23+ Months

We are getting close to the big 2nd birthday for Mr. Jack! Since my last milestone posting, he's changed tremendously!

His vocabulary has increased a million-fold (if that's possible!) I've stopped keeping track of his new words because there are too many. He talks all the time and we can actually understand him most of the time. He can put thoughts together and can form a few sentences-"Mommy do it," More rice, please," "I want to see" and his definite favorite "What's that, Mom?" My favorite is when he remembers things that happened in the past or something we've told him and he talks about it out of the blue later. For instance, a couple of weeks ago, Brett went on an airplane out to one of the islands and Jack says "Daddy, airplane, zoom" (with arm motion, even) whenever he sees or hears one.

Jack loves garbage day and talks about the "garbage trucks" all the time. He is so excited when all four of them comes through our neighborhood or if he sees one when we're in the car. He's able to specify the "blue one" or "white one" and if we're lucky, the garbage man will see us in the window and wave. He's somewhat of a celebrity in our house.

 He loves to sing, play air guitar (Daddy's doing) and dance. His favorite song right now is Pop Goes the Weasel and sometimes we have to play it over and over in the car. (Seriously, last night I was in the car BY MYSELF listening to Jack's tape. I was halfway home before I realized it!) He will sing along to most of the other songs and I'll catch him doing the motions to the Itsy Bisty Spider in the backseat all on his own.

Jack's super polite and says please and thank you all the time! It's awesome! Especially since his thank you is so sincere and heartfelt. Sometimes, I think he thinks if he says please all the time, he will always get what he wants. He says "More song, please" at bed time or "apple juice, please" if he doesn't want milk or water. It doesn't always work for him, but it's so sweet, it's hard to say no! I hope he continues to be this polite as he grows up! (I got a very heartfelt thank you after giving him this bag of M&Ms!)

He's become very particular about certain things-what shoes or sweatshirt he wears, what song we sing, what book we read or WHO does it (a very calm "no, no, no" and "Mommy do it" or "Daddy do it.")

One of the things Jack loves to do lately is take the keys and try to unlock the front door or car door. He can now open the front door, which makes me a little nervous, but he's such a cautious kid, I'm almost positive he won't venture out without me. He loves to ring the doorbell and have one of us answer the door. He thinks it's hilarious! And really would do it for hours if we let him.

On Tuesday nights, when I work, Jack and Daddy have swimming lessons. He's still a major water baby and will "swim" underwater from the teacher to Brett. If I ask him, he'll tell me all about what he did-"kick, scoops, bubbles, jump" and now "chicken, airplane, soldier" (with movements, which is how they teach elementary backstroke). I actually heard him talking about it all by himself in the kitchen. Maybe he'll be a swimmer???

On a less positive note, Daylight Savings a couple of weeks ago totally kicked all three of our butts. Jack was sleeping until 10 and napping at 3, which does NOT work for us. I think we finally broke the cycle, but it doesn't help that 3 out of 4 of his I-teeth are coming in. Poor kid's been teething for most of his life!

It's amazing watching him learn and grow and really start to figure the world out! All in all, he's a happy, polite, sweet, fun little BOY, and I can't get enough of him!

In preparation for the big day, we have been practicing! Jack just said to me "blow, candles, cake. Jack do it." And he sings "Happy to you! Happy to you!" and then he blows. I think he's about ready! Just not sure if I am...