The power of a good theme song

When I was a kid there was nothing better than cartoons and the best part for me was always the theme song. Even as an adult I can think back and recall almost every word to some of my favorites- Jem, Thundercats, Captain Planet and of course there are some that I would rather not admit to watching- even today I'm a sucker for a good opening song.

Like most children my kids love cartoons and they each have their favorites. Some of Remy's current favorites are Phineas and Ferb, Spongebob and Luney Toons he usually doesn't sing or dance along but he does bop his head and get upset of Bryan fast forwards the intro. And then there is Jackie... Have you ever had a favorite song that you listened to over and over and over and it still never got old? Well, that's how Jackie is when she finds a new favorite show and the thing that always drags her in is the theme song.

This past year has been interesting watching Jackie develop her likes and dislikes and she is persistent in making it known. We ended last summer with her addicted to Barney the Dinosaur, which thanks to netflix we could set her up on the computer to watch. That obsession lasted until December and I must say was one of the worst. Next is Little Einsteins, which I personally don't mind and she's so cute singing and dancing along. Then Bubble Guppies which I can also tolerate. But the latest and probably the most annoying on is Team Umizumi. It's not the show itself that is annoying, but Jackie's obsession with it. She could be hanging out with me and the babies in their room and hear that song and her face lights up and she runs away shouting "zumi, zumi." Which that's ok and kind of cute, but what isn't is being woken up at 5am with her turning on the light in my room and hoovering over me waving the remote control saying "zumi, zumi." What is also not funny is being interrupted feeding the babies by bloody murder type screaming because Remy has changed the channel to something other than Umizumi. Last on my list of why I can't stand her obsession with this show is if I say you can watch your show later after I watch something I don't need you reminding me on every commercial break that you're ready to watch Umizumi.

There is two things I blame for this one, the theme song. From the moment she heard that song she was hooked. And second, I blame Bryan. He was the one that introduced her to the show and now he's created a monster. If only I could get her interested in My Little Ponies (*sigh*).

"Why?"

Jackie has hit the "why?" stage and it's so very annoying yet oh so cute. So far it's not as bad as when Remy went through because her whys are easy to explain.
Examples:
-Jackie take your finger out of your nose.
-Why?
- Because it's nasty.

-Jackie it's time for bed.
-Why?
-Because everybody has to go to bed at some point.

-Jackie get down.
-Why?
-Because you can fall and hurt yourself.

Remy's why stage didn't hit until he was three, now granted he really didn't start talking until he was about two and a half so maybe he was making up for lost time. But he used to ask me about stuff I knew nothing about and was never satisfied with the answer I gave.
Examples:
-Why is it snowing?
-Because the clouds are too full.
-Why?
-I don't know. They just are.
-But why?
-Don't know. (And in my head I'm thinking do I look like a damn meteorologist?)
 
-Why is that dog barking?
-Maybe it likes to bark.
-Why?
-Maybe it thinks it's fun.
-Why?
-I don't know Remy, I don't speak dog.

He used to drive me absolutely crazy with his why questions that I would want to say can you just stop talking, but I never did because I didn't want to be mean. But I thought it a lot. With Jackie I just find myself laughing because she's so cute about it and she never just keeps going on and on like Remy used to.

One of the wonderful things about having more than one child is that you get to figure out what each child is good at and watch them develop those talents.

When Remy was 9 months we started swim lessons and when he was about 18 months we started him in a soccer tots group and we continued both activities on and off over the years. When he became old enough to do both sports without a parent we were excited to see how he would do. He didn't pass swimming level 1 because he didn't want to put his face in the water. He cried during scrimmage at soccer because he would get knocked down and we had to constantly remind him that soccer is a contact sport. We ended up taking a break from sports not wanting to push him to do something he didn't want to do. It's been almost a year of nothing even though he has begged to play soccer since seeing my friend Ella Masar play over the summer. We decided that we would retry swimming first. Bryan assures me that he is doing well, since I stay home with the little kids while he goes, I don't get to see for myself what he needs to work on. What parent wouldn't want their child to be a natural athlete? However, that is not always the case. Both Bryan and I would love for Remy to excel at sports but if I had to pick one thing that Remy is extremely good at right now it would not be sports, but his ability to figure out electronics. Though a lot of people thought we were crazy for getting him an ipod touch for his 6th birthday (he did have a choice, ipod or birthday party) it was a perfect gift for him and now I don't have to fight with him for my phone.

Then there is Jackie. Where do I begin? Three things that describe Jackie: fearless, determined and stubborn (my sister's child through and through). One of the things that can be frustrating about having a younger child is they want to do everything that older child does. For example if Remy jumps off the couch you better believe that Jackie will think she can do it too. The thing with Jackie is it doesn't end with that, she jumps off of everything, climbs on everything and often falls off everything! Remy has a healthy dose of fear and common since it doesn't take a lot for Remy to learn that maybe he shouldn't do something. However, Jackie lacks both, and it doesn't matter how many times she gets hurt she will always get up and do it all over again. Add to that the fact that she doesn't always pay attention to what she's doing it's enough to keep me in a constant state of unease.  Anyway back to the topic of sports. Let me just say that when it comes to swimming I'm taking all my eggs out of Remy's basket and putting them in hers. Last summer while we were visiting my in-laws in Long Island Jackie fell in the pool. Let me just say it was a scary experience. When she was pulled out of the water she didn't cry, cough, or even appear scared. So, anyway we have finally gotten around to signing her up for swim lessons and so far she has been amazing in the water! I'm looking forward to trying out other sports and seeing what else she's good at.

I'm curious to see what Zane and Zander will be good at as they get older. I'm also a little scared of what they will try following behind Jackie, but looking forward to it all the same.

Welcome 2012!!!

So it's been awhile since I last posted something, in part, because I forgot my password and because it's difficult to find the time to write. It feels good to say goodbye to 2011, it was a busy year for our family with the birth of the twins and Remy starting kindergarten. The holidays were wonderful but I'm so glad that they are over.

We spent Thanksgiving in Illinois with my mom, and let me just say that a 10 hour plus drive with four little kids was bonkers. Let me also say that with all the crying, fighting, and yelling I was ready to open the car door and jump out. But it was nice to spend time with my family with all the kids.

December started with plenty of "I wants" which were answered with "add it to your wish list." We brought up the Christmas decorations and Remy took over decorating the Christmas tree (which didn't really look pretty, but hey I can't really complain if I didn't really help). Remy paraded down the hall with the stockings on his feet asking, " what are these big socks for?" Jackie screamed bloody murder because she didn't want to sit with Santa. The rest of the month passed with threats of Santa passing over our house due to naughty kids and listening to Jackie say "lights, mama lights!" over and over and over. And the Bryan quote that sums it all up is, "who wants to get in trouble first?"

Now, it's January and I have so many things to look forward to this year, such as the boys turning one and being Done (yes, with a capital D) breastfeeding. It's not that I don't enjoy it, but it will be nice to not be so tied down. But I think that what I am most looking forward to is creating new memories with my family. Sometimes I sit at work and find myself laughing out loud at something one of my kids (or husband) has done and it brings me such immense joy that I just can't get enough. Even the most annoying situations make me laugh, for example, just the other day I'm trying to read and I've got one baby fussing, Remy sitting next to me making the most obnoxious sound over and over, the t.v. is blaring Pheneas and  Ferb, Jackie is yelling "ipod PLEASE!" over and over. When Bryan walked through that door, I said "I'm sorry but I have got to have some quiet time" and I ran to my room, but the funny thing was I could hear Bryan telling the kids, "Whelp, I see you kids ran your mama away again." I just can't handle all the non-stop noise all day everyday, but once I've gotten a little peace I can always see the humor in it.

So, yeah I'm jumping up and down clapping my hands and enjoying each day of this new year. And as Bryan says, "No matter how bad you may think our kids are there is always worse."

I'll end this with a big Happy Birthday to Remy who turned six today and was so happy to get an ipod touch in exchange for no party. I love my little gadget nerd.

Top 10 reasons why kids are great

This list is in no particular order.

1. There is always a reason to dance.

2. Hurts are soothed with a kiss.

3. You can get them to do almost anything for a teeny tiny piece of candy.

4. You can get them to pick up toys by simply singing "the clean-up song"

5. They give you a reason to do all the things you loved as a kid all over again.

6.  You don't have to be a magician to perform magic

7. They get over being mad quickly

8. Holiday seasons are that much more fun

9. They appreciate the little things

10. They love you despite your many faults

Never ending piles of laundry...

Doing laundry in my house it like shoveling snow during a blizzard, no matter how much or how fast you shovel in five minutes there is always more. With a household of six and two of those being babies, we go through quite a lot of laundry in a week. In our house I do most of the laundry, but there are times when Bryan helps me out a lot with washing, bringing baskets up from downstairs and he'll even fold and put away his own clothes. But all of the folding and putting away of the kids clothes falls on me. With that being said things do tend to pile up from clothes waiting to be taken down stairs, brought up stairs, folded and put away the laundry never comes to an end.

During the day things can get pretty busy so I try to do most of the laundry during nap times and at night. So, I'll often ask Bryan to help me out by bringing up the next load while I fold and put away. There are two things my husband hates, the first one being bugs and the second is going to the basement late at night (I think he is secretly afraid of the dark.) So, you would think that after 10 years together I would stop asking him to kill spiders and go down to the basement after dark... but I haven't LOL. Some days I leave for work and forget to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer and I'll call him at 9pm and ask him to do this for me before I get home. And Bryan being the most predictable person, always says, "Ugh Jaime, why do you always wait until it's dark to tell me that? Can't they just stay in the washer until tomorrow?" But he always does it for me... (smile).

Since my pile does nothing but grow I guess I'll start this week's laundry tomorrow...

To my daughter

Jacqueline Alba, baby Jackie, Jackie, Jack-jack, baby girl, mama, monkey, sweet cakes, and Remy's newest name- my little bother (from the cartoon Olivia).

When I was pregnant with your big brother I wanted more than anything to have a girl, as we know, that turned out not to be the case. Then 3 years later I got pregnant with you and I prayed that I would get my girl. Your father and I had trouble deciding on a name for you, I liked Thalia and Luisa and he, of course, wanted you to have a comic book name like Remy's (who we all know is named after Remy Lebeau aka Gambit from the X-men). Then I thought it would be fitting to name you after two very important women; my mother Jacqueline and your father's mother Alba. Even this he was not completely sold on, until I told him that your initials would spell JAM (to fit with his BAM and Remy's RAM) your papa is funny like that. Anyway, I got my way and I couldn't be more happy with your name. However, for me the icing on the cake was that you looked just like your Aunt Rhonda. I missed my sister, Rhonda, so much and thought about her constantly while I was pregnant. There are so many things that I admire about her and over the past two years I've seen more of her in you than I ever could have thought possible.

You were the sweetest little baby and it is a joy to watch you grow and learn. You test me in ways that Remy never did and you keep me on my toes as a very smart, curious and strong willed 2-year-old. There are many times that I've felt bad having to divide my attention between so many children with many different needs, but you seem to love to help me, from playing with the babies, feeding the dog, taking clothes out of the dryer and bringing me things when I'm strapped down nursing. I will never forget all your antics and I'm sure you will hate me one day for telling them to the world and though sometimes I think that you will drive me crazy I find myself laughing when it's all said and done. There are days where all I seem to say are: "No!" "Don't!" "Stop!" "Where are your pants?!" "Put that down." "Come here." and "Pow-pow!" it is amazing that you are so forgiving of me as a parent.

Thank you baby Jackie for being the little girl that you are (and thank God for only giving me one girl, I don't think I could handle more than that) and I look forward to watching you develop more into the special person that you are. I wish for you all the best and I will love you for all that you are- my only girl, my middle child, my hope and my dream... my little naked wild child that you are.

Mommy