Who does Jack look like?

Julie suggested that I post our baby pictures alongside Jack's to see who he looks like. I thought he was really looking like me, until I looked at Phil's pictures. At least we know he's ours. Let me know what you think!

Jenny 6 months Jack 2 1/2 months

Phil 6 months Jack 2 1/2 months

A Smile!

I finally captured Jack's smile on film. He is the cutest thing. He smiles and coos at everyone now and has been so happy lately. As long as his tummy is full and he is rested, he's all smiles!

Below are some pictures of the boys. I wanted to see some comparisons to see if they look alike. While I see similarities, I notice the differences more. I think their similarities are more in their expressions. Ryan's dimples also give him away.

Ryan 2 1/2 months

Ryan 4 months

Jack 2 1/2 months

Ryan 2 1/2 months

Jack 2 1/2 months

First Days

This has been an overwhelming and exhausting week for me. Everything with daycare, preschool, and school has gone really well, but the logistics of everything have been really difficult to adjust to. Jack has been a good sleeper, as far as babies go, since he came home from the hospital. He usually has only gotten up once, sometimes twice in the night. He has now started to sleep for longer periods, but this has made my schedule really exhausting this week. He has typically gone to bed around 9:30 or 10:00, and this week he has slept til around 4 a.m. He has also gotten up an extra time in the night a few times this week. The bad news is that my alarm goes off at 5:15 so I've usually just stayed up after I feed him and put him back down. I am definitely NOT a morning person, so this does not suit me at all. All summer long, Jack would get up and we'd all go back to sleep until Ryan, the morning person, woke us all up. Jack has been a grump when I have to wake him again at 6:45 to feed him, put him in the carseat, and start the drop off process of going to two different places, all before I arrive at work. Today we are ALL so happy that it is Saturday. Jack is back asleep and I have no intention of getting him up and rushing us this morning. Jack is certainly taking after me, while Ryan is just like his daddy, as far as mornings go.

On to the highlights of this week.

This was Ryan the morning of his first day of preschool. He absolutely LOVED it. I had to make him give me a hug when I was leaving. He could have cared less about me leaving, which I prefer to tears. When I picked him up, I asked him if he had any new friends. He said he liked the "black dress girl" and that she was really nice and played with him. I asked him how he liked his teacher, Miss April. He said, "That's her name mommy, that's the 'black dress girl'." I guess he really likes his teacher. Yesterday, after I picked him up he said, "Miss April didn't wear her black dress today mommy."

Ryan also learned about the flag "flute" (salute). Apparently, when the kids were doing the salute, he went to go get some dinosaurs to play with. The teachers reminded him that it was time to do the flag salute. He said, "but I want to play with dinosaurs."

His only complaint so far is that he didn't get enough juice and was really thirsty. Both days (he only goes 2 days) I've had to coax him to the car because he didn't want to leave.

Ryan also went to see Pa (my dad) this week to help him fertilize the Persimmon trees around their house. For whatever reason, Ryan ended up riding in the wagon in this tub of water. It was pretty funny.

Jack has also had a great week going to Nana's (Nancy, our daycare provider) house. He is such a happy little guy. It just takes a lot of food to keep him that way. I have been able to go feed him at lunch, then again after school, but in the meantime, he gets formula for those missed feedings. Jack has a HUGE appetite and I have not ever been able to have enough to satisfy him. I thought he was colicky at first, but it turns out, he was just hungry and I can't keep up, so we've had to supplement. Anyway, Nancy has let the boy have copious amounts of formula and he has been happier than he's ever been and has probably gained a pound this week. I even had to get out the 3-6 month onesies since his shoulders kept popping out of the 0-3 month onesies. I took these two pictures of him sucking his fingers. He has never liked his pacifier and discovering his fingers has made him really happy. I just think he is the cutest thing.

Jack - 2 months old

Jack turned 2 months old this past week on the 15th. At his check up, he weighed 11 lbs., 1 oz. and was 23 1/4 in. long. He now loves to coo and smile and kick his legs. He tries to grab, but he can't figure out that he has to open his hand, then reach, instead of the other way around. He takes in everything. He and Ryan also started back with Nancy since I am back at work. They both have had great days with her. Jack loves all the bottles he is getting and I think Nancy's goal is to fatten him up. She told me he is too skinny. Ryan will go to Nancy for the first part of next week, then to preschool. I'm excited (and a little nervous) about him going to school. I want him to love it, and I think he will after he makes some friends.

I have the above picture on my desk at school and just love it. It makes me want to kiss his little cheeks. This little guy has stolen my heart in an amazing way that I didn't know was possible. I never understood how I would love another child as much as Ryan, but now I do. I've missed being with my boys this week.

My Heart Melts

Today was my first day back at work and my first day to leave Jack for more than a few hours. Phil asked me how I was feeling about it all today and I said, "You know that scene in Amelie, when she melts? That's what my heart feels like today," as the tears welled up in my eyes. I knew it would be fine, and it was fine, but it's never easy. I thought it might be easier with Jack since I had already gone through this with Ryan, but it's not. I left work during lunch to see the boys and feed Jack and it was just as hard to go back to work after lunch. I know every day will be better and after this week and next week, I will only be doing it part time (until my partner teacher has her baby). I know it will be okay, but it's still hard.

For those that haven't seen Amelie, the clip is below. If you don't want to watch it all, she melts around 2:00.

Sweet Baby Dress

A sweet baby girl should be arriving in the Anderson family any day now. Her impending arrival gave me a reason to sew this lovely little dress. I was thrilled to sew something with a ruffle and a bow and I am delighted with the outcome. I hope she and her Mommy enjoy it as much as I liked sewing it.

New Skirt

Yesterday, despite my two boys not napping at the same time, I was able to complete this skirt. Please disregard the shirt as I do not have something that goes with this skirt as of yet.

I used New Look pattern 6843 by Simplicity since I had found the New Look pattern for the yellow shirt to be so easy to follow. I also used this fabric from Free Spirit Fabrics.

This one was equally easy. I did however alter the back of the pattern. The back was supposed to have a center seam and zipper, but I put the zipper on the side and omitted the seam so that the brown scroll pattern would also go down the center back like it does in the front. I also made the waistband fasten with a hook and eye rather than a button. I am happy with the finished product. Now I just need to find a shirt to go with it.