More Coolness

Jake got a temporary heart tattoo from one of his school friends for Valentine's Day (along with way too much candy, but that's another story).

He was fascinated! He thought he was so cool to have a tattoo "just like Poppy." He really wanted another one and finally I found some acceptable ones at Copp's, the local grocery store (they are made in America from all-natural vegetable dyes). He loves putting in his 50 cents (from his piggy bank) and seeing what cool tattoo he gets.

Of course, we had to explain that he can't get a permanent tattoo until he's 18. I softened the blow by explaining that he can try lots of cool different tattoos between now and then. Meanwhile, he loves making "muscles" and showing off his tats.

Cool, Man...

Some things, like leather jackets, just never go out of style when you are a cool rocker...

The other day, I asked Jake what he wanted to be when he grew up.

J: "A rock star, Mommy!"
M: "What kind of rock star?"
J: "Like Bwuce!"
M: "Oh, so you're going to play the guitar?"
J: "Yes, and I will sing, too. I will have lots of different guitars, because Bwuce does." (I love how he has that Elmer Fudd thing going on with his "r"s, it's so cute.)
M: "Bruce writes his own songs. Do you think you will, too?"
J: "Yes, I will use my words and be on videos!"

Hee. Jake talks a lot about "his words" lately. I think it's because they are focusing on getting the kids to "use their words" as school, instead of hitting or getting mad. When Jake gets upset at us, he will say, "Listen to my words!" Of course, then he often cannot tell you exactly what words he wants you to pay attention to...more that he wants you to pay attention to him, I think.

Wheels On the What?

Jake's teacher told me that Jake and his friend JT were playing music -- they were using the big wooden blocks as pretend guitars and microphones. Jake was singing one of his songs (probably the Goo Goo Doll's "Better Days," his most recent favorite). Apparently, JT asked, "Can we sign "Wheels on the Bus'?"

It's tough to be ahead of your peers...

Thanks, Mommy

Jake tends to get twisted up in his covers when he sleeps, or they get knocked off the bed. Usually, I check on him a few times a night, when I'm up with baby Charlie, but sometimes Jake will call for me because he's cold.

Sometimes, but not always, I'll hear a soft little "Thanks, Mommy" when I go in to tuck him back in, even if I think he's asleep. It's so sweet!

Roar!

Jake got some giant building blocks for Christmas -- the large cardboard kind that are great for building forts. (And causing scars -- Mommy has a scar on her eyebrow from being hit in the face with one of those blocks as a kid, although to be fair, the block opened an existing wound that came from sliding off a bald man's head. Really. Okay, on second thought, never mind the block story, it's just too weird and I'm sure they've improved the cardboard technology since 30 years ago.)

Jake likes to build forts with the blocks. When he builds them with Poppy, they pretend to be Godzilla and Mothra and knock the forts down while roaring loudly. When he builds them with Mommy, they make interesting architectural statements and play inside the fort.

Here is Jake and his doll Phil in a Mommy fort, being attacked by Godzilla. Shortly after these pictures were taken, Phil was thrown to Godzilla as a distraction while Jake escaped...

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem...

In one of his videos, Bruce Springsteen plays his guitar without wearing a shirt. Jake has decided that he wants to be "like Bwuce" and so he's started taking off his shirt to play, too. Always willing to take things to the next level, Jake decided that if no shirt was cool, no pants must be even cooler. So now he likes to play rock 'n' roll while dressed just in his underwear. He's moved from Springsteen to Red Hot Chili Peppers...

I'm a Big Brother!

"Yeah, well I caught one that was THIS big..."

On January 17, Jake became a big brother again. Charles Spenser Finnegan was born at 8:43 am on Thursday, January 17.

Jake got to meet Charlie on Friday, although he wasn't allowed to hold his baby brother, due to an RSV scare with his other little brother, Kyle (Jake had been staying at his daddy's house with Kyle, who was sick). Jake thought Charlie was pretty cool, and he was really glad to see Mommy.


Jake enjoyed visiting the hospital (Mommy was in for four days) and having room service and eating on the hospital bed. Charlie got Jake a "Jack's Big Music Show" dvd to watch while hanging out, which went a long way to making Jake happy about being in the hospital (although I'm not sure he realized the baby would be coming home with us).

Jake decided that the bassinette was a "baby aquarium." One day, I put Charlie into his Moby wrap so we could all take a stroll around the hospital floor for some exercise. Jake got a very puzzled look on his face and said, "Mommy, take the baby out of your tummy and put him in the baby aquarium."

Poppy decided that he didn't need to take Jake out of the room when the doctor came to check my incision. He thought it might help Jake be a bit more empathetic. The look on Jake's face when he saw it! Poor little guy, I think it might have scarred him for life... Although he certainly has been more empathetic. He's very sweet, patting my tummy and asking if I'm okay.

So far, he seems to enjoy having a baby brother. He wants to hold him, and he's always putting his hand on his forehead and saying "He feels hot, Mommy. Is he okay?" He's definitely acting out a bit more, and wants Poppy a lot more than Mommy, but I'm sure he'll adjust...