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Molly (18ish months):

• Words: Mama, Dada, Papa, hello, uh-oh, Jack Jack, Mo Mo, no, yeah, moo, Elmo "Melmo", ruff, and alot of jabbering where she's trying to tell us something but we can't understand her yet.
• New Talents: running, trying to jump, singing lots of songs, turning in circles and falling down when we sing Ring Around the Rosie, fighting with Jack, climbing and falling off of everything, bringing Mommy all the shoes she can find, hiding by the washing machine and in the lazy susan
• Likes: her puppy, reading books, chewing on her fingers, the Magna Doodle and coloring/eating crayons, swimming, talking on her phone
• Dislikes: having her hair brushed, when Jack takes her toys, having wet pajamas in the morning

Jackson (28ish months):

• Words: the kid says everything but it's really cute to hear him say- "anothothother ooooooone, mank you, Dear Jeje (Dear Jesus), Daddy workin, Daddy golfit (golfing). He also gives directions ("dat way") and is very polite ("Pwease trator ride?")
• New Talents: taking off his diaper and bringing it to Mommy, knocking on his door when he wants to be allowed to get up in the morning or after naptime, following multi-step directions ("Jack, can you turn off the TV, turn off the hall light and get your puppy to go Bye Bye?"), getting things for Molly to make her happy like her puppy or her milk
• Likes: outside, tractor rides, playing downstairs, singing songs (he knows a lot of lyrics), swinging, Sid the Science Kid, mac and cheese and snack mix (all the little bits of crackers, animal cookies, etc. that I throw in a bag together), when Daddy isn't workin.
• Dislikes: keeping his diaper on, timeout, being clothed, sitting still, when Molly takes his toys
• Potty training did not happen since he wouldn't go to the bathroom on the potty. I decided to wait awhile. Now, he is taking his diaper off all the time so I think that is a sign he is ready. Just in time for me to go back to work...great.

Andy (327 months):

• New Talents: calling "Not it" on a dirty diaper before the child has even considered making it dirty, being way to smart and practical about money, sleeping while babies cry at night (that isn't really a new talent-- he's always been able to do that)
• Likes: guitars, golfing, his kids, not working, when his wife actually cooks dinner
• Dislikes: working, ironing, changing poopy diapers

Pregnancy Update: Everything is going well. I feel great and the baby is moving around like crazy to keep up with his or her active brother and sister. We have our big ultrasound on Aug. 26 so we will hopefully find out what we are having. Andy and I both think it is a boy. A gender quiz I took online told me that I have a 50% chance of having a boy...

We will also find out if my placenta has behaved and is in the right place (hoping and praying for this) since the placenta previa last time is what made me have Molly so early. I dreamt last night that I was holding the chubbiest, cutest little baby boy, so maybe that dream is right. But, I've also dreamt some very strange things lately... This pregnancy is flying by!

It's My Potty and I'll Go If I Want To

This week, I decided to potty train Jackson. I researched the internet. I bought tiny little boy underpants (so stinkin adorable). I hit the Dollar Store and bought new books, flashcards, stickers, and a special basket just for beside the potty. We've been watching Elmo's Potty Time for months. We've been putting Jack on the potty before bathtime to get him used to it.

He loves to "pee pee in the potty". But, he hasn't actually pee peed in the potty yet.

Day one he had several accidents in his underpants and he definitely does not like wet underpants (who does?). He also sprayed himself in the face with the carpet cleaner (Mother Of The Year Award is mine!) but he's fine.

Day two, he just didn't pee all morning. He kept his underpants dry but didn't pee in the potty either despite the twenty times I put him on it in four hours.

Some people would get frustrated by now. I consider it progress.

My Inmost Being

For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

When a somewhat distant acquaintance of mine had her baby boy at 34 weeks gestation, many memories of Molly's birth came rushing back. I remembered the NICU vividly with the constant beeps of the monitors. I remember hearing monitor alarms go off and fearing it was Molly. I remember being scared to ask questions and more scared of the answers. When can we take her home? When will she get better? What is the next step to get her out of here? What can I do? The fear was tangible. It smelled metallic and tasted like tinfoil.

It was tempting to blame myself for Molly's early arrival. If only I hadn't been on my feet all day. If only I hadn't fought with Andy about cleaning the kitchen. If only I had taken my prenatal vitamin regularly. If only I hadn't hauled Jackson around the night before. In my weakest moments, Satan crept in my mind through my IF ONLY thoughts.

Fast forward about a year. Molly is healthy and beautiful and right on track developmentally. The NICU is in our past and the memories have blurred around the edges.

As Andy and I started talking about conceiving another baby, some of the fear resurfaced. I know that I am more likely to have the same complications that I had with Molly. I know that I am more likely for another premature birth. That scares me and the fear smells metallic.

However, I also strongly believe that I cannot and will not spend my time worrying about it. Worrying is a sin and I am choosing to not let Satan creep into my mind again. This baby that I am carrying is knit together by the Great Physician. And further more, my inmost parts, the parts that are cradling this little life and will give him or her forward in God's perfect timing, were knit together by the same Physician. I choose to lay my fear to rest at His feet and bask in the sweet smell of baby lotion.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Dinner House

We told Jack that we were going bye bye last night. After he made sure we got all the stuff we needed ("shoosh" "cup" "Mowy") we left. He requested we go to "Mamma and Pappa's house" but we told him we were going to dinner, instead. He then proceeded to tell us to go to the "dinner house" (restaurant).

We went to the Chinese Buffet place which has to be the best place to take little kids. There's no waiting for your food and they have so many choices. The kids pigged out on chicken, pineapple, rolls, jello, and "all clean" (ice cream). Healthy, I know.

The old ladies at the table beside us complimented us on our beautiful children and how well-behaved they were. They really were very good and they sure are beautiful, in my humble opinion.

Jackson Counting Wolfe

Jack counts from one to thirteen. He only counts to thirteen because he counts the steps as he goes up and down them. We only have thirteen.

He says "seny" for seven and "eleny" for eleven.

I forget these things too fast so I thought I should write it down. That's all.

Baby Update

I had my first baby appointment on Monday and everything is just fine. We had an ultrasound to scope out my scar tissue from two previous c-sections, but I got to see our cute little fetus, too. There is only one baby in there and his/her heartbeat was a healthy 143 bpm and measuring 6 weeks 4 days (I was 7 weeks). Everything looked great and we're so happy for our healthy little peanut!

Baby is still making me incredibly sick all day long but I have some heavy-duty anti-naseau drugs and a cool wristband thingy that are supposed to settle my stomach. Best of all, I have a very helpful husband home on vacation who lets me sleep in!

They're Growing Up!

Jackson (2 years 1 month):

• 29 lbs. and 35 3/4 in. tall (50th and 75th percentile respectively)


• prays "Dear dear, food, good, much, amen."


• no longer calls Molly "Mo". She is now "Mowy". I'm kinda sad to see that end.


• Sleeps in his big boy bed for naps very well and will be transitioning to his bed for nitetime sometime this summer.


• Sits on the potty before bathtime and knows what goes in the potty, but has yet to successfully deposit anything.


• says "Pwease" and "mank ooo" very politely and hundreds of other words.


• Unfortunately, says "stuck" and "sock" with an f- instead of s-, so we get many weird looks in Target when the cart gets stuck and Jack screams "F***"!
  
• gets Time Out a couple times a week and cries and cries when he has to go sit at the end of the hall. Molly usually goes with him to keep him company. She only stays for about ten seconds and then he suffers alone.

Molly (15 months):

• 26 lbs. 3 oz. and 31 1/2 in. tall (90th and 75th percentile)
• is quite a little Diva and throws a fit when something doesn't go her way. Her cry is "ear piercing" according to the babysitter and we can only agree.
• has become very attached to her White Puppy and snuggles it and sleeps with it every night.
• is thrilled to go get Jackson up in the morning. She toddles down the hall screaming "JA JA" and then reaches through his crib rails and bops him on the head.
• only drinks from a sippy cup and our cupboard is clear of bottles for the first time in a couple years. However, they will be back soon.
• follows Jack around constantly.
• has been walking for about 1 and a half months.
• has become a big snuggler
• is very sensitive to tone of voice. If I speak sternly to her she dissolves into tears and buries her face in the floor.
• will give you hundreds of kisses even if you only want one.

Baby #3:

• has not been to the doctor yet so there is nothing to write about that
• is making Mommy very, very sick, all day long.

All is going very well in our world and we're looking forward to summer, going away for our 5 year anniversary, no more morning sickness, and watching the kids play and grow.