My Girl's Mobile!

So, the other day, I left Mollie downstairs on her play mat with Dom, Baylor's beloved wiener dog, to get Baylor up for the day.  When I came back she was nowhere to be found! 

Yup, my girl's mobile!  And look at her handiness ... she took Dom with her!

(By the way, Blogger has changed the way I have to upload and orient pictures so I apologize if things are a little wonky for a while.  I'll get used to it, I swear!)

Sorry, But ...

I may be getting myself into trouble with this post, but I started thinking a lot after my last post and something was truly bothering me.  In the last paragraph I apologized for whining then added, "but ..." and went on to basically negate my honest apology.  An "I'm sorry, but ____" is not a true apology; if one was really sorry, he/she would leave it at I'm sorry or expand on feelings of contrition. 

I had more to say on this, but my eloquence has left me at the moment. 

So, simply ...
I apologize for my last post.  I was in the midst of a pity party and looking back on my words I am saddened I put all my "misery" out there.  Truth be told, I am lucky; after this stomach flu is done and over with, I get to go back to being healthy.  Many people are dealing with much worse issues than having to eat a bland diet and stay inside for a few days. 

For my whining and narrow-mindedness, I am truly sorry.

Decimated

I always want to use the word "decimated" for things, like how this stomach flu has decimated the Jacques family for over a week now, picking off adult after adult like a kid playing Duck Hunt, but then I remember that "decimated" actually means "reduced by a power of ten" and it really takes the wind out of my sails.

Anyhow, I was the last adult to succumb to the stomach flu, but it seems to have gathered strength from those before me because it has lasted with me the longest.  Most of the rest of the family were done with most of it in 24 or 36 hours.  Not me ... no, I'm still hanging in there after four days.  And according to my doctor, it could last for up to seven to ten days!  If I eat anything other than the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) diet, I pay the price.  (Okay, baked potatoes and a little pasta are okay, but that's it!)

I have had more fruit punch Gatorade these last four days than I care to recall, and given the lovely gastrointestinal issues I encountered this morning after a lovely turkey dinner last night I might as well buy stock in the brand.  Oh and here's a fun fact for ya ... eat a banana then drink a bunch of Gatorade and you'll instantly feel like your teeth are wearing sweaters.  It's delightful.

Probably the worst of it, though, is being cooped up.  The kids and I are usually on the go, running errands, visiting people, and the like.  I haven't driven in about a week now (my husband got sick a few days before me so we stayed home to take care of him) and I'm going a little stir crazy!  Baylor seems to be feeling it, too; just yesterday he was practically begging me to just get in "mama's car". 

Sorry this post is such a downer; I try really hard to stay upbeat even during times of discomfort or adversity.  But I have just about had it.  I am a girl who likes her food!  Eating the same thing, day after day, is driving me bonkers.  Especially because there are so many other things to eat in the house!  And I like to get out with the kids, blow off some steam, see other adults who can converse in complete sentences.  Heck, I would even just take a little energy so I can get some stuff done while I'm home-bound.  Instead ...

*sigh*

I should probably take a nap.

Simple Ways You Can Help ... For Free!

I happened upon this article this morning and it really resonated with me. There are so many things we can do to help others that don't cost a dime, but so often they are overshadowed by the big givers. An added bonus: a lot of these ideas involve reusing or repurposing old items, so it is good for the environment as well.

Take a minute, check out the list, and see what you can do to help someone today!

What's Cookin', Good Lookin'?

I finally got Baylor to wear the adorable apron my sister got for him for his birthday, and we had a little fun in his kitchen.

Before we could start, he put on his oven mitt ... safety first!

Not really sure about the whole apron thing, yet.

Baylor's specialty: burgers! They are pesky little buggers to hold together, though!

Then, since we were going to make a sandwich for Daddy, we fried up some bacon.

That sandwich turned out fine, but the sandwich for me was quite the concoction ... PB&J with all his deli meats and two hot dogs! Yum?

Apparently it was time for dessert, and Baylor fried an orange for the occasion.

It looks ready!

An experimental chef by nature, Baylor decided to broaden his horizons to the main kitchen. I just love watching him use all his body weight to open the freezer!

The other day, he discovered my stash of York Peppermint Patties.

And apparently decided to cook one up, casserole-style.

Aaaand then he bit it through the package. So I broke it open and we shared it.

He's becoming quite the little chef!

While Daddy's at Class ...

... we often have dinner with my parents and sister. And, of course, a lot of fun!

Deeming her old enough, we broke out Baylor's old walker the other day and let Mollie have a spin in it. Needless to say, she loved it! And I just love that my girl smiles with her whole face.


Much like her brother, she felt the need to lick/suck on the steering wheel.

Happy as can be!

Baylor wasn't so thrilled to see his sister getting to use something so new and cool, but he got over it.

In no time, the walker was covered in saliva.

My parents recently bought a GeoTrax set for Baylor to play with at their house, and this was the first chance he got to play with it. And, since it was snack time, he decided to fill up the cargo area with Kix.

Mollie thinks pretty much everything her brother does is hilarious or just plain awesome.

After a delicious dinner, we spent time playing in the living room. Dad treated Baylor to a little "hide the grape". He later proclaimed, "It's delicious!" after eating one of the previously-hidden grapes. Funny kid.

Mollie and Mom snuggled and played with the spinning ducks.

Once all the grapes were eaten, Dad and Baylor settled in for a little story time. On the docket: a picture book my mom put together of our time at the Antrim County Fair!

We had a lovely time and always appreciate having company (and a few extra hands) while my husband is at class.

Thanks again, Mom, Dad, and Christine!

Pre-Illness Nesting?

I have been remarkably absent from the blog this week, in spite of me taking over 150 pictures in between my post last Sunday and this one now. It has been a crazy, whirlwind sort of week, full of busyness and such, but it has oddly dragged on ... probably because we had an event this weekend we were looking forward to.

Why the past tense, you ask?

Well, my husband came down with the stomach flu early Thursday morning. That's why. So, our grand plans of introducing our children to the grand fall tradition of football tailgating will have to wait until health returns to our house. We have no idea how many of us are going to catch this bug or when it will take hold if we do catch it, so we're essentially quarantining ourselves off from the rest of the world.

In the dreadful process of waiting for the other shoe to drop, I have developed a sort of odd nesting-type of behavior. Almost in preparation for getting sick, or something. I cleaned the toilet last night at 12:45 a.m. in case I had to look at it up close during the middle of the night at any point. The kitchen is picked up so I don't have to look at clutter should I be feeling my worst sometime in the near future. It's weird, but I really do have an overwhelming urge to clean. Maybe it's just so I can control something while I essentially wait to get sick (or not ... hopefully not).

Anyhow, hopefully I'll be able to post some of the many pictures I have on my camera sometime soon. And keep your fingers crossed that the kids and I can weather the weekend without getting sick!

Tattoo: For When I Win The Lottery

If I had the money and a ticket to New York, I'd have this girl give me a few new tattoos. Amazing!

I should start playing the lotto ...

A Quiet Evening In

Saturday night we had a quiet evening in, just our little family. Baylor requested to watch Sesame Street's Kids' Favorite Songs 2, so we popped that in for him ...

... and he went positively catatonic.

Mouth open, eyes glazed over. He sat like this for almost the entire 45 minute video. This is why we don't watch a lot of television at our house; I do the same thing when I watch television and I don't want him to get in the habit of watching t.v. all the time. Who wants to be that zoned out all the time?

He did smile a few times at his favorite songs on the video, so his face changed a little.

But by the end he was pretty much in the same position he started in.

Meanwhile, Mollie was having some of her nightly cereal. She has totally gotten into eating it, lately, and has been grabbing our hands to help things along.

Ah, a happy little lady!

After her dinner, she practiced sitting up with amazing success!

"Look, Ma! No hands!"

Baylor seemed less-than-thrilled that she was playing with one of his toys. Before this, she was just a blob that would smile at him as he whizzed by her. Hopefully he'll get used to sharing his toys with her, and vice versa, and we won't have too many problems!

It is nice that he can show her how things work, though; he got the banjo on this toy going and she really seemed to enjoy seeing the colors spin around.

Sitting up on your own takes a lot out of a girl, so she spent a little time snuggling with Daddy and fish-hooking herself. I have a feeling teeth are on their way.

Satisfied that he wasn't missing anything, Baylor did a lap of the living room. Can you believe how tall this kid is getting?!

Then it was time to do a little more sitting up!

And hand-chewing!

And then Daddy helped her play with the Leap Frog table all by herself!

It was a lovely little quiet evening in.

In On The Action

As they get older, both kids want to get in on all the action going on around them.


Mom and Christine let Baylor help make some oatmeal cookies.

Someday he'll get the finesse of it all ... and won't just demand that the beater go faster.

Mollie is all sorts of grabby when it comes to books.

Much to her brother's chagrin ... he couldn't handle her pawing at the book he wanted to read so he left.

He tried again with a less interactive book ...

But she won out in the end.

It feels like they're growing up so fast!

She's So Stylish!

My girl, due in no small part to her Oma and Aunt Christine, is becoming quite the little fashion plate. Just look at her duds!

I love this little beret on her! She looks like a chic Chef Boyardee!

Oui, oui! My girl's got style!

The Many Faces of Mollie

It was her first time in the hippo chair, the sun was right, and she was full of it. Enjoy!