Jack and Ben, Inc.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Boys, boys, boys

My life is full of boys. Here are some pictures from the last couple of days.

Ben is trying to get used to the bumbo seat.

Jack likes to help support his head. We call it "Bumbo time" with a Jamaican accent (I guess you have to be here).

Hanging out on the couch with the big boys.

I love these last two pictures. Ben just looks like he belongs there. I'm still getting used to having an extra family member. He fits right in, bless his heart. Sam and Jack are coloring and Ben is watching TV.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Jack is four-years-old today. It's true what they say about time...it flies by. Below are pictures from his friend birthday party at our house. They played, ate cupcakes and ice-cream, opened presents and then played again. Jack had a great time with his Lightning McQueen-themed party.

Jack isn't mad here, he was just trying to be serious.

Slip n slide and pool time.

Cupcakes and ice-cream.

His face resembles his first birthday with all the chocolate.

Present time.

This is the present Jack received from Sam and I. A faster four-wheeler that he has been asking for - forever. He has been riding it like a crazy man.

This is Jack and the four-wheeler in action.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Tummy time and the Gazebo

Ben is finally enjoying tummy-time, somewhat. He'll stay on his belly for about 5-8 minutes now.

Our new thing while the temperature was mild last week was to take a walk/bike ride to the neighborhood gazebo and "take a break". There's a pond and fountain and Jack enjoyed sitting up there and resting. So did Ben.

Jack has a toy that he took on the bike ride. He would stop and take it out and show it to cars driving by.

At the gazebo taking our break.

Ben just going along with everything as usual.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

16-week Achievements

Ben turned 16-weeks-old yesterday. He is growing and getting so big. It just kills me how fast he's growing and how the time is flying by. Yesterday he rolled over for the first time all by himself. He has also achieved the art of sleeping through the night without his "dreamfeed" at 10pm. It's only been two nights of that so we'll see if he can endure. I can't complain. He still takes four naps a day. I still manage (more like manipulate) Jack and Ben's schedule where they still take an afternoon nap at the same time. Mama gets a much-needed break :)

Below you will see some comparisons of Jack and Ben at 16-weeks.

I love the look on his face here. My little supported sitter will be ready for solids soon!

Does it get any cuter?

Jack

Ben

Jack

Ben

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Makin' Scones and takin' pictures

Sam decided Saturday morning that he was going to make scones. He cracks me up. You give him a long weekend, send him to the grocery and there's no telling what he'll decide to cook. Jack helped make the fruit scones but didn't like them (surprise-surprise). I also set up a poor-man's photography studio in the living room, trying to get a few good pictures of Jack and Ben. I took most of them with a film camera.

That night, Sam made shrimp, scallop and fish fra diablo for dinner. It was delicious!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Bonding Brothers

I love all of these pictures. Jack voluntarily hangs out with Ben; he really wants to be with him and loves to try and make him smile. Every morning before breakfast, Jack lays on the playmat with Ben. I hope it stays like this...

This is just funny because he has his two hats (fireman and construction hat) on at the same time. He was playing around and he's takin' a break.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Jack and the babysitter

Sam and I have actually been out twice in the last two weeks (crazy, I know). Once for a work dinner and then for our anniversary. Miss Deanna is a YMCA childcare worker and loves kids. She is in college to be a Preschool teacher and has worked out great. When we returned home the other night, she said, "we took some pictures with your camera". Here is what they came up with:

Jack and Miss Deanna

Ben just being Ben through it all.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Happy Anniversary!

Since we are the reason for there being a "Jack and Ben, Inc.", I thought I'd say, Happy Anniversary to us. Seven years, two kids, lots of love and going strong!

Funny Things Jack has said:

Suggestions:
Sam met one of Jack's little girlfriends' mother at the gym. Jack was telling Sam what the little girls name was while we were getting ready for bath. Jack says, "maybe Allison's mommy could be your girlfriend, daddy!"

Playing with Friends:

Waiting "patiently" for us to finish dinner (and trying not to bagger), Jack came over to my side of the table and stared at my plate. He said, "I'm not going to bagger about going to play, I'm just looking at your beautiful eyes."

When I was sick:

Ben was fussy and it was clearly getting to me. At lunch, he was so whiney and Jack looked at me and said, "I know, he's wearing you out, isn't he?"

Beauty:

After applying some lipgloss, Jack said, "I like your make-up. You're so beautiful . . . when you wear make-up." Nice!

Mr. Content:

I asked Jack if he was glad to be back in Illinois after a trip to Kentucky. He said, "yeah, I'm glad to be back. I'm glad wherever I am."

Donating Toys:

I was explaining to Jack that he has alot of toys and needs to be thankful and think of others who don't have as much. He said, "well, I can donut some of mine".

Jack's bottom:

"My bottom is getting ready to laugh. It has a voice."

Trouble:

I told Jack we needed to talk about his getting in trouble at school, and he said: "I'm really trying to concentrate on eating my lunch right now . . . soooo, maybe later."

I asked Jack where he learned to be so sweet?

"I don't know. But I'm going to marry a really good lady for you. It's going to take me a few minutes to find her, but she'll be a nice lady."

Mommy & Daddy leaving town:

"Well actually, I would prefer it if you left tomorrow." (where does he learn to talk like this?)

The News:

While watching the news with me, Jack looked over at me and very excitedly asks, "Mommy, did you hear what they said? They said the market is on FIRE!".

Charity:

I was explaining Operation Christmas Child to Jack; giving to a child that is overseas that doesn't get Christmas gifts. He said, "Oh, mommy. Santa is going to be so proud of you. I bet he'll bring you some more make-up."

Playing:

Ben and Jack are playing. Ben falls backwards laughing (onto a pillow). Jack quickly leans down right in Ben's face and says, "Ben, let me see your uvula."

Behavior:

Jack lost tv for unbecoming behavior. He was asking me if he could watch tv again because he'd been a good boy at school. I said, "How do I know you were a good boy at school?", he said, "because I just told you I was good." Smarty.

Dinner:

Tonight at the dinner table, Jack said, "Mmmm...I can still smell the cafeteria at school." I don't know if that is an insult or a compliment.

Attitude:

After coming in from outside (when he didn't want to), Jack was huffing and puffing around. I told him, as he was coming out of the bathtub, "If you act like this after playing with your friends, then maybe we just won't go outside and play anymore." His response: "I think we need to stop and say a prayer about this right now."

Debating:

While debating with me about what solids to feed Ben, Jack said, "Mommy, sometimes you just have to voice your concerns." (oh my)

Carseat:

Sam was firmly telling Jack to get himself buckled in and Jack tells him, "I'm not liking this attitude."

Motorcycles:

"I see a motorcycle and he doesn't have a helmet on. When are they ever going to learn?"

Lunch:

"I don't want to eat the turkery. The turkey told it's mama that it didn't want to be eaten today, so I'm not going to eat it."

Yogurt:

"You know it's true what they say about yogurt..."

"what do they say?"

"I don't know."

Shopping:

I was going to Old Navy one Saturday and as I was leaving, Jack yelled, "Have fun at Old ladies". Then, when I returned and woke him up from his nap, the first thing he said to me was, "Did you have fun at old lady?".

Regarding Ben:

I was asking Ben a question and Jack says, "Mommy, he's still got the hiccups and has the paci in his mouth so he can't talk right now."

Breastfeeding:

While feeding Ben, I was about to fasten my bra and Jack stood right in front of my breast and said, "I need to see that before you put it away. Mommy, it looks like it's broken, it's got a crack in your breast."

Pooping on the potty:

"I have many plops to make." Jack says as he's unbuttoning his pants and heading into the bathroom.

Sam had Jack settled on the potty to poop and he told Sam as he walked out of the bathroom, "You go watch the basketball game until you hear a plop."