Little Girl Walking!

Bailey has been taking steps for weeks now, but she officially started walking a couple of weeks ago (March 6th). It was a Saturday morning and she just kept going and going and going!

Here is a video!

Seeing Family

Here are a few random pictures of family visits over the last month or so.

Jacob making brownies with Grandma and Grandpa

Getting every last drop of brownie and ice cream

Grandpa and Bailey

Grandma walking with Bailey


Uncle Dallas

Jacob "playing" the Wii with Daddy and Uncle Dallas

Aunt Sharla, Jacob, and George

Jacob Update

Jacob is growing up so fast. He talks incessantly, which is cute most days! He constantly amazes me on what he knows and says. He doesn't miss a beat, there is no more talking in secret around him because he hears it and isn't stupid. We're working on code words. He is starting to point out letters he sees in books and signs. He has known the whole alphabet for awhile now and can count to 15 or so. I would say that we understand about 95 percent of what he says. That five percent can be a real source of frustration for him though because he doesn't understand why we don't get what he is saying.

He just loves life. He is pretty smart, although I'm a bit biased I think. He loves to do whatever we're doing. It's so funny when we're on the phone, because he will run and go get his Tigger cellphone and then mimic everything we are saying. Very cute. He watches us very closely and will ask questions so he understands what we're doing. He is starting to get out and experience the world more and more. Check out the blog below to see what he has been up to lately.

The terrible twos are definitely here, although they aren't too frequent and we can usually get him out of it with a good distraction. He loves snacks and knows where they are so when we tell him "no" it usually results in a mini temper tantrum.

Jacob is turning into a picture lover. He loves to pose and then look at what it looks like on the camera. He wants his picture taken all the time as well as videos of himself.

Jacob is drinking out of regular cups now most of the time. With this comes spills but we're working on it. Eating is never really an issue with him. When there are times he doesn't want something, we can usually bribe him with a small snack if he finishes his food. This usually works, anything for a snack!

Songs are a big part of his life. He LOVES to sing and be sung to. I love that preschool does this for him because I'm not the best singer to teach him songs, but I try!! We usually have a good children's song going in the car on the way home each night. Wait until the windows are open again, look out Bloomington/Normal!! He also loves to dance and seems to be teaching his sister some moves. We still play the "Cha Cha" frequently and both kids really get into it.

Jacob is slowly figuring out the potty. He begged to go the other night and I thought it was just to play (we were in the middle of a bath). I reluctantly let him out and he actually peed.... a lot!! So proud of him and he was super proud too. I know training is just around the corner and I'm very nervous about working with him on this. I hate messes and I can only imagine what is in store for us!

Jacob loves his routine. He knows when we get home at night he gets to go downstairs while Daddy works out before dinner. His bedtime is really where his need for routine comes through. Dan is in charge of this most nights post-bath and has really turned this into a playtime for him. It originally began as one-on-one time for him and a safe place where Bailey wouldn't get into his toys. They put together blocks, puzzles, and read books. He goes through a series of books (in a certain order) and rotates which books he likes. Right now Dr. Seuss is a favorite. We need to scale back this routine to just books because bedtime really needs to be just that and not playtime (in my opinion). This will be a habit that will take time to break. He really gets upset if something is left out.

Jacob is such a joy and is really a sweetheart. Minus the tantrums, I really can't get enough of him!!!

Jacob trying to take his clothes off


Jacob's new interest in his stuffed animals

Sample of his OCD

On the flip side, here is him taking apart the toy storage shelving unit

Jacob Time

Over the last month, Jacob has been getting more one-on-one time with Dan and I. We have been taking him out more on errands and to do special things. I think that he has been a bit deprived since Bailey was born because it's too hard to take them both out to certain places, so we have stayed home a lot. Now that he has gone out with us more, he has been sooooo happy. He will talk about whatever he did for days and tell everyone else where he has been, so obviously this time is extremely important to him and we need to do more of it.

Jacob always goes with Dan to the grocery store each week and maybe an extra errand or two, but lately he has also gone to the Children's Discovery Museum (first time and LOVED it!!), sledding a few times, ISU basketball game, the car wash (a full-service place so he can watch the assembly line of cleaning), and gas station (yes gas station, loves them!). One morning, he went to get his hair cut, as well as to the gas station and car wash. For days, he said "went with Daddy, haircut, gas station, car wash". It's so sweet that the simple, mundane things to us is the most exciting thing to a little kid. It's really a lesson about how to enjoy life. It has been such a treat to spend quality time with him and I can't wait until the weather changes so we can get outside and do more!!

Here are some pictures from the Children's Discovery Museum....

Train table

Water play, he loved the pump more than actually playing in the water

Mirror play

Climbing wall

Slide

Grocery shopping, he liked organizing the creepy-looking fish

Driving the tractor

View from underground

Soybean processing

Painting wall

Playing with magnets