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.