1) I'm really trying to make Jones feed himself with a spoon / fork more. When he does it, he does great. I just never make him do it, because, first of all, I never think of it, and second of all, I can feed him, like, TEN THOUSAND TIMES faster than he can feed himself. But the only way he'll get faster is to get more practice, so ...Anyway, whenever I give Jones a spoon to feed himself, Freddie absolutely REFUSES to let me feed him. He'll lock his lips and turn his head, positively INSISTING that he feed himself in the same way he sees his brother doing.
This isn't a bad thing. He's gotta learn sometime! It's just an untidy thing, as Freddie's aim isn't exactly all that Jones's is. Here are some pictures as proof from this morning's breakfast of what the boys call "yo-yo."When Freddie'd get fed up with the slow-going of the spoon, he'd stick his hand into the cup of yo yo and feed himself THAT way. At one point, Jones turned up his nose and said, in a very concerned tone, "Mama, Baby. Mess."
Yes, Son. I see that.
2) Walking around Haywood Mall today, Jones "toot-toot"ed like Thomas the Tank Engine pretty much non-stop. And when he wasn't "toot-toot"ing, he was jabbering in the same high pitch as his "toot"s. I thought it was kind of hilarious, but I'm not sure the passersby did.
Oh, and about the "toot-toot"ing, a couple of months ago, I noticed Jones squinting and blinking this weird way, and I thought at first it was some kind of an eye tick. I wasn't worried about it, because Dr. Google said that was totally normal for toddlers, particularly of the boy variety. More recently, I've realized that he only does it when he "toot-toot"s.
Well, a few weeks ago, I finally connected all of the dots when I actually watched an episode of Thomas, instead of just zoning out as Jones watches them. He's not twitching; he is making EXACTLY the same facial gestures that Thomas (and all the trains) make when "toot"ing. After seeing that, I was immediately amazed at how SPOT ON his mimicry is, which, I'll be honest, kinda reminds me of someone else I know who used to watch things over and over and over again until she could mimic them as perfectly as possible.
In a related story, he's also started repeating bits of dialogue as soon as he hears it on a movie. I don't know what it is that makes him repeat something, but when he does it, he's like a little parrot, trying to emulate timing and inflection.
Both of these - tooting with the Thomas face and parroting cartoon dialogue - are things that I want to get on video, but of course, when I ask him to do either, he won't (or he doesn't do it in the same way), so I'm just going to have to capture both by pure luck. Cross your fingers.
3) Earlier this week, Freddie did what should not be done in a bathtub. Though we've had a handful of number one accidents at tub time, we've not had a number two ... until Monday, that is. Funnily enough, the boys were in Mom's tub after their second swim of the day, and I was sitting in it with them, wearing my suit and washing them off. I was taking some video to send Jeremy of their faces transfixed on (of course) "Thomas" on the TV opposite Mom's tub. That's when I noticed Freddie's face looking a little unnaturally strained; I moved the camera back just in time to see ... you know. I won't post the footage, because ... gross. But if you're planning to be at his rehearsal dinner in about 30 years, look for it then.
4) Jones had his first wardrobe request today. Overnite, he'd worn the heavy equipment jammies his cousins Louci and Lila gave him for his birthday. When I started taking them off to put on his red, white, and blue striped t-shirt, he did NOT want to take it off. "Bull-boze," he said. I told him, he could wear that shirt, or he could wear his John Deere shirt to match the John Deere hat he already had on (of course).
Keep reading to see which shirt he chose.
5) Freddie likes ketchup, too. Jones wants to "deep" everything in "sauce" (including his cucumbers at supper last nite) - doesn't matter if it's salsa, ketchup, honey mustard, whatever. I typically don't give any to Freddie, because it becomes more finger paint than condiment. Well, after Jones had finished his chicken nuggets last nite, Freddie pointed to the bowl of ketchup and said, "deese" ("this"), as he does. I figured, "How much harm can he do?" He immediately put the bowl over his face and started licking its insides.
6) Jones had some water gun fun yesterday. It took him a while to get the hang of the trigger, but as soon as he figured out he could pull it more easily with TWO fingers, he was on the money. Freddie LOVED being hit with the water, but he didn't have much interest in shooting it. Guess he's a lover, not a fighter.
7) Here are some pictures from tonite's swim. Unfortunately, the pirate sheep has sprung a slow leak, which means I have to blow it up every time we go out, and after towing around a two and half year old, it's completely deflated about ten minutes into the swim.
Also, I got Freddie a new little ride on thingie hoping it'd make him more at home in the pool. He's still not loving it. Tonite, he made it about three minutes (saying "I duck" ("I'm stuck") the entire time) before Mom took him back inside. Hopefully, he'll warm up to the water as the summer goes on.
After he went inside, Jones spent a lot of time running around the apron of the pool, while I pummeled him with an Aqua-Zooka. He thought this was hilarious.
8) Finally, I'm missing Jeremy like CRAZY. That is not an understatement. The boys miss him, too. Freddie lets me know he's awake by saying, "MA-ma. MAAAAAAA-ma!" and as soon as I walk into his room, he smiles and says, "DA-da!" Jones starts running around like he's got ants in his pants every time his daddy FaceTimes us. We are most definitely a family that works best when it's together.
Jeremy's been gone for five days. He'll be home in six more. If ever I wanted time to fly by ...
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