Snapshot Series: Praising My Three-Year-Old

The post below  is a part of my Snapshot Series, an e-journal of my children. Like pages in a diary, I share the moments of laughter and smiles that keep my world turning. Captured like photographs. So when Jack leaves for college or Ella goes on her first date, I'll have these tiny memories to remember. 

Yesterday’s post was all about little Ella. Today it’s all about big boy Jack. My tank. My pillow. And, the first half of my heart.

Last weekend we vacationed at the cabin with friends and family. I watched Jack learn to trace letters from my Dad (retired principal teacher of more than 30 years) and Sister-in-Law (an emotionally-impaired teacher). I had been trying to teach the concept for months. No progress. Just scribbles. But, two teachers later the kid was press-tongued and concentrating. Actually tracing the letters.

It’s easy to let the milestones slip by as a toddler becomes a kid. As Ella’s firsts suck up our smiles, Jack’s increasing abilities, like his knowledge of shapes and amazing problem solving skills, rarely earn the deserved recognition.  So again, here’s a list of memories that would be forgotten if not recorded now:

1. Everything happened “last morning.” “Hey, remember when I went sledding last morning?”

2. When he gets really happy, he sings “Jake and the Neverland Pirates, climb aboard and become a pirate too…” To himself. Kind of like a whistle, but with words.

3. He prefers seafood over McDonalds. Or, really everything. When he was just 1.5 years old, we were in Florida and he ate all of Justin’s scallops instead of chicken nuggets and fries. Request for his third birthday dinner? Crab legs and lobster. True story.

4. Few of my favorite expressions lately: “Darnit!” “Are you kidding me?” “I have a great idea!”

5. Randomly, when he wants something, in a very sweet voice he says, “I love you Mom.” Charm in his smile.

6. He has to brush his teeth after every piece of candy and chewing of gum. By the way, he needs a five-step program for his gum addiction.

7. When discussing my Mom (his Nonnie S) with me, he refers to her as my mom. “Is your mom coming over later?”

8. He is devoted to catching frogs. Thank God we never built that pond in the backyard or I’m sure he would have moved his bed there. Guess I could say the same for finding worms, tree frogs, bugs or caterpillars. Win some. Loose some.

9. He’s full of expression like his father. “I don’t have to eat my dinner!” Arms flailing. Face twisted with the attitude of a teenager. 

10. He doesn’t miss a trick, as my Grandma said since he was a baby. His memory is sharp. Steak knife sharp. “Remember, we fed the birds those marshmallows?” last summer! After a full workday, he asks about the special treat I promised that morning. “That dress is pretty, Mom. Remember you wore it at Easter?” He can recite lines from BBC’s Planet Dinosaur. And, discusses the entire Bubble Guppies episode about the supermarket every time we go grocery shopping. Every time.

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Snapshot Series: All the Baby Moments I Would Have Missed

Today's post is a part of my Snapshot Series, an e-journal of my children. Like pages in a diary, I share the moments of laughter and smiles that keep my world turning. Captured like photographs. So when Jack leaves for college or Ella goes on her first date, I'll have these tiny memories to remember.  

Today was Ella’s nine-month check up. Nine months. And, in 11 days Jack will be three years old. Three years. So many smiles. Too many passing memories. Disaster moments. And laughs that make my world go ‘round. 

Within two months, Ella has learned to crawl. Stand. Climb the couch. Eat many solid foods. Drink from a cup. Speak syllables. Wave hi. “Soooo big.” Point for things. And, fight her brother hard.

I forgot how quickly the first year goes. Man, it’s lightening.  I remember grasping at Jack’s babyness, attempting to memorize every chubby line and unending babble. Those silly moments when he hula-danced for a singing monkey. Or yelled back when you told him not to touch the dog’s water dish. There’s so many places in-between that melted my heart. And I don’t remember. Makes me realize all the small spaces we’ve missed with Ella. So here’s a few things that would surely get misplaced in memory if I didn’t record them now:

1. Ella sucks in air like she has asthma. Large gasps. Just because. Usually followed by a huge grin.

2. She already prefers carbs over any other food. Breads. Cheerios. Pasta. Wait ‘til she tries chocolate.

3. She lifts her eyebrows while playing. In an arrogant kind of way.

4. She screams – seriously screams – at her brother. Hits, bites or head butts when needed.

5. She drives Jack’s mini-monster trucks. Literally rolls them around the floor, making a gurgling sound.

6. Favorite toy: Mini-tool bench. Not the tea pot and cups. Sigh.

7. She waves “hi” at a select few. Most get the stern stare down. Picture it: Lady walks up ooo-ing at the cute baby. Saying, “hello there!” in a high-pitched voice. Baby glares.

8. She cannot live without her Little Giraffe blanket. Jack can’t either, but Ella takes it to new extremes. Bites it. Mashes her face in it. Talks to it.

9. She belly-bounce dances at the ABC song.

10. She actually listens to “no.” Probably because she hears it often yelled at her brother. And, realizes it’s not worth the fight.

Snapshot Series: Play for Two

The post below is part of my Snapshot Series, an e-journal of my children. Like pages in a diary, I'll share the moments of laughter and smiles that keep my world turning. Captured like photographs. So when Jack leaves for college or Ella goes on her first date, I'll have this to remember. Read the series intro here.

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Ella: 4 months, 5 weeks

Jack: 2 years, 7 months

In the blog world, Wednesdays aren’t for words. Known virally as “Wordless Wednesdays.” But, I have to share a big moment. The kind that catches your stare. Makes you smile. And gone before you can capture it on film. Saved just in your memory. Giving you butterflies every time you remember.

Sunday was the day before Justin left for a week of business. I was dressing for the day. Jack and Ella playing at my feet. Justin’s legs lounged around them. All of us crunched in my walk-in closet.

Laying on her back, Ella caught grip on a sweater belt hanging loosely from above.  The petite 19-week-old whisked it about. Having recently discovered the fun in shaking things. Her delight caught Jack’s attention. He snatched the soft thin belt from her hands. But before we could scold him, he started twirling it over Ella.

“Wee, wee, wee!” He sang. Small jumps accompanying his play.

Ella laughed. And laughed. Straight from her belly.

It was the very first time my kids played together. And the first time someone made Ella laugh harder than being tickled.

It was the kind of simplicity that I hope to never forget.