Jack is 2

It was two years ago that I became a mom.  I was excited and nervous for that day.  I always knew that I wanted to be a mom and that it was going to be so special in my life, but it really has been amazing.  I feel especially blessed to have this special little soul in my life.  He is so much fun and quite a happy kid.  I have been thinking about what I was going to write for almost a month now.  I wanted to remember the little things that he does and I always enjoy reading other blogs that include such sentimental thoughts about their children.  Especially in the everyday moments.  So here is my attempt to include some tidbits about my little peanut!

Jack has a really cute smile.  Not only does he have a large gap in his front teeth but they stick out a little (somewhat buck tooth style).  When we are in the car and I am stopped at a traffic light then I look back at him and he has the cutest way of smiling by curling his upper lip under and grinning with the biggest buck smile!

His ultimate favorite thing to do is ride his bike.  Not only is he very good at it, but he is riding longer distances everyday.  We try to get out on his bike at least once a day.  This also allows me to take Ella for a good walk in the stroller.

Jack has a hard time sharing.  He is great when at the gym play area or at nursery, but struggles with sharing while at home.  Sometimes he does it, but we here the word "mine" a lot.  On the other hand, there are times when he just randomly gives Ella his toys or hugs her.  I love those moments of kindness and hope we can continue to nurture that.

Jack has learned how to throw a temper tantrum by twisting and falling onto the floor.  He then proceeds to cry.  So far it has only happened at home, but he definitely is in those terrible twos!

We eliminated the pacifier last week.  It was really hard to get rid of it during naps, which happened a month ago, but thankfully that allowed for the final transition to happen smoothly.  He didn't cry once when we put him to bed without it.  Now it is an out of sight and out of mind thing.  Although, two nights ago when I put him to bed, he fell asleep sucking on the tip of his thumb.  I wonder if that will stick.

He has his father's stubborness (maybe his mom's too).  Yesterday he was so determined to hike all the way down from the climbing area.  He did good, but fell a few times. 

He likes to blow kisses when he says goodbye.  Even if he is saying goodbye to an object.  Or the grocery attendant.  He is a lover.  And usually a kiss is accompanied with his sign language thank yous.

There are a few things that he really loves: bikes, boats, buses, horses, and Elmo.  He also loves anything that moves, so airplanes, motorcycles, and such are also special. 

For entertainment, he likes to run in circles around the house, from the living room, then into the office, the dining room, the main hallway, and back into the living room.  He pretends he is going to school with his backpack on and he always blows me kisses and says bye bye.

He learned how to say his sister's name yesterday, and his cousin Eddie's too.

Although he definitely shows fear, he is extremely courageous and will try most adventurous things.  I often wonder how many broken bones I will have to take care of as he grows.

His favorite and only number that he can say is 2.

I have to watch the cups of water, juice, milk or any liquid that is left out, because I think he finds joy in picking them up and tipping them over.  Mind you, he also occasionally spills them on accident too.  I am tired of having to use paper towels to clean up the floor.

Jack loves to eat pizza, sweets, corn on the cob, noodles/pasta, broccoli fresh picked from the garden, apples, and chocolate milk.

If I let him, then he would help me to do everything.  He gets very excited to put dishes in the drying rack, unload laundry or move it into the dryer, sweep the floors, or pick up his toys.

I love that he knows to fold his arms after the music in sacrament meeting and it sounds so cute when he says amen at the end of the prayers.

Jack has always been a cuddly baby and he still likes to snuggle and give me kisses.  I will take them as long as I can!

Right now he goes to sleep in his toddler bed, which he has done since he was 16 months old and he wakes up at some point each night to come into our bed.  I still don't know how we are going to break him of this habit.

When we go to the playground he could spend hours on the swing. 

He is a super helper in the garden and he often picked things before they were ready.  I can't be mad though, since he was just trying to help.

Sometimes we will take him for car rides just so he can see horses and cows.  He really loves that and always asks for me.  Oh, and he thinks all birds are called ducks.  I correct him every time but he still calls them ducks.

We really love our little man and are so happy he is in our family!

Pinterest Ideas

It seems like everyone now has a pinterest page now.  Well, at least a lot of the crafty people I know are doing it.  I have been pinning ideas for a few years now, but I thought it might be fun to add some of my ideas into a blog post.  I would love to decorate more for the holidays, but Joe just looks at that stuff as clutter.  I have yet to find the right mix of decorating for a holiday and making it feel like it is meant to be there.

I am also sort of waiting until we are fully finished with working on our house.  I feel like it will make a HUGE difference once we have a kitchen that works better for us.  I crave a kitchen that is the heart of our home.  Right now it is just the place that we make food.  You cannot concregate there since there is no room.  We can't even open the fridge door all the way.  In fact, once we have that completed we will be so close to the end.  Then we only have two more rooms to do.  I am hoping as well to eliminate a lot of extra clutter in the next year or so as well.  We are going to have a yard sale next spring to get rid of some furniture that we don't use anymore and also a lot of baby stuff.  That will be so nice.

In the meantime, I was thinking since I am not really decorating for holidays, maybe I could just do one thing. Put a wreath or decoration on the door. So over the course of a year I am going to make that my crafting project. I plan to make some for each season or special holidays. And I figured I could start by at least coping some of my pin ideas onto the blog to get me started!

Fall Wreath Idea



Halloween Idea...I know it is a picture frame, but I thought I could use the same concept on a wreath!

 

Christmas Wreath...I like the frame, since it is something a little different!

Spring Wreath.  I will probably add a bow as well.

 

Easter Wreath Idea, spray paint the eggs a robin's blue and glue them on.  I love the idea!

 

Of course something patriotic during the 4th is important and I like that this ribbon wreath is something different.

I love this idea for a summer wreath by using an old book to make a sunflower.  I might even try to use some paint too.

 

Parenting Ups And Downs

Parenting Downs:

1.  School has started again and we are trying to get ourselves back into some sort of a routine.  I decided, foolishly, that we would eliminate Jack's pacifier on the first day of school.  Since Joe was gone and I thought it would be easier once we were on a routine...nope.  It was a mistake and so hard.  We had a grueling first week at trying and I think since then I have caved about three times since.  It is for my sanity!  I keep telling him though, that when he turns two years old that it will mean no more pacifier at all (not even at bed time).  I just know that is going to be so hard.  Seriously, why didn't I get rid of it at 6 months?

2.  Ella has learned how to pull up on furniture.  This is great and super exciting to think that it won't be long before she starts to walk, but she still doesn't know how to get back down.  So even though she gets better at it every day, we still have a baby that falls and bumps her head at least once or twice a day.  This has been the hardest in her learning process and let me tell you, that girl can scream when she wants to.

3.  Jack has really bonded with daddy lately.  It might be a developmental stage, but he seriously loves spending time with Joe.  He wants to do everything with Joe.  I'm not good enough to feed him, snuggle him, or put him to bed.  Jack also entered the phase of crying when daddy leaves for work.  He truly misses him when he is gone.  It has also made it hard to do the bed time routine, because I know he just wants daddy to do it and usually Joe is tired or out late climbing.  I must admit that I have let him stay up a little late recently just so he could see his daddy and give him a night time kiss.

Parenting Ups:

 

1.  I love getting kisses from my little ones.  Jack has also decided to be a kisser.  He loves to come up to me when he is playing and kiss me right on the lips.  I think it is because he has finally figured out that kisses are not open mouth and he makes the cutest little pucker sound.  I will take as many as he is going to give me, because I realize one day he won't want to hug or kiss me.  And whenever we say good bye to someone (whether they are a stranger or not) he likes to blow kisses.  It can be entertaining to see when we are in the checkout line at the grocery store.  I just love that he is making someone smile!

2.  Ella is an amazing eater.  She has really taken to solid foods well.  I don't remember it being so easy with Jack.  I don't know if he was picky or if I just didn't give him enough early on.  She just does well.  There is very little mess and she pretty much likes any food that she tries.  It is nice to eat as a family lately.  I guess that just means it is time to buy her a high chair too.  She is also a good sleeper and we are starting to hit a phase where I can just put her in the crib and she goes to sleep.  Hooray!

3. Jack is learning new words everyday.  In fact I almost have to be careful what I say.  Yesterday he mimicked me after I said, "oh man" while changing a poopy diaper.  It really does make you laugh to hear your kids use the same tone.  I love that silly kid!  Honestly as hard as the toddler years can be, they are so much fun too.  He is very proud of himself to learn new things and gets so excited.  I have attached a few pictures from our recent family outting at the lake.  We rented some standup paddle boards (which are awesome) and he enjoyed the ride.  A lot.  Maybe he needs one for himself soon...



There is a reason why bubbo seats are being recalled to add a strap...watch this video to see what I mean!

 

 

 The boys were playing in the garden after watering it. I was wondering why they were so quiet and playing so well, until I got closer and saw there hands!

 Jack is the ultimate helper.  He was cooking with me, something that we do a lot.  He pulls a chair over and we carefully find ways that he can help cook.

 Ella and I at the North Carolina aquariam back in July.

3. 

Ella is 7 Months Old

 Nicknames:  Ella Bella, Wiggle Worm, Hazel Nut, and Turtle

Weight/Height:  I haven't been to the doctor in a month, so I'm not sure, but I would assume she has gained a pound or two.  That means she will be close to 18 or 19 lbs.

Foods:  Some new foods that she has tried are mango, avocado (she really hated this one), ice cream (opps), zucchini, prunes, and I think that might be it.  We have also increased her formula to 8 oz. at four times a day, but she seems to be not finishing her bottles lately.  Maybe we need to go back to 7 oz. at each feeding.  I'm still nursing and waiting for Ella to hold a bottle by herself completely.  She can do it, but chooses not to. 

Temperament: Ella is starting to really become a social baby.  She loves to interact with kids and also giggles when they give her their attention.  She also loves to squirm around and basically she won't sit still for anyone if she wants to crawl around.  It has almost been humorous to see people at church try to hold her when she wants to get down.  She will wiggle all around their arms into different positions until they realize that she just doesn't want to be held. Ella still cries a lot, but it is usually because she falls and bumps her head.  At this stage she is trying to pull up on furniture and doesn't know how to get back down.  So it can be frustrating since you will go comfort her and then immediately she pulls up on furniture again.  However, I must say that today she was doing so much better and getting back down onto her knees before falling.  Her learning curve is so fast that I figure it won't take long for her to figure that out. 

 Items/Toys That We Love The Most:  Ella never has seemed to need specific toys.  She is happy to play with a cardboard box, or basically anything that Jack has in his hands at the moment.  So nothing really sticks out to me right now.  I am already noticing though that we need to watch her for different things.  She likes to put things in her mouth and Jack was never as bad.  She would put twigs, rocks, chalk, paper, books, toys, nuts, or anything in her mouth.  Some of them have already been in her mouth so I really have to watch her.  Just being able to crawl makes her happy.  So I guess I have to say, we love a solid surface right now!

First Experiences:  It seems like it took a few days of crawling before Ella was trying to pull up onto furniture.  She really wants to walk.  Her desire is so strong that I really think it will happen soon.  Maybe we will have a walker at 9 months?  Who knows, but at this point she really loves being able to stand up and gets so excited. 

We also had a family day at the lake last week.  She stayed on ground, except for the last three minutes.  I sat her on my lap for a brief trip on the stand up paddle board.  For the wiggle worm that she is, I was amazed at how still she was.  I think she liked it and was trying to figure out the sensation of floating in the water.  It was fun to be able to have her enjoy the adventure that we had been having the whole morning.

I also decided to get a second opinion on her foot.  After having mixed responses from the pediatric orthopedist in Morgantown, I have decided it is time to find out if there is something more that can be done.  He said that she would walk like Charlie Chaplin for a few years (who knows how long) and then it would straighten out.  He also told us it would straighten out after a month.  Our pediatrician is worried since that means that she could have hip issues as an adult since she will be standing with those bones on her whole leg pointing to the side.  This has made me nervous as she is already pulling up on furniture, but there is nothing that I can do.  So I basically do stretches and am waiting for this appointment with a doctor in Northern Virginia, which will be on October 31st.  I assume she will be walking at this point, but at least we will be able to see how she is standing and developing.  I will of course give more updates with time.

Adventures On The Gorge

About once a week we head over to the Class VI, or Adventures on the Gorge resort.  They are a rafting company in the area, but they have a nice little playground that is always in the shade.  It has been a good place to visit during the summer and since it is fairly small I can watch Jack and be with Ella whenever she needs to eat or something.  Another great feature that they have is a large deck overlooking the gorge.  We usually walk over there and then run around on the deck.  This morning, Ella decided to pull upon the railing and Jack joined her.  It was too perfect, so I snapped this picture!

Ella is 6 Months Old

Wow, we have had two children for half a year already. Actually, it really has felt a lot longer than that.  I'm glad to say we are managing two little ones really well.  I expected this year to be much harder, but as it continues to go on, it just feels like it is getting easier.  That is probably because Ella is capable of doing more things as she gets older.  So on to the stats!

Nicknames: Hazel Nut, Wiggle Worm, Ella Bella, Little Turtle

Weight and Length: 17 lbs. and 26 inches long

Foods:  Ella is continuing to have bottles. She averages about four bottles with 7 oz. of formula.  I also nurse, but only three times a day.  I nurse in the morning, with the afternoon nap, and then for bedtime.  It might be a bedtime curse, since that is how she usually falls asleep.  We started giving her solid foods after she was five months old.  She seemed interested and ready, and let's face it, I was excited to give her some too.  Now we eat as a complete family for lunch and dinner.  I'm a little better at figuring out how often and how much to feed so she has tired a lot of new foods in the past month.  Let's see if I can list them all: bananas, apples, carrots, peas, green beans, squash, pumpkin, prunes, raspberries, avocado, sweet potatoes and yogurt.

Temperament: Ella is super smiley.  She loves to smile at strangers and friends alike.  Even though Jack is not always nice to her, I think he is still her favorite person.  He is the only person that can make her giggle besides Joe and I (and that's only when we tickle her).  Although she is a very happy child, she can also be super dependent as well.  She likes to be held and will cry when not getting her way.  She is way more sensitive when not getting her way.  And when she doesn't like something she can really cry.  We have learned that she does not like to be contained in a car seat.  Road trips have become hard because she cries after about two hours.  And when she is learning a new skill it can effect her sleep, and temper.  Nevertheless, she still smiles and that makes us love her so much.  I'm so glad to have her in my life.

Items/Toys We Love the Most:  We continue to use the baby jumper that my mom bought in Canada.  She loves to jump and lately Jack will push her around while she is hanging in the jumper, which makes them both laugh.  I tried to capture it on video tonight, but I was just a little too late for the giggles.  Other than that we just have to put toys on the ground and she will crawl over to them.  She basically likes anything that Jack is playing with! The bumbo seat is also comping in handy too.  We have to drag it upstairs and downstairs, since it is her high chair for now and also a seat for her in the bath tub.

First Experiences:  After we had the derecho and knew our power would be out for a week, we decided to make a road trip to my grandparents house.  It was a quick last minute decision that we made while the kids were sleeping in the car (we were going to go to the lake to cool off from the heat when we turned around).  Thirty minutes later we were on the road with dirty laundry and almost everything we would need.  We choose their house, because they live by the beach.  So it was Ella's first time in the ocean.  She loves water, especially swimming pools.  This was extra fun though, because she got to touch the sand and discover a new environment.  However, the sand gave her a diaper rash...poor girl.  As I already mentioned she started crawling too.  At first it was a lot of rolling to things and she would get up on her hands and knees to lunge forward for an item.  Then she attempted the army crawl for short distances.  Maybe that was just too dirty for her, because this week she has figured out how to get onto her hands and knees and coordinate the movement to be able to crawl.  It is so cute too.  I'm constantly impressed with how quickly she is learning new things.  I wonder if she will struggle to walk after having had foot problems?

We also went on our first family backpacking trip.  Joe has been trying to get me to take a backpacking trip for years.  He finally made it happen when we had two kids.  Why didn't I try it before, it would have been so much easier!  Actually, it really wasn't that bad.  We decided to go to Summersville lake, which is thirty minutes away.  Then we hiked about a mile to a secluded cove where they was a fire ring and benches.  It was a great little camp site.  Each of us carried a backpack on the back and a child on the front.  Then Joe hiked back to the car and got our kayak so we were able to play around in the water too.  Everything went pretty smoothly until bed time. Ella had a bit of a hard time calming down, but she went to sleep when the rest of us tuckered down (almost two hours late).  Then she woke up at 3 am and took almost two hours to settle back to sleep.  Needless to say, Joe and I were both super tired the next day.  Oh, and it didn't help that we camped next to a working beaver.  I woke up around 11pm to the beaver gnawing on a tree.  I was so scared because it was an unfamiliar noise and he went out with the head lamp for a better look.  Fortunately we were able to be sure it wasn't a bear and I tried to fall asleep.  Then I wouldn't go pee by myself since I was scared of the beaver so I made Joe go with me again.  He must have been hating me that night!  Like I said, it was a long night with few solid hours of sleep.  But Jack woke up happy and that made it worth it.  I look forward to many more camping trips with both of them as they get older!

We extended our trip to the beach for one more day so that we could see my parents and siblings.  We went to the swimming pool by my parents future home.  I think everyone had fun...it was a hot day and the pool felt really good!  I don't think I will write too much more, but let you look at the pictures instead!