Sprinkles and Smiles

Today was a holiday- Martin Luther King Day, so Jonah was out of school. Jonah's kindergarten teacher messaged me bright and early this morning and I wanted to share her message, so I could remember this about Jonah Knox, age 6-

"Hey! I just had to share this with you. So yesterday I did our lesson on Martin Luther King. It's hard to find the right words...but I'm surprised every year how it touches the kids and how interested they are. I always use our lesson as a way to talk about people's differences. Perfect since this was the end to a special "be the change" week. Every morning we have had a short lesson on being a kind friend, standing up to bullies, etc. I challenged them with things like sitting next to a new friend at lunch, asking someone different to play at recess, etc..So it was perfect to end the week with. 

So, yesterday we watched Reading Rainbow talk about MLK and read a picture book about his life. When it ended I could see the look on Jonah's face and knew he was really touched by it. So when we sat down together to talk about it I was bracing myself and making sure I had the right words. Honestly just putting on a brace face and making sure they didn't see me shed a tear. Jonah's sweet face, though. He looked like he was about to cry. I asked him if he was okay and if he wanted to share or talk. He simply said, "I just wouldn't have very many friends it it weren't for him". It was the absolute sweetest thing, and so heartfelt. That boy really does have a heart of gold."

And he does.

Two Years Old {A day in Jonah's Life}

I've been feeling like time is flying by lately. Trying to savor every moment of this two-year old stage. Jonah's talking in complete sentences being the funniest, and we just love it. It could be our favorite age yet (but I say that about each new thing)! It is really so much fun.

Jonah's still a great sleeper. Most mornings I wake him up between 9-9:30 and get him ready for school. He sleeps hard and through the night. My working hours are 7:30 - 4:30 right now and am very thankful I can take him to school a little later (rather than at the crack of dawn!). For breakfast he is loving mini pancakes, fruit squeezes, blueberries and bananas. He is totally a little fruit fly and can down a pint of blueberries in two days!!

I pick him up from school and we spend our evenings playing baseball, going to the pool, and playing MORE baseball. Hands down that's still his favorite- he makes me sit in front of the sofa on the floor and pitch to him. If he hits the ball he throws his bat and runs through the breakfast area, kitchen and hall (it makes a big circle) while I cheer him on/chant his name for his "home run". Then he gives me a high five before he finds his bat and we start the process over again. It's seriously the cutest. I love it when he misses and yells, "A SWING AND A MISS!".

We've been going on family walks in the evenings and I love to run through the sprinklers with him (let's pretend it's not sewer water, m'kay?). The evenings go by so quickly- it's dinner, bath and bed.

Speaking of bedtime, he sleeps right in between Jeremy and I. I never thought I would be a fan of (semi) co-sleeping but I totally am. We talk about the day, count to 10, and say our bedtime prayers. Jonah prays this cute little prayer by himself now ("Thank you Jesus, Amen.") then says, "your turn, Momma" and "close you eyes!". So bossy. It's the perfect way to end the day. Jeremy usually stays up for another hour or so and then puts Jonah in his crib before he comes to bed. I love falling asleep next to my baby boy!! Cherishing the time because it really is going by so fast.

As of 8/25/14 he moved into the 2k class at preschool and he is no longer allowed to have his paci throughout the day at school (not even at nap). So we made a new rule- paci at bedtime only. He's adapted to that like a charm. He understands that it's bedtime only now. Something he says that really makes me laugh is- "wanna go night night, Momma", basically because he wants his paci. Smart little cookie!

Just wanted to write this down so I don't forget what two-years old looks like. He's at the cutest age and I love him so very much!!

2k

Jonah moved up to the two-year old class at his preschool yesterday morning (August 25th). He was ready for his "big class", but his Momma wasn't. I get so emotional with each new milestone. Just a Mom thing, I guess. I'm so thankful that his school has video cameras in the classrooms. I logged in and kept it up to check in on him throughout his first day. Love that feature of his school. His new 2k room also has a weekly tumble class in the school gym. Such a big boy now!

Here are Jonah's 2k milestones-

1. He can count to 10 by himself, in sequential order (he always forgets 3, it's pretty funny!).
2. He sings his ABC's by himself, but always out of order and kindof half-sings it. It's definitely not bold/strong without prompts.
3. He knows the following colors by sight and verbal recognition: red/blue/green/orange/black/white (sometimes gets yellow and purple).
4. He speaks really well. He knows exactly what he wants and can make a decision and let me know what he wants. His teachers comment on how well he is talking/communicating.
5. He has great manners! He says please/thank you/excuse me/bless you. We are working on the yes ma'am, and yes sir.
6. VERY strong willed/bossy. Like his Momma. And, a total clown like his Daddy. His favorite thing to say is, "that funny, Momma?" when he tries to make (and succeeds) me laugh.

LOVE my little 2k nugget SO much!

(I love the photo below best because he still looks like a baby love rubbing Cookie's tag on his little face!)

Playing Catch Up {According to Jonah}

I blogged every single week for the first 52 weeks of Jonah's life. I haven't really posted about his growth this year and I miss that. I love going back and reading posts from a year ago so I thought it would be nice to record some of the things I've been keeping up with on my phone for the last couple of months here. On the bloggity. Just in case my phone crashes. Ya know. I don't want to forget this stuff.

I plan to start posting updates like this from time to time to remember funny + cute things Jonah is doing and saying lately.  Our life, "according to Jonah".

Let's catch up...

February 7th, 2014
Jonah started saying "me" this week. When he wants something he pats his little chest and says "me". In addition to Momma and Da, he said "wa wa wa" for Chihuahua (he loves this book we have about puppies), "gak-ses" for Glasses, and "cah cah it" for Chocolate this week. He also asked for tea for the first time (he gets to drink sweet tea at both Grand parents houses), and has started patting the ground and saying "ssss ssss" for sit down NOW, Mom. Who could say no to that?!

February 23rd, 2014
Jonah started combining words this week. He added please, ice and water to his vocab bank. He also said COOKIE ("took-ie") for the first time!! He also told me this afternoon that he wanted a "foot" "sohie" (fruit smoothie). Little rascal!

March 5th, 2014
Jonah said "pup" last night for his cup. He's said it all day today. Pup. Pup. He will also say Cookie if he can't find it. That's new. He's been really clingy this week and has been crying when I take him to school. Also a new thing. Not really fond of that one. He loves school?! Must be a phase.

March 20th, 2014
Last night Jonah said mine Mommy" pointing to my slush because he wanted a drink. He recognizes the color blue and will point and specifically want his blue paci. This week he started saying "bayball" and loves to swing his "bat'. It's crazy that he knows these words. He's starting to put two to three words together like "not dat bad", which is something that Jeremy taught him to say to me. Like, it's not that bad Momma when he spills all of his milk. Crazy kid. He's started swatting at us when he doesn't get his way. I blame his Daddy.

March 22nd, 2014
Jonah said his name "no nah" this week for the very first time!! He's also saying "mine shoes" and anything else he doesn't want you to play with. It's all mine- "mine mommy" when he sees me with a drink!

April 2nd, 2014
Tonight we were sitting in Jonah's room and he came from our room with my bra in his hands and clearly said, "my baww". So stinking hilarious!! He put it on his arms like you would a bra. I mean. How does he even know what a bra is?!?

April 28th, 2014
This week Jonah started associating different things together (Dada/Josh/jump) after I told him that we were going to Joshua's house when Daddy got home from work (he LOVES to jump on the trampoline at his cousin's). He is also answering every question to "yes". And will make a choice between two different things (chicken nuggets or a bean burrito, he always chooses bean burritos!). There isn't much that he can't say now. He doesn't quite talk in complete sentences, but he says one-three words at a time. He loves to go to the "box" (mailbox) in the afternoons and is obsessed with tractors, riding lawn mowers, keys (he only wants real keys, not the fake toys) and buses. He's been really clingy again with me and has started letting us cuddle him a lot. He's staying the week with his grandparents next week while I'm in China. Dreading being away from him.

May 26th, 2014
Jonah says so much now. He basically talks in complete sentences. He says "I do it" to everything and he's going through a total Momma phase. He still loves his paci and Cookie. He can make decisions for himself and knows exactly what he wants. He loves to chat with us. When he's been naughty he will say he's sorry and give us a big hug. He's very stubborn and strong willed! We pray for our food together at dinner, and he holds our hands, bows his head and then says (loudly!) AMEN! Singing is his favorite. He's started singing his ABC's and is especially fond of "X" in the song, and "meeee" at the end. It's the cutest.

June 1st, 2014
Jonah has started adding a Y to the end of everything lately. Cuppy. Milky. Parky. Blocky. Glovey. I think it's adorable and think he started because he realized that both Cookie and Paci have a Y sound at the end of the word. And, out of the blue this week he started singing "Let it Go" all on his own. Loudly. He's also obsessed with playing the drums on everything and playing golf. He calls his clubs his "golf bats". Everyday when we get home he wants to go outside and play baseball or golf. Total boy.

June 16th, 2014
Jonah went to his first Astros game last week and has also learned the words to "Take Me Out to The Ball-game". It is the cutest when he sings the last word to the song- I sing "old ball", and then in a squeaky high singing voice he sings "gaaammmmeee".