Our Valentine's Birthday

Our little Valentine baby turned TWO! How is it he is two already?!? It seems like he has been in our lives forever, I can hardly remember life without him but yet it feels like he was just born yesterday!

I was just reading Jake's 18 month post and really not much has changed since then. He still is very independent, wanting to do everything himself. One big thing right now is brushing his own teeth and putting on the toothpaste himself. He can't even get the toothpaste out of the tube and onto his toothbrush but he HAS to hold the tube while brushing his teeth. I don't know why he does this, no one else does! This bothers me because he ends up putting the tube in his mouth and trying to suck it out. I don't think that is very healthy right?? So he is usually crying by the end of the tooth brushing session because he didn't get his way!

He also still has quite a temper. At times we often think his head is going to start turning around! The temper often comes from his independence and wanting to do things himself but not being able to do things himself. He gets very frustrated when he can't do something. Or if things aren't quite perfect for him and he can't express that to us. Or if his Bother, oh I mean Brother is bugging him. When this happens he often tends to hit, kick, or bite. Not good. He is spending some of his time in time out and now understands it and stays there. Often he will be a nice Brother and even sit with James in time out when James is in time out! He makes up for his evilness with his cuteness...

Which leads me to the little mimic. Jake still and probably always will want to do what James does. The one thing that drives me nuts is when we are eating. If James is done than Jake is done, even if he's not! He wants to get down also and go play. One thing I love is when Jake wants to play with James. I love when they play nicely together and no one is screaming over a toy or taking toys from each-other!

Everything that James says, Jake says too. One big thing around here lately has been the word stupid. Craig, Brianna, and I use that word very often. We don't even think about it. Well since James now not only picks up on everything but also says everything he has been using that word. Not a good word for a 3 year old to be saying. We have told him it is not a nice word to say. Now whenever one of us or anyone for that matter says stupid James tells that person, "Don't say stupid!" Of course now Jake says that phrase. He doesn't only say it once, he says it over and over. Many times no one has even said the word!! He is now the one that needs to stop saying it!

He talking so well lately. In the last month or so his vocabulary has really picked up. He is putting 3 or 4 words together. He loves picking out animals and making animal sounds. He is learning his colors and numbers and we are really working on his alphabet but he has no idea! Every letter is "B". He can sing the ABCs but he does not know which is which! I was telling the Dr. this and he said, "That is totally normal, he is only two, what he can't read yet either?" I guess my other two children were such early talkers and knowing these things that I feel like he is the left behind third child! But I guess he is doing just fine!

I have dubbed the name "Little Mexican Jumping Bean" for Jake. Since he is partially Mexican, it works! I remember always getting those little beans when we were down in Mexico! Jake is definitely the jumper. We often wonder where this jumping is going to lead him later in life. Is he going to be a gymnast, a high jumper, a long jumper, is he going to jump out of planes...I hope not! He jumps off of anything and everything that he can. He even just jumps around for the heck of it. My Mom has a step at her house that leads into the back playroom. It NEVER fails that he is running down the hallway, stops at the end and jumps! It's so funny!

Cars are still Jake's favorite toys. Or anything with wheels for that matter. Trucks, tractors, and I have now learned the difference between a tractor, skid steer, backhoe loader, and bulldozer! We have all of them and the boys love to play out in the dirt with them. I think that is one of the favorite things to do is play in the dirt! And one of my least favorite things, but I am learning to accept it and just let them do it since they love it so much, then put them right in the bath when they are done. Jake is also a little more of a dare-devil than James, maybe because he already has the horns on his head! Kidding... but he is into more frightening things than James. He likes the movies that James would never watch, like Toy story, I know what you are thinking Toy Story scary, but yes to James' defense it is a little frightening. I think all those Disney movies have a bit of that...not Cars though! He also loves the movie Up. We are frequently watching that movie, more than Cars now!

You have obviously know that Jake is obsessed with his blankie and has dropped the binki! He is still sleeping in his crib but I think is really on the verge of going into a big boy bed. I have found him standing on his tip toes leaning on the side of the crib. It will be time soon to do that transfer and I am not looking forward to that one!

He has shown no interest in potty training yet but has sat once on the toilet and didn't do anything. Also in the bath one day he was screaming for no apparent reason and come to find out he had to go potty, we didn't get the diaper on fast enough and as soon as he got out of the bath peed on the floor! But at least he is getting the sensation! YAY, I may have a child potty trained early!

Jake is so much of a little baby to me still. Although he is doing all the things he is supposed to and making big changes he still seems like a little baby. He is a little cuddler and wants to be held a lot. He always wants to sit on your lap. The way he looks and his size also makes him look babyish to me. Although did have his 2 year doctor appointment and he is actually growing a lot! He weighed 30.4lbs. and in the 75% and his height is 34.4" and is in the 50%. That is the biggest percentile he has ever been in!

For Valentines Day and Jake's Birthday we decided to go to Disneyland for the afternoon. I had heard that some schools were off that day but we thought oh well, let's just go the nice thing about having passes we can always leave! We got there about 10:30 and it was crowded! Almost like a summer day. The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold and I guess everyone thought it would be a good thing to do on Valentine's day!
As soon as we got there we went straight over to the Autopia ride. Of course it was broken! So we headed over to another favorite ride...the rockets!
Daddy and Jake in line for the rockets.



Isn't his shirt cute?? I saw it and had to buy it!

Waiting to go to Pirate Island, aka Tom Sawyer's Island.

The only picture I sorta got with me in it! On the boat to the island!

James was SO scared to go to the island. He thought we were going to see Pirates. He didn't even know what the island was called, he just saw a pirate flag. As you can see his nervous face above!

When we got there and James saw there were no pirates they had so much fun running around!

Found the pot of gold!

Climbed the tree house

Crossed the bridge.

After Tom Sawyer's Island we headed over to California Adventure to go run around the Country Bear Playground. By the time we got there Jake fell asleep so James and I ran around there for awhile. After that we headed home. Even though there were crowds we didn't really encounter them since we only went on one ride! It was kinda nice!
It was perfect, we got home around 3 and it gave me enough time to make a pasta dinner!
Jake listening to his Auntie Chris and cousins sing Happy Birthday to him. He sang with them! So cute!

All the Valentines James made at Nonna's house for all of us!

The heart shape cake I made...

Showing his temper because he is not sitting close enough to the cake...hold on one moment!

Happy now!

Getting ready to blow...

He blew it out!

Yay!

Kids saying ILY (I love you) for those of you who don't know acronyms!

Mmmm Cake

Presents! James could not wait for Jake to open his presents! I took James with me to get them two days before and just about every hour James was asking if Jake could open his present. He even told Jake what we got him, good thing Jake didn't understand!

Toy Story toys!!!

He loved them!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our Baby Boy!

RICKY

Last night we had a pretty bad scare. Actually we have had a few scares with Ricky lately. More due to health issues. A couple months ago he had worms, which was disgusting, then last week he had an overdose of dog bones thanks to Jake. Now we keep the dog bones on top of the refrigerator! Last night we lost Ricky. We always put Ricky outside when we eat dinner because I don't want Jake to feed Ricky all his food. After I put the boys to bed I thought Ricky was still outside. I opened the back door and he didn't come, sometimes he hides on the side of the house. If we call his name and close the door he comes running to the door. He didn't come. So we got the flashlight and looked on the side of the house, nope not there. Brianna had come home earlier and was getting something for her Dad so she left the front door open for awhile. I was sure that is when Ricky got out. He usually goes outside and just sniffs around, walks down the street. He is not a runner thank goodness. So I went up to tell Brianna and we got in the car to drive around. We drove around our complex very slowly twice looking and calling his name. We couldn't find him. Brianna was making me very nervous while she was saying things like what if we don't find him, what are you going to tell James, what if he got out the gate, mind you Ricky did NOT have a collar on. He never wears one. I hate hearing the jingling of the collar. Since we couldn't find him I thought well let's head out the gate. Hoping he didn't get hit by a car. I really didn't think he was out there, I didn't think he would get out that far. But Brianna insisted. So we drove up and down, looking and calling his name. Couldn't find him. Then I really got nervous, started to tear up. Brianna kept asking how we are going to find him, it was making me feel worse. We came home and I looked up online how to find your dog. We told Craig we couldn't find him and he said, make some signs. Brianna and I went right upstairs to make some signs. Craig went out to drive around the block. As Brianna and I were making the signs, we had a picture loaded up and LOST DOG written and we hear Craig come home. I thought that was pretty fast. I listened carefully to see if I could hear him talk to Ricky. He came in the door and said HE FOUND HIM! Some neighbor lady was walking him! She found him at 5:00 and it was now 10:30!! So it wasn't when Brianna came home. Brianna and I actually weren't even home! I was picking her up from track practice. SO we have no idea how he slipped out! Ahem ahem.... The lady said he was a very good dog, very well trained. They didn't have a dog so she got a rope as a leash and walked him around to see if anyone was out looking for him! Thank goodness she did that. She had done it earlier but no one knew whose dog it was! She thought she would try one more time for the night and then she was going to make signs in the morning. So glad we didn't have to do that! Now Ricky has a collar on and it will not be coming off!!!

bEaCh TiMe??

This past weekend we had such nice weather. Saturday it was 8o degrees! We were out running errands and James asked if we could go to the beach. I told him we couldn't because we had plans but maybe if the weather was this nice tomorrow we could go because we had nothing going on. Sunday morning he woke up and came in my room, it was a little early for him so I told him to go back to his room and go to bed. I heard his closet open and was wondering what he was doing. He came back in my room whining that he could not find his bathing suit! He was ready to go to the BEACH! That afternoon wasn't as warm as the day before but it was still a beautiful day so we headed down to he beach!
Perfect day at the beach...

In heaven

Going to get some water

Looking at little clams

I buried James' feet. He loves having his feet buried, I want to do his whole body but he won't let me.

Hanging out with Daddy

James building castles and Jake coming to ruin it!

So happy playing in the sand

Awe, hugs

Walking to the rocks

Some people had built this mound of sand but were not there anymore. The boys loved playing on it. And our little jumper boy kept jumping off of it.

Top of the mountain!

Nonna & Grampy came down to watch the boys play. Jake showing Nonna how he jumps of the mound of sand!

Digging a tunnel

Grampy got down to help with the the tunnel.

Jake following James' footsteps

Racing

James & Nonna looking at the shells & water

When we got back to the house James made Valentines crafts for everyone with Nonna

Then the boys played Play-doh with Nonna, the only place they can play play-doh!

We had such a nice day. So glad James had such a great idea!!

Grandparents Day

On Tuesday James had Grandparents Day at school. He was so excited that Nonni, Nonna, & Grampy were coming to his school! He talked about if for weeks!

They made these cute little invitations that they sent to their Grandparents. They actually mailed the invitations themselves! There is a mail box right across the street from their school so as a class they walked across the street and put the invitations in the mail box! We were at my Mom's house when she got hers in the mail. James was so happy to see she got it!

The kids met the Grandparents in the church where they sang some songs for them! I gave my camera to my Mom and she recorded all the songs. Then the memory was full! I made sure the batteries were charged but didn't think about deleting things off my memory! Of course she didn't know how to do it, so we had no pictures. At least she got the important part...James kinda singing!

Here is one little video!

No More Binki!!

Jake was a binki baby. He took the binki ALL the time. I thought he would be just like Brianna, not wanting to give it up, she had hers till she was 5! I know, horrible, we ended up telling her she could not go to school if she still had a binki. She didn't have it all the time at that age, just when she went to bed! Then years later she told us she had one hidden behind her bed that we didn't know about! I thought that Jake would be the same way! But I was all wrong! About when he was 18 months he would wake up from his nap and give me his binki. He knew somehow it was only for sleeping. I don't know how he knew that because I never enforced that on him. I was glad he took care of it himself! Then about the same time he lost his blankie he was throwing out his binki when I gave it to him to go to sleep. It was almost as if he was too mad that he didn't have his blankie he wouldn't take his binki! I would put it in his crib after he was asleep in case he woke up and wanted it. Still he wouldn't take it. So it has now been a few weeks and he still hasn't had it. I found two behind his crib, but he isn't hiding them, he is throwing them out! I think he is done with them! I really can't believe he has done this all on his own. I definitely thought it would be a struggle. Recently I was reading that you should take it way before they are two, otherwise the longer you go over two the harder it gets. So I thought I would start to wean him at two, well no worries now I don't have to!

This is what we have left of our collection of binkis. I think I am just going to keep one, just in case!

So proud of you Jake! Kicking your habit all by yourself!!

January

Where did January go? Wow, already one month down in 2011! It was nice to have the kids back in school and it was a busy month for both of them in school. Brianna had finals the third week of January and we just got her report card today. She had a great first semester! James was also busy in school, for how busy a pre-schooler can be in school! This month they had snow day, they bring in snow for the kids to play in and sled down. He had tons of fun. They had teddy bear day where they bring in their favorite stuffed toy. James brought in a stuffed Lightening McQueen of course! He had his "all about me" day. We had to make a poster board of James' favorite things to do. He picked out all his pictures and helped me decorate it. I should have taken a picture! He also had to answer some questions...He said he had 5 people in his family and named them all correctly. He said his favorite thing to do with Daddy is play cars and go to car shows. His favorite thing to do with Mommy is read. When he grows up; he doesn't want to grow up. And he is special because; I love you. So cute! When he brought in his board he had to share with the class, he was also able to bring in some toys for show and tell and a book. He really enjoyed showing his tractor and his cars to the class! They also made pizza this month at school which was very fun!

We were very excited to get Disneyland passes for Christmas this year! We think it is a great tradition and an easy non-thinking present for Nonni and Papa to get us! Since our old passes expired in April of 2010 and the last time we went was for Craig's Birthday December of 2009 I was really excited to take Jake since he was only a baby the last time. It would be a whole new world for him! I couldn't wait to see how he would react to the rides!
We started at Disneyland and decided to get on the train to take it over to the Autotopia, James was dying to go on that ride...his favorite! Jake was a little unsure about the train but did great! Much better than James!


After we went to Autotopia, which ended up being closed we went over to California Adventure since there are smaller rides over there and I wanted Jake to see the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show. James loved that show.

Wow what a day! As we were in line for Mickey's clubhouse that has technical difficulty and has to close! So we head over to the bug's world and go on a few rides over there.
Our first ride, on the caterpillar.

James loves this ride because he gets to drive!

Jake having a snack while waiting for Daddy and James to get off the ride.

James and I on the Ladybug


On Monster's Inc ride. James hated it, Jake liked it! James is our cautious kid, Jake is more of a dare devil.

Another highlight! Visiting with Mater and Lightening.

We were walking around and came across this playground area that we have never seen before! It was so cool all these things for the kids to run around and climb on! The boys loved it!




Of course James and I had to get cotton candy!!

And as we were leaving we stopped in this store in Downtown Disney and of course Craig had to try out this car game. Can't pass that up!

Since we have our passes back we are trying to take advantage of them as most we can! So two weeks later we were back at Disneyland! This time we went on the bigger rides. The rockets were the first up. Jake was very uneasy when he got on. This is one of James' favorites.

But when we got going Jake ended up liking it!

Then I took James over to Autotopia while Craig decided to take Jake on Toy Story. Jake loves that movie and since James is scared of the ride and Jake is too little to go on Autotopia we thought it would be a good idea. Well it was a little scary for Jake. Don't think we will be doing that ride for awhile.
James on Autotopia driving his car, he needs some driving classes!

Next we went on Dumbo and it was pretty much the same experience as the rockets!



Minnie Mouse was going backstage and we stopped for a visit before she left. Jake is my only child that didn't scream his head off when we saw her. Brianna cried, James won't even get out of the stroller, and Jake didn't know how to react, smile, laugh or cry. He kinda did a nervous laugh, I asked him if he wanted to say hi and he did from his stroller. When we got close he didn't want to get near her! I don't blame them...a huge mouse who wants to get close to that!

We have had a good January and can't wait to enjoy our passes more throughout the year!