This is not your momma's kindergarten

School pictures are back already. J.R. is sporting the smile he promised (and practiced) he would the day the pictures were taken. I wish someone would have fixed the poor kid's tie, however. He looks cute and more importantly - happy. He likes school so much and is doing a great job. I can't believe how much kindergarten has changed. He has Spanish, health, social studies, science, math, computer, library, art, music, gym, spelling/reading, and religion. WOW - I remember cutting and pasting and nap time when I was in kindergarten. Oh, how things have changed.

Bull Fighter???

Well, I thought Jimmy was going to Mexico to work this week but every time we spoke I heard things like, we just finished playing soccer, we are at dinner, and something I never thought I would hear leave my husband's lips... bull fighting. Looks like Jimmy and company participated in a bull fight as a team building activity. If you can't tell by the baseball cap, he is the last one on the right in the picture - the tall one in yellow. I don't know, I imagined this big bull... this little guy looks like a baby. Jimmy did admit he did more running that fighting. Meanwhile back in the states, it has been a rough week!!! Markie's eardrum ruptured and Matt's are infected. It was also a busy week a work - one that required more than I could give. J.R. went to aftercare Monday - Wednesday. He loves the aftercare program. Thanks to Boppy, I had help with Markie and Matt when they were too sick to go to daycare on Tuesday. A couple days of antibiotics really does wonders. Markie is also on a steroid drop for her ear. She is bouncy off the walls and very moody this week... not sure if that is because of the medicine or a combination of medicine and pain.

J.R. started basketball last night. He loved it and really tried. I got a picture of one of the several instances where the coach had to explain to him that J.R. cannot "man handle" the other players. I think he confused basketball and football... well, he wanted that ball.

Little Russells - An Update

J.R.'s school had a fundraiser this morning- Race for Education. The kids ran around the block (.25 mile) as many times as they could in about 40 minutes. J.R. made it around 10 times! I was so proud because he never gave up. Many of his fellow kindergartners stopped running, but he kept going - walking the hill - but always going back to running. Of course, he probably would have made it around 20 times had he stopped singing the Beatles and screaming "I'll never quit", or "Let's Rock". He had to use up a fair amount of energy just to talk that much.

I enjoy being / volunteering at his school. Probably too much to be honest... I keep thinking I should have been teacher. I can't help but to be happy when I am there! My volunteer list keeps growing - I need to start say no more or Jim will go nuts. On the bright side - I won't have to worry about getting my 40-hour requirement in this year.

Markie is in big girl underwear going on two full weeks and we've had minimal accidents this week. How wonderful - 2/3 of our children are out of diapers. Jimmy is excited about less money going to diapers/pull ups.

J.R. is all about the Beatles right now. His teacher, Sister Colleen, stopped me earlier this week with a funny story. I guess J.R. likes to sing during work time - while cutting he can be caught singing Eleanor Rigby, Yellow Submarine, or Help! He has Mass on Thursday. I love it - I usually catch him signing Mass on the way home, "...this is my body given up for you..."

Matt is 4 months already. He is a kisser and I love it. When I hold him near my face he leans forward and kisses... it is wonderful to be a mommy. He watches everything - you see his eyes scan back and forth. Jimmy thinks he is wicked smart.

Markie's First Day of Dance Class

Markie started ballet/tap last Saturday. She seemed to enjoy the tap more than the ballet. It is the perfect amount of time - only 30 minutes each week. I don't think she could make it a minute longer. All the little girls are so cute. Markie was the only one in leg warmers - the others had fancy skirts attached to their leotards. We are almost potty trained! She has accidents here and there, but wearing big girl underwear.

Even the Young Ones Like Taylor

It is funny - J.R. is so little and young-minded in many ways and then in others he is so mature and quick. He really "gets" computers, video games, televisions, etc. I used to say, "Stop that you don't know what you are doing." Jim finally made me realize that J.R. does know what he is doing - which makes it harder to get him to stop helping himself to movies, music, "dot coms" etc. His new found technology-love is the iPod. He wants to listen to it all of the time... listen to Taylor Swift that is. He used to sing her Tim McGraw song and now loves her new one. Here is a little video of him practicing the lyrics.

Jimmy's Batman Birthday Party

J.R. planned a Batman birthday party for Jim this year - complete with balloons, table cloths, plates, cups, and bat-o-rangs. He created a couple of made-up party games as well. He was very excited about Jimmy's 37th.

We had to take turns so that both J.R. and Markie had a chance to blow out Jim's Batman candle and of course... someone ends up crying before it is over.

Matt's First Bath

Matt's cord fell off on Monday. Much to J.R.'s disliking, I decided to wait until he and Markie went to bed to give Matt his first bath. He was pretty calm and didn't seem to mind the water. Luckily, we made it through the bath before he peed in the water! Here is his "nice and clean" picture. I have the same one of J.R. in this towel after his first bath.

Musicians in Training

Well, she usually has a guitar in her hand, but Markie decided to put it down for a little Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star performance. Then J.R. begged for the spotlight... but Markie stole the show for once.

June 7, 2009

What an interesting day. First - for the first time in almost three weeks I slept more than three hours and it felt great. I am sure Jim can attest to it as I was much nicer than what he is used to from me these days. Thank God he is so forgiving of raging post-pregnancy hormones...and hitting the house with our 4-day old SUV. J.R. had a 6:00 t-ball game. We ran a couple of errands for about an hour in the only way that works - Jim circles the parking lot while I run in to do quick exchanges, etc. The game went pretty well. J.R. still struggles with listening and paying attention. Boy, when he does listen, he does a great job. He made a nice play from the pitcher's mound to first base. I missed about 15 minutes of the game - had to nurse in the family changing room. After the game, we went to dinner. What possessed us to do this still is at the forefront of my mind. It was Markie's bedtime, but 2 hours pass our normal dinner time..not to mention Matt was due to nurse again. Within in seconds, Jim apologized in advance to the group of women we sat down beside... "This is our first attempt at this - sorry." Markie pinched her fingers in the booster seat and started crying and J.R. is speaking in his not so inside voice about everything but dinner. As soon as we settled J.R. and Markie and ordered our food, Matt woke up. Jim helped J.R. and Markie with dinner and I spent the next 20 minutes nursing Matt standing up in the handicapped stall. I inhaled my reheated dinner just in time to nurse in the car while J.R. finished his ice cream. Who knew that a t-ball game and dinner out could be so exhausting!

Settling In...

Well, we've almost made it. Tomorrow completes the first week that I am home all day with all three kids by myself. If I could get a little more sleep each night things would be great! Matty is up on and off all night long - 12, 2, 4, and 6. I try to keep him awake during the evening, but it is difficult. He is eating well. He was 7 lbs 1 oz at his weight check last Friday, but I think he has gained more over the last week. I can tell his little cheeks are fuller. Yesterday, NanNan and Aunt Joyce spent the day with us. KiKi, Finnegan, and Emey came over yesterday as well. We had KiKi's yummy spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.

Minutes after Matt was born.... He was perfect! Looks so much like J.R. and Markie. I think he has a little more Jim in him - his face is less round than J.R. or Markie's. He is Matthew after my dad and Gray after Grandma B (her maiden name).

Welcome Matthew!

On Monday, May 18th we welcomed Matthew to our clan. He was born at 1:35 and weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces. J.R. was simply over the moon. He proudly sported his "Big Brother" t-shirt for three days. He still wants to know how Matt "got out of my belly"... Markie is loving, but tentative. She is interested, but doesn't glow about him like J.R. The first few nights were pretty rough because he barely slept. Things are getting better now.



My Labor
I woke up Monday morning hoping it would be the day, but did not have a clue what was going to happen in a few short hours. I went to my weekly doctor's appointment. Gretchen asked if I felt any contractions... my answer, "Yeah, but nothing to write home about." I left her office at 10:20 and by 10:30 realized that I may be in labor. I thought I would walk around Target in Irwin to make sure rather than get back on the turnpike for the hour trip home to Cranberry. By the time I got to Target, I decided I better drive to Monroeville just in case the pain worsened...so glad I did! By the time I arrived in Monroeville 20 minutes later, I drove straight to the hospital. NanNan talked to me on and off to make sure I got there safe and sound. I got to my room around 11:15. Jimmy was an hour out and my mom was about 2 hours out. Nervously, I answered work email til 11:30 or so. By 12:00 the pain was intensifying. By 12:30, Jim was there and I was in the water... which made all the difference. They made me get out of the tub (and I mean made me... I would have stayed there for the duration.) around 1:15. Thankfully, Rickie was there waiting by the time I got out of the tub. She is the official cord cutter for Jimmy! The last 20 minutes were... well, I don't think I have words...and then he was here! Three hours from start to finish. Sandy was the best and I fully credit the midwives for getting me through another labor and delivery without pain medication.

Although it was hard to keep the secret, Jim was surprised to learn learn that we were blessed with another boy. Whew - that was difficult to keep from him. I am so happy that I did not give in and tell him when I had windows of opportunity. It was so important to him and he got what he prayed for ... a healthy baby boy.

Catching up....

Well, it has only been 4 months since our last post... so much for the everyday goal. Since November, J.R. and Markie celebrated birthdays - 5th and 2nd, respectively. J.R. is gearing up for his first official season of t-ball this summer. We are waiting to hear about his acceptance to St. James for kindergarten in the Fall. We should know by the end of the month. He is all about Legos now...building Star Wars ship after Star Wars ship. He also loves the Indiana Jones Lego sets. We must brag - he is pretty good. He and his dad built a 1300 piece Star Wars ship after Christmas.

Markie is talking, talking, talking. Don't think it is possible for her to stay as sweet as she is. Not sure where she got it from, but she is all about shoes and bracelets. She moved to her big girl bed in January and is doing great! Her room is ridiculous cute and she loves it. Her favorites are Mickey Mouse Playhouse and Handy Manny. She is obsessed with Dora the Explorer and Diego.

We are patiently waiting for the new baby. Jim still doesn't know what we are having and it is still killing me to keep the secret. Only 2 more months!