Jack Attack & Lola Lou

Us...

2007-08-15T21:26:00.001-07:00

Who let the dogs out?

2007-08-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

A picture's worth a MILLION words!

2007-08-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

These are the days of our lives...

2007-08-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

Swimming Lessons

2007-08-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

Loua...our little fairy princess...

2007-08-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

Our little bug is turning into a tiny butterfly, before our eyes growing dark hair (again) and that diva-like attitude she was destined to have. I recall Grandpa saying that with a birth story like hers, Lola was bound to be a Take Charge Girl, Who Knew What She Wanted; and by golly truer words have never been spoken. Miss Lola can throw a tiny little tantrum at the drop of a hat, and as most precious baby girls do, always gets her way. The lyric "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets" has about ten times more meaning with the entrance of Lola Rosalie Shea into the world. And talk about smitten--I haven't seen anyone as in love with someone else, as Lola's Daddy is with her! In 15 years, we're in for some major tribulation.

Not to be out done by her overachieving older brother, Lola Lou has hit some pretty wicked milestones herself. If we had carpet, she'd be all over the place...as it is with wood floors, she crawls to where she needs to be on the area rugs and then sits and waits for someone to beck to her call after that...which isn't long. Her favorite food is still squash, although she is currently a big fan of anything the rest of us are eating! Poor girl still isn't sporting anything on her grill, but a second cousin on the McC side didn't sprout teeth until he was 18 months, so we're being patient! In the meantime Lola Rose has become quite the gummer.

If ever there were a teeny tiny princess who adored her big brother, it is Lola and Jack. She watches him, taking in everything he does with joy and anticipation. Now they have reached the stage of true interaction with one another; he can really make her laugh, and she can really make him laugh! First and foremost, she loves Jack. This is something that I pray every day remains true; the bond between siblings is colossal...I certainly know that to be the case. Anything that belongs to Jack is the best toy to offer Lola, and any time he is gone her eyes are scanning the house for his presence!

This summer we discovered that we have another child with fins...Lola has enjoyed her trips to the pool just as much as Jackie! She looks stunning in her brown and pink polka-dotted bikini, and is always the best dressed little woman at the pool!

These days, Lola is saying "Mama" and "Dada" with quite a lot of emphasis for someone who doesn't know the meaning of the words! She is still quite a jibber jabberer, certainly giving another talker amongst us a run for his money!

Jack, our handsome little drink of water

2007-08-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

This summer, Jack's had no shortage of things to do & people to play with! He has really turned into a 'big boy' lately...and for one of the first times with him I'm beginning to get that "This is going by too fast" feeling! Over the past few months Jack has embarked on many new adventures, and will eagerly share his experiences with anyone willing to listen! He started the summer off with soccer camp (and unfortunately we don't have pictures to show for it! We've included a few at-home soccer shots...hope they suffice!). Shortly after soccer camp, swimming lessons began and our little shark found his heart in the clear blue waters of Marty pool! I wouldn't be surprised if Jack winds up being a tenacious competitor for a swim team at some point in his life. He was originally enrolled in one session of lessons (two weeks), but enjoyed them so much that we enrolled him for another two! Of course (cough cough--she says in a unbiased way), Jack was the delight of the life guards mornings & did a really great job! (Okay, I guess it's to that point in life for me...I'm actually bragging about my son's mini-achievements! I'm not sure how I feel about this!) At any rate he culminated in a much sought-after graduation from Preschool Lessons, and next summer will be able to start off with the big kids! Seriously, he now 'swims' in the bathtub every night...which is becoming less and less feasible because of his constant growth upwards.

Jack's next adventure will be 'school'! In September he will be starting Preschool at Hillcrest Covenant Church in Prairie Village; he will go twice a week (Tuesday and Wednesday) from 9:30-2:30! Ben is especially going to reap the benefits of this "Jack being away from home" business, as I will be at work. Not that I'm sulking. Jack was hesitant when the idea was first presented, but he's actually very excited now! I still foresee some rough mornings, because he's never been away from us, but I know that soon he will be flourishing and making new friends! We went to the Disney Store this weekend and got him a Power Ranger's lunchbox; he's very excited to take his lunch! He's also interested in the prospect of someone else's toys, & full access to them. I'm sure that it will be a bittersweet transition for the lot of us, but I know that it will be a wonderful opportunity for Jack to grow and for Ben to get some much-deserved free time. He will have Lola, but that's drastically different than the incessant conversation Jack so enthusiastically tenders.

Always a man on a mission, Jack is recently coming off the two cerebral highs: Discovery Channel's Shark Week, and the X-Games. My heart palpitates just a bit when I think of my nearly 4-year old's two occupational goals are--to be a shark bite victim rescuer, and to win a gold medal for Moto-X Freestyle at the X-Games. Sheesh. While I can feel the gray hairs growing on my head, I can actually see them on Ben's head. And that makes me nervous for both of us.

August 10 (WOW, I can't believe how quickly the last couple of months have flown!)

2007-08-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the McC's!! We're exiting the 'other side of the tunnel' through an amazingly busy past several weeks! I have had little time to devote to the blog so I have an impressive feat ahead of me, here. I will do my best; but if at the conclusion of this post I've missed anything, you are all welcome to post your own updates!

(Shuffling through my planner)

The end of June & beginning of July came and went with such speed, I can feel twinges of whiplash in my neck when I think of everything that those weeks entailed. We had visits from Great Grandpa & Grandma Harmon, Cousin Madi, and Uncle Brad; we visited my dear friend from K-State--Annie (& her hubby Travis)--at their home, along with two of my other Chi-O sisters (Steph & her husband Brian and baby Logan, and Lis and her little beauty Lily & expectant belly)! All weekend long we were shaking our heads wondering how we went from graduating high school, meeting each other at KSU, and BAM!! Suddenly we have husbands and kids! I don't think we even had a chance to blink!

And now it's August! We're enduring a massive heat wave, which doesn't make for a very Happy Jack. All we have to do is stand in one place for 5 minutes outside, and we're sweating and ready to go inside & eat a popcicle! It's been HOT! Our flowers are mostly withered and dropping, but we captured a few shots of our lilies and Mimosa tree before the temperatures became sweltering. We're doing what we can to stay cool!

Weekend at Annie & Travis'

2007-07-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

Lounging by the pool, kiddos in tow!

Jack Man

2007-06-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

At Grandma & Grandpa's House

Leaving Nana & Pop-Pop's

Lola Lou

2007-06-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

I's such a big girl!!

2007-06-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Here is Jack actually watching Uncle Brad's game--it's a good thing we have a picture for proof!

2007-06-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen anyone watch baseball with such beautiful eyes?!

We love our babies!!

2007-06-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

2007-06-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

In Nana's shade garden, and at the park!

WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S...ERRR...NANA & POP-POP'S

2007-06-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

June 26th

2007-06-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well, we've had a lot going on over the past couple of weeks, which has left little time to update the blog! Sorry to everyone who has had to look at the same posts for awhile! Lucky for you, our kids just get cuter & cuter each time you see them (or even their pictures)!

Top of the list to report is Jack Man's first experience with soccer camp! Camp started on Monday (June 25), and I must say that I have never seen my little son quite so indignant about anything as he was about not going out on the soccer field with everyone else! He dug the spikes on his little soccer cleats into the ground, and said, "No!" He was really excited (even to the point of not being able to sleep the night before, & waking up at 5a.m. ready to go!) until we got out of the car, and then suddenly he wanted nothing to do with it! Normally I am able to put on my stern-Mom voice and he's responsive (perhaps a little begrudgingly, but nonetheless obedient); not the case here! Not even lighting a firecracker under his rear would've gotten him onto the field! So we sat on the sidelines and watched the others warm-up; once they were put into smaller groups and everything was downsized a bit, I began to push again. "You're going out there," I said, to which he responded, "No I'm not" with just as much authority as I had littered my own statement with! (I'm not kidding, he was so seriously not gonna do it!) I picked that little boy up and set him on the field, thinking to myself, "Well this is money well-spent!" Jack is usually one to get out there and pretty much throw himself into any situation, so I was surprised by his actions! He was really making me work (and he's so good, he usually makes my job a cake-walk!)!! Once he got out there though, he was on fire! He's an excellent dribbler, really understands the "no hands" concept, and of course ended up having a wee of a time! "That was a really good game, Mom," he said on the way home, "when are we going back?!" I must've thanked him a million times for being brave and staying out there, because it was such a thrill to see his little legs go! Of course the last two days he hasn't given Baba nearly the hard time he did me, but I'll try not to be bitter!

Big news for Lola Lou--we're sitting pretty now!! She's a big "little mama"! Lola has recently become quite obsessed with Piper and Wannabelle, watching their every move and reaching out to grab their big fury ears! So far, neither has reciprocated any interest in her at all...my guess is that Jack pretty well wore them down before Lou was even a thought! One of my favorite things about Lola and being Lola's Mommy, is that we already have secret little conversations! When I was pregnant with her I read somewhere that if you imitate their early noises, they will often "talk" back to you--and let me reiterate earlier posts, we've got another talker on our hands! Now our talks have turned into long sessions of imitating each other's noises, and then laughing hysterically! Man alive she thinks she's a funny woman! Just like her brother's chubby face, hers lights up amazingly when she smiles! Miss Lola has also started to lean into us, mouth open WIDE, wanting kisses! Yes sometimes those kisses do turn into a little chin chewing, but until she gets teeth that's okay! She's still loving squash but has added green beans, mac & cheese (Gerber), and pears--the first fruit she's liked--to her list of tasty dinners! She's slowly beginning to realize that what we have on our plates is a little better than what she has, so she's eaten little pieces of bread, macaroni (Kraft), and cheese! She's a carb girl just like her Mama! Hopefully she'll get some of Baba's length for when those carbs start to turn against her!!

Jack has had a busy couple of weekends, spending the night with both sets of grandparents! Two weekends ago he helped Pop-Pop wash the cars & tinkered around the garden with Nana! They went to the park, where (surprise) Jack made a friend! They made sno cones on a sno cone machine that Pop-Pop got from work! This past weekend my brother Brad (have to clarify since we have two brothers Brad!!) played baseball in KC, so Jack watched most of his games! Since then he has talked about "Courtney" (a family friend of many years; she is probably 12 now) every day--Hannah Montana & Mad better watch out!! He went to Topeka with Grandma & Grandpa after Uncle Brad's Saturday night game, and snuggled with Grandma in Grandpa's bed!! In between games, Jack worked on wearing Uncle Brad out a little more! The Fab 4 (me, B, J, & L) hit up the pool on Father's Day weekend for Lola's debut in her polka dot bikini (brown & pink, ladies...the girl has some major fashion sense!)! She just loved the water, which we already knew thanks to bath time with Big Brother (Jack, not 1984)! We also went to a carnival that my work put on; there the main attraction was definitely the big inflatable slide with enough room for a Baba & a Bubba!!

*Will post soccer camp & bikini photos soon!

June 13

2007-06-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a busy couple of weeks at Chateau M.C.C.; thanks to the good weather we've had a lot of time to tend to the gardens & yard! And of course, Jack has gotten in plenty of 4 Wheeler time and plenty of playing in the dirt time! Today his friend Stella (from across the street) brought him a box turtle! She already has a couple in her backyard, so she was generous enough to share the wealth! Jack named the turtle "Jack", which is actually pretty original for him considering that he's named all 3 of his fish to this point "Ben"! His pet names & music choice are equally narcissistic: he's been listening to the new Stripes album, which may have something to do with switching up pet names! His favorite track is "The Denial Twist", which isn't actually on the new record, but he thinks it should be & I'm not one to argue with him! Jack is anxiously awaiting soccer camp at the end of the month, and swimming lessons with Stella at the beginning of next month! He's our ever-busy little bee...

And we guess he's rubbed off on his little partner in crime, Lola Lou! For someone who didn't make a peep for the first two weeks of her life, she sure is a noisy little lady now! Mark my words, the girl's going to be a singer! She's got some pipes--any time there's music on, it only takes a couple of minutes before she chimes in! Just ask her godmama and cousin, Madi, who I believe said, "It's hard to watch a movie with Lola, I can't hear anything but her!!" But, she started out with some pretty tough competition for nosiest child in the history of the world, her big bro, who talks incessantly from the instant he's awake until the moment he's asleep! Looks like Ben and I won't have to worry about our side of conversation--as if we could get a word in edge wise!! Besides crooning, Lola has really become a mobile missy, rolling herself all over the place! No tumbles off of anything (yet!), but I suppose there's still plenty of time for that! She's still enjoying veggies over fruits, and is particularly partial to squash and sweet potatoes! She had her first fudgecicle with Mommy tonight, and was ecstatic to be covered in chocolate to prove that she has her Grandma's blood in her!

We missed our peonies this year because of the late frost, but are again in awe of our seemingly hundreds of tiger lilies, day lilies, and bluebells! We planted a rose bush this year in memory of Grandma Rosalie, and have made several potted variations! At Nana's house, Jack & Nana are working on growing some sunflowers! My favorite tree in our vast array, our Mimosa, has started to bloom and the fanned out, hot pink flowers should be coming to poop all over our cars any day now! (Not so much Ben's favorite tree!)

Other than the norm, we've gone to Pizza Hut with Nana & Pop-Pop, met Grandma in Lawrence for some window shopping, went to the Royal's Game with Nana & Pop-Pop, and of course, acquired a new pet! (Hey, at least it's not another dog, right? I have a feeling there are four people out there saying, "Right!" Whoever could it be?!) On a sad note, we also went to a candlelight vigil for a local girl who passed away, but it reminded us just how lucky we are to be able to share each precious day with each other, and with our family & friends! Until next time...

There's no doubt about it...I just keep on growin'!

2007-06-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

Look at me, I'm so big now!! I used to just hang out, maxin' & relaxin', but now I'm always 'getting' someone (even if it's just my own suspicious arm)! I sure am cute stuff, though! Just check me out in the headband-- hello, is anyone else thinking America's Next Top Model?

2007-06-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Here's me & my buddy Konnor! Konnor is one of my pals from Topeka; his Mommy & Daddy are friends of my Mommy's from when she was little (and big!)! Cool! The morning after these pictures were taken, I slept until 9 am!! Yeah Konnor!!

Hmmmmm...at some point, this could mean trouble for Mommy & Baba!

2007-06-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

2007-06-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

Oddly in the months since this photo was taken, we've both lost a lot of hair!

True love!

2007-06-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

My big brother sure does love me! Even when I'm sleeping, he's taking care of me! He can't wait to teach me how to ride a dirtbike, play soccer, football, basketball, and baseball, teach me how to swim, and give me rides on his 4-Wheeler! He already lets me play with some of his guys, and he always kisses me and hugs me! He's the best big brother in the whole world!

Lola Lou

2007-06-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

I am a happy, happy girl! Especially when I'm in my high chair, getting ready to eat my favorite--butternut squash! Yummy!

Bikers Beware!

2007-06-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

Here's big bubba Jack, sporting his Power Rangers helmet & preparing to run things over!

Vacation!

2007-06-05T10:48:00.000-07:00

Well, we didn't go anywhere for vacation this year, but we certainly had a nice relaxing time puttering around the house! We had some visitors; Uncle Nathan, Uncle Brad, and cousin Madi all came to stay with us! Mostly we just loved all of the time we had with Baba (Benny), as he was home for nine days in a row! Jack and Baba took in Shrek the Third (which was actually Jack's second choice, his first being Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which was only playing in Indepedence!); we did a park tour & went to a few area parks we hadn't played at before! We found a really nice one in Prarie Village just a few miles away, where the big attraction is a sand box!! Both Nathan & Madison joined us for good times at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead; Lola enjoyed seeing the baby goats & watching her brother feed the goats with a bottle! Mommy & Lola watched a couple Lifetime movies when the guys were out doing their thing, and we all had a nice time working in our gardens! We also took a trip to the dog park--Lola's first visit there (unless we count inutero...her brother does!) It was a good break! Good times were had by all!