First Word Watch

I was taken completely by surprise when I realized that Jax is talking! Michael didn't say much until he was about fifteen months old, when he began to say dada, which meant any parent, along with two words that summed up his interest in the pursuit of action and movement: "Uh-oh," and "Whoa!"

Jacqueline's first words are: "Mama" (Jax may be the only child who calls my name before dad's, so hooray!), "Mai, Mai" for Michael, and "Wawa" for water. Although my name came first, Michael's gets called with the highest frequency...

Jax tries to say much more, most of which cannot be understood by anyone - except Michael, that is, who cracks me up when he translates for her: "Mama, we guys want more Cheerios," and "Jax is not tired - no! He wants to play toys!"

I've seen that smile somewhere before: Just look at the way Michael and Jax laugh - so much alike! After church on Sunday the kids started playing a game where Michael would roll around on the floor while Jax tried to crawl over him. They were laughing so hard and having such a good time. And, with careful help from mom, there were no injuries!

Let the Games Begin!

My two kids are old enough to play together - Michael is so happy to have a playmate who can equal his energy (sadly, I lag far behind on this one), and Jax loves to join in and laugh at his activities. Almost every day Michael comes running to inform me that he and Jax are playing a new game. Here are some of my favorite pictures of them together.




I also want to note that Jax started giving kisses this week! Through much trial and error she has learned the difference between biting and kissing, and is charming us all with her love and affection.

Heaven on Earth

A Child's Prayer

We recently had lasagna for the first time that Michael can remember. He took one look at it and decided he hated lasagna. Here is his dinner prayer:

"Heavenly Father, thank you for my mom, I don't like lasagna, and thank you my Jax. Thank you my dad. Thank you my grandma and grandpa. Thank you my books and my drink and my stickers and my bear. Thank you for the lasagna, I don't like lasagna..."

Whispered prompt from me: "Please help me to like lasagna."

"I don't like it!" After a pause, "Please help me to like lasagna. Thank you keeping dad safe. Bless us have fun in nursery..."

By the end of dinner he'd eaten everything - including the lasagna - but his salad. Maybe next time we should include a request that he start liking spinach?


Keeping Up Appearances

This Sunday we got to church a little later than usual and the parking lot was totally full so we had to park a ways down the street. My hands were filled with things to keep the kids quiet during meetings when I discovered a beer can right next to the car door. I didn't want Michael to play with it, thought it was empty, and tried to nudge it under the car before he saw it. I discovered the bottle was full only as it emptied itself into my shoe.

When we got to church Michael needed to use the bathroom. Once there he quickly locked the stall, took off his pants, and dropped them to soak in a nasty little puddle at the base of the toilet.

Ah, nothing quite like hearing the word of the Lord with the family reeking of liquor and bathroom puddles!

Jax is Getting Big and Strong!

A few weeks ago Michael looked at me and exclaimed, "Mom, Jax is getting big and strong!" This week she showed us just how true the statement was by starting to walk! She began her attempts last Tuesday when, as she was cruising along some chairs, she looked at me with a mischievous grin, raised both arms in the air triumphantly, turned toward the center of the room and... fell straight into the floor. A few days later she added one step, then two, then three, then four. One day she walked a few steps and even stopped to "dance" to the music we had playing (she bounces up and down to the beat) before continuing a few more steps. And, today while I was filming, proved that she is indeed a child of this generation by demonstrating one of her most successful walks yet - with cellphone in hand:



Jax loves to greet people with a big, energetic wave, which is adorable. A bit of a side-note: Sometimes, through the course of events at home, Michael and I both leave Jax behind (usually I leave the room "temporarily" only to find that Michael has followed with some emergency requiring immediate attention). I feel terrible when I realize what has happened and hear her padding along toward us. So I decided to greet her with a big hoorah - I'd throw my hands into the air and cry, "Jax!" as she entered the room, which she just loved. However, it became a problem when she tried to copy my greeting. One hand was on the ground for support (she still crawls long-distance, after all) and the other one didn't quite make it above her head - resulting in a distinct, "Heil Hitler!" (I now follow her preferred way of greeting and wave furiously when she enters the room instead).

She also plays peek-a-boo as often and as long as she has an audience. I can't believe the little girl who was a newborn "just yesterday" is getting so big!



ADDENDUM: So, I have been "tagged" by some fellow bloggers for an on-line game:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next five sentences.
5. Tag five people.

First, some explanation for my book: I've been scouring some of my management and group dynamics books because recently I attended a (nonwork) meeting and it was decidedly odd and it drove me to my "library." Second, a confession: this was not (even close to) the first book I picked up - most of the texts had such jargon that explaining the lingo alone would have taken more space than the actual five sentences. I picked instead a fun little book about something most people have heard about:

"The Color Code: A New Way to See Yourself, Your Relationships, and Life" by Taylor Hartman, PhD:

"When their idle chatter is combined with rude and loud behavior, Yellows are considered obnoxious. This label always offends them because they can't comprehend why anyone wouldn't find them as delightful and entertaining as they find themselves. One distressed mother feared she would gag her four-year-old child if something didn't change soon. She was so tired of nonstop conversation that she admittedly stopped listening simply to save her own sanity. (Personally, I think she was also concerned for the child's physical well-being.)"

Sorry to all the Yellows out there... Anyway, it's a great little book that definitely oversimplifies people but is awfully fun as a conversation-starter. And, for anyone who wonders, I believe I was a "Blue" when I took the test ten years ago (all test questions are included in the book, so if I were really so inclined I could take it again, I guess).

And now, the winners (or losers, depending on how you think of it) who get to continue this game of tag are: Amy & Rich, Christine, Cari, and Scott, . And, if you were wondering, you were selected SPECIFICALLY because your blogs are woefully out of date for those of us who want to know about your every waking move!

Playing with Toys

During our first week home, the kids were amazed at all the toys they had left behind. Now, of course, they are back to thinking their toys are old news. But Jax, during what (I swear) was less than one minute away from mom, had no trouble finding fun in unexpected places...


With perhaps a bit less excitement, the kids are still enjoying their old stuff. Legos are a big favorite for them both, though Jacqueline's interest has caused Michael to retreat from the floor and build atop a table. With the help of Michael's friend Tyler (who remembers some aspects of our place better than us residents), we have even discovered our toy cabinet and all its contents - more "new" toys!

Grandpa's Birthday

We arrived back in time to celebrate Grandpa Bryson's birthday. Michael had lots of fun preparing Grandpa's present with two favorites of Michael's: play dough and whiffle balls (which he has loved ever since Grandpa gave one to him last year). With the play dough we made Grandpa a golf course, complete with water hazard and sand trap, and filled it with the whiffle balls. (You will notice there is no picture of this gift - there is a good reason for that...). Grandpa even asked Michael to help blow out the candles. What a perfect day!

Survival of the Flightiest

Despite the weather's best efforts to keep us in Utah, we managed to brave the icy road and long flight back to Virginia. When the plane took off I gave one last, longing look toward the beautiful snow we were leaving behind, and then we were off.

The trek did not start out well. Icy roads and highway accidents contributed to a tediously slow ride to the airport. My mom (who was driving) tried valiantly to concentrate on the road and ignore Michael, who was unhappy about all sorts of random things. Some of the issues that made him cry:

• "My blanket isn't covering my foot!"
• "I can't get this suitcase zipper open!"
  
• "I need a drink!"
• "I need another drink!"
• "I can't see Jax!"
• "I want to go fast!"
• "I don't want to go on the plane!"

Yes, it was a fun drive indeed. We got to the airport with just enough time to check our bags with a Skycap (well worth the extra dollars) and get through security (quite the trick with two kids, two bags of diversions for the kids, a car seat, and a double stroller) before walking on the plane - almost the last of our section aboard. Whew!

My mother is an angel who booked a flight to Virginia just so she could help me with the kids during the process. Thank goodness she was there!