Look Here!

In preparation for Jack's first birthday (THIS WEEKEND) I decided to finish filling in his baby book last night.  I have totally slacked on it for the last six months, so I was in need of true-to-timeline information on what he had done each month.  I looked through all of my photographs and figured out things like sitting and crawling, but when it came to other random information I decided to consult my blog.  And I was really surprised to find how little I talk about what they are doing at particular ages (and how much I complain about their lack of sleep.) 

So here I am.  Updating.  This is what my children are doing at ages 4.3 and - gulp - one. 

When KJ and age four teamed up they took us by storm.  I have never seen him assert independence (or sass!) like he has over the last few months.  He sets up train tracks and builds with legos so intensely and deliberately.  He is obsessed with airplanes, fighter jets and aircraft carriers, and knows one plane from the other so well.  He knows all of his nursery rhymes, capital and small letters, numbers beyond 100, and can recognize a handful of sight words.  We are also dabbling with simple math lately, and it shocks me how quickly he has caught on.  He can add and subtract numbers up to about eight.  He is also getting good with his geography, pointing out most of the midwestern states on a map, and knowing a handful of other "major" states like New York and California.  Some of his favorite tv shows include Little Einsteins and Curious George, and his favorite movies are Cars and Over The Hedge at the moment.  He writes his name fairly legibly, and recognizes his last name in print.  He loves to play with play dough, stickers, glitter and stamps, but is not fond of coloring.  His favorite color is green, and his favorite book is currently one about the 1996 Olympics.  Go figure.

KJ loves school, and while I am constantly reminding myself that this first year of preschool is intended for socialization purposes, it still bothers me a bit that the academic aspect is just not there.  Case and point, on his report card his teacher marked "unsure" about whether or not he could count to ten.  He counts well past 100, and has been able to do so before school even began. On the other hand, I would never reconsider the decision to start him with preschool this year as he is quite the little ya-yo (how else do you describe the bouncy little knucklehead?) and is learning how to operate (read: sit still) in a classroom setting.  He is friends with everyone, and he has never given me a moment's trouble about going to school.

Jackson will turn one year old on January 1st.  Our tiny little New Years Baby has come so far in just one short year.  It feels like he has been with us forever.  He crawled, stood, and walked a little earlier than his big brother, and seems to be right on par with him with his speech.  He currently has a good handful of words under his belt, including Mama, Dada, itty (kitty), nee-nee (nono), JJ (KJ), baba, Papa, Ana (Auntie), ball, bye-bye and tree.  When asked what certain animals say, he can answer for cow, pig, sheep, dog and sometimes cat.  He also says "HoHoHo" when he sees Santa.  If I ask him to do any of these things in public he will remain silent, to prove his mother a lying idiot.

Jack took his first steps just a few short weeks ago, and I am shocked at how much he is walking already.  He still crawls when he wants to get somewhere quickly, but you'll often find him just taking a little stroll around the house (in plaid pajama pants like a little old man).  His favorite games include peek-a-boo and "I'm gonna get you" and he likes to watch Elmo, Mickey Mouse, and Blues Clues on tv, though for only a minute or two, and then he's off! He loves to dance and clap his hands, and his favorite foods are crackers, chicken, and spaghetti.  He eats about 35% more fruits and vegetables than the 2% his brother eats, but I continue to encourage.  He still has only two teeth.  He is not big on sharing toys.

So to my future self, when I come back looking for this information (labeled appropriately, "Look Here!") I know I will be surprised at how much I had forgotten.  It seems like it should be fresh in my mind forever.  And I wish I hold tightly to each and every moment, blissful or not, and lock them in a little box to keep forever.  It amazes me at how quickly time goes by, and floors me that I recently wrote "KJ's 5th Birthday" on my calendar.  My babies are growing up so, so fast.

Comments

[Cindy]

YIKES.. Can you believe it?!?! Jack is going to be ONE! Yikes....Where did the year go???
Where did all of our babies go?

Your kids are too cute! Love the pics!

[jenabeeb]

Yes, your children are good at proving you to be a liar! Shows exactly how smart they really are!!

KJ has continued to amaze me ever since he was a baby. Pointing out colors, seeing a cross on the car in front of my house and saying "Jesus", knowing which car was mine, and of course teaching me about cars and airplanes.

Remember the time you gave me the Tastefully Simple box of apple brownies when he was like a year and a half and he said "Apple"? I thought the boy READ it on the box (I didn't see the PICTURE of the apple on the box that he did!!)

Anyway, he is one smart cookie and I know Jack will continue on the same way!

I hope you take credit for helping bring it out in them...you are an amazing teacher and mom.

[jenabeeb]

P.S. - Can you tell by my last comment that I agree they are growing up WAY TOO DAMN FAST!

[Frema]

When you talked about Jack clamming up in public, it reminded me of that Loony Tunes cartoon with the dancing frog, who only performed for his "master" when nobody was around.

"Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gaaal...."

:)

Your kids ARE growing up fast. But they're doing such a great job! You have every right to be one proud momma.

[Silly Hily]

Eeeeehehehe. My favorite picture ever! Snarl, growl, take my toy dog and I shall bite you like one and don't think I won't do it....said the Jack-myster.
KJ sounds like one smart little cookie.
Would you rather anyone else prove you a lying idiot other than those two precious boys?
I admire you Mrs. Molly. You are doing a fabulous job with those two. Congrats on making it through one year with TWO children. I've got four months to go until I hit that milestone and pray on a daily basis that I (and my kids) make it there in one piece.

[Rachel]

They do grow up very very fast. Seems like yesterday that I brought my youngest home and she will be one year old (sniffle) on January 7th. Sounds like you've got two incredibly smart boys on your hands; cute too!

[debi]

What a wonderful post. Just as I told you,that song came on and my tears did begin to flow. Every picture is my favorite.Thank you for sharing these most precious moments of your life with us.

[Stacey]

Awww! You have incredible children, and your writing is so beautiful.

I had also written my oldest child's next birthday (5) on the new calendar a while back, and while adding things to the calendar yesterday, I did a double take when I came to '5'. I was seriously on the way to the wite-out before I came to my senses. It goes by so quickly!

[Samantha]

Happy New Year Molly. You're such a great mom and your kids are adorable. ;)