AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR: July 2016

Joss turned two on July 3^rd. Since it was over 4^th of July weekend we celebrated with fireworks, family, presents, and lots of treats!

Her big gift was a pink balance bike with a matching Minnie Mouse helmet. Hard to believe she is old enough for that.

She is every bit of the big girl that a 2 year old should be:). She knows what she wants and knows how to get it! Here a few examples of this behavior:

The other day she kept bringing her Barbie (and a pair of Barbie pants) to me and indicated that she wanted me to put them on for her. So I put the pants on. She immediately started throwing a fit so I took the pants off. She threw another fit so I put them back on. This kept happening for a few minutes (we were both frustrated) and finally as I had the pants right around the Barbie's ankles, Joss grabbed the Barbie and took off running. I shook my head and started doing something else. A few minutes later I looked over and she had the Barbie sitting on a potty chair and it finally clicked for me! Of course the pants would need to be around the ankles to sit on the potty chair!! I’m sure she thought I was totally clueless. Most of our frustrating times with her are when she knows exactly what she wants but doesn’t quite know how to explain it yet.

Speaking of the Barbie, she got her first one on her Birthday. It’s funny watching her with it because she plays with it like you would a baby doll. She wipes the Barbie's butt, wraps her in a blanket, feeds her, and rocks her. 2 year olds play very differently than I remember playing when I was 12 (or 15 if I’m being honest:).

She is always running the show. We were in our blow up pool the other day and she happened to step on one of Jett's toys. It ticked her off (because it hurt) so from that point on, no toys were allowed in the pool. Every time Jett got one to play with, she would throw it out. It’s her way or the highway and Jett knows that first hand!

She likes to claim everything as hers. Even toots. “MY TOOT!” And don’t you dare try to take credit!

Now I know that these stories have painted the picture of a very bossy little girl. And she is. But she is also super sweet and somehow gets away with it. She has us all wrapped around her finger (especially her dad) and her personality is so fun. We don’t quite know how to not give her what she wants. Sometimes it seems like the only way:).

She is a great sleeper and a great eater which we so appreciate. She has been doing good with going potty at daycare. Now Jake and I just need to stop being so lazy and get her fully potty trained. She loves dancing, summersaults, and walking everywhere herself (does not want anyone to hold her hand). She also loves climbing and is really good at it too. When we are at the park there is absolutely nothing she won’t try which makes me a little nervous. She is always saying “me too?” because anytime Jett gets to do something , you can bet that she expects to do it as well. We can’t imagine our family without her and although she gives us a run for our money, she brings us so much happiness and so many laughs.

I love thinking back to the day she was born and how relieved and happy we were when we got to meet her or the first time!

Two years later...

Jett turned 4 on July 9^th. We also celebrated his Birthday with my family over 4^th of July weekend. He got a new bike with training wheels but I have a feeling those training wheels won’t be on for too long. He’s already doing really well although it makes him a little nervous to go down hills because he forgets that he has brakes to stop/slow down.

Everyone in this picture was celebrating a Birthday this month!

We went to the Children’s Museum and out for sushi on Jett's actual Birthday and we still have some celebrating to do with the Akerson family next weekend.

Jett is the typical first child in so many ways. He is always wanting to please us and he is way more patient with his sister than any 4 year old should have to be! It’s kind of amazing to see how well he handles her and how mature he can be in certain situations. For example, the other day both kids were supposed to be putting their toys away. Obviously Joss isn’t old enough to do this very well and every time Jett would put something away, she’d try to play with it. As he was putting her Barbie jeep away she started freaking out. He said (in his sweetest and most calm voice), “Joss, do you want to put your Barbie in the jeep?” She said, “yes.” After she put it in he said, “Good job….hey look!” and then he pointed across the room. When she looked away he quickly put the jeep away without her noticing. I watched in amazement as I realized that was exactly how I would have handled the situation!

He loves to entertain whether it is through dancing, singing, or saying something funny. Speaking of funny, the other day he woke up in the morning and said, “I had a really funny dream…hey Joss, do you want to lay in my bed and watch it?”

He is definitely a mamas boy and loves cuddling. He still likes anything having to do with trains, fire trucks, construction, etc. He also has a lot of fun playing board games or card games with us. He really loves to learn. He enjoys writing his letters and numbers and always wants me to show him where different states are on the map.

4 seems so much older than 3 and it makes me sad that it is going so fast. But I am looking forward to all the fun ahead as I know the conversations are just going to get more and more entertaining as he starts to figure this world out a little more. As much as he’s changed over the last 4 years, when I look at him I can still see that super wide eyed baby that I first laid eyes on the day he was born.