Jason's 2nd Birthday

Jason had the entire week long bday experience. It started on Friday when Mom and Dad took he and Ethan to see Elmo Friday morning and they got to miss school and go out to breakfast. They spent the day with their grandparents and we went over to have dinner with them and the kids couldn't stop talking about the day. They took home balloons the size of a small child and they played with them all night. When we got back home, we built a house in blocks, played Wii and tore apart the living room. I keep asking Jason who's birthday it is this weekend and all he says is "Not me."





Saturday we went and did our weekly shopping and then the boys and I were off to Trey and Becca's for a cookout while Jeff entertained his boys. It was so fun and the kids were great...playing soccer, crochet, Frisbee, horseshoes and more. They wore themselves out but stayed awake the entire ride home. I think that was only due to the fact that they took their shoes and socks off and the Jeep smelled like REALLY bad feet! Who could sleep through that? We had a great time, the food was great, and we got to spend some quality time with my girls. I miss them all so much and am so glad they are part of my son's lives.

Our Sunday (his actual day) started out with breakfast with Aunt Susan. Jeff made apple struesel pancakes and they all had a great time running around outside and having snack on the patio while Mommy filled the wading pool, washed the porches, fed animals, etc and Daddy mowed. The funniest part was when he opened his beautifully wrapped gift from his aunt. Every piece of paper he pulled off of it resulted in a trip to the kitchen trash to throw it out. It took forever to open.

After that, we took baths and relaxed for a bit. And since it was a touch and go decision about me being home for so long, I didn't plan anything big for today. Jeff's family is coming in between the boys b-days so we can actually spend some quality time without a variety of screaming kids. So what we did for today was simply get a tray of pasta, a Bob the Builder cake with matching napkins and plates and just had a quiet day at home with my Godson, Jason's Godfather and my family. It was nice and Jason seemed to do better without being the center of attention at some big event. I got some Bob balloons for him and some cute tool party favors for the 3 kids and called it done. Ethan was a little stressed over not getting presents so the favors really helped.






The guilt you feel all the time as a parent is overwhelming. Guilt at being away, guilt at being home and not planning something big, doubting if he had fun, worried that I didn't have enough friends for him, have enough presents, take enough pictures. And let me tell you, he didn't really care about any of my guilt but loved playing with his brother and eating pasta and eggplant. As usual, he snubbed the cake. :-)

Little boy kisses

Jason has sorta come into his own lately. And by that I mean, he found, read and studied the classic definition on the terrible twos, did some editing to Wikipedia to add his own flair and has made our life...eh...interesting (for lack of a non four letter word I want to post for all to see). Some examples. Wanting food from someone else's plate even though the exact same food is on his, putting up his hand and flicking it with tude to say "go" or even saying "away!" or "enough", saying "no no night night" while emphatically shaking his head. Now this is so out of character since his usual routine is to come get you when he is tired and demand to go in his crib. He is also having huge tantrums where he wants to go to his crib.

Today was a typical no thanks day for Mommy. We went and spent the day with family at Uncle Mikey's and he wanted everyone else but me. He had his normal melt down at dinner, tried to put his feet on the table and didn't want to go bye bye. "No no bye bye" as he kicked and screamed. When we got home I got him dressed for bed while he kicked me and screamed some more, read the kids a book while he wriggled to no end to get away. Then, I went to put him down and he clocked me and refused to say sorry. "No no sorry". Jeff then took him to bed where he screamed for me for 10 minutes.

After I went and said good night to E, I returned to JT to hold him and calm him down. I laid on the bed in his room with him, kissed his little forehead, his nose, and his teary salty eyes while we snuggled and I rubbed his hair. And he started to talk and I prepared for the worst. But all he said was "more kisses." Phew, not sure how much more my ego could have taken today. I sit here now still holding on to his smell and the taste of his tears and hoping it gets me through breakfast tomorrow when he throws something at me or starts screaming again since Ethan got one drop of syrup more than he perceives he should have. Mostly he just makes me eat with my left hand while he sits on my lap and holds on for dear life. I love these days.

To crib or not to crib

So Jason turns 2 years old in 16 days and he is still in his crib. He loves it. When he gets tired he says "ni night" and grabs our hand and heads for the stairs. Once in his room he picks his books or walks to the crib to be lifted in, depending on how tired he is. We put his music on, his turtle constellation light and head out. So easy it is luring me into having another. Some nights we will cuddle on the spare bed in there and lay together. Others, we read "mo book" but always he is happy and sleeps well. There are the times he doesn't want to go to bed but he only says "No no ni night" a few times before he gives in.

Now the morning is less than ideal but it is not due to Jason. He would sleep 12 hours without balking but Ethan is an early riser and he doesn't like to be alone. After 3 years of us telling him to PLEASE stay in his room and not wake us, he has changed his focus to Jason. He goes in, complete with supplies, climbs in the crib with Jason and proceeds to play with the toys while we hear them giggle and screech on the monitor. There is nothing cuter. However, I am still not sleeping in and Jason is getting woken early and I am worried Ethan is opening the child gate and teaching JT to climb out of the crib. He hasn't started yet but you know it is just a matter of time after watching his "bro bro" climb in and out at will.

Anyway, I am planning to move him to a bed but for some reason it feels like I am sending him to college or something. It just reminds me that he is not my baby any more. I want to go back and remember the smell, the toes, the little hand in mine. Now, it is a rare occasion when Jason says "Hand!" and demands I put mine in his.

School pics came out pretty bad this year so I took the kids for haircuts and for Sears portraits last weekend. Here are a few zillion of my favorites!

Going to college

So at dinner last night I was asking E about his day as always. What centers did he play in, what did he do for art, did he work on his letters, and the usual chatter. After a few minutes Ethan announces he is going to college in New York City and when he is done he is going to marry me. So I asked him if he was going by himself and he said no, Daddy and I were going with him. Christopher too. However for some reason, Jason was staying here to rep Daddy at NC State.

In other quirky news, my friend is starting to build her house and the boys make us drive by it every morning and night as we leave and come back from school. They are fascinated by the entire process and keep asking each day why it is not done and she can't live their yet. Maybe it is the same reason you can't go to NYC just yet...it needs time to grow. And really, I am not in a rush.