Jay Are Jay: April 2010

Having the boys has brought many things into our lives. One of which is numbers. I remember vividly how Matt and I would document every drop of in-put and out-put the first few weeks of Joe's life. The in-put was measured in CC's. Out-put was measured as "wet" or "dirty."

And I never realized that babies, through their first 2-years, have their ages measured in months. I remember telling people that Jack is "17 months" and watching them calculate the figure to 1 and a half years. I've learned, through motherhood, that half-ages aren't readily utilized until your child is over the 2-year mark. As it turns out, Jack will turn 3 and a half this month.

Then as the boys grew, attention was paid to sizes of clothing. What really is the difference between a sleeper that is size "24 months" and "2T"? I will never know. The digits that represent shoe sizes are also impossible to figure. Joe's tennis shoes are size 11. Jack's Keen's are size 6.

The boys have always measured smaller than average on the growth cart at the pediatrician's office. Each doctor visit we receive more digits: Joe's height is 5%. Jack's head circumference is 12%. Joe weighs 40lbs. Jack weighs 30lbs. It is all numbers to me.

So as I dutifully collect the numerical data on my most precious possessions, new numerical data came home from school in Joe's pocket. Digits. Real digits. He came into the kitchen pulled out a scrap piece of paper with the digits and slapped in onto the kitchen counter. I looked at it...confused...and said, "Joe, what is this?" "It's Hannah's phone number. She gave it to me so that I can call her."

So here they are: The digits I've been fearing. A girl's phone number.

Do you love that the digits are written on a piece of paper torn out of a Disney coloring book?

And here she is. The digit-giver. She is one of the cutest and nicest girls in Joe's class. I'm not sure yet if a phone call will actually be placed between Joe and Hannah. But the digits have been collected, along with the other digits of in-put/out-put, weights, heights, sizes, and ages.

We, as usual, are busy. The boys are both growing and active as ever. Here is an update:

Joe. Joe is doing great in Kindergarten. He has had a few play dates with K04 buddies. Vaughn & Chase have come over to our house. He also has a lot of fun at school with a friend named Sam. He talks about all the kids in his class - so it is hard to determine if he has one or two that he his closest with. He probably talks about Madi (Madison) the most. And if you ask him about it, he blushes and runs from the room. Joe was "Star of the Week" March 15-19. We were able to go to his classroom. Mrs. Schempp had a quiz for us. It was a competition; who knows Joe better, his family or his K04 friends. Thankfully the family won 5 to 3. Some of the questions were: Joe's favorite color = purple (family got it wrong). What does Joe want to be when he grows up = Jedi Knight (I answered Jedi Master). What is Joe's favorite book = Star Wars encyclopedia (family got it correct). What is Joe's favorite movie = Return of the Jedi (Daddy answered it correctly). During the presentation, each family member had to say what we liked to do special with Joe. I couldn't come up with anything - my mind was blank - so in my motherly-Joe-is-my-baby state of mind, I answered, "Joe and I like to hug and kiss." The class erupted into laughter and Joe turned red. Sorry Joe. As soon as the words, came out, I knew I was in trouble.

Joe is in Lego League right now. Lego League is every Monday night at Augustana. Each Monday the League learns about the basics of engineering through Legos. The first night the topic was levers. The second session was about wheels and axels. Joe & his partner created the fastest car - and boy was he proud! We celebrated with ice cream at DQ after. This Monday is "Pull Pull Pulleys." The professor that is overseeing the program is very impressive. He is a PhD & the SD Chair of NASA EPSCoR Steering Committee. The League is funded, in part, by Lego.

Joe starts baseball in two weeks. We are all very excited.

Joe with some of his Lego League equipment.

Joe's Star of the Week event

So Proud of Joe being Star of the Week

Joe's class on a field trip to Avera McKennan (Look who has questions)

Jack. Jack-a-roo. Where do I start with Little Jack? He is talking and talking and talking. At three he can go from being a snuggle-bug-wants-to-be-held little guy, to an independent-I-can-do-it-myself big boy. The other day we were playing & he was hiding from me. He was hiding under his "snow blanky" and I said, "who is under there?" and he responded "it is Jack Roo!" He loves his snow blanky. He sleeps with it every night. He eats breakfast with it every morning. If he is not feeling well or is over tired, it is the first thing he asks for. And last night his snow blanky turned into a cape. A cape for Captain Underpants. Captain Underpants ran around our house yelling "Captain Underpants!" Captain Underpants chased Chance & Wrigley yelling "Captain Underpants!" He is so funny. He definitely has Matt's humor.

Unfortunately Jack is too young to start T-Ball. He is very good at baseball, however. He can hit well off the tee - and can hit just as well from a real pitch. He is batting left and throwing right. I can't confirm or deny that his daddy didn't have something to do with this left/right-sided preference. Jack has little, if any, fear. He is rough and tumble and extremely adorable.

Each day, while getting buckled into his car seat he says to me, "Mom, wake me up & pick me up & bring snacks & wake me up & pick me up & kiss me up & bring snacks & bring drinks..." until the car doors is shut and Matt & the boys drive away.