Weights

Jack - 44 lbs
Ally - 26 lbs
Abby - 22 lbs 9 oz

Abby has been jibber-jabbering away the last few days!

Jack's First TBall Practice

I know I'm a little late, but better late than never, and I wanted to capture these thoughts before it was too late! :) Jack had his first TBall practice a couple of weeks ago and I was so proud of him I just had to write about it. My buddy Brian Cooper is the coach and I was pretty excited about it because he said he needed some help and asked me if I was interested. I told him have no idea what I was doing, but I'd be more than willing to help. Brian did a great job! He started off with all the kids in a half-circle and went around asking each kid what their name was. Jack said his name very loudly and proudly: Jack Patterson! Is was so cute! Then he went back through the group a couple of times asking if the other kids knew their teammates' names. Not many did, but I was very impressed b/c Brian seemed to know all the kids' names after going one time around the group! Then he introduce himself as "Coach Brian" and his assistant as "Coach Marty" then he paused and looked over at me and said "and that's Coach Jeff"!!! I was so shocked and very proud that he introduced me as one of the coaches! Then he split the kids into 3 groups. Two groups practiced hitting, and one group practiced fielding. I was with Brian with the kids practicing their fielding. The kids were single-file and he would hit grounders to them and they would throw the ball to me and I'd toss them to Brian. It was very fun to be "a part of it" and encourage the kids when they did a good job or tried very hard. I was also VERY PROUD of Jack! He was BY FAR one of the best kids out there (most likely THE best) and he listened very intently to Brian and the other coach. I kept watching him and he had a smile on his face the entire time! You could really tell he loves learning and loves baseball. He was the only kid that hit the ball out of the infield and he hit it out in the air!!! Of course I made a fool of myself to one of the other dads (who looked like an ex-baseball player) but it was very funny: Jack was wearing a red Cardinals shirt and he asked me if I had a kid on the team. I said, "Yes, the little boy in the red shirt". Then he said "Oh, you mean the Rolen shirt"? Then (like an idiot) I said, "No, the Cardinals shirt!!!" DUMASS!!! Anyway, Jack did a great job and I had a blast watching him and helping to encourage him and the other kids. After practice, Jack asked me if he could run around the bases...

It's going to be a great year!

Busy day yesterday...

Abby was in rare form yesterday. First, I was on the computer and noticed some movement in front of me. I looked in the mirror next to the front door and say Abby coming down the stairs! The gate was still securely in place!! She was coming down so I completely missed her going up. I couldn't figure out how she got up there because I didn't hear a peep. I thought for sure if she went over the gate, I would've heard a "thud". So I took her back downstairs and then I went upstairs and stood at the top around the corner where she couldn't see me. Low and behold, she placed her feet halfway up the gate, leaned over the top at her stomach, placed both hands on the second step and then brought over one leg at a time. It was flawless and quick! So much for the gate!!

Later, when they woke up from their nap, I went in to get them and Abby had no pants on, no socks on and her shirt was over her head with just her arms in it...like a little cardigan sweater. The girls were just jumping up and down like crazy. Man - we've got our hands full!!!

Jack said something funny too. I was getting him dressed and getting ready to put his shirt on. He pointed to my chest and said "Why do you have this?". I said "Because I'm a girl. Why do you have those?". He said "Mine are just dots. Are yours hills or mountains?" I had no idea what to say and was cracking up so I just didn't answer and walked away! He's all boy!!!

Last night we went to Dick's and bought his new baseball pants and socks and a new bat for opening day. Unfortunately, it's rained all night and all the T-ball games are cancelled. He's so disappointed as we all are...

Jack's first email

Jack got his first email from a girl today! This is why we now have to watch Jack and Emily like hawks!!! Here it is...

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Jack,

You look handsome. You look cute too. I love your soul.

PM I wish you could come back to my house. In case you want to see the Easter egg movie you just gave me the copy cat one. I love it.

Love,
Emily

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We set up Jack's first email address and replied. His email address is jackmpat@gmail.com!

Just not enough time...

I mean to do this every day but can't find the time...

Well, we survived Disney...barely! It was as bad as I thought it would be workwise. Jeff and I fought constantly. He felt left out of all the decisions and wasn't happy. I felt like all he cared about was Jack and they would just do things together. The girls were way too young. They couldn't do anything so therefore I couldn't do anything. It was so much work with the stroller and being out-numbered by kids. Jack thoroughly enjoyed the Character Breakfast and getting the characters' signatures. Ally threw up on the way there which was fun. Otherwise, the drive really wasn't as bad as it could've been. We drove 10 hrs the first day and the 3 the second. On the way home, we drove about 7 and then 6. We'll take the kids back but not until the girls are quite a bit older.

Jack is 4 1/2 now. He's growing like crazy. He's grown over an inch and gained several pounds just since his 4th bday. At last check, he was over 41 inches and 43 lbs! He's wearing a size 11 shoe! I think he totally skipped sizes 7-10. He just started t-ball in Newburgh (3/29) and loves it and is doing an awesome job. Brian Cooper is the coach and Jeff is helping. He put Jack at First base and he didn't need much coaching before he was doing perfect. He's hitting and throwing great too. We bought him some new cleats and he loved that. He's doing better when being dropped off at school (now that he has like 4 weeks left!). He's just getting so big!!!

A&A are 18 months. Both girls are getting their molars and wave and say "Bye bye". Both sleep all night and still take 2 naps a day.

Ally is a talking fool! She repeated everything. She's saying Pretty, Brush, Shoe, Sock, Jack, Abby, Dadda, Please, Cracker, Cheese when take her picture and anything else you tell her to say. She has an attitude like crazy and loves to back talk. She is Lori made over! She bites and yells when she's mad. If she gets hurt (or not) she always says that Jack did it. :-) She's 24 lbs and 2 inches taller than Abby. Still a big thumb sucker and loves her bubbas. She won't let Abby even touch them! Ally's hair is getting so long. Wearing size 5W or 5 1/2 shoe and 18-24 months.

Abby is still sooooo busy! She's up to a whopping 21 lbs 10 oz. Talks occasionally...saying Momma, Dadda, Bye and Jack. Still loves her pacis and gets excited when she sees you getting her one. Loves to get one of Ally's bubbas but Ally won't let her and bites! Abby's hair is getting thicker and longer. She's so dainty and beautiful. Wearing size 4 shoe and still in 12-18 months.

All 3 kids had their pictures taken with Antiquities and they were awesome!! I might be the VP of Totten Hall next year and then President. I can't believe Jack is already finishing his first year of school. Got a busy couple of months coming up with games, camping, anniversary, etc. Again, just not enough time in the day!!!