Memorial Day Weekend - Sunday!

On Sunday we went down to G&G Stollenwerk's for some swimming! It was a very hot and sunny day - which was great for being in the water.

Jack had a great morning swimming, he did really well. After lunch and a short nap he wasn't too interested in the water anymore - so it was time to move onto the big machinery.... Jack took a few tractor and go-cart rides, which he always loves!

Jack swimming in the pink bubble suit (I left his new one at home)!

Jack and I playing with the swim board.
(It must have been hot if I was in the water, in a suit, in May!!!)
Jack and Daddy checking out the tractor.

Jack playing in the sand

(right as he saw the go-cart come out of the garage and went running off at lightening speed!)

Getting ready for a ride with Uncle Greg.

Memorial Day Weekend - Saturday!

To escape the heat on Saturday afternoon we went down to the lakefront with G&G B for a sail.

Jack had a great time. There was a cool breeze which felt pretty nice with the sun still out.

Jack loved being on the boat - especially all the yummy snack Grandma brought along!!! He liked looking over the side and trying to see fish, and watching the birds and kites in the sky.

Last year Jack wasn't a big fan of being on the boat - he stayed ashore with Grandma. But on his first trip this year he loved it!

Checking out the lines.

Looking over the side.

Day 6 ......................

Today was not a good potty training day... I think the heat, sun and long week of being nowhere but home had gotten to both Jack and I and we both kind of melted down today :(

We shall see what the long weekend brings.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Day 5 and some Hot Weather Fun!

Today Jack didn't pee on the garage floor once! That was the extent of our potty training success though.......

Here's Jack playing in his clubhouse (he's "fishing") in his choo-choo underware!

Yesterday we body-painted with chalk (if you get chalk wet it looks like paint!). It was really fun!!! Jack loves purple the best.

We did have fun at the park this morning. It was much cooler today, so we could stay longer without over-heating and having to head home to the pool. Jack was a climbing-maniac at the park today! He loves to climb and is getting quite good at it.

Jack also found his sunglasses in his closet this morning and wore them most of the day! It sure was cute :)

Jack climbing the rock wall!

Jack figured out how to climb this thing earlier this week and now it's pretty much all the wants to do!!! He's very good at it.

Day 4 - "EOPT"

Update - Today Jack peed a lot in the garage.... I don't know why. Lots of dirty pants to wash. Tomorrow is another day.

Day 3 - "EOPT"

(that's "Extreme Outdoor Potty Training")

Today went much the same as day #2 - Jack peed in the garage, on the driveway, on the sidewalk, but not in the sand, pool or on me!!!

He did tell me he was peeing on the driveway once when I ran into the kitchen to get something... so that's something in the right direction, right?

And he did sit on the potty for longer periods of time today once I got him to sit down.

we'll keep at it........

Day 2 of "Extreme Outdoor Potty Training"

Jack and I had an exhausting, very HOT day outside today. It must have hit 90* here, no matter what they say on the news.

Jack went almost the whole day in his underware. We took a break for an hour and put on a diaper to go to the park because he kept pulling out the stroller and crying "park, park, park". Tomorrow we will do the park right away in the morning before starting on the underware and water fun outside.

We took potty breaks about every half hour. Jack always had his cup of water nearby. Today he peed - on the driveway, in the garage, in the grass, on the driveway again, and in the pool, and maybe a little in the potty (at least he didn't go in the sandbox!).... we will see what tomorrow brings.

Fun Summer Weekend!

Jack and Mom are on SUMMER VACATION!!!! YEAH!!!!

And we got to start it with some beautiful, hot, sunny, summer weather.

We spent Saturday doing some yard and garden work, playing at the park and trying out the sprinkler for the first time of the year! And we had another campfire after dinner and all enjoyed some s'mores! (Although Jack just wanted the chocolate..... I wonder where he gets that from?)

Sunday we began "Extreme Outdoor Potty Training". Jack was outside almost all day with just his underware on. He had a blast! It was really hot, so he didn't need any more clothes. He played in the pool, in the sprinkler, rode his bike, played ball and did lots of other fun things. We had potty breaks very often and he did actually pee in the bowl a few times... and a few times he didn't... but he never peed on me!!! So it was a success. :) We will continue tomorrow....

Jack and Daddy having a squirt gun fight on Sunday afternoon!
Jack playing in the sprinkler in his underware on Sunday.

Jack playing in the pool in his underware on Sunday morning.
Jack having a "potty break" and drinking some water.
Having fun in the sun!!!

First Campfire of the Year!

We had our first campfire last night.

It had been a busy day playing down at G&G S's, and we almost decided not to do it... but Jack needed a distraction for the evening, and this was the perfect thing.

We invited G&G B over and we all shared some smores and a nice evening!

Jack had a lot of fun... but wasn't too into the marshmallows. So he just ate graham crackers and chocolate bars (or "emies" as he called it!).

Enjoying the fire.

Jack eating his "smores"

Jack and Grandpa B

Exploring!

Yesterday we went down to G&G S's for the day. It was suppose to be sunny and in the 60's, but ended up being cloudy and in the 50's... but Jack still had fun playing outside and in.

We did lots of walking (which was good to tire him out!) Jack did great exploring. He loved to look at all the trees, flowers, rocks, puddles, etc....

Jack and mom sitting on a cute little bridge in our yellow boots Grandma let us use for the muddy walk!

Grandma & Grandpa trying to get Jack to pick some asparagas... he wouldn't touch it... just said "NO!" but then at lunch he LOVED eating it!

Jack putting some his growing rock collection in Grandma's pockets to carry once his pockets were full!

Our first boat ride of the season on the pond! Jack like putting his had in the cold water.

Jack had a GREAT day exploring!

Big Day for Jackson! Dr. & Peeing on the Potty!

Yesterday Jack had his 2yr check up at the doctor. His stats are as follows:

weight: 30 lbs 74%ile
height: 36.5 in 94%ile
(Dr. D predicts Jack will be about 6 feet tall - we'll see how that goes!)

Dr. D said Jack looks great!

He had to get one shot in his leg, which is barely made a peep during AND he had to have blood drawn at the lab. The two nurses taking care of him were so impressed because he just sat there - didn't move, didn't squirm, didn't cry - he did great! And then he got TWO stickers :)

The only unfortunate part of the appointment was that since it wasn't until 4pm because of Jack's napping times lately, we had to wait quite a while before the appointment and Jack was not too into that...... we liked the right after lunch appointments much better, the Dr. was never behind yet!!! But at least we don't have to go back until 3yrs, with the exception of illnesses (of which Jack hasn't yet had to go in for!).

After we got home from the Dr. and had some dinner and play time. Jack tried on his new underware/training pants he got for his birthday for the first time! And he peed on the potty for the first time ever!!!! He was wearing the underware at the time... but still, it all went in the bowl :) After we cleaned him up and got a new pair on, he was getting on and off the potty for a while and then went to play in the bathroom, where he peed on the floor :( Oh well, at least we've had a start!

In other news, Jackson continues to wake up at very early hours of the morning and is

completely obsessed with Shrek 1, 2 & 3 (at least there is a little bit of variety there....)

Jack posing in his new training pants!

Mother's Day & Jack's New Friend

Jack's 2nd Birthday was also Mother's Day! And my gift from Jack... being woken up at 1am and never falling back asleep - it was a rough night :(

But we still had a nice Mother's Day/Birthday. Since we "celebrated" Jack the day before, today was kind of low-key. We had a nice waffle breakfast made by dad, opened a few gifts, and played outside in the cool by kind of sunny weather.

Then we went over to G&G B's for dinner and to meet Auntie Katie's new puppy! His name is Brutus - and Jack loves him!

Jack & Mom
Jack with Auntie Katie & Brutus!

Jack is TWO!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Jack helping clean before his party.

Opening lots and lots of great presents! Thanks everyone :)

Shooting the first hoop through his new basketball hoop!





Enjoying some birthday dinner with cousin Chase! Jack ate so good, his favorite part was the orange jello.


Jack's Train Cake! It was delicious :)

In this picture, Jack is trying to blow out the candle on his cake - he made a strange face while doing it.

Jack devouring a giant plate of cake and ice cream... he ended up eating most of it - which I think lead to an upset tummy and trouble sleeping that night.... :(

But he sure enjoyed it at the time!

Jack with his grandmas & grandpas.

Unfortunately, he wasn't too interested in posing for photos at this point in the afternoon.

Later on while watching his new "Shrek the Thrid" dvd Jack had some downtime with Grandma.

What a great party day we had.

Too bad the weather wasn't nicer so we could be outside more... oh well, maybe next year.

It can't be cool, windy, and rainy every year on his birthday???

Can it ?

Jack and his ba-ba...

Lately Jack has become VERY attached to his ba-ba. In this pictures from a few nights ago he is hanging on the door of the refrigerator crying "baba, baba, baba" (even though he just finished his evening baba not too long before.....) After I refused to give him another one, he continued to cry and bang his head and fists on the kitchen floor - quite a sight!

Eventually he snapped out of it and went back to watching "Shrek 2" for the hundredth time this week.... until it was time for bed and he once again needed his baba. What's so wonderful about a bottle of milk????

Jack's First Boat Launch!

Today was the day Grandma & Grandpa B were putting the B'haven in the water to start the sailing season! Jack and I went along to help (and to have an adventure!).

Jack still wasn't feeling great today, but he had a great time at the boat and spending the day with G&G B.

He wore his life jacket the entire time and never complained once (!!!) and had a wonderful time exploring the sailboat. He was having so much fun he didn't want to leave. But I promised we'd go back soon and hopefully have some nice sails this summer.

This year the weather was perfect! Mostly sunny and actually kind of warm at the lake :) It was a great year for Jack to go along for the "ride".

Skipper Jack steering the boat (parked at the dock), but still, he loved it!
Checking out Grandpa's fenders.

Exploring down-below.

Steering with some help from Grandma.

Jonathan's 3rd Birthday

I had off yesterday for Jonathan's birthday. Jack and I spent the morning and afternoon doing special things together.

Jack and I spent the early morning just laying around watching tv since he wasn't feeling too well :( He was caughing and had pretty much lost his voice and seemed very tired.

Then Grandma Michele came over and went to visit the cemetery. Jack loved walking around and exploring. Then we went to Nino's bakery to get a nice little sweet treat, unfortunately Jack wasn't feeling well so he didn't eat any.

After Grandma had to go to work :( Jack and I did a few quick errands and then went to play with Hershey for a little while. Then we came home for a nice lunch outside and to finish up our special Mother's Day projects!

Even though he wasn't feeling well, I think Jack still had a nice day. He was very well bahaved and sweet all day. And the weather was beautiful, so it was nice to be outside for a while.