Monkey See...

...Monkey Do

A Three Part Tale From Yesterday Morning

I. First thing in the morning J had a stuffed animal in his shirt. He said his belly was getting bigger. I looked down at mine. He's commented more than once recently about how large I am getting. I guess he didn't notice that much last time I was pregnant?

We call the baby by her name regularly & I comment on how she is growing bigger and that is why my belly is growing bigger too. Occasionally he asks about her and her growth...concerned a bit on how big she will really get.

Once his "baby" was "big enough", he just plopped it right out of the bottom of his shirt.

I thought "now that would be nice & easy..."

I have to admit the idea of a 'natural childbirth' is starting to feel a bit daunting, since I've never done it before.

II. While I was hanging up laundry, J came in the laundry room with his baby doll. We used this baby doll to help him get used to the idea of a baby in the house before N was born (gentle, quiet, etc). When N was a baby he would carry this baby around and even attempted to breastfeed the little 

thing! 


J walked in with the same babe (who I have not seen him play with since we moved here) and said "Look, Mama! He is getting big! He is walking now!" and demonstrated how the baby was learning how to walk. I applauded the baby's walking efforts and J's parenting skills. He really is watching/listening to everything that goes on in our family. Before he was nursing that baby (when I was nursing N all day long) and now he is teaching him how to walk (which is what we are doing now with N). So cute.

III. For snack time, J requested string cheese (a favorite). After he opened the package, he popped the cylindrical cheese stick in his mouth and started to blow on it. I wasn't sure what he was doing (is it a trumpet? a whistle?) so I asked. 

He said "like my neighbor does." I prodded further, and he answered "like my neighbor Jenny does--and then the wind blows it away." He was referring to the neighbor, Jenny, & his observance of her smoking addiction (she goes outside to smoke-- many, many, many times a day--outside puffing away). I was surprised that he had taken note of that (we aren't outside very often, and we don't have chats with the neighbors much either) so specifically and applied to his cheese stick (that really would be more like a cigar-shape, but I digress). 

I didn't say much about it but I was kind of sad. I mean, eventually I will teach him that smoking is bad for our bodies and then he will wonder why people do it and probably say something to someone smoking...

...for now I'll hold onto the innocence of youth...

monkeys & all.

Toddler Tales: May Days

This morning J ran into my room with excitement. The lawnmowers are out full force, he loves to watch them buzz around outside our home--often waving and chatting with them. He asked me this morning: "Can I ride a lawnmower outside with my guys?"

'His guys' = the lawncare team

_________________

Last night I reminded J that Baby N cannot eat the same food that he gets to eat. We were talking in particular about grapes and I said "he doesn't have any teeth yet, so he can't eat grapes".

He promptly replied: "We should go to Sam's to get Natham some teeth."

'Sam's' = Sam's Club Store

_________________

A couple of Sunday nights ago, J was reading books with Daddy in the recliner. All of the sudden, he remembered something. Something he had forgotten. He got very excited and with big, animated eyes, said: "I DURGOT IT! I DURGOT IT!!"

What? What did you forget??

"MY BALLOON!"

It's true. The balloon had come home from church with us but I didn't recall seeing it around all evening. Where could it be? I looked around & couldn't find it. J was still so amazed that he forgot it and then all of the sudden, he yelled: "I KNOW WHERE IT IS!"

Where?

"It is in my closet!!"

I highly doubted that. Why would it be in the closet and would it really have been hiding up there all day long? I agreed to check while he continued to share enthusiastically with Trevor--"I know where it is! My balloon!!"

Sure enough. "At the top", just as he remembered.

He was so excited to have the balloon back...after forgetting, remembering, and racking his brain to remember where it was. It was entertaining to watch him work through the process, and share with us in his animated voice and facial expressions.

______________

The other day I was preparing a meal for another family in our ward who just had a baby. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed as I had two pans going on the stove, another dish in the oven, a screaming baby, and a frustrated toddler. Getting it all finished, packaged, and the boys loaded up felt very--crazy--.

I took a deep breath as we drove out of our neighborhood and then J said "Mommy?"

I said "Yes?"

J: "I love you."

Me: "I love you too, baby."

J: "You're da best!"

*PING*

Just what I needed in that moment. Those words (however rehearsed by the electronic stuffed animal puppy dog they might have been) were exactly what I needed to hear. The rest of my evening seemed to go much better.

______________________

Toddler Tales: The -Ings Going On Around Here

Mimicking

The other day I overheard the following interaction between Toddler J & his Thomas Train.

J: "Thomas, time for time out."
--waiting--
J: "Ok, now why were you in time out?"
Thomas: (replying through J, of course) "Scweaming" (screaming)
J: "What do you say?"
Thomas: "I sowy" (I'm sorry)
J: "Ok, gimme a hug"

--by now I'm watching & I see J place his Thomas train on his shoulder and give him a hug, complete with little hand pat on the top of the little Engine.

Can you tell he knows the routine for time out...?

Assuming

We have some friends staying with us this week while they hunt for jobs & housing in The City. I thought I did an adequate job of preparing Toddler J for the change in routine...explaining that we will need to leave the loft area alone, stay out of their space, and let them use the guest bathroom (usually his bathroom), and keep a nice level of quiet in the house in the mornings.

They arrived late one night, and the next morning J was excited!
He exclaimed, "Wanna show Granddaddy my toy!!" as he ran into the guest room/loft area.
I caught him just before he barged through their curtains to explain.
This guy's name is Andrew.
But.
He is not the Andrew that is your Granddaddy!

He was pretty disappointed, but got over it quick enough. Of course he assumed that an Andrew coming to our house would be Granddaddy!! (He knows that is his name because when Grandmama & Granddaddy were hear in the summer, he noticed that Grandmama called him by his name)

Understanding

After the name confusion, I thought it best to re-iterate the points we had talked about before regarding our guests staying with us. Stay out of their space, don't get in their bed or their suitcases, and they get full use of the "Duck Bathroom" (his bathroom, decorated with ducks).

After my short review, I said "Ok, so they get to have their own space right now. Do you understand?"

He said "YEAH. My bafroom!" (think. teenager attitude voice. seriously)

Clearly, he understood that they were taking over his space.

Comparing

I was working on creating our April Newsletter for Primary (Church children's organization) the other day, and I was saying the words to myself as I typed up this month's theme: "Jesus Christ is My Savior and Redeemer".

Toddler J overheard me and asked: "Jesus Christ?"
I replied "That's right. He is our Savior."
He paused for a minute & stated: "Jesus Christ is taller than Daddy."

Great comparison, and I bet he is right.

Explaining

I came down stairs earlier this week to see a line of toilet paper...from the bottom of the stairs, through the living room, curving past the playroom, into the little hallway and finishing (naturally) in the downstairs bathroom.

I looked at Toddler J & asked (trying to keep my calm) "What is this??"
He looked at me and explained "It's for the lady bug", and then crouched down by the foot of the stairs to show me a little lady bug.

Either it was a blanket for her, or a way to grab her and take her out--not sure. He was thinking only of that lady bug, though, and was quick to explain his intentions.

Caring

A few nights ago I sat down in the recliner with a blanket. It was a long day with two boys, I was tired and had a headache (no doubt augmented by the beeping of one of our fire alarms letting us know the battery was dead). Toddler J noticed I looked out of sorts, so he came over and said "What's wong, Mama?"

I said "Oh, I have a head ache. And I'm tired. I need to rest for a minute."

He ran away before I even finished.

I had barely closed my eyes and he was back. He patted my head gently and said "Don't feel good?"

I said "no, I don't feel good."

He quickly responded: "It's Ok, Mama--here's a toy."
Then, he carefully tucked my Shara Tiara doll by side and walked away.

What a sweet little caretaker! I hope he's this sweet when I'm old!!

Testifying

A few weeks ago I was frustrated with something I had said, and Mr. H had said, and I had said, and he had said. You know how those things go. Often fueled by misplaced emotion & thoughtless reactions. Mr. H left for his evening responsibilities and I put my head down on the counter with a frustrated heart.

Toddler J was in the playroom.
He didn't see me or know what I was feeling or doing.

He called to me from his playhouse perch: "Mommy!?"

I said "Yes, baby."
He said: "Heavenly Father loves Jackson."
I replied (still from the kitchen) : "That's right, He loves you VERY much."

--pause--

He said: "Heavenly Father loves Mama."

--pause--

My eyes welled up with tears. This is what I needed to hear in that moment, and then...

He finished: "Heavenly Father loves Daddy."

--pause--

Wow. Even though I needed to hear that I AM loved--I really needed to be reminded, in that moment of frustration, how much God loves my dear Mr. H.

He does, oh yes.
And THAT is what makes it all fall into place.
Isn't it?

Toddler Tales: Associations (Brushes, Bluetooths, & Shox)

There have been a few recent instances where Toddler J has surprised me with his memory of a person that he has connected with an item that he associates specifically with that person.

A: Round Brush=Jen

When I chopped my hair off, I started to blow dry my hair with a round brush, which I had not done with long hair. One morning J saw me doing this and he said "That is Jen's." I was puzzled at first but spent some time working my brain around what he saw and what he said. Finally it clicked: he saw my sister-in-law Jen blow drying her hair with a round brush during our Christmas/New Years holiday in TN. That was probably the first time he saw that and this was the first time he noticed me doing it.

B: Blue Tooth=Sabrina

Last week I was preparing for a conference call meeting for Primary. Mr. H suggested I use his blackberry blue tooth set. He hadn't used it in awhile so I got it out to charge its batteries. I didn't end up using it, but left it on my nightstand. The next day, Toddler J saw it sitting out. He said "That is 'Bina's" ("Bina" is Sabrina) My friend, Sabrina, always uses her bluetooth hands-free device when she is talking on the phone. Often, she leaves it on her ear when she is busy doing things. He noticed it when he has been around Sabrina and when he saw Mr. H's sitting there, he assumed it was hers.

C: Shoe Shox: Lucas

This weekend we visited Mr. H's family in Kentucky. While there, Toddler J noticed the sets of shoes by the side door. He pointed to Papa's tennis shoes and said "Those Lucas' shoes". I looked at them and tried to piece it together. I knew they weren't Lucas' shoes...but why would he say that? Then it hit me--Papa's Nike tennis shoes had the same cylindrical shocks ("shox" in Nike terms) under the heal that Lucas' shoes had. He recognized that style of shoe and associated it with Lucas, who up to that point in our visit, he hadn't seen since our Christmas holiday visit.

Every time he makes a comment about someone or something, I try to figure out what he is referring to, so that I am not just saying "oh yeah, good job" at everything he says without knowing what he is thinking. It has turned into a fun game for ME to figure out what associations he is making in his awesome 2 year old brain.

These memory games have got to be good for my 31 year old brain as well, right?

Extra fun: Say "Lucas' Nike Shoe Shox" 5 times fast. Just try.

Toddler Tales: Crib Changes + 1 Extra

J has been sleeping in his crib since he was about 3 or 4 months old (before that he was in the Moses basket).

The crib has been his preferred sleeping place, since we never had him consistently sleeping with us or anywhere else. The crib has been wonderful, because even if he woke up he would play-laugh-sing-chatter and enjoy some quiet morning time to himself, often falling asleep again. This has provided the wonderful luxury of later mornings for both J and Mama.

He has slept in the crib in Kentucky, Wisconsin, and now Illinois.

And now...we are embarking on a new kind of adventure...since J now can climb out of his crib. He just realized the power in this ability and OUR LIVES HAVE CHANGED.

Scratch that.
MY MORNINGS HAVE CHANGED.

It was a good run while it lasted.

Here are a few examples of our new crib experience:

8:30pm Prayers & kisses, lay J down in crib
8:35pm Door opens, a loud & cheery J says: "GOOD MORNING!! I SLEEP GOOD!!"

4:20am Our door opens, a bright & awake J exclaims (to his sleeping parents) : "Good MORNING! I SLEEP GOOD!!"
4:25am Gate is added in front of his door

7:00am Door opens, J rests arm over gate and yells: "Good MORNING! I sleep GOOD! Time AWAKE, MOM!!"
7:05am Put J back in bed, insist it is NOT time to be awake...

So there you have it.
Life.
Turned.
Upside.
Down.

For now we are using the gate technique to keep him in which is working well. I need to add a set of toys to his room for him to play with when he wakes up and we'll be good to go. Initially I felt an urgency to get a new bed (toddler? bunk? twin? use guest bed?) but now I'm over it. He is fine in the crib, crawling in and out--why get a new set up??

(Baby N is still snuggling in the Moses basket for naps & bedtime but will soon be moving his sleep location to the pack n' play in our closet)

As promised, 1 Extra:

The other night we were eating dinner together at home. J was trying very hard to grab a noodle with his fork. He kept going for it with no luck, missing the noddle in between the tongs of his utensil every time. He was determined and we watched with amusement as he tried again and again.

Finally, he got it! Still focusing on his plate he said excitedly, in almost a whisper: "Gotchya!" Then he carefully put the noodle in his mouth and smiled as he chewed the cheesy goodness.

Toddler Tales: Did You Know ?

Did You Know That Caterpillars Fly?

After I came into J's room to get him out of his bed, I noticed the clock was turned over. He had already started to explain it before I could say anything: "Clock fell down. Cayapiler didt" (caterpillar did it) I asked "Oh really? How did the caterpillar (stuffed animal) get all the way over there?" He replied confidently: "Cayapiler flew in air."

How To Know for Sure It is Broken?

I noticed a small piece of baseboard had been (knocked? torn? kicked?) off near the kitchen. J noticed it too and walked over to pick up the broken piece. He examined it carefully for about a minute and then said: "Yes. It's broken."

Did You Know What A Dinosaur Sounds Like After Naptime?

After nap time, I was pulling J out of his crib*, and he looked at me and stuck his tongue out, making a loud PPPPPFFFFFHHHHTHHHTHTHHHH sound. I said "wow. What was that?"

He casually answered: "That a dinosaur."

*oh yes. he still sleeps in a crib & has no idea that he is actually capable of climbing out of it...enjoying it while it last, folks...

Did You Know How Much Mom Weighs?

J loves to hop on and off our scale in the bathroom. After I got out of my shower, he lightly tapped my (bare) bum and said "Nice bottom, Mama." I thanked him for his kind compliment and then he insisted I weigh myself after he jumped off the thing. He energetically insisted: "Your turn, Mom!" I stepped on and the numbers magically appeared. He looked at them and said "Oh! 25!" (I only wish the last 2 numbers were 25...)

Did You Know About Daddy's Job?

In the morning, if Daddy doesn't get J out of bed he always asks. "Daddy downstairs?" Typically Mr. H is either gone on work assignment or in his home office (Master bedroom). I said "no, he is at work today." J nodded his head and said: "Oh yes. Daddy work a pooter" (Daddy working on the computer)

Also, when we say prayers we often thank Heavenly Father for "Daddy's job". Now that J is saying more prayers unguided, he is using some of what we typically say, plus his own version. Tonight he thanked for "Daddy's job, and Mama's job, and Jackson's job"--well. Why not? Aren't all of our "jobs" blessings?

Did You Know About The BRAND New Phrases Around Here?

Answering a question: "Yes. I thinks."

Trying to change a no to a yes: "Mom, why not?"

After being told how something works: "Oh. I figured."

Toddler Tales: Converation Bites

J: "Mama...come watch'is!"
Me: "Just a minute, babe..."
J: "I'm JACKson, Mom."
Me: "Oh yes, that's right. I'm sorry. Ok--Just a minute, Jackson..."

J: "Look, Mom! Dinosaur!"
Me: "What does the dinosaur like to eat?"
J: "Mushrooms!"

Me: "What is your favorite color...what color do you love the most?
J: "Green. And orange. And blue."

J: "Look what I got!"
Me: "ooooh! An alligator. What does the alligator like to eat?
J: "Ummm...snacks!"

Me: "Whatchya doing, Jackson?"
J: "Fixing these."
Me: "Fixing what?"
J: "Fixing these presels."
('Fixing' the pretzels in his snack bowl, one by one, with a small set of tongs)

Figuring out how to beat the system:

While taking a bath, J figured out that the more times he requested to go peepee in the potty, & the more times he actually did it--he would get more chocolate chips. Before his bath was over, he went on the potty SIX TIMES!!

During the nighttime routine, J has added a few extra requests to keep us busy and allow him some extra 'awake' time. These include, but are not limited to, requests for: extra scripture reading, extra blankets, blankets turned to the other side, fan on (it's a heater), fan off, some water, more water again, need to 'go potty', need a particular animal, needs to 'show you somfing', want to 'tell you somfing'...and the most recent and most random, a yell from his bed as we close the door & say goodnight: "UMBRELLA!!"

When it was time to start J on cow's milk, I noticed a change in his diaper output, so I decided not to give it to him anymore. I gave him soy milk for awhile and then ended up sticking with rice milk. He loved it! I have recently tried to introduce him again to cow's milk. The other day I was drinking a glass of cow's milk and he said "wanna bite". I said "ok, you can have a drink of milk". I gave him a sip and he pulled back and said "I don' like it. Has egg in it." He has an egg allergy & so we often say "sorry, you can't have it--it has egg in it." He was using his ALLERGY card to refuse something he didn't like!! (To his credit, though, milk is on his list of allergies, it's mild though and he does fine with common milk products like cheese, yogurt, etc)

Toddler Tales: January Tidbits

Brotherly Chatter:

"Whatchyou a-doin', Daydthem? Whatchyou a-doing?"

"What's wong, Daydthem? What's wong?"

"Thereyago, Daydthem" (placing toy on Baby N's tummy)

Table Topics:

"Wan parma-cheese in tha oatmeal"

"Parma-cheese on it, pweese?"


Playtime Mumblings:

"Wan wear hat, beebee?" (placing hat on baby doll) "Too small, beebee...too small..."

"Play trains wiff me?"

"Wan bow ball na door, pweese" (Want to throw the ball at the door, please)


Comments & Conversations:

"Uncle Don, Uncle Don, Uncle Don"
Me: "Uncle Don lives in Alabama"
J: "Oh WOW. That's AMAZING!"

Me: "I'm going to get this sleepy bug* out of your eye, ok?"
J: "Ok, get that lady bug out."

Notable:

01-20-11: Three successful trips to the potty (during bath time, said he need to go, pulled him out & he went! three times! three times the praise & three times as many chocolate chip reward bites!)

We kept our Christmas tree up until the middle of January to enjoy J's excitement for it every morning. When he would come down stairs & see the tree, he would say (with the same level of excitement as the first time he saw it) "OH! YOOK! Chwistmas Twee!!"

J has a set of mini red plastic ornaments ("ownamits") that have been his to play with during the holidays. We have kept them out, since he still enjoys them and uses his creativity to make new games with them. Originally he would play with them by placing them in and out of different containers. Later, he would pour them from place to place. Most lately he created a new game with the ornaments and a small set of plastic tongs that we received for Christmas.

Ornament-Tong Game 01.14.11

{Rules of the game:

1-Take the new plastic tongs from the kitchen drawer

2-Use the tongs to carefully clip the smallest edge of the top of the mini ornament

3-Once you have a firm grasp (and you can use your belly for stabilization, if needed), hold tightly between the two spoons of the tongs

4-Pull your arm back behind you (hand grasping tightly to ornament in the tongs)

5-Whisk your arm in front of you, releasing the pressure of the tongs...

6-Laugh with joy as you see the little red ornament fly across the room}

...

*Sleepy bug= eye crust in the morning...what do YOU call them?

Toddler Tales: Post Holiday

We are home from our holiday vacation and I've got a pocket full of toddler tales.

While in Kentucky, toddler J added a few new words to his vocabulary:

-biscuit (I guess we've only had "rolls" at home, these were the real deal: made by J's great-grandmother)

-britches (he didn't believe me when I said they are the same as pants when he insisted he "get his britches on" as his grandfather had suggested)

-bubba (the name almost everyone called Mr. H)

While in Tennessee, toddler J added a few new words to his vocabulary:

-pepparkakor (Swedish gingersnap cookies--J's grandfather served his mission in Sweden)

-Nathan's toy (ummm still working on this concept)

-tree house (the same one I played in as a kid, in it's third location (fourth?) and not really in a tree)

---

One night when Mr. H was getting into bed in our guest room, J (who was already asleep in the pack n' play) let out some gas. In the middle of his sleep, he groggily said out loud: "eckoos me..."

(Yes, I have been teaching Toddler J to say "excuse me" when he has gas, what a reward to know he will even say it in his sleep!)

---

One evening several of us (including my cousin who is a Navy-tough guy) were learning how to knit hats (using plastic round looms). J walked casually into the room and says in a loud voice: "What's going on in here!?"

---

On our drive home we sang some songs to pass the time. One of the songs the children sing at Church has the line "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam". It's a favorite for the young kids because the tune is so much fun to sing. Toddler J enthusiastically sang along "Jesus wants me for a SUNBEEP!" I responded with the correct "sunBEAM", and his next attempt turned out: "SunBEAN!"

---

This morning Toddler J was setting up his NEW train tracks in the kitchen. He decided he needed to go get another toy to join the fun so he explained: "Trains--stay right here, go an' get dinosaur." He walked away and returned with his NEW dinosaur. As he walked back in he said with contentment: "Good job waiting, Trains."

Toddler Tales: Phrases, Movements, & LOL

A few of J's favorite phrases these days:

"It's mine!"

"Mommy whatdya doin'?"

"Wanna-hold 'em Naydthem"

"Yummeeee cookie!"

"I neeeeed dat"

"Ah wanna snack."

"One.two.three.four.five.six.seven.eight.fourteen.fourteen."

A few of J's favorite body movements:

-jumping around on the floor (welping "woo! woo!" while jumping)

-somersaults (learned after Thanksgiving dinner at our friends' house)

-jumping on the bed and bouncing back up again

-running around in circles while we sing songs

-climbing over, around, through...EVERYTHING

-holding on the the top of his playhouse (the "skylight") and throwing his feet through another side window--and just hanging there--

-pushing his body up with both hands on surfaces to his sides (like a chair on each side, using his arm strength to hold himself up & pull his legs up)

-"walk" on his hands while Mama or Daddy hold his feet (the "wheelbarrow" move)

A few recent laugh-out-loud moments with J:

-The other day J stood in front of the recliner where I was sitting. He pulled my legs up to his sides and said "hair truck! hair truck!" We had just been talking about different hair colors so I was trying to figure out what he meant. I asked him to clarify but he said it again, "hair truck! hair truck!" this time, pulling my legs tighter around his waist. It took me a minute but I finally figured it out and asked "oh, do you mean BEAR TRAP*" . He looked at me as if that is what he had been saying all along: "yes. bear trap."

*One of my grandfather's favorite games to play with us as kids (my Grandpa Jackson) was to "catch us" in a "bear trap" with his legs holding us in the trap while he sat in a chair. We loved this game as kids and now it is being enjoyed by the next generation--both Grandmama & Granddaddy have 'caught' Toddler J in bear traps.

-Yesterday we were getting ready for the day in my bedroom and J climbed onto my bed where Baby N was laying. J pulled baby N up onto his lap (supervised by moi), and then said "Wanna feed Naydthem". He proceeded to pull up his shirt and hold Baby N's head close--mimicking what he sees when Baby N is fed by Mama

-J is very eager to help with all of our household chores. He helps me load and unload the laundry, helps Mr. H with vacuuming, and cleans his toys at least twice a day (before nap & before bed). The other day we noticed it was TOO QUIET, but heard soft splashing. If you follow our family blog, you know what we saw. He was "cleaning" the toilet, splashing toilet water all over the bathroom floor! He was so proud of himself.

Spending time with our 2 year old is never dull!

Toddler Tales: Just Today

Oh my.
If only you could see into my world on days like today (and ignore the piles of laundry, the pile of messy hair on my head, and the piles of To Do lists in my hand), I think you would enjoy some good belly laughs, and sweet "awwwww" moments.

• I turn around from washing dishes and notice a neat row of animal crackers on Baby N's belly. He is looking at them but clearly can't maneuver his hands to them, nor could he eat them. Toddler J is standing nearby, so proud of his offering. I praised him for sharing (this was actually a pretty big deal since animal crackers are one of his favorites) and explained that babies cannot eat animal crackers.
• I was working on editing some photos and J comes running around the corner--he looks up at me and says with enthusiasm: "Guess What!!" I had never heard him say this before, so I laughed a little and then said "what?" He looked as excited as the first time and replied: "Guess What!!" I laughed even more and said "what is it?" He kept his same eyebrow raised expression and inquisitive voice and said again: "Guess What!!" I am pretty sure he doesn't know what that means. I went for my camera to take a video, but by the time I was ready to capture it, he had disappeared into his play house.
• While Baby N was hanging out on the couch (propped up with the boppy pillow), Big Brother J went over to give him a kiss. It was so sweet and tender--I kept watching to see what he'd do next. J took N's hands in his own and started laughing. J's laugh made N smile. Then N's smile made J laugh. This circle of brotherly fun went on for several minutes, every once and awhile J would turn around and look at me and say "beebee mile!" (Baby is smiling!). I did capture some video of this interaction, and imagined the friendship my boys will build along their lives. This is the very beginning...precious!
• I called to chat with my Mom but she wasn't home so I enjoyed talking with my youngest brother, Spencer (who we saw this weekend while we were in Kentucky). I asked J if he wanted to talk to Uncle Spencer, to which he enthusiastically nodded. I gave him the phone--he talked about random things and when he was done he said (unprompted--which is a FIRST) : "I luh you Pentchern" (I love you, Spencer)

I wish I could just bottle up the things he does and says...
I guess writing them down in "Toddler Tales" is as close as I can get to
bottled toddler cuteness.

Toddler Tales: LOL

So, I remember hearing and reading about all of the funny things
my friends' and family's toddlers were doing/saying--and I thought
"I can't wait to have a toddler so I can laugh all day long!"


Laugh.Out.Loud.
right?

Clearly, my life is not one big comedy festival...
(insert images of dirty diapers, spit up, afternoon tantrums,
and explosions of *insert anything messy*)

However, now that J is able to express himself and analyze the world around him
with words, phrases, and sentences
--I have to say--
I laugh out loud a LOT more than I used to.


Here are a few of what I've heard/observed just this week:

• J helps me with the laundry--he has been helping me load the washer/dryer for about 5-6 months now and just this week I discovered his talent in sorting the clean stuff into piles. So, I've been encouraging that skill. Tonight, he apparently thought the job was too big for him to do alone, so he enlisted help. In one hand he had a t-shirt and in the other hand he held a 3 inch Big Bird figurine--he held the t-shirt up to Big Bird's hands so he was "helping". In his "toy voice" he said (or rather, Big Bird said...) "helping. you. laundry."
• Tonight I used dinner as motivation to clean up the play room (is that bad??), so J told one of his dinosaurs (who was already at the table ready to eat his quesadilla)--"stay here. clean toys. ok?"
• I asked him what his dinosaur's name was. He said "Jackson". I said "oh, that's your name. What's HIS name?" He nodded patiently, and replied: "Name. Jackson!" With a very 'I told you already, Mama!' look on his face.
• J also helps with changing Baby N's diapers. His job is to get the wipes and diaper for me and then throw it away in the trash can when I'm finished. The other day I left Baby N on the couch for a minute while I finished putting away some dishes in the kitchen. I heard a very familiar sound "scrrrsshhhh"--you know, the sound of a diaper tab being undone--? Almost simultaneously, I heard "help. beebee. diaper." I dropped what I was doing and sure enough, J was getting ready to actually CHANGE Baby N's diaper! What a helper I have! (yikes!)
• I mistakenly left my lip gloss on the kitchen island, thinking it was high enough to stay out of J's reach. Within minutes of sitting down to nurse Baby N, J had acquired the lip gloss, opened the lid, and was applying the stuff...to his CHIN. He said "chin!" as he slathered the glittery stuff on there. This was funny for two reasons--one, he put it on his chin...two, does this mean that I have been putting lip gloss on my chin this whole time??
• J says "Saur" for dinosaur. While I was preparing dinner he said "Saur. Wipe." I asked "does the dinosaur need a wipe?" J responded "yes." I asked "why does he need a wipe?" J explained: "spit up. milk." So I quickly handed him a burp cloth and J attended to the spit up mess with all the love and care of a doting mother.
• One afternoon I was in the recliner and J walks in with his stuffed Winnie the Pooh. He said "Diaper." I said "no, Baby N is fine, we don't need to change his diaper right now." He said it again and finally went to get one himself. He came back in and then I understood--it was Winnie who needed the diaper change. And he did it very well!
• On our walk we pass by a few empty lots with a small weed-containing fence along the side walk. Earlier this week J noticed and remarked that it was broken. He said "broke." I said "yes, it's broken." He continued "fic it" (fix it). I said "well, yes--it is broken, and yes, someone should fix it." He exclaimed: "Daddy! Daddy fic it!! Come.back. Daddy. fic it!" It was awesome to hear his excitement and confidence--he knew that Daddy could do it and for him, in his world--he is the one who fixes things! (I guess I've said more than once, "Daddy will fix it when he gets home")
  
• Most of the time, when I'm nursing Baby N, J has no problem doing his own thing. Sometimes, he decides that he is dying of thirst or hunger JUST as I sit down to feed the babe. The other day his solution was: "beebee! wing!" Translation: "I have an idea! You could put the baby in the swing, that way I can have my Mama back and you can be at my beckoning call again!" He has since said this several times whenever I tell him I can't do something *at that second* because I'm nursing. It makes me laugh every time. Until the 20th insistent request...then I start to get annoyed and wonder why I didn't plan ahead and set out some snacks and a drink BEFORE I sat down to nurse...
  

Toddler Tales: Pacifier

In the beginning (2008), I was anti-pacifier...

...but as time went on, I warmed up to the little thing.

It offered more slumber-filled nights and less stress-filled church meetings.
It gave our new parent selves a bit more freedom from cry-induced craziness
and our baby was happily soothed.

Once he got a bit older and learned more self-soothing techniques we only gave it to him for naps & bed time. We kind of let this slide for a longer time than we originally planned...because...well, he was a great sleeper & we didn't want that to change!

Now that he is the big brother, it's time for change.

Last night we told him there were no more pacifiers.

He pointed to the top drawer in his dresser (where they are typically stored): "drah-er"

Nope, they're not in there. You can go to bed without it.

He pointed to the floor (where he typically drops them) : "flooh-er"

No, no pacifiers on the floor--you will be ok, though. You can go to sleep without one!

He pointed to the baby : "geen one"
--When the baby came home, J was informed that he could only use the blue ones now, since the green ones were for Baby N.

Oh--the green pacifiers are for Baby N. He is a baby, but you are such a big boy now you don't need a pacifier anymore!!

He was not convinced by the excitement in our voices
or the encouraging smiles on our faces.
He stared, brow furrowed--trying to figure out how this was possible.
He looked around the room as if it had been shaken by an earthquake--
his world was changed in an instant.

We said our nightly prayers swapped 'good nights'.

It took him about an hour to get to sleep, but he did it--without crying, AND without his blue pacifier.

One pacifier-less night down...

Toddler Tales: Vocab Explosion

Before my short-term memory takes these away from me, I figured I better get them down.

New words are popping up everywhere!
Just a few from TODAY:

Some are funny, like:

"Coooot" (Cute. But he means "Cool")

Example:
Me: Look J! Can you see the lightning outside your window?
Him: Oh! Coooot

Some are quite affirming, like:

"Nice kick!"

Example:
Me: Kicking the ball out of my way as I try to empty the dishwasher
Him: "Nice kick, Mama!"

Some are easy to change:

"Dah-dthem" became "Nayyyyy-dthem" just this morning!

(baby brother's name: Nathan)

Some are making us examine what we say:

"Oh! Gosh!"

Example:
Garbage truck drives by.
In excitement he exclaims: "Oh! Garbage Kuck! Cooot! Oh Gosh!"

Some impress us with how much he listens:

"Mustern Poop" (Mustard Poop)

Example:
Me (talking to my Mom): "No, N's poo is the color of mustard"
Him (the next time I change baby N's diaper): "Mustern Poop!"

Tune in next time for Toddler Tales--Vocab Explosion!

Toddler Tales: Family Rules

In our home, we have a few rules that we (the parents) try to consistently follow
as we go throughout our day.

For example:

-we do NOT throw items down the stairs (ok, we sometimes do...when J isn't looking... because it's a fast way of getting things down, but for the kids, definitely NOT ok)

-we always take off our shoes when we come into the house

-we do not jump on the bed when the baby is on the bed (a new one)

-we clean up our messes

-we use our 'inside voice' when we are inside

You get the picture. Pretty standard, you probably have some of these rules at your house too.

The other day, we were in the kitchen. Toddler J was finishing his lunch and Baby N was in his carrier--doing one of the things he does best--crying.

J looked over at N and said:

"Beebee--cying--uptares--woom--now"

Translation:

"Hey baby--you are crying. That means you have to go to your room, upstairs, and now. As your big brother, I feel responsible for making sure you know the family rules and you need to follow them too."

One of our rules is: if you are crying (or fussing, or otherwise throwing some kind of toddler tantrum)--then you are invited to do so in your room. Most of the time, this suggestion is enough to stop the outburst, and Toddler J insists "na done. na done." (I'm done. I'm done.) Otherwise, he is escorted upstairs to his room to calm down. Once he is "done", then he is welcome to join us again downstairs (or wherever we may be).

I was amused that Todder J was taking it upon himself to make sure Baby N knew the family rule and was suggesting that it be enforced as well.

I tried to explain that the rules don't apply to the "beebee"...not sure how that balances out in a toddler's mind...

At least he has a solid grip on what the rules are, right?

Toddler Tales: Baby In The House

Toddler J has had a rude awakening.

12 days ago his baby brother was born...and he was blissfully unaware--spending his mornings, afternoons, and evenings playing & laughing with Grandmama J.

10 days ago baby brother made his appearance in our home--waking up from a nap never seemed so strange as that evening when he heard shrill baby cries downstairs!

Since then, we've given J lots of opportunities to touch, cuddle, talk to, and connect with Baby N. Most of the opportunities have been ignored or denied.

"Do you want to see Baby N?"
--"No."

"Would you like to come sit by Baby N?"
--"No."

The one thing that did work...about 4 days in...

"Hey, J--come look! Check out the boon doon in Baby N's nose!"
--"Boon doon?" (and he runs right over to check it out. 'boondoons' are boogers)

And this morning, as I was in and out of the room, J climbed up on my bed where Baby N was enjoying a post-breakfast rest. I came back in the room in time to hear J say (in his sweet toddler voice) :

"Hi, Beebee."

And he placed his chubby fingers on Baby N's head and said "head." then on his hands and said "hans". And looked over at me and smiled.

Within seconds it was

"Buh-bye, Beebee"

And he was off to his next adventure.

It was less than a minute, but it was Toddler J connecting with Baby N for the first time on HIS terms. Making the move in HIS way and on HIS timetable. It was beautiful for this Mama to witness.

I am so grateful for my two 'beebees' and the joy that they pour into my heart. I am excited to watch Toddler J take on his role as big brother and for Baby N to watch and learn from the energy that J adds to our home.

Toddler Tales: CopyCat

One of the most entertaining facets of Toddlerhood
is the emergence of your very own,
pint-sized copy cat.

Here are a few recent examples from My Life With J that have made me chuckle:

1- Cleaning. He sees us clean and he wants to be a contributor to the demands of house keeping! He says "keen! keen!" and pretends to vacuum with a large wrapping paper tube, wipes up messes with "shu-shu" (tissue--paper towels), and insists on following up on Daddy's window cleaning with his own version of the task. He beams with pride and nods his head with self-praise. I think it is adorable.

2-Hair. The boy likes to get his hair did. I can't blame him, really--with that awesome hair that he gets complimented on *daily*, who wouldn't want it to look its best? On Sundays, he insists that Daddy do the styling of his "hen" with gel and then comes to me for the finishing touches and "hen pay" (hairspray). When I am getting ready to go out, he often goes through my headbands and walks around sporting whichever one(s) caught his fancy that day. Sometimes the headband is on his head, other times it's around his neck or over his eyes (star trek style). He is one stylin' toddler!

3-Toes. J has seen me paint my toenails probably...2 or 3 times. Usually I do it late at night after he's in bed, but a few times I've done a rush job in the morning before church or something. He has watched intently and shown his curiosity while I add bright colors to my toes. The last time I was doing this (last week?), he requested his own splash of color. I told him I'd do a clear coat just for him, and I did (much to his father's dismay). He stayed completely still until it was over and was so excited about it after! He ran over to his Dad & pointed "toes! toes!" Clearly, he doesn't know that it's a "girl thing"--he just knows it is something to do! Pedicures w/a toddler--can life get better?

4-Shoes. He has shown interest in our shoes for while now--the first time he attempted to walk around in Daddy's big shoes was back in Wisconsin, probably 5 months ago. It was adorable, but no photo could really capture the cuteness of the moment. He still likes to try out someone else's shoes...my heels, Daddy's tennis shoes, my flip flops, Daddy's dress shoes...if they are out and he gets the idea in his head--then he'll be attempting the Walk In Another's Shoes trick. Just another way he wants to follow our footsteps! ha.

5-Measuring. When we moved here, we did a lot of measuring as we unpacked boxes. Will this item fit in this spot? Is there enough room for two of those on that wall? How far apart should we place those wall hangings? Before too long, we noticed J would take one of his longer, flatter blocks or some kind of similarly sized item/toy and place it on the wall, cock his head to the left or right and say "hmmmm" as he was "measuring" the space--just as he had seen us do! It.Was.Hilarious!



Of course, there are probably tons more that I haven't even noticed or that have become so "normal" to me now that they don't stand out in my mind. These are the ones that have grabbed my attention recently--watch what you do: you may have a copy cat following you around!

Toddler Tales: A Few Lately-Isms

I want to make sure I document a few of the things that Toddler J is up to lately...since I know I will be busy soon with Baby N and I have learned that these things he does only last *so long* before he changes his style and I'm left wondering "what was that he said again?"

Because, let's face it.

The Toddler World is in a constantly shifting state of orbit.
What was "normal" yesterday is re-defined today...and as a mother, I'm just trying to hold on as tightly as I can!

So, feel free to join me in a few mini-discussions of what has been "normal" as of late...

The Belt

I posted some pic over here about our recent choice to add duct tape to J's diaper before naptime and bedtime. This has proven a successful venture, as our instances of diaper-less bums after sleepytime has dropped significantly. In fact, I don't think he has been able to (or perhaps he hasn't attempted?) get it off once since we started doing this consistently. The duct tape has just become a part of the routine--we call it his "belt". He lifts up his shirt and watches as we tape it on, pleased to be sporting a shiny belt around his middle.

Whatever works, right?

Potty: The Motions

J has recently become very insistent about using the potty. Er...I mean...sitting on the potty. He requests to sit on the potty almost every time he sees me go into a bathroom (which is quite often these days, folks...Baby N isn't leaving me much bladder space) and even more so after each diaper change. He can't stand to have a wet diaper on so he lets me know prompty to change it and while I'm changing it he asks "paw-ee, paw-ee" until I give in and let him run his little 1/2 naked self into the bathroom. Sometimes he sits on the froggy potty but mostly he has been preferring to sit on the big boy potty. He holds on with his little chubby fingers (saying "tight! tight!") and then gingerly takes a square of toilet tissue to "wipe" and then he's done (he has watched me too many times--totally mimicking my actions) and jumps down (not having released anything INTO the potty, but having gone through the motions).

I figure, getting used to sitting there & going through the motions is a great way to create positive potty vibes, yes?

Melting Our Hearts

About 3 months ago, Mr. H left a love note on the fridge before he went to work. It said "I *heart* you, Jackson". It was so sweet, we left it up for at least a couple of weeks and J loved that he had his own special note. We talked about the letters in his name and the colors on the page but the part that he liked the MOST was the heart shape.

I told him "heart means love".

And ever since then, when he sees a heart he will identify the shape "haht" and then immediately say "love". He says love with extra-sweet emphasis, drawing out the vowel sound: "looouuhv". It is one of our favorite things to hear him say.

ALSO! He has just begun to say "I love you" --all three words together and without being prompted. So far, it sounds more like "I luh-eewww"...is there anything sweeter?

Baby Belly

We talk about Baby Nathan a lot. We pray for him, we sing to him, we point to him in my belly, we point out the baby gear that is popping up around our home. Despite all of our efforts, I'm pretty sure J thinks we have just given my growing middle a "name" just for the fun of it. He probably has a name in his mind to call his belly and maybe he thinks everyone has a special 'baby name' for their protruding tummy.

Obviously, the idea of a baby joining our family or a brother is too abstract and foreign for him to really "get it", but there are a few things he has started to do that are just too cute not to mention.

Ever since the first time he heard the baby's heartbeat at one of my prenatal appointments--he has identified that sound-- "schweeousch-schweeoucsh" with my belly & Baby N. So if I have my shirt up (often, to itch the darn skin!), he'll hurry to place his fingers on my belly and squeeze some skin while making the doppler sound effects. Sometimes he lifts his own shirt up and goes through the same motions.

Also, we have tried to emphasize 'being gentle' and 'being quiet' around The Baby. He has started to be extra gentle with certain of his toys and saying "shhh baby sleep" whenever he puts them down for their 'naps'. Hopefully this has trained him adequately for Baby N's arrival.

Ha.
:)

Toddler Tales: Social Side Kick

It's hard to go anywhere under the radar with J--his bright orange* hair attracts attention from grandmothers and teenagers alike. Some people point & comment amongst themselves, others smile and share admiring glances, and then there are the many who stop us along the way to give kind comments and share a red-hair-commentary.

If I'm not in a particularly social mood (it DOES happen, folks--but it is rare), then it can feel a bit annoying to weigh down my shopping visit with random stops with strangers...however, most of the time it makes me smile.

So, our J has been showered with redheaded comments/compliments his entire life...sometimes I wonder how this extra attention changes his perspective on things and his social expectations.

Hypothesis: Perhaps it makes him more comfortable talking to strangers? Since they are always freely looking at/talking to him?

Evidence: These days, pretty much anywhere we go, J has gotten into the routine of sharing a cheerful, energetic "Hi!" to pretty much everyone we pass.

Here's the scenario: we are walking along and he sees someone. He says "hi!". The person has two options--ignore the darling toddler or say 'hi' back. It is quite fascinating to watch people's responses. Some are quick to respond, others try to ignore his cuteness. He is persistent, though--if someone ignores his greeting, he says it again.

And again.

And again--each time, with more enthusiasm & gusto.

At this point only the truly hard-hearted can ignore such a sound--most are broken down to at least a brief smile and a wave.

We continue on and J smiles, content with the world.

He is my social side kick, that's for sure. Whether it is because of his red hair attention or just because his personality naturally craves attention, I don't know.

Either way, it's pretty darn cute. Next time we see you, just TRY not to say 'hi' back!



*I mean really--it IS orange, isn't it??
Why we gotta call it "red"??
That's just confusing a boy learning his colors!!

Toddler Tales: Birthday Letter

Dearest J:

Today is your birthday, and you are still asleep. It's 9:00 in the morning--but that's just how cool you are, letting Mama sleep in and have some quiet morning time.

Perhaps you know that I won't be getting much sleep later this summer so you're letting me collect some ZZZ's before your little brother arrives. Whatever the case may be, your sleeping schedule rocks and I thank you for it.

Today we are going to do whatever you want to do (in addition to a few errands on my list), I am hoping for some swinging at the park and some bug watching in the grass. What do you think?

Today you are two years old.

You say the word "two" with excitement--stretching it out as long as those vowels will allow: "teeeeewwww" and I love it!

Today I have been a mother for two full years. Two years of diaper changes, extra laundry piles, and colorful toys decorating my floors.

I cherish the memories of those first months of early morning feedings--just you and me and the sunrise. I remember the day that your eyelashes unfolded and your ears got straightened out (guess you were really tight in that womb, eh?). I learned your cries and how to make you happy. You taught me how to mother a newborn.

I smile as I think about the first time you sat up, your first crawling moves, your first guided steps. Your cautious and curious movements impressed us every time. You taught me how to mother a baby boy.

I look at you now and can't get over it. I am an expert at your vocabulary (Daddy is always asking me to translate), your style, and your mannerisms. You are saying new words and discovering new concepts daily, and I feel beyond blessed to be a part of your world. Most of the time, you are on your best behavior and sometimes you make choices that require a time out. All in all you are taking it in stride. You are teaching me how to mother a toddler.

Today is your birthday, and you are still asleep.

I love you up to the sky.

And more.

Happy 2nd birthday, little prince!