Jack Has Found Himself

I have heard that boys get to a stage where it's all about the penis.  And, with three boys in this house....there's a whole lotta penis talk.

We don't have to discuss the details, but just know that Jack has found "himself" and figured out that Dada has the same parts. 

He has also decided that the toothbrush, the comb, the binky everything should touch the penis.

"No Jack - We don't put the toothbrush on the pee pee.  Thank you."

I'm not gonna lie, I used to worry a lot about milestones.  What if he doesn't roll over, sit up, crawl, walk, talk, eat, grow, blah, blah, blah.  Now I know (and finally believe) that all children are different.  They all move at their own pace and they will all "get there."  In fact, I surprisingly turned into one of those moms that's less about pushing (I know! me?!) and more about letting him be little.  I found that I was ok with him NOT walking because now he runs!  I found that I was ok with him not knowing how to use a fork because he tries to stab my fingers with it as I'm putting food on his plate.  And, I'm quite ok with diapers for now.  We DID purchase the potty and he likes to use it as a seat in the living room while he's eating or watch the bird (Big Bird, that is) - or he likes to stand over it like "Dada pee pee" .... oh man.

We are a bit away from potty training.

We are closer, but NOT quite there yet, to wanting another child.  We honestly get SO MUCH joy out of Jack....that I just wonder if I have enough love for #2.  I know that must sound CRAZY, but what if #2 doesn't like Jack?  Will I hold that against #2?  Jack is my most favorite person to ever exist - ever - and I can't imagine someone not liking him....so if #2 doesn't, then what does that mean for #2?

All that this confirms is that I'm crazy.

Note to self:  Do not refer to second child as #2.

What's awesome about having a toddler is that you sometimes take on their personality.  For example, Matt and I immediately say "ball!" every single time we see a baseball, football, basketball, golf ball.  Or, we "woof woof woof" at dogs passing by.  Or we say "ny ny" now before we go to bed:

We are desperately looking forward to a week or so in FL in early August.  We need the humidity and all that comes with FL - friends, family and southern accents (at least my hometown).  Jack is so pumped about being in the pool every weekend so I know it's going to be a busy summer!  I just hope he waits on us to get to the pool before he hurls himself off the ledge into the pool.  He has been getting in and out of the pool by himself....apparently, he's a regular Michael Phelps.

 

We know that he found "himself" recently...but he really IS so many different little people lately....

A golfer, because well -- it's in his blood:

  

He goes NOWHERE without a golf club....

  

A sk8r dude:



A football player:

A hockey player:

 

A baseball player/bunny chaser ala Elmer Fudd:

A tennis player:



A lacrosse player like his buddy Loudy:

An intellectual:

 

An outdoorsman:

 

A swinger:
no, wait...that's not right....

A basketball player:

A future President!

And, he desperately wants you to know where his belly button is....or he's working on removing the lint that is accumulating in there.  Oh come on...of course I bathe him.  Geez.

 

He's a lover...and let's me take selfies with him....

 

And, he's SUCH a lover lately....he's a hugger, he's a kisser (he'll even blow you one if you make a request) and he's even vocal about his emotions.  ("Ilushyou" turned into "Ilughyou" but it's all the same in my book!)

He's really my kind of man.

 We did had the joy of experiencing teething again - but I'm happy to report that, while a mouthful of teeth are apparent - it was MUCH EASIER than his first round of teething.  He whined a little, but ultimately just got a little clingy.  I only had to sleep in the crib with him once.  LOL.  We remember that first teething experience right?  When a small terrorist took over his body during the first week of December...and he cried 24 hours a day for a WEEK?  He cried SO MUCH that we took him to the doctor because we were certain that he had broken some bone in his body or that some virus/food/bacteria/disease was plaguing him to the point of misery.

Oh you blocked that out of your mind too?

Dear First 6 Teeth - Thank you for that unforgettable experience.

  

I worry a lot.  I know that must be shocking to y'all.  And, while Jack has certainly found HIMSELF...I'm still getting comfortable in my own parenting skin.  I was telling my mom that I just worry about something new about every 2 weeks....first it was him being born, milestones, now it's daycare/preschool stuff...before I know it I'll be stressing about college applications.  It's just exhausting...all that worrying.

I asked her:  "It seems like we should get to a stage where I'm not worried about the next milestone, heartache, skinned knee, knot on the head, college application.  When will I stop worrying about him?"

She replied:

"I'll let you know."