Quote of the Day

As I left the lunch room with my tray of food, a little 1st grader called out to me, "Have a nice baby!"

Easter 2012

Before I post pictures from Jack's birthday party, I need to catch up on a little blogging, so I'm going to start by posting pictures from Easter (two or so weeks ago).  We celebrated at Judy and Chuck's house where we ate delicious food and Jack got to go on his first Easter egg hunt.  Jack also experienced another first on Easter- his first ride on a 4-wheeler.

A Letter to Jack on his 2nd Birthday

Dear Jackson,

Two years ago today you came into this world (or rather, we forced you out into this world!) and my life hasn't been the same since.  I want to take a minute on this, your second birthday, to tell you just how special you are.

From the top of your shaggy blond head to the tips of your long toes, you are a darling little sweetie pie.   You can be silly and goofy with mom and dad, talking nonstop and insisting that we "play with Jack", yet with people you don't know well, you tend to be quieter, shy even, and much less talkative.

You have endearing little habits that can sometimes drive your Mama mad!  Like the way you have to study each and every individual magnetic letter, identifying them by name and color before placing them- one by one- into the basket at clean up time.  Yellow N.  Red R.  Green V.  Stalling technique, or are you just THAT interested in letters?  Either way, it's a nightly ritual that can make clean-up time a long, drawn-out battle.

You know all your letters, numbers, and colors, and most of your shapes.  You insist that mom and/or dad (or any other nearby willing adult) write your name over and over again on the back porch with sidewalk chalk.  You tell us the letters to write- J A C K S O N.  As I sit here right now, these letters are scattered all over the back porch and our front sidewalk.  And, you see letters everywhere you go.  Just today, during your birthday party, you decided that a piece of Mommy's mushroom from her salad looked like a P, and later you found a stick outside and exclaimed with excitement," a Y!".  In your world, letters are everywhere.

In addition to the alphabet, you are just discovering the joy of slides (at the park and in the nursery at church), you love being outside more than anything, and you like to watch Elmo and Curious George on TV.  In fact, Curious George will keep you occupied for a full half hour on the mornings you wake up early enough to see it so Mommy loves Curious George, too.

When I get home from work in the evenings, you are only somewhat excited to see me.  But, as soon as I start making supper, you follow me around the kitchen whining and insisting "Mommy hold you!  Mommy hold you!"  I think you are mostly interested in being a part of the cooking action in the kitchen as you just LOVE to "help" cook.  Some of your favorite foods right now (not counting all the baked goods Mommy makes) are corn, grapes, cheese and "peepa" (pizza). 

I can tell that you are growing up.  Recently you began to call the letter W by its rightful name rather than "duwub" and only today, your dad and I noticed that you actually said the "d" sound in Adam's name.  (I'm glad that, for now, you still call strawberries "bobbies"!) You seem to understand that you have to clean up your toys every night, even if you don't always do it agreeably.  And you are quick to let us know that you need a diaper change, even if you aren't ready to do more than sit on the toilet just yet.  And, most importantly, in two months you will become a big brother.  We can already tell that you will be such a wonderful brother.  You like to look at my belly, and will often spontaneously lean in and give belly kisses to the baby inside.  Your small hands sometimes pat or stroke my belly gently while whispering "hi beebee", and recently you even made a cooing sound to your little sister.  Of course, you still think it is hilarious to push in Mommy's protruding belly button and yell "pop" while laughing loudly whenever you get the chance!

Within the past couple of days, you have begun to show your age.  Two-year-old tantrums started evolving this weekend, and they have been brutal.  You have screamed and cried (so hard you almost couldn't catch your breath) and flung your body in different directions for many reasons- because you didn't want to read (i.e. go down for your nap), because you weren't ready to eat, because "Jack need a bath" (not a shower), and because the vacuum was sitting in the closet two feet away from where it's usually kept.  We know your easy-going, laid back personality is still in there, but maybe it will be hiding from time to time for a little while!

This morning, you were sitting in the middle of the living room floor just before church when out of the blue you said (to nobody in particular), "God made you".  We have never heard you say that before (and your dad and I don't remember saying that to you).  I think it is remarkable that, on your birthday, you would state such a simple, yet profound, sentence so matter-of-factly.  Yes, Jack, God did make you.  He made you into the absolutely beautiful, perfect little boy that you are, and your dad and I feel blessed that He gave you to us.  We are so lucky to be your parents and we love you with all our hearts.

Love,
Mama

April SRES Brunch

I had a lovely breakfast this month with two of my favorite ladies!

Marjorina

To prepare for his baby sister's arrival, Jack created a special gift to welcome her. Her name is Marjorina (the name Jack had suggested we call Juliana a couple of months ago when we asked him for suggestions) and Jack will bring her to Juliana in the hospital. (Shhh! Don't tell Jack, but Juliana also has a special gift for Jack, his very own digital camera!)

(This post published on October 19, 2013 after stumbling across these photos and remembering this special plan we had for our kiddos.)

Kisses

One day early this week I gave both my boys kisses on my way out.  As I turned to the door, Jack commented, "Momma kiss Jack's cheek.  Momma kiss Dada's (his voice raised an octave) mouth!"

Quote of the Day

A kindergartner ran up to me on the playground.

"Can I go to the bathroom?"  she asked.  Without waiting for a response she added, "When I run, I keep hitting my legs on my appetite (she points to her stomach) and that makes me have to go to the bathroom."

Jack's a "Repeater"

On the way to see the baby chicks, we were driving on the interstate when a "biiiig truck" (that's what Jack likes to call them) cut us off, forcing us into another lane in order to avoid crashing. 

It scared me (a lot) and before I thought about what I was saying, a bad word (well, more like a bad phrase) spilled out of my mouth.... "Son of a b***h!"  I hollered.

Jack's laugh almost immediately filled the car.

"B***h!" he yelled, then laughed loudly.  "B***h!  B***h! B***h!" 

For the next ten minutes, the sound of Jack's innocent toddler voice hollering the offensive word echoed repeatedly from the backseat of the car while Nathan and I tried to keep straight faces in the front seat.

Luckily, the experience of hearing Mommy say a bad word must have been overshadowed by the sheer fuzzy delight of baby chicks because Jack hasn't repeated the word since.

Keep your fingers crossed.