My Jacob-boy

This boy is so sweet.  For the last week or so he's come in to our room nearly every night saying he's had a bad dream.  When he comes in he brings his water cup, his "Cars" fleece blanket, the big (okay, huge) satin and minky blanket I made him, his baby blanket, and usually a stuff animal or two.  I don't know how he rounds all of this up in the middle of the night, but he does.  He comes in with his arms full and over to my side of the bed saying, "Mama."  We were a lot stricter with Ally in the middle of the night, usually walking her back to her bed and tucking her in.  I rarely do that with Jacob.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm more tired or what.  Either way, he usually ends up climbing in bed between Ernest and I, and snuggling up next to me.  He's a really good snuggler.

So, he's done this a lot in the last week or two, and the last couple of times he's done it he cries in his sleep, even when he's laying with us.  I've tried talking to him and telling him it's just a dream, that he's okay, he's here with us, that we'll protect him and keep him safe.  But he still cries.  Finally this last time (three nights ago) he said, "I can't tell you.  It's just too terrible."  This poor little guy is four years old.  He shouldn't have anything "just too terrible" to come into his little head, let alone cause him to wake up at

night.  Even the next morning when I asked him about it he said he couldn't tell us about it.

I mentioned it to Jane so that she could watch him, and maybe she had some insight into something that he saw or heard that could cause this.  Her son, Will, lovely Will, sat Jacob in his lap later in the day and said, "Hey J-Man, I hear you haven't been sleeping so well.  What's going on?"  And sweet little Jacob told him.  He was having a dream that something happened to Mama and changed her, and it was just too terrible.  My poor sweet boy.  Will and Jane both talked with him and told him that nothing would change Mama, and talked about what was real and what wasn't.

After they talked with him, we've had two nights of no nightmares.  I love my little man and can't bear the thought of him worrying about something like that in his sleep (or when he's awake).

Jacob-boy, things around us can change, but we'll make sure that you always know you are loved.  Mama loves you and you'll always be her boy.

Rory's Words

Miss Rory was is 18 months old (as of July 4!) and I can't quite reconcile my "toddler" with "the baby."  She's our last, so that's a weird transition, and makes me a little sad.  I wanted to capture some of the fun things that our little girl is up to.

Words:
Boe - Ball
Na - No
Yeah Yeah - Yes (usually said in duplicate as I wrote it out)
Tee - Teeth
Moe - More
Puh-puh - Puppy (or really anything with four legs)
Day-ew - Thank you
Peas - Please


She loves to jump, climb, and run.  If she is left alone for just a moment she will climb up on to the dining room table to find any food that was left out, or paper and pens.  She loves to eat.  Snack, really.  A meal she could go either way with, but offer her a snack while she can run around and she is all over it.  Crackers, chocolate, and fruit are the favorites.  She also really likes mac and cheese (who doesn't?), shredded chicken, french fries, cheeseburgers, and blueberries.  If she sees a writing utensil anywhere she is off to try and get it.  Even better if she has to climb to get to it.  Rory naps pretty well, but doesn't like to go to sleep at night.  I'm not sure if it's because she's over-tired or if she thinks things are happening that she's not a part of.  Either way, she has a hard time settling down in the evening.

Rory loves people.  She likes to smile and wave at you, as long as she is near her Mumma or Daddy.  She's reluctant to go to new people until she's comfortable.  Normal, I know, but she seems to be a bit more extreme in it than her siblings were.  She's pretty easy going unless something doesn't go her way and then she does a 180 and cries, sometimes even throwing a bit of a tantrum.  It's just so funny because there is such a difference between her two sides.  She loves to be tickled and to give hugs.  She'll give kisses too - sometimes a nice "Muh" and other times it's a juicy kiss with the tongue sticking out.

She is a joy to have around.  She loves her brother and her sister (and her parents).  She's quick to give hugs, and pat you on the back or head if she thinks you are upset.  Rory is so much fun and we are grateful that she is a part of our family.