Zoo Day!!

We had a whole Saturday free this weekend...so we went to the zoo. Growing up we went to the zoo a lot, we had memberships but, we always went to the San Francisco Zoo, this time we tried the Oakland zoo. We had a great time!! You are getting to the age where you enjoy things like this, until it's way past nap time and you sit in your stroller like a zombie...you refuse to sleep with all that action going on but you don't have enough energy to fully be yourself. 

Fair warning: I didn't take many pictures of the animals, we have plenty of those, I made sure to get your reactions to the animals. So, there are lots of pictures of you in this post!! 

I loved watching your daddy show you the animals and share interesting facts with you

Daddy pointing out a monkey to you!!

You saw the monkey and turned around to tell me how awesome it was!! Ahhh you are so cute!!

Watching the monkey...that thing swings from trees...I think you were trying to figure out how you could swing like him!

Daddy showing you the sun bears, they like berry's just like you!!

Look a bear!

Oh, you saw the bear on top of his house!

Silly boy, playing with your belly button "buh-buh"

I love watching you with your dad. You love and admire him so much. It warms my heart to see my two favorite people together and having a great time!! Not that I would think you wouldn't be having a great time...it's just...I bonded with you the instant I knew you were in my tummy and it takes daddy a little time to get to know you. I'm so glad that the two of you have formed a tight bond and you enjoy being together so much. My two loves, loving each other brings me such joy!!

Every time you saw a bear you would say, "roar, roar, roar!"

I love the look of wonder and awe in you eyes. This was one of the coolest experience of my life, watching you see new things and learn...it's truly amazing!!

I'm not sure what you saw in this picture...maybe giraffes...whatever it was you sure thought it was cool!!

You were really good about getting out of your stroller to look at animals and then getting back in to move to the next exhibit, your good attitude made the day so easy!

This is the first time I saw a giraffe drink, in real life that is. You thought it was pretty funny!

"look elephants!!"

You were making an elephant noise and waving your arms like trunks...you make me one proud mama that you know animal sounds...you are so stinkin smart!!

Telling us what animals you want to see...the elephants and monkeys were some of your favorites!!

Mama, I want your camera..."caa-ma"

looking

and more looking

Ohh

Giant lizard!!

My loves!!

Hey look, it's you and mama!!

Wow we look alike

we were looking at pigs and oinking!!

You are really cute...I am amazed at how much you know, seriously, you are so smart!

Helping daddy, that stroller gets heavy ; )

Really big alligator

You thought it was pretty cool

Petting a goat...you weren't quite sure about it...I told you it was just like a funny dog, but you knew better!! 

We had a great day! You are such a joy to do things with Jake. We are so blessed to have an awesome boy! We are looking forward to many more zoo trips with you!!

Love, Mama/ takes you to the pet store for a mini zoo trip once a week!!

Banana Boy!!

As a part of your new found independance you are wanting to eat more and more by your self. I love this, I get more time to eat myself (hooray for a warm meal!!). The other morning you grabbed your banana from me and started eating. I'm so proud! Your first independent banana eating, well, mostly you got to the peal and couldn't figure out what to do, took a bite and then looked at me like it tasted funny. I have also noticed that you eat faster (in a good way) and more when you can feed your self. You really enjoy it! 

I'm going to eat the banana!

Big Bite!!

that didn't taste right, I think I got some peal!!

yummmm

hey, I'm diggin this feeding my self thing!

Mom, are you seeing this?

I did it by myself!!

little banana hands

Such a big boy.

With each new step of independence there is a twinge in my heart. I'm loosing my baby. But I'm loving the boy that I'm gaining!

Love, Mama/loves her big boy!

Taking After Daddy

So your Daddy loves to study and learn about Theology. Bible and Theology was one of his majors in college. Your daddy loves to study and read. You already love to read, and that delights us. Reading is such a joy, its a great way to learn and a great way to use your imagination! I hope that as you grow up you will always love reading and learning!


The other day you found daddy's books and you started reading 'Letters to Young Scholars, an introduction to Christian thought'. Well, if you were going to start somewhere this is a great book to start with!


You are smart, maybe we will read that book when you are a little older.

Love, Mama/ Hope I can teach you how to read

Snack Time

As you have gotten older we have had to add snack time to our day. After your nap we sit down on the couch and cuddle while you eat a small snack. Usually your snack consists of fruit snacks, a fruit bar or some fruit. Its one of my favorite times of day. You sit in my lap and gobble up your snack.


I usually get a sweet smile like this one....


You really don't understand snacks. You want a full meal when you eat. I wasn't sure snack time was for you but lunch to dinner is far to long to wait to eat, for anyone really. So, there it is, snack time. I'm excited to have popsicles this summer...

Love, Mama/ diggin snack time

Daddy time

You love to spend time with your daddy! Here you are "playing" video game






This picture cracks me up...you are in your pajamas, wearing your bucket hat playing video games with daddy! You love to do what your daddy does, you admire him so much. It's too cute!

Sweet sweet boy

My favorite thing about you growing up has been the way you express love for daddy and I! Leading us by the finger to play cars with you. The random collapse on daddy's chest because you just think he's so great. The hugs you give me to stall bed time. We love it! Your ability to express love has been a fresh breeze to toddlerhood. I'm not saying you are terrible, far from it (you say please and thank you unprompted!). But toddlerhood is here with all your opinions and desires (and energy!!). I'm grateful for moments like this...



We were playing cars and you plopped your head down on my knee. Precious!! My heart melted! I am so thankful for sweet moments like these!

Love, Mama/ love to be loved by you!

First Band-Aid

This is one of those firsts that I knew was inevitable. You are quite active and have had your fair share of bumps and bruises but today your fell for the first time and had a deep enough scrape to require a band-aid. We were playing cars, again...and you stepped wrong and fell over on a Land Rover of some sort. The metal car scraped your foot and you cried out in pain immediately. You don't usually cry when you fall...unless something really hurt you. At first, I was shocked you started crying, then I went searching for the 'ouchie' as you call them. I found it, on the side of your foot was a scrape that was just starting to bleed. I thought that must be why they say 3 and up on the hot wheels box (that and those tiny wheels but you have never stuck anything in your mouth that wasn't food, and you are always supervised.). We went into the bath room, washed your 'ouchie' then put a band-aid on it. I was surprised you left the band-aid on, you pointed to it, I explained what it was and you went on your way. Here are some pictures of you and your first band-aid (that wasn't a vaccine).

My Favorite Thing

My favorite thing to do with you is read. You love stories and are already picking what books you want read to you. You have a shelf of cardboard books that you can get at when ever you want and then a whole shelf of books that the adults in your life read to you! I love when you walk over to me, hand me a book, and say "up". I put you on my lap and we cuddle up. We read story after story. I think we could both sit there all day and read. It's such a special time, just you and me. The world can wait, we are reading about lady bugs, goodnight moon (ni-ni-mo as you call it) or one fish, two fish. Today you chose to read 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. There are a few picture I took of our time reading today. They aren't the best pictures but I love them because they capture what it looks like to read you a story. I hope you always love to read. I hope even more that you will let me read you stories, or make them up with you for a long time. I enjoy every second of reading you a story. I love making you laugh with funny voices or hearing you point things out on the pages. Reading to you is truly a magical time and I look forward to reading many many stories together!! 

Play Time

Last Thursday we took you to the Doctor you had been sick for a while and weren't getting better. Dr.O (your wonderful Pediatrician) told us you had pink eye in both eyes and a double ear infection!! He asked if you were sleeping through the night or crying non-stop. I said you were a little fussy but I thought that was because you had a cold. Dr. O was impressed you were so tuff but, next time tell mama!! So, you were prescribed eye drops and anti-biotics because your ear infections were pretty bad. Once we started the medicine you were feeling better almost instantly (see previous post of you swinging!!) . Now our issue is, the anti-biotics have given you wicked diaper rash!! I feel terrible. It's totally my fault you have such a bad diaper rash too, which makes me feel even worse. The Doctor first prescribed a medicine that I would have been allergic too and to be cautious they prescribed you something different. The Doctors notes got mixed up and I thought you were supposed to take your medicine twice a day. So because of the extra medicine, your tummy and bum are all messed up!! I am so so so sorry my boy. Nothing makes me feel worse than seeing you in pain! So we have been taking it easy today. 

Yesterday we went to Ikea to get dining chairs and we found you a cool rug!! Last night you and Daddy played on the rug until bedtime. This morning you wanted to play with your cars instead of eat breakfast!  You love playing with cars and you love this rug...here are some pictures of you and your cool rug!!

 

I love when you squat and play like this...

You were showing me your tippy-toes!! You love to walk around like that!!

Alligator!!!

you love this alligator...

Sleepy Jake...

I am doing everything in my power to help you recover quickly...I wish there was more I could do...while we were getting ready this morning I let you walk around with your diaper off and you pooped on the floor, twice!! I think the pants off method might work for diaper training. I almost got you to go in the potty!! I think we are approaching that time!! You are growing up so quickly!!