Jack's Professional Pre-School Photo

Before we left Virginia, Jack had his first professional photo taken at his preschool.  It is absolutely adorable and she really captured the look that he always has on his face.  We miss his preschool but I'm hoping that we find something equally great out here in California!

In other news, we have landed in California!  It has been a very busy week.  We closed on our house in Virginia (yay for selling it!), and we have moved into a rental in California that we are hoping to buy.  It is a "short sale" and anyone who has dealt with short sales knows that they should be called "long sales" because they take FOREVER!  Please keep us in your prayers that this is the house for us!

We are now getting busy for Christmas (is it really only a week away - good lord!).  It might not be our most extravagantly decorated year, nor our biggest present giving year (we have not had much time to shop) but we WILL be celebrating the biggest, best gift of all - being near family.   We are loving being able to see Dave's family and my family whenever we would like - it truly is a blessing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Jack has been a super big help in the kitchen!

Connor is 3 Months Old!

 

Connor is 3 months old and I took a photo of him today that duplicated the same photo I took of Jack at three months old.  They have the same outfit on, are in the same chair, and they both have the cutest little expression on their face.  You can see Jack's photo here: Jack at 3 Months


In other news, we are in the middle of a move!  That's right - we are moving back to California!  We have been crazy busy with putting our house on the market, keeping it clean CONSTANTLY, and oh yeah, taking care of one baby and a toddler.  Way too much on one person's plate if you ask me, but we are almost done with it all.  Our house in Virginia is under contract, we are looking at homes in California, and everything is falling into place.

Connor is still sleeping like a champ.  Some nights he goes 10-12 hours without waking up, the other nights he wakes up once over a 12 hour period.  He is a heavy sleeper and I love that we don't have to whisper after we put him down.  Connor goes to bed around 6-7pm, and Jack is usually running around screaming and playing while we do bathtime, pj's, etc.  Connor sleeps through it all!

Jack had his last day at preschool on Friday.  We had a turkey lunch that the kids helped prepare.  It was quite fun and very good!  Jack said goodbye to his teachers and I'm so sad to be leaving his school.  They have known him since he was 18 months old, and they just adore him there!  I'm not sure if I am going to put him into preschool in CA after we get out there, or wait till next year.  Jack is getting excited about our move to California, and he is working on saying California.  It's a fairly abstract concept at this point, but he is excited about seeing Ceece more often!

Connor and Jack videos

Connor is now sleeping like a champ at night.  He wakes up once over a 12 hour period, which is wonderful!  I'm sure it won't last as he goes through growth spurts and teething, but for now, I am enjoying the sleep.

Connor loves to talk to you, and is desperately trying to roll over.  I call him my little roly poly because when you put him down, he pulls his legs up so he is in a ball and rocks from side to side.  Connor is quick to smile and loves to eat!  He hates to be put down (who would?!) and wants to see the world from our arms.  We took Jack to a music class the other day, and everytime the teacher sang, Connor would coo!!

Jack is having a blast at school lately.  Today is Picture Day and they are doing professional class and individual photos at the preschool.  I can't wait to see them!  A few days ago at school, they did an activity where they sorted dried corn and dried beans into piles.  Apparently, I have a little "bean counter" on my hands, because Jack spent a good 40 minutes sorting all the corn and beans into neat piles.  The teacher said he kept throwing his arms up in the air yelling "BEANS!!!" and running over to show her all of his piles!  So sweet...

Jack has become a finicky eater, living off of raisin toast, fruit and yogurt.  Because of his super healthy diet, he is becoming quite the string bean.  I think I am going to have to get him some belts to hold up his pants!

Here is a video of Jack.  He is obsessed with lotion lately.  He loves to put it on his arms and legs, and I asked him today if he wanted to put some on Momma and he did my toes!  If only I could get a foot massage out of it!!

Halloween!

Jack and his little brother Connor were both dinosaurs this year for Halloween.  Jack enjoyed running around and getting candy from the neighbors.  He was a little shy about saying Trick or Treat.

Jack and I made some Halloween cookies earlier in the day.  We had "Bat" and "Ghost" cookie cutters.  We iced and decorated them, and put sprinkles on them.  While they were indeed yummy, they were very sugary and rich - we all felt stuffed after eating some!

Pumpkin Carving

I love Halloween!  The decorations, the cute kids in costumes, the CANDY!, and pumpkin carving.  Dave and I had an impromptu carving contest (mine is on the left and his on the right).  Dave definitely won, and it's quite an accomplishment since it was the first time that he has carved a pumpkin.  I really thought I had our contest nailed, but I guess I should have spent a little more time on mine.  Next year, the contest is continuing and I guarantee there will be some Google'ing done to get some great pumpkin ideas!

Jack and his pumpkin that he painted

Gramma Ceece held Connor while all this carving went on.

In other news, Connor is now up to almost 14 pounds.  He is still a happy chubby baby and we caught one of his big grins on camera!

Jack had his first dental appointment this week.  He was SUCH A GOOD BOY!  The dentist said that most kids just sit in the chair and refuse to open their mouth.  Jack loved the dentist!  He opened his mouth, let them count and check all of his teeth, and even consented to a cleaning!!  I was so proud of him.  Here is a pic of him watching "Thomas the Train" while we waited for the dentist to finish up.

Jack dressed up for preschool this week in his dinosaur costume.  He wouldn't wear the head piece until we arrived at preschool but he loved his costume!

Firetruck Day

Jack had the firetrucks visit his preschool last week!  He brought home a fireman hat, and loved telling me about the "twuck".  Jack is talking up a storm and is so excited that Gramma Ceece is here to visit this week!

Connor is now 2 months old, and is finally starting to sleep a bit more at night - hooray!  Last night he slept from 7PM to 3AM!  We hope that it is a continued trend.  He had his 2 month appointment last week, and is up to 13 pounds.  Connor is smiling a ton now, and is generally a very happy baby.  Not a big sleeper during the day, but that's ok.  As long as he is sleeping at night, then we are happy!

Jack at Trader Joes.  I had my hands full with Connor (who screamed most of the time we were in the grocery store) but thankfully Jack was willing to push the cart!  I threw food in and when we got to the checkout counter, he gave the food to the cashier.  Jack is such a good helper and loves to please!  

Jack listening to music on my iPhone.  I played Miley Cyrus for him and he really likes her!

Back to School Day

Jack had Back to School Day last week.  After standing around with a bunch of other parents for a while at the school, the teachers started an apple craft.  The kids got to stamp their paper with half an apple dipped in yellow or red paint.  Jack got paint in his hair and pretty much all over his shirt!  He had a nice time and it was fun for me to see him in action.

Connor at 5 weeks old.  He is a chubby little man, and constantly spitting up.  We both get to change clothes multiple times a day :)  

Sleeping peacefully!

I have so much respect for people who have to photograph 2 or more children.  What a pain to get both of them looking cute, staring at the camera, and not running away (Jack) or crying (Connor).  

Jack is showing his stickers to Connor!

Connor is 1 Month Old!

I can't believe Connor is already 1 month old!  Time is flying by.  Connor is up to 10 lbs 6 ounces, and he is getting so much bigger.  He is a pretty chill little man, and he already loves his big brother so much!  Jack likes to come over to Connor and try to give him his pacifier or kisses, or just give him a hug.  

I tried to get a few pics of Connor without a pacifier so you can see his cute face, and I got one photo in before he started crying...

 Throwing a fit over losing the pacifier :)

 Taking a bath

Hanging out on Mommy's bed

Diane gave Connor a bottle!  He loved his bottles from Ceece and Di while they were here.

And some pics of the cutest 2 year old in the world!  Jack threw on his backpack before bed and rode around on his firetruck.

 Then he decided to "mow" the carpet while wearing his backpack and my flip flops!

Pre-school!

Jack started pre-school this week!  He goes twice a week at the same place that he did Mom's Morning Out last year.  He loves school so far.  They finger painted today and every time you ask him how finger painting went, all he will tell you is "Mess!!!" while rubbing his hands!  Jack LOVES to tell you when there is a mess.  You hear about it all day long.  His poor teachers!

Jack's second day of school

And here is one of my sweet little guy, Connor.  He is growing like a weed - I weighed him the other day and he was up to 9 lbs 6 ounces.  Good lord!  Unfortunately he has been sick the last few days.  Actually, our whole house has been sick, except Jack and Gramma Ceece.  It's not very fun with two sick parents and a sick three week old, but we are getting through it.  Hopefully we are through the worst of it.

When I am old, I am going to be one of those old ladies who looks back at baby photos, and unless they are dated with a name, I'm not sure I will be able to tell my children apart :)  In person, they look SO DIFFERENT, but in the photos below, they really do look a lot alike!  Jack is on the left at 6 weeks old, and Connor is on the right, at 3 weeks old.