A friend of mine was kind enough to knit this diaper cover for Jaynie.

Wool, apparently, is the secret to staying dry all night long.

I tried desperately to get her to stand still and smile so I could get a "Thank you for knitting this" picture.

Mom?  I'm in my undies. Let's see how well you behave if I get out the camera while you are half naked.

Here is the picture I ultimately sent. 

Question - How do you motivate a toddler to sit on the potty?

Answer - a funny hat and magic wand.  Duh. 

Aaaugh!  Attacked by a toddler on a sugar high!

Sugar high?  Me?  I'm just eating my cookie here.

Somehow in the midst of cookie decorating, eating, and destroying (it was a kid's Christmas party), the girls found time to knock me down, and demand a story.

Home from the party, still holding tight to a cookie.

But what's this?

Why, it's some snow!

I'm kind of tired of cookies, let's se how this tastes...

ICE!  (She couldn't believe it.  Ice!  Just laying around!)

At our second kid party of the day.

Madam models the very latest in Christmas crafts - the reindeer antlers and nose!

Ok, seriously, this mullet was out of control.

First haircut!  Done!  She went from messy mullet to chic bob in about 10 minutes.

I'm teaching myself to knit.  This is my first completed object - a headband/ear warmer for Jaynie.  Maybe I shouldn't have tried to get a picture of her modeling it 20 minutes past bedtime....

After getting our family portraits done, we decided to try and take a few more ourselves while we were all dressed up.

Not only is this belly good for growing babies, but it works as a handy seat for a toddler, too!

I want to say "Look how cute Jaynie is." or "Look how nice Joe looks." but all I can think when I look at this is "LOOK HOW FREAKING HUGE I AM!"

An airplane went by, and Jaynie immediately asked Daddy to make her "fly like airplane!"

This would be what happens when you stop your kid from chasing a squirrel into the road.  "JAYNIE WANT THE SQUIRREL!"

Heeeey.  Is that a big candy cane?

Lemme just lick it and see...

Hmmmm.

Well, it doesn't taste like the little ones, but I'll keep it close anyway.

What's that?  Leave it where?

Ok, if this doesn't say "Merry Christmas" to you, then you're last name rhymes with "Booge".  (Seriously - Christmas dress, in front of a snowman, holding a giant candy cane? Does it get any better than this?)

While she was all dressed up, I wanted to get a picture of her holding this sign so I could frame it and give it to Vic for Christmas.  First she demanded to put on the duck outfit, then she wouldn't stay still, her nose was running, she was yelling at me...  I ended up framing this one instead.

Here's an interesting fact that most of you may not know.  When Jaynie is in the mood to dress up, we all dress up.  "Jaynie wear the duck outfit, Mommy wear the cowboy hat!"

She has messy hair and a stained shirt...

But how cute are these pictures?

Someone was in a silly mood.  We have so much fun in this house. =)

Helping Daddy decorate the tree...

He would hand her an ornament, and she would hang it.

It wasn't until later that we noticed she was putting them all on the same branch.

Madam does the finishing touch.

Perfect.  Have you ever seen more perfect star placement in your life?

What you looking at, Mommy?

::Gasp!::  Surprise!  (This reminds me so much of this one.  I can't believe how big she's gotten.)

Jaynie said to Joe "It's very cold outside, Daddy."

So he zipped her up before going out to check the mail. 

Aaaugh!  A giant Nemo fish is attacking Joe!

Oh, wait - that's just Jaynie in costume.  (Grandma went a little nuts on the post-Halloween clearance.)

What book would you read while dressed like this?

A quick game of  "toss the toddler"...

and just like that it's time for the "GIVE ME THE CAMERA" screaming.

Here we have Miss Thing, admiring how she looks in my pajama top.  I was stupid and said something like "Look at Mommy!" so I could get a picture from the front...

She charged me like an angry bull, yelling for the camera.  I did manage to get this picture of the floor...

And a nice one of my foot.  I've written a letter to Jaynie regarding this new problem we have with pictures here. 

Caught them having a little down time in front of the computer.

I love the feet on the shoulders lounging position.

Oooh! The first round of Christmas presents!  Here we have her caught snuggling her new duck rocker.

I love my duck THIS much!

Awww.  Kisses. =)

Joe tries to get a picture of all the loot before Madam has at it.  George thinks this is an excellent time to get back in front of the camera. This picture cracks me up.  Look how serious he is. 

Loot, sans cat.

A little pre-present sliding to get in the mood...

If you are wondering what's so great off to the left, it's her Aunty Suz - just flown in from Florida.

Heee hee heeee!  Aunty Suuuuz is here!

We have no pictures of the actual gift opening.

We do, however, have 4 billion of her playing in her fire truck.

She loves it!

Look at that happy face!

And if you're looking at that thing and wondering...

... where on earth are they going to put that?

The answer is simple...

We have no idea.

So, if you have a genius idea...

... of where we could stash a gigantic fire truck...

...that would be out of the way, but easily accessible for her to play with... 

...email me at JenniferLinMoore@gmail.com.

Ooh, wait!

Here's one of her opening a present!

Of course, it's for her baby brother.  Whatever - it's not like he's here to open it himself. 

Yes, yes, yes.  Her Christmas lunch was a cheese stick and some veggies.

Whatever.  You try planning a big meal when you don't know if you'll be A) 9 months pregnant, B) in the hospital or C) taking care of a newborn.  We had potato soup and ham sandwiches, and it was delicious. 

Ack!  Daddy's zerbetting her feet!

Ha ha!  I'll get you with my patented foot to the Adam's apple manuever!

Aaaugh!  Not the armpits!

Joe used to have some pride.  Now he's a Dad.  (A great one.)

Aunty Suz took about 3 dozen bath pictures.

How could she resist?

Look at this kid hamming it up!

Wow.  Give her 384739865384 presents and let her eat cookies all day...

and she's in a fabulous mood!

She'll make funny faces!

She'll smile on demand!

She'll even say "CHEEEEEESE!"

Time for bed and still smiley. We may have to do the presents and cookies thing 365 days a year.

Jaynie poses with her loot.

I know these are fuzzy, I wanted to do the no-flash thing so the colors would be pretty.  I'll get serious and use the flash in just a second...

There.  Happy?

I was thinking of these pictures from last year.

And wanting to duplicate them.

But she just got too.. much... stuff.

And now, looking at the pics, I can tell some is missing!

She got a few cuuute outfits that are already in her drawers, and a cuckoo clock that's already on the mantle...

and a care bear and a monkey that are already in the crib, and probably lots of other things I'm forgetting.

Wardrobe change!  All done present pictures, time to PLAY!

Again with the total lack of pride.  Is that man wearing a fireman hat and angel wings?

Mommy - did you see that?  Does the man have no shame?

Please do not feed these animals, folks.  

Look at the monkeys!

And look at these monkeys, too.  Cute, huh?

Good thing we spent the $40 on that wagon.  It comes in really handy for holding the snacks.

What?  I ride in the wagon!  (For approximately 10% of the time we're there.)

Mommy needed a quick break, and Jaynie was kind enough to sit with me for a second.

Second's up!  Let's go see the lions!  ("Lilons")

Oooh.  Lilons.

C'mon, Mommy!

You need to do more walking!  I'm ready to be a big sister!

Wow.  Look how close the giraffes were.

WOW.  Look how huge my belly is.

Again.  $40 well spent.

Suzanne says "Hey - let me take a picture of the 3 of you!  You don't have many of those!"  Jaynie says "Mommy and Daddy do one, two, threeeee!"  God forbid she stand there and smile for the camera.

One, two, THREEEEEEE!

All that walking at the zoo worked!  At about 12:45am my water broke.  This is the "I'm off to the hospital!" picture.

3 hours later, Jonas makes his big entrance.

Kinda slimy and yucky...

... but still pretty cute. 

That whole labor and delivery thing is freaking exhausting.

I remember him coming out (not something I'll soon forget - ouch), but the hours immediately following his birth are all a blur.  Apparently, we took a nap.

Mommy!  I woke up and you weren't home!  (I love this picture of us.)

Aunty Suz meets Jonas.  She was supposed to be there for the big event.  Who knew he'd be in such a hurry?

Big sister meets Baby Brother.  She's not as impressed by him as she is by her juice.

Back home, Jaynie practices being gentle with Baby Noah.

She named him, and we don't know where she got it.  We were calling him Jorell, but "Baby Noah" it is, I guess.

Tiny fingers (also a great shot of the umbilical. Yuck.)

Poor baby w/ his oxygen tubes.

Little baby feet. (Well, foot.  I'll get a pic of them both together soon.)

Daddy tries to get a picture of Jaynie in this adorable outfit.

Christmas was good to this kid - the shirt is from Gil and Evelyn.

The hairdo is by Dad.  I love it.

Because, why ride a duck alone when Big Elmo can join you?

Big Elmo wearing her Halloween costume, I must point out.

And now the duck is wearing a fireman hat. Good to know life went on in it's usual ridiculous fashion even though I wasn't around to supervise.

First it was "high fives"...

...now it is "give me some skin!"

Joe kept asking Jaynie to "make deals" with him, which involved shaking hands at the end.  Pretty soon she was shaking her own hand saying "It's a deal!". Who knows what she negotiates with herself.

How cute is this kid?

Ooh, yes.  This Elmo is much better for tandem duck riding.  He takes up so much less room. =)

Back at the hospital, I'm having quality time with the cupcake.

Look at those muffin cheeks!

I must smooch them.

I have nothing else to put with this picture, and the hair in the face is less than flattering.  That said, the kid is KISSING her pink flamingo (Suz got her this big zoo full of Little People animals for Christmas.)  I don't know what the flamingo did to deserve such lovin, but I'm glad someone got a picture of it.

Jaynie was whining in the backseat, so Aunty Suz started taking picures.

What you looking at?

Ha!  I know my hair's a mess!  Who do you think pulled the elastic out?

This is what I think of you and your pictures.  Thhhbbbt.

Lunch at McDonalds!  (Sure, fries are a vegetable.... aren't they?)

Wow - she thought this place was great when it just served burgers and fries!

Now that she's discovered the "PlayPlace" outside, we may never eat anywhere else again!

Again, Daddy!  MORE!

Wheeeeeeeee!

Back at the hospital, I get some loving while I can.

I cannot begin to describe to you how hard it was being away from this kid for a week.  Every time I saw her I just wanted to eat her up.

I love this picture for so many reasons.  As if a shot of her driving her firetruck wasn't enough, we have Drill Sergeant Duck there in the background.

Aunty Suz takes the ever popular "Self Portrait with Twinkie".

Holy toys, Batman!

What you can't see in this photo, is the fact that I'm nursing the baby.  So Jaynie cozied up with my feet (sporting some super-sexy slipper socks) and about 3904839857398 toys.

Oh, she also watched "Sleeping Bluety" on the dvd player.  Life is so hard for this kid.

Look at those lips!

And the cheeks!  He's soooo yummy.

Daddy finally gets some quality time.  (It was hard - he wasn't in my room because of all his tubes, and the nursery closed twice a day, and if there was a nursing Mom in there they wouldn't let Joe in.  There were days that he didn't get to see the baby except through the window, much less hold him.)

Wide awake and checking out his Dad.

I'm telling you, it's impossible to hold this kid and not smooch him.

Aunty Suz takes a turn.  How could she not?