Mimi's house saying "Giddy up!"

Swinging like a big boy!  I think this happened after he saw many kids do it at his birthday party.

Reaching for mommy's phone.  Looks like he wants a hug, but no, he is saying "Mommy's phone?"

Swim Lessons - NOT a favorite!  Unlike last year, this year Jack was in a swim class without mommy.  It didn't help that this summer was the first time he had experienced separation anxiety.  I'm guessing because of the new baby on the way.  There was only one class that he did not cry almost the whole time.  And this was it.  Actually, another girl was crying and I think that helped Jack not cry.  So here are a few pictures.  After this class which was the second one, I sat indoors to watch.  I wasn't going to complain about that.  It was 100+ degrees at 4pm in the afternoon and being 8 months pregnant I was fine with sitting inside.  Although, I felt like some of the other parents thought I was just terrible leaving him when he kept crying/yelling "mommy!"  But the swim teachers told me to go inside.

Mr. Andrew - anytime Jack saw a male life guard, even at another pool, he would call them Mr. Andrew.

Jack and I went to Babies R Us a lot this summer.  I would say, "Jack do you want to go to the baby store with me?" and he said "yes, see Ernie and Bert?"  He would get to sit on this fire truck after we did our shopping.  He isn't aware that if you put money in it it moves.  

"Look at me!"  Jack and Daddy built many castles for Big Bird and a few robots.

Daddy and Jack time while mommy got to go out and do some shopping...ALONE!  They are making silly faces into daddy's camera on his phone.

Jack and Grandpa playing tickle monster on Aunt Mel's couch.

Jack and Papa at the Ranger Game.  Jack loves to say "Go Rangers!" even when he sees them playing on the TV.

Trying his hardest to turn on the TV.

Thinks if he is closer it will work.

Playing with Papa Steve and a flashlight.

Tissue Paper on his head.

There were a few days that were cool enough to go outside and play.  Maybe 5 days this summer.  

Jack figured out how to drive/ride his four wheeler.

A picture of mommy and daddy on their 5 year anniversary.

Got to play with Aunt Bonnie at Wet N' Wild.  He was helping her deflate an air mattress.

Loves to play on his keyboard.  He'll play random notes and sing.

Jack playing with his indoor basketball.

Just a cute picture of Jack laying on the bottom step of KK and Papa's house playing on someone's phone.

Jack got his big boy bed!  He did great and hasn't had a problem yet.  We even try to get him to get out and play with his train station in the mornings (especially Saturday mornings) but he won't get out.

Jack loves to do puzzles.  This firetruck puzzle - 13 pieces was the hardest puzzle to date that he put together (June 30 2012)

A Family of Four

Soon after I delivered Kyle, they took him to the nursery for observation (as well as give time for the epidural to wear off).  During that time, Jack was able to come and see me.  He had been patiently waiting in the waiting room and was very sleepy by this time.  It was right around his bedtime and he had had a long day.  I was so happy to see him.

Reaching for mommy's phone, of course.  I determined, about two weeks after Kyle was born, that our phones and the ability to watch Bob the Builder was Jack's comfort item at the time.  It was something he could control.

Our last picture as a family of 3.

Baby Kyle in his hospital crib.

Awake

The first nights in the hospital weren't too bad.  Being my second child, I knew that he would want to eat a lot.  So I was expecting it.  The second night seemed like he wanted to eat almost every hour.  But, Ben never had to get up and walk around the room or rock him to calm him down like we had to with Jack.  I guess as long as I would let him eat, he was content.  All in all we were more laid back this time and I think that helped.

The next day, KK brought Jack to come and visit me and meet baby Kyle.  They came around 11:30 and Jack was not interested in anything but eating lunch.  So I suggested they go eat lunch and then come back.  That worked.  They also bought him a bag of M&Ms to eat and to keep him happy.  It worked.  He was willing to do anything if it meant he could eat some M&Ms.

KK, Grant and Tessa with Kyle

Jack sitting with mommy.  It was so sweet how he just laid on me, eating his M&Ms.  Looking at baby Kyle.

Our first family of four picture.  Jack showing his M&M.

Taking it all in.

Mimi

Daddy

Grandpa

Sissy

Kyle's going home outfit.  It says little brother and has a K with A&M fabric inside and then says "Kyle" below the K.  He also is wearing matching booties.

This was during our four hour wait to get discharged.

Ready to go...can't you tell. 

Finally home, Jack up from his nap and ready to start our new lives.  

Later that weekend Jack got a large floor puzzle as his big brother gift.  He loves puzzles.

Mommy and Jack watching Kyle sleep.

Wubanub...a pacifier attached to the dog.

Good morning!  

Lazy day with daddy.

Nanny

Kyle awake - this was rare...he slept all the time.  Something I was not used to.

First stroller ride.  We went to the mall as a family around 9am to join the mall walkers.  Jack is in the front of the double stroller.