Hide Your Batteries

A busy week ended with a trip to Home Depot. Why? To find the rest of Jason's Halloween costume. At first, Jason was determined to be a green M & M again. But, another idea formed just a week ago. You'll have to wait till the big day to find out who he'll be! Important as our shopping mission was, that didn't stop the boys from trying to escape!



I guess you could say Jason is really enjoying the aisles of the hardware store. His new "hobby" involves construction, sort of. His handy screwdriver is never far from his side, just in case he needs to open something electronic to take out its batteries! Today, we had no less than 20 lying around, because Jason just had to "see' if his toys had the right number of working batteries. The other day he took apart his bicycle. He needed "teamwork" with Daddy to put it back together again.




We're just hoping Jason doesn't take the screwdriver to the new deck on the back of the house. We love it! The boys do, too. It has opened up our backyard, and made us want to hang out back there.





The two boys are really enjoying playing together. If you could call it playing. Jason continues to try to push Michael down, or take stuff away from him. Michael, though younger by about a year and a half, gives as good as he gets. He's starting to hit Jason, after Jason pushes him first. Brotherly love. And, you'll notice, the boys FINALLY got haircuts. They really needed them.

No Cars Needed

Jason asked me the other day if we could purchase the Dora Castle for him. Then he told me another boy in his class wanted one. What do you say to that? Doug, fortunately, had no qualms about quashing any sort of "ideas." He told him absolutely no. The boys showed us, though. We went to the play area the other day, where both were intent on playing with a dollhouse. There were bounce houses EVERYWHERE, lots of fun to be had, yet the children spent many, many minutes arranging furniture and putting little people in different rooms.





Then, tonight, our ever observant little man asked me, "Why don't the people in books have any teeth?" Actually, it sounds like "teef" coming from his mouth. And, I looked closer. Sure enough, the book we were reading had characters with no "teef." Once again, I had no answer.

Michael is making up for our lack of answers. He's talking away these days, too bad we can't always understand what he's saying. And everything he says seems to sound like, "daddy." But, I just figured out today he's not trying to say "daddy." He's trying to say "Michael," and "Jason," but for some reason it all sounds like "daddy." In any case, Michael sure loves him, and I suppose he just wants Daddy to know it.

Afternoon with Friends

Sorry there's been a big lag in posts. It has been a busy week, with Amah and Akong's visit, as well as a friend's wedding. Before things got so busy, we had the chance to stop by and see Craig, Michelle, and Baby Kaylie. Look at how big she is getting! And look at how big the boys are next to her! They enjoyed playing with Kaylie's toys and Craig's electronics. We'll have to return soon!

"Hi!"

The words are beginning to flow more freely these days. We couldn't be more thrilled. Of course, if you don't listen closely to Michael, you might think he's saying the same phrases over and over and over. His new thing is to share his happiness when greeting new visitors. "Hi!" is what he's trying to say. It sounds more like "Aye!" But it is extremely cute. He asks for "wawa" (water) and then, says "eee" (please). He thinks anyone his size or smaller is a "beebee" (baby). Of course, who can't resist pointing to that beebee's "noe" (nose). But, don't confuse that with his vehement "no," which is usually accompanied by a violent head shake.







I love this picture. Jason is reading one of Michael's favorite books to him. It's about a lonely little firefly, and nothing comforts him more than the pages of this book. Well, a popsicle comes a close second.

Bossy Boy

We all know Jason is pretty bossy. Gee, wonder where he gets that from? I can't get over how that tendency to lecture others plays out in real life.

Jason was out riding his bike with three friends in the neighborhood tonight. One boy was on a scooter, the other three, including Jason, were on bikes. And I've noticed, many times, Jason is the only one wearing a helmet. He's fairly safety conscious, though, and he wouldn't have it any other way. He religiously puts on his helmet before rolling one foot into the street. (He may not look both ways, but, you can be sure he'll have his helmet on! He's the same way with seatbelts).

The boys, all riding in a pack, of course, collided with each other. I heard no tears, and didn't panic. One boy, the one on the scooter, fell down. Again, no tears, no problem.

But then Jason, always helpful, told him, "You really should be wearing a helmet."

The Brothers are Bonding

The boys look so cute in their new pajamas, courtesy of Amah and Akong. Thanks so much! In this picture, Jason is showing Michael the proper way to shake hands and greet someone. I love his school! We are really enjoying watching the boys play together these days. We have to enjoy it while it lasts! Michael is trying to do everything his big brother does. They even have conversations together, though Michael's limited vocabulary doesn't add much. New words like "book," "ball," "light," and "water," are important additions to his list of words, but, right now, Jason is not too impressed.

Little Fish

We decided to skip soccer this fall so the kids could take swimming lessons. And look at them. They are loving them, so far. Next lesson: Saturday.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Jason is thoroughly enjoying school, and I do believe he is learning quite a bit. It's those activities outside of school I have to watch out for. Yesterday, at dinner, Jason spilled some food on the floor. No problem, I tell him. Let's clean it up together, I say. You know his response to me?

"That is not my job."

He said it clearly, at least. And slowly.
I asked him where he heard that phrase. Some Disney Channel show, he tells me. Oh boy.

Of course, now I realize why Jason may be too busy to help clean up.
At Miss Michelle's house, he told one of his little friends there:

"I had a hard day at preschool."

Uh oh. We've got a long 12 years ahead of us.

Don't Look For Them in Pictures!

We had high hopes for Michael's 18-month old doctor check-up today. Jason did, too. He was hoping that Michael would get stuck with a painful shot. And, I know he wanted to dance in front of him, gloating over the fact that he wasn't going to be on the receiving end of one.

Another reason for the anticipation: the doctors had asked if they could take pictures of Michael to be used in one of their brochures. Sure, no problem, we thought. Michael's the happy one. But, today, of all days, the boy is dealing with a nasty diaper rash and some strange sort of icky diarrhea. Not that there is any other kind of diarrhea. Poor Michael. He lost his chance. Good thing Jason was there. The doctor listened to his heartbeat in front of a flashing camera. But, if you'll recall from past posts, Jason and the camera don't always have a good time together. We'll see if the pictures get used! We'll keep you posted.

No wonder this "little" boy sleeps so well. He is growing! Here are the stats: 32 1/2 inches long, 23 pounds 2 ounces.




Swimming lessons start tomorrow, for both boys. More adventures to come!

Friend-ly Visit

We so enjoy having visitors. Grandma and Grandpa just left, and the boys are already telling us they miss them. (Well, Jason is the one doing most of the talking). So, it was real treat to have a brand new person to play with. A dinner date at the house with Miss Tiaira, or Miss Tee-ay-rah, as Jason says, was a big hit. The poor girl even had to read a bedtime story to Michael. He enjoyed it immensely. After all, Miss Tiaira was reading one of his favorites, "That's Not My Teddy!" Talk about an impression. After Jason woke up this morning, Jason asked when she left for home. I told him it was after he went to bed. He looked disappointed and told me he didn't want her to leave. Miss Tiaira might have to start clearing her calendar for us!

Outdoor Adventures

I cannot take credit for these pictures, but I sure can share them (Thanks, Grandpa!!) The boys had a wonderful visit with Grandma and Grandpa, as you can see. They spent one afternoon at the Botanical Gardens, enjoying the sights, and the water. I can't help but smile seeing the joy on these kids' faces. They are growing sooo fast! We'll have to make a point to return soon!

Fashion Sense

I don't know why I must stoop to getting fashion advice from a three-year old, but what's a woman to do? I put an outfit together I needed to get a thumbs up or thumbs down on. I admit, I have had to get some opinions from my pint-sized posse before. Jason is very interested in my necklaces. So, I asked him today what he thought of a belt I used over a shirt. I asked him if he thought it looked "crazy" together. He told me it did look crazy and that I shouldn't wear it. I took his advice to heart.

Michael could care less about my fashion dilemma. He's too busy screaming these days. He's such a good-natured kid, but lately, his frustrations are obviously at a boiling point. He can't speak well, yet, and words like "mommy," "daddy," and "thank you" just aren't cutting it.



Grandma and Grandpa are coming to visit us for the weekend. We can't wait to see them!

Making a Splash

Jason's summer has been full of fun. I'm pretty sure he'll agree if you ask him. He's really beginning to take to the water. Here he is splasing around with his friend, Ethan. His second round of swimming lessons starts in two weeks. Michael will actually get the chance to get in the water, too. Lessons for him begin as well. But Michael has no fear. He jumps in, he blows bubbles, he is more comfortable in the water than Jason ever was. We're looking forward to the water antics.

First Day of School

I've had a lot to share, but the blog has been down for some reason. So, excuse the tardy entry. Jason started his first day at a new Montessori school on Monday, and is loving it! You could chalk it up to maturity, maybe he's getting more used to the whole drop off/pick up thing. But, he walked into the classroom bright and early Monday morning, and he didn't look back. If he had, he would have seen all the mothers standing there crying, including me. Good thing I had to be in at work early.

Doug has picked up a smiling Jason every day since. And, his teachers are already marveling at his love of puzzles.

And, Michael's verbal skills may be doing just fine. I have been telling Michael how much I love him, oh, I don't know, 20 times a day since the day he was born. I firmly believe he returned the love the other day. It sounded like this: "ah wwu yiu." Close enough for me. In this picture, he's blowing all of you kisses.



Michael is shaking off a few bruises, too. He took a tumble at the playground the other day, while I was at work. But, Doug and I laughed at a conversation Jason had with his little brother after the fall. Doug was trying to comfort the crying baby, brushing off wood chips from his bruised face, that kind of thing. He told Jason that he used to fall as a baby, trying to develop that whole empathy thing. And, it must have worked! Jason turned to Michael and said, "It's OK, Baby Michael. Don't cry. I used to fall when I was baby, but I didn't cry. It's ok." I'm just happy the bruises have healed.

Don't Eat a Jason Creation

Over the last couple of days, Jason has exhibited an imaginative side we didn't really know he had. For example, during his nighttime bath, he told me he was busy preparing a meal of eggs. He was stirring and stirring furiously, then decided he needed some seasonings. I asked him what he was going to add. Without missing a beat, he told me, "three glasses of salt and four glasses of wine." What are we teaching this kid??

And, Michael is not going to be left out of anything these days. Lately, he appears not to realize he is not as old as his big brother. Yesterday, he started trying to go down the stairs face forward. Since he topples quite easily, the thought of him doing that without our supervision gives me chills. He is simply copying what he sees Jason doing, though. He mimics sounds, yelps, actions. For example, tonight, he picked up a plate and used it as his "driving wheel," as Jason likes to call it. Jason was using a wheel of his own. He told me he was heading to Wal-mart. I asked him if he had enough money. Yes, he told me. Six dollars, and eight coins. I asked him what he was buying. Milk, orange juice, chicken, rice, and of course, what else? Video games.

Busch Gardens

We're back after a whirlwind trip up the East Coast. Our visit to Atlantic City was a good one, but, boy, are we glad to be home! The boys enjoyed visiting with relatives, eating candy, and receiving gifts. Not in that order.
You can see, no matter the location, boys will be boys. Our hotel room floor became the arena for several wrestling matches. We're still not sure who won. But, we know it wasn't the people who could hear Michael shrieking from clear across the hall--on the other side of our door!






We are not letting our days off together go to waste. We visited Busch Gardens today, and despite a driving rain that soaked the boys' shorts and t-shirts, they had a blast. The park had plenty of rides for little ones. And since the rain made it a bit uncomfortable outside for many, we benefited by enjoying almost no lines! We let the boys get on one ride together, just the two of them. It was so sweet. Jason made sure Michael was buckled in before he turned his attention to driving. Of course, at the end of the ride, Jason stepped over his little brother in his haste to get out. Obviously, we have a little more work to do! You can see Jason taking a turn in the bumper cars. On the way home, he told us, very seriously, that during that particular ride, there were a lot of accidents. But he did tell us, he wouldn't mind going back.

There's No Turning Back

I know I have been falling down on the job lately, but, rest assured, I'm not falling down as much as our baby. (I guess he's not a baby anymore, though. The kid is 16 months old now!) To his credit, Michael falls down and bravely picks himself back up. No complaints. And, though at times, he looks a little like some sort of marionette, he's moving fast enough to make us proud. And tired. There is no turning back. Our boy is walking and won't be stopped!





As for Jason, his walking and running are doing just fine. Now it's his mouth that is picking up speed. Miss Michelle says he is talking her ear off. That is unusual. But, he really does have a lot to say. For example, tonight at dinner:

Jason: Those men getting out of the car were stupid, Mommy. I saw that on the news.
Me: What did you say?
Jason: They were stupid, Mommy. Daddy said so. He said they were stupid.

Uh-oh. Busted. It was after this conversation that we went into the lesson on words we don't repeat, even when Daddy says them.

What has been most amazing is the development of Jason's sense of humor. And, we will do almost anything so we can hear him laugh. We realized that jokes are not lost on Jason just a few weeks ago. Doug was sharing two of his favorite knee-slappers. To our surprise, he started giggling uncontrollably. While adults may not fall down laughing at these offerings, Jason does.

You may have been treated to these before, but, when you see Jason, try these out. They will get guaranteed laughs.

"What did the farmer say when he lost his tractor? Where's my tractor."
"What do you get when you cross an elephant with a rhino? Elefino!"

Yes, simple and very effective.

As I mentioned before, it has been an extremely busy week for my little social butterfly. He and his three pre-school friends are the cutest things ever. They are all perched on the guest room bed. Doug had just spent about half an hour reading to a rapt audience!

Looking Back

Can you believe how MUCH they've grown? Michael was just a week old here.



We're looking forward to plenty of gatherings over the next few days. Jason's preschool buddies are planning to stop by, and so is our old friend, Erika, with her two girls. Can't wait to get together with everyone and catch up.

Riding High

The video quality really is not good. That's my next project--to make it better, but, you can still tell that blurry figure is Jason, doing so well on his bike. To think he's only been riding it for a few weeks. Tonight, he cleared the "big hill" as he calls it. Our driveway.







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cZAzG6KZsc

Youtube Generation

The boys and I are now a part of this latest video craze. The following link, which you can copy and paste into your browser window, will take you to youtube, the video sharing website that is being talked about everywhere! The clip isn't great, sorry about that. I was just trying to see if I could figure out how to download our video clip on the site in the first place. It's from our day at the beach a few Saturdays ago. Jason was trying to bury Doug in the sand. Michael, well, Michael was just trying to enjoy his snack in peace.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2EX_5Qlun0

Fun in the Sun

What a busy weekend! It started with a simple, yet very enjoyable company picnic. The kids had a blast. Jason tried something he's never done before. He rode a pony, and enjoyed it wholeheartedly. Michael refused to participate. He acted as if we were trying to feed him broccoli or something. But, he forgot his anger moments later when we handed him some tasty chicken.






The fun didn't stop for these little ones. The next day we visited the pool, and joined by Michelle, Craig, and Baby Kaylie. The spray park kept all the little ones busy and smiling!

Clean-cut Couple

The boys are shaggy no more, that's for sure. Both did extremely well in the hair stylist's chair, as always. And, we did get some help with Michael's 'do from our friend, Walter. Though the cuts give both a fresh, new look, some things never change. Sometimes it's just too hard not to hang onto your favorite sibling.

Crafty Kids

The boys really don't enjoy wearing hats, or anything on their heads, for that matter. But this Jason creation must have really made an impact. He wore it the entire day after he put it together at pre-school summer camp. He's excited to have it on his head, really he is.
















Jason is one cool cat, while Michael is like a bug, forever trying to get away. He's still not fully walking, but he's figured out how to crawl up and down the stairs. That look you see is the one we constantly get treated to, as we run all over the house trying to catch him.

A Day at the Beach

We haven't had the chance to visit the beach too much this summer, but our recent lounge session on the sand made us realize we need to do this more often. Jason jumped in the waves with Doug. He couldn't get enough of them. And Michael did what he does best. Eat. Those are goldfish crumbs around his mouth. I guess the beach blanket and umbrella help make a tastier snack even tastier.

What did we do?

My good-natured baby does have his moments. Michael started wailing the minute we all said cheese. We gave him water a moment later, and he just was fine.

Jason's Five Finger Discount

Yes, we're proud. Doug got to see this one through. Over the weekend, the two went to 7-11 to gas up the car and pick up some milk. The trip went off without a hitch, or so Doug thought.

While buckling up Jason, he asked Doug, "Daddy, was I good inside the store?"

Doug told him he was.

That's when Jason, with a huge smile, pulled a lollipop out of his pocket.

Doug: "Where did you get that, Jason?"
Jason: "From my pocket."

The two marched back into the store, returned the lollipop, and Jason, duly subdued, now tells us he doesn't like that store anymore.

And, yes, that is Michael trying to get away from big brother Jason.

Out and About

We spent a wonderful evening outdoors. It was a surprisingly cool and calm night, a welcome change after a sudden, hail-filled storm yesterday. Kathy, Sean, and Ethan stopped by, to the delight of the boys. Michael took many steps with Kathy's help. Ethan and Jason got up close and personal with a firefly. He talked about that for the rest of the night! And, as always when we have guests, Jason takes out every toy he owns to show his friends. So, it was an evening filled with basketball, baseball, t-ball, golf, soccer, frisbee, and bicycles. All in the span of an hour. Whew!