My Baby is TWO!!!

Yesterday was Carder's birthday...I can't believe he is already two!

We took him to the doctor right before we moved for his two year old check up, I thought I had set aside his papers to record his stats, but I can't find them anywhere, so I am guessing they got packed.

(note to self...add that info when its found)

At two years old Carder:

* knows all his letters

* knows his birthday

* can spell his name verbally

* knows his shapes, his favorite is an octagon

* knows most of his numbers and can count to fifteen consistently and sometimes into the twenties

* knows his colors (though he often tells me red is blue, do those colors look alike if you're color blind?)

* loves reading books (has this book "Urban Babies" that we checked out from the library memorized...I just love to hear him say architecture!)

* loves music and loves singing songs, especially the ABC song, the Cougar fight song and pretty much anything from the Wiggles (to name a few)

* is still totally obsessed with the Wiggles

* still has more energy than the energizer bunny...really not fair that a child can run on less sleep than his mama

* likes to close his eyes and walk around the house like he's Helen Keller when he is trying to be silly...what the heck?!?

* hates beds to be made...instead he likes to push everything off (pillows, sheets etc) and run around and jump on the mattress

* could eat pasta for every meal

* loves to brush his teeth

* loves water (swimming, the bathtub, the toilet...seriously any body of water)

* is talking really well and mostly in phrases or sentences, though there are times especially when he gets excited or is being silly that I have to just nod my head and say "uh huh" or "really" because I have no idea what he is jabbering on and on about

* runs everywhere and climbs on everything, and for some reason still puts almost everything in his mouth

Just around Jake's graduation Carder had started being bothered by his diaper, saying "change a diapa, change a diapa" whenever it was soiled. Then he progressed into asking "big boy potty, big boy potty" he was doing great for a few days, going every time he asked for the big boy potty, but then he discovered toilet paper and flushing the toilet, so sometimes he'll request to go just so he can play with those things. The worst is when he wakes me up at six in the morning saying, "big boy potty, big boy potty," rolling out of bed at that hour is not the highlight of my day but how can you sleep though that request...and then when he goes his big blue eyes light up and a gigantic grin spreads across his face as he tells you "I did it!" (that helps ease the pain of the extra early wake up call a bit). I wasn't planning on doing the whole potty training thing til we were semi settled in our next place, but we did go on a special trip to get "big boy underwear" this week and he held that package tight in his arms the whole time he was sitting in that shopping cart, so maybe it'll be sooner than I thought.

The Birthday

When he woke up we did a little birthday breakfast and of course blew out some candles (that is what he thinks a birthday is all about)

After he blew out the candle, he pulled it out and I was thinking he was going to lick off the frosting, but instead took a nice chunk out of that big waxy candle...ya not the best idea

Carder thinks he is a rockstar...he loves doing air guitar and drums and sing 3 Doors Down's song Kryptonite (because it says Superman in the chorus), so he was super excited to get his own "real" guitar just like Murray from the wiggles.

Then Jake and I took the boys to a little park

Jaxon drove himself and Carder to the park, but once we got there, Carder decided he would try driving that car himself...

not so good at steering

Then we went to the beach where Carder got to do what he loved...play in water and throw things like rocks and dirt

When we got back from the beach, we went to a bigger park that we had promised him earlier we'd take him to

They boys ran the bases

and chased after bunnies

and I attempted to get just one two year old birthday picture where he was looking at me smiling...no success there

Then we came home and did some more blowing out the candles and had some birthday cake.

All in all it was a wonderful day...We love our little honey bunny!!!

WOWZER...

Ok, so I know that probably isn't a real word, but it is the only one I could come up with that can sort of sum up our last week.

Within the past seven days, I turned 24, Jake graduated from Law School, we packed our whole lives into a "POD" and relocated to California/Vegas, and Jake started BARBRI(his prep class for the Bar Exam he takes at the end of the summer). Yes this week was somethin' else...

We have moved A LOT through our schooling years, but I have never experienced the "help" of a toddler while packing. When I got out his baby stuff he instantly reverted...wanting to sit in his old car seat, or stand behind it rocking it while singing "Rock A Bye Baby." Or when I got out the box to pack away all the bottles etc, he pulled one out every time I packed one, insisting that he needed them...he hasn't seen those things for almost a year now...what the heck?!? But after the help of some family (which without we definitely would not have got this move accomplished), we finally got it all packed up (stress city I tell you). I don't know what made this move so stressful, maybe because Thursday was my birthday, Friday was Jake's graduation and Saturday morning the POD got picked up and we had to be out of our place, or maybe the fact that I am so over moving, or that we have accumulated so much stuff with Carder, or the fact that we haven't found a place to live yet, so we are storing all our stuff in a POD for the summer, so on top of having to pack everything up, I also had to put together everything we needed for the next two months...or maybe it was all of the above, but man oh man let me tell you I have never felt so much relief pulling away from a driveway then I did on Saturday.

My little helper (well not so much, but he was definitely entertaining)

The Graduation

Mr Juris Doctorate

Carder was way freaked out by Jake in his robes for some reason

nap time anyone??? After sitting through over 2 hours of speeches etc. I am feeling the boys pain!

Oh yes I almost forgot we got a new car (well not new, but new to us). After trying to be super thrifty while in law school and sharing a car the last three years, we finally purchased a family car. Thats right I am sporting a Mommy Mobile. Its an Acura MDX...after doing tons of research, and Jake pretty much being able to quote the consumer report website, we feel good about our purchase, and I can't tell you how nice it is not to have to schedule the use of the car for errands etc. with each other!!!

This last Tuesday Jake started his BARBRI class in Vegas, he is staying with my Aunt and Uncle who live there while he studies for the Bar and while we find a place to live (the one weekend we went down there was definitely not enough time to secure housing, and we all know craigslist pictures can't be trusted!), so until then, Carder and I are staying with my parents in California...which I think will end up being a blessing in disguise because its allowing Jake to totally focus on his studies during the week while he is in Vegas and we'll get to save a little moolah til he starts work in August.

Happy Mothers Day

I know today is supposed to be all about the Mothers, but I can't help thinking how grateful I am for the little guy that who makes me a mother.  I just love this kid!  He shows me how to be amused by the littlest things, how to just enjoy the moment without stressing about the constant to do list running in my head, he teaches me patience (not gonna lie I am far from mastering that one), and has taught me how to love more than I every thought a human being was capable of.

Happy Mothers Day!

School's Out Forever

Jake took his last law school exam EVER today!!! Yippee...we get him back (well at least until studying for the Bar starts)

Now the focus is graduation next Friday, and being moved out of here by next Saturday...