life with archie

we are loving life with our little archie! jack has been a great big brother and is really enjoying archie's snuggles and smiles. we stuck close to home a bit more than usual for awhile, but now that it's summer we're heading out on adventures and archie is content to tag along. he doesn't have an especially predictable schedule, but we're all getting a decent amount of sleep and are settled into a good rhythm. unfortunately pumping and supplemental bottles re-entered our lives around five months, but he's starting to dabble in solid food so there's a light at the end of that tunnel.

archie hasn't ever been super interested in his pacifier, but has recently discovered his thumb and seems to be a big fan. it's pretty adorable. he also loves chewing on everything [including the windowsill] and moving as much as possible. current favorite activities include kicking in the pool [which makes mom very happy] and pulling up on anything he can find.

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things jack says

most of this lingo is used so often at our house that it's become part of our everyday language. i love getting to be the one who knows what it all means:

• pichu = a gun of some kind 

• queen of statues = the statue of liberty 

• pass it over = repeat [e.g. a song or story] 

• the pink lady = mariah carey [because she wore a big, pink dress in the macy's thanksgiving day parade] 

• buh-jammies = pajamas 

• the a-bobble head = the abominable snowman 

• map = game instructions, puzzle box, etc. 

• ticket = paper money 

• lip chap = chapstick 

• sh*t-tle bug = skittles [this one was both surprising and hilarious] 

• tracker = his stuffed horse 

• coolock = his baby doll 

• key = his toy snake [which mom is NOT a fan of] 

and these are some of his best quotes, most of which we hear pretty frequently:

• "happy sunday morning, happy sunday morning, happy sunday morning, get up and go to church!" [the song he sings every sunday morning] 

• "poop, poop, i went poop!" [the alert that lets us know he went poop] 

• "let me do something 'bery' quick" 

• "i just need tell you one thing. the thing i need to tell you is..." 

• "look, there's beautiful mom!" [pretty sure dad influenced this one, but i love it] 

• "okay my queen" [not sure where this came from, but it makes us giggle] 

• "an idea popped into my head" 

• "i got an idea...let's do a family hug!" 

• "mom, i think i really love you!" 

• "not today spikey balls! i have shoes on." 

• "...that's my plan. is that a good plan mom?" 

• "first i have to get everything situated." [like mother, like son] 

• "dad i like your shirt. you look handsome. you look like a handsome zookeeper." 

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jack is four

these are ten of the things we love about you:  

1. you are polite and grateful, often without prompting 

2. the way you "whistle" when you want our attention

3. you love racing to give the first hugs when we're leaving dyer dinner

4. how you cover your mouth and scrunch your shoulders when you laugh 

5. you don't stay mad and are quick to forgive 

6. when you make heartwarming comments out of the blue, like "mom, i just love being with you!"

7. how you crawl into our bed to snuggle every morning

8. you catch surprise us by using "smart" vocabulary words in the right context 

9. your choreography to 'here come the grannies'

10. the way you play and giggle with archie

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