Poor Luke

He has had, like, eight teeth coming in all at once for quite a few weeks. The four on the top have broken through, but these four on the bottom are killing him. And, in turn, they are killing Chris and I. In addition to the discomfort, the teeth are also causing Luke to drool excessively. The mouth pain, the drooling, and the snot from a cold have been too much for him and he's chewing on his fingers, toys, or pacifier at all times. Then, all of that has caused him to get ecsema around his mouth too. Good times my friends, good times.

NPR is Bad for Your Sanity

I was driving home from work the other day, listening to NPR on the radio with the boys in the back seat. No one was talking; we were just listening. It had been a long, rainy day for everyone and Jackson was clearly a bit tired. I don't really remember what the NPR story was about, but at one point they said the word "clerk". I think maybe they were referring to a County Clerk somewhere. When Jackson heard that, he asked me what the word "clerk" meant. I told him it was someone that takes your important papers and keeps them for you. I mean, really, how do you explain what a clerk is to a 3 year old? Then Jackson asked if a clerk is a good guy or a bad guy. I said "good guy". Well, as soon as I said that, Jackson started to cry and declare that a clerk is NOT a good guy if he takes your papers. Only bad guys take people's papers. Then he tearfully announced that he doesn't like clerks and that he didn't want a clerk to take his papers. He said that if someone makes a paper for someone else, a clerk can't just come and take it from them because it wasn't for him. He carried on for a few minutes, all the while I'm trying not to make him cry more by laughing at him. I know, I'm cruel, but it was funny as hell. He stopped crying long enough to argue with me about who was right about whether clerks are bad guys - me or him. I finally stopped trying to correct him and let him have the last word - that clerks are bad guys because they take your important papers that you didn't make for them.

Grandpa's New BFF

We visited Chicago this past weekend to attend Patrick's baptism. For whatever reason, Luke couldn't resist Murph all weekend. From the moment he got to my parents, he really couldn't get enough of Grandpa. I don't have an explanation for it, not that I need one though. I mean, my dad's an alright guy and if Luke wants to cling on to Grandpa, that's fine by me. Chris and I could use the break :)

We Went Ahead & Gave Him a Rosary...

...because we thought it pitiful to try to pass off a rosary as a Christmas gift from Santa to a 3 year old --- even if it may have helped us keep the true meaning of Christmas in mind on the big day.

Jackson's Xmas List to Santa 2009

You can't make this list up. And I really have no idea what he means when he says he wants new Halloween decorations. I tried to talk him out of it, but he was insistent it be included. I sure hope Santa knows what he means.

Books on tape
Globe
New pencil
New rosary
Scooby Doo
New music for Daddy's i-phone
Train ride
Superhero dress-up
Superhero cups with straws
New train pieces
New tub toys
New Halloween decorations
New baby cups for Luke

Halloween 2009

What? Another Captain America?!?
Jackson, Hudson, & Aidan, Trick-Or-Treating in the 'hood.
He looks happy with whatever he got at this house!
Luke's just happy to be along for the ride...
Sampling the loot before Mommy & Daddy get to it.
The boys coming down from their sugar highs.