Happy Birthday John!

John turned 2 Sunday. I actually started asking him a while ago how old he was because I figured it would take him a while to learn it. So, for the past month or two he's been saying he's two. We really didn't know how to plan a birthday party for him with Daddy being so sick, so we had just planned to postpone his party. We plan on having a party for him and his friends in the fall. So, his birthday was very low-key. On the way home from church I started singing Happy Birthday to him. I don't know if it was my voice or if he's worried about aging (more likely he just really needed a nap), but he cried and screamed "NO MAMA" the whole time I sang. Of course, being the compassionate mother I am, I continued to the very end...and laughed. In my defense, Buck joined in harmony part-way through and laughed as well. Later on when he heard the song and cake was involved, he really didn't have a problem with it. After his nap, we played with his new baseball tee. He actually put the ball on the tee and hit it off a couple of times. He really enjoys just carrying around his baseball and bat more, though. He drove his gator that Grandma and Papa gave him. Grandma came over later, and we went to Moe's (his favorite place...burritos) for supper. He said the blessing very quickly so he could dig in. We came home and gave him his cake. Of course, he thought the whole thing was for him, and didn't have a clue what to do with the candle. I managed to keep his hands back, and blow out the candle before he smashed the cake. He had seen my icing it earlier, and had been whining about it since. Once he got a piece, he was quite content. Once he got the ice cream, he was VERY content. He really didn't make too much of a mess. Not more than apple sauce or yogurt, I guess. It's funny, he's never been huge on ice cream. He's liked it, but hasn't really requested it. This week, he's asked for it every day. We cleaned him up a bit. He had made enough of a mess to warrant taking his shirt off, but not enough for a bath. We went upstairs to open his presents. The first thing he opened was a "Mater" toy from Grandma. From then on each time he saw another gift he got excited and asked "Cars???". He really enjoyed playing with his new toys, and also LOVED his Cars shirt. I was really impressed the next morning when I asked him what he got for his birthday. He actually listed off a few things. He remembers way more than I expect him to.
A couple of new things this week. He really likes to turn around and get dizzy. This week he's started saying Busy. It's pretty cute when he's doing it. Also, we got him a puzzle with the alphabet on it. He's been saying A through G for a while (hit or miss on correctness). He likes Buck to play the Alphabet song on his guitar and sing it, but we really haven't worked on anything past G. I was really surprised when I was going through the puzzle pieces today. He did A through G, tried LMNO, and got PQRST. I'm sure he's probably progressing just like any other kid, but it's still amazing to watch and see what they're able to do.
Eve just turned 3 months. I really need to get her picture with the tiger. She slept through the night the night Daddy died, and has slept through each night since then, except needing her pacifier a few nights. She's smiling like crazy now, getting super chubby (gets her thighs from her Mama for sure), and we had a little conversation yesterday. She has been such a good baby. John was a really good, laid-back baby too (except that some days I had to jiggle him all day because his poor tummy and reflux). I really can't figure out how we've been this blessed.

Papa Jesus

Sunday night Daddy passed away. He was the best husband, Daddy, and Papa I've ever known. John loved him so much (as we all did). When I was driving the kids to see Mama Monday morning, I was telling John we were going to Grandma's house. He kept saying "Grandma Papa". I told him Papa wasn't going to be there, only Grandma; although, I'm not sure he understands that. He asked, as he does with everyone, "where Papa go?". With tears, I said Papa's with Jesus, then repeated my answer when he asked the second time. That night when I was getting him ready for bed, out of the blue he said "Papa Jesus". Buck told me later on that he said it a few times during the day too. It was so sad for me to tell him the few times in the car, but now when he says it, it makes me smile.

Wild Man!

John and the neighbors have been having a BLAST on the gator that Grandma and Papa got for him. He was afraid at first, but now the hardest part is taking turns (and keeping up with him to steer...he doesn't have that concept down yet). Scotty, neighbor friend, is actually a pretty good driver. He turned 3 in the spring, so he's got a leg up.
Today we went to John's friend Madelyn's 2nd birthday party. It was a barnyard party. I was so impressed with how well it was put together. Cute decorations, games, even a tractor ride. It surprised me after he's had so much fun on his gator that he was afraid to get in the trailor of the tractor. I think we got a little glimpse of John in college today (crossing my fingers that it isn't the case). Although it was very well planned, Suzie only has girls, and I just don't think she anticipated how John would respond. She hid horses, the kind with a head on a stick so you can ride, around the yard and had them find them as party favors. John finally picked one up when I told him to look for a baseball bat, and proceeded to hit every ball in the yard with it. The head is barely hanging on. He also got naked at his first party today...this is the one I'm hoping we don't see as a trend! No alcohol involved, just a plastic "fish pond". John decided to get in to catch them rather than wasting time with a rod. I didn't have any backup clothes (you'd think I would've learned by now) so he spent the rest of the party running around naked. That's my boy! Eve was a lady and kept all her clothes on.
Speaking of Eve, I think she's about to blossom into a little chatter box. She's trying so hard and making some really sweet sounds, still most of her sounds come when she's starting to get upset, but I really think we're about to turn the corner. She is just so so sweet. Of course John is too, he just manages to get in trouble a lot as well. She'll be two one day.

AMEN!

John's verbal skills (and what he remembers and puts together) just keep me on my toes...and keep me laughing. Buck and I were both surprised Saturday morning when the TV was on and John asked about Spiderman. He's only watched it a few times, and it only comes on Saturday. I guess he was able to put together than if Daddy is home in the morning, and we aren't going to church, Spiderman must be on.
We've been working on the blessing ever since he has been in a high chair. For a long time we just said it. For a while after that he said "thank you" and "amen". It's the same for each meal. "Thank you, God, for this good breakfast, lunch or supper". For a few weeks we've been going through word by word and he tries to repeat them. Funny, every meal seems to be "Fuffer", but I'm OK with that. It's a good start. Two funny stories from this. The other day he was going through his vocabulary at random (at least I couldn't find the connections), and he wound up running through the house with a kick ball yelling "Amen ball! Amen ball!". Last night we were having breakfast for supper. He must have been really hungry and excited about it (he had helped "cook" it). We were setting everything on the table. Before we could sit down or get his plate ready, he flew through the blessing on his own with a loud AMEN, then reached directly for his plate.
Cooking is one thing he's started to enjoy. He's gotten to a phase where he wants to "see" everything. He pulls his stool up to the counter to watch whatever is going on. It started with Eve's bath. He also wants to help with everything (carrying things to the car, changing Baby E, you name it). It makes me pretty nervous when I have hot things on the stove, and takes a little longer because I have to watch him so closely, but he LOVES it. He likes to help stir things and always wants me to take the lid off so he can see things cooking. I think it's made him a better eater too - not that he's ever been a bad eater, but he started to get a bit picky (an independence thing rather than a taste preference) about 6 months ago. I just can't believe he's almost TWO!!!!
Eve is still doing well. Still getting up either once or twice at night. Still getting stronger and stronger every day. She's almost grown out of her 0-3 month clothes.

Butterflies

For some reason (I'm guessing a combination of the extra hot summer and the significant increase in stinky diapers in our house...plus the fact that it takes John quite a long time to get out the door) we have a rather large and annoying fly population in our house this summer. I know...gross! Anyway, the only two bug names John knows are ants and butterflies. We've tried to teach him more, but he puts them all in one of the two categories. So, when the flies are buzzing around the kitchen, John keeps pointing to them and saying "butterfly". What a positive outlook on life! Until, of course, he's chasing them around with the fly swatter saying "where butterfly go?". If he ever has to see a therapist, I feel sure that his parents' murderous rampage against the butterflies will be a topic of discussion.

Olympic Training

Eve has started her training (maybe a little last-minute since the olympics start this weekend) for the strong-legs competition. Her neck has gotten to be very strong, and she rarely loses head control. She has recently decided that working on standing and strengthening her legs is lots of fun. She's so animated when she does it. Her arms flap around and her eyes open REALLY wide, and she smiles frim ear to ear. Then she takes a little break and tries again. It's very cute.