J: "Mommy, can I play on the computer when we get home?"
M: "No, buddy. When we get home it's going to be time to eat lunch."
J: "We'll see, Mommy, we'll see..."
Hey, if it lets him hold on to a little hope and avoid a major meltdown, more power to him.... the answer is still no, ha!
He is doing SO WELL at playing by himself when I'm busy with brother. For the first few months after Dawson was born (UNFORTUNATELY) the TV was Jake's main entertainment. Coincidentally that's also when we had the most discipline problems with him. I have definitely found that with Jake, if he has too much electronics (TV, computer, InnoTab) time during the day, it COMPLETELY effects his behavior. Yes, the first few months with a newborn you are in survival mode, so I had to use what was available and allowed me to get done what needed to get done. At that time, playing by himself was NOT J's forte', now, he's FABULOUS at pretend play, puzzles, playing outside and anything else he can find to do on his own. I'm so proud of the boy he is becoming. He has so much fun at PDO (Parent's Day Out) two times a week. They have told me on several occasions that he has great manners :-) Music to a Mommy and Daddy's ears. Though we might have a battle in the morning now and then about getting chores done etc., there is NEVER a battle about going to "school". He LOVES it and he LOVES his teachers. He did have some issues with sharing at first (what 2-3 yr old doesn't?), but through their help and loving on him he is doing so much better.
His favorite thing is still taking long walks when we can... he'll settle for a short one too if that's all we've got time for. He has learned to ride his tricycle and has almost mastered swinging himself on the swing. He's still our climber and climbs on his swing set ever which way except the way you're supposed to. He's just like his Mommy in the fact that he NEVER wears shoes. It doesn't even cross his mind to put on shoes before running outside. (sadly it often doesn't cross mine either to have him put on shoes... guess that will change with winter arriving, ha!!). He still collects rocks wherever we go, as well as sticks, twigs, leaves, acorns, pecans and whatever else he might find.
Can you believe he is THREE YEARS OLD?!? The time has FLOWN. We haven't had his party yet, but we did make his special day all about him. He woke up to a streamer covered doorway and a flurry of balloons outside his room. He was welcomed at the breakfast table with mini dinosaurs from brother, breakfast "cookies", and strawberry milk. He got to open his first gift from Grammie and Granddad and enjoyed playing with it for a good portion of the morning. Next, G took him to the Science Spectrum (I stayed home so Dawson could take his morning nap). He had fun, as always looking at the airplanes and playing in the model cockpit. Next we all met up with some friends to eat lunch and play at Chick-Fil-A. If we had realized it was Columbus Day and his friends were all out of school we would have made this his birthday party. They all had a blast and we brought a Chocolate Chip Cookie cake that G and I made the night before. (a story within itself, ha!). After a fun filled lunch, we headed home for a much needed nap. After rest time we just did our normal afternoon routine of snacks, a show, and outside playtime until G got home. (He had to go to work after lunch). We then had his FAVORITE meal, MEATBALLS for dinner. After dinner he got to open his gift from Mommy and Daddy, an InnoTab. He was pretty excited, so needless to say it was InnoTab play time until bath time. (Oh, I forgot to mention he's been opening more gifts throughout the day as well. Bible Stories/DVD's from Bauchi, and Adorable Books from The Nuzum Clan). When bath time rolled around he was excited to see a glow-in-the dark bath waiting on him. (Sm. glow sticks thrown in the tub and lights out) He had a BLAST. A few balloons also made it into the tub with him, he had so much fun. Needless to say, he crashed pretty hard that night. We're having his actual birthday party this weekend. I'm really looking forward to it, especially since he never got a second brithday party due to pregnancy woes.
Other than his birthday, I pretty much missed posting about all his summer fun. He LOVED spending time outside this summer on his trampoline, swimming pool, and swing set. We took our first trip to Mesquite as a family of 4 in August. During that trip we had a chance to ride the Dart Rail to the Dallas zoo and spend a morning. Though it got HOT, we had a great time. Jake actually rode a camel, I was in shock. We've tried to get him to ride a pony at the Science Spectrum here and he would have nothing to do with it.
In other news, he's just about potty trained!! G took off work on Friday to stay home and help out, he’s been a TREMENDOUS help, don’t think I could have done it without him!! We had a rough start Friday morning, but by working his magic, G managed to convince J it was what he wanted to do. We’re now on day 2. As long as he’s running around naked, he doesn’t have accidents, but is a little more accident prone with underwear on, though even that is getting better. We were taking him every 15 min to potty, but have spread that timeout to more of 20-30 min depending on how long it’s been since he’s gone last and how much he’s had to drink. He gets a sticker anytime the timer goes off and he’s still dry. Then he gets two stickers plus a treat (a piece of Halloween candy, life saver gummy, skittles etc.) if he actually does something on the potty. We haven’t had any poop success yet, but he’s doing great with the other J We’re SO PROUD of how well he’s taking to this and it’s so much easier with G and I doing it together! I’m so very blessed to have a hubby that’s willing to get involved and help out. Other than the morning of day one, it’s been a lot more pleasant than what I ever thought it could be.
Now here are just some random pictures taken over the last few months. I'm sure they're all out of order, but I've gotta catch up somehow, ha! Enjoy!!
Jake 3yrs from Gerald Miller on Vimeo.
