Toddler Bed

It was a bittersweet afternoon as Neal, Jake and I took down the crib and set up Jake's toddler bed just a couple of days ago.  A couple of months ago Jake escaped his crib landing with a loud thump.  Following the advice of my friends I removed his bumper pads buying us a little more time before the transition was a must.  So,   just two months and two days shy of Jake's second birthday we have been forced to make the switch.  Jake climbed out three times in a row right infront of us and it was obvious this could land us in the ER in no time.

It has been a surprisingly easy experience and a NOT so surprisingly hysterical experience.  We put a gate up at Jake's door with the plan to leave his bedroom door open to allow some light into the room.  (We had to remove his nightlight because he thought it was a toy.)  So, on the first night in his new bed I put myself in some cozy jammies and jumped in with him.  I had it set in my mind that I was likely to fall asleep with him and leave later in the night.  However, while snuggled up in the bed I needed to "go potty".  So, I explained to Jake I was "going potty" and would be right back.  He followed me out of the bed and watched as I made sure to lock the gate at his door behind me.  But, as I disappeared to the bathroom I quickly heard a mummer of some kind (a sound of frustration and baby swear words that I'm sure were directed at me) followed by a loud slam of his bedroom door.  Seconds later I stood outside his room and heard moments of shuffling and then silence.  Jake had gone to bed...

And so, this is how it continued at nap the following day and bedtime the next night.  (The second night the door slammed in my face as I said "Goodnight, I love youuu...")  

I suppose that as long as I get some snuggle time and story time with my baby before bed I'll take a slammed door in my face as I say goodnight for the sake of a little down time with my husband before we too put ourselves to bed.

So Proud of His New Bed

Flashback

I came across this picture while looking at some photos this morning.  This was taken around this time last year.  Oh how my sweet boy has grown!

Jake,
I cannot even find the words to tell you how much I love you.  You brighten my days just by being you! Everything you do is more precious than the moment before.  Your personality blossoms more and more every day.  I love watching you grow and learn.  I am so proud to be your mom!  You are such a blessing!  I love you!


Love, 
Mama

I'm Big & Strong (Slightly Behind)

Jacob's Budroe (Neal's dad) has told Jake he was big and strong forever.   Now Jake makes a big motion when we tell him that.  It seems this toddler is REALLY a big and strong fella.  Today (at 19 months) we had his wellness visit.  Here are Jake's stats...

Height 33.5 inches - Above average!

Weight 25lbs 20 oz - Averaging out - our round baby is slimming out. :)

Makeup Mimic

I remember the first time I saw my mom put on makeup.  I was a child and I remember dramatically telling her not to put that stuff on because she didn't look like my mom.  I am not sure if it was her everyday makeup or a new sampling, but that is how I remember it.

I remember the first time my dad saw me with makeup on, "does your mom know you're wearing that stuff" he asked? haha!

I remember when Jake was just a little baby and I'd sit up, legs stretched out with him sitting with me as we both faced the tv.  I'd set my makeup bag infront of him and put on my makeup while he marveled at the shiny blush brush and eyelash curler.

As Jake got bigger he'd play with each item in my bag.  As the months went on his interest changed to wanting to take out each thing - eyeshadow, blush, etc. and then put them back in the bag.

Just a few months ago I was putting on my coverup.  As odd as it may be, I dot it all over my face and then rub it in.  As I covered my face with "dots" Jake looked up at me and said "hi" as though making sure mama is still there.  It was so funny and he still does that every time he sees me put on makeup...says "hi"!

Just the other day I dumped the items out of my makeup bag and Jake picked up each piece one by one putting it up to his eye and holding it there a few seconds.  I guess I have curled my eyelashes more than enough infront of him.

I love those funny little things he does to mimic us.  I love that he watches me and imitates me.  I love that these simple moments are such big memories for me.  I don't so much love that they involve my makeup bag and it's occupants.  :)

Until next time...

Get It Together Mama

This week was a busy one considering Jake had a cold and missed MMO both Monday and Wednesday.  I have enjoyed our extra quality time this week, but by the end of the week I'm sure my choice of clothes, frizzy hair, and lack of makeup made a statement that I was nearly out of gas.

Nonetheless, I managed to pull it together and make our Friday playdate with our sweet friends Shelby and Elise.  We ventured to the Rock Hill Children's Museum followed with a lovely lunch.  (Jake's delightful lunchtime behavior is another story.)  The RH Children's Museum is one of my favorite places to take Jake at this age.  It is small enough that I don't feel a constant need to follow him around, but also large enough to keep him entertained.

After being there a while I took Jake to the restroom to change his diaper.  Diaper changes are an event in themselves at this stage not to mention in an unfamiliar place.  Jake was not about to lie down on the changing table.  After trying twice I knew it was going to be one of those "standing diaper changes".  Lets just say that is a pain in the rear (no pun intended) when your child has left you a "poop poop" (as we call it).  After the dramatic diaper change that took nearly forever we headed back in for more fun.  I put Jake down and he ran straight for play...LIKE THIS...

Yep, that's MY kid.  No fault of his own that he doesn't have it together today. hahaha!  You might be thinking, "Jennifer, that looks like your home and not a museum."  Why yes, yes it is.  That is because I did it a second time later that day.  Good grief!

As my friend Mary likes to say... I think I'll kick my feet up tonight and have a "sip".

A Blog Left Behing

Lets face it, moms, it's hard keeping up with a blog. I love to do it. I love to look back at the posts and have "remember when" moments with it, but the truth is I'm busy! You get it, right?

Along with the physical aches and pains caused by my sweet toddler fighting diaper changes, using me as a jungle gym and admiring me as a human teething toy I have allot to accomplish in a day. There is a daily minimum of two clothes changes, numerous diaper changes, meals to prepare and feed, toys to take out and put up, noses to wipe, smiles to ensure, boo boos to kiss, and so on and so on and so on.  You get the point.  -AND WELL, that is just for Jake - not to mention taking care of myself and the dog during the day. Am I complaining? Heck NO (I so love it)! What I am doing here is making (a very valid list (haha)) of excuses for a blog left behind. :)

Sooooo...

I've decided to take a new direction with this blog. My reason is two-fold. ONE - If I don't update at every monthly check up, I feel guilty. If I don't update following a holiday, I feel guilty. If I don't update after a play date, I feel guilty. You get the drift. TWO - To make it more fun for this blogging mama!

I've decided to not feel an obligation to blogging and updating after each "event". After all, I have pictures of those moments. Not to say they won't make the blog, but that will no longer be my focus. My point is, it's time to focus on those moments that I may not remember and the stories that make our life fun and interesting - that make us who we are. So, "fun blogging" here I come.

I hope you, too, will enjoy our Sweet Southern Stories!

18 Months

Somehow our little baby is not such a baby anymore!  He is really growing up and becoming his own little person.  Toddlerhood has brought so much fun as we watch Jake begin to express all that he has been taking in over the last year and a half.  His vocabulary AMAZES me!  He is a huge fan of books and abcs and has been saying letters like crazy.  He is a hoot!  Don't get me wrong, we have also entered tantrum mode...this won't last, right?  He knows what he wants and he is testing us regularly.  On a recent rough day I was thinking about the different phases that have come and passed and with each there is much joy and many challenges at the same time.  I am learning how to be a mom as I go.  The love comes easy, but the tough love is a learning process!

Chalk Time

Jake recently had his first experience with sidewalk chalk.  I was expecting a beautiful day, but the sun didn't come out until later so, we decided to draw on the front porch!  Jake was a chalk-mess from head to toe, but the fun was well worth the mess!

OUR LITTLE CHALK MASTER

OUR CREATION

JAKE IS PRETTY PROUD OF HIS WORK

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

Book Exchange

Jake was recently invited to join in a book exchange!  He received this note in the mail (hid the part with addresses) and off we went to invite others to exchange books as well!  Jake sure loves books so I am looking forward to seeing what arrives for us to read!

We sent our book to a little boy and here is the one we chose...

I received this book at one of my baby showers and it is, by far, my favorite book ever.  I have been reading it to Jake since early on.  I recommend it no mater what age your child may be!

After the Rain

Jacob has, for some reason or other, had a hard time settling down for a nap on the days he attends MMO.  I thought today would be a great opportunity for lunch at the park after I picked him up, just to get a little extra energy out.  He was thrilled, but what was intended to be a nice easy outing quickly turned into a mess!  The playground was full of puddles of water leftover from the rain we received overnight.  I must have slept hard to have missed it.  After constantly steering Jake away from the muddy, messy puddles, I gave in and decided how much fun he must think it would be to stomp away at those puddles.  He had a blast!  Afterwards, we used that extra pair of clothes that any mom with some sense carries in her bag and headed home.

SUPER WHY!

Nana kindly pointed out to me that in my last post I forgot to mention a very important word that Jake has been saying for quite awhile now!  That words is BIBLE!  In addition, he has been saying BABY allot too.  We were just at the doctor's office the other day and he was sure to point out to me every baby in the room.  When did he stop being the baby?

So, as much as I hate to admit it, I do find myself plopping my handful of a toddler infront of the tv at times.  PBS Kids is my channel of choice.  There is a show on this channel called Super Why.  I thought it was much too old for Jake because the characters read a story and fix things in the story to make it better.  They do this by sounding out letters and making words.  The other day, I saw Jake watching and he was saying "pah, pah, pah, pee"!  I looked at the tv and they were teaching the letter "p".  So, I am giving some credit to this show in helping my little guy learn to make new sounds so he can expand that ever so wild vocabulary.  Until next time...

Super Why to the Rescue!!!

16 & 17 Months

My goodness...where does the time go!  It is honestly difficult to sit down and create a monthly update by age!  Guess I need to catch up at some point so, here it goes...

Jake had his 15 month checkup at 16 months because a cold virus hit our house and stayed!  The three of us passed it back and forth for way too long.  Jake was pretty average all around with the exception of his height...yep, he's tall!  It is so funny to me.  His 18 month pants are exactly the right length - meaning, they won't fit next week.  I don't know where he got this gene!

Jake is the sweetest little guy; sharing hugs and kisses constantly.  He is also wild at the same time; tossing anything he can get his hands on and "talking" at the top of his lungs.  He is a ham to say the least.  Jake does not meet a stranger.  If he is ever shy it only lasts seconds and that is rare.  He still loves for everyone to clap for him.  I am curious why he needs so much approval and to have everyone proud of him - and then I realize he MAY just like to see that he can control the room. HA!

Jake Can...
crawl up the stairs
walk up the stairs with help
get off the couch and bed by himself
reach a doorknob (YIKES!)
stomp his feet, clap hands, and turn around when asked to
"roll the cake" in patty cake and "turn the wheels" in the wheels on the bus
dance (especially to Thomas the Train)
when he watches tv or hears us talk he often tries to sound out parts of the words we say


Jake's Vocabulary...
up, dog, fish, boo, cookie, daddy, mama, nana, bebe, duck/truck "uk", wow, ostrage "ost-ige", please, eyes, and probably a handful more that I cannot think of of the top of my head...  This is one of the neatest phases to me.  I find it so interesting to watch him learn and pick things up.

17 MONTHS

16 MONTHS

Christmas 2011

We had a Merry Christmas and hope your family did as well!  Last year Jake was just 4.5 months old so this year was a different parade!  He was really able to enjoy our Christmas traditions this year...

We make our way up to the NC mountains the weekend following Thanksgiving and cut down a tree each year.  It is so beautiful and we love to catch up with the Harrell family while we pick our perfect tree.  This year we just bought one since we have a toddler running around thought I must say he was really good with the tree!  Here are a few photos from out trip...

Christmas Eve, our tradition is to read The Night Before Christmas before bed.  Somehow we pulled that off last year, but this year - not so much.  We were worn out!  So, we will have to revisit that tradition in 2012. 

Christmas Day was such fun, but busy as well!  We started the morning with the surprises Santa left Jake under our tree (just the three of us).  Then, we headed to Budroe and Bebe's for gifts and lunch and then back to our house for dinner and gifts with my side of the family.  Christmas Eve morning we celebrated with my mom at her house and that was a relaxing treat as well!

A few holiday moments...

Our tree on Christmas morning!  I wish it wasn't so dark, but it was early!
Some of Jake's gifts included a workbench, a tunnel, a choo choo, books, a bath boat, and more!

Bethy & I relaxing by the tree...
actually, making sure Jake & Allie don't have a wrestling match over  the Fisher Price farm!

Jake trying out his new broom!

Allie & Jake enjoying their chairs from Great Aunt Barb!

Budroe, Neal, & Bob conducting some serious baking!

Mr. Potato Head aka Mr. Sneaky!

We hope that everyone had a great season and a Happy New Year.  May 2012 be a year of blessings!

Tree Hunting

I am quite behind, but I'm sticking to the good ol' philosophy "Better Late Than Never"!  Really, I thought about skipping right to 2012, but this is for Jake more than anyone and we have a few more memories from 2011 that must be recorded.  With that being said...

Happy Tree Hunting...

We have been driving to the mountains for the past several years cutting down a tree or two for the holidays and we love this tradition!  This started before Jake was born and we will continue it out.  He was such a trooper on the 3 hour drive there and 3 hour ride home.  

 We always enjoy catching up with Mr. Harrell and his lovely family!  Our tress are, without a doubt, beautiful, and the freshly hunted food that we purchase from them is great as well.  We couldn't find a better spot for our tree hunting tradition!

As usual, my camera is always pointing at Jake and I realized that I don't have one picture of our tree!  We decided to only purchase one tree this year and to turn the playroom into the "treeroom".  Nevertheless, Jake was wonderful around everyone's tree this year.