Big Boy Words

Your vocabulary has been rapidly expanding and you now say some pretty cute things. You went from one word to two word combos and now...some pretty full sentences. Your first sentence was, "I afraid of the dark."I was surprised by the completeness of your statement and by the fact that you think you are afraid of the dark. You aren't really. You walk into dark rooms, sleep completely through the night in the dark and you love the moon and stars. So, I was quite shocked by your first sentence. 

Not only is your vocabulary expanding but so are your feelings and emotions. You were never afraid of something before. You are learning to label your feelings and we are helping you to manage them. You are quite the feeler. You feel things deeply. When someone leaves, when you don't get your way, your little heart breaks. But, you are a good listener and we can explain things to you and you understand. It's a work in progress and I'm learning to not take every fit and bout of defiance personally. It's hard...every child is different and sometimes I compare you to other kids...and that's not fair to you or me...at all. I'm learning, this whole process is new to both of us. I always thought my parents knew what they were doing...but, no amount of reading or babysitting has prepared me for the real life decisions I face everyday. Do I spank you...time out...take away that toy...sit you down and talk...a condo of all of the above. Somedays it feels like a barley make it through with my sanity but, you are growing up to be quite nice and even polite. There isn't much more I can ask for right now. You are discovering who you are just as much as we are getting to know you. 

Anyways....

My favorite new thing that you do is narrate your self. You say things like..."I sit down" "I do it" "I get it" "I pick it up" "I color" "I play with cars"...I love it!! I love that you know what you are doing and you love to tell us. You are so proud of the fact that you can communicate with us. It is such a joy to watch you grow and learn. 

Something else thats new...I think we are going to start potty training. I want to just do it in one swoop and will probably start the 'three day method' soon. Let's do it or not. But, to see if you were ready, Daddy and I bought you a really cool ramp/launcher thing for your cars! It sat on the back of the toilet in your bathroom and you would try and try to go potty in your toilet so you could get this toy. You totally understood what we wanted you to do and that you would get that awesome toy if you went in the potty! So one night Daddy sat you down to try and you went!!! We were so excited. It was the smallest amount of pee I have ever seen but you did it! We rejoiced and you clapped for yourself. You were so excited to get your new toy. We even stayed up a little past bed time to play with it! So, another journey begins. I'm not quite sure I'm ready...I think potty training is more about mommy training at first...always asking if you have to go. Well, here goes nothing. 

We took these pictures today...I love being silly with you!!

Love, Mama/glad to be on this journey with your Daddy and you!! (and soon our little Jackson)

Little Flutters

Hey Baby, 

I think I felt you move the other day. I was sitting, editing photos and flutter, flutter. I felt you flip. Since then I have been feeling you flip about and even push on me. You are already like your brother...kicking me until you are comfortable. It makes me so happy to feel you. Not only does it give me huge peace of mind to know that you are there, moving and healthy. But, I just love to get to know you by your kicking and gymnastics. Soon I will be feeling much more of you but for now the flutters warm my heart. I can't wait till your daddy can feel you! He loves that, it's one way he gets to connect with you before you are born. Otherwise it's just you and me, baby! I love the closeness we have now and forever really but there is something so magical about my body taking care of yours! It's such a blessing to have you!! 

Love, 

Mama/looking forward to more baby kicks

Big Boy Bed

A few weeks ago you feel/jumped out of your crib. After that we moved everything away from your crib and hopped that the experience was scary enough to keep you from doing it again. I was nervous you would do it again, you don't have much fear. You are tall and all you did was throw your leg over the side and flipped yourself. no matter how impressive it was, it was dangerous. 

I have been bugging Daddy to move a big kid bed into your room. I think Daddy was in denial that you needed a big bed and I don't think he wanted to mess with constantly putting you back in bed. But today was the day. My plan was to put it in your room and talk about it a lot for a week or so until you seemed interested. You had other plans. 

Daddy moved in the bed. We decided that a twin mattress on the floor would be best for you. I put a few pillows on it and a fuzzy blanket that has Jeep's, Lion's and Zebra's. You loved the blanket. 

At nap time I put you in your crib, same as usual and you asked for your 'big bed'. I told you when you were ready you could sleep in your big bed. Then you asked for the blankie that was on the bed. I told you, you could only have it if you slept in your big bed. You nodded in agreement and asked for the big bed again. 'Well, ok' I thought 'he's asking for it so he must be more ready than i thought'.

I put you in your big bed, re-explained the rules of staying in the bed until Mommy and Daddy get you out and I gave you two chances and then it would be crib time again. 

You did well at first. Quiet, then talking then walking around the bed. Luckily Daddy had installed a camera in the room today too. We laughed while watching you. Then you did it, you stepped out of bed. I went in, told you it was not play time and discovered a poopy diaper. Changed and clean you went back in your bed. Then you stepped out of bed again. This time you went back into your crib. You sobbed. You were very sad that you weren't in your big bed. We waited until you calmed down and then gave you one more chance in the big bed. You cried for a few seconds and then fell asleep. You slept for 2.5 hours! Victory!! Well, a great beginning at least.

here you are sleeping you your big bed!!

 I'm sure you will test more and more along the way but I'm happy that you are understanding the concept of staying in bed. You didn't even roll off the bed! 

Tonight you wanted your big bed again so we are trying it. You cried for a bit but now you are awake but staying in your bed. It might take you awhile before you get used to falling asleep somewhere new. You are a huge creature of habit. This change is a big one!

Next up is potty training. I'm struggling to know when...I don't want to rush you out of diapers because of the next baby. I would really like to not change two sets of diapers and to buy two sizes. But you will know when you are ready. Hopefully I will be able to tell too! 

Love,

Mama/proud of her big boy!!

Coolest Kid on the Block

Jake, you have gotten to do some pretty awesome things for a not quite two year old and this counts as one of those things. 

This weekend we visited Daddy's family in Modesto for a quick day. They own a wood mill, it's a super awesome place that you will get to explore someday. But, we went over there because they have a semi truck to make deliveries. You love all things transportation, and especially semi-trucks. When we pass them on the freeway you yell, "Semi...red (or whatever color it is) semi!" So we went over to ride in one. You absolutely loved it!! As soon as you saw the truck, you started running toward it, yelling "semi!! red, red semi...run, run!!" it was very cute to watch you study it as Matt started the engine and pull it out. You didn't hesitate at getting in. When you face new experiences you are usually quite, and taking everything in. Sometimes it is hard to tell if you are enjoying yourself, you are so quite. But, it's easy to tell that you are soaking up every little detail, observing all there is to see. Because come tomorrow you will talk non-stop about that semi! 

Uncle Matt loved driving you around. 

You got to pull the horn...and you wouldn't let go.

Driving for the first time at 21 months...Mama is so proud!! 

Riding with Daddy, Matt and Alex

You rode around and around the property, loving every second.

Happy boy in the red semi!

I love this picture. You love your uncle!

Honking that horn.

We are so blessed to have such cool family and such great opportunities to do these things. Your uncle Alex took these pictures to document your first semi experience, thanks Alex!! I am so blessed by the rich life you have already had. Surrounded by loving family and some great experiences thrown in. You are one blessed boy. Your little sibling has no idea what they are in for...a life full of love!!

Love, 

Mama/I promise, I rode with you in the semi, even with no picture to prove it. 

Play-doh!!

I figured you were about the right age to start playing with Play-doh...if you were the kind of kid to stick everything in your mouth we might have postponed but you are really good about only sticking food in your mouth. You love to joke about sticking non-food things in your mouth...mama doesn't always think it's as funny as you do (look Ma I'm going to eat this bug...haha...just kidding I know it's not food!)!! Well here you are playing with Play doh for the first time!

before we played with Play-Doh we had to play Scrabble Flash, Mama and Daddy love this game, so you do too! Someday it will be good for your spelling skills! 

Silly boy

Stacking 

Pulling

Squishing

Tasting...you licked your hand and decided Play-Doh was definitely not for eating!!

More Play Doh stacking

You really had a great time...I just realized your tongue is out in most of these pictures, your tongue is out most of the time recently. Funny funny boy. I'm excited to incorporate into our learning play time! We do some flash cards and some matching things through out the day in short bursts to keep things easy. Soon we will do finger paints and coloring...I love teaching you new things and I love watching you learn!! You bring me so much joy Jake, even on the hard days, you are a gift!! 

Love, Mama/excited to play with Play-Doh again!

The Inevitable

Well, it has finally happened. You said no to me. It wasn't some huge thing it just happened. I asked you "can you give mama the car keys?" and you said, "mo". 'Mo' is how you say, No. It's too funny. Ted (our dog) will walk over to you and start licking your face and you will push him away and say, "mo, mo dog". I love it. I think I'm going to have to stop asking questions I don't want your answer to. You wanted to keep my keys and gave me your answer, no. It wasn't like you were trying to be defiant and totally rude, after all I was the one who asked you. You were just giving me your answer to my question. This whole Toddler thing is pretty crazy Jake. You are a lovely boy but you love to test your limits and I know that right now I need to draw a hard line, if not you will be a crazy two year old! Everyday brings new challenges and it's exhausting keeping up with you and constantly trying to redirect and correct you. Don't get me wrong, I love being your mama and I love the stage you are at, but I find my self more tired than I was when you were just days old! I know it might get more crazy before you settle down but that's ok with me. This is what I signed up for, a messy, crazy life with a wonderful boy!!

We are thinking about adding another kid to the mix, what do you think of that? I might be crazy to think of adding one now, but oh well. I want you guys to be close. Who knows how many we will end up having, sadly money plays a big part in our decision. We want you and your sibling(s) to have a fun life. Not spoiled but we want to be able to afford vacations and lessons and sports. But, we still want Mama to stay home with you. So, something has to give we can't have it all. We'll see what happens. And if you are the only child we end up having, that's ok too.  Life is great with you! I love our little family of three!

Love, Mama/ wondering what I got myself into!?

P.S. After I posted this a friend asked me how I responded. Well, we were walking to the car and you said "mo". Being slightly in shock and not wanting to make a big deal out of anything I said, "Jake, we don't say no to mama. I'm sorry I asked you a question I should have said, "Hand Mama the keys please." Then you started handing me the keys, we ended up trading keys for a Hot Wheel's truck. I figured if I made it a huge deal you would do it again for attention so, I kept calm and addressed what needed to be. It will probably happen again but, we will deal with it one step at a time!!

Monster Bus!!

And the weekend fun continued. After the zoo we met Grandma and Grandpa for Sushi (let me just take a second to say, I love that you love interesting food!) we drove past Lowe's and they had a Monster Bus in the parking lot. Well, of course we had to stop and see it. The bus is used as a fundraiser for The Oakland Children's Hospital and to help find a cure for childhood diabetes...so we paid to ride it and get you a souvenir bus, anything for a good cause. 

As soon as we got out of the car you were so excited about this thing! You love cars and trucks, really anything that moves. But, this was super cool!! You just kept pointing and saying "mo-mo" for monster. Too cute! 

You weren't too sure about sitting on the tire but...

As soon as you got the toy bus in your hands everything was good!

Like I said you really like cars and trucks!! You point them out was we drive..."Car" or "Truck!" you yell and point, then smile because you are so proud that you know the names of things and can tell us what you see!

Sitting in a rim...

You are little, but a rim you can fit inside of is a big rim. 

Just so you can get some perspective, I am 5'10" so this tire is about 5' 7"...WOW!!

We have seen our fair share of monster trucks in action but this was a first for mama and daddy too!!

Ready to ride...don't worry we were bucked up before we moved!!

still pretty excited about your toy bus

Showing daddy your cool toy!!

You had a great time. I just can't get enough of experiencing life with you! It's such a gift to see the world through your eyes. Everything is new, everything is exciting. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm for life with us. Sometimes I think you have to do something big to have a great day but simple things are sometimes just as great! 

Love, Mama /loves life with you!!

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!!