Adventures with a Poodle & Baby

Spelling M-a-r-i-o

Should we be concerned that Jacob can spell "Mario" but not "cat"? It's remarkable that he can turn on the Blu-ray player, launch You Tube and look up Super Mario Galaxy videos by typing "mario g" into the search bar and then selecting the right entry that pops up.

We've been touring elementary school's in Ann Arbor in advance of house hunting next year. One of the things that the schools tell us about is the computer usage the students are taught starting in kindergarten. That's one subject Jacob will definitely get A's in.

In the meantime we do work with him from time to time on site word flash cards and reading the Bob books. He's currently enjoying his third year of preschool. We have a new program his year so he's going everyday for a couple hours. Karen still enjoys being part of the co-op and participating in his classes. That's one of the things we're looking for in the next school, is one that she'll continue to be able to be involved in the school day. It seems like most have accommodations and encourage the involvement.

We have one more school (or maybe two) to tour and then we'll start looking at houses more seriously in the new year when we have a better feel for which school we hope to get Jacob into.

Jacob's Soccer Video

Jacob's got the red sleeves.

 

Jacob in Soccer

Today Jacob played on his first organized soccer team. He did really great at pratice when everyone had a ball. Halfway through the game he was a little disappointed when his friends scored goals and he didn't. But he still had a good time and enjoyed a snack at the end. There are two preschool friends on the team with him, so that makes it much better.

 

Busy, Busy

Two boys sure keep us busy. Just a quick update - Samuel is doing great, Jacob is too. We had a great Christmas with the boys and the family. They got tons of presents and everyone was happy to see Sam growing and getting to be more of a "little person" and not just a non-responsive baby doll. He does indeed have a great personality and looks to be a real people person. It will be great to have at least one extravert in the family.

Unfortunately we found out this past week Sam has asthema. He had been waking during the night with big coughing fits, so we finally went to the doctor. We have to give him a breathing machine treatment twice a day, but other than that he's perfectly fine and now improving much better.

He does sleep from 8pm-8am or thereabouts, and we wake him around 9:30 at night to feed him. So that's been working great for a few weeks now. He's 3-1/2 months along now.

Jacob loves playing Batman on the Wii now. We've already exhausted Star Wars and Indiana Jones - all from the Lego series games. He also got a Smart Cycle, video game bike he rides and plays in the family room, so that's good. Jacob's a real joy and full of imagination. Just watch out what you say, because he'll repeat the most interesting things.

That's about it for now. We'll try to post as more activity happens.

Happy 4th Birthday Jacob

Dear Jacob,

We love you very much and we're very thankful to God for giving us such a great kid. Everyday you make us laugh with your stories, your energy and we're amazed watching you grow and understand the world around you. We promise to bring you back to "the same mini-golf place" someday soon. It been a great birthday weekend with your grandparents and family. Tomorrow we'll have you're friends over and have a great treasure hunt in the back yard.  Sleep tight and know that you are loved.

Mom & Dad

Jacob on Vacation

Jacob had a great time on our family vacation to New York and Penn.

Jacob building

Jacob makes a "Table Wagon" out of scraps of wood while helping daddy in the garage.

Later he put books on it and it became a "Book Table Wagon".

future job

Jacob announced clearly at the dinner table tonight:

   "I'm going to be a school bus driver when I grow up".

Asleep on the Couch

Normally we try to get Jacob to bed around 8:30 and feel good when we leave his room by 8:50. It's about 50/50 that he doesn't get out of his room once or twice or even three times depending on how awake he is and how many times he needs to go potty, or whatever excuse he can come up with.

Tonight was a different story. It must have been that we had a big day at church, lots of running around afterward in the movie theater, no nap, and then a big evening with a dozen other kids at our small group from church. Karen is at work, her normal Sunday night gig, so just Jacob and I were chillin with a PB&J sandwich to split. I started noodling around on my laptop at the table while he slipped off to the family room with his car. After a few minutes I realized there's no noise, but maybe a slight snore. As I went to investigate, half hoping to find him hiding in the pillows, I was really shocked that he actually fell asleep on the couch with his car at 8:35. So I carried him to bed and switched his bottoms to PJs and he's fast asleep.

Now that's something that I could get used to.

Jacob and the Hospital

This morning we realized that Jacob had some issues with his "big boy area" (as one doctor called it). We spoke with his pediatrician on the phone and she said we should take him to an ER that has child specialists - either UofM or Children's Hospital in Detroit. We went to the DMC Children's Hospital.

It was a good experience, we were in pretty quickly. It looks like it's not serious and a children's specialist probably wasn't needed. Jacob did really well with the doctors. While we were hanging out we took some pictures in our room.

Here he's peeking out the door.

Jacob trying to get the camera.

Jacob on the bed.

Jacob takes a picture of us.

One more of the happy patient.

Jacob's 3-1/2 Birthday

Today Jacob celebrated his 1/2 birthday at Preschool - since he's a summer baby. Mom brought cupcakes, Jacob got to wear a crown and sit in a special chair, which he dragged around to each station (not the norm I'm told).

Jacob in his "house"

Jacob's Preschool Christmas Video

Jacob's photos

These pictures were taken by Jacob, sitting on Daddy's lap in the chair on a Sunday afternoon while mom makes lunch.

Jacob gets ready for Christmas

Jacob is in full Christmas spirit. He picks up on every Santa Clause that comes our way. In Meijer, for instance, he noticed a lady wearing a Santa hat as soon as we walked in and he promptly reported "Look! There's Santa Clause."

He's a little concerned about Bristow's stocking having a dog footprint which is really a lot larger than Bristow's actual foot. It just doesn't make any sense.

He likes the old nativity set that has a wind-up music box song that plays "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and he likes to play the music. He also enjoys rearranging the characters and flying the angel around.

Today he got a Christmas card from Aunt Laura. On the cover it says "It's Christmastime". He refusing to believe that it says anything other than "Merry Christmas".

potty training

Jacob is doing much better with potty training these days. Tonight I caught him going to the bathroom himself. I walked by the bathroom and he was pulling down the pants and when he say me he said "I don't need to go potty" and gave me the hand. I said "OK" and walked away. In a few minutes I peeked in a he was pulling up his pants - very rare - and then he actually started to pull the tray out of his potty chair to dump it in the toilet. Of course he spilled some on the rug and I got to clean it up because he only concerned with his socks getting wet. But that is great progress for him anyway.

Field Trips

Jacob has had 2 field trips already with his new preschool. The first was to Wiard's Orchard and the second was to Disney on Ice at the Palace. Here are some photos from other parents at the apple orchard.

Jacob at School

Now the interesting thing about Jacob going to preschool is that he's off with his own activities which he may or may not tell us about. His teacher says he one of the quiet ones - no surprise there. When asking him what happened at school his school he said "It's not my school, it's Mrs. R's school." Mrs. R is his teacher of course. Other than that he repeated the fact that there was one girl.

Last night Karen went to the monthly meeting and learned that one boy dropped out and one girl was added. So now there's 7 boys and 2 girls in his 3-year old class. Today is Karen's first assigned day to stay at school to help out.

Coming up events are the field trip to Wiard's apple orchard and latter to Disney On Ice.

Potty Trained - almost done

We have had several weeks of success with Jacob's potty training now. He does a pretty good job during the day. Sometimes he'll ask to go but many times we just know he should try and he does fine. Last night he had some problems with accidents after bed time, even though he went right before bed, he had two accidents in his underwear. That was our last step to change him from over night diapers to underwear. It's been going pretty good for the last week so far, except last night. We're really aiming to be as done as possible by preschool this fall.
Wednesday night we have an orientation at the preschool. This is a co-op where parent's have to work a couple times per month in the room and then also do some outside job as well. We've signed up for their website updater position. I'm sure there'll be more stories about preschool once it starts.

Camping Trip

Yes, we went camping for the first time with Jacob a week ago. We were in a tent, in a very hot Jellystone Campground south of Grand Haven on US31. The best part was that they had 2 pools, a 6" deep one that we spent a lot of time in with the kids.
By kids I mean that we went with our good friends Cliff & Teri Burrows and their two - Emma and Joshua. Emma is five weeks older than Jacob and the two are good friends. The three of them played around the campsite and kept going in the road with their ride along cars.
We also enjoyed going into Grand Haven to a giant play structure and then again to the beach in the evening.
Lots of bug bites, hot weather, I was sick, but other than that the kids had fun and we had s'mores and a pool - what more can you ask for.