Superman!

What is it with boys and superheroes?

We don't watch any of the superhero cartoons--they are way too violent for Jake's age. But during nightly "videos" he and Poppy watch little You Tube clips of various superheroes. Batman, Superman, Spiderman...Jake loves them all (including Wonder Woman, which makes Mommy happy).

One video shows various clips from the Superman movies, set to the theme music. Jake loves when Superman says, "Would you care to step outside?" and when he saves the plane from crashing. "Wow! He stop the plane!" He can sing the Spiderman cartoon theme song.

In fact, Spiderman is his favorite. I'm not sure if its because right now Spiderman is everywhere, but he prefers Spiderman to Batman or Superman. Which is funny, because as we know all men choose a superhero allegiance fairly early on in life. You can tell a lot about a guy based on who is favorite superhero is.

Jake's dad likes Superman; Jake's poppy likes Batman. Jake, perhaps wisely, chose Spiderman. He has a Jake-sized stuffed Spiderman that Gran Grace bought him. He sleeps at the foot of Jake's bed and keeps Jake's room monster-free.

Despite his fondness for Spiderman, imagine Jake's glee when he saw this enormous statue of Superman in Metropolis, IL. He couldn't stop looking. He thought it was really cool! A Superman visit is definitely a nice way to break up a long car ride...

Sleepy Boy

The cry comes at 3:00 am -- "Mooooommmyy!"

Is he sick? He's been coughing. Did he have a nightmare? He's been talking a lot about monsters. So in I go.

From under the covers comes a little hand holding a sock, then a bare foot is thrust at me. "Put my sock on!" I put the sock on.

"Give me my paci!" I find the paci on the floor and hand it over.

And he's out like a light.

While I'd never let him get away with such preemptory behavior while awake, it's sort of sweet to know that in the night, he completely trusts Mommy to take care of him.

My Little Comedian

Jake has a thing about throwing away trash (not suprisingly, given who his mom is). He loves to throw away trash. He's learned that used napkins, empty snack packages, and more all belong in the trash. He also knows that if you leave a sippy cup out with juice or mlik, "it's old" and needs to be thrown away.

The other day I was dressing Jake in the morning and as usual he was not cooperating. (After all, getting dressed means leaving the house, something my little hermit crab would rather not do unless McD's is involved.) I said something like, "Jake, please come here, I'm getting too old to get up and chase you."

Surprisingly, he did. Then:

J: "Mommy, you are OLD."
M: "No, I'm not!"
J: "Oh yeah, You OOOOOLLLLDDD."
M: "Really."
J: (devilish twinkle in his eye) "Yeah, we throw you away!"
M: (mock horror) "No! You can't throw me away!"
J: "Oh yeah!" (laughing)
M: "Well, I'm not so old I can't catch you and tickle you!"

Which of course, I did. Much hilarity ensued.

Hee, Jake is starting to make jokes. I suppose that too is not suprising, given who his daddy and poppy are.

It did hit home a little. Poor guy, when he is in college I'll be as old as my mom is now, and ready for retirement. Not that I'll be able to afford to retire, given the likely cost of tuition.

On The Dark Side...Oh Yeah

Jake loves music. He loves to sing, he loves to dance. Every night he and Poppy watch "videos" on YouTube. Jake's favorite (besides Spiderman, Superman, etc.) is a clip from "Eddie and The Cruisers" where they sing "On the Dark Side." Jake bounces and claps along. He has a little toy microphone and he walks around the house singing "Eddie and the Cwuisers song, Mommy!"

He likes to watch any kind of music video and concert DVDs fascinate him. If you ask him, he will tell you he wants to play guitar or drums.

On a recent trip to Tennessee, Jake got to see Alex's stepfather play a REAL guitar. It was a major moment in his young life. He stared and stared. The expression on his face when he got to actually touch the strings as A.C. was playing was priceless.

Maybe one day he will be a world-famous scientist/rock star!

Of Apples, Sponges, and Pitchers

They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, that little minds are like sponges, and that little pitchers have big ears. So true!

It's always amazing to me to hear Jake repeat something back to me that I say, or act the way I would act, or remember something we've talked about but not recently. Having a child is like having a little mirror with an odd reflection...often fuzzy and sometimes crystal clear--usually when you least want it to be. Like when you're in the car in traffic and from the backseat you hear, "Go! Get a move on!" (ahem)

This morning, Jake was watching the episode of Oobie where Oobie gets scared. Oobie talks to other kids to find out what they do when they get scared. So I asked Jake what he does:

J: "I run away!"
M: "Really? Then what?"
J: "I find a mommy!"
M: "You mean me?"
J: "No, a mommy with kids."

I finally realized he was repeating back what we talk about when we read "Little Red Riding Hood" -- don't talk to strangers, and if you get lost, you should look for another mommy with kids and ask for help. Still not sure why he connected that with being scared, as he's never been lost, but good to know he remembers!

A little while later, I was dressing him and I asked him to get his sneakers:

J: "I no see them." (shrugging, hands up the air)
M: "Oh, I think we left them at school."
J: "Bummer, dude!" (with major eye roll)

Of course, that's what I say in a similar situation when he's around, instead of cursing. Good thing, or I'm sure something entirely different would have come out of his mouth!

He also made me "breakfast" this morning. This means making "coppee" with his pretend coffee maker, toast with his pretend toaster, and then smearing "jam" on it from his play food. He serves it up very neatly on one of his play plates, and hands me the cup. He gets a serving too and takes a big sip, then lets out a big sigh of satisfaction (I think that's a Daddy and Poppy mannerism). Suddenly, he jumps up -- "We need napkins for manners!" Too funny.

I suppose I realized what a big responsibility this motherhood gig is, but now I really need to pay attention to what I say and do when he's around! Gotta model that good behavior...

Meet My Son, Sampson

It started with a spritz of water.

Of course, it is my fault because I should have told the stylist that Jake fears and loathes the idea of water on, near, or even spoken of in relation to, his head. (Washing his hair is a weekly, much-dreaded ritual that requires tears, pleading, and fear -- and that's just on my part.)

Yes, we tried to get Jake's hair cut. I thought we did everything right. We talked about what would happen. We excitedly speculated on how cool he would look, and how impressed everyone at school would be. We brought the mini DVD player so he could watch Mickey Mouse in "Twice Upon a Christmas" (aka "Million Upon a Never-Freaking-Ending Christmas" given its heavy rotation year-round) while getting his hair cut. He got the choice of sitting in Poppy's lap or in the way-cool seat shaped liked a car (he chose the car). We promised treats.

But nooooooo. As soon as the first spritz of water hit his head, the arms went up, and the screaming began. And I do mean screaming. Loudly. At the top of his lungs, not to mention vocal register. He got so worked up that we couldn't even talk him down or through it. The stylist stood by helplessly. Unlike some, she didn't try to gut it out, she just refused to touch him. Of course, the other customers looked on in semi-horror. Which, let's be clear, doesn't actually bother me; I don't care what they think about my parenting skills. I do want Jake to learn that he has to respect other people and screaming and making people flinch is not respectful. And I don't want him terrified, either.

Once we reached the point where calm reason and hugs could reach him, we had to leave. (You can't not give in to the tantrum on something like this, it's not fair to the innocent bystanders.) On the way home, we had a long talk about bad behavior and consequences -- as in, no, we were not going to McDonald's and no, he could not watch videos or play when we got home, he could go to bed. We love him, nothing will change that, and he can always have hugs and kisses, but bad behavior results in consequences.

We reinforced the lesson with another personal grooming session. He badly needed his toenails cut (I used to do it in his sleep, but now he wakes up!). I told him that if he let me cut his nails with no crying, screaming or flailing, he could have two M&Ms. That would be his reward for good behavior. If he didn't have good behavior, no M&Ms and no bedtime story. It was hard, but he gutted it out and let me lop off the oh-so-valuable toenail body parts. Hurray! Celebration dance, high fives, hugs, kisses, and M&Ms all around. I asked him after I tucked him in which felt better, good or bad behavior, and he actually said, "Good!"

Let's hope a lesson was learned. Meanwhile, he's starting to look like an Ewok. Soon we'll have to use barettes to hold his hair back...

Sandbox World

Jake got a new sandbox. He LOVES the new sandbox. Much time is spent building castles, walls, and making molds with the deluxe sandbox tool kit he also received. He particularly likes adding water, just a little bit at a time, so the sand is at the right consistency for building. He can play for quite a while in his sandbox.

In fact, the only other outside thing that holds his attention for as long is his new "Super Bouncy Ball." A mere quarter in a cheesy dispenser at the grocery store has purchased hours of fun. He likes to bounce it against the garage door. It's most hilarious when Mommy bounces it really high. But best of all is when Mommy has to chase it down before it rolls into the street. Good times!

Happy Mother's Day!

Or as Jake thinks of it, Mommy's birthday.

Jake made me lovely card, with lots and lots of tape. "I tape, Mommy!" It also had stickers, pictures, and drawings. Jake has just learned to draw a circle (or at least, something vaguely egg-shaped) so all of his art now contain what look like lopsided donuts. "He" also got me a beautiful necklace with a charm containing his name and birthdate, and all my gardening stuff (pots, plants, flowers) so we can garden together.

It was Jake's weekend at Daddy's, but given that this was a special occasion, he went to Daddy's Thursday night through Saturday night so he could be home for "Mommy's Special Day." For whatever reason, he did not want me to have the necklace (which he brought with him from Daddy's house). He tried to tear it off my neck several times. "No! No Mommy, no!" But he couldn't tell me what, exactly, he objected to. I wore it anyway and caught him eyeing it throughout the day, obviously plotting how he could remove it. Today, he finally told me why. "Jake, you gave this to me." "No, I not. Amy did." "Is that why you don't want me wear it?" "Yeah." "But it has your name and birthday on it. I love it because it's celebrates the day I became your Mommy. It's beautiful." "It not beautiful. It not nice." Shrug.

He was so sweet and loving most of the day (other than that) so it was quite the surprise when he walked into the kitchen, tore down the card he had made from its place of honor on the refrigerator, and tore and crumpled it up. "No, Mommy!" he said sternly as he placed it in the trash. Apparently, he was mad at me, I think because I was making dinner and he didn't want to eat it. (Or maybe because he had made it at Daddy's house? Who knows...)

I took him upstairs to change his Pull-Up and he said, "I don't love you, Mommy." Sigh. "Well, I love you, Jake." "Yeah." (shrug) "Are you mad at me?" "Yeah. I DON'T love you." "Well, you can be mad at me, it's okay. Just say so. I will still love you."

Of course later on all was forgiven and it was hugs and kisses and love. But man, it goes right to the heart when they first drop the "no love" bomb....Happy Mother's Day...

Mommy, You Have Owie?

My darling boy is perfectly aware that some people are boys and some are girls, but has never shown the slightest curiosity as to why this is so.

The other day I was wearing a v-neck shirt. I was bending over, putting his pjs on after his bath, when he got a very concerned look on his face. He started patting my cleavage. "Mommy, you have an owie?" "No, sweetie, that's Mommy's chest. Mommy is a grown-up girl, so she has bumps on her chest." "Oh. Looks like an owie."

Apparently, all the memories of breastfeeding have faded away...

Burps & Good Behavior

Riding home tonight, Jake burped. The conversation went like this:

J: "I burp!"
M: "Say excuse me."
J: "Mommy burped!"
M: "No, I didn't burp."
J: "Yeah!"
M: "No, I didn't. You did."
J: (Burp -- "catches" it in hand) "Here Mommy, it for you!"

Gee, wonder where he learned that...(Poppy)

We went to Kohl's tonight. I told him if he behaved, we would go to "Old McDonald's" for dinner.

J: "No! I no want to have!" (pronounced hayv)
M: "Jake. Can you have good listening ears?"
J: "Yeah!"
M: "Can you be respectful?"
J: "Yeah!"
M: "Can you have good manners?"
J:: "Yeah!"
M: "Then you can behave. That's all it is."
J: "Nooooo!"

Luckily, he had good listening ears, respect and good manners so he got to go to McDonald's. But according to Jake, he is not a have!

Yes, It's Dead

What is it with boys and gross things? Jake saw a crushed soda can in a parking lot yesterday, with some leftover Coke spilled out. "Ew! Gwoss! That yucky!" He was completely disgusted by the soda baking in the the sun. (And yes, we picked up the can and threw it away; trying to teach him to be a good citizen).

But give him a dead, bloated, stinking muskrat to poke with a stick and he's in heaven...

Jake The Flirt

Jake is quite the flirt. One of the teachers at his school came up to me at pick up time and said, "Jake is sooo sweet! He picked a dandelion for me and said "You my girl, this for you.'" His teacher Miss Melissa said, "Hey! He did the same thing for me!" I guess when he's three he'll learn about juggling his girlfriends better... :-)

He does this when we're out, too. Today he had to go to the doctor (he has another sinus infection). He always flirts with the nurses -- makes sure he smiles, says "Tank you, Miss Pat" and gives them a shy little look from under his lashes. Of course, they always swoon over him and say what a polite, cute boy he is. Which he eats up with a spoon.

I guess it's tough being adorable.

Conversations with Jake, May 1

Jake was very funny on the way to school today. He kept asking me what character his different Toy Story gummies were -- "Who dat, Mommy?" I explained to Jake that Woody is a cowboy and what a cowboy is, and that Buzz Lightyear is a spaceman, and what a spaceman is. He thought about it, and decided that he wants to be a cowboy. Then the conversation went like this:

J: "Mommy, where my horse?"
M: "You don't have a horse. You can have a pretend horse, though."
J: "Oh. Okay. But where my real horse?"
M: "You don't have a real horse, sweetie."
J: "Why? Why I no have a real horse?" (genuinely puzzled)
M: "Because you have to have lots of land to have a horse. You can't just have a big yard, you need to live out in the country, with land and a fence."
J: "We don't have a fence."
M: "No, we don't."
J: "Where *is* the country?"
M: "You know how you drive to Daddy's house, and you go past the cows in the field, with the fence? That's the country."
J: "That's the country???" (very surprised)
M: "Yes. The country has lots of land, and fences and barns for the cows and horses. Horses need land to roam on, fences and barns to be happy."
J: "Okay."

He just cracks me up. At one point, we had to wait for a school bus to pick up kids. Then the conversation went like this:

J: "Hey, that a school bus!"
M: "Yes, it's picking kids up to take them to school."
J: "My Daddy and me went on a school bus."
M: "You did? Where did you go?"
J: "To pick a pumpkin!"
M: "Wow, you went with Daddy on a school bus to pick a pumpkin with your friends. That's cool!"
J: "Yeah" (heavy sigh) "I miss Daddy."
M: "I bet he misses you, too. You will see him tomorrow, on Wednesday, though."
J: "I will?" (happy)
M: "Yes, you will. Then it will be my turn to miss you when you're gone."
J: "I miss you, too, Mommy. And I miss my Amy. And I miss my Poppy."
M: "I know, but you are so lucky to get to live with Mommy and Poppy, and go visit Daddy and Amy. Not everybody has four people to love them that much."
J: "I know." (very smug, happy look)

We also had a conversation about the seasons (we've been reading a Dora book about seasons) and he informed me that it's "ping" because the pinecone flowers are on the ground. I guess he thinks pinecones are evergreen flowers. Too funny.

Jake Shows the Love

Who said that little boys aren't affectionate? Well okay, maybe I did. Jake isn't the most affectionate kid in the world...mostly when he's tired. Otherwise, he's too busy.

I kept him home on Friday, May 4. We had the BEST day. Lots of fun and bonding, just Jake and me. We were at the grocery store and in one aisle, I gave him a hug and kiss and told him I love him. A couple of aisles later, he patted my hand and said, "I love you Mommy" and then reached up to give me a hug and kiss. He was so sweet and serious about it and I got sort of teary-eyed. I said, "I love you, too, Jake. I'm so lucky to have a boy like you." He said, "No, *I* lucky." Just about made me cry in the middle of Copp's!

Here's Jake with his easter basket...showing the love to his M&Ms and jellybeans ("Dey my favowite, Mommy!")

Get Buff!

Alex has been going to a personal trainer. I tease him by doing my Cartman impression...you know, from the episode where Cartman is bulking up and he says, "Yeah, but I'm the one that's gonna be on tv, looking all buff."

Last night, Alex was leaving for the gym. I asked Jake, "Where is Poppy going?" Jake says, "To the gym." I ask, "Why is he going to the gym?" Jake says, "To get buff!"

It's Back

Well, I sort of lost track of posting stuff on this blog. I did update everything on my Yahoo 360 blog. See it here. So you can read posts about Jake until he was 18 months old.

What's he doing now? Pretty much everything! I can't believe he's going to be three years old in a few months.

I won't be writing in Jake's voice anymore, but I will share stories about MABITU (most adorable boy in the universe). He's quite the character. So check back often.