I am having a really hard time believing that one month from today, this little guy will be two years old. I say it all the time, but it really is unbelievable how it feels like he has hardly been here, but has been here all along at the same time. One thing is for certain, though the past two years have flown by, they sure have been the greatest couple years of my life.
Two seems so big to me. Like he really isn’t a baby anymore. In fact, he points to kids that are 6 months younger than him and says “Baaaabbyyyyy!!!!’ And his language skills are nuts all of a sudden. He is literally communicating and able to carry on a full conversation. I will ask what he did at school and he will tell me that he read books, rode on the buggy, and played outside with his friends. My mind is blown daily. Just tonight, he realized that Zac (btw, he totally only calls him Zac now, daddy who?) was on the phone with Grandpa, and he held his phone up to his year and emphatically stated “I talk it!” and proceeded to have a full conversation wtih him about how he played with his trucks all day.
The next month will be spent feverishly preparing for a birthday party, attending baby/bridal showers, AND taking a business trip to Georgia. I’ll be busy, to say the least, but while we are closing in on two years with our adult-child, I couldn’t be more excited looking towards the future to see what this little guy has in store for us - except the tantrums…he can leave those at the door!
This little cutie is TWENTY TWO months old today! Just two months from his second birthday. I can’t even believe how much he has grown in recent weeks. His language has exploded, and he speaks in full sentences, perfectly able to articulate his desires and needs. He has begun potty training and is really great with going #2, but we aren’t really forcing the issue at this point. While some of Jackson’s attributes make it so evident that he is becoming a big kid, there are pieces of baby dispersed throughout his personality that serve as a welcome reminder that he is still part baby. He loves his paci (this one I could actually live without), and is the sweetest, snuggliest, loving little bug on the planet (all of these I wish to stay forever).
Jack loves anything that is classically “boyish.” He is obsessed with tractors, trucks, cards, motorcycles, firetrucks, airplanes, and being generally destructive to his safety. He started swimming lessons last month and is loving the opportunity to be in the water once a week. He can wall walk with his hands all on his own, and knows how to get himself out of the pool if he were to fall in. It’s pretty incredible.
He also has the w.o.r.s.t. tantrums in the entire universe. This is no exaggeration. He goes from “milk” to “MILK!!!” to high pitched screeching screaming dying “MMMMMIIIIIIILLLLLLLKKKKKKK!!!!!!” (The agonizing scream that makes you want to instantly punch yourself in the face). All I have to do is say “How do we ask for milk?” and he stops and sweetly says “Milk, pleeeasseeee?” and all is forgiven. He also has grown rather fond of a few choice words that I regret ever flying out of my mouth (damnit and shit are at the top of the list…). And he loves to hit - only me though.
In short, we are really settling into toddlerhood and actually enjoying all of the trials that come from a tiny being with no outlet for expression of emotions. We are learning the best ways to explain things in toddler terms and what works for us and Jackson in terms of discipline (time out is really working for us these days - he actually understands that he is in trouble, and we always have a conversation about what behavior should be altered). Each day we get to spend as his parents is such a privilege, and I have never been given a job that I love more than this one!
Cute Things
This little guy. He is rocking my world these days. I say it with each passing stage, that this one is my favorite. I loved the sleepy newborn, with all of the grunts and stretching. I was enamored with the curious infant, giggling and grasping, which led to the love of an equally curious toddler. Right now, here is what I am loving:
Tiny valentine’s. J has his first valentine’s day party ever at school tomorrow, and he was instructed to bring valentine’s for his class. Melissa posted these tiny, adorable valentine’s from Minted on her blog last week, and I knew we had to get them for the party.
Independent Play. Jackson has always been amazing at keeping himself occupied, but at this age, it just seems so much more fun to listen to his imagination grow. He will make up stories as he goes along, create train noises, and talk about what he is “cooting” (cooking).
A kid who makes funny faces. He also looks at the camera and says “CHEEEEESE!!!!” which results in some of the most precious and adorable photos.
Puppy love. No explanation necessary.
Bath time. While baths have seemed like such a chore, we are in a really great place with bath time right now. Jackson loves to pretend like he’s “fwimmin’” (thank you, swim lessons, for all of the heart attacks and near-drownings). The funniest bath time experience these days, though, is his obsession with not turning the faucet off. He stands up, turns it on, but isn’t that strong so it’s freezing cold. He doesn’t mind one bit - he likes to stick his little hand underneath, and shiver uncontrollably and scream “COOOOOLLLDDD!!!”
Did I mention that he also likes to shove his feet under the faucet?
The fun can only last for a few minutes before I have to pull a shivering boy reluctantly from the water, because, you know, I don’t want him getting hypothermia and all.
We are closing in on 22 months here in a few days, and I can’t even fathom that this boy has been here for the better part of two years. At the same time, I can’t imagine that I ever existed without him.
The hubby & I are trying to catch a flight to San Francisco for the weekend, and while I am ecstatic at the prospect of exploring my favorite city with my man, who, by the way, has NEVER been, I am also sad to leave this handsome face behind with Grandma & Grandpa. I know he will have the most fun time, and that he will barely even realize that we are away, but that doesn’t mean I will miss him any less. Have a lovely weekend, and if you want to follow our adventures on the west coast this weekend, you can find me on instagram at christylately
xoxo
PS - I got a fancy new camera, doesn’t it take lovely photos?!
The National Aquarium
This weekend the hubs had to run an errand to Baltimore, so we tagged along and decided to make a day of it all at the National Aquarium. If you aren’t familiar with Baltimore, there is a lovely little spot called the inner harbor, where there are fun things like the Aquarium, a submarine, pirate ship, Hard Rock Cafe, & a ginormous H&M. There is also a National Aquarium in DC, which I have never even been to, it’s probably next on my list of aquariums to visit…if I ever have such a list.
Immediately upon arriving, Jackson spotted the pirate ship and started screaming “YO HO!!!! YO HO HO!!!” all Jake & the Neverland Pirates like. When we entered, though, he was really into the fishies, and the sharks, though, like his mama, he grew weary of them and started saying “I scare!” so we ditched those stupid things.
^ Hello Friend!^
^TWINS. SAME. FACE. ALWAYS.^
…
I think that, hands down, our favorite part of the trip was the Dolphin Show. Jackson’s been asking to see the “duhfins” all day long. Sidenote: every time i see one of these dolphin shows, I am POSITIVE that I chose the wrong career path, because how much fun must these chicks be having every day!?
J was so entranced at them the entire time, and of COURSE we accidentally sat in the splash zone. So when they dolphins were spraying the water he kept yelling “OH NO!!!! MESS!!! NO MESS!!!” but laughed as soon as he got a little splash ;). One thing I came away from this outing with is this: How in the world can sharks be so scary and dolphins be so darn cute?! They both have fins…I mean…
This is the best face of the day - whenever the dolphins would fly into the air he would gasp and be so surprised/excited. Cutest. Baby. Ever.
***PSA of the Day: If you ever decide to make a trip to the Baltimore location of the National Aquarium, make sure that you understand that they do NOT allow strollers (DC location does). Luckily, my coworker warned me of this a few weeks back when she took her son. It is also dark, crowded, and probably pretty darn easy to lose your kid on the weekend. They say it is because of escalator and moving walkway safety, but I find it to be rather inconvenient, to say the least. They aren’t the ones lugging around a 35 lb lump of kid for hours. It’s also pretty expensive at 30$ per adult and 20$ per kid ages 3+, so yeah, 60 bucks to carry my heavy kid around, that part wasn’t so fun.***
Swimming Lessons
I am a freak about water safety. My dad has a pool, so we tend to spend a lot of time at his place in the summer months. Last year was frightening and nightmarish to say the least. Jackson was running all over the place, and I was terrified that he was going to fall into the pool and drown. I would have kept him strapped in a life vest permanently if they weren’t SO BULKY at his size. He’s like a turtle trapped on his back in those things. All of this is why I was so excited when Jackson received -a truckload of personal swim lessons as a christmas gift from his grandparents. Seriously, it was as if the heavens opened up and angels started singing hallelujah and all was right in the world. Ok. Maybe not THAT dramatic, but seriously, swimming lessons are good stuff.
Jack started his lessons 3 weeks ago, and he has been loving them! He loves anything having to do with water anyway, but after watching him splash around and learn the routines at swim, it is clear that this love is another level. The most important thing that they have been emphasizing wiht Jackson is how to get OUT of the water if he were to ever fall in. It goes Hands, Elbows, Belly, Legs!
He also learned to blow bubbles into the water:
He is also learning to jump from the edge of the pool, float, paddle, use his hands to move around the edge of the pool, and to catch his ducky toy. Its all big stuff, but lord, does he have fun with Ms. Roxanne while doing it:
After the lesson, she took him to have a bit of fun on the slides :)
If you live in the area, you should definitely check out the WARF, by the way - the indoor pool is awesome and they have a GIGANTIC slide for bigger kids too :) Bottom line, we love the pool.
My Other Blog.
I had a life blog before this parenting blog, which I have neglected for more than an year now. Woops! I decided that instead of taking up J’s prime real estate with all of my craftiness on here, I will dedicate that blog to food, and crafts, and projects, etc. I will still post some baby-related projects on here, of course! :)
PS - I am not quite sure what happened to all of the photos in my older posts, but they are big black exclamation points now. Ick.
Jack and I went into the office for a bit today (and had a lunch date with Auntie Em and Auntie Hilary!!!). My friend Nitesh happened to have his camera with him and snapped a few adorable photos of J. Thanks Nitesh! :)
