Kiss Me

Jack is holding up his Valentine's from school

Jack gets excited anytime he thinks he is going to get a "TREAT".  He uses it as a negotiating tactic.  He learned that from us...we use it to "influence" his behavior....ha, ha!  His school had a Valentine's day party and he was so excited to have a cupcake with his friends and exchange Valentine's cards.  But being the #1 girl in his life for just a short time longer...his Mom was the only one who got to kiss her boy!

The Big Red Dog





Taking a nap

Are you finished yet?

Up close & personal :)  Big, beautiful, brown eyes!

The big red dog #2, Tucker, is a very good dog.  He is like The Giving Tree book...despite my lack of capacity to love him like I did Scout, the big red dog #1, he meets me where I'm at....He has taken a silent back seat to all the love and attention given to Jack and he is OK with it.  We have had one rule from the beginning....Tucker is the only one to sleep with Mama & Daddy.  Jack does not have the concept of getting up & coming to get into our bed.  I know that's weird for most parents/kids...but a king size bed can only hold 2 adults & one large dog!

After "helping" me outside, he was more interested in an afternoon nap, not having his picture taken (he takes after Chris in that respect)....He tolerates Jack's toddler antics and tries to stay clear most of the time.  He really is a good dog!



Say Cheese



Big, Big Smile at the Rainier Grill in Enumclaw--Jack's favorite place to eat.  They know us by name and we probably go there at least once a week!

January has flown by with a few twists & turns in the road.  We are enjoying the blessing of spending time together.

 Jack has been growing...still at 36 lbs but slowly moving up to size 4T.  Some of the 3T pants are tight around the waist and the shirts are getting too short.  He is in level P2 in swimming and he is the only 3 year old in his class--the rest are 4.  He loves to swim underwater and he opens his eyes.  He jumps into the pool independently and now tries to reach & pull with his arms with his head down in the water.  We LOVE his teacher Ms. Kristin (who has a Jack of her own)!  We go there on Tues/Thursday evenings.

Jack took Mini-Peak gymnastics in January and it was his first exposure.  Let's just say, he most enjoyed watching the older students nearby and not following the directions/listening to his coach.  We may try a smaller class during the day when the gym is otherwise empty to see how it goes.  If he doesn't participate more, we will just wait a while and try again later.  Here in the rainy Northwest, it is so important to search out some indoor activities to keep active.

We still go to a mother/toddler class on Wednesday mornings, sponsored by Bellevue College Parent Education Program.  Every other week, I have a parent class in a room beside the children's room.  Jack goes from station to station, on his own, and has a great time.  He rarely to never comes to check in with me (like some of the other kids).  I'm happy he is so independent but also sometimes a little sad because he doesn't need me as much.  I know God knew what he was doing because the process of gaining Independence is slow, so the child and the parent can adjust naturally!



Merry Everything!

Jack & Nannie looking out at the Space Needle

It's hard to get a great picture of Jack these days...he takes after Chris in the "I hate my picture taken" category!

Santa came & yes, I got a Buzz Lightyear!  To Infinity & Beyond!

The Myers had a nice holiday season, low key, fun, and restful.  Before Christmas, Nannie Maxine came from NC and loved on Jack for a week.  She is a hard act to follow!  Jack loves to play non-stop with her.  She has lots of experience entertaining (starting in the '60's with me!).  Like always, the time is always too short.

We tracked Santa on the computer but we went to sleep when he was over the Sandwich Islands.  Now, who knows where they are?  Santa was extra generous this year bringing lots of games, puzzles, paint, an easel, and of course, the main attraction...Buzz Lightyear.  I'm reliving my childhood.  Well, at least the childhood that I would have wanted if I had been a boy!

Like Dale Earnhardt

Yummy Birthday Cupcake--last one to eat at home!



Best Birthday picture at Seattle Children's Museum...everyone, including Daddy, had to wear a hat!

Jack loved his birthday!  We talked about turning 3 and sang happy birthday many time in the weeks leading up to the actual day.  You know, I was the one who authored birthday month!  Jack doesn't realize it yet, but he has to share with Jesus, so maybe we'll start the celebration in November.  His friends who came to the party included Alyssa, Liam, Sean, Carson, Mia, & Cruz.  Grandma & Grandpa California (now Buckley) came too.  It was a great day!

All you NASCAR fans will recognize my memorial tribute to Dale Earnhardt...the ultimate #3--RIP.  Since moving to Enumclaw, of course, I root for Kasey Kahne--#9, so maybe when he turns 9, we'll have a NASCAR party.  Or not.



Tis the Season

2010 Christmas Card

Life keeps rolling and the blog has taken a back seat.  At least, you understand my priority for sleep!  Blog posts come & go in my head, and we can say, Life Is Good!  Jack turned 3 years old last Friday & celebrated at preschool with cupcakes & his party was Saturday at the Seattle Children's Museum.  He had more cupcakes, but alas, he mostly only eats the frosting!  It was a grand time, but a little overwhelming for him (hence, the quick exit)!  He has already sat on Santa's lap twice & he wants a Buzz Lightyear & cosmic blaster (I guess it's a Buzz accessory).  More pictures to come!

A paragraph of reflection....3 years ago, we were so joyful and overwhelmed by being new parents.  What a ride, a glorious ride.  It has been the most challenging but rewarding experience of my life.  I'll admit, I'm glad it turned out this way.  I'm sure we could have made it work...if Jack hadn't happened.  But I can't imagine that doing our own thing would have been this great!

Snow on the Plateau



Jack &Tucker running around in the snow! Both liked it for about 5 minutes!



It's snowing!  Jack had already thrown some snowballs and was cold!






It didn't really snow last year, so he didn't remember ever seeing snow.  He didn't like the cold (11 degrees for a low!).

Flight of Ideas

Yes, I did plant sunflowers and God grew this one!  Smile!




Look at those lips & the sparkle in his eyes!

 

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Jack chose to be a "Kitty" when he got his face painted



Sumantra Tiger & her twin cubs



Yes, we are riding a camel!

On a recent outing, Jack & I went to Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma.  Last time, Jack was too young to ride the camel, but he was so excited to finally do it.  After I saw the safety straps (or lack thereof), I decided to ride along.  A camel has a hard hump!  These are docile, domesticated, well-cared for animals and we had a great time.

At the zoo, Jack has a few favorites:

1. seahorses
2. fish feeding
3. elephant bathing
4. penguins with bubbles
5. riding the camel with Mom

Saltwater State Park



Despite cool temperatures, Mom allowed Jack to go barefoot!  You don't get viruses from cold feet, huh?



Action shot of Jack running back from the "little" waves

A rocky, log jam shore on one side of the park

A true Northwesterner...loves cold, wet sand!  As long as it's sunny here, we never complain about being cold or wet!

No bucket or shovel but we always have our hands, right?

What's this, Mom?  Picking up partially buried shells.

We made a recent trip to a local site in Des Moines, WA...Saltwater State Park.  On a sunny, "I'm not going to take a nap day" for Jack...we went for a local adventure.  While September was wet & cloudy...so far, October has been gloriously sunny (as compared to average).

The beauty of the Puget Sound coastline is second to none!  Wow...is all I can say. 

Jack doesn't mind cool wet feet & walking in the sand.  There were a few squeals of protest when I had to dry him off & change wet pants in the back of the car.  But I couldn't say no to him walking in the water & sand.  We had a ball! 

Wandering Blogger, Found

Jack--2 years, 10 months
Looking up into the sun is a learned skill here in the Northwest!

Carson & Jack on a hay ride at the Pumpkin Patch
"Little Brook & Little Teresa"

There have been many blog posts started in my head of late.  There have been non-repeatable responses to computer & camera problems.  And of course, there have been many wonderful days of having fun with Jack, watching him grow & change, and working through the inevitable challenges of being & parenting a 2-year old.

I won't be able to say 2 year old much longer...Jack will be 3 in a mere six weeks.  Where has the time gone?  When I look in the mirror, I choose not to focus on the tired & wrinkled eyes of a 44 year old mother of a toddler...my gaze gravitates toward the sparkle, the twinkling in my eyes as I look at Jack & feel the happiness & gratefulness in my heart for him.

Borrowing from Dr. Suess----Thing # 1  (The Good)

1. Jack now goes to (gasp) daycare every Thursday & Friday.  The gasp was totally from me, not Jack.  He loves going to play & learn and he has surprised us by actually taking a nap on a mat on the floor.  Wow, I have had a glimpse into my future life when Jack won't need me.  It felt both liberating & lonely.  I accomplished so much on my to-do list.  I read a book while I was slowly eating my lunch.  But about every 5-10 minutes, I thought of him.  This will have it's own post very soon!

2.  Jack takes swimming lessons with Miss Kristen on Tues/Thurs evenings.  He is in the Penguins class and he loves to swim underwater.  The kids stand on a table and he actually tried to swim around the other kids, under the water.  I foresee a future scuba diver, which makes Chris very happy.

Thing # 2 (The Not-So-Good)

1.  Jack has no interest in potty training.  Doing my research (as everyone who knows me, would expect), I am not alarmed.  Only 50% of boys are potty trained when they turn 3 years old.  We put him on the potty a couple of times a day and most of the time he says & I quote, "there's no pee in there"!

2.  Swimming, as fun as it is for Jack, is not so fun for Mom.  There is something about swimming that relaxes Jack enough to poop & this is on a regular basis, at least 50% of the time.   There is only 1 thing that has ever turned my stomach as a mother & that is changing a poopy swimmy diaper.  TMI (too much information!)  Enough said.

More, more, more...very, very, soon!



Northwest Trek

Chris & Jack--up close with a moose!

A resting mule deer...look at that rack!

Jack & the Beaver


Summer fun is still in full swing, despite dropping temperatures.  Eat your hearts out (well, actually, we are eating ours out b/c we want more sun/heat)...we had to wear coats on 9/5/10 to our visit to Northwest Trek. 


Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a 725-acre park where we saw bighorn sheep, deer, Roosevelt elk, woodland caribou, mountain goats, bison (really close up)  from our comfortable open air tram while touring the free-roaming area.


Jack had no fear of the animals & slept all the way home!

Soccer Jack

Jack & Coach Brett
Yes, I know there's no soccer ball in the picture..he wasn't just into it yet...but he did the very best on the last class and outperformed everyone else...well, he was the only kid to show up.  We love 1:1 instruction!

Jack's 1st Soccer certificate

Jack & I did Mommy & me soccer this summer through the local Parks & Rec...& we had an awesome Coach...thanks Brett.  Kidz Love Soccer program is developmentally tailored for preschool children and it was fun.  We did alot of listening with listening ears, learning to listen to directions, and then listening again when we forgot them, and oh yeah, we did some cool soccer drills too...no games of course, at this age.  We practiced not touching the ball, not forgetting or leaving the ball, and yes, we worked on listening & following directions.  Have you gotten it yet?

Walk Now for Autism Speaks

It was a hot day, this past Saturday, August 14, for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks...90 degrees!  The walk venue was the Seattle Center, in downtown, with the Space Needle in the background.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to those who supported me---I reached my goal of raising $250!

Have you ever been in a place where there are thousands of strangers, but you are all there because of a single reason, and that alone creates a connection?  As I heard the speakers, teachers, therapists, parents, & a teenager with Autism speak, my heart ached for a cure!  I've progressed, I'm not asking God the question Why? anymore.  Notwithstanding a cure; education, research, advocacy, & support are all the reasons why I support Autism Speaks.  Oh yes, the biggest reason...my deep love for my sister April, mother to Lance, who has autism!

My nephew--Lance Sherbert--my Hero!  Since he was back in NC & I was out in WA, I took his picture with me.

Jack holding Lance's picture on the Autism Speaks stage.

"Under the Tail of a Whale"--Jack & I were taking a break to get wet on our 90 degree walk.  The Seattle Center has neat attractions like this. 

Watching the water at the Seattle Center fountain!  Our city's icon...The Space Needle in the background.

Attached to the stroller--a picture of my sister April & her kids, Lance, Zackery, & Grace!

Wow! He's Beautiful!

Jack, our beautiful, beautiful boy
2 years, 8 months

So Jack & I went to NC, without Daddy.  He had to stay home to work, have some uninterrupted sleep, & no poop patrol while we were off having family & beach fun.  We had a 5 day "vacation" at the Mrytle Beach, SC resort called Dunes Village Resort with my sisters, cousins, aunt, & parents.  I put the word vacation in quotation marks, b/c supervising a 2 year old around water is definitely not relaxing.  But fun!

When I return from my regular visits from the south, it's very sad & I have to remind myself (over & over) why I don't live closer to treasured family.  Looking at the half full cup, instead of the half empty one...tells me that the concentrated time we spend together is not taken for granted & enough to show Jack the intensity of love despite distance!

Beloved Atlantic

Atlantic Sunrise & Jack's Silhouette

Wow, why does time pass so quickly while on vacation and so slowly when at work?  Jack & I are back from our 12 days of fun, yes, hot fun in the 90 degree + heat in NC & SC.  It was SO nice visiting, seeing, talking, laughing, eating, playing, etc with all my family.  The time was so, so precious.  Now, back to the real world...boo, hoo.  More info, pictures to come. 

Paid In Full

Paid in Full--yes, that's right, Jack is paid off....or in more detail...Jack's conception is paid off.  We are & will still be paying for a long time.  He wasn't that happy/cooperative about holding my sign...maybe, I'll get a better picture another day!

Jack & Sean at the park--after his first sleepover!  Seeing Jack around another child for 24 hours is a wonderful thing...Wow...how do you parents of more than one child do it?  It wasn't hard with Sean...he is the kindest, easiest child ever.  Now, Jack on the other hand, misbehaved alot.  He was not accustomed to sharing his toys & especially, his Mother!

How Will You Be Remembered?

Some men and women, buried at Arlington, will be remembered for their ultimate sacrifice in the defense of the ideals & freedoms of our great country.  It was awe-inspiring seeing Arlington and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in my recent trip to DC with my Mom.  Each tombstone represents a beloved son or daughter, wife, husband, sister, brother, father or mother...a lump automatically forms in my throat when I think of this.

My beautiful Mom!

Even though it was HOT...the soldiers didn't have any sweat running down their faces/necks...how? Maybe they have some type of absorptive material in the band of their hat.

Most of us won't be remembered by a white stone on the hills of Arlington...but how will we be remembered?  As I contemplate this...here's what came to mind...a loving parent, an encouraging friend, a helpful wife, a cheerful lady, a helping neighbor, a hard working colleague...& of course, a Tarheel basketball fanatic, a loud & boisterous talker, a person with a zest & passion for life, not afraid to do the right thing or try new things....How will you be remembered?

Great smile, not enough light!

Perfect light, no smile.  It's a serious, serious look...the look of deep thought..."How will I convince Dad to buy me a horse?"

Sometimes, fatigue takes over before Mom finishes her lunch!

A Blow Up Ramsey at the annual Tarheel BBQ...I'm brainwashing him already...after I tell him, "Night,Night & Sweet Dreams", I say, "You hate Dook!"...sending subliminal messages!