things jack says

like most toddlers, jack has a language all his own. we love the hilarious things he says and the new words he adds to our family vocabulary. here are some of our favorites: 

• baboo = pumpkin 

• beeka = banana 

• beebug = ladybug, ant, etc. 

• trash = oscar the grouch and/or green 

• eyes = glasses 

• gaga's ears = ear plugs 

• humpy dumpy = humpty dumpty 

• chewy-bacca = chewbacca 

• big cheese = cheese stick 

• zoom = light saber 

• two clicks = buckling into his high chair or booster seat 

• hands hands face = getting cleaned up after a meal 

• pat pat drop = using toilet paper after going to the bathroom 

he also has some memorable and frequently used quotes, such as: 

• "no little push, just big push" [we get this a lot when we're playing on the swing in the backyard] 

• "i peed into my pants" [this one was during the potty training stage] 

• "just a little" [he wants to keep the door open a crack at nap or bedtime] 

• "my eyes!" [which means he was crying and wants to wipe his tears on one of our shirts] 

• "that's not right" or "mom, it's not perfect" [examples: when the blanket is wrinkled in his bed or the toilet paper does not tear off in one perfect square] 

• "oh sorry dad, haha" [when he makes a little mistake like bumping into someone or dropping a toy] 

• "it's a beautiful day!" [sometimes he blurts this one out just because] 

• "i don't know" [his answer to "what are you doing?" when he thinks he might get in trouble] 

• "jack jack NEED that" [typically referring to some kind of treat donald has] 

• "i sure do!" [his affirmative answer to any "do you want..." question] 

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a glimpse of life

this is our life in 2021. donald works nights as a nurse at ku's strawberry hill campus. i work from home for a law firm and spend my days with jack. we're fully vaccinated, and while things are not quite back to the way they were in the before times, life is feeling a little more normal every day. in just a few weeks we will be back at lakeland on sunday mornings as a family, and we're so happy to have our lunch gang back together again. thursday night is dyer dinner, which usually involves a game of dominos. donald spends his free time playing games like pandemic, domination, and fortnite. i spend mine on house projects like organizing the garage, living room paint prep, and brainstorming landscape ideas.

jack has oatmeal and fruit for breakfast every morning. his current interests include playing outside with his bubble gun, driving daddy's car, and eating peanut butter sandwiches. he also frequently shouts "play cookie" in an effort to get the google home to play 'c is for cookie' for the millionth time. at bedtime he sings amazing grace with me [which he calls "how sweet the sound"] and it is pretty much the best thing ever.

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jack is two

these are ten of the things we love about you:  

1. you have such a cheerful disposition...you are always smiling, laughing, and ready to have fun  

2. you're an all around good eater, but you especially love anything that comes with dip dip  

3. the way you close your eyes when you do something you're not supposed to or when you're trying to hide  

4. you love dumping your toys, but you're also a great helper when it's time to clean up  

5. you are so good at saying please, thank you, and sorry  

6. we know we keep saying it, but you are the. best. sleeper.  

7. you are agreeable, easygoing, and always up for adventures  

8. the way you are gentle when you see someone feeling sad  

9. your little toddler language and your little toddler voice  

10. you have some seriously amazing dance moves [specifically the handy manny toolbox dance, the wrist twist, and your mad dance...which is nothing short of epic]  

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anniversary number eight

while it often feels like we've been enduring a pandemic for years, this marked our first official coronaversary. as with most celebrations these days our options were somewhat limited, and it didn't help that donald was scheduled to work that night. in true pandemic fashion we ordered carryout and dined on our traditional fried chicken courtesy of niecie's restaraunt. our after dinner entertainment was a game of gin, and we spit a box of heart shaped junior mints for dessert.

it wasn't a flashy celebration, but we're thankful to have each other and we do our best to enjoy every day we have together.

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