Ready for the Airplane!

Hanging out in Daddy's suitcase, ready for the big adventure tomorrow.

Ready for vacation.

Another low-key weekend.  And it's over.  It's so sad how fast the weekends go, except at least we have vacation to look forward to in three (hopefully) short days this week.

Jayden continues to have his strong opinions about what to do, what not to do, where to go, when to do things, etc.  I've realized we need to set some limits, and we also need to teach him to share!  I guess I kind of figured that would come naturally through daycare, but I wonder if the opposite is happening - because he's the youngest of the boys there, maybe he's even more protective of his stuff?  I ask him to "share" a grape with me or Carmen and I get a very direct "no."  And eventually, if I ask enough, he moves away from both of us and gives me a mean face.  It's hilarious, but it is something he needs to get over.

He also continues to be completely reckless.  Yesterday he fell headfirst off the couch and today he did it again.  Both times one of us was within inches of him, but we weren't able to do anything to catch him.  The good thing is no serious injuries so far.  But I feel like we're counting the days or hours or minutes until we all get a super fun trip to the emergency room.

Jayden was great at swimming lessons again yesterday.  He continues to get more and more relaxed in the water and to go underwater for longer and on his own.  He still gets nervous and still doesn't understand he can't just let go of the side and not sink, but he's getting there.  It's fun to see his progress.

In the afternoon we went to a "celebrity" basketball game for one of Carmen's clients.  It was at a high school gym near our house.  It was fun, although I saw about three minutes of the game - I spent the majority of the game either running back and forth or up and down the bleachers, or outside in the concrete ramps and stairs outside the gym with Jayden.  I had at least two people comment that Jayden was the busiest little boy ever!  Which was pretty true yesterday.  He sat still for the 10 minutes before the game and for the 10 minutes after the game, but that's about it.  He did enjoy the music that was playing - they played Kris Kross "Jump, Jump" and I kept saying the "jump" part to him and he'd go crazy and jump the whole time.  He's hilarious.  He has actually figured out how to jump, which is awesome.  He may only get 1/4" off the ground, but he loves doing it and gets so excited that it's just fun.  The only bad part is that it also means he's learning how to throw a real, full-on temper tantrum.  When he doesn't get what he wants he starts jumping up and down and throwing his arms and whining or crying or whatever.  Can't wait for the first time that happens in a grocery store or a restaurant.

Trying to catch a shot, but he's tooooo faaaaassssst!

I got a smile!

"Hugging" Jasmine.  Poor Jasmine, she's so patient.

As usually happens when we keep him out too long, he didn't have a good afternoon nap.  So it meant bedtime came a little earlier and a whole lot more difficult than it needed to be.  However, even when he's difficult, he's still hilarious and charming.

Reading the book Grandma Barb made with Daddy before bedtime.  He always looks so much smaller on Carmen's lap or in Carmen's arms.  Meanwhile, I hold him for 3-1/2 minutes and am ready to sit down and rest for an hour.  He's just solid, as Julia says.

 Today we did even less.  We all slept in, which was amazing.  Carmen got up first, at 7:30 or so.  I was awake but not really moving.  And Jayden didn't get up until 7:40 or so.  It was great - and good for him.  We went to lunch and then went to a garden center to check out plants and pots for our backyard.  Jayden of course thought the fountains were the best thing ever:

Jumping up and down in excitement about the fountain.  This was the biggest one, but there were many smaller ones we explored as well.

And again, his nap schedule was disrupted by our adventures, so he woke up much earlier than he should have, which again made him more tired than he should have been when it came to the late afternoon.  Even the little bumps required "pick up" (which is what he now says to me when he wants to be picked up) and hugs.

"No mommy!"  

And now he's asleep again and we're ready to start the week, sort of.  Both Carmen and I have a busy three days before we go on vacation, not to mention needing to get everything together to pack and prepare.  So here's hoping things go smoothly, we get to sleep Wednesday night and that we get to rest once we get to Colorado.

I hope everyone had a good weekend also!

"Mommy bwoom!"

So today we spent our afternoon sweeping.  It might sound like forced child labor, but in reality it was forced adult labor.  I would have been perfectly happy sitting on the floor playing blocks or reading or something.  But no, Jayden insisted we sweep.  And not just the kitchen.  The hallway, the carpet, he even tried to sweep the chaise (I tried to explain that brooms are only for floors - I think he understood).  And if I sat my broom down (which was technically his broom by the way - he insisted on using the big broom), he'd stop, look at me, and say "mama!  bwoom!"  He's at the age where he just loooves feeling helpful.

Running with broom.  Not quite as dangerous as running with scissors, unless you're the grown up on the wrong end of the broom handle.

See Mommy?  I can use it as a baton and only miss the nice TV by inches!

Giggling.

While we were sweeping, we also took breaks to laugh.  At one point both of us were sitting on the stairs into the kitchen.  He scooted over so that he was sitting practically on top of my foot.  I leaned over and kissed him and said "Jayden, I love you."  He looks at me and says "ah-wuh-oo mama," which means "I love you" in Jayden speak.  I literally almost cried.  For as tough as the past few days have been, personally and professionally, it was so nice to have him remind me that I'm important to someone!  And it made the temper tantrum that he threw a few minutes later a little easier to deal with.

By the way, how cute are his shorts?!?  He looks like such a little athlete.  Thanks Grandma Enid!

Happy Poppa's Day!

A belated Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.  I hope everyone was able to relax and enjoy themselves.

I can't say we did anything special, but we went to lunch and did a little shopping, watched some basketball and just generally relaxed.  It's always hard to know, but I think Carmen had a good time.

We went to a party Saturday night and took Jayden with us.  It started early, at 5 pm, so we took Jayden with us.  I ended up putting him to bed at the party (the hostess set up a pack n play for me) and he slept for a couple hours there, which I was really impressed with.  I tried to keep him asleep, but he was awake most of the ride home.  He promptly passed back out when I put him in his crib, but it still made for a late and interrupted night of sleep.  And I think he's still recovering from it.  He's been incredibly fussy the past two days, having more fits than ever before and just generally not being himself.  He's been sleeping okay at night (that's me knocking on wood, in case you couldn't tell), but still grumpy and refusing to eat by the time I get to see him at night.  I try to remember how much I love him, and I tell him that over and over again, but it definitely makes life a little harder when you know how much he can be when he's actually being fun.

On Saturday Jayden got his second haircut.  I never realize just how crazy his hair is until we take him in for a cut or I see the pictures at the barber just before the cut.  Turns out he was pretty overdue for a cut.  He was great, again.  It was a busy Saturday at the barber shop, but all the guys were impressed with how quiet and calm Jayden was.

See?!?  He had quite a 'fro going, apparently.

The barber kept waiting for Jayden to cry or smile or laugh or make any kind of noise whatsoever.  But nothing.  He just sat there and looked around.

Jayden and Daddy checking out the view in the backyard.  

Posing for the camera with Mama and loving the new haircut.

I tried to get Jayden to take a picture with Carmen on Sunday, but I never was able to get the two of them in the same place at the same time, sitting still and happy.  So you'll have to settle for photos of Jayden "celebrating" Daddy by exploring the dirt-filled backyard.

How old does he look here?  He was SO happy to be outside with his truck.  Except now he wants to take it outside every single day, which just isn't possible on weeknights, sadly.

Monster Jayden!

Finally got him to be still long enough to be in a photo with me.  Love the expression on his face - it does not even look like him.

He got himself in a bit of a predicament when he crawled almost under the truck.  He whined, but he figured his own way out of it, which made me proud (it's the little things like this that matter when they're this young).

Last night was my company's annual dinner.  Carmen went to his client's event in Denver, so I was on my own yesterday with childcare.  It was a little hectic and was extremely hard on Jayden - apparently he pretty much cried from 4:30 when I left him with the babysitter until 7:15, when she finally put him to bed.  During that time, he ate two crackers and that was it.  Amazingly, he slept until about 7:00 am this morning, but then ate everything he saw when we got downstairs.  Tomorrow is going to probably be worse: I have an early morning for work, so Jayden and I will have to leave the house by 7:20.  He'll eat breakfast at Juju's - since he again barely ate dinner tonight, we'll see how he handles the car ride.  I may have tears in my eyes driving from Juju's to work, but maybe he'll surprise me.  Maybe.

It is definitely time to go to bed now considering the ridiculous hour I have to get up tomorrow and how much I have to do tomorrow.  But before I sign off,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA /GRANDMA BARB!  

We all love you so much and which you the best year yet.  We can't wait to see you in a little more than a week!

Dancin' ma-cheen

Jayden has turned into quite a dancer (not a good dancer, but an enthusiastic one, kind of like his parents).  Not only does he sing along to Beyonce, but he also loves to get his boogie on whenever music comes on.

Sorry the video is so bad - Jayden prefers it when we dance with him so I was trying to videotape and dance with him at the same time.  If you get motion sickness easily you may not want to watch!

21 months and 8 years

Today is Jayden's 21 month birthday and Jasmine's 8th birthday!

Clearly there was not much of a celebration considering it's a Wednesday and I have a huge assignment due Friday.  But I did take pictures, which is primarily what I'm good at.  :)

About to read books with Daddy while Mama makes dinner and starts working.  We actually got a smile!

Resting.  Life is hard.  But her ear is healing well.  We can't wait to take the stitches out, hopefully this weekend.
Since we're bad doggie parents, we're hoping to get something for her this weekend - maybe a fancy dog treat or something - to celebrate the 8 (or 56) years she's made it through so far.  Here's to many more to come!

Hard at work

It's a lovely Sunday afternoon and I'm sitting at my computer - so sad!  Jayden has been getting up earlier and earlier.  We've gotten a 6:15 am wake up call the last few days and today it was 5:35 am.  So rough.  I kept him home this morning (Carmen is up in Los Angeles with Von at a photo shoot or something) and tried to keep him on his regular nap schedule.  I sat him down for lunch and he ate three bites of carrots and two bites of mac n cheese and passed out in his high chair.  I said his name, took his fork out of his hand, laid him down upstairs - and nothing.  He hasn't moved since I laid him down 1-1/2 hours ago.  Guess he was tired.  The good thing is that I have a TON of work to do, so it's allowed me to get a few things done.

This week was good.  Hectic for both of us, with lots of turmoil and drama at both of our jobs, but Jayden as always is our joy.  I literally run to my car some days - partly because I'm late and partly because I'm so excited to see him.

On Thursday we were watching the Finals and Jayden got super excited about basketball.  He pulled his stool out to just in front of the television and kept pointing at the TV and exclaiming "bas-eck-ball!"

I got a video too.  Just before this he had been raising his hand as if he were shooting a basketball.  I realize this was entirely a coincidence but I tried to get him to reenact it - no luck.

Yesterday was a good day too.  Swimming went well - Jayden continues to improve and get more and more comfortable in the water.  Stacy thinks he's scowling at her, but I think he's actually having fun now.  And he holds on to her a little, instead of always reaching for me or Carmen.  He is still taking breaths before he goes under too - not always, but at least some of the time - which is good.

After swimming we came home for Jayden to nap, and then went out to lunch and to the park.  By the end of the day he was exhausted and fell asleep on the couch next to me.

Walking outside of the restaurant.  Doesn't he look grown up in this picture?!?

While I paid the bill, Carmen and Jayden ran circuits down the ramp, up the stairs, down the ramp, up the stairs - over and over and over again.  Jayden's smile when he came around the corner of the ramp was priceless.

Hanging from the monkey bars with Daddy.

In between the park and the passing out, we turned on the Beyonce documentary.  Jayden apparently loves himself some Beyonce because he was dancing and pointing.  It only lasted a few minutes before he lost interest and started playing with his trains, sweeping and stacking his blocks.  But it was cute while he lasted - especially while he was trying to sing along. 

Passed out next to Mommy on the couch.  We had to pry him awake at 6:40 pm - we fed him, bathed him and put him back to bed by 8:00 pm.  

Today nothing much has happened.  Like I said, Jayden woke up at 5:30ish.  We let him hang out in his crib until 6:30 or so.  I went for a long run while Carmen fed him and walked Jasmine and then Carmen took off for L.A.  Jayden and I played all over the house this morning.  He's super bright today (thanks to both Grandmas) and I snapped a few pictures:

Chilling out in the chair.
When he sits in this chair I have to sit in the other chair.  And then we both lean back and go "ahhh."  This time he had some difficulty getting comfortable, since he kept ending up on top of the pillow.  Eventually he just owned it.

Checking out the front lawn.

This week is another crazy week for me - and we don't have childcare on Thursday and Friday because Julia is closed and her niece already has four kids under the age of two.  It means I'll take a vacation day Thursday and Carmen will take a vacation day Friday.  I can't really afford to do it, but I also don't really have a choice, so I'll make it work.  The joys of motherhood, I guess.  It just helps me look forward to vacation that much more - counting down the 18 days!

Bentley the Boxer

Jayden has been doing really well (still).  He's just making so much progress in so many different areas, it's great.  And it's so much fun to hang out with him.

Grandma Barb sent a package the other day and it included a present for Jayden.  Most of us would be pretty disappointed if we got this as a present, but it turned out to be great for Jayden.  It's a broom!  He started sweeping immediately and wandered all over the house sweeping.  I got him to make a thank you video for Grandma:

Carmen went out of town yesterday and just got home about 10 minutes ago.  So I had an evening and a day with Jayden.  We had a good time, but we're both exhausted!  Last night I got to Julia's late, so we had a super rushed dinner and bedtime routine.  But we still managed to have some fun.

I probably shouldn't post this picture or tell this story, but just listen to the part about Jayden and ignore the part that indicates my lack of attention:  I was in the kitchen making dinner and it was just about ready.  Jayden was ready too, so I told him to go to his highchair.  The tray was fully locked (thank goodness).  I turn around three seconds later and he's standing in his high chair like this.  What that means is that he climbed up the two steps of the high chair, over the tray, into the seat and turned around and stood up.  Scared me half to death.  But he was fine and the chair didn't tip over, so no harm no foul - that time.  Definitely going to make sure that doesn't happen again.

Coolest cat in the house.  Turns out it's easier to get Jayden to eat when you give him sunglasses and let him run all over the kitchen/family room in between bites.  Last night was a "whatever works" kind of night.

Today we had swim lessons in the morning, Jasmine's follow-up appointment and then an open afternoon.  Swimming was great.  We went a little early and swam around, had a great lesson and then swam some more after.  Stacy said Jayden is doing amazing - she even started using his hands when she put him underwater so that he's starting to learn the swimming motions.  It's so cool.  And he also took a breath before going under at least once, which is awesome.  He's really learning and taking to it so well.

Jasmine is doing well - we need to do a few things better with her ear, but for now we're planning to get the stitches out around June 17th.  It's a long time that she'll have to wear the cone, but it'll be best for her so we're going to try to make it.

Jayden and I went to lunch and to the grocery store - nothing exciting.  BUT, when we came home, I was changing his diaper and Jayden goes "potty?"  I asked him "you need to go potty?" and he said "yeh."  So I grabbed him off the changing table and ran to the potty seat (praying the whole time that he didn't pee in the meantime).  I sat him on the potty seat and we sat there for a minute or two, talking about the stool, the bathtub, etc.  He half stood up for a second and I looked him and he'd actually peed in the potty!!!  It was amazing.  Later in the day he was running around in his diaper. I had gone to get something from another room and he came running after me, pulling his diaper down, saying "potty."  This time he'd already peed in his diaper - but at least it meant he's noticing.  We may potty train him without even meaning to.  I was thinking I might look into pull-ups diapers so that it's easier to get him on a toilet if we need to.

He wanted to play with chalk so I stripped him to his diaper and set him outside.  Our A/C wasn't working so I kept him in just his diaper for a while to keep him cool.  He's such an adventurous little boy.

Walking back and forth along the window seat in our front bay window.  I kind of love this picture.  

Jayden has started hanging from things.  In this particular scenario, he was trying to reach his "choo-choo" that was on the counter above him.  So he figured if he held on and tried to climb up, he might be able to get it.  

All the excitement wore him out.  This is Jayden passed out, being watched by his stuffed animal doggie (Bentley the Boxer) and both of them being watched by the real head of the house, Jasmine.  Jayden slept from about 5 to 6:30, through three or four doorbells, a machine outside and various conversations, barks and yelps.  And then he was back asleep by 8:00 pm.  Amazing.  If only I lived his life.

I gave Jayden the stuffed animal today.  I had bought it a while ago, but have been trying to not give him a ton of new things all at once.  As soon as he got it, he latched on.  Anytime Jasmine sniffed it, he got mad.  When I tried to put my hand on the stuffed animal when we were cuddling before bed, he picked my hand up and removed it from the stuffed animal.  When I laid him down in his crib he wrapped both of this arms around the dog and curled up next to it.  It's really cute, but I'm already scared.  I should have bought two in case something happens to this one.  I think I have a coupon so I may go back and buy a second one just to be safe.

Jayden and I had a dance party while we brushed his teeth - he had his arms and legs moving.  He also has been trying to jump - he bends his knees and his arms and prepares himself, then stands up straight and kind of jerks his body. And then he takes a tiny step with one foot and a tiny step with his other foot.  So he has absolutely no hops.  I haven't been able to catch it on video, but I'll try.  It's so funny.

Tomorrow we might go to a local fair (the Tustin Chili Cook-Off) or we might just chill out at home and make a quick trip to the park.  I purposely went to the grocery store today so that tomorrow could be a relaxing day with the three of us.  Hopefully it works out!

In case anyone is counting, T-27 days until the big day (oh and T-17 days until the other big day - I'm not ignoring you Mama!).  Last night Carmen told me I was going to be "old" in 28 days and that he meant that in the most loving way possible.  If anyone has any idea how that statement can be made lovingly, please educate me.  Because I have not been able to figure it out.  Happy Saturday Night everyone!