Mickey, Toe Fuzz, and Tonka

I promise LJ has not gotten lost in the chaos like it may seem in my recent blog posts...he has been busy learning, growing, and having fun too! My little boy is growing up so much, and I can't wait for him to take another sibling under his wing. I am not sure he really gets it still...we talk about it and he has hears the baby's heartbeat regularly, but today when I asked him what was in my tummy, he responded with, "Grandma?!" He will figure it out soon enough!

 

With all of Kaycie's appointments, LJ has done really well. There are times where he will go with us, but usually one of us stays home with him while the other goes with Kaycie. He loves his daddy time, so he is happy. However, we did get to a point where every morning when he woke up, one of the first things he would ask is what doctor we were going to that day. He loves going to the doctor because they are never for him :) We realized we need to be deliberate about spending focused time on him as well.

 

In May, we left Kaycie with Grandma and Grandpa for the first time, and went to Disney on Ice. LJ is a huge Mickey fan, and he loved the time with us all to himself. We also learned that cotton candy is "fuzzy" and he is not a fan. LJ goes through phases of being afraid of fuzz...random toddler fear that all started one tragic night when he got into the bathtub after having new socks on and....gasp...he had TOE FUZZ! We spent weeks giving him showers because he would absolutely panic in the bath because there may be fuzz. He now has a mantra, "Fuzz in fun, and dirt don't hurt." It works sometimes. Again I ramble...

 

 

We decided to enroll LJ is swim lessons this year. It wasn't any blowing bubbles class. First thing on the first day I was told to push his head in and send him towards the edge. By the end of the first class I was pushing him off the diving board. The first 1.5 classes were filled with screaming toddlers...it was actually pretty stressful, and I was wondering why I chose this for my quality one on one time with LJ. However, halfway through the second class, something just clicked. I think he just figured out how to hold his breath. All of a sudden I couldn't get him out of the pool. We did 2 rounds of classes (2 weeks), and LJ is just in heaven. He can swim to the edge, get out, jump back in, go off the diving board, etc. It is really cool to watch what the instructor does. I wish I had gotten more pictures or video but I was always in the water with him. It really isn't magic, she just has it down to an art. Needless to say, we have been spending some time at the pool. Kaycie likes the water too, and it is a good strength builder for her.

 

 

 

LJ loves his sister. He is learning to be gentle, as it just isn't natural for a 2 year old. He tells me when she needs a bottle or food, and he always wants to help. In the past, the first thing LJ wants to do when he gets up is to go see daddy...I hate to say it, but he now asks to go get "sister" first. And she always has a big smile for him too. Today, he came up to me and told me she is and angel...I said, "Well, yes she is!" He then proceeded to tell me that he was an angel too :)

 

LJ enjoys playing fetch with the puppies, playing with his cars (he can even pick out certain makes and models on the road), balls, singing, going to Sunday school (every week we have a discussion about how Sunday school is only on Sunday, not Monday or Thursday, just Sunday), the park, typical little boys things. He will start school in August, and we are so excited that he will be in an environment to continue to thrive.

 

Another random conversation with LJ last week...

 

LJ: Mommy, I'm hungry (as we are pulling in to Target and I realize I forgot to give him a snack)
Me: Ok, we will get you a snack. What do you want for dinner tonight?
LJ: Tacos
Me: Like the mini tacos from Costco?
LJ: Yeah

A few minutes later and reapeated until we got back home...

LJ: Mommy, I want Mickey Tacos
Me: What are Mickey tacos? (We went in circles)

 

It finally hit me that he heard me say mini as in Minnie and he prefers Mickey. Oookkk...his new favorite food is Mickey tacos...don't dare call them mini :)

 

Another random before I call it quits. You know that Tonka died last November. After it happened, LJ really didn't say a whole lot. He asked about him a couple times in the first few days, but we haven't talked to him about it since. The other day, I went in to LJ's room to get him up from his nap, and the first thing he asked me was, "Where is Tonka?" I was sort of thrown off, so instead of telling him, I asked who Tonka was. He proceeded to tell me about how Tonka was his favorite puppy because he plays with him and he is funny. "He makes me laugh." He has proceeded to tell me about how they took a bath together outside in the hose because Tonka pooped. I have tried to ask him if he had a dream, but he doesn't quite get the concept, but it is very real to him. He talks about him in present tense and that day even went to the back door to see if he was outside. I finally explained that Tonka died and went to heaven. So now when I ask where Tonka is, he says, "With the Father." He has continued to mention him daily though. My little boy has reunited with Tonka in his dreams :)

 

LJ just makes us laugh. He is so full of life, he has never met a stranger, he always asks every one around them if they are happy, and has a hug for you if you aren't. It is hard to believe he will be 3 soon!