Sunday, March 30, 2008
Stuff happening: This past month included winding down of winter, organizing, Jack’s b-day party, cleaning attic; finishing little projects around house, hanging pictures, furniture shopping, St. Patricks day, Easter, egg hunts, egg decorating, cleaning yard, raking, etc. Luckily no sicknesses. One sad is my aunt Lucille passed away. She is in a happier place now. Bless her family.
My sister and I went to pick up my mom, who was staying at my brothers in Maryland. We met them half-way. What a mixup we had, but finally Mom is home. Were my kids excited!!!! Memere is back!
Easter of course was fun, though so COLD. We hosted and had a lovely time with the family. Jack and Isabelle thought it great fun with the candy/baskets and egg hunting. Jack doesn’t get the Easter Bunny coming idea, though Isabelle totally digs it. Mike and i abused the Easter Bunny won’t come if you are not good the week before…Anyway Jack did get the idea of egg hunting. He was so fast and quick! Bella more methodical. Jack would just pick up. We went to the town Egg Hunt. Both kids were afraid of all the kids and the Easter Bunny.
The biggest change this month is how Isabelle and Jack interact. They are playing more together, just as my mom said they would. Bella suddenly realized that Jack is a playmate. She asks him now, “Jack would you play with me …”. Jack is talking much more and understanding almost everything, and she is starting to realize this. Jack follows her everywhere and wants to do what she is doing. He’ll do things just to make her laugh. If she laughs, so does he. If she’s on the potty, he’ll come in and sit on the carpet and read a book next to her. Of course, they’ll be playing great together and then suddenly a fight or screaming will ensue. Sometimes she can be really mean, like squeezing his cheek hard. She’s getting to know to do this when I’m not in the room. I see red. BUT jack is learning now to push her back. He shoves her. I tell her he’s doing it because she has been doing this all his life. The two of them are constantly watching each other, constantly. Each wants what the other has. BUT there is so much more laughter now. The laugh at things, laugh at the other and laugh together. It’s a constant up and down.
Playing with Nona and MeMere. Both kids love to play with them. Jack yells in greeting when them come. They are the highlights of the kids lives.
BIG THINGS:
This past week our Armoire arrived. Mike andI completely moved the computer, filing cabinets, printer etc. to the new armoire. Now the kids have a playroom where before it was my desk and a BIG mess. I have a great tendancy for piles. Jack and Bella were so excited to have a room (though small) filled with their toys. My space is not the most comfortable, but I’m so happy for them.
Isabelle: Is doing much better at school. She is still hesitant and when I ask her if she played with anyone at school, she says “No, I played by my own”, but supposedly she is joining in more in the activities. This is much to be expected, since she has on average gone only once a week in the morning because of all the colds/sicknesses from the winter. I do wish she would be a bit more outgoing and at least say Good Morning to her teachers or Bye. I do get frustrated I’ll admit. Bella has taken to acting like a baby or whining/crying. I think she’s mimicking Jack because she sees how he acts and potentially gets his way. Overall she’s a good girl, but this drives us mad.
Jack: Jack has reached a whole new level in a month. Suddenly he’s taking so much more, understanding everything, and able to play with Isabelle. Obviously he still breaks her tower or interrupts her puzzle, but he’s much more of a playmate. She knows this too now. Jack has developed a very funny laugh, from the gut, forced and loud. Let’s face it, the kid is loud. All around he’s a tough cookie: loud, mischevious; stubborn, etc. He’s also soft as a marshmellow: sweet, cuddily, afraid of doctor; snuggily. For all his outgoing nature, I feel that Isabelle is the tougher one. Jack has been saying for months that “peepee hurt”. The doctor checked him out, but nothing. THen I realized it probably is potty training related, and one day I said “It’s ok to pee in diaper Jack” and he said “no, bathroom!”. So I put him on the potty and he went pee. This was the other day and he’s gone about 5 times now. Wow! I’m not going to pressure, but I’m not going to pass up this moment.
Jack turned two. Immediatley started terrible twos with NO, and avoiding doing what we tell him. Mike thinks he doesn’t listen to us at all, but I think it’s not that he’s a bad boy, as mischevious and his playful nature. When we tell him to come, he runs away. WHen he’s done with food he throws it. When I tell him not to drop books, he pushes the stack to the floor. If I wait just a minute though, he’ll do what I say or come. It’s ALL a game to him. We get very frustrated though with him and there’s more yelling than there should be in this house. Timeouts too. Often Mike and I feel we should get parenting classes.
WHAT THEY DO:
Isabelle: still loves to read; going places she explores; more talkative; asks Why all the time; more in tune with my expressions and worried when I’m worried; acting more like a baby, I think to mimic Jack
Jack: Big hugs • 2/3 word sentence • love you mommy/daddy • wants to snuggle • drags his friends around • likes to hide and seek. • Wheels on Buss, likes to go around/run around and around; playng with playdo
Words: “right here”, “big hugs”
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Stuff happening: This past month included lots of play in snow, cany on snow, organizing, and birthdays. LOTS of sickness all around in the Cooney family. Jack with pneumonia, colds, both with ear infections, bella with the stomack and diahreah bug. Colds and ear infections again. And Jack getting 2year molars. He’s had a tough time.