Vocabulary Burst

Wow! we're really on a roll of milestones lately. I've been noticing that the strings of 2-3 words are stretching into 4, 5 and 6 words..... and in Spanish as well.... it's unbelievable. I have to ask Daddy to translate now because you've already surpassed my fluency. (are you smarter than a 2 1/2 year old, Mommy?) It's so hard, and at this hour, to try to remember an exact phrase right now, but I'll add it in later, now that I'll be on the look out for it.
You're also saying really hard words perfectly. "Ornaments"
And I really saw a difference today in how you describe school. It's like we're having a conversation with you, when in the first several weeks, we struggled to pull words out and often coached the direction of the speech. Not now. Today you told us that you had chips and salsa for snack, and you sang the words "rock by baby" and did the motion, indicating you're learning a new song. Then you said "too cold outside... Mrs. Lawrence... play inside".

This is so cool.

There are those moments every now and again (more again and again) that make me so happy that I get to be your mommy. When I don't think it could be any better than the moment we're in, you prove me wrong. Just when I tear up that you're not the tiny little baby in my arms anymore, I get to be so happy and proud of just where you're at and who you are today, even knowing that soon, I'll miss this moment, too.

oh, and this morning when I put you in the carseat for Jenny to take you to school, I said "can I have a kiss" and you obliged sweetly. I said goodbye and you said "hug? hug?" My heart just melted right out of my chest.

Yet Another Milestone

It's official. You are now able to undress yourself (yes!)

I figure, if you're waking up completely naked, it's probably a safe bet that I can say with confidence you know how to get your clothes off, even if I've never witnessed it myself ; )

Everyone Poops

Your teacher Mrs. McIntyre has been sick so we made a card today and took it over to the other end of the neighborhood and you dropped it in her mailbox. I think you miss her at school and I wonder if that has something to do with you not going potty since the normal swing of things there must be a bit different with her gone. You wouldn't go at all on Tuesday, but still came home dry!
( :•O) You still won't say "Mrs." but you say "McIntyre" a lot. McIntyre sad, McIntyre head hurt, McIntyre sick.
Anyway, on the way to her house, there is still a lot of construction, even though it's a nice straight shot now that the road is paved. They're putting in water lines today, so there was a big trench and dirt on the side of the road. You said "sucio" and I thought... "that must be something in Spanish," I didn't recognize his 'Jack-a-neese' as we lovingly call his little dialect when we can't make out the word, but this was very clear. Very clear and not English. I took a shot, "in English?" and Jack said, "Dirty!" ah-ha! You're teaching me Spanish. Isn't that great? My two year old, teaching me a new language. You're something else.

Then you had to go and top it....
You pointed down at the dirt clumps and said, "ever-buddy POOPS!"

2 minutes

You crack me up. I'm always trying to give you the "two minute warning" before we switch gears for anything and today, when I came to your room to let you know that we would be going potty before lunch, you told me,
"Two minutes, mommy, two minutes".

I'm posting this photo too, so that I can remember how sweet you could be to each other. Now that your sister is taking the stairs, you are always right there to put a hand on her back and say,
"careful, GG, careful."
so precious.

6 weeks later

It's been about that long since we jumped into this journey without knowing we were on our way! Jack, you're doing great. I think you're doing great, anyway. For a little guy who is barely 2 1/2 and stays dry all day in big boy pants and has dry pullups whenever we go somewhere (because Mommy is too paranoid about changing poop filled underwear in the middle of a nasty WalMart bathroom with GG in tow), I think that is pretty awesome! Accidents are few and far between and I can usually attribute most of the blame to myself because I didn't ask or because we got busy. Still using diapers at bedtime and naps and still very wet when you wake, but we'll tackle one hill at a time. I have to admit, it secretly drives me crazy that people expect you to also stay dry at night and naps already, too. I still think of you as being so little. I've heard so many people tell me they threw the diapers away all together all at once. (!!!??! how?) We've tried the plastic pants, but you're wet from head to toe and it just seems like it doesn't make any sense to go to so much work twice a day with sheets and laundry and clothing if it makes no difference.... you have your last drink between 5-5:30 with dinner and then you're supposed to stay dry from 7pm-7am while you're sleeping?

....but I think we're going to wait until after the holidays and then take off one side of your bed and then change to plastic pants at night. I'm afraid to put you through too many changes all at once. We haven't changed your crib because we haven't had a good reason to. You like your bed, you sleep really well, you're not afraid of the dark, you don't tear up the bed or try to crawl out. So we haven't changed it. Maybe getting you up to pottie at midnight and 3am might help keep you dry, but disturbing your sleep goes against every mommy instinct inside of me. ugh. This is the first real struggle with the unknown that I've had since you were an infant and we couldn't get you to sleep for the first 5 months. I just don't want to push you before you're physically able, but don't want to set you back if you are. Hope to get some advice, because I know many mommies in the same situation and they've been going through it for months or even years and I don't want you to be heading off to college in Pull-Ups : /
anyone with some useful advice?

Big Successes, Tiny Set Backs

Again, crazy impressed with you, Jack! Two accidents today, but went in the potty 5 times and attempted several more times. This morning, there was a note on the door mat for Jack. Lightning McQueen sent a personal letter and included a sticker chart and a "big boy in training" certificate. We decorated the papers in glitter - FUN! and hung them in the bathroom. Still stayed dry even at the museum today! Way to go, Jack, or as Lightning might say, "KACHOW!"

Potty Learning is Great!

When I showed Jack his Lightning McQueen underwear today again in his drawer, he really wanted to wear them. I wasn't prepared at all to start "potty learning" this weekend, but when I saw how eager he was and then, how dry he was able to stay (!) well, I thought maybe we'll be okay. So we kind of through together the half-hearted plan I had and we were on our way. We had outings scheduled and he still stayed dry. I was pretty amazed actually. I have THE CUTEST pictures of him in his tiny little underwear that I can't even believe they make that small, and of him sitting on the potty in his firefighter hat and daddy with him in a gas mask, its too funny. But, with the big scare Oprah gave me last week about child-photo trading on the internet (to put it mildly) I'm just too paranoid to put them on the blog where they could get into the wrong hands.

He's growing up... ugh.

Doing Well!

Jack, you continue to amaze me all the time. By the end of the 2nd week, which was only 4 days (8 hours) with your class, you can name 6 out of 7 classmates on your own and 1 of your 2 teachers. You're not even 2 1/2! you are so cool! You really seem to enjoy it, your notes from school are very good, you've never cried when you've gone to school, and you're always smiling when I pick you up.

I think you might have a little crush on Hannah, you talk about her the most. : )

First Full Day of School

You did so great today, even while others were melting down, you seemed so strong! You didn't cry, but mommy did. I was okay until I picked you up and they brought you out to the car and you just looked so tiny, but so brave and courageous and BIG all at the same time.... I got a flashback of bringing you home for the first time, so tiny. You were smiling so big, holding your teachers hand and trying to keep your miniature backpack on your shoulders. My heart melted. How could I forget in only two hours how cute and sweet you are?

First Day of School

Okay, so Daddy keeps reminding me its not really your first day of school since its pre-school, BUT you and I both know this is the first day of the rest of your school days, SO, technically, yes, its your very first day of school! I'm so excited for you.

Little sister was giving big high fives to cheer you on this morning.


Today was actually visiting day, so the whole family was there to support Jack. You were such a big boy. You met Mrs. Lawrence and played with cars, worked on several puzzles and colored. We checked out Rylan's class and the playground, too. I think this will be great for you.

.

Close Your Eyes....

no peeking!


wow! cool! A "Cars" backpack
I love it!!
I'm NEVER taking it off!!!!
and a drawing pad with a MARKER, too???
COOL!
I'm SO ready for school tomorrow!
I can't wait!

Some Jack News & Photos

I feel awful that I haven't posted in Jack's blog lately, especially since so much is going on over at GG's. He's grown and done so many new things in the last month, its hard to know where to start. His last hair cut was pretty short, so now he's got this new little boy "do". So cute. He's so not a baby anymore (sigh). Anyway, here's a few new things on Jack ...
talking up a storm in english and spanish, and showing even more interest in signing lately...
really recognizing names and faces and correlating them with places,
serious (but periodic, though successful) interest in potty-learning...
recognizes numbers, colors and shapes when asked...
developing his large motor skills more (jumping, running)...
loves to help water plants out front....
so many more....
climbing grandma's "rock wall" (over and over)

asleep on the way to cousin Christopher's birthday party.


Jack is the "HORSIE" now!!!

He's TOTALLY into Daddy being a "horsie" right now, so when Daddy asked for Jack to be the horsie, Jack almost fell apart laughing about it. Basically, Pepe just shuffled around on his knees hovering over Jack, but I thought Jack was going to lose it. He was laughing so hard he really couldn't even move forward.
The funniest is his new "brown cookie" obsession:

He sweetly asks for a "brown cookie" almost every night now. Its so stinkin' cute, we don't have the heart to correct him by telling him its a chocolate chip cookie. Oh, and he prefers to finish his milk in the blue cup instead of his sippie cup. So big!

poor baby

Jack asked for "night-night" at lunch and I started to wonder if he was feeling alright. He woke up with a 102 temp and glazed over eyes. He just wanted to lay on the couch or be held. You know something must be really wrong when your 2 year old wants to be still. I set him up on the couch, not knowing how bad it was, I gave him a handful of Cars fruit snacks, hoping this would lighten his mood a little. I went to scrub potatoes for dinner and just as the thought to give him a big bowl crossed my mind, I heard a whimper and ran to the living room barely in time to catch his lunch. He lost it again later when we tried Tylenol. He asked for apples at dinner and had a few slices and kept that down. I held him on the couch after that and he was out cold by 6pm. I took him to bed and he slept until 10am. I checked his temp at 11pm and 3am while he was sleeping and it was down to 99, so was hopeful he would be a bit better. Glad I let him sleep, he seems to be much better. Happy to have my little chatterbox back with me. I seriously can count on 1 hand how many times my children have been even close to being this sick. We don't have a lot of practice with this around here. I attribute this to nursing him for 16 months, his awesome diet and the fact that he's not in daily daycare. We'll see how this changes with preschool. For now, I'm just hoping that GG doesn't get this or me for that matter since I have the workshop next week and no one else to cover it.

He's okay, he's okay

Thank goodness it was only a sprain, but we weren't sure for a bit there. An adult climbed into the inflatable bouncer at a birthday party we were at and Jack slipped in before Pepe could blink. He grabbed his legs, but it was too late. Just then, the guy fell and landed on top of Jack. He complained about his arm and held it and cried and wouldn't move it much. Fortunately, the xrays were clear. We weaned him down from the splint and he seemed just fine after a few days. My 23 month old nephew, on the other hand, was not as lucky. He fractured his elbow just a week after Jack's incident.

His Imagination Grows

I'm amazed by him everyday... And so blessed that I am here with him to watch it all happen before my own eyes, no matter how hard the sacrifices are, it really is worth it.

Today, he told me his mango slice was an airplane. "whhhhiiirrrrr"

It took me a second to figure out what he was doing.

Then he took a bite and said "Lightning, vrrooom, vrrroooom!" (Lightning McQueen, the Car)

Now my eyebrows went up, I could see his little "thinker" just going wild.

Another bite... "Arf, arf.... Daaaah-gie!"

I grabbed the camera.

Jack discovers the foxgloves blooming

He found them when he pulled back the curtain in the guest room downstairs. He was so surprised and talked about them at the window for some time. It was really sweet.

think you love your sister a little!

lots of hugs and squeezes... Glad she's getting bigger so she can tolerate it a little better! So cute.

Learning to Count -bilingually!

I know the lighting is awful and it will be really hard to understand him, but he IS trying to count in Spanish and English. I was blown away and grabbed the camera as quick as I could. Never heard him string so many numbers together before. His English is a little rougher, but he has 8, 9, 10 down pat. Take a listen...

Dancing Feet

Just thought this was cute. Jack let loose at our Parents As Teachers ice cream social tonight and I got just a snipit of it. All day, everywhere we went, he had to have the hat on and his sunglasses on with his "My Mom Rules" shirt. He's really into his pockets "PAAAW-Kitz" right now, so there he was in his hat and sunglasses and pulling his flip phone out of his pocket, having an intense 5 second "call" and then flipping it shut and trying to stuff it back in his pocket. I thought I was going to wet my pants. He sooo cracks me up.

Bubbles

Jack making bubbles on his own for the first time....