Back to the Beach

It is hard to believe that is already beach weather out here.  I feel like I was just posting pictures of our family hanging out on Florida's gorgeous white beaches...maybe because it was only five months ago.  But I'm not complaining...now I just have to remember this when it is 110 degrees and humid.  Guess you have to take the bad with the good...and this weekend wasn't just good...it was wonderful.

Daddy and his boys...look closely and you'll notice Arthur and Jake's matching shorts

This trip to the beach was extra special.  First it was Mr. James' first real trip to the beach (besides the few minutes he spent when we met up with the Haymore's 2 weeks ago).  However, I will mention that a sand happy little boy and an infant makes for an interesting combination, but James was a trouper about having sand flung, well, just about everywhere.  And he was adorably cute and smiley while I applied his sunscreen.  I think he thought we were playing a game.  

So serious in his shades

I am obsessed with his profile...his little nose kills me

So bright outside our shade structure

Who doesn't love to sleep to the sound of waves?

Such a peanut!

Second, it was Jake's birthday weekend.  Despite his initial reservation about all things beach (sand, salt water, waves) as a baby, Jake has turned into quite the little enthusiast, at least when it comes to the sand and the splashing along the shore.  We'll have to wait till the water is a little warmer to see how he feels about the actual ocean.  Things got a little gray (literally) when it started to rain shortly after we arrived on Saturday.  Jake lost it when we started packing up his sand toys.  Luckily, Arthur was able to talk Jake off his emotional cliff and we got a few hours of shopping in while we waited for the sun to start shinning again.  But the birthday boy got his wish and we were able to spend two afternoons under the sun (okay some of us spent much of that time under the shade structure).

My favorite view

Jake, of course, found a cute older girl to play with

Yep, that is a jellyfish carcass...at least we didn't let him play with the dead man o' war

Officially three!!

The final reason this trip was so much fun was because two of my best friends on the entire planet were here visiting.  And you can't let someone come all the way out to lower Alabama, and not take them a little further south...that would just be mean.  It was wonderful to have them here.  And I think we might owe the power of Laura's positive thinking for our sun shine.  Now they can say they spent part of their "Spring Break" on the Florida beaches with two cute single guys...or something like that.

Erin was the only one brave enough to going swimming...remember it is only March

Getting fancy drinks from the Tiki Bar (don't worry Barlow's...Laura was sipping on a virgin daiquiri :-))

I love you girls!

One extra benefit to having friends there is I didn't have to take all the pictures and I actually got to be in a few...

I adore him...and if possible he is even cuter than when we met more than 10 years ago

Dino-rific!

Could I be accused of over scheduling my little man's third birthday party?  Yes!  Better yet, was I accused of over scheduling (by my own husband)?  Yes!  I will defend myself only by asking, how else do you plan an party for a handful of children between two and four?  And in Arthur's defense I will admit that we still have a large green dinosaur pinata, filled with candy, staring down at us from our book self because it was one of several activities I had to omit.  Regardless, I think I pulled off one Dino-rific birthday party and made it a special day for my birthday boy and hopefully a fun afternoon for our friends.
I did my best to keep little bodies moving and tiny hands busy, but in order to consider myself really successful, I wanted everyone to leave messy and very ready for a nap...I think I can say "mission accomplished!"
We started the day with dino gliders in the backyard (the gliders weren't nearly the hit I thought they could be, but the kids seemed to have nice time in the backyard).

But it didn't take too long before cheeks started getting rosy under the hot Alabama sun and it was time for our first craft of decorating goody bags.  Markers, feathers, stickers, stamps and glue...who doesn't love a good craft?!

Luckily I had very helpful parents.

Hard at work!

Next we were off the the backyard to find dinosaur eggs filled with toy dinosaurs and candy.  I thought an egg hunt fit our theme but would also be great practice for every one's upcoming Easter festivities.  I'll admit, though, that I really didn't see the hunt take place because I was too busy getting lunch ready.  I mean, food is one of the most important parts of a party, especially since Jake has several "grown up" friends who were sweet enough to take time out of their weekend to come.  The least I could do was provide yummy food. 
With tummies full and blood sugar levels back up, it was back to the craft table to paint dinosaurs.  The other mommies called me "brave" for doing paint inside...obviously the didn't look very closely at my walls...it is far too late for caution, now we just need a new coat of paint. 

If you think those look like alligators, you have obviously not seen a deinosuchus. :-)

As the dinos dried, I sent the kids outside one more time to play with bubbles while we got the cake ready.  Aunt Robyn managed the station beautifully.  I am going to owe her big time when she has babies because she is the best aunt ever to mine.

The rest of the party was pretty textbook.  Singing, cake, presents...you know the drill.

Cake delivered by Aunt Robyn from a bakery in Atlanta

Birthdays are bitter sweet for mommies, but I did save the tears for his actual birthday.

Jake picked out his own candle at Wal-Mart.  He noticed the candle display, grabbed the 3, and informed me, "I need this."

Our Alabama friends have become like family while we've lived here...thank you all for joining us on Jake's special day!

Chocolate cake with lots of butter cream frosting...Jake and I have a similar idea of heaven

 

Jake was so cute and grateful while opening gifts.  As soon as we'd tell him who a new gift was from he's search the room until he had located the giver and sincerely exclaim, "Thank you ______!" often before he had even opened the gift.

Spoiled as usual.

As for Baby James, he started strong...

but spent most of the party like this...

My Blue Eyed Boy...for now

Finally, both my boys are healthy!!  Illness plagued our family over the last month and a half.  Even Baby James suffered through his first cold, poor baby.  But hopefully with the start of Spring just days away, colds, flues, and stomach bugs are a thing of the past (at least for a while).  But between illness and James' eye issue, I haven't been great about pictures of the boys.
However, this morning (with Jake locked in his boaster seat eating breakfast) I was able to get a couple 3 month pictures of James.  I'm no professional but luckily he is cute enough to make up the difference.  I do have one question though, what is it with little ones... why is it when the camera comes out the smiles seem to disappear?

 

It turned out James had something called a chalazion (in other words a clogged oil duct on his eye lid), but it did win us a trip to the pediatric opthamologist.  He said it is likely that James eyes will become more hazel over the next few months...so I better enjoy these baby blues while they last.

Talking with Jake

It is about time that I do another Jake Quotes post.  I feel like nearly every day (okay, more like 20 times a day), Jake says something to make me think, "Oh, I need to write that down!" but by the time I sit down to record it, I can't remember.  So here are some quotes from the last few weeks...I guess you could say these really are the unforgettable ones.

1) Several weeks ago a close friend of mine suffered a loss in her family and Jake overheard me trying to comfort her on the phone.  Jake's deep concern for her sadness lead to a conversation about death.  I tried to explain that my friend's grandfather was very old and had lived a happy life, but that his body was tired and it was time for his spirit to go back to heaven.  Not really the conversation you want to have with your two year old, but he was asking sincere questions and they deserved honest answers.  After more questions, Arthur had to explain that eventually everyone dies.  Despite trying to soften the finality of death with talk of heaven, it became very apparent that Jake had not missed the everyone clause by his question next morning.  After quietly eating his breakfast Jake looked up and asked, "Mommy, when are you going to get very old?"
I immediately realized that he was really asking when I going to die.  "Oh honey, not for a very long time," I tried to assure him.
After another quiet minute his sadly said, "I am going to miss you, Mommy."
Oh my poor baby.  It breaks my heart a little bit, that my little boy is already worried about such big boy things.  But I guess it is the flip side of the intelligence coin...you learn everything early...even the hard stuff.

Regardless of how much of a big boy he is during the day, he is still my sweet baby boy...especially when he sleeps

2) Luckily not all conversations with Jake are quite so serious.  While sitting in the waiting room of the doctor's office last week, another mother struck up a discussion about dinosaurs with Jake.  After asking him his favorite dinosaur, which turned out to be a stegosaurus at that given minute, she asked his what he would do if he had a tail like a stegosaurus.
Very seriously Jake responded, "I don't have a tail.  I have a penis."

3) I do my best to read our scripture readers with Jake each night before bed time.  However, I think we may be missing the mark after hearing Jake announce, "The Lord has commanded me to do whatever I want to do."  Cleaver Jake, but I don't think it works like that.

4) Family dinner is suppose to be the time when the whole family comes together to eat, chat about the day, and enjoy each other's  company.  Well, apparently Jake does not think his days are quite exciting enough.  Instead of him filling Daddy in on our day, Jake's dinner contributions generally start something like, "So, today this guy just walked up to me and bonked me on the head!"  My favorite is when he incorporates people he hears Arthur talk about from work...I am sure it will get us into trouble one of these days.  I am also asked two to three times a week if I have made enough dinner for the Poopa's (yes, they are still around).

5) Jake likes logic.  He asks logical questions and he expects logical answers.  The trouble is when he uses logic against me (and believe me it happens very often).  Example: His Nana sent him a planter box filled with soil for us to plant a small garden in this Spring (very sweet and Montessori of her).  Jake has been very eager to start this project.  However, between the rainy weather and James getting sick, gardening has been delayed.  Several nights ago, however, Jake decided he had waited long enough.  I tried to explain that since it was dark and rainy, it was still not a good time.  "But plants love the water!" he sternly informed me.  It is moments like this when Arthur shoots me the "try to argue that one" look.

6) Living with Jake right now can feel a little bit like living with Dr. Seuss.  He is constantly rhyming, and, like Dr. Seuss, it is best if the second (and often the third and fourth) word is completely made up.

7) Since is hardly ever happens, I love when Jake has a word he doesn't say correctly.  I  hardly ever correct him when this happens, instead I generally encourage it (is that wrong?).  Right now Jake calls pliers, "supplizers."
Sound like some kind a multi tool, huh?

Oh our smart silly boy.  Our lives would be so boring and empty without you love for life and learning and your amazing ability to challenge...well, just about everything.  I know you hear it 100 times a day, but your Mommy and Daddy love you!

different but oh so similar

Our sweet baby boy is already three months old and we couldn't be more in love.  He is no longer the tiny sleepy baby we took home from the NICU two and a half months ago.  Instead James has grown into a beautiful chunky happy boy.  His chubby cheeks and endless chins are impossibly irresistible and I am obsessed with his tiny upturned nose.

In many ways he takes after his older brother, but in others, he is all his own.

1) Like Jake, Mommy is James' lovey.  "Cuddling" (aka nursing) is his favorite activity (obviously, by the pound a week weight gain) and he loves to take naps cuddled up on my chest.  His new thing is to grab a small handful of my hair and just hold onto it while I carry him around.

2) Since his NICU days, James loves to sleep on his tummy (Jake hated that).  But whatever keeps him sleeping through most of the night.  Not to worry, he sleeps 6 inches from me.

3) Something about having Mommy close bye must inherently trigger whining because now both my boys do it.  While I know it won't be cute forever, I can't help but laugh (and give in) to James' dramatics.  I think it is the pouty bottom lip that gets me.

4) Baby smiles are gifts from heaven.  James has a couple different ones and each one melts my heart.  He has a love look smile, where he looks straight into your eyes while the corners of his mouth just barely turn up.   Then there is the huge open mouth smile, where his chubby cheeks ball up and his eye are nearly closed.  If it is possible to pick, I think the third is my favorite.  It is the silly half smile.  It is so goofy and playful that I can't help but giggle every time he does it (still working on pictures of all these).

5) James has also turned into quite the little talker (but would you expect anything else coming for our family).  He can get so excited that cooing becomes a full body experience with busy arms and wildly kicking legs.  We all get pretty excited too so he usually has quite an audience. 

6) Unlike Jake, James doesn't fight sleep.  When he is tired, he sleeps regardless of where he is.  That may seem normal to most families, but it still surprises me every time it happens.

trying to recover from his first cold

7) But like Jake, James loves sleeping next to Mommy at night.  He starts the night in his co-sleeper, but once he wakes up to eat, he falls asleep next to me (this is also about the time Jake finds his way into our bed too).  So by 2 or 3 in the morning our bed looks something like this (imagine Mommy in the middle) as both boys wiggle closer and closer until I literally cannot move.  I might be crazy, but most of the time I love it.

8)  Most of the time I think that James looks really different than Jake, but then I take a picture like this...

James

Jake