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.