little helpers

We have a big dresser/entertainment center project going on and the twinkies wanted to help. At least they didn't get in the paint. 

and we have a crawler...

Up until this point, Jack and Erin have been doing this awesome army crawl/pull across the floor.

But not anymore for Jack! Video below!!



My boy is growing up! Snif!

hi. my name is jack...

...and I have a toof!

tangled up in blue

The kids like my long, electric blue wig. Well, except Jack... He was quite quick to pull that thing off!

sucky mcsucky kids

Over the weekend I posted this on my facebook page, and apparently it struck a nerve with a few people – both good and bad:

So let me clarify my statement to you--Erin, Jack and even Mary Beth.

On January 13, 2013, you did not, in fact, suck.

You SUCKED more than anyone could ever imagine someone SUCKING. You SUCKED to the highest degree. If there was a world championship for SUCKING, you would have SUCKING won. The Guinness Book of World Records called and said they wanted to include you in their book for SUCKING the most.

Too much?

How about an explanation? This year the WORST flu season has hit early. And even those who do not have the flu – you kids included – are getting this SUCKY flu-like illness that is SUCKING the lives out of people. So last week you, Mary Beth, stayed home for 3 days because of this SUCKINESS. At the same time, your Daddy was in bed for a few days and even went to a doctor (gasp!). And you twins, well, you took it to a new level. High fever. Like so high I was going to take you to the emergency room if it didn’t go down the next time I took your temperature. Stuffed up nose. Runny nose. Horrible cough that made you cry every time you coughed. Ear tugging. Incredible fussiness. Refusal to go to bed. Refusal to stop crying. And refusal to do all of these horrible things at the same time – oh no, you twins rotated. Erin cried on Sunday night from 7 to 920. Then passed out. Then Jack started at 930 until about 1115 when your Daddy put you down in the crib and said “Cry it out, son. We’re done.” You cried for another 40 minutes and then passed out. But then both of you woke and cried throughout the night.

YES. YOU SUCKED.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t love you. We just didn’t like you at that moment. I’m not sure it is humanly possible for anyone to have liked you at that moment. Mother Theresa couldn’t have liked you and she was a freaking saint. But the point is, why are parents, especially moms, supposed to pretend that we like our children at every given moment?

Kids, it just doesn’t happen. SPOILER ALERT: being a mom is HARD work. I’m literally providing food to you daily, which requires me to burn an extra 2,000+ calories but not get any of the rest needed. And somehow I’m supposed to do this but still have time to work full-time so we can provide food, shelter, etc. to you. You wake in the middle of the night and I have to race into your room to see if you’re OK, hurt, hungry, annoyed, etc., and that you don’t cry enough to wake up your brother/sister. I have to watch what I eat and drink so I don’t pass any spices, gas or alcohol (don’t I wish) to you. I have to carry you two everywhere in carseats that are starting to weigh a ton – which means Momma needs a massage. Or seven. And before you ask – YES. Your father helps. He helps more than a lot of fathers do. But it’s still me who has the intuition to protect and comfort you, and I’m still the one you go to when you don’t feel well or stub your toe or want some love.

Now, if all you heard in your life was that you SUCKED, then I could see being upset with me. But kids, by the time you’re old enough to read this, and I’m sure you will, reading YOU SUCKED is not the first smartass comment you’re going to have read. Pretty sure it’s a prerequisite to be a part of this family that you’re a smartass. At least on my side of the family it was. You didn’t get to meet either of my parents, your maternal grandparents, because they were already gone from this earth before you were born. But just as a peek into my smartass life, my dad used to say that I was his second-favorite redhead kid. Yes. Think about it. Look at Auntie Kim and Uncle Rob. That’s right, I’m the ONLY redhead. I spent my childhood hearing stuff like that, and all it did was prepare me for the real world. When I got into school and someone picked on me for having red hair (hard to believe in our family, I know), well, it didn’t bother me. Carrot top? A carrot’s top is green, not red. That’s the best ya got?

I grew up in a family where I was told I could do anything if I put my mind to it. Good grades. Good schools. Good athletics. Good whatever I wanted. I was praised for doing well and encouraged when I felt I was faltering. My parents were always there for me. And let’s get something straight here, too. I often didn’t like them! They SUCKED too! How dare they not let me go to a party where the parents weren’t there? Why couldn’t I go to a slumber party the night before a big soccer tournament? I wanted to spend the night at a friend’s house and they said NO?! How rude! See, it goes both ways.

So no, I did not like you this weekend. You were horrible to the nth degree. And I’m so glad you’re starting to get physically better. Because Mary Beth, you crack me up and can make me feel better all the time. Jack, your smile lights up a room (you big flirt!). And Erin, oh darling you are strikingly gorgeous and smart as a whip. I can’t wait to see what you all are going to be like when you grow up.

Now stop SUCKING.

Love, Mom

i mean come on...

Could he be any cuter?

daddy's girls, momma's boy

He doesn't stand a chance against these two... And he's my late night snuggle buddy.

oh goody...

It looks like we've got another freak sleeper in the making...

dear dad, wish you were here

the closest we got to dad holding his grandchild, Dec 2008

Have you stopped laughing up in heaven yet because I have twins? I didn't think so. I thought you may want to know some things about your grandchildren now that you have been gone from us for exactly 4 years:

1.  Jack is you with red hair -- which I find absoutely hilarious, given your constant picking on anyone redheaded. He'll smirk when introduced to any male, but his eyes light up and he smiles and giggles when he meets any female. SUCH a flirt, and he has about seventeen women who all claim him as their "boyfriend."

2.  Erin is starting to be a charmer, too. She takes a while to warm up to some people, but then grins ear to ear. She doesn't like being left alone, and boy will she let you know it. But I have a feeling she would have been the one to snuggle with you the most.

3.  Mary Beth can do no wrong with these two. Jack could be in mid-scream and pain, and the minute she walks into the room he'll stop, track her across the room with her eyes and give the biggest open-mouthed smile. And now Erin smiles too at her, and giggles when Mary Beth dances for her. Their interaction reminds me of listening to the Rosies talk about you.

4.  There is no doubt in my mind that you would be spoiling the crapola out of these kids. And giving Mary Beth lots of sugar and then handing them back to us, laughing as you drive away.

5.  Mary Beth is such a little athlete it makes me smile. She runs across the house with such enthusiasm and speed that it just makes Bob and me laugh. And though we've never really "taught" her how to play soccer, she dribbled the ball across the field on Saturday when we went to watch Kim play. (I'd use that term "play" loosely - you would have been laughing hysterically at Kim!) You can tell Mary Beth just has this inherent ability to play soccer, and it makes me wish you were here to watch her play. And fix her socks every Saturday before a game. Auntie Kim will have to do that instead.

We miss you dearly down here. Though Mary Beth says that she sees you and Heaven Grandma when she goes to sleep sometimes. I tell her to tickle you and get your nose. Hope you don't mind. 

Love,
Your second-favorite redheaded child

six months???

How is that even possible?! Six months?! Gees.

Jack is THIS close to crawling. Well I think he's happy with the army crawl actually. And Erin is starting to be a little rolling over fool. No matter where we put them on the big area rug, they roll/crawl to each other and, well, beat the crap out of each other. Not on purpose, but Jack did have a bruise on his arm today from where Erin was flailing her arms around and hitting him. Oops. The sign of things to come, I'm sure!

So the photo is our normal monthly photo-- with anything but normal results. I didn't expect them to both fit or smile. I love when they prove me wrong!!

army crawler

Oh we're in trouble. Not only does he army crawl... he likes the phone.

Sigh.

At least I have a good video of it.

well hello 5 month cuties!

So the last month has been a whirlwind. We left Grapevine, moved back here to San Antonio, the kids all started a new school, I started working my job remote from home, we've tried (somewhat unsuccessfully) to get the new house in order, and I even went back up to Dallas for a 3 day planning meeting.

I got tired just even typing that.

Mary Beth is as cute as ever, always running into the twins' room to give us diapers and wipes. And she seems to have this incredible ability to just walk into the room and Jack will stop all crying. Man does he love his big sister! The smiles he gives her just melt our hearts. It's seriously adorable.

Erin has really opened up in this last month. Sometimes SHE'S actually the quiet, chilled out baby. And she is smiling up a storm now too. (Well, but not smiling in these photos...) All the teachers at their school comment about how beautiful she is. Well, I can't argue with that.

And how cool is it that we created three blue-eyed redheads? Go go recessive genes!!!

So I'm not sure that we will be able to take their 6 month photo in the lamb together next month. As you can see from these 5 month photos, it's not exactly a happy fit. She was VERY MUCH not happy. But it's still funny to look at, eh?!

Gotta love the progression here...

4 months!

Dear Erin and Jack,

I can't believe it, but you're 4 months old today. And we're all still alive! Laugh if you will, but lately this is no small feat. We're now officially within one week of all of us being under the same roof in our new house in San Antonio, and it CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH.

Seriously, Mama's tired and Dad misses you both so much during the week.

When he got to the Grapevine house on Saturday, you both greeted Dad with the biggest smiles in the world. I'm pretty sure it made his week. The open-mouth smile you see in the photo above is your newest look, Jack. And it makes all of this single-momdom almost worthwhile.

And Erin - you have actually started smiling now. It's absolutely adorable. Unfortunately the smiles come sporadically within bouts of cries/screams, but we still love ya. Don't believe me? Here's an outtake from our monthly photo session:

Don't worry - there are a TON of photos of me like that when I was your age. Your Auntie Kim and Uncle Rob will be glad to show you those.

So let's review how far we've come now!

 

Please keep up the smiles! We love you!

Love,

Mom and Dad

kim and jack

Apparently Kim and Jack have a bond only the quiet twin would get. I sent her the picture above and here is the conversation that ensued: 

It's hard to argue with her, though. Here are Erin and Jack the other night...

And here are Kim and me with Geimps when we were their age.

I'll let you guess which one I am.

I see her point.

three months!

Yeah, it's getting harder to get them in the lamb together...

3 months

2 months

 

 1 month

 

couple of days!

you mess with the bull...

...you get the horns.

Seriously, she looks like she's about to punch someone. Tough girl, she is. But then there's Jack, who doesn't look like he enjoyed how loud she was getting.

Can't you see I'm trying to relax here?

Oh this is getting fun...

jack--the chillmeister

So the twins' personalities are starting to shine through. And while Erin can be, um, a handful, Jack is the epitome of cool and relaxed. He kicks back and watches Erin yell, and it's almost as if you can just hear him saying "Yo sis. Chill."

Even the pictures are starting to show it:

Stay cool, Jackey-Jack!!

boo!!!

mary beth decided to scare us last night...

erin was not amused.

but jack was.

:-)

the babes, they are a' growin'...

Twinkies on day 1. Yeah, they don't look like this anymore...

I took the munchkins to the doctor today for their 2 month appointment. Well, Mary Beth came too, but she escaped the necessary immunizations that the twins had to endure. Poor kiddos. Actually, poor me. I think it hurt me more. Jack cried until I picked him up (exactly 2 seconds after the last shot in his leg). Erin cried just a bit longer, but for the rest of the time there she had a look on her face like I killed her puppy.

There is no puppy.

We joke that Jack is a "Chunky Monkey" because he feels signifcantly bigger than Erin. Well, he definitely is bigger, but I was happy to find out he's not "chunkier" than most other babies his age. As if Bob and I could produce a chunky child...

So here are the stats:

• Erin is now 9 pounds, 13 ounces. WHAT?!?! Remember, she started at 5 pounds, 5 ounces. Poor princess was in the 2nd percentile then. Now she's in the 23rd. Milk - it does the body good.
• She's also now 20.5 inches long. Not going to tell you the wimpy percentile that is because it's just sad. But none of us kids are winning any height contests and we all turned out just fine.
• Jack is now 11 pounds, 7 ounces. That's right. Almost 2 pounds heavier than his sister. No wonder my arms are getting ripped. He is in the 43rd percentile - was born in the 27th. That boy can eat!
• And he's 22.5 inches long. That puts him right at the 42nd percentile. Consistent, isn't he?
• BONUS - I joke that the Francisco boys have big heads, but I'm usually talking about attitudes. But in this case, JACK HAS A BIG OL' HEAD. Like 72nd percentile. Goober.

Dr. Z said everything else looked fantastic, and sang my praises for making it more than 9 weeks without giving them any formula. Mary Beth never had formula and we went direct to whole milk at a year. I can't promise that with these hungry, hungry hippos, but I'll do it as long as my body will hold out.

Poor body... good thing they're cute.



two months...

dear erin and jack,

last week you turned 2 months old. hard to believe it's only been 2 months, and it also feels like just yesterday you were born! i'd be lying if i told you it's been an easy time -- one day we'll fill you in on how your dad started at a new golf course right before you were born. basically i've been doing the single-mom thing for a while now, but dad comes home on the weekends to shower you with kisses. soon we'll all be under the same roof and maybe i'll get more than 2 hours of sleep at a time!!

so far you two are as different as you can be. and once we get used to one of you being one personality, you two switch and throw us for a loop. right now jack is the "chill one." and erin, well, you're quite loud. and belive me it's ironic for me to write that because i believe your grandpa would tell you i was not a quiet infant myself.

your big sis mary beth LOVES having you two around, though yesterday i did hear her asking for erin to stop crying... she hands me diapers and wipes and is constantly giving you "kisses AND hugs!" she even holds the hand of whichever twin is next to her on the way to/from school. it's not easy for her to have so much of our attention given to you two, but i think she's handling it like a champ.

this thursday you two have a doctor appointment that i'm not looking forward to. it's shot time. boooo. this is the one that hurts me more than you (hopefully) because i know the shots are coming. i may have to hand out earplugs for erin's screams though...

and we have continued our tradition of nicknames... the first night we came home from the hospital with mary beth she was donned "baby love." well, erin, you are "sweet pea." and jack, you actually have two nicknames. first, mary beth named you "HER jackey-jack." and i hate to break it to you, but you're also "chunky monkey." you'll understand when you see the pictures. but you're OUR chunky monkey and sweet pea, and we couldn't love you any more.

love,
mom and dad

jack tells erin to back off for his photo op...

 

yeah, you try and get both twins to look at a camera!

 

princess erin FINALLY asleep.. and little jackey-jack shows off his cheeks!