Introductions

Two weeks ago Jacob introduced us to some friends.



Reggie and Maya were given names for very specific reasons. Allow me to explain.

Reggie:

We gave Jacob this book for Christmas. (Click on the cover art to read excerpts and to fall in love.)



It's basically the best book ever. Jana and I had it when we were little and I felt my children needed it in their lives too. I love the illustrations. I love how "Jersey" their house is. I love it that his name is Ira. I love how smart his parents are. (Seriously, they play the cello, they read the paper, and they walk around holding Igor Oistrakh records. Smart!) And that bratty sister, I sure can relate to that! (Kidding!) But truly, a great book.

We were reading it a few weeks ago and at one point Ira's friend, Reggie, goes to get something (I won't spoil the book for you) and at that moment Jacob jumped off of the couch and grabbed well, Reggie, and said, "It's Reggie" (pronounced "Rajjey"). He's never called him anything but Reggie since that moment.

Maya:

Well, this one is pure puppy love. After Reggie came around Jacob also began toting the blue bunny around. If you remember, he had a brief relationship with this bunny a year ago. But it didn't last. So I was happy to see it around again. I asked Jacob what the bunny's name was and he immediately said, "Maya". Maya is the name of a sweet little girl in nursery who just moved to California. He's obviously pining for her and couldn't pass up the chance at a loving homage.

Reggie and Maya pretty much go everywhere in this household. If Jacob is trying to cram crackers in my mouth I say, "How's about you give Reggie some crackers?" or if he wants to jump on someone I say, "Whadda ya say you jump on Maya?" It's great.

The best place they go is with him to bed. I like to think that he feels comforted and accompanied at night now.

Don't you think so too?



(One glitch. What are we going to do when we travel and he wants us to pack two HUGE stuffed animals with us! Can Reggie and Maya check bags?)

Hug and Kiss

Jacob loves getting good-bye hugs and kisses from Matt. However. HOWEVER. Blueberries are a big part of his morning fare, so we're running into a bit of a snag. As adorable as he is, would you really want to give this guy some love after just getting dressed for work?














Tough call.

Wondering about that patch? Don't worry. It's just this.

My favorite day

Okay, maybe not my favorite day ever. But my favorite day in the last month happened last week. Nicholas is a good napper and a good sleeper. Jacob pretty much blows him out of the park though. Solid night's sleep and a solid 2-3 hour nap every day. He rocks and I am very fortunate.

So I usually put Jacob down for his one nap before I put Nicholas down for his second nap and end up getting Nicholas before Jacob is even awake. I don't mind it, but some days I would love to have their afternoon naps coincide a bit more. Last week it happened. It happened so well that I had to go get those boys up once 4 o'clock hit. I loved going into their rooms (that are right next to each other) and seeing them both deeply asleep and looking so comfy. Sigh.

This is how I feel

Anyone else?

I also feel a lot like these guys.

Two gags for the price of one task

1. Jacob pulls all of the toys off of the fireplace and puts them on the floor (along with the other toy debris) all around Nicholas. He then says, "Where'd he go, Mo-mmy?". Can you see him? It sort of reminds me of something.


















2. Since the fireplace is nicely cleaned off...why not?




































Way to stick that landing J.J.!

Challenge me, please!

I like to fancy that my job as a “family blogger” is to take simple, every day occurrences at home and turn them into delightful personal essays peppered with witty comments and cute pictures. (I fancy quite a lot, eh?) Well, sometimes these kids just don’t give me “every day occurrences”. Not at all. I mean, seriously, could this be any easier?

A puzzle piece becomes…







































...a pacifier!


















I’ve actually had to hide them from him because if he sees them they are in his mouth. He won’t take a regular pacifier, but these puzzle knobs he takes and is totally pacified! Honestly.

The luckiest boy in the world

Anyone who knows Jacob even the teeniest bit knows that he loves trucks, tractors and anything that moves.

We are fortunate enough to have a subdivision of expensive homes be the feeder road into our little not expensive neighborhood. So, we've seen a lot of really nice things on the side of the road with a "free" sign on them. We've even picked a few up. Last week that street outdid itself. Big time.

Check it out.










































































Can you believe it!?!?! We feel so grateful that this little (expensive) beauty was just sitting there waiting for us. Fo' free. Jacob is in heaven, and so are we.

Additionally, we've learned that we really don't treat Jacob much. We told him we had a surprise for him and led him out to the sheet covered tractor (for the big "reveal"). After uncovering it he kept on calling it a surprise and has started calling all tractors "surprises". Apparently he really didn't know the meaning of surprise. I guess we're raising our children on a diet of low expectations!

My blog is a democracy

Friday night we dusted off the old hair scissors and decided to shear us some Nicholas. That morning I took some good-bye pictures.
































































































































We cut his hair right after he had smeared food all over his face and hair. We also did it at night. Not so great for the pictures, but picturesque-ness had to be subjected to my feeling of urgency. It was like pulling off a band-aid.














Here he is in Momma's trusty old barber chair.


















I had to spend some time detangling his recurring dreadlocks. Lots of time.














Mullet!














Mullet again!


















Look at all that hair! I'd say about twice as much as Jacob's.


















Before the finished product. Allow me to reflect on the style. It still needs some more layering and was done when everyone was tired and cranky. But if I had to put it into words I would say it's a little bit of this:



with a little bit of that (don't worry, I'm referring to Moe's hair):



Ta da!!!!!

























































Here's the first feedback I've received:

"His head looks half the size and his cheeks look twice as big." -Matt

Nice.

You really want this?

I am willing to cut it.

I wanted your opinion.

Then I went and looked at this post.

I'm excited to see the new Nicholas. But, but, but, then my baby's gone. At least, that's how it worked with Jacob.

Before (totally insufficient display of his amazing hair, but more than sufficient display of his smiley smile):














I'm ready. I think. Expect pictures soon...

(gulp.)

So cute and so brutal

Nicholas is a real scratcher. I keep those little nails cut down to nubbins, and he's still doing it! Last week he had a pre-existing scratch on his nose. I put him down for his nap and when I got him up HIS NOSE WAS BLEEDING! He scratched that old scrape and made it bleed. Bleeding to the point of literally needing a band aid. So, I found a little band aid and bandaged him up.







































What an adorable injury.

Also, make sure to vote about Nicholas's hair. Your vote counts!

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

Oh so long ago my boys were worlds apart.














Jacob viewed Nicholas as BO-RING.














And Nicholas thought Jacob was a menace.














They've both done a lot of growing up in the last seven months and I'd like to show you some of their recent interactions.

Playing trains.
































Struggling to tear Nicholas away from a favorite toy.














Fixin' stuff at the work bench.














Pushing Nicholas away from the work bench.














Nicholas giving up while Jacob plays on.














"Parallel play". Jacob loves his trains on the table and Nicholas loves his train leavings and any other toy litter under the table. What could be more parallel?


















Playing "Where's Nico?". This is by far our most favorite activity. Nicholas is a great crawler and can get anywhere. He has found a particular delight (as seen above) in getting under things. "Where's Nico?" basically consists of Jacob thinking Nicholas is in a funny place and then yelling "Where's Nico" until they both dissolve in giggles. Awe-some.