Easter 2011

We had a great Easter weekend.  To start off, JJ, Reese, my mom, and I went to Jim's Grandma's for an easter egg hunt.  JJ had a great time, except for the fact that he was more interested in Chauncy "the dog" and the other kids.  He was the last one to get going when they said the hunt was on, but he ran with all his little might.  Luckily Mimi was there to stop another little boy from getting the only 4 eggs that remained.  JJ was thrilled with the 4 eggs that he found and we all enjoyed the memory.

Then on Saturday JJ and I went to Lakeside Park in Caledonia for the easter egg hunt.  We got there about 10 minutes before it began.  The hardest part was trying to keep JJ from getting the eggs.  I kept telling him to wait...wait...wait...  So wait he did.  He decided to sit on a rock.  Then once he was on the rock that is when they told everyone they could begin.  JJ was last again =( but he still had fun.

By Easter day he was really getting the hang of this egg thing.

Back to Work

It's been a bit tough going back to work.  The night before I had to start back I thought I was doing well until Jim got home.  He had bought me a bouquet of flowers and a very nice card.  I immediately started to cry.  I didn't think it was going to be that tough, but I was wrong.  The first two days back were good, but I certainly missed my kids.  As of recently JJ has learned to "pound it."  It started off when I was trying to teach him how to approach dogs.  I realized that right now he throws his hands with his fingers out in Slyder's face when he wants Slyder to lick his hand.  However, I can see how down the road this may be problematic with other dogs.  So I taught him to make a fist when he wants Slyder to give him a kiss.  JJ got such a kick out of this.  Then we transferred it to pounding and the rest is history.  He is such a fast learner.

Sibling Interaction

Reese can hold her head up all by herself!!!!!!

I asked JJ if he thought that Reese needed some tummy time and he said yes. I got out her surfboard and he grabbed a burp cloth to put down "which I always do so I don't have to wash it as much," man he knows the routine. I put her face down and he pointed to her feet, he wanted me to take off her socks(I always do this). After I took off her socks he immediately went to the opposite side that I was sitting and laid belly down in the floor and started to shout out some words. I realized that he was trying to call out her name, "again, this is what I do when Reese does tummy time."

Vacuuming

Today JJ let me know that it was time to vacuum. He went to our front closet where he has h is own vacuum that my mom bought for him. We both got our vacuums out and started vacuuming. He does such a great job. When it was all over he put his vacuum back and played with his legos.

A Day in the Life

We had a family outing today to our first real garage sales of the season. As we headed out Jim reminded me that we do not need anymore toys. I half way listened ;-). At our first stop we found some clothes for Reese and Jim found a deer lamp made out of deer hooves. I was super excited about it, but not as much as Jim. Oh well, for a $1 how could we pass it up. Anyway, our next stop was nothing much, but our final garage sale I spotted a sand and water table and JJ spotted a Lego table. Needless to say we walked away with both :-). As we got back into the car Jim said, "JJ, i thought I told mommy no more toys, but I guess mommy didn't hear me as usual.". I listen, it's just called selective hearing.

When we got home JJ helped me with the laundry (like always), putting dirty clothes into the washer, transferring the washed clothes to the dryer, then helping me fold the laundry and put it away. However, whenever he helps me put things away they always seem to end up in his pajama drawer. After laundry it was nap time so he searched through his books and picked one out to read as he fell asleep.

2 hours into his nap I heard my son cry out then silence. I waited a few more minutes and heard nothing. I figured he had gone back to sleep. About a half an hour later I thought I would check on him. As I opened the door to his room I saw him sitting in the corner of his crib with a book in his hands. He looked up at me like I had just disturbed his reading time. Super cute. What a good boy.

Timeout

After being told a few times, not to stand on his car we took a trip to the timeout wall. JJ has only been on this wall a couple of times, but he has already got the hang of it. I sat him on the wall, told him why he was there, and left. No tears were shed "surprise" and after a minute I went back to talk to him. As he stood up I asked him if he knew why he was in timeout, he pointed to his car. I said I love you and he gave me a hug and a kiss and went on playing. I love him so much.

Eventful Day

We went for a walk to see the horses today, even though it should only take us 10 minutes to walk, it took about an hour. JJ stopped to pick up almost every rock that he saw and then he would throw it. We spent a lot of time throwing rocks into the water. Seeing the horses was the only thing that kept us going. When we finally go to the horses he said hi, bye, and we were on our way back. After carrying him the majority of the way back we came inside and ate. Then on the 15 th time that I changed Reese's diaper today he again told me to put he on her play mat, but he had to hold her first. With his arms stretched out he held her and gave her a kiss. Gotta love it!
Then as I was feeding Reese, JJ decided that he wanted to take all of his books from the living room and put them on his book shelf in his bedroom. One by one he picked them up, ran down the hall, I heard a bang, and back down the hall he came. After he was done he wanted to show me what he did (he was so proud). After he showed me, he then took all of his books one by one back to the living room. :-)

It seems that JJ has a cold which has led to his newest discovery. I tried to wipe his nose, in which he pulled away so I told him that I needed to wipe his nose because he had a booger. He looked at me with his head tilted to the side and said "what!?". I repeated myself and I pointed to it in his nose. He then held up his middle finger to his nostril and said "dat". After that point if I tell him that I need to wipe his nose because he has a booger, he will point with his middle finger at his nose. It's so cute (now) until he actually tries to pick it. :-(. Yuck.

On a happy note Reese slept for 6 hours last night. Ahhh, uninterrupted sleep.

Zoo..rific

On Saturday we took JJ and Reese to the John Ball Zoo. It was JJ' second time being there and he loved it. It was a 50 degree day and although not a lot of the animals were out, we still had a lot of fun. Reese slept through the entire thing after spitting up on me within the first 10 minutes of getting there. :-). It seemed that JJ's favorite part of the zoo was the lions and bears, of course. He loved them. We had so much fun, we can't wait to go back.

Our first library trip

Everyday Reese gets more and more animated. This morning after sleeping for 4 hours straight, she was all smiles. She was even talking to us and telling us all about her night. The other amazing thing was yesterday when JJ and I went to the Caledonia library. It was his first time in the new library and did he ever enjoy himself. I couldn't have been any prouder of him. We went over to the children's section where he proceeded to say ooooo as much as possible when he saw all of the play areas. He then found his way over to the board book section where he took the time to go through each and every book. Pulling it out, examining the cover and then giving it to me if he liked it. He knew what he wanted ( so cute) and others he would put back. We placed his books into his wheelbarrow that he then pushed around the library. He was such a GOOD boy! At the end we went to the checkout and he stood up on the stool and checked out every book, one by one. He acted as if he was a pro and had done it before. As we went to put the wheelbarrow back he spotted a little girl playing on a mat in the children's area. He tried to play with the " older woman", but she wanted nothing to do with it. She kept saying to James, "your mom says you have to leave. Can't you hear your mom, she says you have to leave.". JJ was untouched by her words and proceeded to play. I had to pick him up so we could leave. It was such an enjoyable experience that we can't wait to go back.

Beautiful butterfly

Today we went with my parents to see the butterfly exhibit at the Meijer Gardens. JJ absolutely loved it. Every time he saw a butterfly he would flap his arms and say ooo, ooo. He loved it! We then went to see the horse and he galloped all around, it was so adorable. Reese did amazing. She slept the whole time. We'll have to go back again so she can be awake and see everything. As we left we asked JJ if he wanted to go back to see the butterflies again. With a giant smile he said oooo again and nodded his head. Gotta love it.

Big Girl

Last night Reese spent her first night in her crib. She did such a great job and only woke up twice. She looked so small in her big crib. I'm so proud of her.

JJ update

I know I'm bias, but I think I have the best boy ever. Ever since his sister has come home from the hospital he has been sooooooo protective and loving of her. The first time he saw her in the hospital he wasn't quite sure what to make of her so he was more interested in the balloons that were in the room. Now that he has gotten to know her I could not be prouder of how he has handled the transition. For example, whenever Reese cries he tries to comfort her by grabbing a binky and trying to put it in her mouth (usually missing and hitting her forehead.). He has also tried to console her by sharing his most prized possession with her (his blanket). It is the most touching thing ever.

First day on a new adventure

I decided that in this age of technology, what better way to record memories than to create a blog. There are so many things that happen in everyday life that I want to look back on and remember. So I will blog.