Fun Date with Jay

On Saturday, June 25, we dropped David off at Aunt Molly's house while Matt and I took Jay for a fun outing - to see Cars 2 in the theatre! It was Jay's first movie experience. Can you tell from the picture above what Jay thought about the whole experience?!? Yes, it was a hit with our three year old car-loving, race-loving boy.

We arrived early at the theatre. While I stayed at our seats inside the theatre Matt and Jay enjoyed a race car arcade game in the lobby. Then Jay watched the movie with us. He did great! He stayed seated, only getting up to get his wiggles out one time for about 10 min. three-quarters of the way through the movie. He sat back down and even stayed seated through the end of the movie credits!

Outside the movie theatre was a water fountain. He asked my permission and I said "yes" allowing him to touch the water spray. He loved it!



Since we saw the 11:15 matinee showing, we were all hungry for lunch after the movie so we went through the drive-through at the nearby McDonald's (Jay loves their fries - who doesn't?). After getting the food he told us he wanted to go pick up David. (Which was our plan too - love it when our "plans" match!)

It was a fun day spent focused on our little boy who is growing up!

3 and 1 year old Well-Check Stats

These darling boys of mine had their well-check appointments this morning at the pediatrician's office. I am very happy and thankful to report that I have two healthy and active boys! Whoo hoo!

Jay:

• Weighs 30 lbs. (25th to 50th percentile)


• Is 38-1/2" tall (75th to 90th percentile)


• He says, "No" more than we'd like, but he also is saying "Okay Mommy" or "Okay Daddy" more frequently which is music to our parental ears.


• He adores cars and trucks (Lightning McQueen, Mater from Disney Cars, Hot Wheel or Matchbox cars and trucks, Tonka trucks, construction vehicles, he can correctly identify specific make and models of cars, and gets excited seeing buses, semi-trucks, delivery vans, etc. when we're out and about running errands).


• A stranger can understand half or a little more of what he says now.


• When a meal is offered or when naptime/bedtime is quickly approaching, if he is engrossed with his play and doesn't want to stop he'll say, "I'm busy workin' Mommy." It's very charming and funny, but it hasn't really worked for him. Well, to be completely honest, it may have spared him a few extra minutes of playtime, actually.


• He is still in diapers full-time, but he has been very successful at going pee in his potty when asked or reminded to use his potty. When he is successful, he gets a sticker on the sticker paper and a small treat (one pez candy from the Thomas the Train Engine pez dispenser). The model car on the back of the (adult) toilet is still good motivation for him to go poo in the potty. My goal is to have him potty-trained/in big boy underwear in the next 6 months. We'll see if I meet my goal.


• He can wash and dry his hands and brushes his teeth with just a little help.


• He is repeating/parroting much of Matt's and my words. Some words are pronounced clearly and correctly. Other words, not so much. ("tank ooo" is "thank you" for example)


• Will spontaneous break out in song many days. "He's Got the Whole World," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," "Jesus Loves Me," "The B-I-B-L-E," "I'm in the Lord's Army," and the ever popular "Old McDonald" and "Wheels on the Bus" songs are often heard coming out of his mouth in the recognizable tune. He continues to learn and soak up new songs every day.


• "Helps" me in the kitchen by mixing, pouring in measured ingredients, and tasting batters; helps me put dirty clothes in the washer and helps me transfer clean wet clothes from the washer to the dryer; LOVES to help me dust; and "helps" me vacuum.


• He can count to 10 and is almost successful at counting to 20; can correctly say/list off portions of the alphabet.


• Enjoys choosing books for us to read to him. He was given a "Tag Jr" reader as a gift for his birthday and enjoys exploring the Tag Jr books on his own several times a week.


• His imagination is beginning to blossom. Recent activities include reading imaginary books to him and "digging for (imaginary) treasure" under "X marks the spot."


• Sleeps in a "big boy bed" - typically 9 uninterrupted hours at night and a 1-1/2 to 2 hour afternoon nap every day.


• TOLERATES bath time. He has been battling getting into the bathtub, but once he gets in and I finish washing his hair, etc., he has fun playing in the water and with his tub toys.


• His second toe overlaps/lays on top of his third toe. Someone in the family has toes that match/do the same. Perhaps PopPop's toes? Matt's ALMOST do it.


• Jay eats cereal (Cheerios or Life), french toast, pancakes, waffles, cheese (colby jack, cheddar, mozzarella), water, apple juice, milk, hot chocolate, pizza (only cheese pizza, that is), pb&j and grilled cheese sandwiches, cornbread, pretzels, chips, apples, grapes, pears, peaches, bananas and the very occasional rare baby carrot. Veer too far outside of these foods and you'll get a quick and resounding "no" - he won't try it, won't let it get near his food tray, etc.

David:

• Weighs 19.15 lbs (10th to 25th percentile)


• Is 30" tall (50th to 75th percentile)


• Head circumference: 18-3/4 (75th to 90th percentile)

(To compare David's stats to Jay at this age, click http://mattmindycountingourblessings.blogspot.com/2009/06/12-month-well-check.html)

• Walks everywhere - it is rare to see him crawling (he started walking at 10-1/2 mo.)


• Says "Mama," "Dada" and his recent word is "Uh oh"


• Sometimes responds to "no"


• Indicates his wants by pointing (and sometimes verbally yelling for it, too)


• Hands a toy or object to Matt and me and will take it back over


• Loves to strew things about - pots and pans, tupperware containers and lids, toys, cars and trucks, whatever he can find to empty out of a cupboard or drawer, really. I am constantly picking up/reorganizing/returning items to their original spot.


• Enjoys playing spontaneous games of "peek-a-boo" with blankets and towels.


• Loves it when we sing songs


• Will clap when he's happy or when other people are clapping


• Enjoys looking through books (his attention span is still very short though)


• He is a TERRIFIC eater!! And eats almost all day long! When eating a meal, we'll feed him for 30 to 45 min (constantly). Sometimes he'll eat for 15 min. and want to get down for a break, but we've learned he'll be back 5 or 15 min. later for MORE FOOD!! 'Tis a challenge to fill his hollow legs at times. The pediatrician recommended I try and up his protein seeing how active he is and hearing how much food he needs/consumes throughout the day and night.


• I'm weaning him (he only nurses 2 or 3 times in 24 hours). I have recently started giving him whole milk to drink, but so far he isn't a big fan. He'll drink it, but he'd rather drink his water. I think it is just a matter of him getting used to the taste of whole milk.


• Continues to LOVE bath time.


• Sleeps from 8 pm to 4 a.m.; nurses around 4 a.m., then goes back to sleep until 5:30 or 6 a.m.


• On two-nap days I'll allow him to sleep 45 min. in the morning; on both two-nap and single afternoon nap days he'll sleep from 1:00/1:30 to 3:30/4:00 (a 1-1/2 to 2 hour afternoon nap).


• I'm weaning him down to taking just one nap a day (to try and get him to sleep longer at night). We'll do one nap several days in a row, then he'll need a two-nap day.


• David received three vaccinations at his 1 year well-check appointment - 1 shot in each arm and 1 in his thigh. (Received his MMR, chicken pox, and HepA vaccines.) He's a tough guy - he barely cried even though he was pricked three times!! The nurse was surprised and impressed. I was too.


• David ADORES Jay and likes to "play" with him. Jay, however, isn't a big fan. Especially when David comes over and picks up/messes up his perfectly aligned matchbox/hot wheels cars.


• Screeches, yells, and expresses his frustration or displeasure when something is taken from him that he wanted, or when he really wants to "do" something he isn't supposed to do. He'll also sound that "alarm" when he is hungry and the food isn't coming fast enough.


• If not watchful or careful, he'll be "in" to doing things you don't appreciate - like unrolling the toilet paper/aluminum foil roll, taking all the sandwich bags out of the neatly packed box, taking things out of the garbage cans, taking dirty utensils and dishes out of the dishwasher, or playing in the toilet bowl water if the lid isn't down, etc.

Life is full and busy around this household every day. I must confess, though. I love sleep and I sure miss it when I don't get enough of it. My Mommy confession is this: you'll often find me taking a 1-1/2 to 2 hour afternoon nap right along with the boys most days. I like to think it keeps me healthy, sane, and (hopefully) the afternoon nap makes me a better Mom/Wife/Sister/Daughter. If not the latter roles, I KNOW the naps make me a better Mom.

We survived the first year as a family of FOUR!! Hooray! We did it! That, in and of itself, is reason to celebrate.

Jay and David's Birthdays

As you know from the previous posts, Jay turned 3 on June 2. I wanted to celebrate his birthday a little bit here at home (starting a tradition of doing a little something celebratory on the actual "day"). I let him choose a cake mix (devil's food or yellow - he chose devil's food - a chocolate lover just like his Mom) and he helped me make them (by licking the batter off the beaters, of course!).

Here is a photo of him (yes, a very excited boy!) with his birthday cupcake and three lit candles followed by a little video clip of him blowing out the candles.

On David's birthday (today), we did the same thing. I took a frosted cupcake, lit the "1" candle (that Matt blew out for him) and let him "have at" the cake. He, however, is NOT a chocolate lover like his brother and me. He didn't want to taste it, but he sure had fun touching the frosting and cake and smearing it all over his hands and food tray. When he started clapping and therefore flinging the frosting and cake around off of his tray, I called it quits. There is only so much mess I'm willing to deal with. (We have carpet in our dining room.)

Since he had his hands completely covered in frosting and cake, I spontaneously grabbed a piece of paper and had him make a chocolate cake and frosting handprint for posterity sake. It is currently displayed on my kitchen refrigerator.

Opening Birthday Gifts

After the birthday party at the park, the boys needed to lay down for their afternoon naps. After taking a short nap (only 1 hour that day) they woke up excited to explore the gifts that were given and to open a few more gifts from family.

Below Jay is studying the stickers that were to be affixed to his new Hot Wheels Roadway.

Below David is "helping" Jay put together his new roadway.

While Jay was focused on his new toys, David opened his birthday gifts.

These are the clothes David received from Grandma Amy,

the new books from Uncle Scott and Aunt Mandy,

and the huge box for both David and Jay from Uncle Mike, Aunt Shawn, Alex and Josh.

Below David is opening his gift from Nana Carol and PopPop Jim.

New Duplo Legos!!

Matt and I enjoyed a night out (Matt went to the U2 concert while I attended a farewell BBQ for friends of ours from church). Before I left I offered Jay food for dinner. He was busy playing with his new toys and he quickly answered me, "No (food) Mom. I'm busy workin'!"

Grandma Amy babysat that evening and when I returned home, this is what I found...

They were both in Grandma's lap enjoying one of the new toys Jay received for his birthday. David was finishing off his bottle of breastmilk before being put to bed and both boys were as happy as they could be. It truly melted my heart. It was a great ending to a wonderful day.

Video Clips from June 4 Party

Birthday Party

On Saturday, June 4th, we packed up the car and headed to Kelsey Creek Farm Park to celebrate our boys' birthdays with family and friends. The Lord blessed us with an incredibly beautiful day. It was sunny and the high was the mid-70s with just a slight breeze. It really couldn't have been a better day. Thank you, Lord, for that unexpected blessing!

The invitation

Themed paper plates

The food! (Yum!) Oink! Baa! Moo! and a chicken, too! Barn cake and silo Farm Fresh Apple Juice and Chocolate Milk

Birthday Boy Jay playing with his John Deere toy tractor

Birthday Boy David eating his lunch

David checking out the barnyard/farm themed books on the picnic blanket

Gwen and Jay enjoying their apple juice

(Me,) Elianna and Megan

Katie and Elissa

Grandma Amy (feeding David)

BBQ'er Matt

Gwen, Sarah, and Jay

David - walking around (since 10-1/2 mo.)

Sweet, beautiful Elissa (born 1 week after David)

PopPop Jim and Bernie

Greg, Long, and Matt

Nana Carol and PopPop Jim with David

Greeting Mark, Suzanne, and baby Peter

Family Photo - Anastacia, Greg, kids Sarah and Benjamin

Nathan and Elissa

Aunt Molly and David

Bernie, Betty, Shannon, and Kelly

David, me, and Nana Carol

Audrey (two weeks older than Jay)

Attempting to light the candles (with a breeze)

Jay blowing his candles while I was lighting them

Once the candles were lit, then Jay didn't want to blow them out! Ha!

Jay chose to have a slice of the devil's food barn cake

Family Photo - Kelly, Liam (with cupcake), and Shannon

Benjamin and David playing together

Gift Opening Time!

To the barns to see the farm animals

and we saw horses, goats, and chickens, too.

Family Photo - Katie, Nathan, daughters Audrey and Elissa

Spontaneous Hug - Jay and Sarah

Favor Bags

Inside: Bubbles, memo pad, crayons, farm animal eraser, small stuffed farm animal

Happy Birthday Jay (June 2)!

Happy Birthday David (June 12)!

WE LOVE YOU!!!