Why?

I think this question might be every parent's worst nightmare. It certainly was mine. Jumpin' J is officially using it for everything now. And I try to answer him honestly as much as I can. But after the fiftieth "Why" I found myself answering this age old question with an age old answer...

"because I said so".

I guess this makes me an official parent now!

Only 6 More Weeks

Jumpin' J is such a funny and smart little boy, he constantly amazes me.
Today in CVS I was getting a little frustrated looking for iron supplements which I need for the pregnancy. And J pats me on the arm and says "It's OK Mommy, only six more weeks."
I burst out laughing and gave him a big smooch.
Just think, in about 6 more weeks I'll have another little child to love and hug and give big smooches too!
Only 6 more weeks!!!
I love you Jumpin' J!!!!!!!!

3/4 Cooked

Here's a belly shot for those that have been patiently waiting to see the hugeness.... 10 more weeks to go!!

Tech Support

With my busy season for work coming up I have to spend some time at the computer these days. Yesterday Jumpin' J was playing with all the random animals in his toybox in my office when I noticed that he was lining them up on my desk.

He was so deliberate about it, even going so far as to rearrange them into some order known only to J. I asked him what he was doing and he said "Animas hepping momma". I guess every mom could use a little help during the day!

There were soon so many animals helping that I didn't need to do it myself so I paused to take a picture and then J and I went to play cars downstairs. Thanks for the help Jumpin' J and all the animals.

Sicky Sick Boy

Last week Jumpin' J got really sick. He had a fever of 103.7 and scared his dad and I with how sick he was. Our fabulous Dr. D diagnosed an ear infection as well as a nasty cold. He spent about 2 days basically sitting on the couch watching the Cars Movie over and over again.

I don't feel good.

Dino PJ's all day long


And by the third day he was back up and running at top speed, guess he just needed a little regeneration time!!!

Catching Up

So I have to admit that this blog is not specifically about Jumpin' J but I hope you'll indulge me. Anyway, I am self admittedly very bad about keeping in touch with people, I just run out of hours in the day. I still have thank you letters to write from Christmas and it's almost Valentine's Day. So needless to say I have lost touch with a lot of friends over the years, friends that I wonder about and hope that they're doing well.

And then along comes this little internet page called Facebook and like magic I can find so many old friends that it's kinda crazy. And I have to say that I think it's great! I have found so many that it's almost nuts. And then the best part is when you then take it "off-line" and meet up for real and get to catch up face to face!!!!! In the past month I have met up with...

a high school friend, Brandi, when I was in Florida....

elementary school friends, Heather...

and Katy and her daughter Riley...

and a high school friend/fellow-New Hampshirite, Julie, who generously brought her twin beauties to our house to play.

I really feel so lucky to have had the chance to see all of these old friends and hear about their lives and really feel like we connected again. I promise to TRY to keep in touch better but at least there's Facebook!

Happy Engage-Aversary

Six years ago today Jumpin' J's dad and I got engaged on a Caribbean cruise!!! It was a wonderful trip.

And on the cruise J's dad won a putting tournament! Since he's going on another cruise this week and there's another contest he's competing in, here's to hoping he wins this one too!

Wild and Free

To be wild and free
Such a joy it be
The other day
Much to my dismay
He peed on the floor
Cleaning was a chore!

And a Happy Halloween from Mommy

I'd forgotten that I was once a dragon too...

Mom's Date

Since I am usually the one behind the camera I thought I would post this picture of Jumpin' J and I which Grandma Laurie took right before we left for the wedding on Saturday. Don't I have the handsomest date?

It's Great to be a Mom

Every day is a special day now that I am a mom. These days the feeling just keeps getting stronger. It amazes me that I am lucky enough to be Jumpin' J's mom. I look at him and he is such a little person now with his own thoughts and ideas. Here are some of the things that warm my heart!

* His smile first thing in the morning
* Climbing in my lap with a book for me to read
* Feeling his little arms on my leg to give me a hug
* Hugging my arm with his thumb in his mouth
* Snuggling in my lap
* Seeing him sitting in my grandma's rocking chair reading a book that's bigger than he is
* Watching him drive trucks all over both of us, especially when he drives it on his own head
* His laugh
* Saying something silly, like Snuffleupagus, and watching him giggle
* Climbing onto my tummy to jump up and down on it
* His proud and amazed face when he does something new
* His little giggle when he's "hiding" from me
* How he likes to climb under my legs
* His little voice
* His loud voice
* How he loves bugs
* His look of concentration when examining things
* Always saying "cracker" if you ask him what he wants to eat
* When he gets tired and puts his thumb in his mouth
* Opening his mouth wide to plant a big slobbery kiss
* Watching his face light up when his Daddy gets home from work
* Turning into limp spaghetti when I try to pick him up when he doesn't want me to
* His face turns so red when he gets mad
* Having him come "get" me and pick him up and watch him laugh
* Watching him run on his sturdy little legs
* How he recognizes the Red Sox and Patriots symbols and puts his hands up to wait for you to say "Yeah Red Sox" or "Touchdown Patriots"
* When you ask him what a kitty says he just squinches up his whole face
* How he sees things he recognizes and reacts and then I have to figure out where he saw them
* How every day is a new and exciting adventure

All this and more is why I love being Jumpin' J's mom. I am one lucky lady!!

Yeah Red Sox

Yesterday the whole Jumpin' Family went to see the Red Sox play the Toronto Blue Jays. It was a great day for a game and we all had a marvelous time.

We got tickets to the 3rd Base Pavilion Standing Room so there was room for Jumpin' J to run around for a while. He ate his first Fenway frank and charmed everyone around us.

Jumpin' J helped to sing God Bless America and Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Plus he danced to all the other songs they played. It was a great day!

What a Great Summer

This summer has just flown by for all of us. Between gym class, swim class, visiting grandparents, going to the beach, and berry picking we've been very busy. This past weekend we made a last minute decision to go to Hampton to Mike's Beach House. He is a very nice person to let us come and stay! Thanks Mike!!!

High tides were perfect since they basically coincided with Jumpin' J's nap time so we were able to spend some time swimming swimming swimming. And we discovered the really cool playground near Main Beach in Hampton. J and his dad went on Sunday afternoon while Grandma Laurie and I went to get steamers. And then J, his dad, and I went back early Monday morning when there was plenty of room to play.

He loved the merry-go-round...


The slides - the bigger and faster the better...


The ship with Daddy...


The firetruck with Mommy....


And really anything else he could climb into or on. It was so much fun for all three of use to get to play for a little while!

My 30th Birthday

I really don't feel 30 so it's hard to believe that it's true but it was an awesome day!!! Jumpin' J and his dad went out in the morning to play together and let me sleep in. They went to a good breakfast place to bring back breakfast and they visited one of our local farmstands and brought me back a dozen giant sunflowers that are gorgeous!!!



We all hung out and then had homemade chicken pot pie and corn on the cob from the farmstand for lunch. J ate about 1/2 of the chicken pot pie all by himself, he was seriously diggin' it! Then at about 4 Grandma Laurie showed up to surprise me. J's dad had asked her to come to stay with J so that he and I could go out! And go out we did!!!!!

First he dropped me off at the door of the Chestnut Hill Mall and handed me a wad of cash ($10 for each yr) and told me I had 1 hour to spend it all in Ann Taylor Loft. It was sooooo much fun. I don't usually by myself a lot of stuff and especially full price stuff but I managed to spend all the money he gave me and then some (thanks Aunt Sandi!!). He helped too and found a super cute dress for me to wear to my cousin's wedding next month.

After the shopping spree J's dad and I went to Oishii to eat sushi. This teeny tiny restaurant has some of the best sushi I've ever eaten here in the US. We had to wait a while since they only have about 15 seats in the whole place but fortunately it wasn't too bad since it was a Tuesday. The Jeffrey roll was my favorite!

And finally we met up with Laura, BK, Andrew, and Kim at Finale for dessert! It was great to see them all and celebrate my 30th with them. All in all it was a fabulous day and I couldn't have asked for anything more!!!!!! Thanks Jumpin' J and Daddy!!!

Mixed Tapes

This is a repost from my MySpace page but I just had to share here too!!

With all the rain this week I've been busting out old music to put on for Jumpin' J to experience. And in my mix of CDs are a few old MIXED TAPES. I know you all remember them. You made them for friends, for boy/girlfriends, for presents, or just because. They were the way to remember what you were doing at that time.

I found some from the early 90s and some from the late 90s and thought I'd share some of the highlights. I would like to thank Katy, Denise, Fruitcake, Hilary (who I lost touch with years ago), Chris (boyfriend from high school) and Jon Wilson (boyfriend from middle school) for these blasts from the past. Please excuse me if some of the titles aren't just right, the tape cases are long gone.

Jonathan's Sin City Sex Mix - Probably from 89-90
So. Central Rain
Immigrant Song
Stand - REM
Three Days
No Myth
It's the End of the World As We Know It
Brave New World

Christmas '91 from Hilary
Anything for You
Rock Wit'cha
From a Distance
I Wanna Sex You Up

Camp Mix - '92 (these were all taped off the radio!!)
Under the Bridge
Supercali
Baby Got Back
Warm it Up - Kriss Kross
Maria
Choice is Yours - Black Sheep

Summer Mix '93 from Katy
Women & Men
Particle Man
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Crockodial Rock
Jack & Diane
Half a World Away

This is My Music - Songs Interspersed with quotes - Probably 93-94
Corduroy
Undone
Purple Haze
F$% Me in the Brain
Someday Never Comes
Keep Your Mouth Off My Sisters
March of the Pigs
Betterman
Get Down Make Love

Jenn & Melissa Summer 98
Mo Money
Gone Til November
Margaritaville
Body Bumpin
Jungle Love
Million Dollars
Shorty
Kiss The Rain

Denise & Jenn Volume 1 - Late 90's
Boom Boom Boom
Tonight is the Night
Tootsie Roll
It Takes 2
Killing Me Softly
Macerana
Sexual Healing
Gotta Lick it - Work It - Boom Ba-na-na-na - don't know the name but those are the words!!

Denise & Jenn Volume 2 - Late 90's
Ladies Night
3 AM
That Girl
Tainted Love
Tubthumping
Insomnia
Heart of Glass
Foolish Games
Insomnia
Doin' It Well
The Titanic Song - you know which one I mean

Dress Up on a Rainy Day

Looks like Jumpin' J has some drama in him like his parents. It has been raining all day today so J was antsy when he woke up from his nap. He likes to play in the drawers in his room and pull everything out but today he wanted to put the things on.

First it was the hat that Cousin Hannah made him


Then it was Daddy's old swimsuit coverup


Then the two together with some flip flops for next year


When he couldn't walk it we exchanged the flip flops for booties Arlene made


But they were too slippery to walk in so we tried the full body bib from Pops


And then fully garbed he decided to read a Christmas book.


Jumpin' J and I were both laughing through the whole thing. It was really hilarious. Hopefully one day his girlfriends will appreciate the pictures as well. ;)

Hampton Beach Visit

Grandma Laurie was on vacation last week at Mike's Hampton beach house so Jumpin' J and I went up there to visit for a few days. J loves his Grandma Laurie and they went for long walks each morning so I could sleep in which I greatly appreciated. We only made it to the beach on Wednesday but that was OK because we kept busy. And J just loved that Mike's boys and their friends were in and out a lot since they were there surfing.

Unfortunately I am unable to find my camera so I don't have any pictures but you can see one on Riley's blog since Katy and Riley came to visit on Wednesday. If I can find my camera I'll post some pictures later. Thanks to Mike for letting us come stay we had a nice relaxing time!

Red Sox on the 4th of July

Jumpin' J, his dad, and I joined the LilyPad Family for a Red Sox-Yankees game on the 4th of July at Yankee Stadium. What can be more American to do on the 4th but to go to a baseball game?

Yankee Stadium is closing after this season and opening a new park right across the street so was awesome to get to sit right on field level in the outfield for J's first and last game in this stadium. Plus the seats are between the outfield and the visitor's warm up pitching area so we got to see everyone go by to pitch!!

Jumpin' J, his dad, and Uncle Mike in front of Babe Ruth's monument

LP and her dad in line to see Monument Park - this was LP's first baseball game!

Josh Beckett warming up just a few feet away from us!!

Jumpin' J running around before the game started with Daddy's hat on

A couple of Jumpin' J with his dad


Yankees chat after Damon's big slam - happened almost right in front of us!

Papelbon's going in - that's how close we were

Kisses for Mommy

Final Score 6-4 RED SOX WIN!!!!!

Jumpin J had a great day!! Thanks to Uncle Mike for hooking him up with tickets!!

Trip to the Ocean

Jumpin J', J's dad, and I went to visit the LilyPad Family at Pop Steve's beach house on Tuesday night. It was a great time, so great that we forgot the camera most of the time!

J with his dad before we went out to dinner on Thursday night.


And here is J at dinner, what a big boy! I love this picture!!!


Unfortunately J's dad got sick so he wasn't able to go to the beach with us on Thursday but here are a few pictures at the beach!

"Beached Whale"


Crossing the Desert


What is this Stuff Mommy?


Diggin' with LP


Swimming with Mommy


LP Blowing Bubbles


Our time at the beach was super fun despite the incident where I dropped the coffee pot and broke it, Sorry!!! Jumpin' J loved the beach and the park and generally just hanging out with LP, whom he thinks is just the coolest big girl he's ever met. Thanks to the LilyPad Family and Pop Steve for letting us come visit!!

I'll try to post about the Red Sox-Yankees game tonight or tomorrow!

Graduation from Gym Class

Saturday was Jumpin' J's "Show Week" for gym class and he had a great time with Mommy, Daddy, Auntie Donna, and Grandma Potter. We got the whole thing on video but here is a short clip...




He got to do all of his favorite things...
Crawling on the big red mat...



The wheelbarrow...



Waving the parachute...



Walking with the parachute...



Bubbles, balls, and bells too!!!