19 months!

Jack is just growing up so much lately. Over this past month, he has hit a language growth spurt and is loving practicing his skills in putting words together. He talks in such a sweet, grown-up way. He reminds me of a proper British boy, very intentional and calm. He little sayings that he loves to say over and over again right now are:

-Wheh's tha moo-moo? (Where's the moon?)
-" " Mama, Daddy, Mae-Mae, book, boon (balloon), ball, etc."
-I dee-dee! (I get it)
-Uh-oh, Wheh's Daddy? (right when he walks away)
-Ah-non (All done or All gone...He says this as a question when I'm putting medicine on him and it hurts...so pitiful)
-Wha-zah? (What's that? I love the way he says this.)
-Whe go? (while lifting up his hands)
-tuh-tuh-choo-choo! (chugga chugga choo-choo)


He has been so affectionate lately. He'll just come over and plant a big kiss on my lips out of nowhere. Every time he gets picked up by Josh or me, he hugs, pats, and just snuggles in as tightly as he can. This has been a wonderful and easy month with him! I can't say the same for his older brother right now, but that's a whole 'nother blog! It seems like when one's easy, the other decides to be challenging.

I got his 18 months height and weight in the middle of the month, and he's in the 37th for weight and 44th for height.

A funny thing he does is he screams "Wooow!" when he builds a tower of blocks or sees something big, like a crane or digger on the road. He has the highest pitch scream that hurts my ears every time!

He likes to pretend to go nigh-nigh in brother's bed. He'll lay his head on his pillow for a while, while I sing to him.

He grabs my hand to do something, like point to a picture in a book, and sometimes he'll grab his own other hand and make it point to something.

He LOVES spray parks and running through the sprinkler.

We've finally gotten to the point where we put him down and just walk out at night. He usually doesn't cry anymore, but if he does, it's just for a moment, and then he lays back down to go to sleep.

He likes to look at me and get a sudden serious, pouty face on. I'll copy the face, and then he'll die laughing.

"Mur-Beff"

One of James's favorite people in the world is Mary Beth Barnhill ("Mur-Beff" as James calls her). They have such a funny, adorable little relationship that keeps our family laughing every time we're together. These two are very energetic, spunky kiddos, and put together, their energy grows to even greater heights. :) They have rubbed off on each other to where they say some of the same things and make similar faces. James cries to be with Mary Beth and prays for her every night without fail. I hope they always remain close. I'm sure James will love having a connection with the older girls when they're in high school together! I had to post these pictures of them running around together after one of Matthew's programs.

...And future best friends in the making!

Spring Part 2: 30th Birthday

My 30th Birthday

I entered a new decade last month, turning thirty on April 24! I had such a wonderful day celebrating this big milestone. Josh had been planning and being secretive for months leading up to my birthday and was like a kid on Christmas morning when the day finally came. The morning of my birthday, Josh and James woke me up to a handful of cards, the birthday song, and big hugs. We had a great morning together, and I enjoyed reading my cards from the family. Jilinda and I went to kickboxing class together, and then we went home to shower and change. Jilinda came over to watch the boys so that Josh and I could go get coffee together, which was a great birthday treat! Josh had told me to get a babysitter for Jack, so around 5:00, the babysitter came over, and Josh, James, and I headed over to Elizabeth and Bryon's to meet the whole family. We ate a delicious meal together and then gathered around the living room for presents. My dad pulled out a binder and read aloud his and mom's 100 memories of me that they had thought of and typed out. It got me all choked up and was hilarious all in one. A few of my favorites (just to make fun of myself):

**"You had an imaginary playmate named "Markjista" who lived in the Town Crier restaurant. You had several others too!"**

**"Biting a hole in the headrest of the Pontiac. We started calling you The Beav."**

**"Wanting to sign you up to play soccer and you asking us "What if I get hot and sweaty?"**

**"Running into a Baywatch star in Malibu and keeping the picture of the two of you on your dashboard, hiding the speedometer. (Dad put an end to that!)"**

After my dad read them aloud, he handed the book to Josh. Josh proceeded to tell me that he and my family had written letters to me and that they were all printed off and put into this book. He had also asked some family and friends from afar to write letters. I cried flipping through the book, and could hardly wait to get home that night and read them all! There could not have been a better gift to me, as I'm such a sentimental person, and hearing from my loved ones was such a gift! It's a book that I'll treasure the rest of my life. Also included in the book was a list of 50 memories Josh had made me of our life together. He said he wants to add to this every 10 years or so. It's so much fun to look back!

After that, Josh told me had had two other gifts for me. He handed me a sheet of paper with a picture of a bed and breakfast in the Hill Country, and he told me we were heading there the next weekend while my parents watched our boys! We hadn't spend a night away together in 3 years, so I was beyond excited! Then, he handed me the last present from him, a new camera! I had been using my parents' old camera, which I loved, but it wasn't quite fast enough to keep up with my active boys. I had really been wanting a newer, faster one, because I love taking pictures of my kids, but didn't feel like I should buy one, since I had a perfectly fine camera. So, with my dad's help, Josh found my new camera that I adore! It captures the kids much faster, takes high def video, and I'm having so much fun with it!

The last present was a clock from my parents. They have given each of their kids the same clock, so I knew this was coming, and couldn't wait to put it up in my house!

After presents, we headed into the media room to watch a video slideshow that my mom had spent many many hours putting together. It was such a joy to watch with my family, and I'm so thankful that I have pretty much my whole life in pictures now one one DVD!

Here's some pictures of pictures where I look so much like Jack...





It was one of the most special days of my life, and I'm so thankful for the family that provided such a wonderful birthday celebration for me.

Kerry and Shannon's Wedding!

Last weekend, James, Michael, Elizabeth and I headed West to San Jose for my cousin's wedding! My parents couldn't make it, since they were heading back from Ireland, and our spouses all couldn't make it for various reasons, so we got to have some rare sibling time! We had a great trip, saw lots of gorgeous scenery, and had a blast with our Sullivan side of the family! This was the last cousin wedding, which is strange, but we vowed to make it a point to all meet up somewhere as often as we could.

(I couldn't stop singing the Full House theme song here)

Eating delicious ice cream at the Ghiradeli (sp???) Chocolate Factory

One of James's favorite parts, the Bixby Bridge on the Pacific Coast Hwy...the most beautiful scenery of the whole trip. Mountains that fell into the ocean.

Just arriving at the wedding site. At a winery on a mountaintop in Los Gatos, CA. The weather and scenery were absolutely gorgeous!

One of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to, and such a sweet couple getting married! It was such a fun night!

My cousin, one of my favorite people in the world, Deirdre! James was attached to Deirdre, which is so not like him to want someone else over me. He wanted to sit next to her, told my aunt she was "sooo pretty", and cried and clung to her when we had to say good-bye. I told her this truly doesn't happen very often!

Having a great time with my bro and sis!

Cousins! Kerry's two sisters, Colleen and Deirdre, in the middle

James had a blast at the wedding!

Goofballs!

James loved my Aunt Carolyn, my mom's oldest sister! He kept asking where his "friends" were, talking about Aunt Carolyn and Honorary Aunt Eileen.

James and "Captain Eero". Michael convinced James (wasn't hard to do) that Eero, Deirdre's husband, was a superhero. He kind of looks like one (very tall and big guy) and played it up the rest of the weekend. James was enamored by him!

My mom's other sister, Aunt Barbara: Mom-of-the-groom.

James was shy around Colleen from the moment he saw her (in a playful way). He'd hide behind my leg when she was in sight, with a big grin on his face. At the very end of the weekend, she asked for a hug, and he went right to her and gave her a long, big hug! It was so sweet and cracked me up at the same time. Who knows what's going on in that boy's head?!

18 months!

Jack is one and a half years old today!

I have tried to write a blog about him for the past 3 months, and it hasn't happened yet, so this is going to be an extra long (and disjointed) post. Jack has changed so much these past few months. Although most of these changes are ones that make him more independent and on the go, it is such a joy to watch these changes happen! I don't exactly know why, but I adore this age, tantrums, craziness, and all! I guess it's because it's such a fun and adorable stage. The cuteness factor is through the roof at this age, and he still has enough babyness left to want to be cuddled and rocked, on my hip a lot, is discovering and learning constantly, and there's very little and simple disciplining to be done. He sleeps oh so well, he eats great, and is just happy to be alive. It is also a daily joy to watch his and his brother's relationship develop. His interactions with the family are so sweet and fun to watch!

Here's a list of things I want to remember about Jack right now:
Slobbery kisses
Big huge smile that lights up his face
He says Gah-koe (thank you) all of the time when he gets what he wants.
Booming voice
Giggles with brother
-Grabs bags or keys or anything that has a rope that can go over his shoulder and says "bye bye"
-brings me books over and over and whimpers like a puppy or yells one thing in the book, like "baw baw baw baw baw" (ball). He'll back up in my lap with a big smile when I grab the book to read to him
-sometimes he sits still for a whole book but he mostly reads like a true boy. He lets me read a few pages and then starts flipping to the pages he wants, banging excitedly on his favorite pictures, and then tossing it to the side. When I ask him to point things out, he'll give it one hard, big whack!
-one of the sweetest things he does is when he wants to slow down enough to cuddle, he tuck his arms into us as far as they'll go and lays his head down on us. If I pick him up in a rocker and say, "rock rock", he'll immediately tuck his arms in and be perfectly still for about 5 seconds.

His favorite song is "I see the moon and the moon sees me...", and every time I sing that, he says, "Pah-Pah" while doing the motions, so I'll sing Patty Cake right after. I had sung those two together once, and now he wants them together every time.

He is fearless and thrill seeking...uh-oh...

We get a lot of comments about how active, energetic, and busy he is. He's at a really hard stage to go out with. Sometimes he'll sit great for us, and sometimes he screams to get down so he can climb on everything. You never know what you're going to get!

He has the loudest, blood-curdling scream. He screams and then looks at us in surprise, along with us, at what came out of his mouth!

When he is doing something he knows he shouldn't be, and he sees us coming for him, he runs away and does it as quickly as possible, then looks back and gives a big grin.

Likes to curl up in his crib. He tucks his knees in, with his hiney in the air and tucks his arms under him.

Just started running. It's adorable, since he's so low to the ground and his legs are so chubby.

Loves to be outside more than anything in the world (maybe tied with climbing), and loves to kick the soccer ball around the yard.

Is the class greeter at mdo. He says a loud "hi, ti-ti (tristan), hi abi (avi), hi ana (Savannah)" to each kid coming in and "bye-bye" to each person leaving. He knows how to make each person feel loved. :)

He loves to go bye-bye at the end of the mdo day, runs out the door, goes straight to James' room, and is always excited to see everyone. Sometimes, some are still laying down, and he'll go lay down too.

He's very social, and his eyes light up with his interactions with people. It melts my heart the way he looks at me. He is a very loving little boy.

Pulls our shirts of the laundry and says whose they are.

Goes to the time out chair when I say to James that he's in time out.

Studies people he doesn't know. He won't crack a smile usually, and won't take his eyes off of them.

Climbing
Hurriedly walking towards what he wants
Into everything

Words:
Moe (more)
Wah-wah (water or milk)
Cokee (coffee)
Di-Coe (diet coke)
Bibi
Bi-eee (Bryon)
Daaa (pictures if himself or his reflection)
Mamoo (matthew and Thomas)
Deedah
ME or Mae-Mae and bah-boo (James)
Mommy
Daddy
Leah (jilinda)
Ae-bee (avi)
Anah (Savannah)
Tee-tee (Tristan)
Leh-leh (William)
Nana (both nanas)
Duckie
Doggie
MY (mine, while pulling things into him)
No (no and nose)
Eye
gee-too (gentle) while patting my face
Hah (hat)
Too-eee (tree)
Lih-ee-uh (lydia)
Ga-cool (Michael)
Shooo (shoe)
may-oo (mail)
beeeeee (eat)
oo-ee-nee (weenie-mini hot dogs)
Goo-kie or goo-koo (cookie)
Ba ba or bye bye (breakfast bar)
keeee (keys)
Gun (down-he says this one constantly)
Ow-ooo (flower)
Boo ball (football)
Bee ball (other balls)
Booh (book)
Oh-eee-oh-eee-oh (phone)
He-oooh (hello) while picking up phone
Moo-moo for cow
Nee nee for horse
Bapoh (apple)
Choo-choo (trains, 18 wheelers, big trucks, or anything lined up that looks like a choo-choo to him)
Baby (baby and yo baby)
Cheese (cheese and for the camera)
Gock-gock (rock rock
Boppy (jumpy)
Moo (moon)
Sigh (outside)
Cah (car and truck)
No no no (from no David, when he picks up books)
Wee (swing or slide)
Wee go? (where go?) with hands in the air
Bb (tv)
Pah-pah (patty cake)
Boo-bah (toothbrush)

Jack was apart from James and me this past weekend for four days, and when we came back, he was sooo happy to see James. Much more than me! He said, "Mae-Mae!!!" and got right up to his face and stared at him with a big smile. He kept looking for him that night, and when they were separated after bath time, he cried in a pitiful voice, "Bye, Mae-Mae.....Maaaaeee-Maaaaeee!!!!" We brought them together for a good-night kiss, and he kissed him over and over. James loved this, since usually James is wanting more brother kisses than Jack. It was so sweet to watch them miss each other like that. The next day, he showed he missed me by at first snubbing me and then being super attached for the rest of the day.

Here are some pictures of our one and a half year old!