Special Thanks to...

Last week after taking the kids to the doctor Jackson got upset with me because he wanted to walk by himself and felt that he didn't need to hold his mommy's hand. When we got to the door he turned around, pointed his finger at me and said, "You BLOCK-HEAD!" My initial reaction was to laugh because, lets be honest, it isn't the worst name in the WORLD but totally had a talk with him about how we DO NOT call people that. But needless to say ever since that incident he has been randomly calling people block-heads. Don't worry, he doesn't discriminate and would call ANY and EVERYONE that name if he had the chance.

The blame all goes to The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (thanks Lucy). We watched it and realized Lucy says, block-head, stupid and I totally forgot the other words but once we realized this we had to ban the show from our home. I am totally bummed because I have so many memories watching Charlie Brown and I want Jackson to have the same memories as I.

Well, ever since I have been having to put him in time-out EVERY time he chooses to say this word (whether it is directed towards me or anyone else or not) but I have to ADMIT I sometimes chuckle in my head when he says it because he says it with kind of an accent. Jake even said the other day the worst part about him saying it ALL of the time is that the word gets clearer and clearer each and every time he says it. So if you EVER run into us and Jackson decides to call you a block-head... I am going to apologize to ya a head of time. PLEASE don't be offended and know that we are working with and trying to teach him that this is a naughty thing to do:)

Question????

How come EVERY time I go to get on the computer to blog or check my email the baby ALWAYS cries???? Anyways, there is my excuse for being a TERRIBLE blogger lately!!!! Welp, there she is... how the heck does she KNOW????

2 Months

Stella's 2 Month Stats
Weight: 11 lbs
Length: 22"
Head Circ: 39.3

Stella turned 2 months this week and I can't believe how fast time is flying. She is our little sweetie-pie and ABSOLUTELY adores her older brother! She is not yet sleeping through the night but usually only wakes up for 1 night feeding. Stella LOVES to eat which means I can't really be gone for very long because she refuses to take a bottle. I tell Jake all of the time that she is just going to have to be my little side kick... and I am sure she won't complain as long as I keep her tummy full!

Jacks LOVES Stella and has been nothing but sweet to her. Every night before he goes to bed he HAS to come out and give Stella a kiss on the head. One day he was roaring like a lion and decided that he wanted to teach Stella how to roar. Well, Stella wasn't a huge fan of Jacks roaring as LOUD as he could in her face and so she began to cry! We have since taught him that he can only whisper when he wants to teach her how to roar. He is such a WONDERFUL older brother and we just LOVE our two little ones to death!!!!

Stella just chillin' in her swing

Jackson barely let me take this pic of him... this boy LOVES to keep busy all of the time!

Stella-Baby....

Here is a pic of my sweet Stella-Baby taken 2 weeks ago. There is nothing SWEETER than a sleeping baby!

Better Late Than Never....

So I am FINALLY starting to feel somewhat normal again. You all know how the first few weeks and months go after having a baby. It's a huge adjustment and you wonder if you will ever be able to take a normal shower again without feeling rushed or actually be able to enjoy a meal without frantically shoveling your food down because the baby is hungry even though you just fed her. Well, I am starting to get over that phase and have felt a world of a difference once I was able to hit the gym again! It is SOOOO nice to be able to take off for an hour once Jake gets home and just have some me time with the good old iPod and elliptical.

Anywhoo... we celebrated Jackson's birthday a couple of weeks ago and I can't believe my sweet baby boy turned 3!!!!

Jacks on his actual birthday... it was cold and rainy so we weren't able to do much that day!

Since his birthday was during the week we decided to wait and celebrate that following Saturday. We had planned to take him to a local pumpkin patch but since it was SUPER cold that day we opted for Chuck E Cheese's instead. It was Jackson's first time experiencing the place (yes... I know... we have deprived our child of Chuck E Cheese until now) and he ABSOLUTELY loved every second we were there. He didn't even want to eat because he was so excited with all of the rides and games.

Jacks and Jake at good old CEC!

Later that night we did cake (a homemade ice cream cake that Jackson and I made together earlier that week) and presents (the grandparents knew just what our little man loves... DINASOURS!!!)

1st attempt at blowing out the candles...

2nd attempt...

5th attempt...

Okay, after the 10th attempt Daddy came in to the rescue!!!

Stella is doing well and already fitting into some of her 3 month old clothes already.... she is only 7 weeks!!!! I can't believe how fast she is growing and she is starting to smile more and more everyday now. I am so bummed because I had such a cute picture of her that I was going to post and I totally just deleted it by accident!!!! I will make sure that I post it later though. Anyways, we are still working on the whole sleeping thing. I don't know if it is because I am nursing this time or what but I feel (and look) like a total zombie come morning time. I must say that nursing still isn't my favorite yet. I am still waiting for the "nursing is so wonderful" moment. I guess since Jackson always took a bottle (even though I pumped/tried to nurse for 3 months) I know what I a missing out on... sleep and having my body back. Nursing really is exhuasting but I am still going to stick to it since my sweet baby Stella is such a great eater! I am trying to have a better attitude about it though and since have been starting to enjoy it more and more. I don't know if it is the timing or the attitude adjustment (or both) but whatever it is I hope it continues to get better and better.

What the heck????

I know I totally should NOT be complaining, since I just had a baby 1 month ago, but for some reason I was thinking I was going to be back in shape by now!!!! What was I thinking???? I have been having a hard time coping with the fact that none of my normal clothes look right on me and all of the comments I have received from my neighbors. I even had one lady tell me the other day that I had a little POOCH!!!! I just hate hearing that word.... especially when it is directed towards me. Anyways, I am just really ITCHING to get back to working out again... not only to get back into shape but also for my own sanity. I just MISS being able to take that 1 hour every day and just focus on myself. You know what I think???? I think the government should make it mandatory that EVERYONE has a gym membership and works out instead of trying to pass this whole health care reform. It would be a LOT cheaper and people would be in much better shape, health and have better attitudes. Plus, I guarantee it would not cost a whopping 869 (or whatever the number is) billion dollars!!!! Anyways, only 11 more days until my doc gives me the okay, YAY!!!!!

Quick Update...

I haven't really had time to update the ole' bloggity blog since our lil' miss's birth. I have a little free time since my hubby is home. I am still trying to figure out how to balance everything and if ANYONE has ANY advice or knows some secret that I don't... PLEASE cough it up because I NEED it!!!!!

Jake has been, of course, busy with work and has been such a HUGE help and support to me. He basically comes home and helps out with WHATEVER I need... including just listening to me and my thoughts at the end of the day... which means A LOT of political discussions occur in our household... especially since all I watch is the news throughout the night to keep me awake during Stella's night feedings!

Jacks not interested in taking a pic... can't you tell????

Jackson has discovered all of the new found freedoms that come along with having a new sibling. This week he just rediscovered how to climb out of his crib and, with that, has decided he no longer needs naps. Now, I am REALLY hoping this is just a phase but according to Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child it states that children often drop the afternoon nap at age 3... which so happens to be this week for my little Jacks-man!!!! Jacks is also too scared to sleep in his big boy bed so we are faced with a little dilemma EVERY time we put him down to bed. I have to say, though, that despite this whole nap time drama Jackson has been such a sweetie-pie and we LOVE him SO much!!!

Attempting to show off his already chewed food in his mouth... we have lovely manners don't we?

Stella is officially 1 month old!!!! Where does the time go???? When it comes to feeding time I am in full demand with this girl. She is growing so fast and LOVES to eat! She is our little sweet-pea and so far only cries when she is hungry or gassy (why does it seem like her gassy time ALWAYS falls around 2-3am????). Stella has such an easy-going personality and Jacks just ADORES his baby sister. We LOVE our little Stella-baby!!!

Stels just doing what she does best!!!

As for me, to be honest I am just trying to survive!!!! Jake's mom Lisa came out to visit us a few weeks ago and was such a TREMENDOUS help. We LOVED having her here and really miss her. We really haven't been out of the house much because I am still trying to figure out how to manage the household, feed a baby every 2-3 hours and entertain a 3 year old all at once. If I were to add anything else to that list I don't know what I would do... really. I remember, as a brand new mother, feeling this way when Jacks was born and, with every day, it all seemed to get easier and easier but,at the same time, life seemed to go by faster and faster.

Jake's brother Trevor stopped by to visit us while out on a business trip while Lisa was here. It is always such a treat to be able to have family come and visit us!

Even though we are stuck inside the house everyday I do LOVE the fact that life slows down when you have a newborn. It makes you realize how quickly (and precious) time really does go by and forces you to take a step back. It seems that it wasn't long ago when I was a little girl dreaming of what it would be like to be a stay-at-home mommy. I look at my sweetie-pies and realize more and more every day that soon they are going to become grown-ups themselves and have their own dreams of becoming parents and raising their own families. As much as a night of restful sleep may sound or even just how wonderful an afternoon nap would be... I wouldn't trade my life for anything else in the world!