Verbosity

Sigh. My little baby is growing up. We are out of daycare this week and I am so loving spending all the time with him. The last day I picked him up from school, he saw me and ran to the picture on the wall and said, "Da?" with his hands held open and in question. He loves to run down the hall to go pick up Ethan from his room too.



We even have some teeth now...finally. Still only the two on bottom and the two half in on top (with a really cute gap) but his molars have broken through. How do I know this? So glad you asked. The teeth marks in my pointer finger for starters. Also, we had our 18 month pediatrician appt where he saw they were just beneath the gum lines. Of course the doc isn't sure what happened to his other front teeth but was very thrilled with all of his physical milestones. He can run and kick a ball, even tried to jump and plays a mean hide and seek. We were still 95% for weight and head size and our height was holding at 75%. Wearing 2T for the last few months. It amazes me how much he just looks like a toddler now.

Jason now has this totally expansive vocabulary...well not quite but we are getting there. We are saying some really cute things and our expressions are priceless but we are still limited to a few major groups. He shrugs his shoulders and lifts his hands palms up when he wants to know why or doesn't know something. He also waves bye and blows kisses, and raises his hands when you ask who loves Da Da or who is stinky. Always important.

Attitudes:
No
Stop (complete with hand gesture)
Mine (totally required given who his older brother is)
Up

Items of interest:
Car (his non food addiction)
Ball (noticed on every Pamper)
Duck
Bath (see above item)

Food imperatives:
Cracker (universal symbol for anything to eat)
More (in both sign and spoken languages due to the sheer importance of this one)

Pleasantries
Da Da (said DA DA really loudly)
Hello (pronounced Hull-o)
Bye Bye
Uh oh
Please (only when prompted and bribed by withholding item he wants)

And of course no post is complete without some pictures of him playing in the living room and with Daddy (who spun him around and made him dizzy). Love the jammies!

Holiday events

We have had a lot of fun this holiday season. You can see some of our latest happenings on Jason's site but here a few where Ethan played a major role.

Dinner party

Wednesday night we went out to dinner with the McClamroch family to TGIFs. We enjoyed some good company and manners and Ethan was most excited that Logan baked him cookies. It has been a tough holiday for both families given recent events with our grandparents and it was nice to all be together.

Serena and Logan:


Ken, Jordan and Ethan


Logan, Ethan, Jason, and Jenn



Party at Shannan and Ramin's house:

On Friday, Ethan got to spend the day with Mom and go to a great holiday party and play date and then bake cookies with Mom and Grandma. It was his last day of school until January and yet he didn't seem to miss it. He finished out the year with a bang and a party in his classroom on Thursday, another week of good behavior and an excellent progress report.

Shannan throws the best parties. With organized crafts, cookie tins and hats, ornament favors, and great coffee and company. The families were all so nice and even though Ethan was really scared and clingy, after I explained these could all be new friends, he let Ramin take him around to meet everyone. After a few minutes, he came back and hugged me and said, "Mommy, I am not shy anymore." I didn't see him much after that. We were the last to leave since these are some of our favorite play pals. Here are the pics from the day:

Posing with Mom under duress


Saying "cheese"


With our best boy pal, Nicholas


Doing a craft:


The finished product...our milk carton gingerbread house. We even managed to get some candy on it as opposed to into Ethan's mouth (see above pic).

Baking cookies

We did less than last year since I didn't feel this horrid need to try and prove I was one of those incredible Mom's that can do it all. I can't. And I have to be okay with that. Tracey once said I turned into Betty Crocker at the holidays. I decided this year was going to just be fun. I did some peanut butter treasures and those amazing butter and almond cookies in xmas shapes I did last year. Then I helped my Mom with the chocolate cupcakes and the pignoli cookies and bourbon balls. I then called it a day. I think what made it fun though was knowing Grandma was happy we were doing it. And watching Ethan powder the rum balls, add pine nuts, and use a rolling pin. He loved cutting the cookies. Jason liked stirring the batter and shaking the sugar.

Angels among us

At the holidays I try to teach the kids about the needs of others and the true meaning of the season....the birth of Christ and the sacrifices we make for fellow men. We do the food bank, buy coats for the children and usually do a giving tree. This year, we picked up a Salvation Army angel tag describing the needs of a child this Christmas. Ethan was fascinated by the tag and asked if the angel looked over us. I said it angels look over us all but especially this little girl. Then I explained how her family might not have enough money to buy her needed items and we were going to help and get her some pjs, a sweater and pants and a Dora doll that she wants. I asked him if he thought we could find stuff like that and he said, yes...in the store. And then he asked if she was his friend and I said she might not know him but it is nice to think of all people as friends. And since we had a little to spare, we were going to ensure she had a nice holiday.

Ethan's response:
Yes...we need to. You need to take money out of my piggy bank so we can buy nice things for her....let's go now. I don't need anything.

Wow...maybe I am doing something right here. After we shopped and brought the gifts back to the drop off location, Ethan said, "It was fun to buy her things. She is 3 years old like me, Daddy, and we are both three...nobody else is. I love her."

I melt.

Holiday get together

We had some folks over from work today who have small children all in the age range from 1 - 4 years old. We had some munchies, played outside on the playground and visited the horses, did crafts, and had a small gift exchange. It was the kind of party where even the hosts could relax with some wine and some good company. To be honest, I didn't hear from my kids for most of the day. They had a wonderful time and loved playing with their friends and showing everyone around. The part that amazed me was that nobody cried, got hurt, fought over anything, made a mess etc. Talk about some diligent, amazing friends and parents. We all really enjoyed the day and will even do it again.

Here are some pics from the event:

Doing crafts...we made bracelets that jingle and decorated trees and ornaments (thanks to Shannon!!).



Stephanie and Adelaide with our tree in the background.



Getting the kids to all sit for present exchange....ha!



Getting closer!



Jason, always the patient one.




Ramin and Nicholas finishing up their craft:



Playing outside with our friends:



Getting some snacks with Nicole and Tracey (who looks beautiful pregnant!)



Daimar and Sophia with Trina:

The Santa Train

Near our home there is a great little railroad and museum that does a lot of great things for the local community and kids. It runs the first weekend of the month and we can hear the whistle from our house. The kids love it and Ethan calls it Choo Choo Willy thanks to Uncle Mikey.

One of those activities is a decorated train at Christmas where Santa comes through the cars and hands out candy canes and takes pics while we travel along an old track through the woods. Jeff has taken Ethan every year and this was the first year Jason and I could go too. Last year Jason was too little.

Now, most of the train is an open air train and it was 40 degrees today so it was cold but we had a blast...no pun intended. Of course, Jason refuses to wear hats or gloves but we bundled them up the best we could and set out looking like the Michelin men. What was extra nice was that Jason actually liked Santa this time. He cried and didn't want to go near the mall Santa last week but this one handed out food, so all was right in Claus land for him.

After the train, we took the boys out to lunch and then we were off to go shopping and prepare for our party tomorrow. All in all, a really great day with my boys.

Green days

Things have been a lot better at the homestead as of late. Ethan has had a great month at school with good reports each day and an award for good behavior. He is trying to use his words, is nicer to his teachers and friends and is working on his manners. I am not sure how much of this was enabled by our new focus on positive reinforcement and prioritizing the few things we want to make an issue over. Whatever the reason, I am very proud of him.

Ethan is working on writing his letters and numbers these days and loves reading and doing art projects. I wish I was more creative in those departments and had more time to work with him on it but he will have to deal with a Mom that is better at cleaning stalls than planning creative activities. We all have our crosses to bare.

He still makes me smile each day when he tells me how much he loves me and how I am the best mom ever, or make the best dinner ever. Or when he notices new sheets, that I have washed his favorite sweat pants or brought up his favorite car. I love how grateful he is for those little things. It makes me want to do more for him.

I know I have been remiss in posting lately so owe some juicy pics. Here are a few from last weekend's visit with the extended family:

Dinner with Dad, Joyce, Susan, Rosie and Roy:



Playing outdoors on a Sunday morning:





Ethan riding his dolphin:

Visit with Hayes

Jason had a great time tonight playing with someone else his size and age. My friend Barbara and her son were visiting the area and stopped by for dinner (although Hayes threw more than he ate since he is at that stage). I have never seen Jason throw food but then again, he wouldn't waste the precious commodity. Have you seen the size of him? There is nothing edible that gets past him.

The kids all played very well together and although chasing three of them tired all of us adults outs, it was so nice to get the boys together. It was also nice to see that someone else has their hands full. Sorry, Barbara. :-)

Jason plays really well with kids at school or on play dates but has a nice little temper with his bro lately. He hits...and not just once but like 6 - 10 in rapid fire mode. I am just grateful Ethan doesn't strike back and Jason understands "do nice" and will adjust his actions accordingly. Given his size, it could be a lot worse. Sumo wrestling is not out of the picture.

Birthday party

Our neighbor across the street has a beautiful baby boy that celebrated his one year old birthday today. Trish and Brad threw a great party and if it weren't for needing naps, we may have stayed all day. The adults watched football and munched while the little kids played outside with some of the teenagers.

My boys had a nice time playing at the party with Aaron's toys (see above) and eating yummy chili and cake. Ethan even helped Aaron open some presents. Here are a few shots of the kids in their party hats. Aaron is first, then Jason and then Ethan sitting with Daddy...impatiently asking every five seconds if he can have cake.

Where does the time go?

Seems like just yesterday all he could say was "Mama" and "Why?" i read that the average toddler says why hundreds of times in one day. Where do I sign and swear to that? He is getting so smart lately, learning to write a bit, memorizing the planets (and yes, he includes Pluto), and he says the funnies things:

"I am going to play rock and roll guitar in the Jo Jo Go Go Band."

"Mommy, you are my best friend ever. When we go to bed tonight, can we play that game we played the other night where we were tickling and laughing together?"

"When I was a baby, I could drive a car better than I can now." There are so many renditions of things he says all starting with.... When I was a baby.

"Mommy, you make the best dinner ever. I love roast pot."

"It's late and we are already done for the day"

"Ooopsie Donald"

And then there are the less funny ones:

"It's no fair." How do they know? Where did that come from?
"I don't think so"
"Let's negotiate"
"No...no...no. YOU listen."

And the ones that make we want to have 3 more:

I am rubbing my brother gently and taking care of him

Ethan: Mommy, you need to keep me safe.
Me: I will always take care of you and keep you safe, Ethan.
Ethen: You need to keep me safe right now.

Pumpkin patch

Today we took the boys to pick out our Halloween pumpkins. We sorta make a deal out of the holiday and even put up some pumpkin lights and floating ghosts. With Christmas so magical for the boys and Ethan so incredibly fascinated by all the lights and decorations, I wanted to get Jason in the swing. There is this great little lot on the way to work that sells strawberries in the spring and pumpkins in the fall....all on the honor system. Tonight when we went, the owner was there and gave the boys a cool white pumkin they can draw on with markers. Killer idea. Involves no knives although Ethan assures us that he can carve his pumpkin all by himself with his own knife. Ya right. Next thing you know, they'll be driving.

Day Out with Thomas

If you have never been to the NC Transportation Museum, in Spencer you need to go. On this particular occasion, Thomas and Bob the Builder were there as well which of course appealed to our crew. Many thanks to Dad and Joyce for arranging this for us and for such an incredible day!

We arrived around 10:30 thanks to some unscheduled stops (hey, we have kids!). We walked through some of the exhibits and then met bob the Builder, Fifi and watched a magic show. We then had a nice lunch, rode Thomas and met Sir Topham Hat. Yes, they honestly had a steam engine that looked exactly like Thomas that took us out on the tracks owned by the museum. They were a one way set that pass a working railroad yard, has the largest roundhouse and turntable in the country and actually hooks to the currently used freight lines. We were not allowed on the main lines of course so there was a diesel engine on the back that brought us back as we reveresed. The kids loved it. Ethan got a tattoo of Thomas on his face and they both got Tootsie pops from the vendors for being so good and patient. We bought them some t-shirts and a puzzle to commemorate the day and they slept the entire ride home (two hours of silence).