Our Own Little Rooster

I am not surprised that Thursday night (and my A Gift From Heaven post) were just a total fluke. Last night, Jackson needed to eat twice during the night. Then, his big sister, who is our own little rooster, refuses to go back to sleep at 4 o' clock in the morning. It's kind of ironic because when she was really little she had this wild hair that stuck up like a rooster tail; I guess that was our first clue. Our house is only 2 bedrooms upstairs, so Joslynn and Jackson share a room. Joslynn is a very light sleeper and is thoroughly convinced that we are having a party in the middle of the night without her because she will cry and cry, wanting to come out of her crib because she thinks its morning. Who needs an alarm clock, when you have your very own rooster?

A Gift From Heaven

I had a ton of stuff to do last night, and I was energized to get it done, so I didn't end up going to bed until 12:30. I was nervous about that when I went to bed, but an angel must have came and made both Joslynn and Jackson sleep until 5:30. I got 5 straight, uninterrupted hours of sleep! It truly was a gift from heaven.

Decompression

Tonight, I just needed to decompress. This has been a long week at school despite the fact that the kids weren't in school on Monday. I just feel like I'm drowning in my grading, planning, room cleaning and to top it all off, my voice is saying, "See ya!" Maybe I should teach at a school for mimes; I seem to lose my voice more and more often in the past 2 years.

Anyway, back to my decompression. Life in my house is not glamorous by any means, so even the simple things help to distract me from those other annoying things that sometimes go on. Here's what I did to get my sanity back...

• Went to the grocery store.
  
• I pigged out on delicious snacks with Joslynn when we got home.
• We danced to "the monkey song" and acted very silly together. It made her laugh, which made me laugh, thus, adding years to both of our lives.
• I did normal house/baby maintenance.
• Did a few loads of laundry.
• Cooked dinner.
• Vented to Josh when he got home.
  
• Gave 2 and a half baths; Jackson peed in his so we had to start a new one.
• Showed Joslynn how to hold her breath and blow bubbles under water. She thought this was funny--again, adding years!
• Changed sheets/blankies in Jackson's crib.
  
• Snuggled during story time and sang Joslynn to sleep. Even though I sound like a frog, she still likes my singing, go figure.
• Talked with my sister on the phone about wedding stuff.
• Ran a few miles.
• Read ~25 emails that I didn't get to during the day.
  
• Sent ~10 emails.
• Organized the papers that I need to grade tomorrow as I supervise an "opportunity room."
• Folded laundry.
  
• Caught up on my friends' blogs and commented on many of them.

All I need are some distractions to keep me from losing my mind. I think I'm set.

The Worst Job In the World

I absolutely hate grading papers!

Yes, I know, I know... I chose a career that requires this task that I detest so much. I love everything about teaching, except for this. I have mountains of papers to grade, but since I am starting to doze off, I think it is best for the kids (and their scores) if I get some sleep.

P.S. For those of you who know me, I rarely use the word hate, but this is one time when I really mean it.

Broken

I was getting ready for bed on Friday night, and as I reached to take my glasses off, I heard a "tink-tink" sound as the right bow of my glasses fell off and hit the bathroom counter. I got a sinking feeling in my stomach, because if you have ever seen my glasses, which are five years old, by the way, they are not easy to fix. They are rimless and quite dainty as far as metal surface area goes, so I knew that I was going to have to shell out a few hundred Benjamins for new glasses, and soon.

Since Josh had a wrestling tournament all day Saturday, and I had planned to go to my parents' place, I took advantage of the babysitters and went to Walmart's Vision Center for an eye exam and also ordered new glasses. Its quite sad; I have too much astigmatism in my prescription to wear contacts and even if I didn't, my 'tear film' isn't made for contact wear either. I guess I am destined to wear glasses for the rest of my life, or until I win the lottery and can afford eye surgery. If I didn't live in a time with the latest and greatest in eyeglass technology, I would have the thickest bottle cap lenses out there. I know that I am a geek, but that look would have just set everything in stone.

Since I wear my glasses pretty much all the time, I wanted to get the rimless kind because they are light-weight, and I feel like people can still see me instead of seeing so much frame. Well, I picked out two different brands of rimless before we figured out that my lense cannot be made in rimless. So, three's a charm right? My third pair of frames, which I do like, were finally the ones that I ordered. In the mean time, my dad rigged up some special glue/cement in order to keep my glasses on my face. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it holds, and that Jackson doesn't rip them off my face this week. (He's great at that!)

Almost A Break Through!

I was taking Joslynn out of her booster seat and she looks at me and says, "Poo poo." I raise my eyebrows and in an excited tone reply, "Do you have to poopy?"

"Yeah" she says in that cute little voice. I pick her up and we rush to the bathroom. I get her all set up on the potty chair and I have to sit there with her. She is sitting very nice and we are talking and she is practicing putting her pants on and off of her legs. He brother, in the meantime, is bouncing around in his saucer in the doorway where I can keep and eye on him. So, he drops a toy; being the good sister that she is, Joslynn runs over to pick up the toy for him. As I am tyring to call her back to the potty, I am seeing things happen in slow motion. Before I can say or do anything, there is a wet spot on the carpet. She freezes and has a disgusted look on her face. I carry her back to the potty chair and sit her down so I can start to clean up one of the many "accidents" that I am sure there are to come.

We were so close to a potty training breakthrough. So close...

Guilt Free

I had a five day weekend due to two work cancellation days since we live in Minnesota in the frigid cold. On this extended weekend, I enjoyed way too much food, I barely even touched "homework" and totally enjoyed doing anything and everything that I felt like doing.

• Josh and I had two 'lunch dates' together. These were actually dates without the kids.
  
• I read lots of 'tories' to my beautiful babies.
  
• I stayed in my pajamas until 10 am on Sunday. (You have to realize that 10am here, is like 4pm in other households, since our day starts, many times, by 4:30am.)
  
• I ate Dairy Queen Cake. Mmmmm...
• I did some house cleaning...just enough to keep me sane. Not too much where it ate up my day.
• I strolled in the mall while my rings got checked and cleaned. It's rare when I get to stroll anywhere...
• We had good friends over for dinner. Ate a lot...it was good.
  
• We ate dinner at my parents' house. Ate even more...it was also good.
  
• Josh and I snuggled on the couch and watched movies.
• I played and laughed and hugged and snuggled...

It was liberating to be free of deadlines and due dates and restrictions. It was a wonderful weekend, where, as I sit here on the night before I go back to work, I'm not regretting my lack of attention paid to work business. I am completely guilt free about how I spent my time.
*I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

How Far Is Too Far?

This summer Josh and I are looking to exchange our timeshare for a place here in the states. We can't find anyone to take our week in Mexico. We aren't going ourselves because airfare is too expensive, and we feel that the kids are a little too young to leave for a week. We were thinking about just using it somewhere else, since we are paying for it either way, and then we could take our first family vacation...

Our dilemma is finding a place to exchange with that is not too far away. So, how far is too far with a two year old, and a one year old? (That's how old the kids will be when we go...)

Five Day Weekend

As much as I truly hate the cold, I am quite thankful for my 5 day weekend. My 2 snow days have thrown a wrench in my school planning, but I'll deal with it.

Visiting Gamma & Gampa

I needed to get the kids out of the house today since Josh is at a tournament all day, so we came to gamma and gampa's house. I think it is a good change of scenery for the kids, especially for Joslynn. It also gives me a break from cooking and worrying about cleaning the house, since I'm not there, and also a break from carrying around 2 babies by myself all day.

....Thank you Lord for grammas and grampas.

*I do know how to spell grandma & gradmpa correctly...its just more fun to do it Joslynn's way.

Foot Massager

At work we had 'Secret Santa' and I was fortunate to have a GREAT Santa.  He brought me a Shiatsu foot massager.  I LOVE it!  I think I may be wearing out the motor in this thing already! If you ever need a good gift for yourself, (or a friend) I would highly recommend it.  I keep it under the table where I work on my computer and I treat my feet to a lovely heated, shiatsu massage.

Deep Cleansing Breaths

Tomorrow I have to go back to work....

Most people would respond with, "Well, its about time!  You had a week and a half off!"  And I can see where that response would come from, although it is so hard to get back into the groove with 8th graders after a big break.  I just need to remember to take deep cleansing breaths...

New Year's Wishes and News: From 'Double Trouble'

Happy New Year everybody!! (Or if I were actually going to say it, I would just wander around and say, "Happy, happy, happy...")

Here at the Stewart household we are a bit late on the "New Year" Wishes...but better late than never!

My sister got an entire post (actually 2) dedicated to her words and stuff...so I figured that maybe some of you were wondering what I am up to.  I am kinda lazy and almost rolling over, but I am sure in no hurry.  I love snuggles and my new favorite is oatmeal with applesauce. Yummy!  I am in the jumper in this picture--I like to bounce like my big sis.

Here we are, double trouble...

Jackson will be passing Joslynn in size and weight in no time--we are sure of it.  He is just barely under 20 pounds!  We can't believe it!  He is in awe of his big sister.  We think that's why he doesn't want to roll over; all he wants to do is lay there and watch whatever she does!  She does get jealous, but she is very sweet and helpful when she wants to be when it comes to things involving Jack.  She does a dead-on impression of him crying when she thinks that we haven't heard him; it's pretty funny to hear her do it.

They have some goofy facial expressions here, but aren't they just the cutest little pair?

Memory Card Problems

The memory card for our camera recently housed several hundred pictures.  I spent lots of time uploading them to my computer and also online to Walmart Photo so I can print some.  Since many of the pictures were old, and we needed the space, I deleted the photos so that I had room for some new ones.  Well, after doing this, the memory card proceeded to "fill up" rather quickly. Today, I transfered 10 pictures to my computer, and when the memory card was completely empty, it said that there was no space available!  It is a 1.0 GB memory card for crying out loud!! Does anyone know what I am doing wrong???

Charging Admission

If we get any more snow, I am going to start charging admission to skiiers and snowboarders for use of our snowbanks.  Seriously, there is one bank that is as tall as me!  Our house is positioned in such a way that all the blowing and drifts end up at the end of the driveway.  This is also where we have a sidewalk (so less room for snow) and we have these teeny, tiny little patches of lawn to pile all of our snow on.  This doesn't help either when we are shoveling by hand instead of blowing the snow with a blower because you have to heave the snow up almost six feet in some spots. 

Tonight, I actually pushed snow UP the driveway so I could try and fling it between our house and the next one because it was less work to do that than to try and carefully pile the snow on the tippy-top of the steep mountain that is gradually forming on the corner of our sidewalk. The other VERY annoying thing, is when the snowplow comes through and pushes in several FEET worth of snow into our driveway.  Again, since we have absolutely no more space on the ends of our driveway, I have been pushing it across the street and scooping it on top of a bank over there.  I am sooooo ready for spring!

The Total Keeps Changing....

I knew that I had missed some words from yesterday's post.  Joslynn also knows:

78. Bubble

79. Elbow

80. Knee

81. Toast (which sounds either like doste, or totes)

82. Itchy (Poor kid and her eczema)

83. Movie (which sounds like moomie)

84. Duck (She never just says it once either...It's always: "Duck, duck, duck...")

85. Beach

86. Hello

87. Bye

88. Uppo (Hippo)

89. Socks

90. Snack

91. Trucks

92. Ball

93. Boat

She IS a genius!  93 words!

Words, Sounds & Signs

I started making a list of Joslynn's words, sounds and signs that she uses and couldn't believe how many she uses now!  Many of you may not be interested in reading the whole list, but it is more of a reference for myself (Now I just need to figure out how to print it.)  I am sure that I am missing some, but here they are in no particular order...

1. Mommy
   
2. Daddy
3. Noonle (noodle)
4. Taco
5. Cheese
6. Pita (Pizza)
7. Hot (This is emphasized with a long Hhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaa sound.)
8. Brrrrr (cold)
9. Cracker (she signs this also)
10. Juice
11. Wa-Wa (water)
12. Puppy
13. Neigh (horsie)
14. Bah (sheep)
15. Moo (cow)
16. Po-bo (polar bear--also her bed time snuggle pal)
17. (elephant noise)  I don't know how to type that.  She also makes a cute gesture with her hand to represent a trunk.
18. No! (of course...)
19. Hi
20. Nigh (Nice)
21. More (also signs)
22. Eat (also signs)
23. Banana (this one is really cute but hard to type it just how she says it)
24. No-ing (snowing)
25. Bowl
26. Plate (She knows where to get both of these {26 & 27} out of the drawers in the kitchen.)
27. Happy (She said it all day yesterday because they were saying Happy New Year at daycare,  so she just wandered around saying, "Happy, Happy...")
28. Up (she has finally perfected the "P" sound on that one)
29. Icky
30. Poo poo
31. Poopy (She also pats her butt when she is poopy.  That is her all around word for potty because she knows the difference between poop and pee when she is asked.)
32. Pease (Please--also signs)
33. Doot-too (Thank you--which she also signs) 
34. Baby
35. Moon
36. Dirty (which she wrinkles her nose at)
37. Stinky (she plugs her nose on this one)
38. Minnie/Mimmie (Mindy at daycare)
39. Jo-Jo (Jodi at daycare)
40. Nack (Snack)
41. Green bean
42. Pritty (Pretty)
43. Maynie (Our kitty, whom she LOVES and always tries to pet, hug or brush.)
44. Brush (She tries to open the closet door to get it to brush Maynie.)
45. Kitty
46. Book
47. Story
48. Boot
49. Shoe
50. Eye (She points to it.)
51. Butt (She pats it when she is messy.)
52. Yea! (and she claps...usually for herself if she does a good job)
53. Yeah (Yes is too hard to say with the "s")
54. Tree
55. Lo-lo (lotion)
56. Ba-ba (bottle)
57. Ear (She tugs on them to point them out.)
58. Door
59. Blankie
60. Binky (Jackson's...which she likes to steal occasionally since her teeth hurt.)
61. Owie
62. Quack 
63. Two (she tries to count but everything is "two, two, two...)
64. Doctor (I think she is going to be a doctor or a veterinarian.)
65. Laura (She said it really funny when my sister was over in a low, scary voice; we all laughed hysterically.)
66. Papa (grandpa)
67. Gamma (grandma--she's only attempted this a few times.  Papa is much easier to say.)
68. Toot
69. Choo-choo
70. Jackson (she doesn't say it perfectly, but she does okay)
71. Toe
72. Ho-Ho-Ho (She recognizes Santa and covers her mouth when she says it.
73. Uh-Oh
74. Oopt (oops)  She tried saying this today.
75. Bounce (She says it differently, but I can't figure out how to type that one either.)
76. Mmmoothie (Smoothie!--she loves smoothies.  We make them here at home.)
77. Hat (This is new...she tried to say it the other day, but she has found it easier to pat her head instead.)

• She gives hugs and kisses upon request.  
• She blows kisses and her way of saying 'sorry' is to rub that person or to give a kiss or a hug with a "sorry" look on her face.
  
• She knows what a time-out is and even put herself in one the other day.  [We have a time-out chair.] (She is getting jealous and sometimes hits.)
• She comprehends so many more words than she can vocalize.  
• Her signing has dwindled a bit since her speech has picked up, but she reverts to her signs when she can't come up with the words (or when she has a mouthful and can't say what she wants.)

I know that every parent thinks their kids are smart, but she really is!  She picks up on a word after hearing it once...now we REALLY have to watch what we say.

(Even though I typed her words as a numbered list, it is just putting bullets by the words.  There are 77 in case you were curious.)