Archive for September, 2007

Jay got home Friday night after being away for 3 weeks. It was so good to see him! The kids spent Friday night with my family so I could pick up Jay from the airport and we could sleep in on Saturday. The kids were also happy to see Daddy when we went to get them that afternoon. We went to the mall while Eliza was napping at my mom's house, and we got my new watches resized so I could start wearing them (Jay gave me one for our anniversary and a fancy one for my birthday). Jay took Monday off so he could have a longer weekend at home after being gone so long. It was nice not having to send him off Sunday afternoon!

Sunday after church we joined the rest of my family at Jon and Adrienne's house in White Hall, AR, about 45 minutes from Little Rock. Adrienne's birthday was Friday, and Jon's was Monday, so they invited everyone over for a party at their house. Jon set up a slip-n-slide on a hill in their front yard, and the kids (and some adults) had a great time sliding down on their belly, back, knees, bottom, or all of the above. James and Eliza even used Jay as a sled and rode down on top of him! Adrienne had gotten a badminton set from Jon for her birthday, and we enjoyed playing that, too. The kids were exhausted by the time we left, and fell asleep on the way home (around 6:45). We carried them to their beds, and I still had to wake them up this morning to give them a bath in time to take James to school.

After dropping James off at school, the rest of us went over to see Mimi (Jay's grandmother) at the nursing home in Maumelle. I couldn't get in touch with her before we got there, but when we arrived we saw her sitting on the front porch, enjoying the cooler weather. She seems to be doing really well, getting around with her walker and thanking me over and over for the pictures I bring her. She tries to be upbeat, even though she doesn't feel at home there, and I'm sure she misses her house in Mississippi. We had a good visit with her, especially Jay, who doesn't get to see her as often as I do.

Jay left this afternoon (Monday) and is back in New York now. It was good to be together as a family again, even if just for a few days- 3 weeks is a long time to be apart! We had a great weekend, and in just a few more days we'll have another one!

James is a little too smart for his own good. Tonight he really wanted a piece of candy after supper, so I told him what we would do:

• LAUREN: We'll take a walk around the block, go to the store to get some diapers, then you can have a treat.

• JAMES: How about we go for a walk, get a treat, then go to the store?

• LAUREN: You're learning how to compromise!

• JAMES: What's compromise mean?

• LAUREN: It's when you take a piece of my idea, and mix it with yours, so we both get some of what we want.

• JAMES: Yeah! I'll take one piece of your idea and mix it with my idea!

• LAUREN: And what's that called?

• JAMES: Compromation!

We went with James's idea, and he learned a new word (and made up one of his own!)

Well, Jay made it back to New York City Monday afternoon after being in London for a little over a week. He was actually glad to be there—he said it almost felt like home, because it was so much more familiar than London. We are getting excited about him really coming home tomorrow night. It's been almost 3 weeks, and we are ready to see Daddy! And I know he's ready to be home, even if only for a few days.

Jay has been posting pictures of his trip to his flickr page. Some of them are very impressive; it almost feels like I've been there after looking at the pictures!

Eliza has been cracking me up lately! Tonight we were eating supper, and James asked Eliza a question. "Mrmrghmrhg," Eliza tried to say with a mouthful of food. "Was that English?" I said. Eliza smiled and replied, "No, it's a sandwich!"

Speaking of English…with Jay in London, I have had to talk to a few British hotel desk clerks when I call for him. Even though we speak the same language, they have been nearly impossible to understand over the phone. The first time I called, I told the clerk the room number, and she kept trying to ask me something. I know she was getting aggravated with me, but I just wasn't getting it. Finally, I heard something about "name" and realized she wanted me to tell her who I wanted to speak to. Now I just say "Jay Parker" and the room number, and they connect me right away. Maybe there's a "British English" class I can take at the local college. I'm a little worried I won't be able to understand Jay when he comes home!

It's nice to get a pat on the back sometimes, especially when it's from my kids. James often tells me I've done a good job, usually when I've done something he really wanted me to do. I wasn't really expecting this one from Eliza, though. As I was standing her up after putting a clean diaper on her, she said, "Good job changing my diaper!" All I could say was, "Thanks!"

Well, we're all fine now, but that was not the case a few hours ago. This morning just after 9:00, I picked Eliza up by her arms, just as I have many times before, to move her out of the bathroom. But this time, she immediately started crying after I set her down. At first I thought she was just upset at being moved, but I quickly realized it was a hurt cry, and she didn't stop. She grabbed her arm, and refused to move it, and so I called the doctor's office and got us an appointment for 10:20. The doctor said it was probably "nursemaid's elbow" (or radial head subluxation), where the bones in the elbow separate and a ligament gets trapped between them, keeping them from going back into place. It is very commonly seen in 2 to 3-year-olds. He gently pulled and twisted her arm, with her crying the whole time, and in just a few seconds he said he felt it pop back into place. Within a few minutes, she was using her arm again, and by the time we left the doctor she was her happy self again. It was rather traumatic for all of us, but it could have been so much worse. I'm glad it was not more serious, especially since Jay is all the way over in London right now. I guess I will be more careful now about picking Eliza up by the arms!

Eliza is on the verge of potty-training, and so I have been trying to let her sit on the potty sometimes. She has managed to go to the bathroom while on there a few times, but more often we just sit there and nothing happens. She was sitting on the potty at Mammy's house this afternoon, but we weren't making any progress, so I started singing to her: "Tinkle, tinkle in the potty…" Eliza picks up, with a tune of her own: "Then I get a treat, and that will make me so happy!" She has such a funny personality!

Jay arrived in London Saturday morning around 8:00 AM, which is 2:00 AM here. He seems to be having a pretty good time so far. We aren't able to talk much because his cell phone is not working over there, but we have been emailing and instant-messaging each other, so at least we have kept in touch. He says London is interesting, but it's not as impressive as New York. He was spoiled by the special treatment he got flying over there, though; he flew business first class, where you wait for your plane in a lounge with a place to take a shower, eat supper, and other luxuries. He has been touring the last couple of days, but he has to go to work tomorrow. We miss him, but we are keeping pretty busy ourselves!

I got some pictures posted from our visit with my family in Memphis. Some of them are pretty funny. I also posted a picture of me at my second birthday party, so you can compare me and Eliza. She does favor me!

Jay posted some pictures of our visit with baby Hannah, as well as some from James' birthday party. Hope you enjoy!

This weekend we went to Memphis to visit with my family. My brother Joseph and his wife Nicole came over from the Nashville area, so it was the first time that all seven of us kids had been in one place since my sister Adrienne's wedding over a year ago! It gets harder every year to get everyone together at the same time. We had a great time together, especially while we were trying to take pictures (coming soon!).

Saturday we went over to Jackson to see Jill, Robbie, and Hannah. She has changed so much since the last time we saw her! She played and smiled, especially when Jay talked to her. She really seemed to like him! She enjoyed the kids, too, and they enjoyed her toys. They also had a good time trying to make her smile. Pictures of our visit with them will also be coming soon. (Jay has all the pictures with him at the moment, and he is in New York!)

Sunday we went to the Memphis Zoo with some of my family. The kids liked seeing all the animals, especially the hippos and the pandas. We didn't get to see everything, though; we will have to go back! Jay got some good pictures while we were there.

Sunday night we had a birthday party for James, who turned 4 Monday. I can't believe I have a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old! James had a great party, with lots of presents, including his first bicycle. He was pretty excited about it. We got to get out yesterday and ride it some before the rain started. I took a few pictures.

Jay flew out of Memphis back to New York Monday night. If everything works out, he is supposed to be flying to London, England next weekend to stay for a week, then flying back to New York to work for a week before coming home. This means he will be away from home for 3 straight weeks. We are excited that he gets to go to London, but both kind of sad that he has to be away so long. I'm sure we will make it, but we are ready for Daddy to be home!