4 at 4

The top 4 things that make Joel the sweet and special boy that he is are:

1- DRAMA!!!  You never know when Joel is going to lose it or what is going to set him off.  From something as small as "I can't find my shoes." to something BIG like taking a Tonka truck to the forehead and now we have to go to the ER for 7 stitches!

2- Thumbs up!  Joel is king of the thumbs up.  He gives you that sweet big smile (see photo) and says "Hey Mommy thumbs up!"  And makes the appropriate gesture!  Love it!!!

3- Clumsy coordinated.  I know that doesn't make sense but if you were around Joel much you would know exactly what that means.  He has a dimple that he made himself, it's darn cute but it was scary when he fell into the corner of a table for no apparent reason.  He has already had stitches.  A day rarely goes by when I am not comforting him after his most recent injury.

4- For better or worse he is his mother's son.  Stubborn to the core!  He is going to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it.  And he won't do something he REALLY wants to do if you tell him he has to do it.  In other words it is not a good idea until it is his idea!

These are just a few things about Joel that make him special.  I love him so much I could cry just thinking about it!  My sweet Joel, we really are kindred spirits.  Two peas in a pod.  No wonder we drive each other crazy!

25 at 25

I've been inspired by a friend to list the things that make Jensen...Jensen.  And 2 at 2 is just not enough.  I could go on and on listing the wonderful things about you but for today I will list 25 things at 25 months that make my heart melt.
1 - You greet me every morning with Happy Birthday Mommy!
2 - You love to dance
3 - You know all the words to Llama Llama Red Pajama and as you read the book your personality shines through
4 - You LOVE your big brothers and try your best to keep up
5 - You talk non stop unless there is someone outside of your family around and then you are quiet as a mouse
6 - You love music and singing and even though I am no Jimmy Buffet fan I can't help but smile and sing along with you
7 - You love bath or shower time.  You don't prefer one to the other, you just love getting clean
8 - You will eat anything
9 - When we drive by Jason's work you say "That's Daddy office."
10- When we go to see Daddy you run in like you own the place
11- You mimic everything your brothers do in attempts to make them laugh as hard at you as you do at them
12- You love Elmo even though we never watch Sesame Street
13- You love working puzzles and you are great at it
14- I love to hear you say "PEEESSSS Mommy, juice!"
15- Every time you go potty you say "Good Job"
16- When it is time for bed I read you one story, sing one song and "rock a minute" per your request and then it is off to bed with no complaints
17- When you can't find me you run around the house saying "Mommy are you?  I right here."
18- You love to play outside, even in the rain
19- Your "fast kisses" are the best
20- You hug me and say "oh my baby"
21- You are my only child that say "me" instead of "my" for example "that's me blanket",  it breaks my heart to correct you but I do it anyway, the control freak in me I guess.
22- Every night you help me tuck your brothers in with a "nite nite brothers, love you brothers"
23- You love strawberry milk, you ask for it every morning and before I put the strawberry in it you say "put ketchup in it"
24- You are always happy and smiling, unless Mommy is leaving
25- You are a Mommy's boy through and through and I hope this is one thing that never changes!

I have thought of so many more things as I have been typing but I guess I will save them for another post.  Love You my Sweet JP!

News from Afghanistan

Jason's youngest brother Patrick left for Afghanistan a couple of weeks ago.  He arrived safely and all is well.  He called us the night before he left and talked to everyone, including his nephews.  They asked questions (see previous blog) and told Uncle Patrick they loved him and above all be safe!
The next day we saw my parent and Jackson says "Grandma, did you know my Uncle Patrick went to war today?"  Grandma: "Yes, your Mommy told me."  Jackson: "He has been at his war all day so he is probably finished by now."

Gotta love the innocence of children!

Potty Training and Positive Reinforcement!

We first moved to Clarkesville 4 years ago.  My sweet Jackson was almost 2 and Joel was just 5 months old.  We made a big deal of Jackson being a big boy and moving into a big boy bed and maybe trying to use the potty.  Poor Jackson didn't realize the addition of his new brother meant he was being rushed out of his crib.  Not only did he not notice that Baby Joel was getting all his old "baby" stuff, he didn't care.  He loved his big boy room and his big boy bed and in general being a big boy!  He came to me one day and said "Mommy I go poo poo on the potty.  I'm big boy!"  I responded "OK Jackson lets go potty."  thinking to myself he isn't even 2 yet, he isn't going to use the potty but he wanted to go and I took that as a good sign so we went to the potty.  I was amazed!  My boy did it!  He poo pooed on the potty!  Surely no child has ever been as smart as my child!  He is a genius!!!!!  I think I freaked him out a little I was so excited because the great beginning was about it!  Jackson was nearly 3 before he was consistently going to the potty and I drove us both crazy in the process.  I vowed after Jackson that I would not push the issue with Joel.  And Joel, much like his mother, just decides to do something and does it!  He was easy, I am sure it is mostly due to the fact that I didn't push it with him.
Now my baby my sweet sweet Jensen is growing up!  "I go pee pee potty Mommy."  He is starting the process on his own and this is the last time I will have to (get to) potty train a baby.  Only a mother would get teary eyed at the thought of not changing diapers any more.  It's a right of passage, he is a big boy now for sure.  And only a mother can understand the joy I have when I am sitting with my baby at the potty and he pees and in the sweetest voice you have ever heard he says (before I get a chance) "Good job!"  

Out of the mouths of babes.

My brother-in-law left for Afghanistan this morning at 0500 hours.  Deep breath!  He called last night to talk to his nephews and it was so sweet.  First he talked to Joel and Joel told him to be safe and he loved him and then proceeded to talk about what he was doing in that moment. 

Then it was Jackson's turn.  And here is his side of the conversation in part.   Keep in mind there are pauses between every sentences for Patrick's response.  "Hi Uncle Pat.  Yes.  I had a fun day.  Are you leaving for war tomorrow?  You should be careful at the war.  I think your job is hard.  Is your job hard for you?  Yea but will the Army give you a pellet gun?  Maybe you could shoot your gun at a swimming pool (I have no idea where that came from???)  OK.  I love you Uncle Pat, have fun blowing up tanks.  Bye"  Jensen followed it up with "I love you Uncle Pat Army man."

There was a lot more said but this was the part that made me laugh and cry!

*Uncle Pat with Jackson Feb 2005

Cancel my order!

My boys are a marketing person's dream come true!  They desperately call me into the room yelling "This one Mommy, this is the toy I was talking about!"  Every time they see something they must have I tell them to remember it when Christmas comes around.    I think they were worried about forgetting a must have so about a month ago they (Jackson and Joel) asked me to help them write letters to Santa.  They wrote the letters themselves I only provided spelling help.  The list was full of specifics so that Santa would be sure to bring the correct size, color and options!  We spent nearly an hour on the lists which grow from week to week.  A couple of days ago Jackson saw a show about toy trains and he called to his Daddy, "Daddy cancel my order with Santa!  This is what I REALLY want!"
Wonder how many more orders will be canceled before Santa makes his midnight run?

Perception is a funny thing!

I had a girls night out to celebrate my best friend this weekend.  She is getting married so a group of friends got together for big fun!  Well I am a mother of 3 small children which most, if not all, of you know so as hard as I try not to I inevitably talk about my boys.  So the topic of my blog came up and someone mentioned that I have an obvious favorite.  Perception is a funny thing because while this person felt like Joel is my favorite others (specifically my mom) think I am way too hard on Joel.  Perception is a funny thing.  I have put a lot of thought into this over the last 2 days.  Here is what I have decided. I don't write about Joel more because I am over compensating, I write about Joel more because he is the entertainer of the family.  He loves to be the center of attention, he loves to make people laugh.

So this brings me to the question I have been asked before, "How can you not have a favorite?"  I am their mother that is how.   I love them equally but uniquely.   All three of my boys are handsome and smart and sweet but they add their own special twist to this perfect package.  

Jackson is a thinker, he has to know the why and how of things which drives his Daddy crazy sometimes.  He likes order in his day.  He wants to know what is coming so he can prepare for it.  He loves information.  He  chooses to watch documentaries about toys or trains over cartoons.  He knows more about trains than anyone I know.  I love watching his wheels turn.  My first born, my starter baby, he made us a family and not just a couple.  His insight is constantly amazing me.

That brings me to my Sweet Joel.  The family entertainer.  He is a dancing machine.   He walks into school and every kid stops what they are doing "Hi Joel, Joel is here!"  He is fun to be around, the life of the party!  He loves his big brother and wants to do everything he does.  He loves his little brother and he wants to teach him everything he knows (good and not so good).   He has no fear, which has already landed him in the ER leaving with 7 stitches.  He LOVES his family.  I can't even count the number of times he tells me he loves me in a day.  "Mommy I just love love love you!"  Joel I just love love love you too!  My middle child, I know exactly how you feel, not the oldest and not the youngest.  That is why we have to entertain, if you aren't the first born or the baby you have to find a way into the lime light!

And that brings me to my baby!  Jensen, JP, Jensey P, Little Mouth, Booger Bear, his nicknames go on and on!  Most often among his family he is JP.  He is so sweet!  That smile just melts me.  His favorite thing right now is his Mommy!  I can't describe how it makes me feel when he squeezes me tight and buries his face in my neck.  I just want to hold onto him forever.  He runs across a room and jumps into my arms even if it has only been an hour since he saw me last.  He is inquisitive, he loves to read, loves to sing and dance.  He is always listening, well they are all always listening!  So that keeps me on my toes.  I have to keep the front door chained or he escapes.  I have to keep the cabinets locked or he drinks Orange Glo.  I have to keep the bathroom door shut or he wastes gallons and gallons of water flushing the toilet over and over.  Basically he is a busy boy!  My baby, my last chance to get it all right (I have already blown that by the way).


So how could you have a favorite?  They are each perfect in their own way.  They have each touched my heart in their own special way.  They are all mine and I am theirs (for better or worse).  I know them better than anyone else in the world.  I knew them first, their personalities were even evident in the womb.  My life has been made better with each addition.