Quote of the Day

Joe says, "Baby, I know you like the bed made, but you are being a bit neurotic!"
Joey (trying to repeat what Daddy says), "Momma, I know you like the bed made, but you are being a rocket!"

A few "firsts"

Since we have been home from the beach, Jackson has experienced a few new things. The first big thing was converting his crib to a toddler bed. He loved getting in and out of the bunk bed Joey slept in at the beach and Joey was about the same age when we moved him. Jack did great the first week, but we have taken a few steps back this week. He gets out and comes to the door crying unless we rock/sing him to sleep. I battle this at nap time as well. Not to mention, the 6 am wake up call where I have to sleep on the floor for him to go back to sleep. Hopefully, he will snap out of it soon!
The next day, Jack made his first visit to the dentist. He cried when the nurses took him back and screamed while they examined him, but he didn't realize that he was actually helping Dr. Marks look at his teeth while he had his mouth wide open.  He got a great hygiene score and his teeth looked great!
While we were at the beach, Jack figured out that he could pee outside like his big brother. So, anytime the swim diaper came off, he went right for the rocks or the edge of the deck. But, he wouldn't go on the potty. That has all changed. Last week, after bath time, he was running around without a stitch of clothing. We normally get a diaper on him first thing otherwise he will pee where ever he feels like it. Joey distracted me and I realized I didn't hear Jack. I walk into the bathroom and he is holding the toilet seat up with one hand and peeing on the toilet. I scared him when I walked in and he stopped. I put him on the Elmo seat and he finished his business! He was SO proud of himself. Since then, Jack has been going on the potty every time we put him on!

The Beach

We've been back from the beach for 10 days and are already counting down to next year! To say that it was a wonderful two weeks in the Outer Banks is an understatement. We stayed in a different house than last year and boy was it beautiful...straight out of a Southern Living magazine and Pottery Barn catalog!  The boys loved the beach and having their "own" pool. At the beach, most of our time was spent making sand castles to be immediately smashed or digging their own pond to play in. Joey loved playing paddle ball and Jack spent most of his time trying to get the sand washing off his hands or out of his mouth. They both were so good about the water! I now have two dare devils when it comes to the pool. The boys gave us our fair share of heart attacks with their adventurous ways of jumping in. Joey was a little timid at first, always wanting to hold at least one hand. But, by the end of the first week, he was jumping, hoping someone would catch him. Jack, on the other hand, was full go from the beginning. We would tell him to count to three and would start counting with him, but he would always go at 1 1/2! We rented bikes this year and one of them had the kiddie trailer on it. The boys loved riding down to the beach and after dinner rides around the neighborhoods. Joey loved for mommy and daddy to race....which really wasn't fair since Joey was pedaling all the extra weight. And it was too cute watching them the boys snuggle up with each other while they were riding :) Joe, my dad and I took Joey on a fishing charter one day. He amazed us at how well he noticed that there was a fish on the line. The 3 of us and the captain would be talking and all of sudden he would yell that the rod was bobbing and he was ALWAYS right! We also took him for his first round of golf. I really didn't think he would enjoy it that much since it was really hot and he wouldn't get to "play" like he wanted. I was prepared to take him back to the house at the turn. BOY, was I wrong! He loved every minute! At the turn, he wanted to keep going and after 18 holes he said he wanted to play some more..."I want to play all day and all night!"

It all seemed to go by so fast...but we enjoyed EVERY minute!

 

Our Little Golfer

Joey has had a little set of plastic golf clubs since he turned one. He loves to play! In the last couple of weeks, I have been getting my clubs out when we played outside to get ready for our trip to Birmingham last weekend. Once my clubs came out, he didn't want to play with his plastic ones anymore. So, we decided it was time for him to have his first set of "real clubs". The trip to Golf Galaxy was a hoot! We picked his clubs out based on age/size, but those weren't the ones he wanted. He preferred the "big boy" clubs.  Once we let him go in the practice area to test them out, he was ok with the purchase. We also couldn't leave without getting the practice balls and a glove. He even wore the glove home in the car...too cute!!! He has been practicing non stop and always asks for me to practice with him. Joey even told me that he couldn't play with Jack in the sandbox one afternoon because he needed to practice so he could play golf with Joe and I. When he concentrates, I think he is really good...but that could be the proud mommy talking! But, most of the time he looks like he is playing field hockey :) All that matters is that he loves the clubs and has a great time. The best is when he is done practicing, he has to attach his glove to his bag strap so he knows where it is at all times! Precious!

The Last Month

I have been a little lazy the last month on the blogging...we have just really been enjoying having daddy "back in our lives" since the draft! We've been doing a lot, so I'll just share some of the highlights:
+ The boys got a Jeep the first week we were back from Dallas...based on the GREAT advice from the Foster clan, we purchased a two-seater so if one is driving the other can ride. Joey loves driving all over our neighbors yards and Jack is very content just going along for the ride (as you can see in some of the pics).
+For the first time, as a family, we participated in the Fiesta 5K to benefit ALS research in downtown Baltimore. Joe and Joey had gone before, but this was mine and Jack's first time. I got lucky and found a used jogging stroller for a great price and the boys rode while we pushed. At the end, Joey got out and ran to the finish line. It had to be one of the cutest things I have ever seen!
+Joe and I have been fortunate to have a few "date nights" too! A couple of dinners out and an O's game were so nice! We also went to Preakness last Saturday! It was beautiful weather and a lots of fun to get dressed up!
+Joey went to the dentist for the first time! HE DID AWESOME! Dr. Marks takes the kids back without mom or dad and I wasn't too sure how he would handle it. Not one tear or one second of fussing! We have to work a little harder on the brushing, but all in all it was a good visit. :)
+I finally gave in and we now own a Wii.  I had been trying to delay what I knew was the inevitable...I just didn't want Joey to become a Wii fanatic when he loves to play outside so much. Needless to say, my fears came to fruition in the first 48 hours. We had more fuss fests than I care to remember. I am hoping that the newness will wear off and that my time limit guidelines will be less cause for crying soon!
+Monkey See...Monkey Do! That is the theme of our house these days! Jack does everything Joey does...literally! If Joey yells, throws something, says he has to go pee or wants to play Wii...Jack has to do those things too. Except Jack yells louder, throws something harder and with his diaper on he goes and sits on the training potty.
+Jack, the instigator...Jack is also starting to take on the annoying little brother role. He loves taking food off of Joey's plate...even if his is full with the same food.  He also loves throwing food at Joey when he is done eating. He will walk right up to Joey and take a toy out of his hand and run the other way. Jack does truly love his big brother, though. This morning, Joey went down to the fridge in the garage and Jack started fussing calling Joey's name because he thought he had left. Then later, Joey stepped outside when he walked Joe to the front door. Jack started fussing again because he thought he was leaving. Jack wasn't worried about daddy leaving, just Joey.  It is so funny to watch them now...I know I shouldn't laugh but it is so hard sometimes. ;)
+It rained here the last three days and Joey was out of school for a holiday, so we were going a little stir crazy. I took the boys to Storyville. It is like a little town inside one of the public libraries. There is a house, a library, a theatre, grocery store and tree house. They had the best time! Jack just ran everywhere! Joey went right to work in the kitchen. I think he liked the grocery store the best, though. He has his own play register, food and basket at home. In Storyville, there were two check out lines with registers, a whole wall of food, aprons and baskets. He just took over like he was running the place!

We have begun our countdown to the beach trip! In the meantime, Joe and I have a mommy/daddy trip planned next weekend to Birmingham! I am so excited for my first visit since we moved. Golf, 2 Pesos margaritas, Edgar's strawberry cake, a little Auburn baseball and sleeping late are just a few things that I am looking forward to!