Jed's Adventures and Memories

I truly feel so lucky to be able to spend so much quality time with my little boy right before we add a precious girl to our family!  I have been able to bond with him in new ways and enjoy/study his budding personality!  

Jed...

I love how you learn... if I say something, you say it right back... "Lets put mommy's hat on!"... "at on?  mommys at on??"  

 Every day, you learn a new word.  Some of my favorites right now are:

"Biaper" - diaper

"binkler" - sprinkler

"Morse" - more... I just love the s!

"Zazzie" with a cute smirk - for Jazzie our dog (every morning he has to find her and greet her!

I don't want to call it OCD, but I'm afraid he is genetically inclined to OCD tendencies.  For example, when getting down or up on his high chair (which he does by himself now), he turns around to get down backwards and if there is any food in his seat, he has to eat it before he gets down, "ut oh"... he says as he dangles by one arm off his high chair.  ........ When you clean up in the bath, all of your toys have to fit into your bin.  We can't move on until we get all of them put away.  Once this is accomplished, my boy of routine says, "queegee" (squeegee) and then "tOOwel"... His towel is a robe towel so he says "arm"... "arm"... just to make sure we do it exactly the same way every time!  I just love watching his mind work!

"Amials"... Jed loves to play with his animals.  He knows  a lot of them by name, could care less about their sounds and mostly likes taking them out of the tupperware (which doubles as a hat) and putting them back in.  He also enjoys throwing them across the room... "ut oh"...

I love how you name all of your friends... "Aubrey, Autin, She She (with pursed lips), Bake, Oma, Opa, D, Bapa, Lolo, Bubba, Emry... and the list goes on"... this mostly happens early in the morning when you want to play and mommy wants to sleep, as if you are asking, is anyone available to play???

I love how you know whose car belongs to who.  If we walk in the garage at home, he points to my car and says, "mommy's", then to Jesse's car, "daddy's"... when we see a jeep he says, "Opa, beep?" which is his word for jeep these days... when we see a lexus SUV, it's Oma's car... when we go to my parents, same drill, "D's"... "Bapa's"... and if there is a car in the third stall, it is "lolo's" (which gets a very excited look because he thinks lolo is in town!)

When asked what a dog says, you reply... "barking?"

I love it that you associate every toy with the last friend you saw using it.  The slide is Austin's, the piano is Aubrey's, your flippers are Emery's, your travel high chair is Austin's... Sometimes he won't play with a toy because it is "Austin's"... SOOO funny!  

You are my explorer.  You have a fascination with sprinklers.  You have always loved water, but, water that squirts out of a small black tube, NOW THAT IS COOL!... "ooohh, BINKLER! BINKLER! BINKLER!" every morning (at 6:30 mind you)... we like to check out the sprinklers.  Jed follows them around the yard, noting whether they are "binkler on!" or "binkler off"... with "oooohhhh" in-between!

 We have had a lot more time with "D" lately and Jed is obsessed with her!  He knows the rout to her house and when we get close he screams "D" in the car... so precious! D is always so creative with him and finds new fun and interesting things for him to do, including drawing and coloring... 

 Reading is a HUGE part of every day!  Jed loves his books!  We have a special cubby that they go into.  Every day, we pull out all of the books, read a select few of his favorites (5 times each) and at the end of the day, we sing the clean up song and Jed puts all of his books "back... back...in dere" (in there)... It is so funny to watch him be so consistent!  

One of his favorite books is "Little Blue Truck" by Alice Schertle.  It is such a cute book and gives a good lesson in the end.  He brings me the book and says "Oorn Beep!!!"... "Hoooooooonk"... "Rooom"... "Guck".  Then he sits on the ground and says "sit", pats the ground next to him and expects results!  Luckily, he will climb on the couch and sit with me!  What is so cute is the story line (which I have more then memorized by now) is exactly like he says it... the first page begins with "Horn went Beep..." Then a big truck says "Honk!!!" then the big truck goes "Roooom" around a curve and gets stuck!  (This just shows what all they pick up... scary!)

Some of your favorite time with daddy are rough housing.  Daddy body slams you (safely) onto the bed and then "gickles" (tickles) you until the vein on your forehead pops out.  When he lets up, you say "again"... over and over.  Then, when it is your turn to "get daddy" (as I call it), you beat your chest like an ape and say "Oooooohhhhhh"... stand up and gently put one foot on his chest (that of course completely crushes daddy who is screaming at this point in pain).  .......... The only problem arises when Jed tries to pull this on mommy.  He gets a look in his eyes and starts to say "ooohhh..." and beat his chest when I kindly remind him that mommy's are for loving, hugging, kissing and snuggling"!  

I love the way every morning when we come into your room to get you, you say "lian, lamB"... "banket"... and make sure we get your stuffed animals (lion, lamb) and all 3 of your blankets you insist on sleeping with and we go to "nuggle" (snuggle).  What a precious memory I will have and cherish for a long time!

Your new thing is praying.  Before every meal, you remind us to "pray"... fold your hands clinched SOOOO tight... and if you are in the right mood, you will repeat a small prayer "Jesus, thank you, food, amen"  ... we love this about you, you are a man of routine and when we sit in our high chair, it's praying time!  

Side note... sometimes when you get into trouble with mommy, you pull out the sad kitty look, fold your hands and say "pray"... as to grab my heart and try to get out of whatever is coming your way... too funny.

Recently you moved into a big boy bed.  You have done so well, we have only found you "wandering" 2 times in the 3 weeks you have been transitioned.  One of those times, you were SOOOO quite.  I randomly decided to check the monitor and saw your toddler bed with every toy that is in your bedroom in your on the bed.  With no Jed in sight.  When I rushed in there, you were diligently unloading your toy chest and putting them in your bed.  Good idea right?  

You are my GREAT eater!  You love flavor, anything that mommy and daddy are eating and your favorite "nack" (snack) is "cheechos"/ "chERIOs"... you could eat an entire box of cheerios a day!   

You are learning to help... you love taking your "biapers" (among other things) to the "trassh"... So far, I have only found one toy in the trash!  

Jed... I love you so much and can't wait to see you in action as a big brother!  

32 weeks, 6 days

32 weeks, 6 days!!!

This may not seem like a milestone for many of you out there... for me, it is huge.  By this time in my pregnancy with Jedidiah, I was in a Magnesium Sulfate fog, pretty much laying lifeless in the hospital bed... being helped to the bathroom...thirsty as I'll get out, and so anxious about the health and future of my little baby.  So, here I am, 32 weeks and 6 days and at home with my family, where I should be... more than that, where I need to be.  

Throughout this pregnancy, I have experienced so many emotions of fear and anxiety and battled them with faith and trust in God's divine plan.  Most people can't come close to understand where I am coming from in these emotions...(it was a lonely 3 weeks in the hospital)... it's easy to tell other people to trust in God right???  But in the moment, it's not always so easy to do it yourself!  Through God's faithfulness and the prayers of many, I have felt an unbelievable amount of peace, especially in the last month or two.  And, I am able to do everything in my power to keep my uterus calm by not working. Praise God for that provision.  

So what have I been doing?  Well, getting some wonderful quality time with Jedidiah.  I have absolutely loved spending days with him, reading to him, looking at puzzles, introducing the idea of movies... watching him play outside while sitting in my rocking chair, learning, praying... oh, and making BOWS!!! Occasionally I will have a visitor, which is always nice!  I don't know how I would have done it without my mom helping me so much, especially in the last few weeks... she usually stops by or I am at her house every day during the day.  And my wonderful husband Jesse deserves a standing ovation for his patience, and exceptional care of a toddler and a hormonal pregnant lady... he did this to me right??? 

It has also given me the opportunity to practice for when Riley comes along.  Jed helps me but everything back in it's place... and he is very thorough... (for now at least... it may still be novel)!  At 20 months, we transitioned him into a big boy bed... and not had any trouble (yet)!  Jed takes his dirty diapers or any other trash to the trash can... which is a huge help!  We have been working on putting things in mommy's hands instead of throwing them at my head (a must before baby comes!)... It has been so great getting such special time with him... time where I am not busy running errands or out of the house... just me and him most of the day!  

I have loved day dreaming about my little girl.  I feel so connected to her (knowing that she is a girl helps)... I can pray more specifically for her and all that comes with being a girl.  I have also loved sneaking into Jed's room at night, and holding my two babies...one inside and one outside... (yes, when I really can't sleep, I have gotten him out of his bed and rocked him)... and praying for them.  This memory I will never forget.  

While I am not in the hospital, I have been having contractions.  Last weekend, I ranged from 4-8 a day so on Monday when I called my doctor, we decided to put me on a medicine called Terbuteline.  It is a smooth muscle relaxant.  I take it every 4-6 hours around the clock (so yes, that precious sleep is interrupted in the middle of the night!).  The side effects that I have experienced are tachycardia and jitteriness, but, it is so worth it because it has helped tremendously and I am down to 0-4 contractions a day!!!  Praise the Lord!  

SO... 3 more weeks!  Pray, pray pray!  3 more weeks is all I need for some freedom and peace of mind!  We can do it!  It may be a team effort, but God is faithful, and we will do whatever it takes to get to 36 weeks!  

P.S.  I've been stressing for all this time and I am probably going to go past my due date!!!  That would be my luck!

  

Swimming Lessons 2012

 We always have a blast over the summer swimming with family and friends... that is why I am so pleased that Jed gets to enjoy swimming lessons!  We did the mommy and me class with a good friend of ours at my mom's house.  Jed just LOVES the water!  Every time he pops up he says "again"... "again"... over and over!  

Thanks "D" for helping us get ready every day!

 Kim is the best teacher ever!

 Jed learned to float on his back the last couple of days... for some reason, he thought he needed to pick my nose every time... I had to remind him to put his hands in the water!  Too funny!

 Jed learned to jump off the side, turn around and grab the edge!

 We LOVED having lessons with cousin Arrielle and Auntie Arris!  Jed calls her "EL"... it is really cute!

 Jesse did the last day of lessons with Jed.  Of course, Jesse loves throwing Jed... and Jed pops up and says "again"...

 so... again we go!

 Jed loves the "board"... can you say thrill seeker???

 Through the "nunnle" as he calls it!

 Singing the bye bye song!

Thanks again Kim for a fabulous couple of weeks!

Some great family pictures!

More pictures from Lauren visiting... she brought her boyfriend Dalton (far left).  We really enjoyed getting to see both of them and were sorry to see them return to southern California.

 Jed LOVES his bapa.  He gets so excited when we pull into the driveway and screams "Bapa!!!".  (Maybe because bapa gives him chocolate cake, ice cream... and whatever else he wants!!!)

 Jed says the sweetest "lolo"... I love it!

Bow Making for Riley

My sister and mom decided to throw me a bow making baby party for Riley since I already have all of the baby goods I will need!  It was such a great party idea and sooooo much fun!  

My sister is in culinary school and just finished a semester of baking class... so she made us a flowerless chocolate cake... decadent! 

 Carly, a long time friend of our families is due October 13th with a little boy!

 We just want to eat the cake!

 My mentor and friend Jen Bell and I got to chat while making some fun fabric bows.

 Ashley Melikian (left) lived across the street from me in Jr High and HS, we cheered together at Kastner, Clovis West and Fresno State... Brittany Ray (right) and I go back to kindergarden, also cheered together and we lived together for 2 years at Fresno State... such great friends!

 Joni, Brooke, me, Arris and Tracy attempting to make bows!

 Family makes me smile! (Margie, me, Cherie, mom and Lauren)

 Love these two!

Andrea was helping Aubrey Rose (who adores Riley already) make some sweet bows!  

Hmmmm.... what to make???

 We even got to see baby Elias who is only 1 month old.  Thanks for joining us Bre!

 Some of the products end results...

 My grandma was so sweet to come and sit with us while we made bows.  

 

4th of July 2012

As always, our 4th of July was spent soaking in the pool, trying to stay cool!  We had a great afternoon at the Smittcamps, had great burgers and spent the remainder of the evening watching fireworks at Grandpa Smittcamp's house across from Buchanan.  

 My parents joined us for the fun this year!

 Aubrey takes such good care of her brother and cousin!

At the firework show, Jed was so tired that he fell fast asleep... through 15 minutes of firework booms! How does that happen?... 2 1/2 hr of swimming earlier maybe!