Four Thomases

Our Little Snowman

2009-01-24T11:23:00.004-05:00

A couple weeks ago, we had a decent snow, so Brooks and I headed out to play in it. We had enough to make this guy. I was hoping we could make one as tall as Brooks, but he didn't quite make it. He's got a Marshall hat on. Brooks was sad when he started melting, but Daddy helped him knock it down and then he thought it was funny.

Jacey in Months

2009-01-24T10:08:00.011-05:00

Ok, so I haven't been on top of the monthly pics, but here's the latest progression. The first is ONE MONTH.

TWO MONTHS

FOUR MONTHS (I missed 3)

FIVE MONTHS

Christmas Here

2008-12-28T20:36:00.010-05:00

When we got home (Jonathan was with me on the plane trip home, thank goodness), we had our own Christmas at our house. Santa had left some things here and also had found us in Florida to deliver to Brooks what he asked for (Gordon and Percy trains). Here he is holding a book that Jonathan's aunt and uncle thoughtfully mailed for him.

Brooks showing off his new robe. My little man.

This was the big gift from Mommy and Daddy... a Wow Wee Alive Lion Cub. It makes noises and its face moves (eyes, mouth). He has loved lions for at least a year now. It started with Simba and Alex from Madagascar.

Jacey "opening" a gift.

We later that evening went to Jonathan's parents house. Our flight had been EARLY, so Brooks was so tired. He fell asleep on the way there at the same time his new lion cub did.

Jacey got a Bumbo for Christmas from Mimm and Poppy. Good gift for Mommy, too.

Brooks opening his Gears from Mimm and Poppie.

Jadon and Kaylin got him Curious George and a book to go with it. He also got two more lions, which he was very happy about, and a V Motion system. Thanks Mimm and Poppy!

The sweet bracelet from Mimm and Poppy

Michelle reading Brooks' new book to the kids

Florida Christmas

2008-12-27T16:43:00.027-05:00

It was our year to go to Florida for Christmas. I had to fly by myself with both kids... I was nervous, but it actually was fine. The worst part was Jacey pooping out of her diaper about 10 minutes after we took off. She rarely poops out of good diapers, but wouldn't you know that's when it happens. So I had to change her in my lap (good thing she's not modest) and thank goodness for Tide sticks. Brooks wore his cowboy outfit there and so Grandpa was delighted to see a little outlaw coming down the stairs to greet him and jump into his arms. And I was delighted to walk out the door and be embraced by the Florida sunshine in gorgeous 70 degree weather. I spent several days there before the rest of the family arrived and didn't get to picture-taking until they came. Here Brooks is playing with his cousin Braden.

He and his cousin Ethan rode Grammy and Grandpa's tricycles.

Uncle Brad is a hoot and warmed up to Brooks by asking him to join him under the blanket for secret-telling and hiding.

Here is my brother, Brad, and my sister-in-law, Michelle, meeting Jacey for the first time. Michelle got to visit with her briefly but then ended up being very sick with a virus. At first she thought it was morning sickness because they told us through a poem one night that they are pregnant with their third! Yea!

Brad is such a crazy guy and will do just about anything for a laugh. Brooks ate it up.

Grandpa holding his first granddaughter.

My dad thought we needed a pic of Jacey peeking out from around the tree.

Ethan holding Jacey.

Brooks loved watching Rudolph this year and was thrilled when I brought home a stuffed Rudolph and Abominable Snow Monster. He carried them around constantly the whole time. Here he is playing with them with Daddy.

Jacey and Brooks looking all festive... Brooks loved wearing a Santa hat this year.

Mommy and Jacey

Here's Grammy reading a book to all the grandkids... even Jacey is into it.

Brad is about to grill some awesome pork tenderloin... grilling out for Christmas Eve dinner... love it.

Jonathan... um, I don't really know what to say about this picture.

I don't know what to say about this picture either, but for a totally different reason.

In her Christmas pj's

Brooks feeding the reindeer on Christmas Eve. I love this shot.

Christmas morning and Brooks with his presents. He got some really great stuff, especially in the book department. My mom always finds the best books for him.

Grammy with her first granddaughter... she has a hard time believing how much pink I put her in and the bows I put on her, etc., because I wasn't girly growing up. She loves it, though!

The family Christmas morning - my mom bought us all matching pajamas. It was fun.

The boys

The four cousins... I had a better pic but I think it didn't download, but they're still cute.

We went to the playground downtown. The boys had a great time.

Here she is in one of those girly bows. I'm glad I can make you happy, Mom.

My mom and dad when we ate out at our favorite Mt. Dora restaurant, Lampu. Thanks, Mom and Dad, and thanks, Florida for a wonderful Christmas.

Arabian Halloween Nights

2008-11-06T22:58:00.012-05:00

Brooks had been getting into "Aladdin" the movie lately. When Aunt Stephanie informed me that cousin Kaylin was going to be Princess Jasmine for Halloween, I knew I had to let Brooks be Aladdin, which, of course, made Jacey Abu the monkey. My mother-in-law Mary Ann made his vest and pants and Jacey's vest. I can only claim the hats. Oh, and the patch on Aladdin's pants. Gotta claim all the domestic feats I can, since there aren't many.

At Trick-or-Trunkin' (what they call Trunk-or-Treat here)... Abu, Aladdin, and Princess Jasmine. People have asked about Brooks' hair - it's just that black spray stuff. It makes him look soooo different! I giggled so many times just looking at him.

Jacey already sleeping

The family... it would have been great for the parents to go along with the theme. Brooks wanted me to be the genie and Jonathan to be Jafar. Didn't happen, obviously. Instead, we are a hippie (peace) and a mime (quiet). Together, Peace and Quiet.

At the Pumpkin House in Kenova... a really neat place to go around Halloween. It was actually on Ellen a couple years ago. The mayor of the town does it at his house and does the carving himself (with lots of help). It's amazing. Hundreds and hundreds of pumpkins.

Brooks at pre-school with some of his buddies

Trick or treating with the cousins... Jadon was Wolverine

Jacey was in the stroller a little while.

Now being held by her grandmother sleeping away (Jacey, not Mimm)

Brooks had a great Halloween this year, and so did Mommy. It was so fun to do coordinating costumes. I'm liking having 2 babies to dress up. Hmmmm... already thinking about next year. Brooks was quick to run up to the houses this year, especially because he was following his cousins. He is kinda weird about candy... he doesn't like many kinds. But give him some M&M's or Hershey's chocolate, and he's in hog heaven. Takes after Momma.

Um... Just Cute

2008-10-27T00:42:00.008-04:00

Bathtime! We've reached the stage of calm bathing... no more crying and no more screaming, thank goodness. It's actually a really great bonding time for us.

Just some candid shots of Jacey in her bouncy seat that turned out really sweet

Brooks was making her smile in a few of them.

Love this one

Like Father, Like Son

2008-10-26T23:58:00.010-04:00

Brooks put these on and said, "I look like Daddy. I have glasses and a beard." He had them on pretty constantly for 2 days.

All kinds of tricks are used to get Brooks to let us brush his teeth good. Funny noises, the line from "Monsters, Inc." - "Fight that plaque, fight that plaque, scary monsters don't have plaque," pretending that the "eeee" and "ahhhh" scare away Daddy or Mommy monster, etc. Here Jonathan let him brush his teeth before they reversed roles.

Circus!

2008-10-26T23:34:00.009-04:00

Jonathan's parents (Mimm and Poppy) bought us all tickets to the circus for a Halloween treat. It was Brooks' first time to go (and Jacey's, too). He enjoyed it all but did wish there were lions, his favorite animal.

Brooks getting Poppy's nose

Jacey taking it in

Brooks eating popcorn, a lot of popcorn

The kids and their booty (a sword for Jadon, a pretty horse for Kaylin, and a stuffed elephant for Brooks)

The whole gang

Playtime

2008-10-16T22:50:00.008-04:00

Tummy time!

Brooks and Jonathan had some bonding time today and tonight. First, they played outside. They did the superman swing. Later they were playing football and Brooks said, "I strong, Daddy. Feel my elbow." Then when Jonathan put him to bed (I was at a book club for The Shack), he kept saying he wanted the Darkman. Jonathan couldn't figure out what he meant until he said, "You gave it to me, Daddy." He had given him some Star Wars figures from his office, so he then knew Brooks was talking about Darth Vader. So when I went in to say goodnight, he had Spiderman in one hand and Darth Vader in the other.

Elmo and a Firetruck

2008-10-14T22:26:00.007-04:00

Brooks has always loved watching T.V. and movies... Lion King is an all-time favorite and Aladdin is his current vice. Lately, though, he's taken to acting out what he's watching. He'll "fly" around the room when watching Buzz Lightyear or "dangle" from the couch when Scar is hanging on to Mufasa's paws on the cliff. He even acted out the Olympics this summer... he would swim back and forth when we watched Michael Phelps or spike a ball when we watched beach volleyball. He's a funny boy. So, anyway, I got some pics of him watching Elmo's World the other day.

Brooks had a special day at preschool. It was Doughnuts with Daddy. So Jonathan got to hang out with Brooks for the morning. They had rescue vehicles come and let the kids explore them. I think they both enjoyed that time together.

Monthly pic - October

2008-10-14T22:12:00.007-04:00

I saw this idea on a friend's blog... taking monthly pics in the same spot to see how much your baby is changing and growing. So I'm going to copy (I'm good at that) and do the same with Jacey.

One Month

Two Months

Baby Talk is Fading!

2008-10-08T22:56:00.002-04:00

Brooks is growing up! He has always made the "w" sound in place of the "l." But he is quickly getting over that. Today we were playing with his cars and he actually said "Lightning McQueen" right. It has always been "White-ning da Queen." It was kinda sad. At least he still says "sake, sake, sake...sake your bootie" and "puz" for "because."

Jacey's Nursery

2008-10-08T22:42:00.005-04:00

We are so blessed to know a very talented artist who goes to our church. She's done some amazing painting in our church classrooms and was fabulous enough to come and paint 2 walls in Jacey's nursery. I LOVE them so much, and Jacey does, too. She just stares at one when she's in her crib and stares at the other when I'm changing her diaper. Thanks, Debbie!

Jacey's Two Months!

2008-10-02T22:37:00.004-04:00

I can't believe Jacey is already two months old... it goes by so fast. Along with smiling, she's following well with her eyes and holds her head up well. She should have strong neck muscles since she's been a total bobble head ever since we brought her home. I've just about dropped her a couple times from her rearing back her head when I've had her with just one hand. She's a wiggler. But she's been doing so well. I've been really pleased with the flexible schedule that we've established. She's napping great in her crib. We went to the doctor today for her routine check up and she is 11 lb.s 2 oz and 22.5 inches. She started out bigger than Brooks but now she is smaller than he was at this age. Anyway, the appointment would have been fine, but I guess I was in the clinic part of the practice and had a nurse who was training and a med student. They weren't bad but just took longer. The med student was very thorough, I think she asked me if I was breastfeeding four times. And then our pediatrician came in and did the whole exam again. Then the 3 shots and one oral vaccine, which she choked on. Let's just say I'm glad that's over with. Oh, and Brooks is sick... he has a fever. He wouldn't eat or even hardly drink anything today after preschool and he fell asleep on the couch tonight - I don't remember the last time he did that.

Sibs

2008-09-30T23:46:00.011-04:00

I remember my parents telling my brother and me not to fight, that they just wanted us to love each other and be nice to each other...."If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Now I understand why they desired that so much. When you love your children so much, you just want them to love each other, too. It's kinda like when you have two really good friends and you want them to meet and like each other. So it makes me so happy to see Brooks wanting to hug and kiss Jacey, or racing to put her pacifier in her mouth when she cries. And if she's crying in her crib, instead of him trying harder to keep my attention, he tells me to go and get "Baby Sister." I know the days of fighting will come, but for right now, I'm soaking in the love.

Jacey's Smiling!

2008-09-29T00:04:00.003-04:00

The days of the first smiles have finally arrived! I've bonded with Jacey and she becomes a part of me more and more every day. And the smiles, oh, those moments when our eyes meet and her mouth turns up, just cement our connection. There is nothing like it. She may not have the dimples her brother got from me, but her smile is still a thing of beauty.

Inspiration to blog

2008-09-28T23:31:00.000-04:00

Well, I've seen the blogs of my friends and am inspired to blog myself. When I get to see what's happening in the lives of my college friends I haven't seen in 6 or more years and the dear friends I left behind in White House, I know blogging must be a good thing. Right now I'm just testing it out... maybe I can figure out how to get pics on and change the background.