The dream life of a two year old

Jack woke up screaming and crying this morning at 6 am (thank you to Zack for being wonderful and getting up with him). When Zack went in, he told him in between sobs that his pink balloon had floated away into the sky. So sad, but at the same time, it's the first real insight into what he dreams about.

Pronounced Porsche-a

Recently we have started playing I spy with my little eye with Jack. He loves this game.

Jack: I see something with my eye that's a Porsche. (pronounced Porsche - a)
Ana: Um, is it a Porsche? (pronounced Porsche)
Jack: No Momma, it's a Porsche - a

So maybe he's missing the point of the game a little bit.

Oakland Zoo

Pepper spray in hand so that I could protect us from any escapee tiger attacks, Jack and I and our friends Maryanne and Zoe took a trip up to the Oakland Zoo. Jack thought it would be fun to practice the "loud, quiet" game that Dani and Sean taught him (a gift I promise to repay when they have children) but otherwise the kids entertained one another on the long drive up and back.


Jack was most excited to see the lions. We went back three different times to see if the lions were out, but no luck. This is a shot of him waiting patiently at the lion exhibit. I asked him to smile for the camera and he told me he was done looking at the camera, as evidenced by this shot.



Jack took a turn brushing the goats. He made sure I was either holding his hand or super close the whole time. About a year ago during a visit to Happy Hollow in San Jose Jack was charged by two goats and now has a fairly reasonable fear of goats. I was proud of him for being brave and attempting another boy - goat interaction. :)



The funniest moment was when the monkeys were making such loud noises that you could honestly hear them throughout the park. Jack turned to me and said, "Momma, turn those monkeys down!" Oh Jack, if only the tivo remote worked in real life.

A Child's Prayer

Tonight Jack said his first prayer. Jack has loved praying since he was 8 months old and used to grunt and fold his arms and keep grunting until I offered a prayer. It was a humbling experience to see how often he was prompted to pray versus how often I am normally during the day. Despite his early love of prayer, he has refused to offer a prayer until tonight. He made sure to thank Heavenly Father for his bike, his basketball hoop, Momma and Papa, and ended the prayer with a very loud AMEN!

I can't think of many things more beautiful then listening to my child pray to his Father in Heaven. I am grateful for that moment tonight and how easily his simple prayer brought the Spirit to our home.

Adda, Look what I can do!

Dani hates feet. She holds me responsible, blaming waking up with my feet in her face a few too many times as children. Only Jack can get away with putting his feet anywhere near her without her getting totally grossed out.

I walked into the room the other day to find this:



I ran and grabbed my camera and told him to hold still so we could gross Adda out! :)

Jack's chocolate factory

As I have mentioned before, Jack loves to play going to work. Today he let me in on his work world a little bit more. Turns out they make chocolate gold coins at his work. That's why he comes back from work with chocolate for me.

*Side note: this work and chocolate relationship that my child has picked up on is because I am addicted to chocolate. Hershey's milk chocolate to be exact. So much so that Zack keeps chocolate at his work and brings me home three kisses each day so there is no chance of me eating the whole bag in one sitting. I think in Jack's mind that must be what Zack does at work. He leaves, goes to work, and then comes home with chocolate. Makes sense.

A Belt is a Belt is a Belt...right?

This evening Jack came up to me and, prompted by Zack I am sure, said:

"Momma, don't put my belt on me like a girl."

Was anyone else aware that girls and boys wear their belts differently? Girls loop it one direction, boys loop it through the other. Where is the sanity in that? Somehow I seriously doubt that a mother came up with that idea.

Who or What is a Bongo?

Jack loves Bongo. He loves to eat Bongo. He loves to play Bongo. He loves to throw Bongo. Bongo is a friend that he has to drive to work (well Bongo drives, but Jack parks). Bongo is a tree, a car, a person, an animate object, and inanimate object. It appears Bongo is anything Jack wants it to be. The bottom line is, I may not be able to pinpoint exactly who or what Bongo is, but today, Bongo is part of the family.

Blessings

I am taking a cue from Ie Li's last post and instead of sitting here feeling sorry for myself over a little spat with a friend I am going to count my blessings. Since this is my attempt at remembering the "heart" of our life I will try to record my blessings as well from time to time.

I have been blessed beyond all deserved blessing to have found the love of my life at 15. I have been blessed to get to grow up with him and fall more in love with him as he grows as a husband and a father.

I have been blessed with the most kind and loving child. He teaches me each day to love life and to love like it's never going to hurt.

I have been blessed with a family that love me and remind me who I am, especially when I forget.

I am truly, truly blessed.

Mother's Book Club Drop Out

That's right. I'm out. I just have to read this last book and host this month's meeting (how on earth do I get myself into these things) and then I'm officially a mother's book club drop out. Hurray!

Why am I so excited to be a mother's book club drop out? Not because I think I know everything there is to know about being a mother, or because I have it all under control, but because I am so busy trying to fit in reading yet another book about mothering for this club that I am thinking up ways to avoid actually mothering my child. In my head: "Maybe if I can put Jack in front of the tv for just one more half hour program I can catch up with this month's reading and not look like a total lame-o showing up at our meeting tomorrow on page 24." Sorry ladies, that's when I have to call it quits.

So, Jack if you are reading this years from now, I'm sorry I didn't learn as much as I could have about how to raise you -- but if it is any consolidation, know that we are having a great time making it up as we go!