Handprints On The Wall

I came across this poem today and thought I would share it with all of you. I know it rings true in my world!

Handprints On The Wall

One day as I was picking
The toys up off the floor,
I noticed a small hand print
On the wall beside the door.
I knew that it was something
That I'd seen most every day,
But this time when I saw it there
I wanted it to stay.
Then tears welled up inside my eyes,
I knew it wouldn't last
For every mother knows
Her children grow up way too fast.
Just then I put my chores aside
And held my children tight.
I sang to them sweet lullabies
And rocked into the night.
Sometimes we take for granted,
All those things that seem so small.
Like one of God's great treasures...
A small hand print on the wall

Author Unknown

Feeding The Ducks

The weather has been beautiful here the past couple of days (opposite of what the weather guys have predicted) so we decided to take the kids to the pond in our neighborhood and let them feed the ducks some bread. I got a little carried away taking pictures but I just couldn't help myself - they were just too cute! And of course Jacob sat back looking cool as he watched Elizabeth and AJ.

Frenulectomy . . . What's that???

AJ had his surgery (or as Mike likes to call it - "oral procedure") yesterday morning and it went great! (By the way, a frenulectomy is clipping of the tongue.) He was tired from having me wake him up so early but laid back and watched cartoons while we waited in pre-op. When we were taken back to the holding area, he decided to have the patience of a two year old (and we all know that isn't long at all). The anesthetist gave him a mask to play with and a heavy duty dose of sedative with the hopes of not having to have to put him under all of the way but it didn't do anything more than make him a little drunk for a little while. Anyway, they took him back to the OR and gave him a little gas and then the snip of the tongue and it was over. The worst part of it was that he was like a different child when he came out of the anesthesia - we needed and exorcist! I have never seen such a violent child but from what I understand kids are like that sometimes after being put under. That lasted for about 20 minutes and then he was sweet and cuddly AJ again. He had some juice, popsicles and another movie to watch and then we got to go home. He never acted like he was in pain - just tired. He did great! The speech therapist told us today that his tongue looks great and thinks that this will help with his speech greatly. Now we get to work on tongue exercises - never thought I would be working on that area of the body!

Thought I would throw in this picture that we just had taken!

The Graduate

After a long and stressful 24 months, Mike was awarded his Masters of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from AFIT (Air Force Institute of Technology) on Thursday evening. There were a total of 248 graduates with many varying degrees. We got to hear from the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Wynne, as well as some other high-up's at AFIT. We are glad that Mike is done and are very proud of him! I just wish that I could understand the work that he has done! :)

The Graduate Himself!!!!

Mike and me.

Mike with his parents, John & Mary Marlin.

Mike with his sister, Amy.

Mike with me and my Dad, Steve Piccinati.

Oh so blue

So, Mike came home on Friday with a big surprise for me . . . tickets to see the Blue Man Group as well as securing a babysitter for the kids. Having him find care for the kids was probably the best thing he could have done for me these days. Anyway, we got to have a wonderful night out on the town (for an early anniversary). If you ever get a chance to see the Blue Man Group, I highly recommend it. It was a lot of fun - Mike even got pulled up on the stage to be spray painted with - well, spit. That is another story. But anyway, thanks Mike - I had a great time!!!

Sooo Sleepy!

Make sure you have the volume turned up! Anyway, after a very LARGE dinner, Jacob passed out in Daddy's arms and set off quickly in his snoring. It was too cute to hear!

4 months old

Well, we were off to see the doctor today for an eye infection for Jacob but it was his 4 month birthday so they looked him over while we were there. After being looked at and given a good bill of health (besides his eye - conjunctivitis), we proceeded to immunizations where he got his 4 stabs and little cocktail for the rotovirus. He hasn't had a fun day since - been very cranky - but I'm sure will be back to his old self tomorrow.

4 Month Stats:

16 lbs. 2 oz. - 95th percentile
26.5 inches - 97th percentile

Orange Food

He likes his food!!!!

So now that Jacob has gotten his taste for jarred baby food, he has decided that food is going to be a BIG part of his life. Not only does he top off at least 32 oz. of formula a day, he eats two stage 2 jars of food twice a day. I can't get enough in this kid! We go to the doctor tomorrow and will know how big this kid has gotten in the last month. I swear at this rate, he is going to be a giant! I am going to have to go out and get a job just to be able to feed him! :)

Temper Tantrum City

I thought that most kids didn't enjoy going into time-out but after yesterday I question this fact. Let's just say AJ had a rough day and I lost count after a while of how many times he was put into time-out. I am convinced that the terrible two's have hit and that I am in for a real ride with him. I know that they say each child is different but I am finding that out 10 fold lately. When Elizabeth went through this stage, she would have her tantrum in one area and you could walk away and ignore her and it rarely occurred in a public place. AJ, on the other hand, will follow you around and make sure you know how mad he is at whatever has set him off and of course, it is most likely to happen in public. I just keep telling myself that this is a phase and pray that he grows out of it FAST!!!

Strike A Pose!

Elizabeth's friend, Katie, and her family came over for some beer and pizza (well, obviously the adults had the beer but anyway) and the girls got into the dress up clothes before too long. Katie has found her new calling as a singer with her #1 hit being "Life Is A Highway" and I don't even know where to begin to describe Elizabeth. Let's just say it is a good thing she is 3 dressing up like this or we would have to have a very long talk with her and add some more deadbolts to the doors. They had a lot of fun though and I know Elizabeth is going to miss Katie very much when we move. They are like two peas in a pod!

Me and My Truck

Gamma & Pappy gave AJ his Scoop for Christmas and he has recently taken a new loving to it. It has become his new seat for watching TV and even has a seat that is used for storage where he tends to keep his blankies and sippy cups. His new found love of construction equipment and transportation vehicles is a lot of fun! He has a book about the different construction "diggers" that we read several times a day and any time we go out of the house we either see a "caaa", "guck", or "bussss". He is such a boy!

Watching TV

Uh! Oh! I was caught by the camera.

The First Taste . . .

Jacob got his first taste of baby food two days ago and wasn't quite sure at first. On the second attempt he gobbled up almost the entire jar. I thought, wow - this is going to be easy - but wouldn't you know he threw it all up about an hour later. I think he ate too fast. I have tried since then and can't get him to eat any of it. I guess he just isn't in the mood yet.

Don't ya' just love the face?

My Angels

I had Elizabeth & Jacob's pictures done a week or so ago when there was a special Angel event going on. I think they turned out great and I wanted to share them with everyone. I know you are all thinking - what about AJ? It's not that he isn't and angel or anything (although . . . ) but I thought a 2 year old little boy dressed in wings would just look silly. I am taking him in soon to get his 2 year old pictures done. (Maybe we can find some devil horns?!) Anyway, I hope you like the pictures as much as I do. The last one of Elizabeth is my favorite!

Giggle! Giggle! Giggle!

Now that Mike has escaped the claws of AFIT, he has been able to spend some more time at home and with the kids. The other night he was playing with Jacob after the other two had gone to bed and sure enough he got Jacob to giggle...it was the first! Since then, I have tried and tried but the little man saves his giggles for his Daddy. I guess it is only fair since I got the first smiles!

The Frown

OK - so I was going through pictures on the computer and came across two back to back pictures of Elizabeth and me. Apparently the look that I get all of the time now was in the making over a year ago. But what is more amazing is I now know where she got it from. Agggghhhh - don't let her know!!!!

He's Done! He's Done!

. . . And so the chapter comes to a close with Mike presenting his defense yesterday with great success! We had a small family friendly get together at the lab last night with pizza and beer.

There were a total of 5 defenses given yesterday and everyone was glad it was over. From left to right: Major Brian Burns, Captain Justine Ruffa, Captain Mike Zollars, Captain Mike Marlin (with baby Jacob) and Captain Roland Rosario.

Captain Dave Hoffman and his family will be going to TPS with us in a couple of months.
Edwards - here we come!Major Brian Burns was responsible for this group and set them straight in their ways!

I look really disheveled but I think it must also be the look of - yeah! it's over!

The kids had a blast writing and coloring on the dry erase board. I think the fumes put them in really good moods because there weren't any of them that were misbehaved. Ha! Ha!

Congratulations Mike!

Does anyone have anything better to chew on?

So, my little man has discovered how to get his hand to his mouth and these days that seems to be where it is at all times. If he doesn't have a toy, pacifier or bottle in his mouth - you will find his fist there. You would think he would be sucking but nope - he is chewing away! I thought we had a couple of months before this teething thing kicked in but I guess he is going to be an early bloomer! I have seen a hint of a tooth on the bottom but only time will tell - the other kids fooled me at times.