Writing to Remember

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes!

We have been talking recently about getting Jack's hair cut and about how we should cut it.  My thought on the subject was to continue with the long surfer locks that have been Jack's "thing" for so long now.  Bret on the other hand, was tired of his son, somewhat frequently, being mistaken for a girl.  I scoured the internet for pictures of what I had in my mind for a shorter haircut and finally found one.  Jack took one look, and in his ever dramatic fashion, pretty much screamed no.  We tried to play it up for the last week or two, but there was no convincing or bribing him.  We finally just said we'd take him in and if he freaked out, we'd just trim it like usual. 

We made the appointment, talked about it, took him there, and Jack still wanted no part of the new hair cut.  The kid is so against change it isn't even funny.  However, we told him it wasn't really an option and eventually got him to the chair.  When I showed the girl the picture, Jack twice got down off of the chair and tried to leave.  He eventually was overcome with the urge to play the video game they were offering and gave in.  I'm not going to lie, I literally felt sick to my stomach as they were cutting off those long blond locks.  Well, wait, my hesitation really went beyond that.  Right before it was time for his appointment, I left the hair place and took Jack back to the car.  I told Bret and Jack that we were going to go somewhere else (even though this is the place that specializes in kid cuts and we go there all the time), because I hadn't ever seen the lady that was currently working there.  A decision, that in my mind, is still totally justified because, well, she had greasy hair and was old.  I didn't foresee her being able to produce any sort of stylish haircut, and couldn't bring myself to let her touch Jack's hair.  While we were sitting in the parking lot, listening to Bret gripe at me for making us drive 30 minutes to go to this particular place, the girl who usually cuts Jack's hair showed up and I decided to go back in.  Even when operation hair cut was complete, Jack had more issues.  He didn't want any gel or anything in his hair and he didn't want it to stick up at all.  Sort of a problem, since that is how the cut is supposed to be worn.  He griped in the car, ordered me not to take any more pictures with my cell phone, and then yelled at me for sending them to people.  Somewhere between then and now, the boy started coming around to the new do.  He let me put product in his hair and mess it up a bit, checked himself out in the mirror, and even let me get a few pictures.

This is going to take some serious getting used to...I mean, I haven't seen the kids ears in years.  He doesn't look like my boy anymore, and I keep doing double takes when I see him. 

Six years

Six years ago today my amazing son, Jack Arlin came into my life and made me a mommy.  At 9:09am, after a long night of painful, drug free, non progress making labor, and subsequent c-section, our "little" boy graced us with his presence.  I'll never forget my doctor's first words to me as she pulled him out..."I don't know how big he is Janae, but he is big!"  This was soon followed by a nurse saying "Ten pounds, four ounces, " and the room erupting in laughter.  I remember looking at that perfect little boy, a boy who looked much more like a two month old than a newborn, and instantly feeling more love than I ever knew possible.  It is still so vivid in my mind that it is hard for me to even fathom that six years have passed.

Today, Jack is a gorgeous, precocious, talented, stubborn, dramatic, energetic, obsessive, creative, matter-of-fact, loving, and sweet little boy who brings so much to our lives.  He loves school, sports, all things with wheels, camping, art, and helping people cook.  There are days when he makes me want to tear my hair out and days when I can't imagine a child any sweeter.  He is, well, he is Jack.  On his last day of preschool a couple years ago, his teacher presented each child with a certificate and asked them each what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Every single other kid said they wanted to be a doctor, but Jack, he said he wanted to be himself.  That's my boy.  He is his own little being and I am so proud to have him as my son. 

Riverdance boxing?

My brother gave Bret the new Punch Out game for Wii for Christmas...Jack loves it.  The other night he was playing and I discovered that he has a move that he does while playing that is, well, just plain weird.  It serves no purpose really, other than to make me laugh every time I see it.  I am certain that he has no idea that it is happening, and I am afraid to mention it for fear that he'll stop.  It is hilarious and I had to catch it on video.   (Oh, and yes, you'll probably be blessed with lots of videos from me now that I have my super duper Flip UltraHD video camera!)

Riverdance boxing anyone??

 

A little trim

Jack's hair grows super fast and was getting very long so I took him in for a little (and by little I mean about 2 inches) trim last week.  I think he looks quite handsome, although getting him to not make a goofy face when I was trying to get pictures was a little more difficult than I would have liked.

Tooth Fairy Tuesday

Ok, so I am actually a few Tuesdays behind, but Jack did lose two teeth on a Tuesday a few weeks ago.  Actually lose isn't the right word...the dentist pulled them for him.  He had a permanent tooth that was coming in behind his baby teeth, and when I first saw it panic set in and I could only think that braces were now inevitable.  I took him to the dentist who gave us until Thanksgiving to get the baby tooth (which had been loose for a long time) out on our own or he was going to pull two in order to make room.  The Monday before Thanksgiving I knew that there was no hope of Jack losing that tooth on his own, and the permanent tooth had come in so much that it looked like he had two rows of teeth.  I could no longer control the flashes of him becoming Beldar Conehead in my mind, so I made a phone call to the dentist.  They were able to get him in the next day and Jack returned home with two baby teeth in a tiny little box. 

Discussions of the tooth fairy were plentiful and of course Jack had a lot of questions.  Why does the tooth fairy have to take the teeth?  What does she do with them after she takes them?  Will she be leaving coins or bills...because, well, he only wants bills.  That night he decided that he really wanted to keep the little box that he brought the teeth home in so we wrote a note to the tooth fairy asking her to just take the teeth.  I went to the grocery store late that night and then came home to Bret and Ruby fast asleep, and Jack waiting up for me.  Each time I would ask him to go to bed he would start crying and I couldn't figure out what the problem was.  I thought maybe his mouth was hurting so I gave him a dose of Motrin and let him stay up while I put the groceries away.  I finally convinced him to go to bed but when we got there he started crying again.  His teeth and the note were not under his pillow anymore so I thought he was crying because he lost them, but that wasn't the case.  After 15 minutes of convincing, I got him to tell me that he had hid the teeth because he really wanted to keep them.  It was so pitiful and I just couldn't bring myself to tell him it wasn't an option.  A second note was written to the tooth fairy telling her that he had a rough time getting his teeth pulled by the dentist and that he really wanted to keep them.  Finally he went to bed, satisfied that his teeth were his to keep. 

There is a good chance that my kid will end up on that Hoarders show some day.

One funny boy

Last night I ventured out of the house on my own to go watch my brother Ryan play a show.  I got Ruby to bed before I left and was quite hopeful that she would behave for Bret and stay asleep.  She won't take a bottle, but sleeps through the night so I didn't think it would be a problem.  Well, as luck would have it, she decided not to sleep through the night and woke up at about 12:30am and was less than thrilled that I wasn't there.  Bret managed to get her back to sleep, but it wasn't an easy task and she screamed for awhile.  We were just discussing it and Bret asked Jack if he woke up to all of Ruby's crying.  His response was very matter of fact..."No, my ears were shut off." 

I freaking love that kid.

The Best Day of His Whole Life

On Saturday we took Jack to his friend Tate's birthday party at a spray park in Loveland.  Jack had so much fun running through the water with the other kids, eating hot dogs and cake, hitting a Spongebob pinata, and then playing around the lake with Bret.  Bret and Jack took nets and walked around the edge of the lake trying to catch one of the little creatures that were swimming near the shore.  They managed to snag a crawdad and then a great big tadpole a little bit later.  I haven't seen Jack so excited in a long time.  The boys put their catches in water bottles and brought them home to put in our pond.  All the way home Jack kept saying "this is the best day of my whole life!"  I know there will be lots more "best days", but I have a feeling that this one will rank pretty high up there for a long time and I am so glad I was able to be their to witness it.

 

My little man

Jack had his last day of Pre-K this week...my baby will be starting kindergarten (following in his parents footsteps as a Bulldog) in the fall!!  His last day was a big party with games, prizes, water balloons, and ice cream sundaes.  He was excited that his family got to come, especially Korey, (who is a big part of our family) and the two of them ran around playing games and gathering prizes all morning. 

Bret took these of Jack during the water balloon activity and I love them...

 

From my mouth to his...

Someone told me a long time ago that if there is something you don't want repeated then you should make sure you never let your five year old hear it in the first place.  I had an entertaining experience the other day that proved that point exactly...

One of my very most favorite places to eat is Cafe Mexicali.  My brother Ryan introduced us to it in Fort Collins and we were ecstatic when one opened in Greeley in December.  The creamy habenero sauce is to die for and I could eat it daily.  However, it is a little bit spicy and I've learned that if I eat it, Ruby is super fussy the next day as a result.  At some point I must have had a conversation with Bret about how I probably shouldn't eat Mexicali anymore because it was giving Ruby a stomach ache.  I don't specifically remember this but Jack was apparently listening and retaining all of what we were saying.  A couple of weekends ago I took the kids to get their pictures taken and Bret asked if I would pick up Mexicali for lunch on my way home.  We had ordered our food and were in line to pay (the place was packed) when Jack says in his exceptionally loud voice, "Mom!  I thought you couldn't eat Mexicali anymore because it makes your milk to spicy for Ruby!"  This got a nice little laugh from me as well as all the people surrounding us. 

Jack's crazy ideas...

Jack spends a ridiculous amount of time building things with blocks and never ceases to amaze me with his creativity.  The other day he had been building for a little bit when he asked me "Hey mom, which fish car do you want to win?"  Fish car?  I couldn't resist looking into that one further.  He had built three "fish cars" and a stadium for them.  Pictures were necessary...