He's Gonna be a BIG boy...

I was talking to Jaime the other day and relieved to know Jake and Jack have the same shoe size. Jake has HUGE feet and hands for his age. (Jack is Jake's cousin who is 3 months younger than Jake.) And like Jake, Jack's Dad is tall. Both Jake and Jack range somewhere in the 80th/90th percentile for height and weight. Except I believe Jack is about 10% leaner than Jake. Where they are both tall, Jake is the bulky one and Jack is the lean one.

Then I was talking to Jessie the day after and learned Jake's feet are the same size as Ella's. Ella is Jake's cousin who is 18 months older than Jake. And I won't be surprised if on our next visit they are close to the same height. Jake grows out of his wardrobe about every 6 months. Which totally feeds my shopping bug. I ALWAYS have an excuse for retail therapy.

He can almost stand at the kitchen /bathroom sink without a stool and wash his hands.

In the image above - he has already grown out of that onesie AND he doesn't have to tip toe to reach the top of the counter.

Slacker Mom - Singing Child

Slacker Mom to Catch Up Family on nearly 4 months of 2008 News.
Yowza! I know there isn't much I can use an excuse for not keeping my blog up to date.

Just at the end of a long day - the last thing I want to do is power up the ol' laptop...
Jake is growing in leaps and bounds. He is 2 1/2 going on 22. He can talk fairly well for his age and he's super tall. Many people think he's 3 1/2 rather than 2 1/2.

He is still fascinated with the washing machine and calls it the washa-mine. He is also fascinated with volcanoes (from little Einstein's) and calls them O-canos. Have I mentioned he sings? All the time. Especially at dinner. Seems I cannot get him to eat his dinner - he'd rather serenade everyone. What are his favorite songs to sing... you are wondering?

Thanks to Grandpa he knows the first two verses of the hymns, "High On A Mountain Top" and "How Firm A Foundation". He also likes, "Redeemer of Israel", "Come, Come Ye Saints" and "Ye Elders of Israel" which round out his repertoire. Nina is now teaching him, "Spirit of God".

I have tried to capture him singing on camera and tape it. His singing is so pure and innocent yet filled with gusto. But as soon as the camera starts rolling - he switches to his silly monster voice which sounds like Red Foxx from Sanford and Sons. (How does he know I am taping?) Still he figures it out.

I have included a video of him "composing" an original piece on the "panano" (piano)

He reminds me of Jared when we use to live in the Summit house.

Holiday in Heber

This December we rented a cabin in the mountains near Heber, UT. Not only was it Christmas but it was Mom's 60th birthday and Shay's commission into the Air Force. Our cabin was about 10 miles east of Park City. We actually got snowed in and 3 ft of snow dropped on the 24 inch base and snowed us into our cabin.

To me the highlight, (after being all together of course) was the sledding hill Shay, Ilene and I carefully groomed for all of us to slide down. And as you can see... even Jake went down.

Homemade Haircut

What I meant to do was only buzz the back of Jake's hair with the buzzers and then leave the top long... I had successfully buzzed the back of his hair before. And I thought I could duplicate the hair cut again.

We've all had homemade hair cuts from our parents that made us cringe. I didn't think I'd be on the giving end of a bad hair cut so early in my parenting career...

But he turned his head - or I slipped with the buzzer and next thing I know... his hair is all gone.

As clumps of dark brown hair were falling all around Jake's shoulder and lap - he kept exclaiming in a worried tone, "Wha happen?" I continued to reassure him it was all okay.

I have been tempted to buzz Jake's hair for awhile but hesitated because his hair is so fine and it took so long to come in. And my mom (grandma) was positively against me buzzing his hair. Boy is she in for a surprise tomorrow morning... I expect to receive a stern phone call when I am at work.

But with a little pomade... he looks less like a plurb and more like a little boy...

Santa? You sound familiar...

This Saturday Dad-Jeff (Grandpa) dressed up as Santa for the kids in the neighborhood. So Jacob and I headed over to Cottage Lake Beach Club to meet Santa. I thought Jake might recognize Grandpa's voice but he didn't. Grandpa said at one time, Jake looked at him a little closely. But we made sure Jake didn't see "Santa" enter or leave the house on Grandpa's way to and from the event. And in the end, all potential questions were dismissed when Jacob accepted a mini-candy cane from Santa. That was certainly the high point of the whole evening for Jake.

Jake gets a package

This video is for Grandpa Meyer & Grandma Sherry. Jake got a package in the mail from them and I was trying to video Jake opening a present with one hand while trying to help him open the package with another hand.

Jake turns TWO

We had two small family parties for Jake's second birthday.

Grandma was in Manhattan with Aunt Jaime (who just has twins) for 6 weeks so we had one small party Sunday night on 11/9/2008 with Jake, Grandpa and me. The included video is Grandpa and me singing happy birthday to Jake. He stuck his finger in the flame of the candles. I didn't expect Jake to do that - and next time will have a little pep talk to explain not to put our fingers in "the hot".

Oh, by the way, in the video - Jake has a screw driver in his hand covered in painters tape.
This item must be in his hands when not sleeping or taking a bath at all times...

Boats or Girls?

In a few very short years - Jake will start to realize girls can be just as cool as sitting in a play boat. But in the meantime, Jake is smiling that he is allowed to play in a boat on his daycare field trip to the pumpkin patch. And at the time of this snap - he was oblivious that there was another person in the boat - let alone a... GIRL!

Haircuts & Halloween

The end of October, I took Jake to get his first real haircut. I had tried to trim his hair a couple of times. "Tried" being the key phrase. Each time I trimmed his hair it turned out looking like an obvious home-made haircut. So I decided to have his "edges trimmed". My little guy still doesn't have very much hair and I just wanted to trim the wispy edges that are getting longer. Because I haven't had great success in persuading Jake to hold still while I am cutting his hair, I decided to take him to a children's salon that has chairs geared towards children. Jake got to sit in a chair shaped as a jet; which was right up his alley. He was an angel and held perfectly still while also watching Thomas the Train Engine. I couldn't believe this was the same kid...

That night, we went to a Halloween party. Last year, Jake was an adorable penguin. This year, I wanted to find a costume that was just a cute. I ended up settling on a Prince costume. I tried to spike Jake's hair a little - but his hair is so fine the style wouldn't hold.

All Boy

My little man. He is ALL boy. If it's loud, roudy, and active - my little guy is all over that activity. He loves tools and trucks. I am amazed that no one taught him how to be a boy - he just IS.

He is very charming. We have started to morph into the terrible twos and times outs have become a reality. He definitely has an opinion and is not afraid to tell me all about disagreement my parenting decisions.

But at the end of the day we kiss and make up. I still marvel when he's asleep like in these pictures at this little person, with his darling body and how much personality he has. I am very blessed to have him in my life and I often feel like he is my teacher and I am the stubborn student.

Uncles!

My apologies I am between 6-8 weeks behind on blogging. I have been busy working 11-13 hours days, being a full time Mom, going to school and doing a re-model.

Jake has been thriving and charming us all. He has mastered jumping with both feet, climbing up and down the bed. Doing laundry. (Not kidding - he loves to take clothes in and out of the washer and dryer.) He has a cute sense of humor. He loves to sing. And he has been talking up a storm.

His 24 month check up last week showed he's in the 80th percentile for weight and height. He's 35 inches and 31 pounds.

He has also started talking in more and more phrases rather than just single words. Lately he has been telling me things like, "Mommy this is a shirt, Mommy this is a bed, Mommy this is the dryer."

Remarkably he's not a great eater. And mealtimes seem like more songs and dance to get the kid to eat. And I am lucky if I can persuade him to have 2 bites of anything green at any given meal. I have resigned myself that 2 bites of anything green is good enough.

This summer Uncle Shay and Uncle Jason came to visit about 2 weeks apart. Jake enjoyed both their visits and had some male bonding with both of them. Chasing, wrestling, a good time was to be had by all. I am grateful for brothers who are willing to be positive role models and friends to my little Jake.

New Jake Vernacular

Jake is beginning to talk up a storm! Generally, he's a pretty sweet toddler.
We have the occassional upset when he's over tired and the occassional power struggle as he begins to assert his own opinion.

Here is some of his new vocabulary

Moff (meaning 'come off')
Mon (meaning 'come on') As in, Mon Mama upstairs.
Saner - sandwich
Shu-shu - Tissue
Don tair - down stairs
Uh tair - upstairs
Gank - Blanket
Guck - Truck
Gink - Drink
Mook - Milk
Ni - Lid

I have included a video of Jake in the tub - I am trying to get him to sing the ABC's.

Reagan's First Steps

Today at GG's (aka Grandma Fereday's house) Reagan took her first steps.
And I was LUCKY enough to catch it all on video.

Just prior to the video Shay & Elisabeth took Reagan out in the yard and she surprised them both by free standing for them. After she stood on her own - I happened to turn on the camera to film Shay giving her hugs.

You will hear all of us cheering when we realized she was taking her first steps.
On her second attempt - I think our cheering actually distracted her
And on her third attempt - she grabs Jake's shirt for stability.

And Jake was SO cute - He wanted to sit with Uncle Shay and help cheer Reagan on.
He was also very cute in joining in on cheering her on - and was very sweet to give her hugs.
Even though - once or twice he knocked her down.

Enjoy the video!

Love, Jodi & Jake

COUSINS

Jake has a whole passel of cousins

(and two more are due in October)

Jonas 1 (Jared's youngest) & Reagan 10 months (Shay's daughter) - are very close to being mobile. Jonas is working on walking and Reagan has recently discovered the joy of crawling. And in no time, they will be romping around with their other cousins.

Ella is 3 - she and Jake often enjoy chasing one another, riding her trike and jumping on beds. (Ella is obviously better at dressing and undressing.)

I am having a great time watching all the kids interact and grow together.

Mr Fix It

Jake LOVE tools. He loves Grandpa's tools, especially screw drivers.

So much so that Grandpa got Jake a set of plastic tools from Toys R Us.

Anytime, Grandpa has any kind of project that requires repair, yard work or installation Jake is all over that situation.

Jake is blossoming. He has such a cute personality. He is charismatic, strong-willed and very funny (cute sense of humor). Downside - he is a screamer. He screams almost everything throughout the house and in the yard. I worry the neighbors always know when the obnoxious neighbor kid is outside. And some days I can tell Mom gets really worn down by the noise. I am trying to gently encourage him to use his "gentle" voice or his "soft" voice. He will scream stuff like, "Uh-oh, Mama the door is open!" as if it's a crisis. (Maybe it's because he has only recently figured out how to articulate the occurences he see around him?)

Today we went to the beach for the first time and spent 3 hours playing in the water and sand. Jake loved it. We both had a great time playing in the sun today. He is talking up a storm and pretty much mimics everything we say.

Some of his new (brillant) words include:

Denna = Music
Shide = Outside
Feener = Finger
Happy
Tigo = Tickle
Dwy, Dwy = Dryer
Sha de doe = Shut the door
Hug
Wat-ter = Water
Wock = Rock
Shun = Sun
Weenoh = Window
Mopen = Open or Broken (depending on the context mopen is used)

Uncle Jason Gets Married

A little over a month ago Jake and I traveled to Utah to see Uncle Jason get married.

While the wedding was idyllic the trip to Utah was not. Unless you count the scenario where you are trapped on a full flight and your child screams the entire time. (Not just 10 minutes, not just 45 minutes, but the ENTIRE 90 minutes.) Yes, that was MY trip. In retrospect I have come to a few conclusions. First and foremost, NEVER book a trip during naptime. It may seem like a good idea at the time when you are booking the reservation. I had good intensions that Jake would nap on the flight - but should of realized he would be too excited about being in public, being in a new situation to be able to settle down. NEVER book a window seat. Book an aisle seat so you can get up and walk up and down the plane OFTEN. DO bring new toys that have never been seen before. DON'T bring cheap new toys that only hold 5 minutes or less of interest. DO bring favorite familiar story books OR new never-before-seen story books. AND lastly, I would have brought chewing gum to ease any inner-ear pain I was too obtuse to pick up on.

I have enclosed a picture of Jason and his new bride, Marin.

I have also included a picture of Jacob with Granpa Meyer and Grandma Sherry. And his cousins R-L Jack, Jacob, Ella & Jonas. Jacob was the first one crying and influence all his cousins to cry. Yep, my kid is the ring leader...

It's Official

It's official. Jacob's legal name has been changed to "Jacob Theodore Daniel Meyer" as of Friday, May 31st. A long name I know... but if I am only to have one child; I wanted to fit it all in.
Beside the name has a cadence that just sounds... right, to me. His name sings in my ears... and my heart.

It only cost two trips the the district court house on my lunch break - including 2 minutes in front of the judge, a sound argument and $100.

I didn't want Jake to ask me why his middle name was Leoncio for a grandfather that didn't have any relative significance in his life any longer. And I wanted to de-hyphenate his last name from Meyer-Robson to just Meyer.

His basic name, Jake Meyer remains the same. I felt really strongly the last 2 months of my pregnancy that Jacob's middle name should be "Theodore" after my dad. Stephen Theodore.

I also think Jacob T. Meyer sounds somewhat distinguished should he decide to be a laywer or a doctor.

If he decides to be a musician however, he may have to come up with a creative diminuitive of the long name I have given him... "Theo" perhaps? He will have to decide. I will leave that up to him...

In the meantime, I find myself trying to divise ways to manage his willfulness. He has enthusiasm and passion just like his mama. And he does not hesitate to allow his passion to show - particularly when I won't let him have something he really, really wants.

It's the age and stage - I know. I just find myself teetering between being too strict or too lenient when his tantrums arise. And I am waffling on a consistent plan of action when his voices finds wind. And let me tell you - this kid has a diaphram and can make some noise. He is also a very sweet boy. Who loves his mama, nina & pompa. He's really discovering his interests and finding his OWN voice and becomes vexed when I come between him and his desire...

plantive and the road is just beginning...

End of May

This month just flew by... I have been busy concentrating on getting settled at the new job.
Jacob is thriving - his new obsessions include playing outside in the yard every time the weather permits. (which is not often - been a cold, grey, rainy spring) And he has mastered going up and down the stairs standing up - which he is very proud of I may add.

Jake often becomes obsessed with small items that fit in the palm of his hand and he will carry them around everywhere for a few days at a time and then he's onto the next item. For example a little plastic film case, my sample size mascara tube, a lid from a propel bottle, my wireless mouse, and the gold string from my mother's day chocolates. He will even take them to bed. I find this habit charming - sometimes I find the items in vexing locations. For example, in a random bathroom drawer or bookshelf etc.

Here are the highlights of April & May

Mid-April cousin Jack visited. Jake had a little trouble sharing toys AND grandma and grandpa. He kept saying, "No!" emphatically to poor Jack. Towards the end of the visit the boys got along well and Jake even showed Jack the best drawers for emptying. Including grandma's towel drawer in the kitchen with all the napkin rings (another Jacob favorite) and mom's makeup drawer. (Thank goodness at the time he still had not figured how to unscrew various make up tubes.)

First weekend in May - went on annual Bainbridge Island camp out. Had a wonderful time! Jake really enjoyed the outdoors and camping even though it rained everyday except the last day.

Mother's Day - Grandpa made breakfast, and dinner. Mom and I scrapbooked most of the day...
And Jake got me some Sees candy. (Thanks Grandpa...)

Weekend before Memorial Day - had a family dinner with Aunt Kelli & Uncle Michael Sattler (mom's youngest sister). Michael on much pain medication but on the mend. Doctors didn't think he would live after being in the ICU for 8 days. Ol' guy is as tough as ever despite two broken feet, broken hand, broken clavicle, dislocated shoulder, a few broken ribs and punctured lungs.
We are all grateful he's still with us.

Memorial Day weekend - went to visit Jared & Jessie in Oregon. Jake & Ella had a wonderful time chasing each other. And Jake was captivated by Ella's tricycle. We even convinced Ella to give Jake a ride. There were a few tussles involving taking toys from each other. And lil' Jonas was recovering from a fever all but the last day. And the noise 3 children can make! They love joyfully screaming at each other - especially during mealtimes. I will be glad when this phase of development passes.

Jared was busy installing a sprinkler system in his front yard, and I helped Jessie build a rock wall for a flower garden in the back. While the kids were napping. Grrl power!

Hope all is well with each one of you!
Love, Jodi & Jacob T

"Deekub"

Last night Jacob was "extra" fussy at bedtime. I have found if I go in and spend a few minutes visiting with him, talking, playing a little silly game after our bedtime routine (bath, bottle, story, bed) that - he will settle down fairly quickly.

Last night he was chattering, "Deekub, deekub, deekub" which I realized meant Jacob. He was singing his own name to himself. Then I asked him to say, "Jodi". And he said, "Doey".

Sidebar: Normally Jake doesn't call me Jodi but earlier that night Mom was calling something to me from the kitchen and I was folding laundry in the family room. Jake who was in the kitchen with Grandma would scurry to the top of the entry way stairs and yell, "Doey?" And then a string of gibberish - almost as if he was Grandma's self appointed messenger. Whatever it was Mom wanted me to be doing - Jacob wanted to be sure I got the message.

Flash forward to Jake and I talking before bedtime. So them I asked Jake to name the following family members.

Mommy - Mama
Grandma - Nina
Grandpa - Pampa
Cousin Jack - Gak
Aunt Jaime - Nini

Then I asked him what the following animals said:

Cow - Moo
Doggie - wof, wof (his version of ruf, ruf)
Kitty - Eow (his version of meow)
Piggie - Ngk, ngk (his version of oink, oink)
Froggie - Rrrrr (his version of ribit)
I have tried to add Horse, Bird, Mouse & Sheep - but he doesn't seem as captivated by their noises.

Last Sunday we had Sheppard, Jake's half sibling over for lunch - He is 2 months older than Jake and just as cute as a button. I feel it will be nice for Jake to be friends with someone who is from a family like his but they are also related. My hope is for the boys to be friends the way I hope Jake is friends with his many cousins.

Jaime & Jack are visiting this week so I hope to have some great pictures and stories from their visit. I can say after Jack's arrival today - Jake followed him around the house saying, "No!" I thought Jake would be saying no over the toys - but Jake was more jealous about sharing Pompa, Nina & Mama.