Jack turned 3 at the beginning of May(!), so I thought I would devote a post just to my Jack-Jack. (I'm not the only one who calls him "My Jack-Jack. He refers to himself that way sometimes. When he's hiding in a box or under a blanket he'll say, "Where's my Jack-Jack? Mommy, find Jack-Jack!" Pretty adorable.)
And speaking of Jack-Jack, ever since we started calling this little guy "Jack," (a couple of days after he was born) I'm constantly thinking of other "Jack" references. It's not uncommon to hear a little giggle after a normal, everyday comment such as "Here's your apple, Jack." Or "Would you like a cracker, Jack?" So I've been wanting to pay homage to some famous Jacks in history and pop culture. Can you name them all?
A good friend offered to take birthday pictures for me, which was so sweet! She took a bunch of pictures of him in our house and in our backyard. Below are a few of my favorites.
Jack has matured so much over the last few months. Yes, he is still a handful - very active and very loud - but he has become more obedient and more calm (even if only incrementally) and we are thankful for those developments!
His language has improved dramatically over the last few months also and he is expressing himself very well now. His favorite thing to listen to these days is the
Scripture Scouts Book of Mormon CDs and he frequently asks me questions about the stories on the CDs and why certain things happen. He really wants to understand more about the world around him.
Jack has an active imagination and he has started referring to himself as one character from a show or story and the other person he is talking to as a companion character from the same show or story. "I not Jack-Jack. I Sah-koh-ee (Skarloey). Mommy, you Thomas." or "You Tasha. I am Pabwo (Pablo)."
Citing Thomas the Tank Engine and Backyardigans, respectively. He likes to role play this way, and it's so exciting to see him in this new phase.
He loves to be held and frequently tells me "Mommy, let me holdjoo!" especially when he's still sleepy from a nap. But he hates it when I try to stroke his hair or scratch his back.
Jack understands the rules around the house, and although he's doing a better job of following them as I mentioned above, he's also gotten to be good at telling his friends what the rules are when they come over to play. It cracks me up. "Cween up! It's time to cween up!"
I didn't realize how protective Jack was of Eliza until the other day when we were at Church and a friend was holding Eliza. Jack kept saying
very loudly "Mommy! She has yo' baby!" He really loves the everybody though. When Ben is home, Jack doesn't really want to hang out with me, and I think this is one of the reasons he frequently wakes up early in the morning. He wants some Dad time before Daddy leaves for work! And Jack is always happy when Cat comes home and loves to be with her. He wants to do the things that she does, including playing with her friends, dressing up, and doing homework. Sometimes when Cat is doing her homework, he'll sit down in his chair at the table and I'll bring him paper and a pencil so that he can do his homework, just like Cat. (Sometimes I wonder how Cat will end up using this powerful influence she has on Jack. Will she be a good example.... or will she take him to the dark side with her?) ;-)
Jack really loves reading books with us now and a few of his recent favorites are Fix-It Duck, Pigs Love Potatoes, A Mud Pie for Mother, The Little Engine that Could, Dimity Duck, and Good Night on the Farm.
Jack is very opinionated about music and I've been able to use the privilege of choosing the music we listen to in the car as incentive for him to get in and sit in his car seat even when he doesn't really want to. His taste ranges from "I've Just Seen a Face," "Love Story," and "Life is a Highway" to Raffi, The Wiggles, Backyardigans, and other children's music. And while he loves to play backseat DJ, he doesn't usually sing along, and frequently demands that anyone who is singing along stop at once. ("Mommy! Stop singing!") He dances occasionally, but listening seems to be his preferred method of enjoying music.
Jack now frequently uses the phrase "I don't wike it!" He often says this whenever we try to put clothes on him, when he hears a loud noise such as the blender, when we try to put a Band-Aid on him or give him medicine, or when he's scared about something, such as the car wash/post office we frequently go to. (He's finally over that fear now, thank goodness. Just in the last several weeks.)
I'm just so thankful for this wonderful little boy. He keeps me on my toes, but he also keeps me laughing and forces me to slow down at least once a day and have fun building train tracks. I'm so thankful for that! I love you, Jack! Have a wonderful 4th year!
She was really excited about this day, so we started it off with a bang.
Waiting for her turn to walk across the stage.
All 5 Kindergarten Classes
Singing along...
During the song "What are You Grateful For?"
The last song they sang was called "First Grade, First Grade" to the tune of "New York, New York." It was really cute and I got a little misty-eyed during the singing.
With her teacher.
With her BFF.
With her Grammy.
Look - all 5 of us in a picture!
We're so proud of Cat and all she's learned this year.
