Little Moments

At the walk-in clinic with Jace, waiting for the doctor to come look at his ears.  He woke up from a nap crying and holding his ear, asking "What happened to my ear?" "My ear sick?" "My ear is broken!" "Wanna feel better right now?" It was so sad. I took him to the doctor right away and on the way he said he was feeling better, but 30 minutes later we were leaving the clinic with a diagnosis of a double ear infection and an antibiotic prescription. 

Life is so sweet. We have had a rainy spring, but the last few days have been warm and sunny and we have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather! We play at the park, dig in the sandbox, and soak up the sun in the backyard. I just started working one day a week, helping an SLP with her caseload through the end of the year, but other then that, it's just the boys and me! Our days are pretty predictable and often consist of  big emotions and temper tantrums, some whining and even some occasional shoves and flying fists...there are plenty of messes, tons of laundry, and picky eating abounds; even Luke, my champion eater, has taken to throwing his vegetables on the floor. But these  are also the sweetest days. There are plenty of giggles and joyful squeals, the Walt Disney World Pandora playlist is on all day long, and my mornings and afternoons generally pass watching the boys laugh, fight, and chase each other. My little boys still fit in my arms, I can pick them up and carry them on my hip, and their blonde heads rest easy on my shoulder when they're tired.  They still want me to tickle their backs and arms, read books with me, watch a family movie after dinner, and want to rock with C and I before bed. 

The other night, Jace was so tired he fell asleep on Colt's lap downstairs well before his bedtime. He almost never falls asleep on us, so after Colt enjoyed some snuggles, I carried him upstairs and we rocked together for about twenty minutes before I could bring myself to put him down. He has grown so tall, and he is always moving during the day, so this felt rare and special. The early evening sunshine streamed under the curtains and we rocked away in the chair by his window. I studied the fighter planes on his WW2 poster and wondered how long it will be before he wants to decorate his own room. "Woody's Roundup" played softly on his CD player, and I got a little sad thinking that there probably aren't many years left before he outgrows Disney music and Hot Wheels Cars and Winnie the Pooh. It felt so good to settle into that quiet moment, peacefully rocking my little boy in the spring sunshine. It felt so sweet, and I believe I'll remember that small half-hour for a long time, when my kids are grown up and I reflect on these early years that went by so slowly, and yet so quickly.

Luke Lately:

Turned one in March! He's such a big boy, although his whispy hair and big blue eyes fool me into thinking he's still my tiny baby. 

Knows so many words, and is able to identify his head and toes on his body.

Started walking last week! He's extra proud of himself.

Giggles and laughs when we do Eskimo kisses and butterfly kisses for bed. It's one of the few times his body stops wiggling, as we touch noses and I flutter my eyelashes against his cheeks. He also loves when I give him kisses and stroke his face when I lay him down in his crib; he closes his eyes and laughs sleepily while I tickle his chin, cheeks, and forehead.

Loves the slide at park. He can climb up the jungle gym and slide down on his own. He also climbs the big boy jungle gym by himself and would go all the way to the top if I let him. Fearless!

There is a part in the song "Your Welcome" from Moana, where Maui sings "ha ha ha HEY!" Luke loves to imitate it, note for note. It's hilarious to hear him yell this part of the song after he hears it on Pandora in the car or when Jace sings it first.

He and Jace love to out-yell at each other, for fun. They take turns shrieking at the top of their lungs with big smiles on their faces, and after a few rounds, collapse into giggles. They're loud, but funny. I love watching their bond strengthen and grow, even if it's at the expense of my hearing. 

Jace Lately:

He is always saying or doing something funny, and every time I swear I'll remember exactly what he said and record it later, but I inevitably forget. Here are a few recent "Jaceisms" I managed to write down: 

As soon as C walks through the door, Jace runs over and greets him: “Hi Daddy, how was work today?”

Jace saw a little boy at the park wearing a Batman cape. He pointed him out to me and said: “He wearing a super-suit!” 

We had a rough week last week, including Jace's first ear infection (a DOUBLE ear infection, poor babe). I got sick two days later, and Jace was on an antibiotic that he had to take twice daily. He HATED it, and fought back hard every time I had to give it to him. He was also quite grumpy, and by the end of the week there was a lot of whining, indecisiveness, and all-around crummy behavior taking place.  Inevitably, I  hit a breaking point (at like 8:30 am) and lost my temper more than once that day. After I apologized, Jace sweetly instructed: “You lost a temper? Has to get temper back!”

His desire to socialize with other kids has really increased lately. He's become more interested  in interacting and playing with other kids at the playground, even if they don't always reciprocate. He found a little friend the other day, and followed her up to the top of the jungle gym. There were several older children up there, and an argument broke out. I saw Jace run over with his hands held up in front of his chest and call out: “Everybody calm down!” Oh man. I found this perfectly hilarious, but maybe that's just because I'm his mother.

He loves our nightly family movie and treat after dinner. Disney Pixar shows are generally the favorite, with Cars, Ratatouille, Up, The Incredibles, Coco, and Toy Story (the first and second) making  regular appearances. He also still loves Pooh Bear, and Curious George. And he could watch non-fiction shows about cars and trucks all day long if I let him (I don't). However, he still has a very special place in his heart for Finding Nemo. He could watch that movie everyday, I think. He always quotes movies, but the other day he was repatedly yelling “I’m not funny, I’m a clown fish!” 

Easter 2018

Easter came and went so quickly, didn't it? It fell on the first day of April this year, and Jace loved every moment. JJ and I both love holidays, and I'm so glad because Colt is kind of "meh" about them. I needed someone in this family to match my enthusiasm for celebration! We dyed eggs a few days before Easter, and J-man did a great job! He only needed minimal help from me, and he didn't lose interest-he dyed every egg! Additionally, I was pretty impressed with how vibrantly the dye colored the eggs . Not bad for a dolla'.

We took the boys to a community Easter egg hunt at the park on Saturday, and they had separate fields for each age group. Luke's group was up first, and he caught right on: he crawled around and put several eggs in his basket (he loves putting things in baskets and buckets) while Colt stood guard and made sure he didn't get stepped on by the big 2 year olds. 

Jace's group was next, and he was SO excited to get out and collect some Easter eggs! The rules were clearly stated that ONLY 3 and 4 year olds were allowed on the field, no parents or older kids. Unfortunately, when the music started playing to signal the start of the hunt, older kids and parents swarmed the field along with the younger set, and before Jace understood what had happened, the eggs were gone. His little face broke my heart! He just looked so lost and disappointed. So we pulled several eggs out of Luke's basket and scattered them on the grass nearby, and Jace got to do his own little private hunt. That seemed to help. We left, stopped at the store, and went home to watch the Saturday sessions of General Conference.

We woke up Sunday morning and Jace was so excited to see what the Easter Bunny had brought! He opened his basket and all his Easter surprises from Grammy. We ate homemade cinnamon rolls, watched General Conference, and celebrated the gift of our Savior and His atoning sacrifice. We saved the plastic eggs from the hunt the day before, and even though they were empty, Jace had a blast hiding in the bathroom while we hid the eggs throughout the house over and over again. Holidays are so much fun with little ones. 

Well, That Went Fast

I kept meaning to post more regularly, but clearly that didn't happen! All of sudden Halloween was over, then Thanksgiving, and now here we are, five days away from CHRISTMAS! My boys have grown and changed so much in the last few weeks. Poor Luke has been sick since Halloween, poor baby. Just coming down with virus after virus, he can't catch a break. He and JJ have both grown and are the funniest, most handsome little gentlemen. Anyways, here is a disjointed but fairly detailed update on my guys and all of their crazy cool accomplishments and hilarious antics since September!

Luke...

...started pulling himself onto his knees using objects and our hands (November 26, 8 months old). He's not pulling to a stand yet, but I'm wondering if he's a little behind on a couple things because he's been consistently under the weather since the end of October.

...is sooooo wiggly, and into everything. That child is never still. 

...cries just like Jace did as a baby. Instead of a typical “waaah” type wail, Luke's little mouth shapes into an "O" and he cries “oooohh” with his eyes and nose crinkled shut. He also has a fake little whiney cry that he's picked up recently, and I happen to htink it's adorable.

...cut his first tooth at 7.5 months cut his first tooth (bottom)

...started crawling the week he turned 8 months old, and he is FAST, especially when he hears us open the dishwasher or pull out the vacuum.

...loves to play with the wheels on the big fire truck (like his brother)

...is an extremely distracted eater while nursing. Any noise, movement, or object causes him to pull off every few seconds so that he can investigate. Sometimes, even my neckace is too distracting and I have to hide it to get him to keep eating.

...has found his voice. We privy to major shrieks and squeals, and he is delighted every time

...is my little shadow. He follows me everywhere, and when he wants me to hold him or he needs a little attention, he rubs his head against my leg like a cat.

...looooves his food! Peas, peaches, blueberries (his favorite), pumpkin (also his favorite), potatoes, butternut squash, apples, oatmeal, chicken, peas, cheeriohs, bananas, applesauce, green smoothie of spinach and blueberries and water, peanut and almond butter, oranges, riced cauliflower, broccoli, bell pepper...he love them all!

...enjoys his wagon rides, walks, and being out and about. He's so sweet and content when we go out, exploring or sitting quietly in my lap and observing.

...has been able to sit up for awhile now, no hands!

...loves looking at himself in the mirror, being talked to, reading books, and picking on his big brother. Whenever Jace is having his diaper changed, Luke crawls over and starts pounding on his face and trying to pull on his hair. Jace is a good sport about it, I think he realizes it's all in love. Jace is not such a great sport about Luke trying to take whatever he's playing with at the time. Luke wants to do everything JJ is doing, and Jace isn't so much flattered as he is irritated by this.

...is sooo sweet and friendly, and loves smiling at everyone he sees.

...licks his lips when he’s hungry

...has started making a face when he's displeased: His eyes get squinchy, he wrinkles his little nose, and he lets out this fake sounding, soft little whine. It’s the cutest.

...has radar or some sort of built-in alarm that sounds off when someone walks into his room. He is sound asleep, and we are quiet as can be, but no matter how silently we enter, his tiny head pops up immediately, searching for the intruder. It's impossible to check on him without waking him up. I do love seeing that round little noggin peeking over the railing of his crib, though, especially when I turn on his lamp and he smiles his big gummy grin. 

...loves anything that goes. When we go to the library or dump out toys in the living room, he goes straight for the cars or toys with wheels, just like his big brother. 

Jace...

...has such a great sense of humor. He has his own little jokes, like pretending not to know the answer to something, or saying the wrong answer on purpose. He makes up his own games, like  “Mama’s Piggies?" He also has this forced laugh that he does at random times, like while we are driving in the car, or while he's eating a meal. It cracks me up. He also laughs when others around him laugh, like he wants to be in on the joke.

...clears his dish after meals and takes it to the sink without being reminded. He's also really great about taking off his shoes before going into the house. Such a sweet helper.

...talks so much, and is saying some rather hilariously adorable things. Some of them are novel and come from his own mind, and others are quotes from movies or things he's heard us say and repeats out of context days later. Some new Jace-isms include:

-"Doctor Pepper?” (Mommy's drink) 

-“Sliced bread?” (I tell him he's the greatest thing since sliced bread everynight at bedtime)

- “Good night, mama” 

-“I hurt mine bum bum” 

-“A hold you, mama/daddy?” 

-“Deal O’Neil!” 

-“Thinkin, blinkin” 

-“Check it out!” 

-“Keep your bottom on the bale!” (from the pumpkin patch)

-“Love you in the mornin’” 

-“Give me the child!”  (Monsters Inc quote)

-“Wind the frog!” (Toy Story quote...we watch a lot of movies)

-“Let’s do it to it, my dudes!” (When he says it, it sounds like "Do it en me dudes!") 

-“tickle a tootsies?”

- “Goodnight, sweetheart” (while closing the door to Luke's room while Luke and I were in there)

-pushing his drink or his food towards me and saying “Here you go, Mama. Merry Christmas.”

-Starting to tell me things are the "best ever!" For example, I got him a cup of hot cocoa and took him to the park, and he was sipping it and exclaiming: "Is the best hot chocolate ever!" Or while he was coloring this morning, he kept repeating: "Best Christmas ever!"

...likes to give very romantical kisses on the lips

...has had lots of mega-tantrums lately, especially upon waking up from naps or in the morning when we try to go get him out of his crib.

...loves to glue things. We made some fun crafts, including a Thanksgiving turkey and a Christmas tree.

...asks for Eskimo kisses ("Est-o tisses?") and butterfly ("Buh-sye) kisses. And every night, just before I'm about to leave his room after tuck-ins, he asks me: "Mama, one a more tiss?" 

...reads Brown Bear to us before bed, word for word.

...has started biting his nails. 

...was dinking around on the bench at dinner and half fell off. One leg went off the front, while the other was still on the bench. He started to cry, and through his tears he announced: "Hurt a wittle bum? Hurt a wittle bum?” Oooh, it's so hard not to laugh.

...loves to play family Hide and Seek with the lights off. He can rarely wait to be found, however, and he always comes running out of his hiding place shouting “Hi, Mama!”

...is starting to relay past events to me, like when he got nervous when Daddy left him in nursery, and Jace opened the door and ran out to find him. He told me later: “Where Daddy go? Open a door, ran out!” He has some seperation anxiety these days.

...always gets in our car on the same side as Luke. Jace climbs in first and climbs to the far side of the car where his seat is, and then I put Lukey’s seat into his insert in the middle seat in the truck. Jace likes to wedge himself between Luke’s seat and the front seat, which drives me crazy because I have to walk around and pull him out, then stick him into his car seat. When I do this, he always says something about “rabbits house” but I never understood until just recently, when he told me “stuck like pooh bear, stuck in rabbits house!” There is a scene in Winnie the Pooh where Pooh Bear eats too much honey and gets stuck in the entrance of Rabbit's burrow, and nobody can get him out. Such a funny boy I have.

...is bestowing lovely compliments. I just organized our craft drawer a couple weeks ago, and Jace wandered over and said: “Wow, that’s amazing, Mama!” It's nice to feel appreciated.

...is such a great helper, an awesome listener, and tries so hard to do what we ask him to do. He has his moments, of course, but he's such a good boy and I'm so proud of him. 

OTHER NOTEWORTHY EVENTS:

1. Halloween: Jace was a fireman, Luke was a bear, and both refused to don the headwear that accompanied their costumes. Colt and I were in charge of the ward Halloween party, so we didn't get a lot of pictures, unfortunately. We also were able to go to my parent's ward Halloween party that weekend, so we didn't feel too bad about staying in on Halloween night, eating treats, and watching Monsters Inc.

2. Thanksgiving: We headed to PDX and celebrated with my parents in Oregon. We had a blast, as we always do with Mimi and Papa. We were also able to take Jace to his first movie! We went and saw Coco, but didn't make it all the way through, due to an agonizingly long "short" before the actual movie began. Jace loved the experience, though, so I can't wait to take him again.

3. My 30th Birthday: I turned 30 a few days ago, and Colt gave me a Harry Potter themed weekend. I got Potter socks, my letter from Hogwarts (finally), a box set of the entire series so I can read them to our future Potterheads, and a beautiful new watercolor sketchbook. He made me the oreo ice cream dessert, and we took the boys to a really neat children's museum in Everett. I am spoiled.