Jack, October 4, 2011

Jack blew into the house, like the mini tornado he is, right before lunch today. As usually, he had a big smile on his face and was ready for some glow stick action. Not sure how small children choose the "new hotness" of the moment, but he's been stuck on glow sticks now for a few months. His favorite car trip is to Party City to get a pack of every color, which he brings home, "snaps," then carries to bed with him. When he spends the night and his little tent is full of colored, glowing sticks, it's a wonderful sight. The boy is still not potty trained and is fast approaching his 4th birthday. I think my daughter-in-law has given up, which is probably a good thing because he will be ready when he's ready. He and Karen had stopped by to pick up the birthday party decorations I had ordered for his 4th birthday party on October 9 (his birthday is the 10th, but it's a Monday). Kevin's dad will be flying into town on October 8 and plans to stay for a week, helping around the new house. I wish I could express how much we love this little boy, and all his quirky habits and sayings. He now says stuff like, "Grandma, you're crazy, but...." or "weeeellllll, I believe that's not right, Grandma." Like having a conversation with a forty year old midget. I plan to do better about documenting what he says and does and take more pictures and videos. He will only be this age once and I hate for it to pass by with no memories. Love you, Jack!

Jack-isms

After reading through my first blog post, it's pretty clear that Jack's personality hasn't changed much, nor have the things he loves. He still loves that crazy cat piano toy I got him at Target, and he still skips through all the songs to find Bingo. When he finds it, he jumps up and down, up and down, until he says his legs hurt. The other song he's kind of gotten into is Old Suzanna. I sang it for him the other day and he was very interested that another one of the songs actually had words and I knew them. He still loves the "Big Peacock" on NBC Action Weather, which is totally weird because he never really watches it. His latest new thing is "The Yellow Man." I have no clue how he got on this, but it's kind of an obsession. He is very intrigued by the faceless characters that show up on fire extinguishers, cross walks, utility boxes, etc. He likes to walk around our block and touch the yellow man, meaning he wants to see all the faceless guys on the sides of the utility boxes. He is also into the big game of Why?, which every parent hates and I find kind of fun. If I know the answer, I'll tell him, but most of the time, I don't know the answer so we have the serious, "well, Jack, Grandma just doesn't know" talk. He will ask the same questions over and over, like he is trying to trip someone up or catch us in a lie. He is just the funniest little thing every. I swear, his absolute favorite thing to do is play hide and seek with Pappa. He would do that a hundred times every day if we would let him. He is also endlessly fascinated with being outside and taking a walk, pointing out the cracks in the sidewalk, the leaves on the trees, or anything new and different he hasn't seen before. There is such a natural, innocent curiosity about him that is so hard to resist. I love walking around the block with him, which is something you just can't do if you are in any kind of hurry to get back. He runs and runs and runs, then will stop and hold your hand, or ask you to pick him up so he can give you a kiss.

Wow, where has the time gone

I just looked at my blog for the first time in over a year. Wow, what have I been doing the past year? I know what I didn't do: I didn't win the lottery so I could quit my job and stay home to play with Jack. For now, I have to settle for evening and weekend visits. I wonder if his mom and dad would give him to me full time. Ha ha!!! Just kidding, whoever reads this blog. But I do love Jackie Boy. His new things are counting to 100, counting backwards from 100, touching the "yellow man" on the cable box in the front yard, and playing the slot machine. I can't wait for him to turn 21 so I can take him to Vegas for the real deal. Yes, I am a good grandmother. When the hell is this heat going to dial it back a few notches?

Fun with Jack 2/8/10

This blog is long over-due. Jack, I hope that some day you'll read this and realize just how much your grandma loves you.

Jack, my totally awesome two year old grandson, popped over for a visit today. Well, it really wasn't a visit, his mom came over to work out on the treadmill and I just happened to be working at home. Needless to say, playing with Jack is WAY more fun than working, so I decided to sneak off for a little play time. Jack's idea of play time is: watching NBC Action News weather for the "big peacock," playing peek-a-boo (although this is typically reserved for Pappa), Playdough (worm and turtle), "Bingo" (which means playing the song Bingo over and over on the kitty keyboard I got him, and NOT playing the game Bingo), "smell" (which is taking the tub of perfume, lotion, and shampoo out of the cabinet in the bathroom and smelling every container, OR smelling all the different candles in the cabinet behind the couch), giving Pete a Milk Bone, throwing Stink's mouse, playing bowling or Elmo's Monster Maker on the iPod, reading a Courdoroy book, Mister "Mo-Tay-Bo" head, and last but not least, putting together one of his giant floor puzzles. The boy has a routine, for sure. He also likes to make cookies, drink "juice," eat fruit snacks, and dance to his Elmo DVDs. I love that little boy.