"Mom WATCH!"

My cuties... who I can't stop watching

The first day of kindergarten is lurking over my shoulder like an ominous storm cloud. My anxiety is rising and my kids just won't stop. They won't stop getting bigger, smarter, and more independent.  All things to be more than thankful for- I know. But at this rate, things just keep changing too fast and I can't handle it. Matthew is learning to sit, and today got onto his hands and knees.  NonaJane is continually developing longer sentences, using bigger words, and getting prettier by the day.

A miniature ninja turtle

sitting?!

and LOOK at that face? Beautiful! but definitely not a baby anymore

And then Jack. Jack is learning how to do everything himself, and needing me less and less. For example, Jack can open/shut the car door AND buckle/unbuckle himself. In all honesty this is a HUGE relief for me. It was only a few months ago that I was angrily yelling at him to "TRY! Jack, please just try to buckle yourself so I don't have to climb back here and do it!"  I literally was angrily yelling at him to hurry up and grow up (because it is quite awkward to squeeze myself between two car seats to reach him in the third row).  And he listened. He did grow up, right before my eyes, and in response to MY demand.  He also dresses himself now, which I know most kids his age have been doing for years. But MY Jack never did.  He had no interest in what he wore, or whether or not he ever got dressed.  Underwear was fine attire for the day. Thus if we were going anywhere I would literally have to dress him (the same way I had since he was a baby.  "lift your leg, push your arm thru... etc. etc."  Now I can just say "Jack, go get dressed!" (mind you I still have to say it 10 times...). He can also make himself his own sandwich for lunch, rides his bike without training wheels, tie shoe laces, and can read most signs and books for himself if you ask him to.
Do you see what I mean? He could move out at the end of the week.

OR, maybe not.

this little guy doesn't even need me! Just floating away...

We went to the Paola pool this weekend. His friend Grace was jumping off the diving boards.  With great excitement he announced "I want to do THAT!"  I don't usually get too overprotective, but I honestly wasn't sure he could swim well enough to try this.  Adam was there though, and he seemed confident that Jack would be fine.  

Jack opening his own back account. With his OWN money from his WORK

Jack climbed that ladder with such confidence.  He strongly strode to the end of the board, gave us two thumbs up and did his PROUD dance.  (You have to really know Jack to know his proud dance.  But nothing in the world is better than the smile and joy he exudes when proud.  So proud that it makes him burst into dance.)  He promptly jumped, and without struggle he bounced to the surface.
 He kicked and bobbed
and swam right to the edge.  All I could imagine was his little 5 year old body suspended over 12 feet of water- deep water that I have spent 5 years protecting him from. This deep water is now his playground.  Before we knew it, he was climbing the ladder to the HIGH dive.  Adam and I were confident that he would NOT jump.  I mean, this is the kid that won't get on a kiddie ride for any amount of bribery.  But he did it.  He conquered it. And then he did it again. 

He was so excited that I took him and NonaJane back to the pool today.  Jack's learning curve was off the charts as he was no longer doggy paddling, but now swimming underwater, using a freestyle stroke, and even talking to me while swimming across the deep water.  He was doing well enough that NonaJane and I went back over to the shallow end so she could enjoy the froggy slide.  As I played with NonaJane and watched Jack in the distance, my heart began to hurt a little. Or a lot.  My little boy was jumping off the diving boards, talking, dancing, and playing with the other kids in line.  Trusting the lifeguard to keep him safe instead of ME.  But as if he knew my heart was hurting, he yelled out to me across the pool from the end of the diving board "MOM! WATCH ME!!!"  he did his proud dance, two thumbs up, and then a spinning twist off the diving board.  My little boy still wanted me, and NEEDED me to watch him.  He came running down to the shallow end, jumped in next to me and said "I was getting lonely down there without you."  If only he knew, his Momma's heart was the one hurting- and as usual, he has a way of making my heart absolutely explode.  NonaJane, Jack and I had a blast at the pool. NJ loves to jump off the edge to me, and of course wants me to "WATCH" with every move she makes.  So "WATCH!" I will.  I'm going to try to watch and love every little jump and splash they make.  For as long as they are excited to show me.

The summertime blur

4 months and sweeter than pie :)

Matthew T is rapidly approaching the 5 month mark!! He is becoming a little role poly, using his new skills to move around the floor. He is also very handsy- starting to grab anything and everything that comes near him.  Of all our babies, he seems to have changed the most from month to month!

Happy 4th!

Everytime people see him they remark about how different he looks! For starters, he kind of went bald for awhile... but now he has already got a super full fuzzy head of hair coming in.  I just love the way it feels on my face, and have even found him rubbing his own hands all over his head!! It is that perfect peach fuzz length :) His eyes keep getting bigger and bluer, and now his face has started to lengthen out. It is still not clear who he is going to look like... but it is becoming clearer and clearer that he is going to be a happy and laid back little guy.  He is still very easy to please, and a joy to be around.

Wheelbarrow racing!

NonaJane went to vacation bible school in June, which was really her first time being 'dropped off' and left somewhere.  Of course she didn't seem bothered in a bit, but it tugged at my heart strings a good deal.  VBS was 3 hours a day Monday thru Friday.  I wasn't sure how well NonaJane would participate and attend... but turns out she won over the hearts of several ladies.  On Friday evening after their final show, one of the teachers came and sought me out.  She told me that Nona was such a sweetheart and had brought her joy all week, she THANKED me for bringing her.  I felt like my heart could have burst hearing someone else love and appreciate my daughter like I do.  NonaJane is really growing up recently, but still a giant ball of wild :)

Late summer nights :)

 Despite all the rain, this summer has been a blur of late nights, swimming, slip-n-sliding, trampoline jumping, firework watching, and hot dog eating. Having three kids sure does keep us busy, but I think we are pulling it all off all right :) Having amazing friends has helped us out though... a LOT.  Guess who sat at our house until midnight when we had to take Jack to the ER? Guess who goes to the pool with us to even out the score between kids and adults? Guess who feeds me dinner when I get off work late, or who picks our kids up from vacation bible school? I'm thinking about including them in our annual family picture this year... because the Blacks have become a pretty integral part of how we function.  The other day their daughter Bella said it best when she matter of factly informed Jack that "I AM your family Jack."

Swimming at the Black's house

A little sprinkler and trampoline action

T-Bones game on Father's Day

Our annual family picture at the Height Reunion in Schleswig Iowa

Egg cracking.. in July

we survived our 3 year check up... and SHOTS

poor kid was having some hair issues...

Helping Mom make waffles with the new waffle iron

NonaJane and Matthew having a picnic

The unplanned, unpredictable, and EXCITING life this week

NonaJane (3) Nolan (almost 3) Luella (4 1/2) Henry (6) Jack (5) Everett (5) Hudson (7) and Ethan (9)

 

Mark's family was in town on Tuesday, so we had to get the kids all together for an updated picture (minus Matthew)

Sometimes things don't go as planned. And with 3 kids, it seems that more things tend to go in the "unplanned" category more than ever before.  While the majority of America is out watching firework shows, or dangerously blowing things up in their yard, I am home writing a blog post.

Happy 4th of July!

NonaJane started running an unexpected fever during a fun family game of Monopoly, so I decided it best to bring her home rather than share the germs with her cousins. We came home, cuddled on the couch and let some Tylenol take the edge off :)  But in all honesty, I don't mind a bit missing out on the fireworks.  I'm enjoying the sound of them off in the distance, with the mesmerizing humm of Matthew's swing here beside me.  There is something so comforting about being home.  On top of that, it has been a rather exhausting week...

Papa and Jack on the Navy Pier in Chicago

Last Wednesday evening I received an email from Jack's agency that they wanted to submit him for a casting in Chicago for the TV show "Fuller House" (the spin off to Full House!).  The character is DJ Tanner's middle son.  A 6 year old boy who is very intelligent and a bit neurotic.  What a cool opportunity!  Adam was a bit nervous about what a role like this could mean for Jack, and for us... but we decided the bottom line is that Jack has a real knack for this, and most importantly, he really enjoys it.  His Price Chopper commercials are airing more and more...  and we get such amazing feedback about what a natural he is on camera.  The directors are always amazed at how quick he is to learn lines, and obviously... how stinking cute he is.  So we said "Yes, submit him!"  Come Friday evening around 5:00, we were notified that he was indeed selected to audition!  Sunday afternoon Jack, my Dad, and I hit the road to Chicago. (Adam stayed home with Nona and Matthew)  Jack had several pages of lines to memorize, and as usual he learned them without too much trouble.  We made the most of our fast trip, touring the Navy Pier, enjoying a night in a hotel, and trying out some Chicago style pizza.  Jack walked into his casting call on Monday at 4:00 his confident, happy, and bubbly self.  They don't let the parents come back with them, so unfortunately I don't get to witness him in action.  But Jack came out smiling ear to ear, and told me he had a great time.  Can you imagine walking into a room with adults you don't know, standing alone in the middle of an empty room in front of a camera and lights, to be interviewed and perform your lines??? YIKES! But Jack somehow isn't phased by it!

Being stalked by the seagulls while trying to eat our pizza

Too many hours on the iPad makes for an uneasy stomach :(

We haven't heard any news yet.. and may never hear anything.  But either way, we enjoyed the trip, the special time with each other (how often do I get to sit and talk with my Dad like that?? 16 hours in a car is just what we needed!), AND Jack has now had exposure in front of a pretty big casting director... so who knows where any of this could take him?!  I told Adam that one of the highlights of the trip for me was how Jack would reach up and hold my hand everywhere we went.  It hit me that with Matthew in my arms, and NonaJane needing my hand... that Jack doesn't really get my hand very often.  It also made me realize that as he rapidly approaches the age of 6, that he may not reach for my hand much longer.  The thought brings tears to my eyes, and I cherished those 36 hours where all our attention was just on him again.

The point when we decided an X-ray was a must

       





 

Thursday of this week, we were at our friends house and I decided to jump on the trampoline with the kids.  I was being silly and jumping all over like a maniac... next thing I know I hear a chilling scream from Jack and instantly knew it was serious.  I had inadvertently double bounced him and he landed badly on his left ankle.  It didn't take long for it to swell up like a baseball. After a dose of ibuprofen, and 3 hours of ice... we decided it needed to be x-rayed.  Jack made the ER nurses swoon, and charmed the Doctor along the way.  I was so nervous I could have puked, but luckily it did turn out to be a severe sprain with perhaps a small fracture that was not significant enough to worry about.  They provided a temporary cast and said to leave it on for a week.  Jack (as most men tend to do) has enjoyed letting us carry him around and tend to his every need.  I'm crossing my fingers that he is up and running around in a few days like the Dr. predicted...