Happy Birthday to our Jake. You’re compassionate, adorable, funny and a turkey. Yes, I said a turkey. As I’m typing this I’m also staring at you…I’m in awe that you’re actually ours. I love you to the moon and back.
Ode to Bear
9 Feb
Last night Jake decided that his baby brother could sleep with bear. I said, “What?! But won’t you be sad?” He replied, “Oh don’t worry I can sleep with another stuffed animal if I want.” He handed bear over to Jameson who happily took him slobbery kisses and hugs.
I can’t decide at this point who is more attached to bear. Bear is a symbol of Jake’s babyhood. One of his first words was beah (bear). When Jake was about a year old, I searched high and low for a “lovey” that Jake would want to get attached to. But, wouldn’t you know it, he chose his own. There happened to be a brown stuffed bear inside a bag of other stuffed animals that used to be my mom’s.
This bear quickly became his side kick and went everywhere with us. I even bought a “spare” bear just in case this one was lost. He became part of our family. Jake still likes to rub bear’s nose with just the tips of his fingers because he says it’s the softest part. He sometimes takes my fingers and rubs them on bear’s nose to show me just how comforting and soft it really is. This incredible bear has also been called scare bear because he chases away the scary monsters and shadow in his room. Oh how I love this now matted bear.
When it was time to find a “lovey” for Jameson, Jake thought we really should give him spare bear. He LOVED the idea that they would now both have a bear in their life. I happily agreed because it meant we would have bear with us for at least a few more years. One evening I looked on the video monitor and James was rubbing spare bear’s nose just like Jake does!
By the way, I decided not to let baby brother sleep with bear just in case. No sooner than Jake’s head hit his pillow did he ask me for bear. I happily handed him over. He said maybe tomorrow night I’ll let brother sleep with him.
Did or do your kids have something they cherish like our bear?
Words to Remember
2 Feb“If I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I’d do less correcting, and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less, and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I’d run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging, and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d build self esteem first, and the house later.
I’d teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love.”
~Diane Loomans, from “If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again”
“A child needs love most when he deserves it least. ”
~Erma Bombeck
These are words that I desperately needed to read today!!!!
Check out my moves.
25 JanWe recently watched a movie where kids were break dancing… Jake decided to try it out so he was showing Josh and I just how it’s done. He even decided to add some karate chops and kicks into his “routine”. We were trying so hard not to laugh because we don’t want him to be embarrassed about showing us things like this. But boy it was hard! He was really getting into it and flinging himself all over the room.
I could barely contain myself though when he followed me into the kitchen and declared, “I’m hungry from doing all my moves can I have a snack?” And shortly after that he stated, “When my friend comes over I will show him my moves too.” My heart breaks for the day that he is too embarrassed to show us and his friends his latest and greatest dance moves. Oh to be so young and carefree!
He ate salad!!!
19 JanMy first born is super picky! The only vegetable he will eat is the florets of cooked broccoli. I often make veggie smoothies that contain spinach, yogurt, fruit and some juice that he loves. I put in a ton of spinach by the way. I have even convinced him that green smoothies are the best. But, I would still like for him to eat fresh vegetables once in awhile.
At dinner the other night, we had salad, bread and clam chowder. I looked over and he was literally shoveling the salad in his mouth. I tried not to make a big deal out of it because I thought if I do, maybe he’ll realize what he’s doing and stop. My husband and I looked at each other and you could see the other one was thinking, HE’S EATING FREAKIN’ SALAD! Who is this child? We have been eating salad every night! (I wrote this about a week ago. Now, he won’t touch salad. I bet he somehow sensed our excitement.)
How do get your kids to eat vegetables?
You Know You’re a Parent When…
5 JanI was reading up on some other mom blogs and I found the below from http://www.babiesandmomsradio.com/youreamom.html
You Know You’re a Parent When…
1. You can’t remember the last time you were able to go in the bathroom, close the door and not be interrupted.
2. You know the book “Goodnight Moon” – by heart.
3. It takes you two days to shave your legs: one leg one day and the other leg the next day.
4. You have never been so frustrated and so in love with anyone in your life.
5. You are at dinner with a friend, they spill something on their shirt and you reach into your bag and pull out baby wipes to clean up.
6. Pregnancy and birth stories are interesting.
7. The last time you saw a movie that was above a G rating was…well…you can’t really remember.
8. You have trouble concealing your knowing smirk as you listen to a first time mom-to-be talking about how things are going to be once her baby arrives.
9. You hear a crash in the next room and you not only know exactly what was the source of the crash, but who created it.
10. Toting your little one has given you bigger biceps than you ever get at the gym.
Here are some from our house:
1. Asked what your New Year’s Plans are and you reply that you’ll be surprised if you make it to 9 pm.
2. You pull a muscle while army crawling into a homemade fort. (It was an awesome fort!)
3. You drop the kids off early at daycare just so you can have that extra 15 minutes to sit in the parking lot of Starbucks enjoying the quiet and your coffee.
4. From my husband: You have to game delay the Rose Bowl in order to sit down and have dinner with your family.
Do you have any to add?
A Surprise on Christmas Eve
25 DecIt’s so easy to forget what’s important in our lives. We received a reminder on Christmas Eve…
A two year old child that lives next door is battling an aggressive form of cancer. This little boy has three older brothers ages four, six and eight years old. We have been fortunate enough to get to know this wonderful and giving family.
Whether it’s providing dinner or helping with child care, we try to support them with whatever we can.
We had a knock on our door on Christmas Eve and wouldn’t you know it…it was Santa. The dad from next door was on the sidewalk smiling when Santa asked if he could come in and sit down. You should have seen Jake’s face!
Santa sat down and opened up a big bag full of gifts for my boys, he even had a gift for us. The thoughtfulness of this family to think of us when they have so much going on in their own lives is beyond kind.
I’m still in shock and cannot tell the story without crying. When I wrote them a little note to say how grateful we were they simply said, “You all do a lot for us so that was the least we could do! Happy holidays!”
Christmas Fun
23 DecI LOVE Christmas. Now I have someone who can enjoy it as much as I do, almost. My oldest has started asking all the typical Christmas questions…
Where do Santa’s reindeer land?
How does Santa get down our chimney? Isn’t it hot?
Why can’t we go to the North Pole?
What is Santa doing right now?
I want to make sure we do as many Christmas activities as possible. We rode the Polar Express in Hood River and made a paper chain to countdown how many days until Christmas. He received an email video and a letter in the mail from Santa. We attempted to make a gingerbread train, he has an advent calendar and we’ve sat on Santa’s lap twice. We’re headed to PIR in the next couple of days to see the lights and I’ve been singing Christmas songs at the top of my lungs daily. Jake isn’t very fond of that. Am I forgetting anything?
This is Jake holding his golden ticket on the Polar Express!
P.S. Don’t forget to corroborate your Christmas answers with your other half!
Mother to Son
15 DecI LOVE this book…
Here are just 15 of my favorite pieces of advice from Mother to Son, Shared Wisdom from the Heart by Melissa Harrison & Harry H. Harrison Jr.:
1. Realize your son will love you more intensely than anyone or anything else in the world.
2. His tears will break your heart. So will his smiles.
3. Remember, toddler boys are terrors. It goes with the age.
4. Don’t overreact when he hurts himself, and he won’t either.
5. Right around the age of three, he will heroically start to think he is your protector. This never goes away.
6. Remember these words. It’s just a phase.
7. He will want a bike. He will fall off if it. He will live.
8. Take walks with him at his pace. He could spend five minutes watching a doodlebug.
9. He will always want to show off his injuries. Act horrified.
10. At a certain point in time, he will think peeing is the most fun you can possibly have in life. He’ll move on.
11. If he comes home filthy and muddy, have no qualms about hosing him off before letting him back inside.
12. He will delight in grossing you out.
13. Learn to make a good explosion noise. He’ll think you’re amazing cool.
14. Show interest when he brings home yucky stuff. The more scared you act by the worm, frog or cricket, the happier he’ll be.
15. Nightmares can terrify him. Hold him, comfort him, and watch over him until he falls back to sleep.
Happy Birthday!!!
8 DecToday our baby boy turns one…
A year ago today we were lucky to become your parents. We love you Jameson. Thank you for this past year and completing our family. What a sweet, loving, laid back and silly little boy you are.
