Conversation last night at bedtime:
Ben: Are you mad?
Me: No, just tired.
Ben: Does tired mean mad?
Me: No, tired means I just need to rest.
Ben: (after thinking for a few seconds) Are you starvis?
Me: Starvis?
Ben: Yeah.
Me: What's starvis?
Ben: Starvis is when you're really, really hungry.
Me: You mean starving.
Ben: Oh. Yeah, I'm starving.
Forgot to mention in the last post that when Jack is looking for something, he will wander around calling for it. Like "Paci? Where aaaare yooooooou?" Which actually sounds more like "Bapeeeee? Weeeeaaaaaaaaooooooooooooo?"
Emma is now doing that squealing thing which is funny because I think she sometimes surprises herself and her eyes get really big. The past 3 nights she has cut out one of her feedings. That gives her a 6 hour stretch which would be even better if it was during a time when I was sleeping the same 6 hours. Soon enough!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
No Such Thing As A Quick Post...
Ben
This month Ben will turn 4 (on the 28th)! Hard to believe so much time has passed already. Before we know it, he'll be graduating High School.
I've been working on getting him to write the letters of his name. So far, B is it. heh. I have also been trying to review the letters of the alphabet and some words he used to know when he was Jack's age. He will be able to go into kindergarten not this fall, but next. I'm sure he'll be ready knowledge wise by then, and hopefully socially once I start getting him around other kids more.
We started a "Ben's Great Behavior" chart a few weeks ago. He gets a sticker for doing good things like getting dressed all by himself, picking up books and toys, etc. He also starts every day with 3 smiley faces which get taken away for things like hitting or screaming at Jack, not listening to Mommy, etc. If he has at least 1 smiley at the end of the day, he gets a small treat the next morning. So far he's gotten stuff like a bubble wand, a matchbox car out of the Cheerios box, and a cup of strawberry milk (his idea). =-) After he has accumulated 7 days (not consecutive) of smiley faces, he gets a big prize. His first prize was a trip to the indoor playground at Chick-Fil-A (also his idea). His next prize is a Buzz Lightyear action figure. We are still 5 days away from that goal.
Funny stuff Ben has said lately:
Jack went running into his room crying and throwing a fit for no apparent reason.
Ben: Sometimes I don't love Grandpa Huber because he has a scary shirt on.
Jack
Jack will turn 2 on August 11th! Wasn't he just a baby yesterday?
Mr. Personality has taken to screaming in the house and is not dissuaded by a timeout, or Mommy's angry face. In fact, he just laughs. I have been trying to spend a little time every day reading to him and playing with him one-on-one so he doesn't feel the need to do crazy things to get attention. He's great about going to bed though - no fussing at naps or at night.
Although he has his tantrum moments, he also has plenty of good ones. He is very helpful and will deliver Ben's juice to him, or his sleepy bear and Ben frequently will ask Jack to get him something, and he usually will. He also almost always says Thank You when you give him something (or "Kee Koo" which is his version for now).
He likes to wander around the house singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and the Barney theme song although you can't really make out many words yet. He has the tunes pretty well. He also loves to twirl and dance whenever he hears music. I remember Ben doing this at his age too.
Both boys love their baby sister and I have to watch them so they don't get too excited and poke her in the face with toys or try to feed her their lunch or dinner (or kiss her too much).
Unfortunately we had to cut the bunk-beds apart, but the boys are doing really well in them although we do occasionally find one of them in the other one's bed in the morning. Plus, now they can play in their room without me worrying that they will fall.
Ben is sleeping now from about 8:30 or 9:00pm until 6:30am and then takes a nap around 2:00pm for 2 or 3 hours. Jack sleeps from 7:30pm until about 5:45am and then takes a nap around 10:30 or 11:00am for about an hour and a half.
Emma
Miss Sweet Pea is now 15 pounds and 24" long as of her Doctor's appointment this week (at 3 1/2 months). The Doctor said she has the social behavior of a 6 month old (mostly, I think, because she was looking at him suspiciously - and cried when he reached for her - and he said stranger anxiety doesn't normally start this early).
She is in 6-9 month clothes and has been enjoying sitting upright (or standing) in her walker. She can move backwards in it, but probably not on purpose. She's always got those fingers in her mouth and is drooling like crazy, but I checked the boy's baby books and they didn't get their first teeth (the bottom front ones) until they were 8 months old.
She has been giggling more lately and smiling a lot. She is still waking up at around 11pm and 3am to eat. I am thinking of starting some mixed grain cereal in the evening tomorrow to see if she'll sleep longer.
She is still not taking a bottle of any sort, but after consulting with my Mommies group, I have a new idea to try. We'll see how it goes. Sure would be nice to get a full night's sleep after 4 months.
This month Ben will turn 4 (on the 28th)! Hard to believe so much time has passed already. Before we know it, he'll be graduating High School.
I've been working on getting him to write the letters of his name. So far, B is it. heh. I have also been trying to review the letters of the alphabet and some words he used to know when he was Jack's age. He will be able to go into kindergarten not this fall, but next. I'm sure he'll be ready knowledge wise by then, and hopefully socially once I start getting him around other kids more.
We started a "Ben's Great Behavior" chart a few weeks ago. He gets a sticker for doing good things like getting dressed all by himself, picking up books and toys, etc. He also starts every day with 3 smiley faces which get taken away for things like hitting or screaming at Jack, not listening to Mommy, etc. If he has at least 1 smiley at the end of the day, he gets a small treat the next morning. So far he's gotten stuff like a bubble wand, a matchbox car out of the Cheerios box, and a cup of strawberry milk (his idea). =-) After he has accumulated 7 days (not consecutive) of smiley faces, he gets a big prize. His first prize was a trip to the indoor playground at Chick-Fil-A (also his idea). His next prize is a Buzz Lightyear action figure. We are still 5 days away from that goal.
Funny stuff Ben has said lately:
Jack went running into his room crying and throwing a fit for no apparent reason.
I looked at Ben who smiled and said "I scared him with my brain!".
Ben: Sometimes I don't love Grandpa Huber because he has a scary shirt on.
(Dad was wearing his pirate - skull and crossbones - shirt .)
Jack
Jack will turn 2 on August 11th! Wasn't he just a baby yesterday?
Mr. Personality has taken to screaming in the house and is not dissuaded by a timeout, or Mommy's angry face. In fact, he just laughs. I have been trying to spend a little time every day reading to him and playing with him one-on-one so he doesn't feel the need to do crazy things to get attention. He's great about going to bed though - no fussing at naps or at night.
Although he has his tantrum moments, he also has plenty of good ones. He is very helpful and will deliver Ben's juice to him, or his sleepy bear and Ben frequently will ask Jack to get him something, and he usually will. He also almost always says Thank You when you give him something (or "Kee Koo" which is his version for now).
He likes to wander around the house singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and the Barney theme song although you can't really make out many words yet. He has the tunes pretty well. He also loves to twirl and dance whenever he hears music. I remember Ben doing this at his age too.
Both boys love their baby sister and I have to watch them so they don't get too excited and poke her in the face with toys or try to feed her their lunch or dinner (or kiss her too much).
Unfortunately we had to cut the bunk-beds apart, but the boys are doing really well in them although we do occasionally find one of them in the other one's bed in the morning. Plus, now they can play in their room without me worrying that they will fall.
Ben is sleeping now from about 8:30 or 9:00pm until 6:30am and then takes a nap around 2:00pm for 2 or 3 hours. Jack sleeps from 7:30pm until about 5:45am and then takes a nap around 10:30 or 11:00am for about an hour and a half.
Emma
Miss Sweet Pea is now 15 pounds and 24" long as of her Doctor's appointment this week (at 3 1/2 months). The Doctor said she has the social behavior of a 6 month old (mostly, I think, because she was looking at him suspiciously - and cried when he reached for her - and he said stranger anxiety doesn't normally start this early).
She is in 6-9 month clothes and has been enjoying sitting upright (or standing) in her walker. She can move backwards in it, but probably not on purpose. She's always got those fingers in her mouth and is drooling like crazy, but I checked the boy's baby books and they didn't get their first teeth (the bottom front ones) until they were 8 months old.
She has been giggling more lately and smiling a lot. She is still waking up at around 11pm and 3am to eat. I am thinking of starting some mixed grain cereal in the evening tomorrow to see if she'll sleep longer.
She is still not taking a bottle of any sort, but after consulting with my Mommies group, I have a new idea to try. We'll see how it goes. Sure would be nice to get a full night's sleep after 4 months.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Emma Has Arrived!
Emma Katherine Shertzer
Our little sweetheart arrived on March 26th at 3:12pm weighing 9 pounds, 1 ounce and measuring 20 3/4 inches (6 days before her due date). I had a day of contractions at 35 weeks and from then on had contractions on and off almost every day. A couple of nights before she was born I woke up with a terrible migraine (very unusual for me) and it didn't occur to me until the next evening that my blood pressure could be causing it. Rob took it and it *was* high, but I was feeling lazy and didn't want to go to the hospital so I went to sleep. At around 1:30am the contractions started again, and at 7:00am my blood pressure was still high, so we went to the hospital.
I wasn't planning to have an epidural, but the Doctors recommended it to help bring my blood pressure down. I did wait until I was 9cm though, and asked them to make it very light. I could still feel my legs and most everything - just not pain. It was the best labor I've had - no throwing up and shaking the whole time like with Ben and Jack. =-)
By Emma's 2 week Doctor's appointment she had regained her birth weight and then some - almost 10 pounds! She will be 7 weeks old tomorrow and is about 13 pounds now.
She's not sleeping through the night yet, but yesterday she did several 5 hour stints between feedings. Today, not so much. Hopefully since she is past the 12 pound mark she will start sleeping longer at night. Fingers crossed!
So far she does not like her paci (which we are fine with) and won't take a bottle either (which we are not so fine with). Other than that she is a little sweetie and her brothers adore her.
Jack
Jack has become quite vocal! He makes all sorts of grunts and growls and screams and can throw a class A tantrum at any time (and does, several times a day). He is often jealous of Ben and Emma when we give them attention so we're trying hard to make sure he gets his share.
He has started singing although he can't say the words to anything quite yet. He likes the Alphabet song, Twinkle Twinkle, and Itsy Bitsy Spider. I sing Twinkle Twinkle to him in his room before his nap and he either hums or sings along and giggles. When I come to the "up above the world so high" part he always looks up and points to the ceiling.
He can say a lot of words pretty clearly and can otherwise get the point across if he wants something. He's also started putting together phrases like "Hi Daddy!" and is in general a little giggle box. Doesn't take much to amuse him and his laughter is infectious. He also likes to let Ben pull him around in the wagon outside a lot. Let's see... his play kitchen gets a lot of use too. He will get his little plastic frying pan, put his chicken nuggets from dinner in it, put it on his stove and push the button that makes the cooking noise and then take it to the coffee table and stir it up.
Whenever a vehicle with a siren goes by outside he runs to the window and says "car? car?". He likes to point at the bunnies outside and if you aren't watching him, he will follow them wherever they run off to.
Grandpa Huber assembled the bunk bed in the boy's room and Jack did very well in the bottom bunk with rails for about a month until he figured out how to climb out and then wouldn't stay in bed for naps or bedtime. One day I found him on the top bunk so he is now back in the pack-n-play beside the bunk bed until we think he's ready.
Playing with Mommy's hat.
Letting his big brother pull him around the yard.
Ben
Ben is our little chatterbox. He pretty much talks, sings or makes some sort of noise from the second he wakes up until he goes to bed. He seems to have grown quite a bit recently and everyone has been saying how big he's getting.
We are finally potty trained! Gigi and Grandpa Shertzer took him to Chuck E Cheese today as a reward. He still won't go poo in the potty because he says "it will hurt", but he will ask for a diaper and then go right back to his "big boy underwear" when he's done. Lots better than having to change every diaper for 3 kids all day!
Ben loves to play outside and does a great job of staying in the safe part of the yard (and telling me when Jack is *not* staying in the safe part).
His terrible 2's and 3's seem to be gone for the most part. I guess he gave his share to Jack who started his very early.
Both boys have been watching the "Your Baby Can Read" DVDs and are doing well with them. It's hard to tell what Ben knows because he rarely will do things on demand. I know one day he's just going to start reading something and then I'll wonder how long he has been able to do it. Recently I've been working with him on "he" and "him" for boys and "she" and "her" for girls. He often calls Emma "him". I have also been pretty diligent in correcting his verbs and verb tenses. The way he talks now is cute, but I figure it's better to get it right early while he's still learning.
Ben loves sleeping in his top bunk! We do have to keep the boys out of the bedroom during the day though unfortunately. They are too prone to go right up to the top bunk and start jumping around.
He is still one of the most grateful children I've ever seen and will effuse "Oh THANK you!" whenever you give him something (and sometimes just when you ask him to do something). We also get to hear "I love you" or "I love you so much!" several times a day or more. =-)
Some cute/funny things Ben has said lately:
"I exploded!"
"I fell down and hit my head and I cried and I hurt my heart too and my heart is crying."
Me: "Ben? Why is Jack crying? What happened?"
Ben: "Jack fall down in the grass and I didn't do *anything* to Jack."
Watching Daddy and Uncle Dury re-roof the front porch
(Uncle Dury's recently acquired RV in the background)
In his PJs, outside enjoying the nice spring weather.
Our little sweetheart arrived on March 26th at 3:12pm weighing 9 pounds, 1 ounce and measuring 20 3/4 inches (6 days before her due date). I had a day of contractions at 35 weeks and from then on had contractions on and off almost every day. A couple of nights before she was born I woke up with a terrible migraine (very unusual for me) and it didn't occur to me until the next evening that my blood pressure could be causing it. Rob took it and it *was* high, but I was feeling lazy and didn't want to go to the hospital so I went to sleep. At around 1:30am the contractions started again, and at 7:00am my blood pressure was still high, so we went to the hospital.
I wasn't planning to have an epidural, but the Doctors recommended it to help bring my blood pressure down. I did wait until I was 9cm though, and asked them to make it very light. I could still feel my legs and most everything - just not pain. It was the best labor I've had - no throwing up and shaking the whole time like with Ben and Jack. =-)
By Emma's 2 week Doctor's appointment she had regained her birth weight and then some - almost 10 pounds! She will be 7 weeks old tomorrow and is about 13 pounds now.
She's not sleeping through the night yet, but yesterday she did several 5 hour stints between feedings. Today, not so much. Hopefully since she is past the 12 pound mark she will start sleeping longer at night. Fingers crossed!
So far she does not like her paci (which we are fine with) and won't take a bottle either (which we are not so fine with). Other than that she is a little sweetie and her brothers adore her.
Jack
Jack has become quite vocal! He makes all sorts of grunts and growls and screams and can throw a class A tantrum at any time (and does, several times a day). He is often jealous of Ben and Emma when we give them attention so we're trying hard to make sure he gets his share.
He has started singing although he can't say the words to anything quite yet. He likes the Alphabet song, Twinkle Twinkle, and Itsy Bitsy Spider. I sing Twinkle Twinkle to him in his room before his nap and he either hums or sings along and giggles. When I come to the "up above the world so high" part he always looks up and points to the ceiling.
He can say a lot of words pretty clearly and can otherwise get the point across if he wants something. He's also started putting together phrases like "Hi Daddy!" and is in general a little giggle box. Doesn't take much to amuse him and his laughter is infectious. He also likes to let Ben pull him around in the wagon outside a lot. Let's see... his play kitchen gets a lot of use too. He will get his little plastic frying pan, put his chicken nuggets from dinner in it, put it on his stove and push the button that makes the cooking noise and then take it to the coffee table and stir it up.
Whenever a vehicle with a siren goes by outside he runs to the window and says "car? car?". He likes to point at the bunnies outside and if you aren't watching him, he will follow them wherever they run off to.
Grandpa Huber assembled the bunk bed in the boy's room and Jack did very well in the bottom bunk with rails for about a month until he figured out how to climb out and then wouldn't stay in bed for naps or bedtime. One day I found him on the top bunk so he is now back in the pack-n-play beside the bunk bed until we think he's ready.
Playing with Mommy's hat.
Letting his big brother pull him around the yard.
Ben
Ben is our little chatterbox. He pretty much talks, sings or makes some sort of noise from the second he wakes up until he goes to bed. He seems to have grown quite a bit recently and everyone has been saying how big he's getting.
We are finally potty trained! Gigi and Grandpa Shertzer took him to Chuck E Cheese today as a reward. He still won't go poo in the potty because he says "it will hurt", but he will ask for a diaper and then go right back to his "big boy underwear" when he's done. Lots better than having to change every diaper for 3 kids all day!
Ben loves to play outside and does a great job of staying in the safe part of the yard (and telling me when Jack is *not* staying in the safe part).
His terrible 2's and 3's seem to be gone for the most part. I guess he gave his share to Jack who started his very early.
Both boys have been watching the "Your Baby Can Read" DVDs and are doing well with them. It's hard to tell what Ben knows because he rarely will do things on demand. I know one day he's just going to start reading something and then I'll wonder how long he has been able to do it. Recently I've been working with him on "he" and "him" for boys and "she" and "her" for girls. He often calls Emma "him". I have also been pretty diligent in correcting his verbs and verb tenses. The way he talks now is cute, but I figure it's better to get it right early while he's still learning.
Ben loves sleeping in his top bunk! We do have to keep the boys out of the bedroom during the day though unfortunately. They are too prone to go right up to the top bunk and start jumping around.
He is still one of the most grateful children I've ever seen and will effuse "Oh THANK you!" whenever you give him something (and sometimes just when you ask him to do something). We also get to hear "I love you" or "I love you so much!" several times a day or more. =-)
Some cute/funny things Ben has said lately:
"I exploded!"
"I fell down and hit my head and I cried and I hurt my heart too and my heart is crying."
Me: "Ben? Why is Jack crying? What happened?" Ben: "Jack fall down in the grass and I didn't do *anything* to Jack."
Watching Daddy and Uncle Dury re-roof the front porch
(Uncle Dury's recently acquired RV in the background)
In his PJs, outside enjoying the nice spring weather.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Getting Ready for Miss Emma
Finally moved Jack into Ben's room. I was waiting for the bunk beds to be finished, but since we've had a bout of snow and extra cold temps, I didn't think they'd be done in time. Then I was waiting to move the furniture around in there, but one day I just moved his pack-n-play in there and let the boys take a nap at the same time. It only took about an hour and a half the first day and they slept fine. The past 3 mornings Jack has woken up at 4:00am. Not sure what that's about, but hopefully it will pass.
They boys are really sweet to each other sometimes. If Jack is crying Ben will try to kiss him and say "It's just okay, Jack. It's just okay." If Ben is crying Jack will try to give him a kiss and pat his head.
Went to my 30 week Doctor's appointment and was measuring THREE WEEKS ahead. Then last week for my 32 week I was still measuring TWO weeks ahead. I'm guessing she will arrive the weekend after St. Patrick's Day, which would work out for a lot of people because the last week of March is Spring Break (so Rob would be off from bus driving for Lincoln Schools).
Emma seems really strong - her kicks and punches and wiggles are a lot more pronounced than with the boys. I suppose the bigger she is, the better she might sleep from the get-go. I know Jack slept through the night a lot sooner than Ben, but then they say it's different for every kid. Let's hope we get another good sleeper. =-)
Finally started converting Jack's room to Emma's this week. Uncle Eric and Christi and Grandpa Huber have all offered to help get it ready. Mimama is coming up this weekend (hopefully) to see the boys and maybe we can do a little baby shopping while she's here.
Well, as usual I can't think of the million things I wanted to remember. Rob says Jack has been saying Daddy more (or "Daaaeeeeeee"). It's really cute how much he loves his Dad. We are so lucky that Rob has been able to be at home more to spend time with the kids.
I'll try to get another post in before Miss Emma arrives!
They boys are really sweet to each other sometimes. If Jack is crying Ben will try to kiss him and say "It's just okay, Jack. It's just okay." If Ben is crying Jack will try to give him a kiss and pat his head.
Went to my 30 week Doctor's appointment and was measuring THREE WEEKS ahead. Then last week for my 32 week I was still measuring TWO weeks ahead. I'm guessing she will arrive the weekend after St. Patrick's Day, which would work out for a lot of people because the last week of March is Spring Break (so Rob would be off from bus driving for Lincoln Schools).
Emma seems really strong - her kicks and punches and wiggles are a lot more pronounced than with the boys. I suppose the bigger she is, the better she might sleep from the get-go. I know Jack slept through the night a lot sooner than Ben, but then they say it's different for every kid. Let's hope we get another good sleeper. =-)
Finally started converting Jack's room to Emma's this week. Uncle Eric and Christi and Grandpa Huber have all offered to help get it ready. Mimama is coming up this weekend (hopefully) to see the boys and maybe we can do a little baby shopping while she's here.
Well, as usual I can't think of the million things I wanted to remember. Rob says Jack has been saying Daddy more (or "Daaaeeeeeee"). It's really cute how much he loves his Dad. We are so lucky that Rob has been able to be at home more to spend time with the kids.
I'll try to get another post in before Miss Emma arrives!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
We Love Our SMART Kids!
Jack is just amazing us lately. He will be 1 1/2 in February, but it's just incredible the things he knows. The boys were sick last week and we discovered that if you hand Jack a Kleenex, he will hold it up to his nose and blow and then wipe, AND he will go and put it in the trash when he's done! Granted, he doesn't always get everything with the wipe, but that is just cool.
He is also starting to get more words going. He'll sometimes say "hi" (also, if you wave at him, he'll wave back), and he definitely knows "ball" because he will go and get it (loves playing with bouncing balls). Yesterday I swear he said "cracker". He also knows "dog" and "baby" if you show him a picture and ask where they are (he will point to them). He loves picture books and books with textures and flaps that he can open. Also, you can ask him a question and he will shake his head no if he doesn't want whatever you just asked (i.e. "Are you ready for a nap, Jack?" - vigorous NO. he he).
ETA: He can also say "onoff" which means he wants you to hold him up so he can turn the light switch on or off. I remember when Ben used to want to do that all the time. Okay, I thought of some more. He can say "juice" and will carry his cup over to the kitchen if he needs a refill, and he will also hold out his hands palms up and say "all gone" when his food is all gone. Well, actually it sounds more like "all gah" but close enough and so cute!
We can ask him to do simple things now and he can, like "Jack, put the book back on the shelf". So fun when they do what you ask and they think it's a great accomplishment. Now if I could just get Ben to do that again...
Ben has been singing up a storm lately and not only loves "Jingle Bells" still, but will sing along to TV show jingles. His vocabulary and ability to form complete sentances still amazes me. Yesterday I heard a noise outside and knowing Ben was looking out of the window I asked him what it was. He said very clearly: "That was the recycling falling off Daddy's car" (which doesn't sound like it makes sense, but Rob had the recycling bins on top of his car to drive them back up the driveway). He's also starting to show more of an interest in reading again. He loves "Go, Dog. Go!" (he likes to tell me all about what's happening with the dogs on each page) and "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb". He often asks what things say and I tell him, and then tell him that when he learns to read he will know what everything says (and that he can teach Jack to read).
He's getting a lot better about playing nicely with Jack - it's Jack that is doing lots of pushing and trying to take things away from Ben now.
Re-potty training worked great for about a week until the boys got sick and then for the first 2 days Ben would still tell me when he needed to go, then all of a sudden we had puddles on the floor every time again. I haven't had the energy to start again with the taking him every 15 minutes thing. Someday!!
I've started using the new TV in the boy's room as a tool to get an extra 30 minutes of "us" time at night. I just ask Ben to pick out a cartoon DVD to watch, get him ready for bed and then tuck him in and set the sleep timer on the TV to 30 minutes. So now he is quiet from about 7:00 or 7:30 at night and I think he gets more rest (Jack wakes him up at 6:00am) - and never complains about bed time! Not sure what I'm going to do when I move Jack in there - which needs to be soon!
Rob took a 29 week picture of me (last week) so only about 8 weeks to go +-. Like I said, need to get Jack moved into Ben's room and get Miss Emma's room ready. I've got to paint and sort through all of her new clothes to see what I've got and what we might need still. Also would be good to start stocking up on diapers! I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow - routine. She has been kicking up a storm.
I'm sure there are a million things I meant to include in this post, but as usual, when I sit down to write I forget most of them! Gotta go... the boys would like more crackers!
Me and Miss Emma at 29 weeks:
The boys the week before they came down with a little virus:
He is also starting to get more words going. He'll sometimes say "hi" (also, if you wave at him, he'll wave back), and he definitely knows "ball" because he will go and get it (loves playing with bouncing balls). Yesterday I swear he said "cracker". He also knows "dog" and "baby" if you show him a picture and ask where they are (he will point to them). He loves picture books and books with textures and flaps that he can open. Also, you can ask him a question and he will shake his head no if he doesn't want whatever you just asked (i.e. "Are you ready for a nap, Jack?" - vigorous NO. he he).
ETA: He can also say "onoff" which means he wants you to hold him up so he can turn the light switch on or off. I remember when Ben used to want to do that all the time. Okay, I thought of some more. He can say "juice" and will carry his cup over to the kitchen if he needs a refill, and he will also hold out his hands palms up and say "all gone" when his food is all gone. Well, actually it sounds more like "all gah" but close enough and so cute!
We can ask him to do simple things now and he can, like "Jack, put the book back on the shelf". So fun when they do what you ask and they think it's a great accomplishment. Now if I could just get Ben to do that again...
Ben has been singing up a storm lately and not only loves "Jingle Bells" still, but will sing along to TV show jingles. His vocabulary and ability to form complete sentances still amazes me. Yesterday I heard a noise outside and knowing Ben was looking out of the window I asked him what it was. He said very clearly: "That was the recycling falling off Daddy's car" (which doesn't sound like it makes sense, but Rob had the recycling bins on top of his car to drive them back up the driveway). He's also starting to show more of an interest in reading again. He loves "Go, Dog. Go!" (he likes to tell me all about what's happening with the dogs on each page) and "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb". He often asks what things say and I tell him, and then tell him that when he learns to read he will know what everything says (and that he can teach Jack to read).
He's getting a lot better about playing nicely with Jack - it's Jack that is doing lots of pushing and trying to take things away from Ben now.
Re-potty training worked great for about a week until the boys got sick and then for the first 2 days Ben would still tell me when he needed to go, then all of a sudden we had puddles on the floor every time again. I haven't had the energy to start again with the taking him every 15 minutes thing. Someday!!
I've started using the new TV in the boy's room as a tool to get an extra 30 minutes of "us" time at night. I just ask Ben to pick out a cartoon DVD to watch, get him ready for bed and then tuck him in and set the sleep timer on the TV to 30 minutes. So now he is quiet from about 7:00 or 7:30 at night and I think he gets more rest (Jack wakes him up at 6:00am) - and never complains about bed time! Not sure what I'm going to do when I move Jack in there - which needs to be soon!
Rob took a 29 week picture of me (last week) so only about 8 weeks to go +-. Like I said, need to get Jack moved into Ben's room and get Miss Emma's room ready. I've got to paint and sort through all of her new clothes to see what I've got and what we might need still. Also would be good to start stocking up on diapers! I have a Doctor's appointment tomorrow - routine. She has been kicking up a storm.
I'm sure there are a million things I meant to include in this post, but as usual, when I sit down to write I forget most of them! Gotta go... the boys would like more crackers!
Me and Miss Emma at 29 weeks:
The boys the week before they came down with a little virus:
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Fantastic Christmas
What a wonderful Christmas this year! We had a visit from Gigi and Grandpa the weekend before Christmas with a "Shertzer Christmas" on Monday complete with prime rib and opening gifts. They left Wednesday before the weather got bad and made it home safe.
We had a great Christmas Eve and day with the boys at home this year. Jack woke up at 5:00am Christmas morning, but Ben slept until 7:00am (surprisingly he didn't get into the wrapped gifts at all). All the toy picks were big hits and the boys have been very well behaved the past week.
Ben delighted us with his spontaneous version of "Oh Christmas Tree" on Christmas Eve (while he was admiring the tree). Lyrics: Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, Oh I love you, Christmas Tree. =-) The boys also enjoyed playing with Dad's train (pics below).
Aaaand... we had snow!
The Huber clan and families came over Christmas Day in the afternoon and we had cookies and Secret Santa gift exchange which was fun. Then we all dropped into bed exhausted but happy, ready to get up the next morning and drive to Little Rock to see the Maloney/Peresta families (with a short visit in there to see the Shertzers).
Ben and Jack had a great time playing with their new toys, and then we got to enjoy a baby shower for Emma and Rob's cousin Grant and wife Jessica's baby-to-be Owen. Emma is now taking over a small part of Jack's room with her new blankets, clothes and toys!
Not sure when the big move to put both boys in Ben's room will be. Jack has been waking up in the middle of the night and "playing" for about an hour or so. It will be interesting to see how it works having them both in one room. I am thinking I'll wait until February and see how they are doing then.
Ben has been singing up a storm and is really impressing us. He will sometimes even sing along to things on TV. I'm sure he knows more than he shows. The other day I asked him to pick a magnetic letter up off the floor and as he handed it to me and said "Here's the letter H. Here's the orange H." I can't get him to write letters yet though. He's more mechanically inclined and wants to be busy with his hands and activities.
Jack is getting smarter every day. The past two weeks he has started shaking his head no if he doesn't want something or in response to questions. He is also now playing "boo" spontaneously with us and Ben, and can say "ball", "hi", and "hot" (and "boo").
He can also sort of show us what he wants. If he's hungry, he'll go to the kitchen gate and shake it. If we let him in, he'll either go to the pantry where his Cheerios are (for a snack), or he'll go to the fridge which means he wants a meal. He has also been using a fork and spoon over the past few days (correctly)!
If we say "let's go change your diaper" he will head into his room, and if we say "wanna go outside?" he will go and get his coat and shoes.
He's just learned to climb up on things too, so we have to watch him. The other day I peeked into the living room and saw him standing on top of the coffee table. Yikes!
More updates and pics to follow! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and will have a safe New Year's Eve!
Christmas snow!
Ben loved the snow...
Jack did NOT love the snow...
Playing with the robot Ben got from Gigi and Grandpa Shertzer
Playing with Daddy's train on Christmas Eve after their bath
Jack woke up early Christmas morning and beat Ben to the new play kitchen
Baby Shower for Emma and Owen (Ben was taking a nap):
Rob, Manda, Jack, Jessica and Grant (and Emma and Owen)
We had a great Christmas Eve and day with the boys at home this year. Jack woke up at 5:00am Christmas morning, but Ben slept until 7:00am (surprisingly he didn't get into the wrapped gifts at all). All the toy picks were big hits and the boys have been very well behaved the past week.
Ben delighted us with his spontaneous version of "Oh Christmas Tree" on Christmas Eve (while he was admiring the tree). Lyrics: Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, Oh I love you, Christmas Tree. =-) The boys also enjoyed playing with Dad's train (pics below).
Aaaand... we had snow!
The Huber clan and families came over Christmas Day in the afternoon and we had cookies and Secret Santa gift exchange which was fun. Then we all dropped into bed exhausted but happy, ready to get up the next morning and drive to Little Rock to see the Maloney/Peresta families (with a short visit in there to see the Shertzers).
Ben and Jack had a great time playing with their new toys, and then we got to enjoy a baby shower for Emma and Rob's cousin Grant and wife Jessica's baby-to-be Owen. Emma is now taking over a small part of Jack's room with her new blankets, clothes and toys!
Not sure when the big move to put both boys in Ben's room will be. Jack has been waking up in the middle of the night and "playing" for about an hour or so. It will be interesting to see how it works having them both in one room. I am thinking I'll wait until February and see how they are doing then.
Ben has been singing up a storm and is really impressing us. He will sometimes even sing along to things on TV. I'm sure he knows more than he shows. The other day I asked him to pick a magnetic letter up off the floor and as he handed it to me and said "Here's the letter H. Here's the orange H." I can't get him to write letters yet though. He's more mechanically inclined and wants to be busy with his hands and activities.
Jack is getting smarter every day. The past two weeks he has started shaking his head no if he doesn't want something or in response to questions. He is also now playing "boo" spontaneously with us and Ben, and can say "ball", "hi", and "hot" (and "boo").
He can also sort of show us what he wants. If he's hungry, he'll go to the kitchen gate and shake it. If we let him in, he'll either go to the pantry where his Cheerios are (for a snack), or he'll go to the fridge which means he wants a meal. He has also been using a fork and spoon over the past few days (correctly)!
If we say "let's go change your diaper" he will head into his room, and if we say "wanna go outside?" he will go and get his coat and shoes.
He's just learned to climb up on things too, so we have to watch him. The other day I peeked into the living room and saw him standing on top of the coffee table. Yikes!
More updates and pics to follow! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and will have a safe New Year's Eve!
Christmas snow!
Ben loved the snow...
Jack did NOT love the snow...
Playing with the robot Ben got from Gigi and Grandpa Shertzer
Playing with Daddy's train on Christmas Eve after their bath
Jack woke up early Christmas morning and beat Ben to the new play kitchen
Baby Shower for Emma and Owen (Ben was taking a nap):
Rob, Manda, Jack, Jessica and Grant (and Emma and Owen)
Saturday, December 12, 2009
It's a GIRL!
Okay, so the ultrasound was a long time ago. I'm a little slow at posting.
Yep, we are having a baby girl this time. Not sure how I'm going to change the name of the blog or if I can. Gotta look into that.
Anyway, her name will be Emma Katherine Shertzer and I imagine we'll see her some time shortly after St. Patty's Day.
Jack will be moving into Ben's room with him after Grandpa Huber finishes the bunk-beds (with stairs instead of a ladder). Not sure how I'm gonna work naps and bed time yet (Jack takes a morning nap and Ben takes a long afternoon one), but we'll just have to do whatever we have to do. Still need to paint above the chair rail in the boy's room - some neutral color like taupe or a gray-blue. It's like peachy-terra cotta right now. Doesn't exactly scream "boys". Also looks like that $5.00 can of pink paint I bought when pregnant with Jack will come in handy now for Emma's new room!
Jack has 12 teeth now including all 4 first molars. No canines yet, but Ben was like that too. Jack is sleeping from 5 or 6 pm through until 6am which is heaven! Ben goes to bed between 7:30 and 8pm and sleeps until 6 or 6:30am. Both boys are eating pretty well. Jack has always done well. Ben stopped eating much at a certain age and became picky but is now starting to ask for bites of things we're eating and trying new stuff again. Hooray! No more food issues thank goodness. I have been giving them some amount of either probiotic chocolate or the Omega chocolate every day. I know that is helping.
Jack is finally starting to say a few words. He just started playing peek-a-boo yesterday - hiding his eyes and then uncovering them and saying "boooooo". =-) Rob swears he said "heater" the other day, and he will point to the dogs and say "duh". Occasionally I'll think he's said a new word, but can't get him to repeat it. His non-verbal communication is getting better too. If he's hungry, he'll go over to the high-chair and shake it. When Ben says "Good Morning Jack" or gives him a kiss and says "Good Night Jack", Jack will wave at him and smile. Also, yesterday I tried to give him a bite of something and he shook his head no and turned it away. Sometimes if you ask him a question he'll shake his head no. He hasn't done that for yes yet though.
Ben is getting better about the sibling rivalry thing and Jack is starting to play with Ben more now that he's a bit more steady on his feet. This week Rob is taking Ben to a martial arts meetup of my Mommy's group. Hopefully that will be fun for both of them. Ben has been asking to go to the playground and see "the kids". I'll probably take him to one on Monday as well. He really enjoys it. I have to remind him that he can talk to the older kids 'cause they can tell him their name and say "hi". He tends to just laugh really loud in their faces to get their attention like he does Jack (which I do NOT encourage - ha!).
Ben is still talking up a storm and doing great when we correct his grammar. Complete, detailed sentences. Very cool! He's very good at creative play too. I gave him 3 cardboard wrapping paper rolls the other night and he has "made" all sorts of things out of them. Currently he's calling them lights (I guess like florescent ones??). Yesterday I pulled the strip of carpet out of the kitchen so I could mop and he rolled it up and made a tunnel out of it. At the moment he's using it as a dance pad. =-)
No joy on the continuation of potty training. Ben was pretty much trained and was starting to even do poop in the potty and then all of a sudden decided he was NOT a "big boy" and wanted to wear diapers (I'm sure because of Jack). When I tried to start up training again I set the timer for every 15 minutes and he would sit on the potty, but if he had to go 5 minutes later he'd just pee in his pants wherever he was. I need to look into this and do some research. I would imagine it's fairly common. He's not quite 3 1/2 yet. It sure is a pain cleaning pee of of the floor several times a day though. Plus lots of laundry.
Both boys are getting tall. Ben's 2t pants are definitely too short now and getting too tight. Most 3ts are starting to fit him, but he needs 4t shirts for the length and the sleeves. Jack is in 18 month everything. The pants are still a smidge long, but mostly fit perfect.
We're gearing up for Christmas here. I tried not to go too overboard. They have more toys than they can play with now and we don't have tons of room. "Santa" (aka Gigi and Grandpa Shertzer) got the boys a play kitchen complete with microwave, oven, fridge and lights and sounds. Ben LOVES pretending to make cookies with the cookie sheets in the kitchen and loves playing in the water in the sink, so I thought this would be perfect. I bought him a cookie set so he can pretend to cut the dough, put the cookies on the sheet and bake them, then put the icing and sprinkles on top. It even came with a spatula and oven mit - all kid sized! Also got him another playdough set and "Hi-ho Cherry-o" game and a couple of Disney DVDs I think the kids will like. Got Jack the Crayola toy where they color on it and it plays music. The faster they color, the faster the music goes. I hope he likes it. Also got him a twin sized Mickey Mouse comforter for the bunk beds. Ben has his Sponge Bob one. Oh! Also got Jack a pewter baby cup with his name and birthday. Just like Ben's I got him his first Christmas. Kind of a family tradition. Rob and I both have silver ones from when we were babies.
I guess that's all for now. When the weather was so great last month we spent lots of time outdoors. I'll have to check out the pictures to see if there are any especially good ones.
We had family pictures made and there were lots of good ones. Hopefully they look better when you click on them.
(thanks to my sis-in-law Aimee @ elementalphotography.com)
with cousin Havyn
Yep, we are having a baby girl this time. Not sure how I'm going to change the name of the blog or if I can. Gotta look into that.
Anyway, her name will be Emma Katherine Shertzer and I imagine we'll see her some time shortly after St. Patty's Day.
Jack will be moving into Ben's room with him after Grandpa Huber finishes the bunk-beds (with stairs instead of a ladder). Not sure how I'm gonna work naps and bed time yet (Jack takes a morning nap and Ben takes a long afternoon one), but we'll just have to do whatever we have to do. Still need to paint above the chair rail in the boy's room - some neutral color like taupe or a gray-blue. It's like peachy-terra cotta right now. Doesn't exactly scream "boys". Also looks like that $5.00 can of pink paint I bought when pregnant with Jack will come in handy now for Emma's new room!
Jack has 12 teeth now including all 4 first molars. No canines yet, but Ben was like that too. Jack is sleeping from 5 or 6 pm through until 6am which is heaven! Ben goes to bed between 7:30 and 8pm and sleeps until 6 or 6:30am. Both boys are eating pretty well. Jack has always done well. Ben stopped eating much at a certain age and became picky but is now starting to ask for bites of things we're eating and trying new stuff again. Hooray! No more food issues thank goodness. I have been giving them some amount of either probiotic chocolate or the Omega chocolate every day. I know that is helping.
Jack is finally starting to say a few words. He just started playing peek-a-boo yesterday - hiding his eyes and then uncovering them and saying "boooooo". =-) Rob swears he said "heater" the other day, and he will point to the dogs and say "duh". Occasionally I'll think he's said a new word, but can't get him to repeat it. His non-verbal communication is getting better too. If he's hungry, he'll go over to the high-chair and shake it. When Ben says "Good Morning Jack" or gives him a kiss and says "Good Night Jack", Jack will wave at him and smile. Also, yesterday I tried to give him a bite of something and he shook his head no and turned it away. Sometimes if you ask him a question he'll shake his head no. He hasn't done that for yes yet though.
Ben is getting better about the sibling rivalry thing and Jack is starting to play with Ben more now that he's a bit more steady on his feet. This week Rob is taking Ben to a martial arts meetup of my Mommy's group. Hopefully that will be fun for both of them. Ben has been asking to go to the playground and see "the kids". I'll probably take him to one on Monday as well. He really enjoys it. I have to remind him that he can talk to the older kids 'cause they can tell him their name and say "hi". He tends to just laugh really loud in their faces to get their attention like he does Jack (which I do NOT encourage - ha!).
Ben is still talking up a storm and doing great when we correct his grammar. Complete, detailed sentences. Very cool! He's very good at creative play too. I gave him 3 cardboard wrapping paper rolls the other night and he has "made" all sorts of things out of them. Currently he's calling them lights (I guess like florescent ones??). Yesterday I pulled the strip of carpet out of the kitchen so I could mop and he rolled it up and made a tunnel out of it. At the moment he's using it as a dance pad. =-)
No joy on the continuation of potty training. Ben was pretty much trained and was starting to even do poop in the potty and then all of a sudden decided he was NOT a "big boy" and wanted to wear diapers (I'm sure because of Jack). When I tried to start up training again I set the timer for every 15 minutes and he would sit on the potty, but if he had to go 5 minutes later he'd just pee in his pants wherever he was. I need to look into this and do some research. I would imagine it's fairly common. He's not quite 3 1/2 yet. It sure is a pain cleaning pee of of the floor several times a day though. Plus lots of laundry.
Both boys are getting tall. Ben's 2t pants are definitely too short now and getting too tight. Most 3ts are starting to fit him, but he needs 4t shirts for the length and the sleeves. Jack is in 18 month everything. The pants are still a smidge long, but mostly fit perfect.
We're gearing up for Christmas here. I tried not to go too overboard. They have more toys than they can play with now and we don't have tons of room. "Santa" (aka Gigi and Grandpa Shertzer) got the boys a play kitchen complete with microwave, oven, fridge and lights and sounds. Ben LOVES pretending to make cookies with the cookie sheets in the kitchen and loves playing in the water in the sink, so I thought this would be perfect. I bought him a cookie set so he can pretend to cut the dough, put the cookies on the sheet and bake them, then put the icing and sprinkles on top. It even came with a spatula and oven mit - all kid sized! Also got him another playdough set and "Hi-ho Cherry-o" game and a couple of Disney DVDs I think the kids will like. Got Jack the Crayola toy where they color on it and it plays music. The faster they color, the faster the music goes. I hope he likes it. Also got him a twin sized Mickey Mouse comforter for the bunk beds. Ben has his Sponge Bob one. Oh! Also got Jack a pewter baby cup with his name and birthday. Just like Ben's I got him his first Christmas. Kind of a family tradition. Rob and I both have silver ones from when we were babies.
I guess that's all for now. When the weather was so great last month we spent lots of time outdoors. I'll have to check out the pictures to see if there are any especially good ones.
We had family pictures made and there were lots of good ones. Hopefully they look better when you click on them.
(thanks to my sis-in-law Aimee @ elementalphotography.com)
with cousin Havyn
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