Jake Says

Every single day something comes out of Jake's mouth that makes me laugh, or at least smile in case I don't want to encourage him, or if he is being really serious. :)

He often answers me with "in a few minutes"

He refers to yesterday, last year, last month, a few weeks ago as "last day"

Lately he talks about "Remember last day when I was four..."

Spinning on a toy at the park: "It's busy in here" (dizzy)

Often announcing after a fun ride down the slide "This is fun airybody"

Looking at McPeets lighted sign: 

Jake- "What's that?"

Mama - "Thats a bar"

Jake - "Yeah, a bar for papa."

Jake - "I want to watch a George"

Brian grabs the remote "No Papa, get the Apple TV"

Good lord.

Jake getting stuff out of his closet, holds up a sweatshirt. 

"This is cute for Palm Desert"

Jake holding up another shirt and looking at Mama.

"This was yours when you were a little boy"

When he doesn't want something: "No, no breakfast today, breakfast is sleeping"

Or "Breakfast is closed"

"Mama, can you put my pajamas on? Oh, and put my diaper on too so I don't pee in my bed"

Jake counting is money: "1,2,3,4,5,10,9,7"

Waking up after a long nap and a very realistic dream. 

"George and the Man are coming over."

Mama- "They are?"

Jake - "Yeah, they are at the store"

Mama - "Ok, what are they getting?"

Jake- "Beer"

Thanksgiving & Christmas 2014

The holiday season with a toddler is absolutely magical.  I wasn't sure how much Jake was going to get into Christmas, clearly I wasn't thinking.  What's not to love? Cookies, presents, lights, music...sounds like Jake heaven to me.  It was such a special time.  It is one of my favorite times of year anyway, but that feeling has about quadrupled with the excitement of children.  We started the holiday season with a long Thanksgiving weekend in Sunriver.  We even had snow, it was so cozy and beautiful.  The first night we were there it snowed while we were sleeping and the kids were both still asleep after we got up and ready...it was kind of magical.  Obviously very magical if I still remember it in June...hahaha.  Jake played fireman around the house, talking about important stuff in his walkey-talkey, Bo posed for Mimi photoshoots and they both looked adorable in Mama's matching outfits.  Jake loved the snow and his snowboots and outfit.  I think he would have worn it all to bed.  My Mom made a delicious dinner (still thinking about that in June too) and we all tried our best to sit together and eat it.  

We all came home on Saturday and on Sunday we headed out for the annual "Burnham Christmas Tree Expedition",  a family favorite event - especially for Brian.  We picked out a tree pretty quickly and spent a few minutes in the barn on site where they have a few animals to feed/pet, hot cocoa, and a santa.

We visited Santa at Macy's again this year.  Of course Jake at 2 years old was in no mood to sit on the old guy's lap and pose for pictures, but we captured a few classic moments that show the difference between a baby and a toddler.  We also went to zoo lights and this year we will do even more to celebrate as the kids will be a little older.

I could tell right away when I got the Christmas decorations out that Jake was going to be really into it this past year.  He helped hang ornaments, checked out all the Santas and other decorations.  We got a little tree for his playroom and he asked where our elf was and if he could open the advent calendar every morning.  I can't wait for this year, he will love it even more.

On Christmas eve we went to Brian's Aunt's house for dinner and Jake had fun running around with the other kids.  The timing was tough because the kids go to bed so early and they both had meltdowns.  We decided it will be the last year we go anywhere on Christmas eve for a while.  On Christmas day we did our usual routine with wake up at our house, breakfast and presents at my parent's, then presents and dinner with the Lanter's.  It was a really fun day as usual and Jake was WAY into presents which makes me especially scared for this year.  I think holidays are tough on kids, it is just SO much at once.  I realize that isn't going to change anytime soon, but we are going to try to find ways to be sure everyone can enjoy it a little more.  Fortunately we had a relaxing and beautiful week in Sunriver to look forward to.

I truly cannot wait for this year, well I think it is going to be tough to manage with two toddlers, I think the holidays are going to be just magical.  

Palm Desert 2015

We had another amazing trip to Palm Desert this year.  We spent two full weeks with my parents.  It was a little different having two kiddos there instead of one, we didn't get a lot of "down time"...or any.  We had a ton of fun. I flew by myself with the boys down there and it went really well.  I was worried because we had a 5pm flight which is a lot of times when the wheels really come off for the day, but the kids rallied and were so good.  I basically fed Bo non-stop and Jake watched some "Curious George" on the iPad and eating snacks.  We only had one problem when Bo finally fell asleep on my arm after nursing and Jake dropped the iPad between the seat and wall.  That wasn't good.  Otherwise we made it and both boys got a good night's sleep.  We rented a crib for Jake which he slept in in the bedroom.  Bo slept in a pack'n'play in the little study and I slept on a mattress in the living room.  We all fit beautifully and quickly fell into a nice little routine.  

Our days looked something like this, wake up in the 5's with Bo (with one exception where both kids slept until after 6 and it was the most magical thing ever), play in the living room, breakfast, cartoons, sunscreen, and get dressed.  Take a walk over to the Westin for Bo's morning nap, get coffee and visit the ducks, bunnies, golf course, and anything else Jake thought was interesting.  Then we would walk home and Bo might sleep a little longer on the deck.  When he got up we would go to the pool for a quick swim before lunch and naps.  More play on the deck in the afternoon, happy hour, maybe a dinner out or a golf cart ride, George, and bedtime. 

The kid did well sleeping overall.  Bo slept through the night the first week, the second week he got up at 4-something to eat and then went back to sleep.  He never took a nap in his crib, but took two good stroller naps everyday, meanwhile I got some exercise which I never get anymore so that was nice.  Jake was too excited to nap the first 3 days and then only took one every other day or so the rest of the trip.  He spent time in his crib though and if he never slept and we went out to dinner he usually fell asleep on our way in the car, but seemed happy to wake up to eat and request "one more stop" on the ride home...frozen yogurt.  Gampy was in heaven to have a little buddy who wanted a frozen treat every night too.  

Jake did a great job in the water with his puddle jumper on, getting more brave everyday.  I got Bo in the water a few times, but he wasn't quite sure about it.  Its crazy to even think about that trip now and how much Bo has changed since then (2 1/2 months later!) It was fun to have Brian there for a long weekend and Jake loved playing with Papa in the pool.  

We also got to celebrate Easter and my 35th birthday while we were there.  For Easter I had brought a bunch of stuff to make their baskets.  Mimi had some gifts and also got plastic eggs to put some change in and hide around the condo.  Jake LOVED it.  He was so cute looking for the eggs and asking about the Easter bunny.  We talked about the eggs, the presents (especially the jelly beans), and the bunny for several weeks afterward.  

Despite some stressful times for my sister and husband across the country we did have a lot of laughs and fun with the littles.  We had a WELL DESERVED happy hour every night and I am pretty sure my Mom took a beer to bed with her a couple times.  Hahaha

We are so grateful to Mimi and Gampy for letting us crash another one of their vacations.  As always, they were so awesome with the circus in town.  I can't wait for next year and hopefully a day or two of cousin fun too!