Things I Want to Remember

So, its been awhile. We've been busy, and when we're finally not busy, updating the blog is just not high on my priority list. I can definitely say that the busyness of a two year old is wearing me out. I've been making a list of some things that he's said or done that I didn't want to forget when I finally made it back to updating. So, here we go:

Jack knows a few of his shapes:
-Tar (Star)
-Heart
-Girkle (Circle)
-Dimon (Diamond)
-Quare (Square)
Then the other day as we were pointing to them and naming them, he pointed to an oval and said, "Egg."
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I was getting Jack ready for his nap when he said, "Pee-pee." He's never said he has to pee before (only tells me when he has already pooped), so I asked him, "Do you need to go pee-pee?" And he said, "Uh-huh." (We're still not actively potty-training, just didn't want to miss any opportunity). So he got up and ran to the bathroom, and we got him situated on his little potty. He sat there for about 30seconds and kept looking down like he was waiting for something to happen, then he stood up, got on his little step stool at the sink, and asked to brush his teeth. I handed him the toothbrush, but he just stood there. As I started to encourage him to use the toothbrush, I looked down to see the first pile of poop hit the step stool, quickly followed by another. As I moved him back to his little potty, he somehow managed to poop on the floor and get his feet in it. And, in my haste, I didn't have him situated right on his little seat, so as he continued pooping it smeared all over the back. I begged with him not to move as I ran to get something to clean it up. As soon as I left the room, I heard the little clip-clap of his feet as he went to close the door. So, to top it off, there were little poop footprints. Despite the calmness I felt during it, it was quite a huge mess, but I can't wait to share the story with him down the road.
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Someone asked me on Monday how many words Jack is saying lately, I estimated around 200-300, but wasn't certain. So, Bob and I had fun as we sat down and listed all the ones we could think of that he says by himself (not just mimicking) and peered back through the blog. He's currently around 275 words, but adds to his repertoire on a daily basis. Here are some of my current favorites:

Poopen=Open (He has since learned to say this correctly, and I'm kind of sad.)

Grammen=Grandma

Papa=Grampa

Achen=Aunt Jen

Bwinin=Uncle Brian

Tairs=Stairs

Punkin=Pumpkin

Wunch=Lunch

Bwidge=Bridge

Ketch It=Catch It

Tank You=Thank You

Pwees=Please

Picker=Picture (which, I think, means Camera/Take my Picture)

Hurt (said with as much drama and whine as one could possibly muster)

Bee-Boo=Boo-Boo (I love, love, love this one).
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Handy Manny Characters according to Jack:

Fwep-a =Felipe

Pat

Dutty (Dusty and Rusty)

Turner

Keeze=squeeze

Tretch=Stretch

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Jack is also learning his colors, but he'll only say them right about 70% of the time. He knows:

Gween (Green), Red, Bwue (Blue), Yeyyow (Yellow), and sometimes Bwown (Brown).

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Recently, at Chick-Fil-A, we were sitting at our table eating, when Jack noticed a couple kids in the play area. He looked real hard for a few minutes, and then said, "Wat er dey doing....in DER?" (What are they doing...in THERE?). It was so cute and funny the way he said it.

One of my other favorite things he has said lately was when talking to his cousin Jason. He said, "Jajon, wanna pway? Come ON." (Jason, want to play? Come ON.) Jason was trying to wake up from his nap, and since Jack doesn't understand lounging around, he wanted him to speed it up. I love watching these two play together. Its adorable.

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That's all I have for now, but I'm going to attempt to muster up the energy to upload some pictures.

I was lucky enough to get off work today at 3:30...which meant I could pick Jack up from daycare. This is a rare treat for me (if you can call it a treat, since he screamed almost the entire way home because he's on day 2 of no napping--God help me if he's trying to give them up). All the other kids were asleep, so I also had the great opportunity to chat with the daycare provider.

I mentioned something about a tempter tantrum, and she looked at me, shocked...and said (in disbelief), "He throws temper tantrums?!?" As it turns out, Jack NEVER throws a fit at daycare. The most upset he might get is to sit down and pout after being told no. That's funny. I told her that he is the KING of temper tantrums at home, and to consider herself lucky.

I also asked about naps. Most of the kids his age have already moved out of cribs and into sleeping bags or cots (normally, around 18 months). Not Jack. There's no way he'll stay where he's supposed to. Apparently, he sleeps in a Pack N Play in a room with one other little guy who talks a lot during naptime. She said that Jack is constantly telling him to be quiet (or as it comes out, "be kiet"...usually followed by shhhhh). And, it just cracks me up picturing him (the kid who never shuts up especially when its time to sleep) telling someone else to pipe down so he can sleep.

It was nice to get more insight into his day, and I was grateful for the opportunity to chat while the other kids were still asleep.

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Jack on the move.....on a VERY windy day!

This picture is from this past weekend when we went to Illinois to Bob's mother's house. I have a few more pictures of Jack and his cousin "Jajon" (Jason) playing outside together that I'll post sometime soon. We'll be heading back there this weekend to honor the life of Bob's Grandpa who passed away late last night. He will most surely be missed by those who loved him!

Jen, Grandpa, Sue, and Bob

(Taken July 2009)

Wack-in's Maiden Voyage

This is Jack's beautiful new wagon from his Grandma and Grampa....or his 'wack-in' as he calls it. (Gotta love the way little kids talk--at least I do!) It was a good call on their part. He LOVES to be outside, and he loves to be toted around (somewhat shocking given his wild nature)--I, personally, think its because he thinks he's 'king of the castle.' I envision we will get LOTS of use out of it. (Don't mind the tired, occasionally sour-looking face he's making--he was completely exhausted after daycare when we attempted to go for our first little ride!)

Thanks again, Sue and Ed!!! (Or as Jack would say, "Tanku, G'mama!)

Mr. Cool

Random Photos

Cousins

(I've been neglecting the blog lately, so I have lots of catching up to do!)

A few weeks ago, Jace, Laura, and Greta were coming into town for a party, and we were lucky enough to enjoy an early lunch with the three of them. It was great to see how much Greta has changed in the last few months and get to see her toddling around (it already seems so long ago that we were at that stage with Jack). It was a fun time, and we can't wait to see them again!

Amazed.

This little boy continues to amaze me every day. At this age, their little brains are like a sponge, and I swear he remembers every little thing. And his vocabulary seems to be growing exponentially.

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If Jack and I are out and about, I have always saved snacktime for time spent in the stroller or the shopping cart. Apparently, its become enough of a pattern that now every time in the last week that I've set him down in the cart, he's told me, "I unna nack." (I want a snack). Its funny how he remembers, but it did not go over so well when I wasn't so well prepared. Yikes!

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We were out working on some landscaping the other day with my parents, and Jack was outside with us. I have a difficult time letting Jack just play in the dirt...not because I care if HE gets dirty, I just don't like ruined clothes and tennis shoes. My dad was hounding me to 'just let him be a boy.' I finally relaxed (okay, I TRIED to), and he had a great time running through the dirt and mulch. Later, I came across a worm when I was uprooting plants, and digging deep for my country girl roots, I picked it up and called him over. He was rather astounded. He took it right from me, but it accidentally fell on the ground. He looked at me and said, "I drop it." I found it for him, and then he proceeded to take it to every person and show them his 'wer' (worm). He is such a little BOY.

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Here are some newer words/sayings:

• I kick it
• I drop it
• Ucky (Yucky)
• Cro-ka (Crocodile)
• Bippo (Hippo)
• Jir-aa (Giraffe)
• Unkey (Monkey)
• Can-Cake (Pancake)
• a Moo (a Moose)
• M-oww (Mouse)
• Ryan (Lion)
• Eww-fant (Elephant)
• Ready, Two, Free (Ready, Two, Three--who knows lol)
• I poopy (I pooped)
• Shirk (Shark)
• Ree it (Read it)
• Tap it (Tap it...its what he has to do to play one of his games on my phone)
• Top it (Stop it)
• Sek it (Shake it)
• I unna dink (I want a drink...we hear a LOT of I want around here)
• Wawa (Water)
• Goot Boy (Good Boy...he praises Jake after he does what he says)
• Bite
• Fu-eey (Funny)
• Fi (Five...as in High Five)
• Sore (Dinosaur)

To My Baby Boy

My dearest, sweetest Jack,

Two years ago today was the most incredible, best day of my life.

At 8:42 am I heard the most amazing sound I'd ever heard...your strong, lusty cry that let us know you had officially made your entrance into this world. You cried in the O.R. for the rest of the procedure, pretty much until your daddy brought you over to sit beside me, and I got to lay eyes on you for the first time. You were the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen. And to this day I'm still overwhelmed sometimes when I look at you.

That morning changed our lives forever in the best way possible. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined how much you mean to me, and how your success and happiness could be so entwined with my own. You aren't just a piece of my heart...you ARE my heart. I live each day for you...and I look forward to a million more.

I love you, little boy! With every ounce of my being.

Jack

April 8, 2010

Silly Boy

Ha ha! Look at this cheesy grin!

Its not easy to get this boy to look at the camera.

I had to do all kinds of goofy faces and fake laughs.

Which, in turn, led to this silly, adorable smile.

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We just got back from a weekend away. Jack certainly enjoyed seeing his cousin 'Jas' (Jason), 'Gamma', 'Gapa' (Grandpa), and his Uncle Brian (whose name he didn't attempt). We made it home around 3:30 (thankfully Jack slept the entire way home)...and launched right into one temper tantrum after another for the next hour and a half. We went and had dinner out with my parents and narrowly avoided a serious puke session (Jack didn't like something he ate, he was gagging--which usually means bad things on the horizon...but somehow we were lucky).

I've taken lots of pictures over the last week and a half, but haven't found the energy to upload them. Busy week ahead...so we'll see if and when they make it onto the blog.

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Earlier today while we were still in Illinois, Jack was in the kitchen talking to the dog. Here is what it sounded like, "Su-up....su-up...SU-UP". Yikes! I'm pretty sure he was telling Jake (the whiner) to shut up. Over and over again (I have NO idea where he would have got this from lol). When I walked into the kitchen, I asked him what he was doing, and it sound like he said, "I un him to su-up." (I want him to shut up). Good or bad, it was hilarious. But, from now on, I will try my best to kindly ask the dog to 'be quiet' (when you tell Jack to be quiet, he likes to obnoxiously repeat the word 'KI-ET' at the top of his lungs).

We're never...

...going to be able to keep this kid inside. We went outside a few times today, and much to his chagrin we eventually had to come back in the house. He kept telling me, "Unna go owtide." These are the days that I really wish we had a better yard setup (no hill out back, no water accumulation, and definitely a fence)...he's a little scary out front with the road--he's so fast--and he falls on the concrete. Regardless, he's having a blast. And we're loving the weather.

Bubbles...

Jack and I spent some time today blowing bubbles. He gets such a kick out of them, and he gets so excited every time he sees them. When Bob got home, we busted out the bubbles again. At one point, Jack started pointing at various bubbles, telling us...."Hey! Wook! Ere's uh bubble!" (Hey! Look! There's a bubble!). It was so cute! (I got a video of the bubbles and Jack talking, but for whatever reason, Blogger doesn't like my iphone videos and wouldn't let me upload it). He's talking a lot more in sentences now...and it seems every day there's something else he's picked up.

Spikey Hair

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We had the windows open yesterday evening, and Jack was playing with his cars over there like he always does. At one point, he looked at Bob, and goes, "it tuck" (its stuck)...after he had gotten a car wedged between the window and the screen.

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Jack and I were playing our version of hide-n-seek where basically he hides behind the curtains, and I say, "Jack. Jack. Where's Jack?"........he then peeks out laughing, and I say, "There he is!". We had done this a few times, and I went to find something in the closet. Apparently, he didn't think the game was over because I heard, "Ack. Ack. Eres Ack?... Ere e is." Poor guy was still trying to play all by himself.

Oliver the Cat

Jack loved Oliver (Jen's cat)--although I'm fairly certain that the feeling wasn't mutual. Jack even attempted to try some kitty food. And some days he would follow him all over the house. Its a shame our old kitty Benny kept peeing in the stroller...they could have been buds.