Jamers

I was going to write something like, "So, what has James been up to lately?", but realized it's more like, "What HASN'T James been up to lately?!". James is a very, super active two year-old. Since getting home from Maui James has been a handful to say the least. I mean this in both a positive and negative way. He is usually happy, and has very rare grumpy moments. He only gets grumpy when I have to finally put my foot down and say "NO". Lately, I've been saying those words a lot more than usual, as well as "stop that", "please don't do that", "get off of there", "not right now", "listen to mommy", "listen to mommy please", "LISTEN TO MOMMY"! James seems to have gone deaf over the last few weeks. He has developed a serious case of Selective Hearing. It can be quite frustrating - especially at inconvenient times. For example, when he running at full speed with the mini cart through the store and I can't catch him. For this exhausted, prego-mama it is a lot of work to keep up these days. I think we are all looking forward to warmer weather!

I wasn't intending on complaining about James though - just stating the truth of his current stage. He is growing like a week, going from 34" tall in October, to a full 35" tall as of this morning. He is weighing in at about 26 lbs, which isn't big - he's really mostly muscle. With all the action, there's no way he can keep on weight, so I don't limit his diet of healthy fats. He still drinks lots of homo milk, lots of cheese, etc. He's a great eater, I can't complain about that! He will try a lot of things, and is getting better and better at eating a variety of foods. I am also getting better at tayloring our meals to work for everyone.

James is not anywhere NEAR potty training (see photo to the left). I had been all motivated the other day when I got a $3 off coupon for Pull-Ups, so I went and picked up some cool Cars ones. James has occassionally sat on his potty, and on the big potty - but never pooped or peed in it yet. I tried to make the start of training fun and exciting, but it had the opposite effect. He is now totally determined NOT to be on the potty. So, I'm not pushing it. I'll wait for more "signs of readiness" and try again in a month or two. It might be easier to wait until summer, we'll see.

James is an entertainer. He is an acrobat. He doesn't stop moving, talking, joking, tickling, jumping, singing, playing... EVER. He really is one of the happiest, fun kids I've ever known! He is always a complete goofball. It's so fun to watch him play imaginary things with his toys - particularly his Hot Wheels. Listening in to the conversation never ceases to be entertainging. One such conversation might go like this:

"Hello! How you doing? (noises inserted) Fill up the gas, OK! Thank you! (noises) 'Scuse me, thank you. Want some? No thanks. OK! Bye, see you soon!".

It's hilarious. He is also addicted to cartoons, which is a dream for prego-mama, because I definately need more rest time these days. He'll watch anything and everything, but really likes Toopi & Binoo, Diego, and Dora. I do still limit his TV watching, which he is usually totally fine with as long as HE gets to turn off the TV. He is very insistent that most of the time it's "MY TURN!".

It seems like yesterday that I was picking up 3 month clothes for him, and now it's 3T! I just noticed yesterday that I need to get him some new socks. Didn't I JUST buy him 24 month socks? It's crazy how fast he's growing. He's just barely fitting into his winter snowsuit from last year now - and the new one waits in the closet for next year. I'm determined to make this one last until Spring. At a baby shower James got a pair of size 7 rubber boots (classic black, with orange soles), and it seemed like it would be forever until he would wear them. Now I am already envisioning him wearing them this Spring in the puddles in the backyard. I try to savour every moment with him. I know that this is a very special time we have right now, before the new baby arrives. What will James think when my attention is divided? I want to just give him as much as I can right now. He is so sweet, loveable, huggable, adorable. I could never, ever has guessed I would have such a bright, intelligent beautiful little boy. I love him beyond words, and thank God for Him every day.