J-A-Y-S-O-N

JJ has learned to spell his name--in spoken English, in written English and in ASL!
Enjoy two video clips-- one of him signing his name (Sorry if it's dark) and one of him writing it.
Gotta love my bi-bi baby!

Some of JJ's favorite birthday presents

Lisa, Kevin and "Baby Emma" gave JJ a play-doh animals set--I highly recommend this for toddlers--JJ loves putting the animals together and not worrying about it being perfect (think Mr. Potato Head but w/ a play-doh body)
Scott, Jen and Tyler gave JJ a batman costume--he loves running around and making the cape "fly"!
A communal gift for JJ--The RSD science teacher donated the tank; Barry, Christina and Lucian gave JJ a gift card to pick out the fish; and Mommy and Daddy bought the rest! JJ named the four fish Nemo, Dori, Hey Little Fella (can you see a Finding Nemo theme??) and Up n Down. Mommy changed Hey Little Fella's name to Rip Off cuz he died in two days...

Pictures of JJ's First Day

JJ getting ready for school
JJ's all ready!
After school hangin' out
Notice that the backpack never comes off!

Feeling Like a Craptacular Mom...

Today was JJ's first day of school!! And ofc, I'm working and not there.
Ugh, I never knew I would feel so guilt ridden as a working mom...

BUT, Mike just sent me this message so I'm feeling a little bit better:
"When we arrived there and he was so excited. We walked into building as Mrs. Wasnock was standing by to welcome Jayson in. He walked fast straight to same classroom. Then we walked up to Jennifer's office. JJ is excited and grabbed her hand. He pulled her and mine hands to classroom. Jenn showed him where coat and bag hang up (#9) he seems so distracted with other kids ha he jumped and walked ard in room while other kids sat down on floor. Teacher aide laughed and told me she'll handle him until he settles down then I said bye bye JJ. He came up and kissed me then walked away."

Mike also said "far out small world" cuz Gerry Bateman was at the school to observe a teacher working w/ one of the mainstreamed Deaf kids. Gotta love the Deaf community! Also, Jennifer that Mike mentioned above is the secretary at the school--she's a CODA so she interprets for Mike when we go to school. It's nice to have someone in the front office that can communicate w/ our family--especially since Mike will be the one picking JJ up and dropping him off every day.

I'm glad JJ is adjusting well and having a good time--I'm hoping he never knows how heart-breaking it is for me not to be there. Will let you know later how the rest of the day goes--I also have some cute pixs to publish of his first day of school outfits--JJ got a new backpack to bring to school and his been wearing it EVERYWHERE (even to the bathroom and to bed!) :)

Juno

I HEART THIS MOVIE.
Maybe it's because I'm pregnant.
Maybe it's because the opening scene of the movie features Rainn Wilson (Dwight from The Office).
Maybe it's because I only go to the movies once a year...
but man, was it good.

Lisa and I leave the kids home w/ the hubbies and head off to the movies once a year (yes, I know it should be more often but that's just not our reality...) and this year we picked Juno to see.

We went to The Little--cuz where is a better place to see a movie??--and it was so good. Ellen Page rocked and the dialogue was amazing--just a very good honest real movie.

And hey, a movie that can get me liking a song by a group called the "Moldy Peaches" has to be something powerful...

Click on the movie poster to see the trailer (complete w/ Rainn Wilson's best line ever)
Click on the picture of Michael Cera and Ellen Page to watch them perform the song 'Anyone Else But You' by the Moldy Peaches.
Click here to see the lyrics to 'Anyone Else But You'
Enjoy!

JJ's Three Year Check-up

We took JJ for his three year well check yesterday--hard to believe my baby isn't a baby anymore!
He did great--passed everything with flying colors--he could even identify the letters and pictures on the eye test! The nurse weighed him twice because she was concerned that in one year he has gained 8 pounds..but the weight was accurate, he's just a big tall boy!

I looooooove his doctor--ever since JJ had stitches he has some "issues" with doctor's offices but his dr is so great, JJ just loves him and responds really well to him. When the appointment was finished, Jay told his doctor "that was fun, see you soon!"

We also had to get all of his paperwork and shots records up to date b/c JJ starts preschool tomorrow! I think I'm having typical (at least I hope it's typical!) first baby leaving the nest jitters--I've even become that awful parent who has already emailed the teacher...
I know Jay will love it and he will do great but there is a definite part of me that is struggling to let him go! At least Mike is the one who has to take him and drop him off ;) I would hate to embarrass him by being "that mom" who is sobbing and taking pictures in the parking lot...

I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

Our Pregnancy Photographer

If you get a chance, check out http://www.bellisimaphotography.com/
That is the website of the photographer who has been doing our pregnancy pictures. Some of our pictures are displayed under Maternity and others are under Portraits.
Jennifer, the owner of Bellisima Photography is great--she comes to our house, works really well with Jayson, and is extremely affordable. If you are local, I highly recommend her!

Hard to believe we will be shooting our 9 month pictures next week!

Jimmy Tops Sarah

On a lighter note...

Jimmy Kimmel finally responded to Sarah Silverman's video regarding her extra-curricular activities with Matt Damon.

It's pretty funny--how many celebrities can you count? Enjoy a much needed funny break :)

Kevin Mowl

Our friend, Kevin Mowl, passed away this morning.
Click on this link to the Democrat and Chronicle to see the first of what I'm assuming will be many news articles.

Here are some additional links:

Channel 13

R News

Channel 10
Also, on the left in my links list, is Kevin's webpage.

34 weeks...

Well. Today I am 34 weeks and I am about at the end of my rope...

I have maxed out my ideal weight gain--last week at the doctors, I wanted to physically hurt the nurse when she was taking my weight--don't they know how traumatic (and loud) it is when they slam the metal weight thingy up to the next 50 pounds??
It was like I was watching in slow motion--slide the little measuring thingy to right. little more. little more. oh no, we are at the end and then BAM--whizzzzzzzzz it gets sent flying back down to the other end and then the giant SLAM as she throws the weight marker up another 50 pounds. And then she starts all over--little more to the right. little more...At this point, I was horrified and just staring and sending brain waves to her to a.) BE QUIET and b.) have a little compassion for the fatty on the scale... ugh. it was just ugly.

I told Mike last night that I am having such an internal struggle--I hate being this big but I. am so. hungry.
Please, someone tell me what hormonal/chemical need this baby is having that causes me to crave peanut butter cup ice cream at all hours of the day/night?

Dancing Machine

On Monday we had a family party for JJ's and his cousin Sam's birthdays--they are one year and one day apart so it's nice for them to celebrate together.

After playing w/ all of the new toys, my sister got out the karaoke machine and boy did Jay love it! (I'll ignore the fact that he liked singing to High School Musical the best...*shudder*)
What he couldn't decide tho was which he liked better--singing to the crowd or checking out his reflection in the fireplace :) Vanity run in my family much? It might be genetic....

Anyhow, enjoy the video--and ignore the nose picking at the end...gotta love the three year old bad habits that have already kicked in!

Success!

Well, the party turned out great!! Everyone came and all of the kids had a great time :) The cake turned out well and most importantly, JJ loved it!

On Sunday, my mom, Steve, and Katie came over to visit with JJ on his birthday (and ofc, brought presents!)

Mike and I gave JJ a trumpet for his birthday--he absolutely loves music and any kind of instruments so we just knew he would love it. We also got him a fish tank but that has yet to be set up ;)

Updates

Morning,
Just a few updates--I had an ultrasound yesterday-- the baby is head down (yay!), weighs 4lbs 6 oz (double yay!) and I'm not dilated yet (triple yay!) :)
So, she is growing well, despite the blood loss found in the high AFP level and I'm thankfully not dilated yet despite my sinking and dropping belly!

This weekend we will have JJ's birthday party...I told Mike that we were going to have a small get-together--I'm too darn big to be cleaning and cooking and entertaining...
Well, that plan went right out the window.

We will have 20 people over (7 kids under 7!) and I'm working on the menu now... JJ picked out the cake he wanted--click here if you want to see what I am going to tackle making tonight...thank goodness Scott is coming over to help me finagle it and figure out what I am doing!
I will take pictures of the final result--if you see a photo of a Wegmans bakery cake instead of the train cake--you will know it didn't turn out pretty!

Have a great weekend and I will post tons of birthday party pixs on Sunday!! And YAY living back in New York has it's perks--schools are closed next week for February Break--can't wait to take it easy and enjoy a week off!!

2 going on 16

JJ has become adamant about getting himself dressed in the morning...based on his clothing choice for this day, I feel we have a future angst-ridden, skateboarding teen on our hands!! And please notice the shorts...it's like 5 degrees outside....

Boy in the Bubble

Unexplained Illnesses

Just as Markeritis has struck in the southeast, Stickercoli is running rampant through Western NY...while a rationale has yet to be found, it appears to be self-inflicted...

JJ's Learning!

Here are two videos of JJ taken by his nanny--one video is of him learning about paint, the other is him learning to write his name! My baby is growing up so fast!!

I dropped...

So, I'm only 31 weeks and on Monday I obviously dropped--for the first time I can see actual separation between my boobs and my stomach....This is making me really nervous!

Anyone have a ball park figure for me of how long after you drop do you go into labor??

Never having any of this fun the first time around is making me feel utterly unprepared and clueless!!

Yes We Can

I have not decided who I am voting for yet but I really liked the concept of this video--taking a political speech and making it into a musical collage/video.

**Transcript of the speech used in the video**
There is something very "Kennedy-esque" about the way he can deliver a speech

FUNNIEST Video

Ok, seriously? This might be the funniest video I have seen (since Sarah Silverman's video last week...).
I now understand how our tech department feels when people ask stupid computer questions--this is priceless!!
Enjoy :)

A Funny Op-Ed Piece From The New York Times

Cool Video From D-PAN

I know this video for "Waiting for the World to Change" isn't new but I still love watching it.
Enjoy!

Funnies

I'm still bummed about our crappy weekend (although Mike said JJ was in a great mood this am and showed no signs of being sore) so I found a couple of cartoons to cheer me up :) Hope you like them!

Worst Mother of the Year Award

What a weekend.
So, JJ takes music classes every Sat am at 9:45 at Eastman. He loves these classes but it's really tough for him to wake up (God bless him and his love of sleeping in!). So, yesterday I woke him up at around 8:45 and asked if he wanted to go to music class. He answered w/ a groggy "No...." I asked him if he wanted to sleep some more and he said, "Yes, good night." I'm not arguing w/ him so I went back to bed. Strike number one.
He woke up a little before 10 all psyched to go to music class. Lesson learned: 2 year olds don't understand the concept of "it's too late" very well. He asked about music class all day. He was still talking about it today, sigh.

So, then I decided that since we had all morning free, and my sister was taking her boys to get their haircuts, I would bring Jayson too. You have to understand--JJ HATES getting his haircut. We're not talking crying or whining--we are talking kicking, screaming, it takes three people to hold him to get a haircut. Part of me wants to let him just grow his hair down to his knees so I don't have to deal w/ it. But the other part of me (that has my father's military genes) says "Suck it up and learn to get a haircut--this is the real world." Strike number two.
The poor kid screamed bloody murder the entire time--to the point where people were coming in to see what was wrong w/ this kid. It was awful. So fun music class=0; horrendous, awful mommy torture=1.

By this point, I'm feeling pretty guilty. He had a crappy Saturday. I was determined for him to have a super Sunday. I made plans w/ Lisa so that Emma and Jayson could play in the afternoon and then we could watch the Superbowl. Great. Calm and fun.
Well, my fate/karma/the crappy mommy gods had other plans.
JJ was playing this am and wearing my shoes (he loooovvvveesss to wear "big people" shoes). And he fell. Into the table. And cut his chin. Now my "mommy gut" didn't start blaring and going off and thinking the cut was bad. Yes, it was a cut; yes, it was bleeding a bit--but JJ didn't cry for long and I thought it was fine. Until it bled through two band-aids and then I didn't think it was so fine anymore. Well, I waited almost 4 hours before we took him to have it looked at b/c I really was on the fence about how bad it was. The doctor took one look at it and said he needed stitches. Great. Strike number three.
So it took four of us to hold him down--Mike was on arm and leg duty, the nurse held his head, the doctor did the deed and I was in JJ's face telling him everything was ok. I'm such. An f'ing. Liar.

Well, he survived (w/out any novacaine--the dr said it was faster to just stitch it than to give him a shot and wait for it to get numb and then stitch it--ugh) and is happy as a clam--but now I feel like crap. People warned me that one of the things that you will never fully understand until you are a parent is true guilt. Well, I get it. I am responsible for guiding this little man on his beginning journey through the universe and if this weekend is any testament as to how I'm doing--man, are we in trouble. So, as you can see from the photo above--he got his haircut. And the Dora band-aid is covering his first battle scar under his chin.

Lord help us on Friday when we have to go have the stitches taken out--next weekend can't get any worse right? RIGHT??? groan.....

A Feel Good (about your family) Book

This was a great book--I hate to admit that typically I am not crazy about non-fiction, but this book was such an attention-keeper. In the spring, I'm doing a memoir unit with my seniors (typical memoir stuff--Frank McCourt, some Alice Walker essays, etc) and after reading this, I ordered it right away for my kids to read. It's honest and startling but doesn't leave your feeling emotionally scarred and constantly thinking about it.
And hey, the family in this book will leave you feeling soooooooo much better about your own growing up experiences! A selfish reason to read it, but true!

This Video Cracked Me Up...

http://vids.perezhilton.com/assets/5e34d861b3de5/width%3D410%26height%3D315%26player_profile%3Dvega-test3?embed_location=http%3A%2F%2Fperezhilton.com%2F2008-02-01-so-awesomely-awesome&version=1.20#

Please Please Please tell me that this link works!! Sarah Silverman made this video for her boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel to celebrate his 5 years on the air as a talk show host. I think that she is hysterical and the fact that she got Matt Damon to do this--it's just classic.

Sorry it's not captioned but it's basically one line repeated--"I'm f*cking Matt Damon"

Sorry also if this offends anyone but this might be one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time!!
Enjoy :)

Good Read

I was just reminded of this book that I read over the summer--my sister read it for her book club and gave it to me--I really liked it.
The forum that I am a member of (www.rochestermommies.com)just picked it as their Feb book club book and it made me remember how much I liked it!

Just thought I would pass it on and share!

BTW--since I already read the book for Feb and I don't have enough on my plate ;) could someone recommend a good book for me? Unfortunately, with the baby sucking all of my brain cells, I need a pretty simple beach read :)
The Golden Compass and A Great and Terrible Beauty have both been sitting by my bed w/ no possible finishing date in sight...Just can't seem to get into them--maybe after the baby's here...

Thanks!