Skyler Said

Skyler and Jonah were playing together and I asked Jonah if he was having fun playing with Skyler. He nods and I ask him if Skyler is being too bossy. Skyler interrupts to say "no! Say no Jonah!"

"Shishies" and Choo-Choos

This week we went to the aquarium for the first time in a long time.  Jonah loved the fish so much, he called them "shishies" or something like that.  When we got to the big shark tank, he got right down on his belly to watch.  He was giggling and calling out "shishies" the whole time.  Skyler was slightly annoyed by all of this, since he tends to like to race through the aquarium as fast as he can.  He didn't appreciate the fact that Jonah just wanted to take it all in.  We went back on Saturday so Jordan could see Jonah's excitement for the fish before the fish became not so cool.  Then we went over to the Botanic Gardens, where the boys had lots of fun watching the model train.

If You Give a Boy Some Yogurt...

...he'll make a really big mess!

But he'll also hang out happily in his chair for a half an hour.  It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Apparently I'm Easy To Forget

The other night, Skyler's blanket that I made him was being washed, so he couldn't sleep with it.  He got very upset, because according to him that blanket reminds him that he loves me (did you catch that?  It doesn't remind him that I love him, but rather that he loves me).  I offered up the blanket that his Grandma Jolene made him, but that wouldn't do because apparently he doesn't forget that he loves her.  He needs the blanket that I made him otherwise he'll be mean and cranky because he forgets that he loves me.

18 Months Old

Except that yesterday, he turned 19 months.  Oh well, he looks the same now that he did a month ago.  He acts the same too for the most part.  He loves:

• books
  
• cars
• balls 
• helping mom and dad
• his blanket
• dogs (until they get too close) 
• throwing things

His vocabulary has grown quite a bit in the last month (or maybe my interpreting skills have improved?).  He says:

• Mom 
• Dad
• Look
• Watch
• Walk
• Stuck
• Uh-oh
• Jesus
• Sock
• Shoe
• Poo Poo (Skyler taught him this one)
• No
• Juice
• Yeah 
• Book
• Ball

In the animal sounds category we've got:

• Woof
• Neigh
• Moo
• Quack
• Ah-Ah (for what does a monkey say)

He's not much of a performer though, if you ask him to say or do something, usually he'll just say yes or no.

Upon reaching the age of 18 months, Jonah reaches one of his first church milestones - starting nursery.  This experience has been so much different that how it all went down with Skyler.  Skyler took a step in the door and never looked back.  Jonah does much looking back, and crying, and running for the door, and refusing to go in in the first place.  But the nursery leaders are great and don't bring him to me at the first sign of tears.  All in all, nursery is such a bittersweet experience for me.  It's nice to not have to roam the halls anymore (because my children aren't the type to just sit nicely in my class and play).  But, it's when I realize my baby isn't so much a baby anymore.  I actually kind of like it that Jonah cries a bit when I drop him off, it lets me know he still wants me around.  When Skyler started nursery I couldn't stand the fact that he didn't care that I was just leaving him somewhere for two hours!  And then there's also the fact that I'm not too fond of Sunday School and now my excuses are limited.

Jonah's Had Enough

The other day Skyler said, "I was just telling Jonah what to do and then he started crying!".  Well um, yeah, did you learn any lessons from this buddy?

Skyler has lately been saying how excited he is that Jonah is big enough to play with him.  He's always so much adored Jonah, but Jonah hasn't always felt the same.  Jordan says that my life will be easier when Jonah's talking a bit more and can interact more with Skyler.  I'm pretty sure that the first complete sentence out of Jonah's mouth will be "no, Skyler, go away and leave me alone!"  Even though he's the little brother, I just don't see Jonah letting Skyler boss him around!

2009

Here are a few things we are looking forward to in 2009

Twelve Paid Vacation Days for Jordan:  That's twice as many as he had this past year, and 12 times as many as in any previous year (well, not really since 12x0 is 0, but still).  We are excited just thinking about the possibilities, we could take a vacation that doesn't involve visiting family!!

A New (or rather additional) Job for Me:  I'm still doing tutoring for Educate Online (which is more or less Sylvan's parent company, I'm sure you've heard of them!) and in the past few weeks got a promotion of sorts to some more behind the scenes position where I'll be writing out goals for the students while they are participating in the program.  It's they type of thing I've wanted to do ever since I started with them, so I'm excited.

A Kindergartener: Assuming all goes well, Skyler will start kindergarten in August.  It's a toss up as to who is more excited, him or me.

A Potty-Trained Two Year Old: Skyler was potty-trained by the time he was 2 1/2, and Jonah is already loving sitting on the toilet, so it's a start.

A New Baby: Baby #3 is due on June 2. We're excited and keeping our fingers crossed for a little girl.