Tar Heels in Texas

Given how the Carolina basketball team started the conference season (1-4), I know I should have just been happy that their name was called at all on Selection Sunday.  But with Spokane and Buffalo as viable travel options for the Tar Heels, I was especially thankful when I found that they would play their first round games in San Antonio, my old college stomping grounds. 

I thought about brining both kids, but that was slightly daunting for an extended trip.  I thought about taking no kids, but with Jackson's terrible sleep patterns, not to mention his refusal to take a bottle, I thought that was a lot to ask of his (willing) grandparents.  So Jackson got some one-on-one time with mom and Brady got all the attention of his grandparents.

With the winter (spring?) we've been having, San Antonio was a welcome respite.  I think I spent more time on the Riverwalk in four days than I did in my four years in college.

 

 

 

 

Jackson was a good traveler, which I was especially thankful for on the way back.  After a tough loss, you could hear a pin drop on the bus trip to the airport, and a crying baby would not have been a welcome sound.  We had a crib in the hotel room, but I'm not sure why, because Jackson hated it and just wanted to sleep in our bed.  Unfortunately, this desire seems to have followed us back to Chapel Hill.  Can Jackson's sleeping get worse?  Why yes, yes it can.

Breakfast with mommy

Carolina practiced at Trinity on Thursday, so I tagged along and walked around campus while the team practiced.  It was fun to see some old faces and places and show Jackson where I lived before he was even a thought it my head.

 





Eric was able to get away occasionally and on Saturday night, we hired a babysitter to sit in our hotel room while we went out with a few friends.  Eric couldn't get over the fact that our babysitter was a microbiology and chemistry major (or something like that) and also a Trinity basketball player.  He also can't wrap his brain around the fact that when I played, players would get in trouble for studying too much on our road trips.  They'd stay up late studying and our coach would have to regulate their studying.  I don't think its the kind of regulation Eric is used to at Carolina.  Anyway, we had a fun night out and when we returned to the hotel, I was greeted with a crying baby.  I hope Jackson didn't interrupt the physics homework our babysitter brought.

I also got to pass off Jackson to some other people throughout the weekend.  My old teammate, Christy, and her husband Trey, came to the games with us, and they got a taste of baby life.

 

 

 

And Joel, who seems more comfortable with a ball in his hands.

 

 

Its terrible to lose the last game of the year, even though almost every team does.  It was a tough game to lose, though, and I felt like I was attending a funeral in the hours that followed.  But I was thankful to have a child to bring things back in perspective.  While we were waiting for the team at the hotel after the game, Jackson was posing with the hotel peacock, rocking his UNC jersey and as proud and clueless as could be.

 

 

After an easy trip home (the advantage of a late night flight), I was greeted in North Carolina with a layer of ice on my car.  In March.  Basketball season is over and I hope this crazy weather is too!

Hotel life

My favorite video of Jackson so far.  He doesn't lack in the self-esteem category.  It's proof he is his father's son.

 

Letters to Jackson: 10 months

Jackson,

I need to be honest.  Today might not be the best day for me to write a loving letter to my 10 month-old-son.  Your mother loves motherhood, but some days, she feels like shutting the doors, closing her eyes, putting in earplugs, and pretending, at least for a few moments, that's she's not responsible for feeding, clothing, diapering, wiping, bathing, comforting, disciplining, teaching, and entertaining two young children.

The last few nights have been tough.  You woke up 4-5 times each night.  Its exasperating.  I'm so conditioned to wake up every 3 hours that the few times you've slept longer in the past month, I wake up anyway.  So I can't train you, but congratulations, you've trained me.  Daytime does not always bring rainbows and unicorns.  Some days, you're such a...baby.  Needing me, all the time.  I know...the nerve.  Sometimes, I'll watch you from a distance when you're with someone else.  I walk in, you see me, and then you cry.  "He's been great the whole time," I often here from whoever was watching you.  I am told you cry because you love me, and don't want me to see you having fun without me.  Really, Jackson, its a nice thought, but highly unnecessary.  Because sometimes, that crying doesn't feel like love.

 
But I know its love and it goes both ways. I love you and you really are a delightful baby when you want to be.  And really, I won't be able to throw around that term much longer. Baby's can't walk, and you're getting a bit too closer for comfort in that department.  You're cruising around on your walker, which is the most adorable thing.  Your brother helps you to "steer," as your control needs a bit of work.  You guys still play so nicely, which is a beautiful thing.  Brady sometime gets rough with you and after he does something he's not supposed to, he yells, "Sorry Jackson!" His decibel level is in direct proportion to the severity of the crime, so if I didn't see it, I generally know how bad it was (if your cries don't tip me off).



Your laugh is amazing and I could listen to it all day.  Unfortunately, several other sounds arepart of the daily mix tape.  You love to play catch and have your choice of balls in this house.  You've finally sprouted two teeth and you use it for the wide variety of food you eat.  You favor the real stuff, so not much "baby" food in your diet anymore.  You love the bath and I've been known to toss you and your brother in the tub at unconventional times, because no matter how fussy you are, the bath is your happy place.

 



You and I are flying to San Antonio tonight for your first NCAA tournament.  I'd leave you behind with your grandparents and your brother, but your refusal to take a bottle and sleep secured your ticket to Texas.  Very clever, for a baby.  While an adult trip would not have been horrible, I am looking forward to some QT with you without laundry/cleaning/dinner/chores/Brady cutting your time short.  I'll make you a deal -- I'll give you lots of time, you give me lots of sleep.

I love you whatever you choose.

Love,
Mom

Thumbs up!

Brady cut his thumb the other day and I couldn't have planned it better myself.

My hardcore thumbsucker has not sucked his thumb in over 48 hours.  The wound has healed, but the Band-Aid remains.  Brady was so attached to his thumb, we hadn't really thought about trying to cut him (or it) off yet.  I didn't imagine that it would only take a snoopy Band-Aid to stop Brady from this orthodontic nightmare, but he's super stoked about it (the Band-Aid, that is).  We've let the thumb "breathe" at various points during the day, but he's always excited to reapply a Band-Aid.  He hasn't sucked the Band-Aid and hasn't asked for me to take it off!  I saw him make an attempt with his left thumb right after the first Band-Aid went on, but it must not have tasted as good.  He's also given up (at least for now), his hair-twirling habit.  I've realized the two are intimately related...when he sucks his thumb, its an automatic reaction to twirl his hair with the opposite hand.

There is a downside.  Brady has always been such a good self-soother and a wrapped thumb has impacted his sleeping, and not in a good way.  He has a harder time putting himself to sleep and his naps have been shortened.  I have been spoiled with 2-3 hour naps.  I think in the past, he'd often wake up in the middle of his nap but would be able to "suck" himself back to sleep.  Today, he woke up after only 30 minutes.  There were a lot of tears, although he still wasn't trying to suck his thumb . I went into his room and he cried and spoke jibberish for about 10 minutes (entertaining actually).  His eyes were basically closed the whole time so I don't even think he was awake, and he eventually fell back asleep.

I can't promise Brady won't be sucking his thumb next time you see him, but for now, I'm proud of my little (non) thumbsucker!

Kids Say the Darndest Things...not just a TV show.

I love the mind of a two-year-old.  Here's some recent gems from Brady.

"Quizzing" Brady about various things (birthday, age, etc).  I asked him what state he lives in and gave him a hint with "North..."

"Pole!!" Brady proclaimed proudly.  He knows his Christmas trivia at least.

I was teaching Brady about opposites and I asked him what the opposite of quiet was.  "Jackson!" he exclaimed. 

Hard to argue with that.

Brady was trying to think of the name of a game he wanted to play with me.  "Hi-Ho Cereal!" he said.  Translation: Hi-Ho Cheery-O. 

Yes, our cereal of choice sometimes is Cheerios.

Jackson went to Grandma and Pop's house on Saturday while Brady and I took a trip to Virginia Tech for the basketball game.  Brady asked me about what I was carrying and I said, "Jackson's stuff' is in the backpack."  He looked concerned, "Jackson's stuck in the backpack?"

2 days after Eric's birthday.  "Is daddy's birthday game over?"

Mom: "Brady, get in your bed.! Do you understand?"
Brady: "Yes! I want to stand!"