Choo Choo Jack Is Two

Jack turned two on March 8!  It was a Friday and had a low key day because we had a big party scheduled for the next day.  As we watched the weather on Friday night, we decided it would be best to reschedule his party.  The forecast was calling for 8-14 inches of snow and a blizzard warning during the time of his party.  I was SO disappointed but felt it was best that we try for a better weekend.  Luckily at this age I just didn't mention it again and he totally forgot about the party.  The amazing 10 inch Thomas the Train cake went to work with J on Monday :(.

The "blizzard" turned out to be a major dud and the snow didn't even sick to the pavement.  I was less than thrilled.

Birthday party take two was scheduled for March 23.  And guess what…..ANOTHER snow storm in the forecast.  Come hell or a foot of snow this party was going to happen!  I was not wasting another cake nor the homemade Thomas the Train coloring books so I decided to have the party.  Most people didn't make it but a few of my good girlfriends whom I've know since I was pregnant with Jack, the Kamis klan and the Voigts family braved the storm.  It turned out to be perfect and I'm so grateful to those came to celebrate.

I'm noticing a pattern in my motherhood…it's really important to me to celebrate the day of my child's birth.  As I was assembling the homemade Thomas the Train coloring books for Jack's "friends" I wondered why exactly am I doing this?!? For the second year in a row (granted only my second years as a parent) I was making a big deal of his birthday.  I scoured the internet for the perfect ideas.  It took me days to finally decide what his cake is going to look like (this year I opted to BUY the perfect cake).  I stressed and had crazy dreams about trains and my car being stolen and not being able to make it to his party (don't ask)!

(Jack and his "girlfriend" Sydney!)

 (At one point they went off into this area by themselves and just hung out together, so cute!)

(Grandma and all her grandkids.)

(Jack was not cooperating for a family photo.)

However, as I was trimming the border of Thomas who graced the cover of the glorious coloring books, I realized why…because this is the kind of mother I WANT to be to my son.  I want to make this day, he will never remember, special because he deserves to have homemade Thomas the Train coloring books and the perfect cake.  In the grand scheme of life, I am aware that I only get so many birthdays to celebrate with him and I want to make great memories of the ones I am able to be a part of.

So happy birthday, Jack!  In two short years you have rocked our world and at the end of every single day (whether the best of days or the worst) I am grateful to have you as my son.  Thank you for being you, buddy.  I love you!

Mama

(Mimi got Jack a battery operated ATV for his birthday and it was a big hit!)

"No! Why?!?"

Here are a few sample conversations I've been having with my two year old over the last few days (repeatedly):

Me- "Jack, please turn off your engine."
Jack- "No! Why?!"

Me- "Jack, we don't kick Stelly!  You need to apologize and give her a hug right now!"
Jack- "No! Why?!"

Me- "We do not throw things."
Jack- "No! Why?"

And he says it in this whiny voice…

(Oh and in the photo on the right, that is his pouty lip not his tongue.)

I knew that the "Why's" would start sooner or later but I was anticipating these really cute why questions like "Why is the sky blue?" or "Why is the elephants nose so long?"  Oh no no no how wrong I was!  Amazing how obstinate a toddler can be.

Also…whomever suggested that a nap can fix any mood is full of it!  The above picture outlines Jack's mood post nap.

However the tales of the "terrible two," spot on!

Ok, end of rant :)

Lindsey

B.V. 2 .0

I have really missed blogging.  Part of me has been feeling uninspired to write.  Another part of me sometimes feels like what I have to say is irrelevant.  But then I remembered WHY I started blogging…for myself.  So that I had these written memories of what is going on in our lives during an ever changing period.  And while I blabber on about random moments in my life, I hope that a few other people out there enjoy hearing about the occasional day in the life of me.

So what's new in our life….Well…We are expecting Baby V #2!!!

I am 10 weeks today (yay hopefully only 3 more weeks of feeling like crap!).  Now technically you shouldn't make the "official" public announcement until 13 weeks BUT I figure only about 9 people actually read this blog sooooo not that big of a deal!

Round 2 has been similar and yet so very different.  A lot of the symptoms I had with Jack have unfortunately reared their ugly heads again but other than that I feel so different.  It's taken a while for this one to sink in.  I figured after our first appointment at 8 weeks and getting to see the little bean, it would hit me…nope, life continues to march on and I have to remind myself that there is a baby in there!

I remember after I found out I was pregnant with Jack, I felt like a was this delicate flower that needed to be carefully tended to (HA).  I was anxiously reading the books (weeks in advance!), scouring the internet, planning a nursery, monitor all foods and products that came in contact with my body, overall stressing about every.little.thing.  This time around, eh, not so much.

The novelty is gone.  It's amazing, I've only done this once before but man do I feel like an old pro.  I'm cautiously waiting for something unexpected to throw a curveball at me just to get me to wake up.

So here we go again!  I'm REALLY going to try and not be a parent who documents every moment in the first child's life and the second only gets an honorable mention so back to blogging I go :)

Lindsey

(P.S. I have like 8 posts I've written the past in 3 months that I may be publishing so my timeline may be a bit out of order :))

Top 10 of 12

(During my blogging hiatus, I did some writing but just failed to publish anything…this would be one of those posts.)

I did this for 2010 and found that it was easy to reflect and be excited about the year gone by.  Last year around this time, I was not in the best place.  I had just welcomed my beautiful boy into the world in 2011 but I struggled to find an abundance of positive to write about.  In the ebb and flow of life, it was definitely an ebb year.

However, as we wrap up 2012, I find myself in better place and feeling very positive about the last 12 months.  So here it is, our top 10 memories of 2012 (in no particular order)!

1. Marriage- This is the thing I am most proud of in the year of 2012. Justin, we have come so far together and I want to thank you for growing with me and accepting the person I am today.  I love you. 

2. Nicole - My BFF of 25 years played a big role in my life this year.  Early in the summer she announced she is expecting her first child (YAY!).  In October, she a made a quick trip to Denver to surprise me for my birthday. And in December I went back to IL to be a co-host at her baby shower…a great honor.  My bestie is a beautiful person, inside and out, and I am thankful for all the years of friendship.

3. Kearney St- If you had told me a year ago we would be closing out 2012 in a new home I would have laughed.  But we did it and it feels great to be back in the city. I finally feel…at home.

4. Frequent Flier Miles- This was the year of travel!  Too bad you can't acquire frequent flier miles for a lap child because Jack flew 7 times this year (4 Illinois, 2 Florida, 1 Oregon)!  I'm sure next year when we have to start paying for his seat that number will be scaled way back.

5. Cruise/Diving- In March, we went on a cruise with my Mom and Gram.  While in Bonaire, J and I went scuba diving.  I was very timid to take this adventure but in the end I LOVED it and can't wait until we are able to go again.

6. Florida- We took our annual trip to Florida in October and my Dad was nice enough to join us for part of the trip.  I will always cherish the memory of watching my Dad and Jack play on the shore.

7. Moscow Mule (yum!)

8. Montessori School- Jack started "school" in August and I think it was the best thing we could have done for him.  He has found a place where he can start to learn to be himself, independant of me.  He is making friends (literally if you ask him about his friends at school he will say "Jude" and "Jack"!).  He is also doing great on potty training and cleaning up after himself.

9. Christmas Eve Dinner- Through the years, we have hosted several holiday meals but I have never been much help in the kitchen, the responsibility usually lands on J.  But not this year!  The Kamis family brought over a delicious and juicy turkey and the rest was up to me and in my opinion I nailed it.  But the most memorable part was having my Gram as my sous chef.  She was by my side through the whole thing and I think she even learned a few things ;) PS It was A LOT of work!

10. Being better at being me- I know it is fleeting.  I will constantly need to adjust to the changes in my life but for a short while it felt great having confidence in my self as a mother, wife and woman.

Lindsey

21 Months

(During my blogging hiatus, I did write but just failed to publish…this {obviously} would be one of those entries.)

Bubba is a little past 21 months.  So much has been happening lately that I needed to write just so that I can remember his accomplishments.

Every night this week I have incorporated going to the potty before he gets dressed for bed, each time he went.  Yesterday, he told me once during the day he needed to go and today three times!  I'm so proud of him. I don't expect him to be out of diapers anytime soon but in my eyes this is a major step.Thank you Montessori school for planting the seed =)

What else….

* The other day he got frustrated and hit me.  He immediately turned back around and said "Sorry" and gave me a big hug.
* I was putting him to bed and we were having our usual evening conversation.  He kept repeating a word and doing a sign that looked like "drink".  After a few moments, it clicked for me.  He was saying giraffe and doing the sign!  I think I was way more excited than he was.
* He is REALLY into trains.  It's really amazing how the love for trains, cars, airplanes, etc are almost ingrained in a little boy.
* When I see him next to J, I see so many similarities.  But I am beginning to notice more of my own traits in his personality.  When he eats, he requests a napkin because he doesn't like his hands dirty.  And he is very into cleaning (YAY!!!).  When I was vacuuming today, he immediately got his vacuum out and followed me all around the house vacuuming too.  And tonight, he got an early Christmas present full of books.  When he was done with them he put them all back in the box they came in and pushed the box of to the side.  I, personally, absolutely love that he knows his things have a certain place and when he's done he knows that his toys need to go back.
* When it's time to leave the house, he goes to his cubby to get his hat and then he will bring our shoes to us!
* His ability to use Apple products ASTOUNDS me.
* When he gets upset and doesn't want to be bothered, he will give you this disgusted look and say "Bye Bye!!!" as if to dismiss you!

I'm really looking forward to Christmas with a toddler!!!

Lindsey