Claire gets sick

Claire doesn't do travel well. She was sick twice on her cross country trip, once just before getting to our house, and she slept all day yesterday. Poor thing. Even though Claire was sick we had a great time.

Friday, the girls had a sleep over at a friend's house for her birthday, the remainder of us went out to eat at the Sunset Grill. There was a live band and the food was great. All the girls picked the rib eye special.

I'm not sure Jack knew all the attention was about him. He slept most of the weekend, but everyone had a good time holding the new little guy.

While Claire recovered from a brief pool adventure, Grancy, the girls and I went out for a walk/bike ride on the trails in the nearby park. Grancy and I practiced our close-up photography taking skills, which are greatly enhanced through macros on the cameras.

Saturday night we had a gourmet dinner at home and Jack's Birth Day celebration cake for dinner.

Sunday came way too early and Claire and Grancy had to leave early for the airport to get back and get ready for work/school tomorrow.

Jack Sees Angels

There's no other explanation for it. Jack never looks at you. I understand that the baby's vision isn't as keen as an adult's (I would put myself in an exception, I have terrible vision), or a young child's, so he never really looks at you. I think it's funny that he seems to acknowledge I'm here, but then he looks right past me, and I think I know why.

He is looking at angels. Maybe he sees them? Mom thinks this might be his guardian angels and I would say that he has two of them. One to protect him from the affection one sister gives him, and the other guardian to protect him from the other sister. They are very affectionate, they love their little brother.

First Day of School

Both the girls started school this August, second and fourth grades here we come. Both first days went very well. Madeline started last Thursday and Terra started Monday. Madeline wanted to bring her lunch, Terra decided the hot dog sounded good, which is amazing, because hot dogs never sound good at home. Terra's friend Devyn gave her a big hug when she first came in the room. We sat down and I helped organize a mountain of school books into four shelves that attach to the desk. The rest of the week went very well, we don't find out how she did on the first week's spelling test until next week.


Madeline's in class with a lot of her friends from last year and sits by several. The first day, she was nervous other kids would see Jack, so she asked that Mom just stop by the room, but not go inside all the way. We were really, really excited about the spelling test (14/14 for 100%), until we noticed the name of the sheet was Grace and not Madeline. How'd that happen?

Two big girls off to school. It was a good summer, now it's time to learn.

New Bikes for the Sisters

We got the girls new bikes Saturday (8/18). Big hit. Both have ridden their bikes into the ground (which is good). Terra's worn the rear tire on her bike so badly you can see the inner tube. It needed some maintenance both their tires always need air, and thank goodness for the air compressor.

Misty took the girls to the Baby Shower for Baby Jack, I lowered the back seats in the white sedan and headed for the store. Found two cool Schwinn bikes, same color, same size, same everything, and packed them into the car. Then got home, aired them up and hung them in the garage for the girls to come home. Misty pulled back in the garage after coming from the baby shower, Terra walked completely by the tire, suspended by a hook on the ceiling.

When they came inside, I said that I bought the stuff to get fix the tires on their bikes and they needed to help put it together. Terra went to get her shoes Madeline was first in the garage. I said, "Here's how we're going to fix the tires," and looked up to the ceiling. Madeline followed my line of sight and said, "OHH Terra! Awesome, we got new bikes!" Terra ran out with equal amazement.

They rode them up and down the street doing new tricks and are very happy with the new hand brakes on the bike, the new size, the colors, the look, it all went very well. Before they went to bed they both washed their bikes. with a sponge. and water.

This morning Dad, Terra, and Madeline went on bike rides through the trails. It was fun, but they were tired in the end. Going down a hill really, really fast, I heard Terra say almost to herself, "This is so much fun."

Bath Time for Jack

Jack got his bath this morning. Here's what he likes; he likes the wash cloth squeezed and the water dripping on him, he likes to be naked, he likes to pee when it gets cold. Jack doesn't like to have his hair washed and he doesn't like cold water.

He does his lovable little grunts some during the bath time, very little crying.

Cobra Kai is going down!

Jack decided that he could pee on all his clothes today. His clean clothes at least. So, the little guy gets to wear his Karate Kid outfit. Watch out though, because this old guys butterfly kick is in need of some work. Some work real bad. Not that Jack has time for work. He is presently too busy doing one of three things: eating, sleeping, or getting his clothes dirty.

Baby Monkey

We got a box in the mail today. A big box. My Espresso machine collapsed last weekend and so I immediately ordered a new one. Opening the box and expecting an Espresso machine Misty noted the monkey. Then looked at the addressee and saw it was for Jack. Jack got his first piece of mail! and it's got a monkey!

He loves it. Misty put the monkey with the plush fur on the floor and laid baby Jack on it for some tummy time. He loved it, cooed and squealed making the "Content and happy Jack noises." Misty picked him up and he started crying, he missed the monkey.

The monkey matches the ones both his sisters got from Grancy from Build-a-bear. He's part of the Monkey Club now.

you tube videos

Check out some of these videos of young Jack.



Tummy Time:


After some tummy time, it's time to make it really hard for people to view the video and turn the camera upside down.


The last of the upside down videos.

Well Baby Appointment

The well baby appointment this morning went extremely well.

They didn't take his length, but his weight is up, he's at 8 lbs 8 oz now. They lose weight after they are born and before we left the hospital he was 8lbs 4 oz. So, he's gaining weight.

Everything else related to our hospital stay, we're "going to be pretty happy with."

I should also point out that baby boys have a gift for pee'ing at the inopportune times when the diaper is off. Misty witnessed a golden fountain, "I had no idea it could go so high," while changing a diaper. Jack also took this chance to pee on the doctor.

The poop stinks

The stuff before didn't stink but it was m-e-s-s-y. This stuff is less messy, but it stinks. I'd rather have the latter. He also does these things very loudly and with animation. His forehead wrinkles up and his legs go straight, his toes curl.

Terra Stayed Sunday Night

Terra stayed Sunday night. What a blast. Just the two girls and Dad were able to go to the pool. Next year, we need to get the inflatable tubes. That was a great game. Madeline and Terra both had a blast.

Monday morning we went to the car wash and used the free vaccuum. The girls, pretending to be terrified, grabbed the Polly Pockets, Barbies, Crayons, shoes, socks, and everything they were worried the "sucker" was going to eat. They laughed gleefully.

On the way to Terra's mom's we played 20 questions.

Home, all five of us

We made it back home safely and soundly. There were some problems with the car seat. It's been a while without babies. It takes two to change a diaper. I hold Jack's feet to make sure he doesn't get them in anything (messy) and Misty's busy cleaning up. Why is it anything safety related with the baby you have to read the directions? It took some time for me to figure out the car seat before we could leave the hospital.

Favorite anecdotes from the weekend, one from both girls.

Madeline's:
Travis asked about the name "James," as in "Where did James come from?" Madeline quickly answered, "From Mommy's belly."

Terra's:
Holding Jack, Terra remarked how little he is and followed it with, "In two years . . . " a pause as she realizes the obviousness of the statement, ". . . Jack's going to be two."

Baby's Born

In what seemed like no time, this baby came out.

It was tough waking up Friday morning. Misty and I stayed out late Thursday night and went to a movie. I didn't get to sleep until 1:30 A.M. We needed to be at the hospital by 6:30 A.M. Mom was connected to the intravenous tubes and setup for the putossin drip and some antibiotics.

Kathryn was the nurse and she was so great to talk with. She did an excellent job. The anesthesiologists were sent for and arrived about 10:30AM. They setup the epidural. Paul forgot to tell Misty about the button so at noon Misty's wondering, "What's this pain? Why is the epidural not working?" The button was soon discovered, the anesthesiologists arrived again and topped Misty off, and we were back in business.

Kathryn paged the doctor at 12:30. Misty said, "We're having this baby at one, I want to be eating by two." Dr. King arrived by 12:40. The head was crowning, the doctor said that this is progressing nicely. I watched a little as the doctor was getting suited up and two other people from the hospital staff arrived with carts, sheets, tons of stuff.

I hear Dr. King say, "Misty, you're making my job easy," and the next thing I saw was the head peeping out. The doctor supported the baby's head and the nurse, staff said the baby's looking beautiful. Misty's not saying a peep, she's focused with intensity that I will never be able to match.

I wanted to know if this was a boy or girl. The doctor pulls the baby up and the right thigh is covering the privates. I thought, "Hey! Another girl." Then the leg dropped and the thigh with it. There it was. A boy.

James Bruce Alexander was born today weighing in at a mean 9.03 lbs and 20.5 inches long.