Daddy & Jude Laugh Off

Jude LOVES when Jason comes home from work. He's excited to see his daddy. I took a video of him and Jason laughing it up yesterday. So cute!



In other news, in the case that we stay here an additional year (or more), I have put in applications to the magnet schools here for Jack and James. Our first choice is Forest Avenue Academic Magnet school. It's not based on a lottery. Students actually have to be tested and accepted into the program. For Jack, the 2nd grad slots are limited because only spots from 2nd graders not returning will be available. For James, there are more openings as the incoming K class. So, we'll see! I don't feel like James would be ready for K as much as if I were to wait another year. So, I don't mind if he doesn't get in. But I'd LOVE for Jack to have the opportunity to go to this school. Some parents believe it's the best school in AL! I've heard great things about it. Our second choice magnet school is Bear Exploratory Magnet. It is based on lottery. So, we'll see.

But, again...we may not live here, so this application/testing process may have been for no reason. But, we have to be prepared either way!

We're hoping to find out sometime in March what's next for us. Staying here, moving...moving far, moving close. Somewhere new, somewhere familiar. Whatever...

We've moved SO much that I'm almost numb to the proccess of assignments now. I almost feel so worn down from constant anticipation that I'm just mellow about it all now. That's a good thing! It feels better not caring/worrying so much. Sure it's more complicated now with school-aged kids. You need to know in advance before school registrations close, etc. But, I've found that it always works out no matter where we are. So, why fret it? :)

I'll post our news when we know it!

Jude Is 4-Months Old

Today was Jude's 4-month old well-baby appointment. He's growing just fine in height and weight. He's at the 80th percentile for both and is following the trend line each check-up. I'm so thankful for a healthy baby.
Today he had to get his shots. Jack was with us since he's now homeschooled. He kept debating on whether he wanted to be in there while Jude got his shots or wait in the waiting room. He has been dreading this shot day for Jude for several days now. He ultimately DID go in with us but only watched the first shot. Then he turned his head away for the rest. He did NOT like seeing his baby brother hurt. So sweet.
On the way to pick up James, Jude was screaming the whole way there. Usually he calms pretty quickly, especially while driving on the interstate...but today he was MAAAAAAD!!! And I'm sure he was not feeling well from shots. James got in the car and I explained that Jude was uncomfortable and that we were going straight home. After about 3 more minutes of crying, both older boys had their heads close to Jude and were ever so softly singing the ABC song to him. It ultimately calmed Jude and of course melted my heart from utter sweetness! They have so much compassion. I'm so proud. And Jude is so lucky to be so loved!
Jude at 4-months old:

This and That!

We're in our second week of homeschooling. Jack is doing GREAT! And I'm getting the hang of it. James is in school from 8:30-12:30 M-F. This is usually when we do our lessons. I try to get Jack finished with lessons and school work by the time we leave to get James. And so far, that's been easy to do. Jude is either right there along with us, or napping. It's worked out better than I imagined, but it still keeps me SUPER busy! I've gotten good at doing lessons while Jude naps and saving independent work for last. If Jude is still napping while Jack is working independently, I do my "daily" chores around the house. I don't stop! The afternoons are reserved for whatever our hearts desire. Shopping, playground, zoo, and if Jason gets home early...sometimes I can even sneak in a nap while Jude naps! I LOVE that!

Speaking of Jude...he is almost 4 months old! His 4-month well-baby appointment is this Friday. It's kind of funny....last time, at his 2-month appointment, the doctor asked about tummy time. I admitted that I rarely put him on his tummy because he really hated it. She then let me know how important it was for his strength and development and that I would end up giving my baby a flat head if I didn't. Ugghhh...so, the next few days I was a little better about tummy time. However, I once again began skipping it all together. He just DIDN'T like it! Jack and James didn't like tummy time either. They turned out okay. Jude has had amazing head control from very early on. And a few weeks ago he started rolling from his back to his side. And more recently, I put him on his tummy, and he lifted his head super high and can even roll to his back. Yay! So, at his appointment this week, when asked if I put him on his tummy...my answer will be "yes, and he just rolls right back onto his back!" :) Yay! I'm off the hook!



And...here's another video of Jude. Poor kid. Jason was using him as a live puppet.



In other news...James is still doing really well at his school. He's learning so much! I just adore his teacher. She is AMAZING!!!

Jason is still working hard here at ACSC. Hopefully in the next 1-2 months we'll know where we'll be moving to this summer. There's still a chance we stay here...but unlikely.

We'll keep everyone updated!

Homeschooling???

We've decided to jump into the world of homeschooling Jack for the remainder of the year at least. I'm not going to lie...I'm nervous! But I have to keep reminding myself that he will only be enriched with what I do with him at home. Last year Jack excelled in Kindergarten. His teacher had him tested for gifted and constantly altered her lessons to keep a steady challenge for Jack. He began gifted services within two months of beginning K. Needless to say, he was extremely prepared for 1st grade. At the end of K, we knew Jack was going to be in a full-time gifted class (having a gifted-certified teacher) for 1st grade. Then we got word of our move to Montgomery. Long story short...Montgomery Public Schools do not offer gifted until 3rd grade. During level testing the first week here, Jack tested out of 1st grade reading. He was doing 2nd grade math over the summer and reading 5th grade books. I still wanted him to be in 1st grade so he could experience the "fun" innocent curriculum. But, very early in the school year he would come home and say he's bored in class. That's what bothered me most. I don't want him to be so bored that he loses interest completely. We met with the gifted counselor to see if an exception could be made since the gifted program was on site at his school. He assured us he'd check into it and at the least arrange to allow Jack to sit in higher grade subjects where needed. It sounded great! So, we waited a couple of days to hear back from him. A couple of days turned into a couple of weeks...and with a new baby born, we didn't follow up. It then had been a couple of months and nothing was done. We inquired again and the next day Jack was tested. He was indeed shown to be well above grade level. But again, no action. Soooo....with the enthusiasm from both Jack and ourselves to take this on, we are going to jump right in to homeschooling. I'm a bit overwhelmed with the logistics of it and the method to use. But, like I said, whatever I do with him, will be more than he gets now.

I hope we're doing the right thing. I have a feeling this will be only the rest of this year...but you never know...

Sew Much Fun

I love sewing. There's something to be said for creating something useful for your family from start to finish. It's like cooking. Only, I prefer sewing over cooking. Of course cooking is more important and is priority, along with cleaning, laundry, school lunches, homework, showering, grocery shopping, shuttling kids, working out, etc. So, I'm left with little time to sew. Jason surprised me with a new sewing machine for my birthday. It was a whole week before I could even get it out of the box. Then it sat there on the dining room table another few days before I had a chance to even thread it and read about the cool stitches. Now it's the new year and I finally created something! I have been so inspired by what I've seen on Pinterest. I look forward to having more time one day to go sew crazy. However, I DID take time out to create a carseat blanket! And I just LOVE it! It snaps right onto the handle so that you can still easily hold the carseat handle leaving the blanket perfectly in place. The blanket protects against rain and wind when out and about. I got the idea from Pinterest. I made it so that it can still be used as a blanket even when we're finished with the infant carseat. I'll just simply remove the straps!


I just loved this 'owl' print.


These snaps are SO easy to put on.


The underside is "bumpy blanket" material (as Jack has always called it). It's so soft and cuddly. What a fun and useful project!

LSU Letdown

So, my Tigers lost last night. I'm taking it harder than I thought I would. I DO live in the middle of Bama country...and the excitement of their win is smack dab in my face. I'm happy for Bama fans, don't get me wrong. I know losing for us was a possibility. But last night I didn't recognize our team. Had they played like they did in the BCS game during regular season, I would have not built up the real possibility of a win last night. But I was shocked. The very first drive I thought maybe it was nerves. But it became evident play after play that either nerves or lack of skill was getting the best of my Tigers. Entering the half, our Tigers had only one first down. It was then that I realized we could not win the game unless something really changed in the next half. I was pretty confident the first change would be sitting Jefferson down and putting Lee in. Lee had played a huge part in our undefeated season. He deserved a shot at the National Championship. After the half, Lee was not put in. In fact, he was not put in for a single play! Jason told me not to be upset, and to just have fun watching the game. I honestly was NOT having fun. Fun would be watching our Tigers play their hearts out... even if they lost. But last night, I didn't see that. And I didn't see a coach willing to make changes so our team at least had a chance. No, it was not fun to watch that. It was a serious train wreck. In the end, we lost. We bled. And bled hard. But we bled those great colors PURPLE & GOLD!! I'm still proud to be a Tiger! Until next year.... GEAUX TIGERS!!!

Christmas In Covington

I've finally downloaded my Christmas pictures. I was awful at taking pictures. We were too busy soaking up our family and friends to take pictures. Anyway, we went home for 4 days over Christmas. Our tradition the past few years is to stay put wherever we live for Christmas because of the complexity of having Santa deliver gifts somewhere else. However, we made an exception this year since Jason had off of work and we wanted to introduce Jude to the family. We stayed at Jason's parent's house. We got lots of visiting in with them and even got to visit with Jason's sister and her husband. They are expecting they're first born at the end of January! We're going to be an aunt and uncle!!! Yay! We went to the Heap Christmas Eve, spent Christmas morning with Jason's family, then went to another Heap gathering Christmas day afternoon. Let me tell you...it warms my heart to see my boys playing with their cousins (really my cousins and some are my cousin's children...but they're young...so my kids just LOVE them all). I know they feel so special being from a large family (my dad comes from a family of 9 children). One time we left one of the Heap functions when Jack was around 5...he asked, "are ALL of those people my family?" Like the kid in Willie Wonka finding out the WHOLE chocolate factory was going to be his! This trip was much needed for my big guys...as much as it was needed for me. Here are some pictures.


Jason's aunt arranged for some family friends to add us to their Christmas caroling tour around Covington. They were amazing! It felt like we were in a movie. It was so festive and fun!


These pics of Christmas morning were awful. I fed Jude in the early morning hours...when I couldn't fall back asleep, I watched a tutorial on Pinterest on how to take great Christmas morning pics in dim light. Well, mine turned out not so great. :)





Jack got the thing he consistently asked Santa for...Gears! Gears! Gears! Santa hoped it was the right thing he described...and it WAS!


When we asked the boys what their favorite gift was....it was EXTRA! The gum! Go figure!


Jude was enjoying being wrapped with ribbon...or not!


My littlest angel of all!


Brothers forever!


Christmas morning brunch with Jason's fam.





And Poppy (Jason's dad) and Jude topped of the morning with a nap. So sweet! We had a great time...but when it was all said and done, it was good to be back home.