Happy birthday Jones!

Today is my oldest kids birthday!  It seems like just yesterday he was a tiny baby with the most adorable crying dimple.  And now he’s well on his way into boyhood.  

He delights in earth sciences, and social events.  He is interested in so many things.  He’s recently taken to playing real legos and building things.  He generates ideas for school projects and activities for us to do.  He loves playing with his friends especially active games.  

He has a crush on a older girl charlotte, who he once thought was the princess charlotte.   Despite his crush if you ask who his girlfriend is he always says Kacie (she must be his first love).

He adores swimming and has become so brave in the pool - jumping in head first.  He wants to be a dinosaur when he grows up even though he knows they extinct.  He snuggles me when he’s sleepy.  He can’t wait for ice skating and soccer to start up again and asks me almost daily if he has them.  He loves going to church and passionately believes that Jesus loves him more than ice cream. 

He misses his dad and he prays that he can get the treatment he needs.   He asks questions and is thoughtful.  He is wise beyond his years.

He still wears the same clothes from two years ago although he’s getting two tall.  He would pick tie dye everyday if we had enough tie dye.  He has wavy thick hair and my eyes sometimes blue sometimes gray and sometimes hazel.  He loves my quilts and would like to make one.

He can’t wait for family vacation, riding on a plane, and going to the beach.  He asks if sharks will be on the beach.  He brings me immense joy everyday and I delight in being his mother.

Oh Jones you are so magical.  happy birthday! 

(Photo from the farmers market where jones was elated to find cherries and learn to separate wheat from the stalk).

10 - Young Wild and Three a party for Jonesy

So two months back now we had a birthday party for jones!  I went back and forth between having it and not.  Paying for a place or taking chances with the park.  I ended up deciding to just go with the local splash park where they had picnic tables in the shade too it it's hot. I made signs because I am not sure many people had been to this splash park.  

I asked him what he wanted for a theme and he requested monster.  So I rounded up a few monster goodie bag treats and let him make them.  We also made a monster cake together.  

Anyhow it worked out perfectly it wasn't too hot. Lots of friends came, we had exactly enough cake.  

He enjoyed his party and he was super tried and ready for napping when we got home.  

He also requested a Fitbit so that's what I bought him.  

Conversations with Jones - New Baby

The other day in a long car ride back from a family reunion jones and I were having conversations and this one struck me rather funny.  To preface this there had been a lot of babies at the family reunion.  It's the type of thing I wish I had recorded so I figured it would add it here...

"Mommy Honey - can we get a new baby?" - J

"Umm, we have baby Thea." - Me 

"No a new baby." - J

"Nope, four makes a good family - we have mommy, daddy, Jonesy and Thea.  That's 4. 4 is good." - Me 

"4 is good?" - J

"Yes." - Me

"No 7 is good.  I want 7." - J

"Probably not buddy.  We like 4." - Me 

"But new baby? Daddy should have the new baby. 7." - J

"Daddy are you hearing this?  Jonesy daddy's don't have babies."  (Me poking not Dustin to see if he is listening).

"Yes. Daddy can have babies mom. Yes."- J

"Daddy's don't usually have babies."

"My daddy can."

"Well... Let's turn on our CD."  (Me changing the subject).

Photos from a pit stop we made because Thea needed a diaper change.  Jonesy was pretending daddy wearing his hat, sitting in his seat, testing the belt, Windows, and locks - he also ordered a "dr pepper" because it's a "adult beverage".  I love this age.

Jonesy 26 months

Jonesy - 

Twenty-six months is so fun. 

You are figuring stuff out - opening the fridge, getting on the counters, flushing the toliet, plugs etc.  

You are loving the swimming pool, baseball and bikes. 

You sometimes call me "Honey Mommy" You ask for something "right now".

You are remembering things so good like Saturday's are for fun.

You fuss about everything and nothing at the same time.  

You throw fits about everything and nothing.

You have opinions on what's for dinner, where we go when going out, and which way we should drive.

You tell Thea what's happening.

You are so talkative saying sentences and questions and having whole conversations.

You sing songs.  Happy birthday might be your favorite.

You jump so good and are starting to skip.

You count 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,7,8...

You call a stool a ladder and a quilt a mini. 

You sometimes give me "smooshy face" and then kiss me.

You tell me you lub me.

We read all kinds of books - I am thinking we might borrow some from the library soon.  

We talk about your day.

We play "I spy"and look for school buses.

We run thru hallways.

We snuggle.

We wrestle and practice summersaults.

We cook together.

You are such a joyous and happy boy.

Love you much Jonesy

Mommy

Conversations with my Toddler

Just wanted to share this little conversation this morning.  

Walking to the car...

"Mommy it is doggy today?" - J

"Huh what?" - me 

"Doggy it's doggy.  In my hair too?" - J

"Oh foggy? Yes it's foggy" - me

"Ya doggy. It got my hair mommy." - J 

"It happens buddy." - me 

"It happen mommy." - J 

(referring to how the fog and humidity was curling his hair.) 

Jonesburf - 25 months

This month has been of highs and lows a little lull in between.  Photos taken at a wall inside Traders Point Church.  I saw it and I just decided to snap pictures and jones complied for a minute anyhow.

Dear Jonesy -

This month we hit some of the terrible twos.  And I must admit I cannot stand the whiny boy.  But boy if you are tired, hungry or just dead set on something the whiny kid shows up.  But then 10 minutes later my sweet boy is back.  It is such a challenge, especially as your sister has issues sleeping and only wants to nurse with mommy.

You are such a little talker, we converse about everything.  

You remember everything too.  

We talk about being brave and not crying at school.  And you remember to tell me if you were brave and didn't cry.

We talk about what color things are.

And where is daddy, Thea, grandma, or anyone not in the room.

You started at your new school and you are said Miss Charmaine is not there but you are fond of Miss Ashley your new teacher. 

You are in the panda room and working on potty training.

You don't like getting dropped off and ask the teachers 100 times where's mommy where's daddy and usually you answer the question for them.

You also like to ask if you can stay home and miss Kari can come over (we wish buddy we wish).

You discovered you like raisins and we like to use them like a treat.

You run, jump, climb and do summersaults. 

You love to wrestle in the living room and will often drag out all the pillows and the blankets to set up a mat.

You love Thea.

You often tell her it's okay she doesn't need to cry.

You try and give her a bottle or a blanket. 

You offer her snacks and tell mommy that she wants baby cereal when you think she's hungry.

You sometimes are so shy but other times you run right up to people and hold their hand or ask to sit on their lap.

You are such a joy my little Jonesy.

Love mommy

San Francisco

Both babies napped all the way to San Fran so we decided to drive over the bridge first thing.  Then of course we woke them up (Thea didn't take) so we could snap their pics with the bridge.  Jones has super grumpy face however he LOvED the city.  He loves going downtown in Indy too so it's similar.  

 We snapped some selfies then drove to the city to find lunch.  We should have planned parking better because every single lot seemed full and spot taken we ended up paying like $20 for parking which seems crazy.  Jones loved seeing the sea lions again and he also was completely smitten with every single street performer he literally wanted to watch them all day.

We stopped to buy jones a sweatshirt from a vendor because he dumped his water all over himself and soaked his warmer clothes.  But he was very excited for his California Bear shirt.  He actually walked around for a good bit in the city staying right next to the stroller.  

We went to a national park right in the city and saw some big ships and jones was thrilled to get his stamps for his book the little park ranger was so helpful with him.  then when the wind blew away his stamps he ran after them like chasing a butterfly.  And the sweetest little couple chased it down and got it for him, because we were concerned he might run off the pier.  I wish I had gotten a video.  After that we persuaded him to put it away so we could get a snack.  

We ate Boudin sourdough outside watching the city. 

On the way out of the city I took Kathleen to see the Painted Ladies she actually had no idea what it was she thought I was referring to graffiti and almost didn't get a photo! Oh Kathleen.  We sat in traffic on the way back to San Jose but the babies slept so it was all good.  Next time we visit we will remember NOT to park near the wharf and to bring an extra sweatshirt for the kids who no doubt will need a change of clothes.

loves to party

This boy loves to party!  Ever since he attended Kathleen's birthday in April he's been very excited for parties.  Since his actual birthday was on Father's Day we scheduled the party for the following week.  But on his birthday we did make sure and complete his birthday list which included - pizza, cupcake, pool, and balloons.  Easy enough right.   

We took him to Garfield Park for pool.  It has a nice splash park and kids area and he even went down the little slide several times he loved it.  When he got sooo tired he could barely walk we headed out for napping.  

We got him balloons and cupcakes and ordered pizza.  He was so excited for all these things and with his cake he attempted to eat all the sprinkles off and then was cradling his cake before he actually ate it.  So funny to watch.  

He had such a good time he asked to do it again the next day.  And then the following week we had his real party.  We invited friends and family and just had it at the house.  Naturally it was the hottest day so far this summer.  But we made things work.  I originally was doing a camping theme but abandoned that when I couldn't find any camping things and we just had a colorful summer theme.  Jones had trouble wanting to nap before the party so he was asleep when guests arrived.  I woke him up though.  We had a pizza photo booth, a clown game, toys, and food and funfetti cake.  

He loved having his friends over.  He was thrilled for balloons and pizza.  He loved playing both inside and outside.  He was so excited about cake.  He wanted to play with all his presents.  He especially loved going for a dip in his new pool after the party.  He was a party animal.  

I asked that everyone so outdoor toys since the house is becoming cluttered.  That's pretty much what he got including pool, mower, soccer set, baseball etc. We got him a scooter, helmet, pajamas, and a outside basketball hoop.  He loves every bit of it. 

It was a good birthday and when everyone left he started to cry he wanted "more party".  My little Jonesy every day can be a party if you make it so.  Every day.

Jonesburf 24 months

Dear Jonesy -

Holy cow you are two little man.  You are so full of energy, joy and spunk.  You make each day better but it's always a challenge.  

You talk so much and we have whole conversations.  You make decisions like chicken or hot dogs.  You repeat most everything you hear sometimes you pick up phrases from people like "woo bro" or "ya honey".  

You run, jump, walk backwards, sideways and waddle. You love ball any kinds but especially basketball.  Each day  we play between two and four ball related games. You often dance to music or no music but you wiggle your hips all the time.

You like building blocks and crafts.  And we paint, draw, do beads, playdoh and sticks regularly. 

You absolutely love to go out.  Favorite places are downtown, target, museum, and the park.  And let's not forget live music any event with music and you are so in. 

You love parties.  Weddings. Birthdays.  New babies.  Any excuse for party and you are all signed up.  (Birthday party post coming).  

Thea is your pal.  You explain to her where you are, tell her it's okay, try to comfort and breast feed her.  You are a very serious big brother.  

We digress on potty training, and have had several episodes of "No" or times where timeout was necessary. 

Mommy is so excited watching you mature and change.  I love you to the moon and back at enjoy when you grab my face for a hug and a kiss.  I also like that you still want to be carried and snuggled.  

Love love love. Mommy

These photos were taken with a wall at The Tube Factory they are less that perfect and most were super blurry and I had to change his pants into unmatching basketball shorts before I snapped them because he had an accident, but real life people real life.