The adorable organic onesie, not my newly smiley green girl.
Aging is for the weak, and everyone else
2 months ago
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sleeping Beauty
Monday night we enjoyed the singular experience that can drop young (yes I'm still labeling myself young) parents to their knees: Matthew didn't sleep all night.
He went to bed fine - which is saying something, it's a semi nightly power struggle. But then it was, "I have boogies." "Turn my music back on." And finally then just "WAHHHHHHH!!!"
Over an hour later, I asked Mike to come home from his "having a quick beer" night out. Because when one kid would get settled, the other needed her paci. When she was drifting off, Matthew suddenly MUST have me put his blanket back on. Momma wasn't able (or willing) to keep up alone.
So Mike hustled home, to which Matthew first said "You're home with Mommy now?" and we thought, ah yes, that was the problem. Now we're okay. Buttt...we weren't, he wasn't, and six hours later, we were both losing our sh^t.
I'm happy to report that its good I waited to post this, because I'm sitting on the other side of 11 hours of SLEEP - Matthew's - and about 7-8 hours of ours - from last night.
So what HAPPENED, Mommies? (Erin, I know Bridget had us guessing this same thing that night she didn't sleep ...) Was it the stuffy nose? Impending cold front? Or just his uncanny knowledge that Daddy had a night out planned, followed by Mommy's the next night (which was since cancelled given I really can't whoop it up on 1.7 hours of sleep)?
Or is this just LIFE WITH KIDS?
Wait, don't answer that.
He went to bed fine - which is saying something, it's a semi nightly power struggle. But then it was, "I have boogies." "Turn my music back on." And finally then just "WAHHHHHHH!!!"
Over an hour later, I asked Mike to come home from his "having a quick beer" night out. Because when one kid would get settled, the other needed her paci. When she was drifting off, Matthew suddenly MUST have me put his blanket back on. Momma wasn't able (or willing) to keep up alone.
So Mike hustled home, to which Matthew first said "You're home with Mommy now?" and we thought, ah yes, that was the problem. Now we're okay. Buttt...we weren't, he wasn't, and six hours later, we were both losing our sh^t.
I'm happy to report that its good I waited to post this, because I'm sitting on the other side of 11 hours of SLEEP - Matthew's - and about 7-8 hours of ours - from last night.
So what HAPPENED, Mommies? (Erin, I know Bridget had us guessing this same thing that night she didn't sleep ...) Was it the stuffy nose? Impending cold front? Or just his uncanny knowledge that Daddy had a night out planned, followed by Mommy's the next night (which was since cancelled given I really can't whoop it up on 1.7 hours of sleep)?
Or is this just LIFE WITH KIDS?
Wait, don't answer that.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Another Wonderful Pre-Halloween Weekend
Who WOULDN'T love this time of year? Crisp weather, beautiful sights of orange pumpkins and leaves, and kiddos in their Halloween gear looking absolutely adorable. Oh, and the pain of Christmas shopping not quite yet upon us. Like this past Saturday...
Miss Rachel in her orange and black finest.
Our dogs, Murphy and Bogey, enjoying the cooler temps with my parent's dog Honey, who were visiting our house before our trip to the pumpkin patch, round 2.
At Rombach's, Matthew enjoying a pony ride. I was SO proud, he wasn't scared! (Actual Matthew and pumpkin pics to follow, soon, hopefully.)
And last but definitely not least, my Dad finally meeting Rachel.
(If you're born and bred in STL, this probably seems odd, but when you're transplants like us, it can take a while for folks to meet the newest family member. No matter how cute and edible her fat cheeks are!)
Miss Rachel in her orange and black finest.
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| From 10-15-2008 |
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| From 10-15-2008 |
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| From 10-15-2008 |
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| From 10-15-2008 |
Friday, October 17, 2008
Husbands v. Wives, Part 1
Me: Honey, where are Matthew's diaper pail bags?
Him (from down the hall in Rachel's room): I don't know.
Me: But, um, you change these each week for the garbage. Do you remember taking the last one? (Looking through every drawer and his closet) I don't see them in here.
Him: I don't remember.
Me: I don't understand..how do you just NOT remember? Sometimes I worry about your brain.
Him (rustling around in Rachel's room): Well, last time I saw them, they were in here.
Me (exasperated look): Okay, well, that answers my original question of, "do you remember where they are" then...
Him (still rustling): Yeah, but I don't SEE them...
Me (walking down hallway, open top drawer, reach inside...pull out giant roll of bags within 1.4 seconds): Here they are.
Do they just BUILD us with a magnetic compass inside for lost stuff, or what?
Or rather, do they just build THEM with an extra low level of sight and touch? Because how can we look at the same drawer and he DOESN'T SEE IT?
GO WIVES - the world's finders.
Him (from down the hall in Rachel's room): I don't know.
Me: But, um, you change these each week for the garbage. Do you remember taking the last one? (Looking through every drawer and his closet) I don't see them in here.
Him: I don't remember.
Me: I don't understand..how do you just NOT remember? Sometimes I worry about your brain.
Him (rustling around in Rachel's room): Well, last time I saw them, they were in here.
Me (exasperated look): Okay, well, that answers my original question of, "do you remember where they are" then...
Him (still rustling): Yeah, but I don't SEE them...
Me (walking down hallway, open top drawer, reach inside...pull out giant roll of bags within 1.4 seconds): Here they are.
Do they just BUILD us with a magnetic compass inside for lost stuff, or what?
Or rather, do they just build THEM with an extra low level of sight and touch? Because how can we look at the same drawer and he DOESN'T SEE IT?
GO WIVES - the world's finders.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Happy Early Halloween, Gramas!
Sweet girl in her festive new p.j.'s from Grama Claudia.
Cheeks are expanding!
Just in case you missed the booty on this baby.
Happy its almost Halloween!
My two sweet treats.
Let Me Tell You Something about Playdates
They are apparently equally fun, but tiring, for all involved. I realize this is probably not a newsflash, but see, this playdate thing is new to me. It's not something I get to do much when I'm working since its limited to weekends and well, everyone including us is usually busy.
So now that Rachel's semi predictable - and Matthew's getting bored stiff watching me feed her and hold her all day - I'm organizing a few before I go back to work. Today I hosted a couple of Mike's former coworkers (and now my friends) and their kiddos for a playdate.
Officially, I think this is the first one at our house, since getting together with BFFs Amelia and Bridget doesn't quite count (they're family :).
I prepared mac and cheese in advance. I pumped a bottle so I could feed Rachel comfortably. I wiped down the sink with Clorox Multi Purpose. I showered before Mike left for work. I MADE THE BED. In short, I tried to prepare. Still, once the crews arrived, I found it hard to keep up with three toddlers and two babies, no matter how cute and good they were (and they were...2 year old boy Brooks and his 5 1/2 month old sister Charlotte, and a 1 1/2 year old Kyla, were all adorable and so sweet).
But holding two adult conversations, with moms you know but don't know REAL well so you kinda can't just let it all hang out, conversation wise ... and feeding the moms ... and three squirmy toddlers ... and walking around doing this while feeding your baby ... and throw in a couple jumpy, stinky dogs that can't decide if they want in or out ... and I don't know if I said one thing that made sense the whole afternoon. Anyone else get that? It's like I'm functioning, and talking but totally distracted and not really sure what I'm saying. A state I fall into frequently since Miss Rachel's arrival, admittedly.
It WAS fun trading "Oh, he does that TOO!" and the resulting frazzled mommy stories. And seeing how cute baby Rachel will look in a few months since baby Charlotte has dark hair just like my girl.
And from this angelic picture, you wouldn't guess there was a moment of chaos.
Watching them sitting perfectly in their chairs and using chubby toddler hands to hold their little forks, just eating away together like grownups, was priceless. Almost like everyone was medicated, er, I mean, on their best behavior for the other kids.
I got five more weeks to be a SAHM. Any other takers????
So now that Rachel's semi predictable - and Matthew's getting bored stiff watching me feed her and hold her all day - I'm organizing a few before I go back to work. Today I hosted a couple of Mike's former coworkers (and now my friends) and their kiddos for a playdate.
Officially, I think this is the first one at our house, since getting together with BFFs Amelia and Bridget doesn't quite count (they're family :).
I prepared mac and cheese in advance. I pumped a bottle so I could feed Rachel comfortably. I wiped down the sink with Clorox Multi Purpose. I showered before Mike left for work. I MADE THE BED. In short, I tried to prepare. Still, once the crews arrived, I found it hard to keep up with three toddlers and two babies, no matter how cute and good they were (and they were...2 year old boy Brooks and his 5 1/2 month old sister Charlotte, and a 1 1/2 year old Kyla, were all adorable and so sweet).
But holding two adult conversations, with moms you know but don't know REAL well so you kinda can't just let it all hang out, conversation wise ... and feeding the moms ... and three squirmy toddlers ... and walking around doing this while feeding your baby ... and throw in a couple jumpy, stinky dogs that can't decide if they want in or out ... and I don't know if I said one thing that made sense the whole afternoon. Anyone else get that? It's like I'm functioning, and talking but totally distracted and not really sure what I'm saying. A state I fall into frequently since Miss Rachel's arrival, admittedly.
It WAS fun trading "Oh, he does that TOO!" and the resulting frazzled mommy stories. And seeing how cute baby Rachel will look in a few months since baby Charlotte has dark hair just like my girl.
And from this angelic picture, you wouldn't guess there was a moment of chaos.
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| From 10-15-2008 |
Watching them sitting perfectly in their chairs and using chubby toddler hands to hold their little forks, just eating away together like grownups, was priceless. Almost like everyone was medicated, er, I mean, on their best behavior for the other kids.
I got five more weeks to be a SAHM. Any other takers????
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Takin' Trains, Matthew Style
Around here one of the only "back pocket" moves we have with Matthew is taking his little wooden Thomas trains and placing them on top of the fridge until he's doing Good Boy Things again. If you're at our house and you hear, "Okay, do I have to take a train?" means its either time to eat or time to sleep.
Tonight we've put him to bed, and Rachel's sleeping, and we're finally both sitting down with laptops and some Biggest Loser. And then we hear him in there, "Mommy, Mommy, it's NOT dark outside, it's LIGHT outside ..." which is clearly building his case for the next one, "It's NOT nght night time."
Keep in mind Michael's already been in there twice and I've been in there once to shush him and it's now well after 8 p.m.
So now we're shooting looks back and forth, "Do we go in again? What next?" while all the time, Matthew's in there, "I got poo poos!" and then, "I need a TIS-UUEEEE!" - all his best whoppers - when suddenly my husband's had enough.
He definitely pushes up from the chair and says, "All right, that's it. I'm TAKIN' TRAINS!" to which I cannot help bust out laughing.
I realize it might not translate how funny this was, but imagine Mike doing this in a very serious and semi angry way. In the same tone I might imagine him committing to joining some bar fight back in college..."Ok, that's it, go time, let's DO this thing!!"
So in he went, threatening all sorts of train taking. However, he didn't actually take one because the boy buckled and acted like he'd sleep.
Naturally in a few minutes, he's yelling "Mommy!" again and this time I go in. "Matthew, if you don't go to sleepy, Mom's gonna have to take a train. And I don't want to, I don't like to take trains."
To which he responds, "Yeah, DADDY likes to take trains." Yep, that's your daddy. He used to golf. Now his only hobby left in this world is taking your trains.
Tonight we've put him to bed, and Rachel's sleeping, and we're finally both sitting down with laptops and some Biggest Loser. And then we hear him in there, "Mommy, Mommy, it's NOT dark outside, it's LIGHT outside ..." which is clearly building his case for the next one, "It's NOT nght night time."
Keep in mind Michael's already been in there twice and I've been in there once to shush him and it's now well after 8 p.m.
So now we're shooting looks back and forth, "Do we go in again? What next?" while all the time, Matthew's in there, "I got poo poos!" and then, "I need a TIS-UUEEEE!" - all his best whoppers - when suddenly my husband's had enough.
He definitely pushes up from the chair and says, "All right, that's it. I'm TAKIN' TRAINS!" to which I cannot help bust out laughing.
I realize it might not translate how funny this was, but imagine Mike doing this in a very serious and semi angry way. In the same tone I might imagine him committing to joining some bar fight back in college..."Ok, that's it, go time, let's DO this thing!!"
So in he went, threatening all sorts of train taking. However, he didn't actually take one because the boy buckled and acted like he'd sleep.
Naturally in a few minutes, he's yelling "Mommy!" again and this time I go in. "Matthew, if you don't go to sleepy, Mom's gonna have to take a train. And I don't want to, I don't like to take trains."
To which he responds, "Yeah, DADDY likes to take trains." Yep, that's your daddy. He used to golf. Now his only hobby left in this world is taking your trains.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Who DOESN'T Like Whale Noises?
So the toybox rummaging this morning wasn't just fun bonding for Matthew and me.
It was a master plan for miss Rachel and napping and more of them more consistently.
She's great at night, but only pretty good to okay during the day. There's a lot of "Okay, I'm off to slee...HA HA, gotcha! Now pick me up and hold me for the next hour and a half. I'll keep pretending to drift off, but don't think I'm down because ... GOTCHA AGAIN!"
This morning, I was on a mission for a BFF I haven't seen since Matthew's late stages of babyhood. Behold, the Sleep Sheep.
This was my go to sleep move for Matthew. This was attached to his crib or bassinet or Pack n Play pretty much every day since birth - and every where we went. He seemed to be addicted to the whale noise setting when he went night night.
It was probably more like WE were addicted to FEELING that we had a routine. "Oh, did you pack the sheep? Well, he's GOTTA have his sheelp..." But whatever, we used this thing to death, it seemed to work, and I have in turn provided this to multiple other new mommies as gifts in the last couple years. But hadn't dug it out for little girl baby just yet.
SO - just switched the whales on for Rachel and attached it to the Pack n Play. At first, she actually did go right to sleep. Now I hear her hiccuping in the Pack n Play but the key is, not crying. Just taking in the soft chatter of whales. Fine by me, cuz here I am getting to type.
Sleep Sheep, we still got it.
It was a master plan for miss Rachel and napping and more of them more consistently.
She's great at night, but only pretty good to okay during the day. There's a lot of "Okay, I'm off to slee...HA HA, gotcha! Now pick me up and hold me for the next hour and a half. I'll keep pretending to drift off, but don't think I'm down because ... GOTCHA AGAIN!"
This morning, I was on a mission for a BFF I haven't seen since Matthew's late stages of babyhood. Behold, the Sleep Sheep.
This was my go to sleep move for Matthew. This was attached to his crib or bassinet or Pack n Play pretty much every day since birth - and every where we went. He seemed to be addicted to the whale noise setting when he went night night.
It was probably more like WE were addicted to FEELING that we had a routine. "Oh, did you pack the sheep? Well, he's GOTTA have his sheelp..." But whatever, we used this thing to death, it seemed to work, and I have in turn provided this to multiple other new mommies as gifts in the last couple years. But hadn't dug it out for little girl baby just yet.
SO - just switched the whales on for Rachel and attached it to the Pack n Play. At first, she actually did go right to sleep. Now I hear her hiccuping in the Pack n Play but the key is, not crying. Just taking in the soft chatter of whales. Fine by me, cuz here I am getting to type.
Sleep Sheep, we still got it.
Ahhhhhh
Today is one of those mommy days that just works. The baby is napping in the swing - for the second time today. And more importantly, the toddler is napping in his new big boy bed. And not only did he actually GO into it at naptime, but he STAYED in it and is STILL in it and there were no tears involved ("Got some tears, mommy. Got some MESSIES!")
Sure, I've been up since 5:20 a.m. but in mommy standards, that's practically noon, given she slept through from about 10 p.m.!
Got a few minutes to chat with the husband this morning. The Boy slept until 7 a.m. giving me time to feed the baby, get her to sleep, drink two cups of coffee, catch a few snippets of news.
Today we've done puzzles. Eaten breakfast AND lunch. Played as a FAMILY, watching baby Rachel do tummy time while Matthew alternately watched her and snuggled and kissed her, then moved to go through her toychest of his old stuffed animals. We found his old sleep sheep, I explained how it made heartbeat and whale noises babies liked, and then we fed it lunch in his high chair.
I washed baby bottles. I went through part of the giant stack of mail. I filled out her insurance form. And now I'm blogging. And I even read a couple, too. Clearly, I am on FIRE.
And clearly, this means these kids will take me DOWN at some point this week.
Because I figured out real quickly this two kid stuff works as follows: great day, crap day, okay day. Lather, rinse, repeat. But not today. Today's a Good Day.
Okay, wait. So from time I started typing this little bragfest, I hear my little girl's "eh eh EHHHH" which of course means, "Mommy, haven't we talked before about what I MUST do whenever you type that I'm being good? I. Must. Meltdown."
Gotta go!
Sure, I've been up since 5:20 a.m. but in mommy standards, that's practically noon, given she slept through from about 10 p.m.!
Got a few minutes to chat with the husband this morning. The Boy slept until 7 a.m. giving me time to feed the baby, get her to sleep, drink two cups of coffee, catch a few snippets of news.
Today we've done puzzles. Eaten breakfast AND lunch. Played as a FAMILY, watching baby Rachel do tummy time while Matthew alternately watched her and snuggled and kissed her, then moved to go through her toychest of his old stuffed animals. We found his old sleep sheep, I explained how it made heartbeat and whale noises babies liked, and then we fed it lunch in his high chair.
I washed baby bottles. I went through part of the giant stack of mail. I filled out her insurance form. And now I'm blogging. And I even read a couple, too. Clearly, I am on FIRE.
And clearly, this means these kids will take me DOWN at some point this week.
Because I figured out real quickly this two kid stuff works as follows: great day, crap day, okay day. Lather, rinse, repeat. But not today. Today's a Good Day.
Okay, wait. So from time I started typing this little bragfest, I hear my little girl's "eh eh EHHHH" which of course means, "Mommy, haven't we talked before about what I MUST do whenever you type that I'm being good? I. Must. Meltdown."
Gotta go!
Friday, October 10, 2008
I've Turned the Corner
Week six accomplishment: Me and the Boppy pillow are finally friends. It's supporting Rachel without her rolling and slumping all over like she does with my pillow system. It's quicker than my 2 pillow system. And I'm better able to reach the laptop.
The key is sitting cross legged. Which I realize they do in all the Bobby ads. Even the smiling bottle feeding Dad is cross legged, not just sitting with it on his lap. Duh.
The key is sitting cross legged. Which I realize they do in all the Bobby ads. Even the smiling bottle feeding Dad is cross legged, not just sitting with it on his lap. Duh.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Five Weeks?!??!
How can it be five weeks since I brought my sweet baby girl home? In that time, she's gained a pound (or more), while I've continue to steadfastly not lose any more.
Also she's breastfeeding really well, sleeping regularly, isn't crazy fussy, and even lets us get 4-5 hours of sleep at a time. Sometimes. When she feels like it.
She loves her big brother. I think...when she stares at him goggly eyed, and sticks her tongue in and out, that's love right?
And most days, HE loves HER. Kissing her, and telling her good morning and goodnight. And asking me (ALL DAY LONG), "Mama, where's Baby Rachel? What's Baby Rachel DOing? Oh, she's so lit-tle." And even shushing the dogs - and the neighbors' dogs - if they bark when she's sleeping.
Of course, there have been the times he's launched a sippy at her head, or whacked her with a Matchbox car. These things happen though with toddlers and new sibs. (Right???) Mostly that's been when he's been frustrated with ME, not out of straight jealous moments. You know when I won't give him what he wants. Which occurs any zillion number of times a day when I will not let him watch TV for the third hour in a row, or when I ask him to stop banging his airplane into the wall. Or when I, you know, ask him to Eat Food.
It can be stressful. That is for DARN SURE (read with slight note of hysteria). But overall, we seem to somehow be adjusting to this new powerful little force that arrived, literally, about 5 weeks ago to the minute.
Actually, I was probably mid push right about now, wondering if I was a wimp or if the nurses and doctor and Michael were crazy because, dude, I swear that epidural wore off before it even got started. Which reminds me, I still owe my blog her birth story. Maybe for week six ...
In the meantime, here's a recent one that pretty much embodies what I look at all day. This girl makes some FACES.
Also, from this past Saturday, Matthew enjoying the Grant's farm goats during our visit there when it was so beautiful out.
He's came a long way from running scared into Aunt Kim's arms during a visit at this same time last year. Now he's giggling as they nibble him and is fact much more okay with his being eaten alive by baby goats than I am.
(And yes, somehow we managed this outdoors outing and lived to tell about it. I suspect we won't attempt such a feat again for while. NOT because we didn't have fun. Because it literally sapped every ounce of energy out of me to get them ready, out, enjoy the day, and get us home, and I'll be plugged into the wall recharging for months.)
Also this weekend, Baby Shane and Baby Amelia's double baptism made for a very special Sunday.I was a little more on the ball with Baby Amelia's (and Kim and Mark's) photos, sorry Shane buddy.
Matthew and Bridget agreed the best part of church is watching the train go by outside afterward.
Later, we all had a fun time at the Jones' house reception, where I got this photo of the two little sweeties...and their babies, ha ha.
Also she's breastfeeding really well, sleeping regularly, isn't crazy fussy, and even lets us get 4-5 hours of sleep at a time. Sometimes. When she feels like it.
She loves her big brother. I think...when she stares at him goggly eyed, and sticks her tongue in and out, that's love right?
And most days, HE loves HER. Kissing her, and telling her good morning and goodnight. And asking me (ALL DAY LONG), "Mama, where's Baby Rachel? What's Baby Rachel DOing? Oh, she's so lit-tle." And even shushing the dogs - and the neighbors' dogs - if they bark when she's sleeping.
Of course, there have been the times he's launched a sippy at her head, or whacked her with a Matchbox car. These things happen though with toddlers and new sibs. (Right???) Mostly that's been when he's been frustrated with ME, not out of straight jealous moments. You know when I won't give him what he wants. Which occurs any zillion number of times a day when I will not let him watch TV for the third hour in a row, or when I ask him to stop banging his airplane into the wall. Or when I, you know, ask him to Eat Food.
It can be stressful. That is for DARN SURE (read with slight note of hysteria). But overall, we seem to somehow be adjusting to this new powerful little force that arrived, literally, about 5 weeks ago to the minute.
Actually, I was probably mid push right about now, wondering if I was a wimp or if the nurses and doctor and Michael were crazy because, dude, I swear that epidural wore off before it even got started. Which reminds me, I still owe my blog her birth story. Maybe for week six ...
In the meantime, here's a recent one that pretty much embodies what I look at all day. This girl makes some FACES.
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| From 09-25-08 |
Also, from this past Saturday, Matthew enjoying the Grant's farm goats during our visit there when it was so beautiful out.
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| From 10-1-2008 |
He's came a long way from running scared into Aunt Kim's arms during a visit at this same time last year. Now he's giggling as they nibble him and is fact much more okay with his being eaten alive by baby goats than I am.
(And yes, somehow we managed this outdoors outing and lived to tell about it. I suspect we won't attempt such a feat again for while. NOT because we didn't have fun. Because it literally sapped every ounce of energy out of me to get them ready, out, enjoy the day, and get us home, and I'll be plugged into the wall recharging for months.)
Also this weekend, Baby Shane and Baby Amelia's double baptism made for a very special Sunday.I was a little more on the ball with Baby Amelia's (and Kim and Mark's) photos, sorry Shane buddy.
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| From 10-1-2008 |
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| From 10-1-2008 |
Matthew and Bridget agreed the best part of church is watching the train go by outside afterward.
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| From 10-1-2008 |
Later, we all had a fun time at the Jones' house reception, where I got this photo of the two little sweeties...and their babies, ha ha.
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| From 10-1-2008 |
Don't Aunt Erin and Aunt Kim ... respectively holding their niece Amelia and nephew Shane, look proud? They should, these kids are both lookers and both just as sweet as can be. Love you, Jones babies.
That's all. I should probably remove the baby from the swing after 2 hours, don't you agree? Especially given I've listened to her cry for the last few photo-uploads? (One of many differences between first and second kiddos; I'm impervious to guilt crying now.)
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