Getting Ready for Christmas

For the last couple years we have decorated the house for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving, and this year was the same. Jase dressed him self for the occasion and we got to work. We started the weekend off by getting all the Christmas decorations out of storage and the excitement immediately kicked in. Amongst all the symbols associated with Christmas Jase has become fascinated with the Christmas star. I have no clue how he made the ccorrelation between the two, but as we lugged the boxes out of storage he would ask with pure joy, "Is this the star box?" When Alice moved in with us we acquired a lot of double decorations- an extra tree, extra ornaments, and an extra tree topper...but both tree toppers were angels...no stars. So Saturday, we has to make a trip to the store so Jase could pick out a new star tree topper for our tree. With a new tree topper in our possession, we got started on decorating the tree. First we decorated the tree that goes in Jase's room. He helped us check the lights and untangle the garland. He also did a little decorating of his own when he decided to decorate the dog! And he was so proud of himself for the great work that he did!

We decorated the big tree in the living room while he was napping. When he woke up he was so excited to see "HIS"star on top of the tree. He put the finishing touches on the tree when he added his Mickey and Minnie ornaments.

Turkey Day

This Thanksgiving we had so much to be thankful for. The Lord has been good to us. He has kept us all healthy and has blessed us with happiness and love. We spent Thanksgiving Day in Stafford at Grandpa Jack's and Grandma Betty's.

The ladies spent the day in the kitchen making turkey #1 and all the side dishes while the guys spent the day outside smoking turkey #2 and salmon. Jase spent the day in the kitchen as well making his own Thanksgiving Dinner.

While he wasn't in the kitchen, he was playing with some of his favorite people..

He played with Sara some in her crib. And he played outside with me and Anna.

Dawn colored with him

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Daddy gave him hugs.

And Greg taught him Redskin's chants.

He got to spend time with some more of his favorite people. Julie, Aunt Phyllis, Lance, John, Uncle Jerry and Great Grandpop were all there, too. Yes....we do have a lot to be thankful for this year!

Will he marry a Tinkerbell?

From a very early age Jase has shown an infatuation with Tinkerbell. I remember the first day I noticed it. It was a month after his first birthday and I had thrown a Tinkerbell shirt on. Jase came up to me and started kissing the image on my shirt. Now, every time I wear that shirt, he comes up and kisses her. Yesterday, we had a Disney store box sitting on the end table. Around the edges of the box are the faces of several Disney characters, including Jase's favorite Mickey, Pluto, and Donald. Also among the Disney characters was the cute little Tinkerbell. Jase looked right over his favorite characters and went straight for the Tinkerbell. He literally blushed and with a bashful smile asked me who she was. So I was telling my mom about his little crush and told her I bet he is going to marry a cute, petite little blond haired girl when he gets older.....much, much older. She told me I had to make a record of this to see if I can already predict what his future wife looks like. So, here I am. Recording my prediction Does Jase, at the age of 2, already know what physical features he finds attractive in the opposite sex. Will he marry a Tinkerbell?

Mr. T Returns...With Manners

My Morning Surprise

Some of you are probably gonna ask yourself why in the heck I am sharing this. Others, most likely my fellow mommies, are going to understand the significance of what I'm about to share.

I have mentioned before that we have started the potty training process. There are two parts to potty training:
1.) pee-pee
2.) poo-poo.

Jase has been doing pretty good at the pee-pee part (still not close to wearing big boy drawers, but doing good). He goes on the pot religiously every morning. Yesterday morning, though, and again this morning, he has done the poo-poo part. Yes, ladies and gentlemen...my big boy dropped his first load! I swear...the things that make us mommies proud!

Best Friends

Jase Prays:

Oh Lord, don't let me once forget

How to love my trusty pet.

Help me learn to disregard

My chewed up ball found in the yard.

Show me how to be a buddy

Even when she gets me muddy.

Don't allow my pooch to munch

My cousin's little toes for lunch.

Shield my neighbor's cat from view.

Guide my steps around her poo.

Train me not to cry or scowl

If she decides she wants to howl.

Grant I shan't awake in fear

With Henny's cold nose in my ear.

Give me patience with out end-

Help me be my dog's best friend.

Amen.

*

*

And Henny Prays:

Oh Lord, don't let me once forget

How to be a trusty pet.

Help me obey my commands.

Remind me not to nip at hands.

Show me how to be a buddy

Even when Jase gets me muddy.

Don't allow my two legged friend

To try to ride on my back end.

Shield my tail from being tugged,

My eyes and ears when being hugged.

Please don't make me wear his hat

Help me catch the neighbors cat.

Train me not to chew his toys.

Remind me I love little boys.

Give me patience with out end-

Help me be Jase's best friend.

Amen

Mr. T

My wonderful parents bought me a beautiful necklace for my birthday. Jase, for some reason, really likes it. It might be because it is his birthstone or because it matches the ring he got me for my first Mother's day, but whatever the reason, he loves it. Today he was trying to take it off me saying he wanted to wear it. So we went back to Mommy's jewelry box so we could find a necklace for Jase. Although I was very tempted to put on the nice girly necklaces he kept pulling out, Daddy was on his way home and I didn't quite know how he'd take seeing his son in a rhinestone necklace or a pink gemmed choker. Hence the gold chain, Mr. T inspired look! I pity the fool!

The Best Part of Making Brownies

Proud Mama of a Redskins Fan

As Jase's mother, it is my job to make sure that he is raised right...that is...to make sure he is raised a Redskins fan. Now this isn't as easy a job as one might think for a lot of important people in his life are trying to steer him in the wrong direction. For starters, his daddy is a Raiders fan and at an early age started teaching Jase how to say "Raiders". Unfortunatally I lost that battle. Because Jase said "Raiders" before he said "Redskins" Rob swears that Jase is a Raiders fan. His Grandpa Jack and Uncle Andy are also trying to corrupt my little baby. They think he should be a Dallas fan. Oh...it hurts me just to say it! Well, for those who don't know today is The game. Washington is hosting the Cowboys for Sunday night football. For anyone who as ever been to Redskins Nation for a Redskins v. Dallas game you know how the fans are. Everyother car is flying a Redskins flag and everyone and their mothers are sporting their Redskins gear. Today was no different. We left church at 10am and by that time the fans had started to venture out and about. As we headed on to Walmart, (Mommy's favorite place to go after church) Jase started squealing with excitment "Mama! Mama! Look! Right there!" I started looking for a tractor, a school bus, or a motorcycle, for these are the vehicles that usually get him excited. But I didn't see any of them. He continued to rant, though, "Mama! See! Right there!" I finally asked him, "Jase, what is it?" It was his response that initially had his Mama bursting with pride. With pure excitement he says, "Mama, a Redskins car!" Sure enough, the car beside us was flying a Redskins flag with a Redskins magnet on the passenger door. He continued this behavior as we passed car after car. Even as we walked through the parking lot he gleamed with excitement

as he spotted more cars bearing the burgandy and gold. It was in the check out line that he really made me proud, though. The lady behind us was wearing a Redskins t-shirt. Being the chatter-box that he is he points to her shirt and says "Redskins shirt". She banters back to him commenting how he has a Redskins shirt on too (the one in this -----> picture to be exact). He then proceeds to grab the Redskins emblem, hold it out, and show it off to the people on the left and right of him, proudly chanting "Redskins" as he did. So, he might have said "Raider's" first, and who knows what team colors he'll be sporting 10 years from now, but at least I have this day to look back and reflect on my son's pride for the Nations' team.

Ketchup Addict

Most kids are ketchup fans. Why wouldn't they be? It does go hand in hand with hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries and chicken nuggets. Our Jase though, is a ketchup junkie! I guess I have been around him long enough that I don't even think twice when I see him dipping everything under the sun in the much loved condiment. Today at lunch, though, he caught some unsuspecting companions off guard.
I always try to order Jase nice, healthy meals when we go out. So I was pleased when I saw a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the kids menu served with fresh fruit instead of french fries. And even more pleased when I saw the variety of fruit they offered. Pineapple, orange, melon, and cantaloupe slices over-flowed his plate along with the sandwich. Like usual, he cleared a spot on his plate and said, "Ketchup, mama. Please. Right there", pointing at the little spot he cleared. Maybe I should have said no, realizing that PB&J nor fruit really require ketchup. But I had given him a couple of my fries, so why not?
I'll tell you why not...because he proceeded to eat the fries, ketchup free, and dip the fruit, or shall I say smother the fruit, in the ketchup. And don't forget the sandwich...it was ketchup coated as well as it made its way into his mouth. And although Kyme and Will chuckled at his dipping addiction, I could tell by their wrinkled noses and the slight sign of disgust on their faces that he didn't start a new food fad. And I'm pretty sure, that as they headed home, they added "ketchup dipping" to their "Why we shouldn't have kids" list.

Booty Shaking

Jase has become quite the dancer over the past few weeks. He "thinks" he has mastered tap, hula, and the booty shake. Grandma Alice gave him a little Guitar Hero Beat Box she got in a Happy Meal and when he turns it on there's just no stopping his hips and feet....except the camera! Every time I get it out he freezes. Today, though, I was able to get a little number out of him. This is very mild compared to the moves he is usually busting, but cute none the less.

"Stickers"

Yesterday we were being silly and covered Jase's face with stickers. He kept them on for several hours before we had to take them off.

So, today, while coloring with his markers, he decided to put his own "stickers" on his face. He was so proud of himself

What's Their Names?

So we have been trying to teach Jase our names.

You can see for yourselves how its going.

2 Years and 2 Months

Claire and Patrick introduced me to this whole "blogger" thing and I immediately fell in love with the concept. Recording your child's big events in a journal or baby book is one thing, but to be able to share them with family and friends like this is totally awesome! Although its too late to start his blog from birth like Claire and Patrick did with Dailey, I figured why not start with Jase's toddler days...or as some like to call it....the TERRIBLE TWOS!!!!!

So here we are...2 years and 2 months old exactly! (And as of yet, not so terrible!) In Jase's short two months of toddlerhood he has changed so much.

CHANGE #1

His New Look

The first big change came when we found out Jase would have to start wearing glasses. Although Mommy and Daddy were a little upset, Jase loved them! He was so amazed at what he could now see. And I must say....He totally ROCKS his new look.

Change #2

Bye Bye Crib

The next big change came at approximately 1:30 pm in the afternoon when Jase was supposed to be taking a nap. Instead of napping, he thought it would be more fun to ride the rail of his crib. So he saddled up, holding on to his lamp pole for support, and got caught red handed galloping away. So...off to the store we went. Bye bye crib...Hello BIG BOY bed!

CHANGE #3

PeePee in the Potty

I've always heard that you should start potty training when your child shows an understanding of the potty's purpose.

It's not the dog's drinking bowl.

It's not where you play with your toy boats.

It's not where you wash your hands.

It's where you go pee-pee!

I figured Jase had made this correlation when he walked in on me using the bathroom and said "Mommy go pee-pee". (You have to have an open door policy when you have a two-year-old in the house.) He got all excited and ran out of the bathroom, into his bedroom, and dug into his dirty diaper pail. Next thing I know, he is throwing a dirty diaper at me, proudly announcing that it is his pee-pee. So the process has begun. He is going on it every morning and when he wakes up from his naps, but the rest of the day is still a work in progress. Although I am not spared the embarrassment of peeing for an audience, I figured I'd spare Jase the embarrassment of posting the pictures I have of him peeing on the big boy pot.