Cause & Effect

Because of this ...



... this.

Jones loves "Jake & the Neverland Pirates." Well, Jones loves the credits of "Jake," anyway. Whenever he hears the theme song, he stops what he's doing and does this dance, usually throwing one arm in the air, just like Jake. Most of the time, he loses interest after the credits. But for those thirty seconds, he is completely enthralled.

The first time Jones noticed character merchandise of any kind, it was a Jake soap dispenser. We were at Wal-Mart when he saw it and pointed to it on a shelf. When I handed it to him, he laughed and pulled it to himself. Wouldn't you just know it, Santa ended up bringing him that very soap dispenser (how did he know?!)!

Today - again at Wal-Mart - I saw some more merchandise that I thought might make Jones as excited as the "Jake" credits. I was on the market for some summer jammies, and these seemed like the perfect choice.

You like?!

Little Boys Blue

To show Jones and Freddie's support of Andrew and Aaron Harrison's decision to return to UK next season, I wanted to post some pictures of my favorite little boys in blue.

I've already discussed it with his Pop: Freddie's first visit to Rupp Arena will be for Midnite Madness next October.

MAN, my Mayme would be lovin' this!

On, on, U of K!

Two things

1) Jones loves a rocking horse. He has two at Mom & Daddy's, one that they gave him for Christmas and another - larger and with springs! - that's been in the family, since Camden was a little cowpoke.

The larger one is right by his bed, and most of the time, he'll stand up in his crib after a nap and point at it, wanting to take a quick ride as soon as he wakes up. 

The other he's just getting tall enough to climb on himself. This morning, he mounted the stuffed steed and sat on it, while he and Brother got one of several daily doses of "Imagination Movers," a show on Disney Junior that I can't quite figure out but that Jones just loves. 

I thought he'd have trouble getting off of it on his own. I let him try (taking all that "Raising Boys" reading to heart!), with me sitting close enough by to catch him should he start to fall in Freddie's direction, and he figured it out, all by himself!

2) The elevator that I mocked Mom & Daddy for installing in their house has saved my head on more than one occasion! With two babies - one of whom, as I've already mentioned, can walk but won't - it's the only way I can safely get them both to the same place at the same time.

Typically, I'll sit Jones on the floor of it and hold Freddie while we ride. Whenever we get to where we're going, though, Freddie and I will step off, and Jones will stay in, sliding shut the folding door, as if he's after some alone time. He does this without fail. Every single ride. Not only is it precious, it's also practical! I'm able to put Freddie down, knowing Jones is safely contained in a wooden rectangle whose buttons he can only reach when I'm in there with him.

Win-win.

While we're talking buttons, let me just say that his favorite is the light switch. If it's just me and him, I'll hold him; he thinks it's the funniest thing in the world to cut the lights off ... with the hand that's not attached to whichever thumb he's sucking. 

(As with the rest of these posts, these stories aren't meant to be poetic; they're just meant to be my reminders of sweet little moments with my sweet little boys.)

"On the fro-o-ont porch with you ..."

It's been the longest, coldest Winter that I can remember.

Finally, today was warm enough to get outside. Since Lizzie Gray was over, she and Jones spent some time on the front porch swings. Because I'll do anything to get a good picture, I started squirting the two of them with a spray bottle. The results were the smiles I wanted and an excessive amount of merriment.

See what I mean?

Jones's Baby Book

I'm not sure I put as much time into my dissertation as I did into Jones's baby book. In spite of that, there are STILL things I'd change about it; nevertheless, here is a link to see the book made to commemorate my first son's first year.

Now, the pressure is on to do the same for my second son.

Heaven, help me.

 

Click here to view this photo book larger

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Guess what, Y'all ...

... Jones can WALK!



Don't be deceived. Just because he CAN walk doesn't mean he DOES.

He took his first steps just a few weeks before he turned 18 months. I'd been in Spartanburg all day for a Teach Them Diligently Convention, and the boys were with Jeremy's parents. Jones took about four steps that evening but didn't do it again for a few days. Here we are almost a month after that, and crawling remains his primary mode of transportation. The doctor says he's physically fine, but he's sending Jones to physical therapy to see if the therapists can give us some exercises to do that'll help get our boy up on his feet more regularly.

Until then, I just watch this video over and over again to remind me that he CAN do it, even if he won't!

Freddie's New Friend

(I'm just going to pick up blogging and pretend that it hasn't been nearly four full months, since the last time I posted anything. Please just play along.)

Freddie Bear made a new friend earlier this week. After I changed his diaper, I sat him up on the changing table (which, while we're at Mom and Daddy's, also doubles as a dresser), and he spotted himself, all full of flesh and wonder.

Luckly, I had my camera on hand, because I got some of my favorite pictures of him yet!