Cuteness of the week

I was feeling bad for not posting anything since we got back frm Denver and then Jake was amazing this weekend so I have stuff to talk about: thanks, Boo!

First, he and are starting a singing duo. Every night as we're putting on his PJs after his bath we sing "Doggy Song" (a/k/a How Much Is That Doggy In The Window). I sing the lines and he adds the "woof woofs" in the appropriate places. It amazes me that he has figured out how to do this and it's soo cute I almost wrecked it the first time he got it right by stopping and hugging him silly.

Second... well, let's start by stating that Jake has developed a love of Finding Nemo (Trev, I blame you for this... it started after we visited you and it IS about diving after all). Since we were trapped inside by the 110+ heat this weekend we watched it again (at least once). Sunday we had gotten to the part where Nemo is trying to escape, ends up on the dental tools, and goes down the drain. All of a sudden, though he has seen the movie at least a dozen times, Jake started CRYING. He was really scared that Nemo was hurt or that something bad was going to happen to him. Now, while this was not a fun experience, it amazed me that my little baby has gotten to the point that he can watch a story, follow allong, and worry about the characters. He continues to amaze me. I know all Moms say this, but he really does. He is such a clever kid and such an old soul. I just look in his eyes and know he understands far more than I think - and more than I do sometimes. I am so very blessed to have him in my heart.

Lovely Colorado

We're back from Colorado. Jake got to meet his great-grandmother and his grandfather. We had a great time in Glen Echo (mostly throwing rocks into the river) and then in Denver. The zoo and the parks are AMAZING. It's the most family-friendly place I've ever been. Jake was an amazing traveller and all that I could have hoped for. The Magic Red Monster (Elmo) and the DVD player was a Godsend as was the Curious George soundtrack (also known as the Monkey Song). Staved off a lot of tantrums. Yes, he got cranky and over tired, but, heck, so did I and I can hardly hold him to a higher standard than I'm capable of meeting.

Of course, as always, the stimulation caused a spike in words and language in general. My personal favorite is "Yucky!" Super cute. He was spoiled to the limit by his Mamaw and his Grandpa Adams. We came home with a whole carry on full of new stuffies and toys. His by-far-favorite is the monkey that Mamaw gave him (named "Bink" - as in "Bink... mine." from Elmo in Grouchland). He's completely inseperable from the thing.

With all the fun, we're all super glad to be home and in our own beds. Whew!

100 words!

It's official! The Official Telly-O-Tally-O Count (OK, yes, I read a lot of Dr. Seuss) is 100 words! Frankly, he probably says more than that because there are words he uses at school that we don't know about and words he uses infrequently, but the minimum as counted (amazingly informally) by Mommy is 100. He's putting things together like "Baby Ducks" and "I jump" as well. He knows "yellow" and he knows that the bus and ducks are yellow, but he doesn't really know what it means yet (and, thus it is not part of the 100). It seems like he's become much easier to understand (to those of us who live with him) than he was just a week ago. Ama also got a "Love You, Ama" this weekend so that was really special. I can't imagine, with all the stimulation that the trip to Denver will bring next week, what he's going to get up to next!

Jake rides a giraffe

Taken at the Sac Zoo on June 6th riding his favorite animal!

Random stories

I decided, in lieu of the “things I want to remember to embarrass Jake with later” post that I had been contemplating, to do a “random stories to show how cute my boy is” post.

He's such a mimic! We have "Elmo in Grouchland" (an Elmo classic with Mandy Pitinkin. a "must see" for Elmo-obsessed toddlers and not horrible for adults. I give it 3 pacis out of 5) and at one point the villain, Huxley (played by Pitinkin with comic timing and cartoonishly exaggerated but non-scary villainy), is showing how everything he touches is "mine." He touches something with his pinky, goes "bing" and says "mine." Jake was doing that in the car on the way home from the zoo. Everything was "bing. mine." His knee? "Bing. Mine." His cup? "Bing. Mine" It was hilarious!

After the zoo, we were playing hide-a-boo (a combo of hide and seek and peek-a-boo, obviously) and Ama was delivering the time-honored "Where's Jake?" line when she asked if Jake was hiding. This little voice pipes up from behind the sofa. "No." He just can't resist talking. Definitely a lawyer in training.

Momma taught Jake to play “Red Rover.” For those who don’t remember this game, one side links hands and says “Red Rover, Red Rover, send right over” and the aforementioned person has to run over as fast as they can and try to break the line on the other side. Jake is more of a “tackle ‘em and giggle” player, but his form can’t be beat – nor can his enthusiasm for the game. I know I said I wanted a running back (and I’m still hoping) but I think we may definitely have a lineman.

Closing notes in general: Jake has started giving the BEST hugs. Big tight squeezes! I swear he really is the reincarnation of my dad sometimes. Jake has discovered my bear, Murphy, who is almost as big as he is, and loves to give him kisses and carry him around. He’s big enough to collapse on, but not so big he can’t be carried. I love to see him with a stuffy that was so special to me.

We had a fall out of bed last night, but otherwise he’s been doing great in his big boy bed. All it takes is a pillow at the edge to “warn” him when he gets too close. I really will try to pull some of the pictures I’ve taken recently, but he’s moving so fast it’s all a big blur!! Water fun starts at school this week, summer’s here and we’re ready to “run run run!”