Today it was back to the routine after a wonderful trip to Chicago. (More on Chicago in another post.... but in a sentence, the boys were amazing the whole trip.) We had quite a full day:

As soon as both boys were awake (Declan spent the whole night in his crib, had to pat him down once...) I put them in clothes and gave them breakfast to go - yogurt drink in the sippy cups and cheerios - and we drove downtown to drop off my car for servicing. Once the car was dropped off and I had the boys in the stroller (about 8:30am), we walked to Dunkin Donuts where I got my coffee and breakfast, and munchkins for the boys. Declan looked so thrilled when I gave him his munchkin, and I found out later it's because he thought it was a ball. Then we went to the park while it was still early and cool. The boys played at the park for awhile while I had my breakfast. Jack loves the wobbly bridge and sings "I'm the grumpy ol' troll! Who lives under the bridge...". (Dora reference.) Declan is getting braver - he'll go down a slide now, but he still doesn't like to walk up/down slanted surfaces. He'll crawl up and go feet first on the down. An older Chinese woman was there with her granddaughter and she asked if Declan was 8 or 9 months old (because he was crawling) and when I told her 14 months, she said "Oh, slow walker, eh?" Up comes the mommy defensiveness. No, he's practically running, he's just cautious on slanted surfaces.

We walked home from the park, and the boys continued to play outside in the yard while I picked up sticks from the storms while we were gone. They played in the sandbox and with their cars. I can't wait until the fence gets installed. Then we went inside for snacks and a show while I tried to track down surveyors for the fence installation.

After the boys woke up from their naps, (during which time, I was talking with surveyors and looking for property markers) I fed them some pasta, packed a pool bag, and we walked downtown to pick up the car. We got to the car about 4:30pm, and then we were off to the pool. It was a little harrowing in the locker room trying to get both boys in their swimmie diapers and bathing suits, and then getting my own suit on and making sure we had everything as we made our way to the pool. I told Jack he had to stay close to me and listen to me or we'd have to go, and I wasn't sure if her understood, but perhaps he did because he was really good and stayed by me and listened to all of my instructions.

The baby pool at the Summit Aquatic Center is awesome - lots of waterfalls and fountains for the kids to play in. Jack was in heaven right away - he started copying other bigger kids who were walking on their hands while their legs floated behind them. He did this and looked at me and said "I'm swimming!" - I'm sure it felt like swimming and he was so happy to be moving around in the water. When Jack wasn't crawling on his hands, he was jumping up and down and practicing blowing bubbles. Declan was really happy at first, he enjoyed sitting down and splashing and watching all of the kids, but then he got splashed and just wanted to be held. He morphed into the little Declan cling monkey that I love so much. When Declan got tired of the pool, I held him with a towel over him for warmth while Jack continued to jump around.

After swimming, the locker room was a hassle again, Declan kept trying to leave the locker room when I was only half dressed. But totally worth it. Jack kept asking to go on the slide so we went to the playground once we were all dressed, and we stayed at the pool until about 6. Once home, the boys played upstairs while I cleaned up and fixed their dinner. They ate at 7 (eggs, spinach pancakes, sweet potato pancakes, pears) - then Javier came home. The boys watched two episodes of the Backyardigans while Javier and I ate. Then into the bath - the routine: Javier strips Jack and has him use the potty, I strip Declan and put in his ear plugs, Javier bathes both boys while I lay out PJs and pull together last minute items (books, pacifiers), then I put Declan down and Javier puts Jack to bed.

Ahhhhh. Such a good day. Good to be home.

What was I thinking??

So I took a "mommy break" on Friday night and went to a party to celebrate Nora's birthday - left at 8:30, with Javier still up with the boys (Thank you Honey!) What a good time, but I didn't walk in the door until 2:30am... and Saturday morning when I woke up, I had a hangover, something I haven't felt since before my pregnancy with Jack. Ugh!!! Not a good feeling! So sadly my Saturday with the family was shot, but I don't think that will be happening again any time soon, if at all. (Bwa-ha-ha!!!) I bought Advil at Costco today and Javier asked if I had plans with Nora this weekend... he really can be amusing at times.

Boys are doing great. Jack has been obsessed with his Austin stuffed animal, he pretty much had it in his arms all day, saying "Hey! Lifeguard Dude! Hooo Daddy!" (a reference to Backyardigans "Surfs Up" episode) He made me proud today - peed twice in the potty! - but I still don't think we're close to potty training because he's not at the point of communicating the urge - nor does he have the desire.

Declan is a darling, but he's stubborn. Until last night, Declan could fall asleep anywhere except for his crib. And I mean anywhere. Usually in my arms. On Friday, Irene and Liz and their kids came over, and Declan fell asleep in my arms while we were having a conversation. When I tried to move him up to his crib, he cried and screamed like crazy. Later, after I fed the kids lunch, I took the boys to the grocery store and Declan fell asleep sitting in the front of the cart while eating a piece of bread. His head was bobbing down and to the sides... I couldn't believe it. He has a nice comfy crib that he doesn't sleep in with pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and yet he can sleep in a metal cart sitting up. Then he would wake up and cry so I had to finish my grocery shopping carrying a sleeping Declan in one arm, pushing the cart with the other. Not easy...

So on Saturday night I stayed in his room with him while he spent two hours trying to get comfortable in his crib. He didn't cry because I was there, and he was exhausted, but he couldn't get comfortable - finally he fell asleep. Last night I couldn't do the two hour stint (the "shuffle" as Irene and I like to call it) so I put Declan down sleepy and he was asleep after only 5 minutes of crying - hooray! Tonight he fell asleep within a minute or two... so here's hoping!

This morning I went on a nice long walk with the boys, fed them lunch, and then took them off to Costco where they were so cute sitting side by side in the cart (and Declan didn't fall asleep this time!) - and squeezed in some cleaning and organizing... A productive day.

Good Weekend with an Exciting Finish

8:46 am and it's dark, thundering, and pouring rain - what to do all day with these kids? Right now they are watching The Backyardigans - The Great Tea Party - requested by Jack. His communication is improving daily so for the most part it reduces his frustrations - he used to get upset if I put on an episode he didn't want. And this morning when I asked him if he wanted ketchup on his eggs (as if I needed to ask) he said "yes please". When he wants something he points at it and says "please."

We have music class at 11:15, and then??? Perhaps use the weather as an excuse to let them watch more TV than usual and to get things done around the house.

We had a great, relaxing weekend. It felt extra-long since Javier was home sick from work last Thursday and Friday. Friday we took Declan to get fitted for his new big boy shoes - he's in a size 6 already, hard to believe. On Saturday we went down to the Mercer County Masters Gardeners Open Garden to look at their composters and shade garadens. The drive down was slightly stressful since Declan was over-tired but not going to sleep. He'd whine and Jack would join him, or Declan would be almost asleep and Jack would whine and Declan would start wailing. Since it took longer than we expected, we picked up sandwiches on the way, met mom and dad at the gardens, and had a picnic in one of the most beautiful, peaceful, and serene places that I've seen. We were in the middle of a horse farm, on picnic benches in the shade, next to a beautiful garden. It was so quiet - no cars- refreshing breezes - we couldn't've had a better day. After letting the boys run around the garden a bit and figuring out which composter we should get, we headed over to visit the horses. Jack was patting the horses (with moms help and encouragement, naturally) and even though I know I did the same as a kid, I was so worried that I didn't know the horse and that he would just take a chomp out of Jack. Didn't happen...

We were thinking about heading as a group to Lambertville, but I didn't think the boys could make it, and it's not the most child-friendly town (no strollers in many of the stores full of breakable art...)- so Mom and Dad were nice enough to switch cars with us and take the boys to East Windsor while Javier and I went on to Lambertville. We strolled around the town looking at furniture and art, and I think I found a console table for the living room, though the logistics of going back down there are a bit daunting. But it's these little moments without the kids that Javier and I turn into dates, and it's so nice to walk around a pretty town, holding hands, and puttering in unusual stores. We wrapped up our visit with a drink at the Canal Side Bar, sitting outside and people watching. We left around 5, and were back in East Windsor to have dinner with the boys - funny how I miss them after just a few short hours.

Sunday we hung out in East Windsor - our typical big breakfast - and then we hung out in the yard doing some gardening work while the boys played. Jack got on the riding mower with Dad to do the lawn, and as he went around the yard, Jack would wave at us. Mom was rocking Declan on the front porch, and somehow he slept through the noisy ruckus of lawn mowers, weed wackers, and such. Mrs. Lashomb came by to say hello to the boys and was telling us all about her recent visit to Poland. While she and mom were on the front porch with Declan, Javier and I were digging in the front garden, and I saw Jack in the garage sitting on the riding mower. All of the sudden the mower started up in the garage, sounding so loud and scary, and I jumped up to see Jack on the mower, somehow he started it. In that split second I screamed "Jack!" and was moving over in my bare feet (and wondering if I was going to lose a toe or two) to get Jack to safety when Javier jumped in front of me and grabbed Jack off the seat of the mower, which stopped the mower. The mower has a safety feature that stops when when there's no weight on the seat. The whole thing happened and was over in seconds, but it took awhile for my limbs to stop shaking. Dad came running outside saying that when he heard the mower start he knew it was Jack. Sigh. And Declan snoozed through the hoopla.

We were back in Summit early enough on Sunday to enjoy some quiet time at the house and unwind before the start of a new week. Javier made stuffed poblano peppers for dinner (hot, hot, hot!) and while we finished our dinner, the boys went next door to play with Sophie and Tucker MacMillan, leaving Javier and I 10 minutes of peace and quiet to finish dinner. Everybody was happy...

Pat-Catters and Brubbers

The title here is in reference to "Jackenese" spoken in our house - it's so funny that as Jack talks more and more, we have to be more alert about listening and translating. Pat-catter = caterpillar, brubber - brother, and he substitutes "m" for "n", so knees = mees (head, shoulders, mees and toes) and phone = foam (a foam! a foam is ringing!)

We're doing great. We had a busy, fun week. Tuesday was our Music Together class, Wednesday we did "art playgroup" at Jodi's house, and Thursday we had a tree service come to prune and take down some trees - Declan and Jack played on the back porch and were fascinated with the tree crew climbing the trees and all of the loud power saws. A live show. Then, last Friday I had a wonderful day with the boys running errands. Yes, errands and wonderful day in the same sentence! Declan fell asleep in the car and somehow I managed to transfer him into the stroller without waking him up, so Jack and I went to Target and Osk Kosh, and he just trotted along beside me, keeping me company. Then when Declan woke up I took the boys for pizza - Jack in the booth next to the window and Declan in a highchair - and then we went grocery shopping, the boys riding in the car in the front of the cart. A quick pit stop at Toys R Us to buy more balls for the ball pit. They were wonderful company and we accomplished so much, and it was such an empowering feeling to be able to run in and out of stores with two kids.

And, speaking of empowering, yesterday was the first time we really did the "babysitter" thing - meaning a non-family member watching the boys while Javier and I went into the city to have lunch with Jess and Brett. Shelby MacMillan from next door came over from 11-3, and the boys did great, and I feel like I had a real date with my husband. Awesome. We met Jess and Brett at Mercadito in the east village and ordered the all you can eat tacos, which were declicious, and I had two margaritas which made me loopy. But it just felt great to be out and free on a warm beautiful day, eating good food and drink with old friends, laughing. When we got home the boys hadn't napped yet so we had the added benefit of all being able to rest for awhile.

Declan is really coming into his own. I think the ear surgery has really helped him, he's not as clingy and doesn't whine as much, which I think is an indicator that he just feels better in general. Overall he's such a happy kid and just toddles around after Jack (and sometimes Jack follows him around) - and he's becoming a good sleeper which makes me so happy. At night I give Dec a bottle (maybe 4 oz, soon going to switch this to a sippy cup) and then pop in the pacifier (I've given in on this one) and we read "Goodnight Moon" two times, then switch off the light and we cuddle for a few renditions of "I've Been Working on the Railroad" while he gets sleepy, and then I put him in his crib and as I leave he picks up his head and cries for about 5 seconds after I walk out the door - then he's down for the night.

Today mom is coming - she'll watch Jack while I take Dec to get fitted for ear plugs - and then I'm looking forward to doing a couple of projects around the house (hanging pictures, putting away winter clothes) and doing some work for the hospital.