Favorite Comments

Hi Readers. Here is a sampling of some of my favorite Jack quotes from our days in the hospital:

1. The first night, witnessing nursing for the first time: "Why him eating out your arm?"

2. The second night: "Why him not eating out your breast?"

3. Second night also: "Why him not sticking out your belly no more?"

4. The day after eating strawberry pancakes and bacon at I-Hop with Chuck, Grandmommy and Gaga (my aunt BJ): "Me want pancakes and baking powder and strawberries."

Chuck had a great one too. This was said to Jamie the morning after Ryker's birth, in the middle of a string of really sweet comments: "Sweetie, you're a tramp." (He meant to say Champ and then was going to change that to Trooper, but it came out as Tramp - and he said it as sweet as can be.)

The Count Down is Over!

I would like to introduce the latest addition to the Van Nostrand family, Ryker Kelly Van Nostrand.  Ryker joined us June 24th at 9:30 AM.  He was 8 pounds 1 ounce and 20 inches long.

Jamie and Ryker are doing well and adjusting quite nicely to the new arrangement.  Jackson is thrilled to be a big brother and there should be no conflict between the two, ever.  Right?

Assume that many more pictures are coming as time allows so check back from time to time.

Chuck  

Geometry

This is Jack's wardrobe.

Last night I asked him to put a sock away in its drawer. I said it was one of the small squares. He reached up to the right one and put the sock in. Then he pointed at the top left one and said "dat square too." "Correct" I said. "Do you know what the shape is of the long one to the right?" He had said something close to "rectangle" a few days ago so I thought he might say that again.

Instead?

"Rhombus."

Chuck thinks he said "rumpus," as in the Wild Rumpus from Where the Wild Things Are. I choose to give our child more credit than that. =)

Quiz Answers

Okay readers - you guys are either the shyest group of people or no one is reading this board anymore! I'll choose to think it's the first. Actually, a number of you have emailed me separately or talked to me about the quiz. It's okay to post comments though - I promise the board doesn't bite.

1. Body hompf = Peanut Butter - he said this for a long time but doesn't anymore
2. Guys (not a trick question - he says this and means something specific) = Chuck and I (i.e. "Umm, guys?") - I've never heard him say this to or about anyone else, just us
3. Hatar = Guitar
4. Benture = Adventure
5. Body niece = Bernice (grandma)
6. Sunshines = Sunflowers
7. Tucker = Sucker/Lollipop
8. Puppet Movie = Muppet Movie
9. Jihad = Yee-Haw - this one had me confused, and REALLY worried, for a week or two until Chuck translated for me
10. Posscle = Popsicle
11. Mess Up = Make up, as in he wants you to make up a story - "Momma, you mess up this doggy please."

Vocab Test for Our Readers

Okay, dedicated readers. I think it's time for a Jackson Vocabulary Test. This might become a periodic addition to the blog - we'll see how you all do. Taking the test is simple - I'll list some words or phrases in Jackese (past and present) and you post comments (click on the link below the post) on what you think the adult equivalent is. Some of these have been posted about, some may be new to you.

The winner will get a big hug from me (or Jack). Or maybe a song sung to you by the dude himself. I'll post the answers in a few days.

Ready?

1. Body hompf
2. Guys (not a trick question - he says this and means something specific)
3. Hatar
4. Benture
5. Body niece
6. Sunshines
7. Tucker
8. Puppet Movie
9. Jihad
10. Posscle
11. Mess Up

Ending on an 11 is weird, but I can't think of the others right now.

Oh the Places He'll Go

Our nursery is complete! Okay, not the whole thing, but the mural is complete!

YIPPEEE!!!!

It's fantastic, if you ask me. I love it. I can sit in there for hours and just stare at it. That's a good thing too, because I'll probably be doing just that in a few short days.

Anyway, I updated Flickr yesterday but Marianne put the final touches on after that, so I've added a few extra photos this morning. You'll see that I couldn't get a final picture of the whole thing unobstructed because Chuck was so excited to get the crib in! There are several "Easter Eggs" (does anyone else know that term? I didn't - it means when people hide things in their work for others to find) that I took close ups of. I omitted one of those photos from this batch and will post it once the baby arrives.

I think Jack is nesting also because he and I spent a good hour in there yesterday putting things away. His contribution was to bring every blanket, stuffed animal and pillow he could find from his own room and then throw them into the crib, saying "me give this to my baby - me no need it anymore."

Anyway, a big THANK YOU to Marianne (who hopefully will be reading this post)! You did an amazing job and we're so lucky to have gotten to know you through this process.

What More Could a Dad Want?

I'm not a Dad, obviously, but if I WERE one, I think I would have loved this Father's Day.

First, instead of having some really creative present arrive at the house, Chuck had to pick his own. He swears he likes it better this way, but I always feel guilty. In any event, he chose an antennae for the TV in our bedroom and a DVD player. The day before Father's Day he had to spend several hours in the attic in 90+ degree heat to install the antennae. The best part? I'll be the one that uses it the most, as I'll be staying at home for the next 3 months.

Then came the REAL Father's Day. I cooked breakfast. Neat, huh?!

Then Chuck decided to wash the cars. Isn't that what all dads do on their special day?

We ate lunch at a deli that Chuck loves. Then he did laundry. Now he's putting a crib together.

No rest for the weary, or dads, right?

Anyway, it's pretty perfect that the day has gone like this because it demonstrates one of the reasons why Chuck is a great dad. He has a work-ethic that just won't quit - he will do anything for our family. Other reasons why Chuck is a great Dad:

• his sense of humor
• his cuddliness
• his sense of adventure
• his calm personality

He is the best role model for our soon-to-be two kids that I could hope for.

Thanks, Chuck, for all you do. Love, Sweetie