Scooter

Jonah has such mastery of his scooter, he now rides it all the way to kids' club (downtown)!  Yes, I still take the double stroller so we have a back-up when he inevitably can't make it home again, but it is still quite impressive.  He took his first spill today going down the hill to the playground at a speed he couldn't quite control.  I was so proud when he got right back up and kept going!  (after a few tears, hugs and healing Mommy kisses)  He later developed a red scratch mark on this face and side, so he must have hit harder than I realized.  Fortunately his helmet did its work - I do recall seeing it bounce off the ground!

We love each other, right Mom?

Jonah gets into super-affectionate moods, which are just to die for.  He'll tell me he loves me, and then ask "we love each other, right Mom?"  Lots of hugs, kisses and affirmations ensue.  I do hope he knows how much I love him!

Well, one of these adorable love-fests happened at bedtime.  But then as I was leaving the room, in the same on of voice he says, "I love my Lightning McQueen water bottle."  I'm trying not to be hurt, but to accept that he has so much love to give, there is plenty for his bedside drink cup.

Up up up!

Who knew Elliott could climb a ladder so well?  He's suddenly shown great interest and ability to climb the 2-step stool in the kitchen so he can help at the counter.  I still like to be right there to catch him off-balance, so my ability to cook has decreased with his help, but I'm still proud of him ambition!  Today we were playing in the yard, and he climbed the 4 or 5 steps up the slide pretty independently!  We're well away from letting him negotiate without a spotter and help reorienting him at the top so he doesn't faceplant at the bottom of the slide, but he seems to excel at the climbing!

You're my best friend

Jonah has taken to asking me if I'll be his best friend.  No, I tell him, I'm your Mommy!  So much better than a best friend!  I hope he comes to understand that.  I'm pretty lucky to have that distinction, which no one else can claim.

The Wedding

Jonah and Elliott had their very own babysitter during the wedding ceremony and reception.  The caregiver, arranged through the hotel, was wonderful, although we had our reservations.  Admittedly, it wasn't until a few minutes prior to her arrival that (lacking the foresight to do a background check) Drew thought it prudent to at least run a quick google search.  Later, we learned that everyone at the hotel seemed to know her and reported how well-behaved the boys were.  Still, I did check up on them at dinner, and again for bedtime.  I felt a little sheepish being that nosy parent, but breastfeeding was a good excuse to be there for good-night kisses and prayers!  I needn't have worried.  She was so thoughtful, she even gave Elliott a sponge bath instead of putting him in the tub.

The Hotel

I'm not sure what Jonah expected after describing the hotel as a building with lots of bedrooms for everyone in the family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.), but he loved it.  (It helped that the hotel was yellow.)  He loved exploring the game room, lounge, pool, ice skating rink, tower, etc. until he owned the place and would show us how to get around.

Jonah's first ice skating attempt went about as can be expected.  Holding onto a chair, with Mommy holding both him and the chair to keep both from flying, he made it a couple steps before telling me he was all done.  We had a lot of fun riding the chair around the ice, and he eventually gave ice skating another try, holding both my and PopPop's hands, while proudly shouting "I'm doing it!" to his adoring spectator (Grandmama) as if he had mastered the sport.

Elliott wasn't a big fan of the pool, but wasn't quite as fussy as I had feared.  (He has been screaming at bath time for a while now, to the point where we didn't take a bath for a couple weeks!)  As long as he could hold his new Minions ball (from Aunt Pamela) he was content - though not exactly happy about the whole thing.  Jonah, on the other hand, bravely swam with a noodle "all by himself" with such surety he would be across the pool on his own before I noticed!  Good thing there were two of us to chase the two boys, and Aunt Pamela and Uncle Ryan for back up!

Elliott's First REAL Steps

We're hustling to put on coats and get out the door, and Elliott decided it was time to bravely venture out and take a couple steps on his own!  Previously, it took a lot of cajoling, distracting, and otherwise tricking him into continuing to walk after letting go (a trick I've seen parents do with teaching a child to ride a bike.)  He's been a little less willing than Jonah had been to use the corn popper or another push toy as a substitute for firm support - although a hammer in his hand is almost as good.  So it was a welcome change to see his little head decide to let go and walk from me to Daddy!

We Are Family!

Jonah LOVES the "We Are Family" song!  Not that he knows or has even heard the original.  I once started singing, "We are family.  I have all my boys with me!".  He took a liking, and not knowing any more of the lyrics, I started making up additional lines to the chorus.  Now Jonah helps invent lines, so our song goes something like this:

"We are family!  I have both my boys with me!
We are family!  Jonah is wearing his PJs!
We are family!  Elliott is getting his diaper changed!
We are family!  Daddy is home from work!
We are family!  Mommy loves all her boys!"

The One with the Fire Truck

Jonah has been getting better at describing things, so rather than "that one" we get complex, if vague descriptions... seemingly always beginning with "the one with...":

"the one with the fire engine" = children's museum we visited over summer vacation
"the one with red and green and blue balls" = ball pit
"the one with the train that goes [hand motions here]" = mindscope race cars
"the one with the red man and the blue man and the green man" = avengers

Christmas Mass

Mema and PopPop arrived early to celebrate Christmas with us!  While I was helping unload hundred of presents from the van, Elliott crawled towards the door.  Blocked by Jonah and a pile of gifts, he started crying inconsolably.  I worried he was hurt (run over by Jonah, most likely), but when that wasn't the case, I couldn't figure out if he had become hungry, tired, frustrated, needed a diaper, etc. As I was at my wits' end, Elliott spotted PopPop again and was completely happy to be swept away in his arms!  He knew exactly what who he wanted.

I pointed out baby Jesus lying in the manger in the church's creche.  Jonah pointed and exclaimed, "He came out of her belly button!"  At least I'm spared the question about how babies get out of their Mommy's tummy...

Favorite gifts from Santa were:
Elliott - a wooden hammer (which he holds and looks like Thor while pushing down the pegs on his pounding bench with his thumb)
Jonah - monster trucks

Grandpa, Aunt Ashley, Uncle Leon and Uncle Kevin also joined us after Mass for gifts, dinner and a little chaos.  We missed you, Aunt Lindsay!  Feel better soon!

We also Skyped with Cailin and Declan, which was fun for the kids to show off all their new toys.  Jonah was a bit too worked up and spent the entire call jumping and doing flips in the living room.  It's amazing to watch him going wild, and then later when asked a question, learn that he had been listening and watching everything.

Merry Christmas!