Janie - 15 Months

What is Janie up to these days?

- Asking "a go?" with her hand twisted up. (Where'd it go?)

- When can't find something or someone will ask "Daddy, are you?"

- Loving dogs and birds. She went up to a neighbors big dog and started petting it. Blake stayed far far away.

- Nods her head distinctively to confirm that what I asked is correct.

- Squeals so loud when she wakes up in the morning. Shrieks really. It is not pretty.

- Screams and runs away if someone tries to take something from her

- Loves books and will bring them to me to read, but she won't sit still long enough to finish them.

- Loves to pick up rocks

- Asks to dance by saying "da" and if I don't pick up on what she wants she starts to shake her groove thing

- Always wants to play on my bed.

- Whenever we go somewhere (church, museum, store) and we put our things down, she sees my diaper bag. She immediately asks for "num nums" and starts digging through it. Even if we ate right before we left the house.

- Still climbing and has climbed into her exersaucer before.

- Recently has become very ticklish and laughs so hard then asks for more.

Picnic Party

In our area there is a program called Parents As Teachers. This program puts on play groups that we go to a few times a month. At these play groups they have stations with activities, opening and closing circle time, and they give you a free book! They also send someone to your house once a month to help you know what your child should be doing developmentally and they bring activities based on that. Blake and Janie love Mrs. Susan who comes to play with them. It is such a great program and we are lucky to have it here.

On Friday they held their annual end of the year picnic. Clifford the Big Red Dog was there, a big fire truck for the kids to climb on, and stations with various activities. It was great.

They even had a real fire hose for the kids to squirt. There is Blake watching another kid have so much fun. As intrigued as Blake was, he was to scared, shy, nervous, I don't know, to do it himself. Janie did it later, but not Blake. He is afraid of a lot of things actually. As he gets older I realize this more and more. I try to work on it with him.

Here is Blake getting his first tattoo. He was asked where he wanted it, and Blake said on his tummy. They settled for his hand.

Blake

Here is some more Blake. I know nobody really cares about all his sayings, but I'm not good at keeping a journal and this is how I document.

Blake: Mommy, Can I have more chicken nuggets and ketchup?
Me: We don't have any more nuggets.
Blake: I still can have ketchup.
Me: Why do you want ketchup?
Blake: I can just dip it with my fingers.

Blake and I were in the car on the way home from the store. A fly had gotten into the car. I think his next statement was in reference to bees. "Flys don't have owie bums. They have nice sweet bums."

One of Blake's favorite songs in the car is by Taylor Swift. He requests it and I just smile when I see him in the rear view mirror waiting and then singing the chorus. "I'll be the prince and you be the princess and it's a love story baby just say yes."

The other day we were out for a walk. He picked a flower (a weed actually), gave it to me, and on his own said "you be the prince and I'll be the princess."

It is so funny to hear my still 2 year old sing to himself while playing with toys, "it's a love story baby just say yes." My sister taught him the song "Tooty Fruity." Also weird to hear him singing in the tub "She knows how to love me yes indeed."

We are still working on potty training. He tells me how he holds the pee pee in his bum. The other day he said he didn't have to go. He said "the pee pee is still in my head."

Pals

Blake is always touching Janie. He doesn't hurt her as much as he used to, but he just cannot leave her alone. Maybe it's the chubby cheeks? I don't know how many daily reminders I give him to be soft, to not touch her, or to not hurt her. She loves it though and is often laughing away while he sits on her or tickles her.

Janie wants Blake too. Lately when I get her out of her car seat first, she does a hand motion and says "mon" (c'mon) for Blake. She gives him a kiss every night before bed.

They get silly and run around together squealing at the top of their lungs with excitement. Although exhausting to be the referee, I'm glad they like each other.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I think this might be my new favorite holiday. Lots of resting and playing with the kids without having to do much work.

Easter Weekend

Marita and Newel came for a three day visit. We did a lot in a short amount of time and it was great. Thanks for coming!

If only Blake could watch this from our house. He would be entertained all day.

Not praying. Just waiting for his easter basket.

She knew what she wanted out of that basket.

Slightly scary Blake.

Amy Ruth

Amy won the prize for being the first from my family to come visit me in Michigan! She brought her youngest daughter Jill, and we all spent 5 days together. She thought it was cool when it snowed here. I was just grumpy. Snow in mid April? I knew we were going to have fun while she was here... but it was even better. Amy is a cool girl. I wish I could live close to my family.

+Playing in the snow
+Ice cream at Dairy Queen
+Museum
+Attempting to make Samoas
+Games every night
+Dancing with the Wii
+Shopping at our pathetic mall
+Lots of naps
+Target
+BBQ
+Chicago

More pictures to come.