Daddy's Girl

Belle has officially written me off and become a sold-out Daddy's girl. The past few weeks have been "Daddy this.... Daddy that." She insists that Daddy, and only Daddy, wake her up, put her to bed, get her dressed, change her diaper (that I don't mind!!), snuggle, play, carry her and anything else in between. She will stick up that bottom lip and pout to Daddy and ask for the moon. Literally. She wants the moon like Mr. Gru in Despicable Me.

It's pretty darn cute to watch these two. Derek might act all annoyed that he is her one and only desire-- but he's pretty smitten with the attention. I snapped this pic one night when she insisted that he snuggle in her little bitty bed and I just LOVE the way they are looking at each other.

I had to beg Derek to let me share this picture. He is concerned that the interwebs would doubt his manliness and consider him a softie. Please note that Derek is a skilled soldier who collects and likes to shoot guns as a hobby. On another note, Belle's Sunday school teacher informed me yesterday that Belle was boasting proudly about her daddy in class... albeit in the most embarrassing and awkward way. Oh, from the mouths of babes.

It should be noted that Belle is perfectly pleased for me to cater to her needs and demands when I am the only option. We snuggle, we play, we laugh. It's only when Daddy is around that I become chopped liver. Or Grandpas. Or anyone besides me, really. On a daily basis, I hear "but I don't like/want you." It's prepping me for the teenage years I guess. 

My ears are so tired (also a belated apology)

Once upon a time when Belle was an infant, Derek was soaking up her cuteness and commented, "I can't wait until she can start talking!" I knew what he was getting at-- Jackson really started talking while Derek was away at AIT and so he missed out on that fun stage, but I still remember thinking that he'd probably eat those words someday. 

 You've heard this old adage before, right?

When we picked Julie up at the airport a few weeks ago, she was so impressed on how much Belle had grown and that she was talking. It was only two days later when Julie spent the duration of the 40 minute drive home from my parents house with her hands over her ears trying her best to drown out the noise.

Both of my kids talk. A lot. Jackson has always been a good talker. I sort of worried that my second wouldn't be as much of a talker she wouldn't have as much of an opportunity to talk. However, that's simply not the case. In fact, my kids constantly fight over whose turn it is to talk. They talk to me, they talk to strangers, they talk to everybody. In fact, Jackson said one day, "just going to talk to myself!" when I told him that my ears were tired {which is something my mother finds great humor because I apparently said that myself...}.

I don't know if I can say that either of my kids talk more than the other, but Belle's incessant talking brings on the most attention. She talks so much that people actually approach me to comment that she talks a lot when we are out and about. This happens at least twice a week. In fact, at her two-year checkup, her doctor actually had to recheck the chart to see if it was the two or three year appointment. 

Driving time is the worst as there is no escape. It does no good to say to Belle, "we need to take a break from talking," Then she'll cry and say, "I just want to talk," which leads to an entire monologue about how much she wants to talk. She'll whine and repeatedly ask, "Can I talk now?" Turns out, it is really just best to let her jibber-jabber away. Or sometimes, I'll just turn the music up. 

My ears are tired. So, so tired, especially now that I am home full time again with the kids. But, it's not just me. My brother once made a decision tree that pretty much sums it all up. 

Anyone who actually knows me in real life is probably thinking this entire post is like the pot calling the kettle black. But there are TWO of these little talkers and only one of me. Also, I'd like to apologize to those whose ears I once made tired (Derek not included, because he knew what he was getting into). 

Of course with all of the talking that they do, my kids say super sweet and/or funny things. Here's a few from this week:

• Jackson: Mom I love you the most. And I'll love you even after you're dead.... and if you're dead, you won't yell at me anymore.
• Belle: "alligator" = elevator, "soup case" = suit case
• Jackson: You need to see the doctor so that you can be adopted.
• Belle: She loves to tell secrets, and my favorite is when she leans in and whispers so quietly in my ear, "I love you most."
• Jackson: I am so starving, I'm starving up to God!

Dude, Babe, Jackson

It's due time for a Jackson update. He is just becoming just such a big kid. When kids are little, their growth is obvious and their milestones are major! But as they get older, it kind of sneaks up on you. Then one day, you're just hanging out with the little dude-- laughing, playing, talking-- and you realize, he's not a toddler anymore!!

I love this picture because 1) he's super cute 2) you can see the blue patch in his left eye

Jackson is three years and three months. This three-year-old year has been a little difficult {definite power struggles and getting him to pay attention to follow instructions}, but yet so nice at the same time. He can entertain himself, Belle too, and is super helpful around the house! He even has chores. He can get himself some breakfast if I'm still in bed in the shower. {Most days it's yogurt, applesauce, or fruit. While other times he moved a chair to the kitchen, climbed on a chair, to climb on the counter, to reach the candy bowl on the top shelf, climbed down all to bring me a hersery bar to open for breakfast. I let him eat it after going to all that trouble} and he can get himself mostly dressed, once I convince him to get dressed at all. The kid loves to be naked.

He has started going to some classes at the community center {munity center} while I do exercise classes. Aside from nursery at church, it's the first time he's ever been in a class. I sometimes walk around the track just to watch. I just can't believe he's big enough to learn relay races and duck, duck, goose.

Jackson loves to read. We get new books almost weekly from the library. I've been picking up Cars, Toy Story, and superhero early reader books and he has them memorized. He really likes non-fiction, informative books--like the parts of trains, different trucks, and construction tools. The craziest part about it all is that he remembers it and will bring it up in conversation at appropriate times. We're starting to work on learning sight words.

Jackson is way observant and very detail-oriented. He hates when his socks are crooked {the seam doesn't line up perfectly on his toes} and you cannot skip a part of his bedtime routine without a meltdown. He also picks up a lot more of the things Derek and I do. At times is very humorous {when he rubbed in nose in the super annoying way that Derek does}, other times it's humbling {when he yells at other cars in traffic}. He is exploring new phrases like, "holy buckets!" and he always tells me "thank you for cooking" because Derek always does too! He told me that something was his "favoritest-everest" the other day. I clearly picked up on his enthusiasm! But one time, Jackson decided to tell Derek to "chill out" and that didn't go over so well... Humorous for me to watch, not so funny for Jackson.

Jackson likes to shave like Papa

As always, Jackson is very funny. I think this age is just funny overall, but he has a great sense of humor. A few recent Jackson-isms:

• When we have pork something for dinner, Jackson always calls it Evil Dr. Pork Chop
• After telling him that carrots are good for his eyes, he things that when he eats carrots they go up to his eyes unlike the rest of the food that goes down into his belly.
• He is still very aware of his manhood. We went through every single character to decide if they had a penis or not {even if toys/cars/trains don't actually have gender parts}
• He is also very proud. The other day at Walmart, Derek and I split up to get a few items. I went to the Shampoo aisle and Derek asked Jackson if he wanted to join him to pick out some car oil. Jackson was excited and I heard a few aisles over, "We'll get the car stuff because we have pensis!!" {followed by the loudest "ssshhhhhh!!" I've ever heard}
• He can't wait to "grow up tall so that he can be the boss"
• He calls his stuffed animals his "kids" and likes me to count all the kids when I tuck him in at bedtime... and I have to include him. I've tried to get him to name his animals, but they are all just Puppy, Soldier Bear, Monkey, etc.
• And lastly, Jackson is just soooooo picky about his name. His name is Jackson. Other acceptable names are strictly Dude and Babe. Nothing else. One little friend of his came over to play the other day and she called him "Jack". Not pretty. One day I even overheard him screaming at Belle, "MY NAME IS NOT GAGA!!!"... which is HALIROUS because of course, Belle just babbles! He takes his name very, very seriuosly. If this keeps up, I might have to legally change his name to Dude, Babe, Jackson so that he doesn't have major issues once he enters kindergarten.

The things you learn at Grandma's

This week's lesson is Biology 101. Our conversation at dinner tonight:

Me: Jackson, you really need to focus and eat your dinner
Jackson: Why?
Me: Because food makes our bodies healthy. We need to eat for our bodies to work.
Jackson: Our food goes in our tummies?
Me: Yes, it goes to our tummies.
Jackson: I put it in my mouth to get to my tummy.
Me: Yes.
Jackson: It goes through the big hole in the back {and proceeds to stick his finger as far down his throat as he can before I quickly intervene. Which, by the way I have determined that curiousity is what caused the I-can-make-myself-vomit-if-I-stick-my-finger-far-enough-down-my-throat revelation that occurred this week. No joke}.Me: Yes, it is back there. But you can't stick your finger back there.
Jackson: It goes down like a sli-i-i-i-ide!!!
Me: {humored} why yes, it does.
Jackson: And then it goes into my tummy. {takes bite to demonstrate}
Me: Mmhhmm
Jackson: And then it goes from my tummy to poop that comes out my bottom.
Me: {Quick glance to Derek. Work hard to not bust out laughing. Gain composure} Well, yes, I guess you are right.
Jackson: Yeah, it comes out of my bottom.
Me: Where did you learn this stuff? Who taught you this stuff?
Jackson: With Grandma... Grandma Linda!

At this point, we just laugh. You never know what this kid is going to say next. We did verify with Grandma Linda {but seriously, how could he just make that up} and she did say that they had that conversation once awhile back. What made him bring it up today? How did he remember it all from that long ago? No idea. At least he got the information right and didn't come up with something crazy absurd. And to be honest, it's nice that I don't have to explain where poop comes from-- because I am sure that's a question that Jackson could/would come up with!

Next on the agenda is Appropriate Dinner Topics. Soon to be addressed is How to Greet New Friends {this is after we met some people at lunch last week and his opening line was "God gave me a penis. Did he give you one?}. A friend once told me that Jackson needed his own reality tv show. If I didn't fear the Gosselin-family-outcome, I might even consider it. I seriously couldn't make this stuff up!

LOL Pictures

Whenever I upload photos from my camera to my computer, I like to take an inventory and decide what ones are keepers and which ones to use for blog posts. These pictures all made my keepers, but they haven't found a space on my blog until now. The only thing they all have in common is that they make me chuckle. And I hope you get a smile out of it too!

When my friend came to stay, I found Caleb "shaving" his legs with sunscreen and a house key. Hilarious.

Geez Mom, get that camera OUT OF MY FACE.

Me: Jackson, what ARE you doing?!?

Jackson: I'm just licking my knee, Mom. 

Me: Oh, okay. That's normal.

Why do you make me wear these dumb bows anyway?

"No one feeds me anything yummy in this house. I guess I'll eat my toes."

And my favorite:

My Quotable Kid

I would love this little book to write down all of the things Jackson says. Unfortunately for me (a good thing for our checkbook) this guy is out of stock so this virtual space of mine will just have to do! I really didn't know motherhood would make me laugh so much. I love it!!

Here are some of Jackson's recent notable quotes:

• If you ask Jackson his name, he will say "I'm Jackson (pronounced Jackshon) and I'm two and a half!" In all actuality, a stranger is more likely to know he is two and a half than to know his name. 
• When I say, "Do you understand me?" he replies by saying "Yes Man."
• He uses the word "shark" interchangeably with "sharp". Is that too shark for me?
• In Jackson's world you pay for something and you get whatever you want. One night when we couldn't see the moon, he asked if I could pay for the moon so he could look at it from his window. He also asked for money the other day so that he could buy cookies for Daddy. 
• Jackson is exploring using emotion words and he doesn't always get it right. Sitting at Dairy Queen a few weeks ago, he is delighting in his ice cream and proclaims, "I'm upset" in the most matter of fact sort of tone. He was convinced he was upset, but we were convinced otherwise. This morning, Jackson was talking to Derek on the phone and he proclaimed, "but you just made me mad!" in the sweetest little voice. Ha. No idea. 
• Also speaking to Daddy-- the other day, the two were wrestling around when Jackson stops and gets so serious. He gives Derek a big hug and says, "I'm so glad you're here" in the sweetest, affectionate voice. He really meant it!
• I have convinced Jackson that because I am the mommy I can kiss him whenever I want (and I do). He loves to run while I tackle him to give some kisses. But when he doesn't want a kiss, he say's "You're not my mommy" because he knows he can't say, "don't kiss me/you can't kiss me". 
• We drove by the an amusement park the other day and he says, pointing to a roller coaster, "I want to ride that so I can go AHHHHHH!!" I told him that needs to get taller before he can ride a roller coaster and he has asked me every day if he is tall enough yet. Once, he sat up higher in his chair and asked if that made him tall enough. 

Sometimes Derek and I just lay in bed and laugh about all of the funny things that Jackson comes up with. We love this kid. Derek keeps asking when Belle is going to talk. I definitely look forward to hearing her interpretations of the world around her, but once she starts talking too my ears are never ever going to get a break!!

Two and a half

That's what Jackson will say when you ask him how old he is: two and a half. I'm not even sure where he picked up on that, but it's true, so I don't argue.

My cute 2 1/2 year old Carolina boy

Jackson is a really funny kid. I don't know if it's the age or if it's his personality, but he makes me laugh every day. (I don't always laugh out loud as to encourage his behavior, but I chuckle about it later as I am retelling the story.) I have even been writing them down in a note app on my phone so I don't forget. I am sure writing it here won't capture the humor of the moment, but at least I'll have it here to use against him look back down the line and remember this stage. Here are a few "Jackson-isms".

His favorite food is sloppy joes. It's not uncommon for him to ask to have "sloppy joeys" for dinner.

He also frequently requests to watch an "apple-sode" of his favorite show. Right now that includes Thomas, Sid the Science Kid, and the "Bwackwardigans" (Backyardigans)

In just the past couple of days, Jackson has gotten really good about being polite and asking for things without crying and/or whining. It's wonderful! Though just a few weeks ago, he went through this incredibly awful whiny stage when everything he said ended in "uh". "But Mommy-uh!" "I'm Sorry-uh!" 

When we are in the car, Jackson likes to point out everything he sees. "That's a big truck!", "Lots of tunnels!". Well, one day we drove by downtown and he was pointing out the tall buildings and then all of a sudden he shouted with such enthusiasm, "Look Mommy! A SPACESHIP!" I have no idea what he was talking about, but he was just too excited for me to explain otherwise. 

Also driving related. My mother started a game of putting your hands over your head when you drive under a bridge (Jackson calls them tunnels) and make a big deal about the fact that there are cars/a train driving over your head. Do you know how many bridges and overpasses we go under just on the way to my parents house-- like a million.  

Today in the car, Jackson informed me that he did not have wings. He has arms. Good to know buddy! And he also asked to have some "monster" and ketchup on his hot dog for lunch.  

The most funny things of all are his comments about his little boy parts. He says something about it almost daily. Let's just say he's very aware of it and that he likes to say aloud every observation about it. And I will just have to hope these comments are funny enough to remember because I don't particularly embarrass him completely as this blog will double as his scrapbook of childhood memories.  

And Jackson is all boy when it comes to bodily functions. He always has to announce when he toots and he has to say specifically, "I tooted from my bottom". Ha. 

He recently because the "classic older sibling". It didn't hit when Belle was first born, but now it's hardcore. He has asked for a bottle and even tried baby food. He has shown off his ability to roll over and smile whenever we fuss over Belle doing the same. But it's mainly just whenever family pays attention to Belle that he acts like that. If it's people at the store, park, or casual friends, whenever they come to look at her, Jackson gets all proud and says, "That's my baby. She's my sister! Isn't she cute!?" Precious.  

When I come of the stairs from doing laundry, Jackson stands at the top with his arms open wide and says, "I'll catch you up, Mommy!" 

He calls spider webs, "spiderman" and "spidermans" (or any bug in general) make him upset. "Get away from me Spiderman!" 

And lastly, yesterday I was sitting on the couch when Jackson came over and said, "I love you Mommy. How was your day?" Well, being that it was only 8:30am and it started out with that sweetness, I said I had a great day! Asking about your day is his new thing and he wants you to ask him the same thing in return and he'll say something like, "it was nice." 

Being two, he of course has his break downs and tantrums. Oh, and the never ending "Why?" and "What's that?" questions. But, he is so super fun, and cute and I'm really enjoying him. And because it's just so exciting, I just have to mention how wonderful it is that he is potty trained and no more diapers!!!

Takin' care of business...

This is the real reason that SUVs have room in the back, right?

(For the record, I used to scoff at the idea of toting a little potty around. Heck, I was even convinced I was going to potty train without having to use a little potty. They gross me out. BUT, as long as that potty is around, he won't have any accidents. We officially started with the potty middle of last week and he's only had one accident since then [easiest kid to potty train EVER] and it's been when the potty wasn't around. So it's worth toting, even if it is disgusting. But, I'm only going to do it through the next week.... But can I get a WOO HOO for no more diapers!???)

Just call him Ansel Adams

We have a budding photographer in our house. His appointments are booking fast, so if you'd like to hire him to capture some of your family photos this summer, you better call asap! There is a good chance, however, that all of your photos will end up looking a lot like this:

Because no matter how much we try to teach him to use the camera correctly, he simply insists on using it backwards and super-up-close.

I don't know how he stands the bright flash in his eyes over and over, but it doesn't stop him one bit. I ended up deleting over 35 images of his eye/nose/forehead! And I have to keep a q-tip handy for when I actually want to use the camera because he gets the lens oily and my pictures turn out foggy!

Even though you can't see his smile in the shots, he is definitely smiling because he say's "Cheese!!" with every photo he takes!

The family bed

After Derek left for training in July, I remember commenting that our king sized bed just felt so big and lonely sleeping in it by myself. When I was anticipating Derek coming home knowing I wouldn't have to sleep alone anymore, this isn't what I had in mind. Refer to Exhibit A. Our bed has become the family bed. And it's not something that Derek and I are all that thrilled about. In fact, if I could comfortably sleep in Jackson's little bed, I would sleep in his room. Truthfully, I'd probably have more room in his toddler bed than I currently have sharing our king sized bed!

Exhibit A

This is one of the different variations of how the bed sharing takes place. I cuddle Belle because the spoiled sweet little thing goes through phases of only sleeping when held. But on the rare occassion that she does allow me to put her down and give my arm a rest, I can put her in the corner of the pillows and go back to the middle to make sure she doesn't get rolled on or smothered with blankets or pillows. Then every night at varying times Jackson makes his way to our bed. And when we take him back to his bed, it's only a matter of time before he's back again. And of course,there are pillows on the other parts of both sides to prevent child-falling-off disasters. Since I generally have Belle, he goes to Daddy's side. Jackson sleeping style is as follows: on top of you or on top of pillow (as pictured above).

There are of course several variations of the sleep arrangement with special consideration to avoid having Jackson and Belle not sleeping next to each other because I'm fairly certain Belle wouldn't make it out alive.  There are times though when Jackson's on my side, in the middle, or just all over the bed actually. Derek woke up two mornings ago in what he called a kid sandwich. He was squished in between both of them and he couldn't get out until I moved one!

That leave Derek and I with about as much room as a twin bed would offer. There's room to lay straight and that's about it. Sooooo not comfy.

I came upon this comic in the interwebs this week. I totally laughed outloud. 

I went to my 6 week post-partum check up yesterday and she didn't happen to mention this form of birth control. I guess she didn't have to! And hey, this method doesn't even require a co-pay! Derek and I don't plans for another child anytime soon... and these kids must feel the same way!

(I do realize that we could insist on having no kids in our bed, but that involves battles that occur in the overnight hours. Once we can get Belle on fewer, or none, nighttime feedings we may have the energy to make her sleep in her bassinet. And also take Jackson back to his bed several times and deal with the screaming that ensues. But for now we will take the greater amounts of uncomfortable sleep than the lesser amount of comfortable sleep. Though, I will still complain.)

Apparently, Elmo has Asthma

I walked into Jackson's room today to find him holding up his inhaler (connected to the child-use contraption thingy) to Elmo and counting to five. When we have to use it on Jackson the rule is one puff and then count five breaths and then do it once more. He's got it down!

I would hate for Elmo to be wheezing and coughing on the food when Jackson is cooking me "Pizz-ie" and "b-ocli".

Two-year old tid-bits

Jackson is at such a super fun age. I feel as if I've said that at about every stage he's gone through...but it's just so fun to watch him grow!

First, he is talking non-stop. My mother pretty much laughed in my face when I told her that I really just needed a break from him telling me story after story one day. So, I guess I had it coming. It is so fun to have real conversations with him! After spending time with grandparents, he'll tell me what they did together. Or he'll bring up a movie or a book he's recently read.

His vocabulary is growing rapidly. And I am reminded of how much he picks up on all of the things I say and do!    Like, when I hear him in the back seat going "dang-it" over and over again. Oops! Not all of it's bad. Whenever he coughs he says, "gracious" (as in goodness gracious) or he'll come up to me and say "icky cough!" He is currently in the stage of saying, "Aaawww!" at lots of things, actually, but mostly at clothing items and pictures of babies, however, he did say it while looking through the Hy-Vee grocery ad today. Not sure what that was about, but apparently, he's heard a lot of "ohhing" and "ahhing" over baby girl stuff!

Speaking of baby girl, he calls her "baby sister". He does know her name, however he has no interest in even trying to repeat it back to me ever... and in the few times that he does, it sounds nothing like her name. Feel free to ask him. Today he picked out one of the pink blankets I had out, and proceeded to "make her bed" on the ottoman (I'm super excited to post about how I transformed by coffee table into an ottoman!).

Jackson has been going down for bedtime really well for several weeks. And for the past couple days, nap time has been super easy too! Oh, it's such a relief! I purchased room-darkening curtains from Wal-mart (I don't recommend then, they are totally not-room darkening... but my windows are very short, so if I double them, they do the trick). Really, it made all the difference in the world having those curtains, so he's not distracted by the toys!

Jackson loves to give hugs and kisses when people leave, often multiple times. And yesterday when I dropped him off at the nursery at morning church, I totally thought he was going to have a melt-down with me leaving by the way he was acting, not letting me leave... but it turned out he just wanted to kiss the bulletin I was holding in my hand. At night church, it was my purse. Weird.

He is convinced that we have a cactus growing in our front yard... somewhere underneath the 7 inches of snow that is covering our yard.

His current sentence structure sounds a lot like, "Where James is?" when asking for a friend at church. He still says, "up you/hold you/help you"- whatever he wants at the moment. And it is very, very important that you repeat back to him what he says to you or else he gets extremely frustrated and will shout it over and over until you do actually repeat it.

Then at bath time tonight, he was unusually gassy. As if he didn't already giggle enough when he toots, he figured out that tooting underwater makes bubbles. And apparently, that's really very funny.

Christmas Spirit

We've been getting into the Christmas spirit around here- music, decorations, "chrissy-lights". Jackson's pronunciation and interpretation of words and phrases has added much humor to the season this year!

Video Evidence #1: Santa vs. Satan
This is pretty funny. Though, it proved to be a little awkward at the Jazz Concert at church tonight when Jackson felt the need to point out the drummer in the Santa hat between songs, like when it's all quiet. It's not every day the church-goers get to hear "Satan!" shouted with quite so much enthusiasm.



Video Evidence #2
Didn't you get the memo? Christmas lights = poop.



This video really caught me off guard. He really had been going "oohh!" at the Christmas lights. But I can explain the connection. Last Tuesday night, we decided to drive around town to look at all the Christmas lights. Julie and I were "oooooh"-ing at the lights. Jackson interpretted this as "ewww". So he would look at lights and say "eww." Well, eventually that turned into "yuck". And then once more, it turned into "poop." Very interesting train of thought, but at least I was able to follow the thought process instead of completely dumbfounded about how the connection was made!

Video Evidence #3
Lastly, this is just a cute video of the chatterbox that Jackson has become lately. He is sharing with us all about the tree! Be sure to pay attention when he speaks or else he gets very frustrated.



And just to make things interesting, Jackson's new way of asking to be picked up is to walk up and say "Up You." He says this at home, church, the grocery store. It just adds to the Christmas Spirit, right?!

Satan, Poop, and Up You! Sounds like a Hallmark card in the making.