Top 10 Reasons for Tears, This Week

To be clear, these aren't the only times Jayden has cried this week, but they are the top 10, either the most common, the funniest, the most unexplainable, or, in one or two cases, the most understandable.

10. I gave him milk in the blue cup.  Clearly everyone knows that milk is served in the orange cup.  Except for that one time when he said he wanted the blue cup, but then he really wanted the orange cup.

9. I made him get into the bathtub to play with his toys and splash.

8. I forced him to get out of the bathtub to roll around on the floor with Mama and Daddy and giggle before bedtime.

7. I wouldn't let him take extra medicine (as in twice the allowed dose) before bedtime.

6. I turned on music when we were getting ready in the morning.

Jayden does love himself some music.  We had finished dinner at a restaurant on Saturday and he was bouncing off his food high in the bench next to me.  We don't bother getting high chairs anymore because it's just as easy to keep him in a bench next to one of us.  

5. I tried to put on his socks and shoes while he was eating breakfast in his high chair.

4. I took off his socks and shoes, per his request, while he was eating breakfast in his high chair.

3. I wouldn't let him push his stroller (at 0.000004 miles per hour) on our walk with Jasmine in the morning.

2. He bumped his head really hard on the kitchen table (this one is actually legit - it sounded so bad!)

And the number one reason Jayden cried this week . . .

1. We tried to get him a haircut because when he goes swimming his hair falls into his eyes.  End result: no haircut.

Gotta love toddlers.

In other news, we had a nice, relaxing weekend, full of lots of nothing.  We went to Lowes and the grocery store for our exciting Sunday morning activities.

Checking out the chairs in Lowes.  This is one of the 8 or so chairs we had to climb into to test out.

Then we put together an umbrella for our backyard - we feel like we're the ultimate Southern California house now, with the pool, the furniture, the umbrella, etc.  It's a little ridiculous, but it's fun at the same time.  And Jayden likes the 'brella.

Relaxing in the chair.  And probably yelling at me to "sit down."

Calm (this lasted 4.2 seconds).

It really was a good weekend.  Jayden napped, relatively well, and ate pretty well and was generally cheerful.  We got to lay low, which all of us needed.  We tried to get a babysitter, but couldn't find anyone.  I've come to realize that I really need to have three or four people on call and use them regularly so that we keep them used to working with us, and keep Jayden used to them.  We'll see if I have the time and/or take the time to actually figure all that out!

It's not really Monday, is it?!?

Technically, no.  But it's so close we can feel it and it's just not fair!!

We had a pretty good weekend, low-key and laid back, which is what everyone needed after the last two weeks.

On Friday night we just hung out at home.  Jayden and I got home in time to play outside for a bit.  And of course, he fell headfirst into the pool.  Obviously.  We were by the hot tub and he was reaching in for a leaf.  He lost his balance and went headfirst.  He really only got the top half of his body wet, and I only got one ankle wet rescuing him, so luckily it was more funny than it was scary for both of us.

Explaining to me where he fell in and how he got wet.

Just one of my favorite pictures.

On Saturday we had swimming lessons as usual.  And he was awesome!  He's floating through the water more on his own.  Stacy told us to actually let him float a little so that he would be forced to use his arms and legs, and he was doing it!  It was more scared swimming than real swimming, but he was kicking and starting to understand that his arms would help him too.  And a couple times he even poked his head up above the water on his own.  It was very cool.

After that, Jayden and I went to the beach as part of a networking event for women who are lawyers and moms.  Only four of us showed up (thirty were registered), but I realized it was only Jayden's second trip to the beach and the last one was over a year ago in Maryland.  At first he was upset about getting sand on his toes and would barely walk.  And then he started running everywhere and stealing other peoples' beach toys.  It was hilarious (and tiring).  It was a really steep hill to get down to the beach, so I was worried about the trek back up.  However, Jayden walked the entire way up the hill, and all the way to the car also - without shoes on!  He was very sweet and we had a good time.

Love this picture.  So pensive.  At it wasn't just lucky; he stood like this for a few minutes (in reality, probably 30-45 seconds, but that's a long time in his world) staring out at the water.

Finally giving in and getting sand everywhere!

Carrying his bucket and shovel back to "mama's car."

In the grass by the car.  I think it took us 20 minutes to get the last 15 feet to the car.

Turns out Daddy and Jayden had on matching outfits on Saturday:

Despite Jayden's lack of naps on Saturday, he was a ball of energy once we got home.

Today was another relaxed day.  I went for a long run and to the grocery store this morning while Carmen stayed home with Jayden.  Carmen and I ate lunch together while Jayden napped for 2-1/2 hours and then Carmen took off for his fantasy football draft at a bar with his friends.  I stayed home, made food for dinner and generally hung out with the kiddo.  The pool fence was finished today, so that means it's so much safer for all of us to be outside.  It's lovely.  Or actually, not lovely, but helpful for our peace of mind.

Crawling through the shelves in Mama and Daddy's room.  He got "'tuck" and I had to direct him on how to get out.  He wasn't actually stuck.  He just wanted to get through the shelf on the left that is about 5" tall. 

I had laid back on the chair and put my feet up with my legs crossed.  He wanted to do the same thing and so I went to get my camera and told him "you know that means I have to take a picture of you."  He giggled and put his hands over his face.  This is right after he took his hands away from his face.

And this is what he looks like when you tell him to "smile!"  Probably my favorite smile ever and for always.

Jayden took this picture of us.  He loved being able to push the button.  

I also got some video.  Of course (as always), he wouldn't dance once I had the camera on him - we were playing music outside at the time.  But the video does show you how much he's understanding sentences and starting to say them back to us.  He's combining 5-6 works at a time to actually say phrases and sentences, which is amazing.

Aaaand now it's Sunday night and we're about to go to bed and go to work again.  Just not quite ready for that adventure.  Particularly since Jayden has been actually so enjoyable the past few days.  Except for the whole waking up at 5:30 am thing.  I really don't know what to do about that.  It's just too early.  But I guess I can start going to bed at 9:00.  I just can't figure out when I'll get anything done if I do that.  Oh well.  Not something worth worrying over; it'll all work out somehow.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Happy first week back to school Lizzle!  Hope you made the most of your last completely free weekend!!!

Home again

It has been forever since I posted, so I have more than I can possibly catch up on in one post.

Carmen and I went out of town for a long weekend to NYC to see his friend get married.  It was a wonderful celebration but NYC is not good for my body or liver.  We had a lot of fun and got to visit with my sister and with Carmen's mom and William, which was really nice.  We definitely need a vacation from our vacation, but unfortunately for both of us, work is now kicking our butts.  Carmen actually flew to D.C. today for probably 16 hours and I have an important brief due next Tuesday.

Family photo before Mama and Daddy leave for NYC.  Jayden is not too sure about this, plus the photo is taking him away from Gamma.

While we were in NYC, my mom ("Gamma") came and stayed with Jayden.  The two of them and Jasmine had a pretty good weekend, from what I can tell.

On the move at the park with Gamma!

Jayden found a mini lemon from the lemon tree in our backyard and was using it as a ball.  Gamma stored it in the fridge and he actually found it in the fridge tonight and was playing "basketball" with it.  He was trying to throw it in the toaster oven roasting pan (while the pan was on the floor).  He didn't understand the idea of having "touch" so he kept hurling the lemon at the tray.  Finally he got it to stay in the tray and he said "did it!"

Gamma repurposed some big boxes that we had in our backyard and they became Jayden's tunnel and car launching pad.

Jayden has figured out how to blow bubbles, and this is what his mouth looks like when he does it.  He's not great at it, so he's still always surprised when he gets a bubble to form.  It's awesome.  Oh to see the world through a two year old's eyes.

Gamma asked Jayden if she could take a picture in his bed to send to Mama and Daddy and he said "tsi" and climbed into bed and posed for her.  If this is his idea of a smile we've got a little work to do.  :)

But Jayden was definitely traumatized by the transitions. He literally jumped up and down when Carmen and I got home on Monday.  And then proceeded to cry over every. little. thing. for the next 24 hours.  Julia even called me from daycare on Tuesday to ask if he'd been sick or if there was something going on.  I had to explain that I abandoned my child for 4-1/2 days and created all kinds of new separation anxiety.  I guess he actually passed out on her tile floor at 10:30 am on Tuesday when he went back.

Yesterday when I picked him up from Juju's he was back to normal (maybe holding on to me a little tighter, but generally normal).  Last night he was funny and this morning he was like the best child in the whole wide world.  He did wake up at 4:30 am, but only for a few minutes.  He got up for good at 6:45, which is amazing - for the past two weeks he's been getting up between 5:30 and 6:00.  I have been trying to get him in bed and close to sleep by 7:45 to see if I can get him even a few extra minutes of sleep each night.  I missed it by about ten minutes tonight, but hopefully it'll have a similar effect.

I tried to get a video of him this morning, because he is talking up a storm, it's just amazing.  The video isn't the best, but it gives you an idea of how we can almost have a real conversation with him (so long as we're talking about trucks or yogurt or something he likes).

I also swear he's growing every day.  It seems like he was five inches taller when we got back than he was when we left.  When I ask him to "be careful," he goes "oh-kay mama."  He's just such a charmer.  And he makes funny faces, and knows he's being funny.  It's cool to watch him figure out how to be a human and how to develop these different aspects of his personality.  Since his mama and daddy are so funny he's clearly going to be a comedian in his own way.  And he's definitely getting his practice.

And tonight, when he and I were cuddling in the chair looking at the stars, he went through his list:
"Night night Doggie"
"Night night Daddy"
"Wuv oo Daddy"
"Night night Gamma"
"Wuv oo Gamma"

Then I said, Jayden, I love you, and asked him to say "Night night Mama" and "Wuv oo Mama," which he did (sometimes he needs a prompt, and sometimes I need to hear it!).  And then he cuddled up on my chest and half whispered, "wuv oo mama."  And then I almost cried again.  Such a sweetheart.

Fun in the Sun

We had a good weekend, playing outside and all over the place.  I managed to get ridiculously sunburned, which I really hope fades in the next few days so that I don't have these crazy lines all over my shoulders.  Oh fair skin.

Yesterday we just had swimming lessons ran a couple errands.  No great opportunity for pictures, except for when he tried to jump on the bed at night:

What?  I'm not supposed to jump?  (this is when I reminded him of the monkey book lesson - "five little monkeys jumping on the bed, one fell off and bumped his head."  Jayden usually tells the story along with me, but he magically forgot the lesson last night.

Today we went to a farmer's market, antique market and park nearby.  The plan was to tire Jayden out and I think we did that successfully.

Sliding!  Except Jayden went about .06 miles an hour because his feet kept sticking.  Oh well.

Daddy and Jayden "exercising."

I went and got a hat and so Jayden wanted to put his hat on.  Then Carmen went and got his hat.  But of course Jayden refused to look at the camera, soon refused to wear his hat and spent 10 minutes trying to take my hat off of me.

Jayden loooves being helpful.  This is him helping me clean the arm of the chair with a paper towel.

Worn out.  And this was at 2 pm.  He managed to make it another 6 hours until he passed out again.

We also figured out how we will control Jayden on our next flight: Cars 2 was on tv tonight and Jayden was in love.  He absolutely knew who Mater was and he kept exclaiming at trains, airplanes, fire trucks, cars, etc.  It was awesome.  And good to know we have a tool in our back pocket.

We have a busy three days until we take off for New York.  I'm anxious for the next few days, and then anxious to leave Jayden also.  I'm looking forward to a long weekend and a break, but I'm going to miss him so much.  I won't get a big ol' sloppy kiss for 4-1/2 whole days and that makes me sad.  But I also am looking forward to getting to be on my own schedule for a few days.

Big ol' bully

Nothing much has happened over the past week, except . . . Jayden has figured out how to sleep in his bed without a front rail, more or less, and we got furniture for our backyard.

The former is good for our mental health and the latter is good for everyone.  In the backyard, Jayden has already claimed everything as "my chair."  So apparently Carmen and I will be sitting in our old lame black metal chairs and Jayden will be rotating between the two chairs, the two chaises and the loveseat.  Oh and the two stools.  We're ready for a party, so now someone just needs to plan it and invite some people!

Seriousness next to Mama in the loveseat before dinner.  

Relaxing in the lounge chair.  

It turns out Jayden has some bully-ish tendencies.  Today when I picked Jayden up Juju asked me how he was with other kids.  To be honest, he's really only been around other kids a couple of times outside of daycare, besides at swim lessons.  But both times he has been fine, no bullying or anything.  Well, Juju told me they've had to put him in time out a couple times for grabbing kids by their shirts and today they had to put him in time out because he was hitting other kids in the head with his cars.  I almost laughed, but it's really not funny.  It's apparently primarily when Jayden and another boy play together.  They are closest in age - the other boy is about four months older, although Jayden is bigger than him - and I'm guessing they push each others' buttons.  Juju says Jayden and another boy, who is a little older, almost 3, I think, can play together for hours without supervision.

As far as the sleeping, we haven't quite gotten him to fall asleep without us being there, but we can be at the edge of his room or even outside of it and he's okay.  And eventually we can get away, it just takes longer than it used to take.  And the last two days he's woken up quite early, at 5:45 and 5:15 am, respectively. Today at least he went back to sleep for a bit (with Carmen laying on the floor next to him) but then was up for good at 6:15 am.

He is talking a lot.  I need to post a video, but usually when I try to start recording him he clams up.  I'll keep trying this weekend to surreptitiously capture him.  He repeats almost everything we say and he says "oh-kay" in the cutest way ever.

We have swimming tomorrow, but Ms. Stacy is out so we have a new teacher.  I'm guessing Jayden will revolt quite strongly, but we'll see.  It could be fun.  I've got all kinds of preparations to do for our trip to NYC, for my mom's visit here and for the house cleaning Monday morning.  Not to mention I have two big cases at work that have major deadlines next Tuesday and Wednesday.  Nothing like going out with a bang, I guess!

Also, this:

I took this tonight just before bathtime.  He wanted to wear his hat on the potty, and you can't say no to that face, at least not about something as simple as that.  He'll hate me for this when he's older, but I can't not post it.  It's just too funny.