My Boys Doing Yard Work

Brotherly Love...

...turned into a headlock.

As soon as I took this picture, Jay pushed Cole over and tackled him, then Cole put his arms around Jay's neck and rolled over. Sometimes I think I am raising bear cubs!

Our Woods

The two main selling points for our house were the neighborhood boat ramp (now we just need a boat) and the woods behind our property. We often take walks with the boys on the many trails in the woods, a few of which lead to the creek and are incredibly beautiful. I love the fact that the boys will have such an amazing place to play and learn about nature. We've spotted raccoons, opossums, deer, and otters (plus two house cats that usually follow us). When the boys go walking with dad, they always bring me wonderful treasures--hickery nuts, leaves, sticks, acorns, and pinecones. Recently we began going for "flashlight walks" at night. We usually don't go far, but the boys love it.

A few weeks ago, we learned that the property owners (who, by the way, are OK with the neighborhood's use of the woods) made part of the woods conservation land and will never develop it. That is definitely something our family is thankful for this holiday season!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving with Mirmans. When talking about what we were thankful for, Cole said he's thankful for being busy. We imagined Jay was thankful that with the 18 pound turkey, there would finally be enough food for him to eat his fill. (He now weighs 31 pounds; Cole weighs 34.5.) The boys loved to play with Pop Pop who had many of the same moves as Daddy. The week went by much too quickly.

Halloween!

About two weeks into October, Cole started asking, "Can we go to the neighbors' houses and get candy." He didn't see why we could only do that one day a year. When he realized he was going to have to wait until Halloween, he asked a few times each day, "How much longer until we get candy?"

When the big day finally arrived, he and Jay were ready. Their costumes looked great. Cole loved his astronaut suit and Jay was adorable in his baseball player outfit. He even kept the cap on all night (once I turned it around--he didn't like the bill in front). Cole didn't wear his helmet at all once we started, so Rob got to carry it.

Rob and I figured we go to a few houses on our street, then head home to pass out candy. The boys had other ideas. They were like energizer bunnies, running from one house to the next. Our neighborhood decorates and there were orange lights, blow-up ghosts and pumpkins, and skeletons to draw the boys farther and farther from home with us tagging along. Finally, about halfway around the loop we took, they ran out of steam and wanted us to carry them. So I got a chance to work off all the candy I'd been sneaking.

By the time we got home, Jay was a gooey, sticky mess. The first house gave them lollipops (by far the most popular treat with them) and they ate them the whole way around the neighborhood. We also learned that Jay loves Twix bars and that chocolate drool stains. Unfortunately the pictures don't show the true extent of the mess on his face. This one, with his mouth full of Twix, came the closest.

Cole becomes a big goofball when loaded with sugar. He wouldn't sit still for a picture once we got home.

Luckily, they aren't all that interested in the candy after that night. For a few days Cole asked about it first thing in the morning. I always said he had to wait until after lunch to eat it. By then he'd forget most of the time. When I did allow him to eat some, he'd try a bite or two and that was enough. He definitely did not get my sweet tooth.

Pumpkin Carving

Of course, after picking the pumpkins, we needed to carve them. Cole was very excited until I explained that we had to remove the guts inside--he decided that was a "grown-up job." I started to save the seed to roast, but Jay decided it was more fun to fling them around the kitchen. Once I got the basic eyes, nose, and smile carved, Cole added his own touches, like nostils

Pumpkin Picking at Boone Hall Plantation

Pumpkin picking this year was a lot of fun. Boone Hall really does it up with jump castles; a maze; hayrides through a haunted forest; dirt and hay piles to climb; goats and rabbits to feed; and U-pick pumpkins. The boys enjoyed it all. It was a gorgeous day after a week of rain and they were thrilled to be outside and run around. Jay especially loved the mud puddles and managed to jump in almost all of them.



At the Rabbit Cage
Not Quite Strong Enough
Which One Do We Want?
100% All Boy

Where are the boys?


Peek-a-boo!

Jay's First Haircut

Alternate Title: "Why We Are Lucky Jay Still Has Two Eyes"

Poor guy was not a fan of his first haircut. I should really call it a trim since he still doesn't have enough hair to cut. We just took a little off the sides and back. I have such a hard time cutting boys' little baby curls, because afterwards they look so much older. But looking back at Cole's pictures, I realize I should have given him a trim much sooner--in reality he didn't look like the adorable baby I saw. Instead he looked like a kid in bad need of a haircut. I guess mothers' don't see what the world sees when it comes to their children.

Jay Pre-Trim

Cole Pre-Trim (2 years old)


Jay really wanted to see what mommy was doing back there, so he kept turning his head right into the scissors. And it didn't help that Cole was bouncing all over the room. Despite the difficulties, I think it turned out ok (although see statement above).

Baby Jay Goes to School *sniff*

I finally enrolled Jay in a Moms Morning Out program at the same school as Cole. He is definitely ready! When we bring Cole to his classroom, Jay runs in first and starts playing with all the toys. People always laugh at how enthusiatic he is. Leaving the building takes a good 15 minutes because he wants to see the art on the walls, sit on all the benches, pick a tomato from the bush in front of the school, and look in all the classroom windows as we make our way to the car. I knew he would love to be in his own class, but I hadn't been quite ready to let him go (even though it is only 3 hours once a week).

On his first day, we took Cole to his classroom as usual. Jay protested as I dragged him out, but then started running down the hall. He was a bit confused when we walked passed the exit door--he stopped, made little squawking noises, and pointed at the door, like "Mommy, it's this way!" When we got to his room, he ran right in with no hestitation whatsoever.

The teacher greeted him while he surveyed the room. His expression said, "I get to play with all these toys? Sweet!" After I gave him a hug and told him to go play, he ran right over to the blocks and started taking them off the shelf. After watching a bit, I left. He didn't even look up when I said goodbye *sniff*. I felt strange walking out of the school without my little sidekick, but boy did I get a lot done that morning!

When I picked him up three hours later, he was still playing hard. The teacher seemed somewhat amazed at how well he did--I guess she is used to dealing with seperation anxiety (she got more from me than Jay!). His only tears came when we were leaving and he realized he couldn't bring the truck he was zooming around on the floor.

He goes back on Monday. The teacher warned that there may be some tears since now he knows I leave. But I think he will do just fine. It's me I'm not so sure about.

A Tall Tale

While the boys were subdued with Baby Einstein and goldfish crackers, I snuck upstairs to check my email. Jay immediately began shrieking. I hoped the problem would blow over, but the wailing continued. I ran downstairs, expecting to pull one boy off the other. Instead, I found Jay sprawled on the floor mid-tantrum and Cole calmly sitting in the recliner, exactly as I had left him.

Me: What happened?

Cole: Jay fell down.

Me: He did?

Cole: Yes. And his goldfish fell too and flew up into the air and into my bowl. I had to eat them all up.

I shudder to think of the tales he will invent in a few years when he is really up to no good.

New Playroom Furniture

We bought a table and chairs for the playroom. The boys had a great time building them. Cole discovered he could saw through the styrofoam packing material. After he finished, it looked like it had snowed in our family room. Thankfully, it all vacuumed up easily.

Why It's Tough to Be a Little Boy

Suddenly, one quiet afternoon, we were startled by crying and yelling from the downstairs bathroom.

Rob (running from the kitchen to the bathroom, very concerned): Cole, what happened? What's wrong?

Cole (between sobs): I peed in my eye!

Little Hands

This morning Cole went potty and washed his hands all by himself. I was in the kitchen waiting for the usual "Mommy, I need you," but it never came. Instead I heard him singing on the potty, then heard the water running in the sink.

At first I was thrilled because it is a real pain to take him everytime. And, since Jay always follows along, handwashing turns into a big ordeal with fights over the stool, space at the sink, etc, etc.

But this afternoon when all three of us trudged to the bathroom and I washed their hands, I realized that I will miss this little routine. It's about the only time I get to hold Cole's hands anymore. While rubbing on the soap, I noticed how long and slender his fingers have become and how he's losing the soft ring of baby fat around his wrists. And I wondered how many more times I'll be allowed to help him like this.

My days of washing Jay's hands may be numbered also since he is determined to do everything Cole does. So this time I held onto his soft, slippery hands a little longer and felt his pudgy palms and fingers before he squirmed away. Then I realized that I probably will have lots more hand washing times with Jay because he will be the boy who claims to have washed his hands while they are still caked with dirt!

Sippy cup...check
Book...check
Toothbrush for right hand...check
Toothbrush for left hand...check

Jay is ready for bed!

Building the Perfect Sandwich

Cole decided to make a turkey and cheese sandwich one afternoon. I got out the ingredients and stood back to watch. It was a very detailed process. He had to rip the square of cheese into sections because otherwise the sides hung over the bread. Then it took a long time (and a lot of sighing) to get the pieces of cheese exactly right. The turkey went on easier because I had already ripped it into pieces. Then, when the top piece of bread was on, the crusts needed to be cut off. After all that hard work, he took about two bites then left the rest on the table. I guess saying "I want to make a turkey sandwich" is NOT the same as "I want to eat a turkey sandwich."

Why use one fork when you can use two (or four)?

Baby No More

This picture made me realize calling Jay "Baby Jay" isn't really appropriate anymore (of course, I will still call him that. I probably will even when he is 13 years old and taller than me). Take away the drool, and you can see a glimpse of the little boy he is becoming.

Another Conversation with Cole: Mom Gets Outsmarted by a Three-Year-Old

Cole was using the potty before bedtime last night and laughing about pee. Then as I was putting on his night-time diaper he exclaimed, "I pee in your mouth!"

Me: Cole that is not a very nice thing to say. You shouldn't talk to people like that.

(slight pause)

Cole: But Mommy, I was talking about the pea you eat!

A Conversation with Cole

(completely out of the blue one afternoon)

Cole: Do you remember when I was in your belly last time.

Me: Yes, I do.

Cole: I didn't like it in there.

Me: No? Do you like being outside better?

Cole: Yes. I can play.

Me: That's true. All you did in my belly was sleep and lie down.

Cole: Yeah. And there was no bed in there.

At the Real Beach

Happy 18-month Birthday, Jay!

Dancing Kings (think ABBA)
Cole likes to have a dish towel tied around his neck when he eats waffles so the syrup doesn't make his shirt sticky (however, it is NOT a bib!). This particular morning he got up from the table and declared the towel was a dancing shirt and danced around the room. Of course, then Jay needed a dancing shirt too. After duct tapping the dancing shirts to their shirts, we turned on disco music and boogied down.

Jay's First Taste of Rain

The Beach?

When I was little, the narrow strip of sand across the bay was always a big deal, so I was excited to bring the boys there. Cole must have been expecting Isle of Palms because he was NOT impressed. And Jay was shocked at how cold the water was. He barely got his toes wet. Nonetheless, they both has fun. But we may need to call it something other than "the beach" now.

Boats
We spent a lot of time in the boats while in Canada. Jay could barely move in the lifejacket, but he seemed to have fun. Cole didn't like how loud the outboard was when we went fast, so rides with him were very leisurely. He went fishing for the first time with Grandpa Pat and a "sneaky fish" took the minnow. He was so cute telling the story.