It's Potty Time!

We bought Jacob a potty about a month ago and he knows that it stays in the guest bathroom at all times. Every night, before his bath, he can't wait to get naked so that he can sit on his big boy potty. He runs in the bathroom saying "pah-eee!" He's never actually gone IN the potty. He just likes to sit on it and make silly faces like he's trying to go potty.

Last night, I was making dinner and I hear Mark yelling "GOOD JOB JACOB!! MOMMY, COME IN HERE!" Would you believe our little guy actually went to the potty??? I couldn't believe it. I don't know exactly what this means...but it's got to be a step in the right direction. Jacob was incredibly proud of himself (as were we!)

I never really thought about what would happen after he actually used the potty. I mean, there is no flush and you can't just leave it in there. Mark actually asked me "You don't want to save that do you?" Um, that would be a NO. I draw the line at saving the baby hair from his first haircut thank you. (I bet there are people out there that save their kid's first pee pees in the potty. I did some research and found that taking a picture of your kid's first pee pee is a popular thing to do. Is this normal?) Anyway, while I embrace the idea of losing those diapers, I am so not looking forward to cleaning that little plastic bowl a million times a day. Let's hope Jacob's learning curve is a short one folks.

The travel tides are turnin'

After our trip to Texas in May, I swore I wouldn't travel with Jacob again until he was 5. Okay, maybe 3. The thought of those sleepless nights, napless days, and long plane rides was just too much to bear. I'm happy to report that the tides are turning. Our trip to Kansas was wonderful and Jacob slept like a champ...night and day! He had a blast hanging out with his cousins and we felt lucky we got to be there for Baby Carys's baptism.

Now, if we can figure out a way to cut the flight time in half (or knock Jacob out for it) we'd be there all the time! Unfortunately, he came back with a double ear infection which is never fun but we went to the doctor quickly and he is already on the mend.

Thanks again to everyone for such a fun-filled weekend!

Jacob is officially in love with babies. He wanted to hold Baby Carys every chance he got and just kept saying "baby! baby!" over and over again.





Fun at the park!



Carys's Baptism -- what a special day

Halloween Sneak Peek

Jacob's Halloween costume arrived last week and I was determined to get him in it so I could snap a few pictures. Unfortunately, every time I whip out my camera, Jacob wants nothing to do with being in front of it...and everything to do with being behind it and looking at the old pictures of himself on the LCD screen. I try my hardest to explain to him that he can't see any pictures of himself until I take them...but this is one concept that doesn't quite get through to a 20 month old. So, the tears typically start falling when he can't (or I won't let him) hold the camera to look at pictures of himself.

So, alas, I sunk to bribery. "Jacob, if you go sit over there, stop crying and let mommy take a picture of you, I will give you fruit snacks." I didn't quite get the pictures I was hoping for, but it was a good trial run. See for yourself.

Check out the fist full of fruit snacks.

Now if I could just get him to do the dishes

Jacob has taken a great interest in household chores although most of the time, his help requires more work than the actual cleaning itself. I have found one chore in particular in which he excels...throwing away trash. In fact, I find him walking around the house picking up little scraps of whatever (food, paper, etc.) and throwing them away in the trash. I sweep everyday, but man does a toddler know how to do a number on the hardwood floors.

I have to admit that Jacob is even more diligent than his daddy when it comes to this task. Mark threw away an entire bag of newly purchased makeup this past weekend because he didn't realize there was anything in the bag. I think I'm going to leave the trash removal up to the 20 month old in this house.

Top 10 Reasons We Love Jacob

10) He thinks Grandpa Ildebrando is John O'Hurley (you be the judge. See below.)

9) He loves to tickle...and be tickled

8) He approaches 5 year olds and calls them "baby"

7) His favorite game is waving at people in cars

6) He loves to sit in mommy's arms and brush the hair out of her face

5) He'll choose black olives over cookies any day

4) He warns you when police cars are in the vicinity with an emphatic "wooooo wooooo!" (who needs a radar detector? I can't wait until he can say "Five-O momma, SLOW down")

3) He dances to everything in front of everyone

2) He says "shoo shoo" (bless you) when you sneeze

1) He laughs hysterically when he passes gas

Halloween is growin' on me

I used to really dislike Halloween. I know I'm in the minority on this one, but in my adult life, I've found this holiday to be way too high maintenance. Finding a costume alone would stress me out beyond belief. I can't tell you how many vintage clothing shops, Goodwills and Salvation Armys I've visited on the morning of Halloween. I just could never build up enough energy to find a costume any earlier than that.

I think the tides are turning. Dressing up a baby boy is quite a different story. The pressure is back on...but in a fun way. Last year, I bought Jacob's scarecrow costume a whole month in advance. A MONTH!! This year, I can't decide if he should be a fireman or a football player...a cuddly puppy dog or Elmo?? Too many choices. But I'm looking forward to taking him trick or treating this year even if he has no clue what's going on.

I think the best part of this Fall Holiday celebration is/will be taking him to Pumpkin Patches. Our mother's group organized a day at Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay today and I could not have imagined a more cute, elaborate, Halloween/Fall themed day of fun. There were hay rides, pony rides and train rides, a petting zoo, jumpy houses, a haunted house and pumpkins galore! Jacob was on cloud 9 and I am incredibly surprised that we got out of there without him losing the plot.

We hesitated taking him into the Haunted House but when the doorman said "scary?" or "nonscary?", we felt we'd be safe with the "nonscary" option. (By the way, where was this option when I was kid? I remember really NOT wanting to go to these things because I'm really not a fan of being scared out of my mind, but I always went along so as not to disappoint the group. If a "nonscary" option existed back then, I would have jumped on it!) Unfortunately, Jacob takes after his momma and even the "nonscary" option was a little bit too scary for him. We ended up racing through as Jacob clinged to my body for dear life. I wouldn't be surprised if he avoided haunted houses for another good 10 years.

By far his favorite parts were feeding the goats, jumping in the jumpy houses, and dancing along to the music (surprised?) If it weren't so crowded at this place, I'd go there once a week just to see that adorable smile on his face.

"I seriously love feeding goats. Especially baby ones!"









"Look at how strong I am!"





"Here Daddy, let me help you. That's a big one!"





"This is my friend Elin" :)



"Elin, check out my dance moves!"



"Daddy, you are SO funny."

Swingin' in the rain

It rained today. We haven't seen rain in over 5 months so it was a strange sight at first. Of course we love all of the sunny, dry days but every now and then I crave a big, loud thunderstorm. The Texas kind where you cuddle up under the covers and fall asleep to the sound of rolling thunder. Mmmm, miss that.

We tried to go to the Palo Alto Jr. Museum and Zoo today but as our luck would have it, they closed down early today, right as we arrived. So instead, we headed to a neighboring park and played in the rain. I was surprised that Jacob wasn't more freaked out by it, since he rarely sees rain (and probably wouldn't remember it from Chicago) but it didn't seem to bother him a bit.

Man that kid loves to swing...