Jackson- 2 Years {Tomorrow}

My sweet child just fell asleep (9:20 pm). I lie here in his bed, snuggled next to him, and cherish this last night of having a 1-year-old. Tomorrow he will turn 2 and soon after he will no longer be an only child, but a big brother! I cherish this moment with my "baby" and for my last few nights of being able to snuggle only him for as long as I want/need. 

Jackson continues to grow and learn. He has a well child appointment on Friday and I'm curious to see how much he's grown since his 18 months appointment. He has grown taller and recently his appetite has increased so he's been gaining a little weight. I can still pick him up and carry him with one arm though, so he's not too heavy for this Preggo mama! He is such a smart little boy and I am so proud of how much he has learned in such a short amount of time. He says many more words, but rarely on command or when I'm trying to record him (of course). He still says all his numbers from 1-10 and loves to count things (or just say the numbers out loud). He knows all his letters, but hasn't said "w" yet, but he knows it on his app. He has started to sing the "abc's" but he doesn't sing the whole song. He can hum the tune though. I write numbers and letters out of order I test him and he knows them. He signs while he says "eat eat" when he's hungry. When I realized he was doing it I though he was saying "8 8", but then noticed the sign of putting his hand to his mouth. He doesn't get frustrated when I don't understand his words, but he did come over and put his hand to my mouth and said "eat" when I didn't catch on. He knows his colors on his app now and he sat on his bed and said "why" (white) "boo" (blue) "wee" (green) for the stripes on his sheets. He also had begun "reading" Brown Bear Brown Bear to himself with the correct colors and animals. He can't say them all yet, but most of them are intelligible. He mimics a lot of words we say and usually remembers them in context for the next time. He says "oh no" and "wow" correctly. He mimicked Matt saying "delicious" but it sounded more like "wee ish ish". Today he said "mess" for the first time when I told him not to make a mess. He saw balloons and said "woo!". He also knows (and loves to play with) "bubble". 

Some of his favorite things to do: exaggerated sneezing- "ah CHOOOOO". Wild splashing in the bathtub- it gets all over the sink and floor. I try to close to shower curtain but he doesn't like that. His favorite TV shows to watch (on Hulu) are Pororo and Super Why. He loves to read the Grouchy Ladybug. His favorite part is when the whale's tail goes slap ("whop"). He has learned to properly throw a ball, but he throws toys too. He loves to set a toy down and then throw another toy at it. We're working on just throwing balls, but not at people. Since Mumma can't move too quickly or wrestle too well with her big ole baby bump, Daddy has been spending more time in the evenings chasing Jackson around snd wrestling with him. Jackson laughs so hard at Daddy and loves to play with him. 

We may be entering into the terrible two's. He doesn't throw many temper tantrums, but they are increasing in regularity. When he doesn't get his way (even something minor like his cheese slice breaking in half when he didn't want it to) he may have a meltdown. He will kick and scream and slam the cupboards shut. He will push toys off the shelves and off the coffee table. He will throw some toys. If he is upset at me he will try to push me or sometimes slap my leg. We have tried to sternly scold him and sometimes I put him in time out on my lap where he can't move around until he calms down. This is difficult with my belly. He won't sit still on his own for a timeout yet. He has been responding to our scoldings and time outs though. If I scold him with "no" and a pointed finger he will usually run over to me for a hug because he knows he's being naughty. I hope this is as bad at it gets for his terrible two's!

I have been trying to have a regular bedtime routine for him. I give him a bath every other night, but we brush his teeth every night. Lately he's been hating this. I trick him into opening his mouth and brush as many teeth as I can before he clamps his jaw shut. Sometimes I can do his whole mouth this way, other times I have to force his mouth open and then he cries and is very upset. I let him try to brush his teeth, but lately he's been putting the brush to his lips while they're closed then putting te toothbrush away. Nope- sorry, kid. Then we'll go say goodnight to Daddy. Jackson will run to wherever Matt is and give him a kiss. So adorable! We'll climb on Jackson's bed and read some stories and then he'll curl up to go to sleep. Sometimes it takes him an hour to fall asleep. Sometimes just a couple minutes. But he knows his routine now. 

When he is asleep, he has been waking after he pees. I don't know what to do about that. He doesn't want a new diaper and usually just needs a snuggle to go back to sleep. He giggles, babbles, and sometimes gives one loud screech in his sleep. When he screeches I think it's the beginning of a night terror or bad dream, but then he'll roll over on his own and stay asleep. Of course, sometimes he still does have night terrors or bad dreams. One time he said very clearly "whop" just like in the grouchy ladybug the giggled (which he does at that part of the book). So adorable! 

He is much more confident when we are out now. He will babble or talk to people at the store, he likes to walk holding our hands and doesn't insist on being carried, and he goes into his Sunday School class without crying. I love that he knows that we will come back for him so he can have fun even when we aren't there. When we are out he is so curious about the world. At stores he likes to touch everything, especially buttons. When I tell him he can't touch things he gets very upset. He doesn't want the iPad or phone when we're out because he wants to look around. That makes me so thankful because he's not addicted to it, but it also can be difficult when he doesn't want to stay in one place or sit in the shopping cart. 

We have been reading the big brother or new baby books we have every day. I point to him an point to the older siblings in the books. Then I point to the babies and point to my belly. He laughs and now he'll pat my belly on his own and say "be be". I think he understands slightly so that should help when we introduce him to Daniel. He likes the books so I hope he will connect the stories with his new baby brother. He has been very snuggly when we are at home and always wants to be one our laps. He knows something is going to change. 

The past two years have been pure joy. Jackson has been so much more than I every expected or hoped a child would be. He has such a wonderful little personality and he loves so unconditionally. He has taught me so much about life and about myself. He brings out the very best in me. I am so thankful God have him to me and I cannot wait to see him as a big brother. I cannot believe it has been two years since he was born. It seems like he's always been here, but also like the time has simply flown by! He continues to amaze me and I never get tired of seeing his smile. He makes me so very proud. 

Overalls- fun and trouble! 

We got some decent snow finally! 

He's wearing 2 pairs of socks, one tucked over his sweatpants under his overalls! A thermal shirt, sweatshirt, and puffer coat. I pulled his hood up over his fuzzy hat and then his gloves. His littlen boots were a snug fit over both socks! But he played outside for at least 20 minutes before I thought his cheeks and fingers were too cold. He loved the snow! 

One of my favorite pictures of him and me.

The snow was pretty hard on the ground. He followed Matt's footsteps all around the yard.

Because of all his layers, the couple times he toppled over he needed help standing back up! 

We tried to get as much snow off him as possible before coming back inside. This was the easiest way! 

He thought it was so silly! 

After we pulled off his outer layers he ate the snow off the ground. At least there wasn't too much! I'm not a fan of eating snow as it's pretty dirty! 

He is still Mr. Particular and doesn't like getting his hands messy. Trying a donut... 

... Giving it back after his hands got powdery! He has been a really good eater at lunch and dinner though. He'll eat meat, veggies, and pastas instead of just choosing one category to eat and leaving the rest. 

Hard to see, but there's water all over the floor, toilet, wall. I am sitting in the hall while he plays.

I took a shower. I called to him to check on him and he came walking into the bathroom... A trail of pops following him. We went back out to the living room to this. 

He was just so happy and having so much fun, I couldn't even be upset! I had left the box on the coffee table so he probably had tried to pour himself some. I scooped most of them back in the box and we still are them! 

Testing out the doubles kit for our phil and teds jogger! I think he'll do just fine in the front or back.

Sometimes he wakes up from his nap crying. He just needs some snuggles and a snack... And some selfies to cheer him up! 

Once Upon A Child had an event with ponies. We went and Jack loved watching the ponies and then riding one! 

He looks upset here, but he just wanted Matt to come closer. He would giggle at the pony and wanted to pet its mane. 

He has been sleeping for longer stretches most nights, but still wakes several times others. But it is still good progress! Here I heard him thumping around so I came in to check on him. He had rearranged his pillows like that! What a comfy little fort!

Monkey see, monkey do! 

Today I decorated for his birthday. He woke up early from his nap and would normally settle back down to sleep longer, but he saw the decorations and said "wow!" and ran over to investigate! He pointed and said "woo" for balloon and then read the letters on the happy birthday banner. I am so excited for his little party tomorrow and his presents! 

I just about explode with love for this little boy! I am so thankful to be able to stay home with him every day and teach him and love him and just play with him. He is my joy.