3rd Annual Pumpkin Patch Picnic

For the last three years, the Tatums, Sciglianos, Markos' and Thomas' have been going to the Irvine park pumpkin patch. We make it special for the kids by having a big family picnic after the patch where the kids can run and play while grill master Derek cooks up the lunch. It's wide open space so the perfect place for the adults to chat and the kids to run free. Every year it is so fun, but this year was the best because the four older kids have so much fun together. None of them wanted to leave. They loved playing with sticks, the wagon, and just running around. I love watching them grow and interact. We take a group photo every year and it is so much fun to go back and see how they have grown. I really think this family event is a memory the kids will always enjoy and talk about. This year Jack and Emilee got to join in the fun. Jack was so good and just hung out enjoying the outdoors. He likes looking around and taking in the scene. Hannah had fun picking out our pumpkin. She always wants the biggest one there, but we settled for a medium sized pumpkin with a funny long stem that she likes. We are so greatful to have friends that are family. The four really do just treat each other like siblings it's too funny to watch.

C & C

So I thought every now and then I could start a new fun little segment called "Compare and Contrast" where I'll take a photo of Hannah and a photo of Jack at roughly the same age and check out the similarities and differences. Who knows maybe sometimes I'll throw in a picture of me or Tim as kids and we can C & C those as well. I'm going to try and look for pics that have similar poses so we can really get a close look. I thought this first selection was kinda funny because they are both sticking their tongues out. I know it's more of a side view, but still very cute. Personally I think they look very similar, more alike each day really.

Hannah 9 Weeks


Jack 7 Weeks

Happy Boy

Jack is a little over six weeks old and we finally got the sweet precious smile. The smile of real happiness not just gas. The smile that melts your heart, makes you run to your camera, and makes you say to yourself "you're doing good mom, he's happy." Three different people have told me they had seem him smile over the last week, but in my book unless mom sees it or you have video proof, it's not real. In my mind, Jack saves all his firsts for me. So here he is, his first smile! He's really cute with two dimples and when he does a huge smile he mouth is all crooked. We (Hannah and mommy) got these photos, by shaking a monkey rattle. I think Jack is also happy because Uncle Tyler is in town visiting :)

Child of God

I know I have been missing in action lately, but adjusting to life with two little ones has been crazy. It's a beautiful chaos really. This past Sunday Jack was baptized at St John's Lutheran church. Baptisms are always emotional for me and having it done where Tim and I said our vows is even more special. So let me rewind to the morning of. I gave myself plenty of time to get myself and two kids ready and get to the church in time. Enter the chaos. Hannah woke up sick, laying on the kitchen floor, crying and with a fever. I had Jack's feeding scheduled perfectly so he had enough time to digest as to not spit up on his outfit (which was the same outfit Tim wore at his baptism 30 years ago). Well throw that out the window when thirty minutes before we need to go Tim breaks the kitchen sink and water is skyrocketing all over the kitchen. So now Tim's nicely ironed shirt is being thrown in the dryer Jack is screaming for food and Hannah is on the verge of vomit. This is all happening minutes before we need to leave. I swear I'm lucky if I remember to put deodorant on. Makes me flashback to Hannah's baptism and her poo-splosion at the church all over her white dress right before church started. Why don't we also throw in the worry over if the 90 degree heat or thirty mile per hour winds would ruin his outdoor celebration. It's in these moments I wonder if Satan is working in ways to keep us from Christ. To take us to the point of frustration and exhaustion and utter 'crazy town' that you overlook the beauty in the chaos. Enter beauty. With God, a little water, poop or illness can't over power the glory of his love. We made it to the church and Jack was baptized in a beautiful service. God:1 Satan:0. Pastor reminded us that Jack is a small but very important piece in God's plan. He was so good during the service and it is the most amazing feeling to watch as your child's sins are washed away. His godmother auntie Jamie and godfather uncle Tyler (all the way from London) were there to stand by his side. It was an amazing day and celebration for Jack surrounded by friends and family. Jack's baptism was the perfect reminder to see the beauty and not just the chaos. To enjoy every stick/rock/leaf and pinecone Hannah brings me, to enjoy eating ice cream with my family and not focus on the drips all over the floor, to rejoice in the small things like cuddles, first smiles (which happened today), late night feelings, looks of love from little eyes, hugs, cries for you to lay with them at night, books you've read so many times they are memorized, etc. God gives the little ones in this world a special gift. They seem to always see the beauty, wonder, and enjoyment and never the chaos. Time is short and life moves fast so today I choose to love the crazy and see the beauty in my chaos, I wouldn't have it any other way.

my mom took most the pictures on her camera, but I was able to snap this one

Just keep swimming

Life in the Tatum house is pretty predictable these days: Eat, sleep, poop, cry, repeat. And as for the sleep part of that equation that is mostly just Jack doing the sleeping. Mommy and Daddy are kept busy with big sister playing house, babies, princesses, bubbles, candy land, legos, doctor, kitchen, going to the park (and that's all before noon). No seriously. Jack is still good, but he is definitely more aware of the outside world and for the last week has had extended periods of crying. I guess that's to be expected. He likes to be carried in the front pouch which is helpful so mommy can still get out and take Hannah places. Jack eats a ton. The recommended amount under 4 weeks is 24 oz of breat milk in a day. Jack eats at least 32, but I'm told it's okay and he is just growing. Good thing mommy has a ton of milk in the freezer, so much big sister might not have room to store her beloved pancakes any more. It's so much fun getting more and more toys out for Jack. Last week we took out bee friends and now we have our old friends yodeling goat and musical computer. That's about all the news here. I will leave you with some pics because lets be honest that's what keeps you all interested.





snuggle buddies for mornimg cartoons




my greatest blessings! The last few weeks my favorite time of day is six am. Jack is normally asleep on my chest and Hannah is just waking up and comes and lays next to me on the pillow. I feel like the luckiest mommy and for a brief moment there is silence and snuggles:)

It's Back!

Sweet Jack is just 2 1/2 weeks and already I am getting emotional about how quickly he is growing. Every day he looks older and bigger to me. He also seems more awake and alert each day. I can tell he is already starting to cluster his naps into more defined increments. He also increased feeding size (this boy can eat!) Over the weekend Jack had his first Daddy/Son football day while mommy and Hannah went to Disneyland. This week we also started tummy time and took out the legendary 'bee friends' activity mat. Jack is working on holding his head up and is getting pretty good. Hannah learned that bee friends was her favorite toy as a baby and so now frequently encourages Jack to play with it. It's funny how something as simple as a musical mat can bring back so many memories. So far Jack seems to love bee friends too. He watches and makes good eye contact.

Like I said, emotions have been coming out strong this week. I already want him to slow down. Tim would call me crazy as he is anxious for the middle of the night feedings to be done, but honestly they really don't bother me. I know this time is so short, a brief moment in time and I hope when I look back on my life it's the simple things like bee friends and midnight feedings that I can be proud of and smile about. Today as the three of us journeyed to Target, the song 'My Wish' came on and I started crying (hormones I know). I've always loved this song and it was also the song Tim and his mom danced to at our wedding, but now I love the song even more. Listening to the song thinking of Jack was just overwhelming. I love him so much and just want his little life happy. And with that, I leave you with the lyrics by Rascal Flatts:

"I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish..."


BEST BUDDIES ALREADY (P.s. I do dress Hannah every day as well, but the child finds one way or another to only wear underwear, don't ask)

Two Weeks

My little man is officially two weeks old. I cannot believe how fast time is going. Jack is so good. I just can't explain how easy and sweet he is. Today we went to our two week doctor's appointment and I had no questions because he is just perfect. It was a weird feeling because with Hannah I always had questions and was always getting referred to specialists. With Jack we were in and out. He looks perfect! He weighed in at 8lbs. 6 oz. The doctor weighed him twice to be sure because it is typical for newborns to be back at birth weight at the two week check. Jack has far surpassed that. I told you he eats and sleeps a lot. Growing boy needs his rest. I was worried I was over feeding him, but they were very pleased and even said I should be proud because each oz. was due to my hard work. As most of you know I am not a fan of breast feeding and I really would prefer not getting out of bed every three hours to pump milk, but I do it so that Jack gets the best. It made me feel good that I am helping him grow big and strong. I don't know Jack, it's going to be hard to beat your daddy in height, but maybe. The whole family is doing well. It's a weird feeling knowing that I have two kids, and I couldn't be more blessed.







Daddy wore this outfit 30 years ago