What's New

Well.....I was supposed to take a trip to Texas a couple of weeks ago. The night before we were scheduled to leave Jacob threw up....all over me. I decided to wait a day and see how he felt. The next day I was sick. I am just now getting over it.

Jacob has become obsessed with cheese. As soon as he has finished breakfast he runs to the fridge and says, "cheese!" I have learned that if I give him his beloved cheese that he will not eat lunch. He is very upset with my decision. He has become quite strong-willed lately. I guess it comes with the age.

I also have the saddest news. Jacob has dropped his one and only nap:( Poor Mommy! I will be instituting some sort of quiet time very soon. This time is not so much for Jacob, as for me. I need time to regroup and recharge. I really didn't expect this for a couple more years. He is a curious little monkey. I guess there is just too much to do for a nap!

Pictures: Jacob catching the millimeter of snow we had for 5 minutes

Jacob having too much fun in armoir

Jacob with marker mustache

Jacob wearing his favorite toboggan....Daddy's

Ow!

Today was beautiful. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping. So, after we went to the YMCA I decided to stop by the playground on the way home. Oh, did we have fun! Then Jacob got a splinter from one of the benches. This was his very first splinter. He held his hand up to me and said, "Ow!", and waited for me to kiss it. I kissed it, knowing that a kiss wouldn't make this one better. Every time he closed his hand he would say, "Ow!" Then he would try to wipe it off on his pants! I decided it was time to go home and try to get the splinter out. When we got home I tried several times to get the splinter. I tried putting in a movie, but that distraction wasn't enough. We waited for Lee to get home. Luckily, he got home early, around 2:00. So Lee and I tried to extract the splinter. We laid him out on the couch and I laid on top of him while Lee worked on his hand. Then Lee tried restraining him while I worked on his hand. Long story short........we ended up at the Dr.'s office! It took 4 of us to get the splinter out. 3 to hold him down and 1 to do the dirty work. I was in charge of holding his legs and distracting him. As I watched the nurse scrape off the skin on his little bitty hand and the blood dripping down, and the tears rolling steadily down his precious little face, it took every bit of energy from every cell of my body not to cry. When it was over we got a band-aid and a sucker and all was right in the world again. His hand is still sore, but we are keeping Curious George band-aids on it.

Jacob has become quite proficient in the art of shape sorting and puzzles. This must be why he is so good at laying track for his Thomas the Train set! I made the circle, but then he modified it by adding the splits and the track down the middle. Not too shabby for a 22 month old! I am allowed to brag on my baby every now and again, right? Look at his face....so engrossed in his work. But not to busy to put on a big "CHEESE" for Mommy! We love this train set and are looking forward to getting a set with some bridges;)

And this is the latest in Jacob fashion. He loves wearing his boots! We have yet to test them out in actual rain, but they work great inside. And, in classic Jacob form, he is bringing me a movie.

Christmas

I always envisioned Christmas being easier when we lived close to home. No more traveling 8-10 hours both ways. Ha!! Instead of getting our traveling done in one day, we spread it out over an entire week! Back and forth and back and forth, over and over. Then we tagged on a trip to Alabama that was 5 hours both ways. I haven't even told you that Jacob was sick all week to boot. The poor baby was running fever for 3 days. But...we survived...barely. I feel that I am just now recovering, which is why I haven't posted anything yet.

Jacob had a big Christmas. By that I mean he got plenty of gifts! Among these were: Thomas the Train set, Rody pony, several Cars items, Tricycle, Elmo knows your name, Magna Doodle, Desk, Cookie Monster, Vacuum Cleaner, etc. etc. etc. With a birthday right around the corner, I'm wondering what else he could possibly need!!

The picture above is from Christmas at Nana and Papa Koelz. The next picture is from GGDaddy Koelz. Following is Jacob running his new vacuum at our house on Christmas morning. And the last photo is Jacob opening up his tricycle at Grandaddy and Grandmother Rein's house. Last but not least is a video of Jacob's first ride on his Rody Pony! Sorry for the crazy angle on the video. He's already gotten much much better riding Rody.

Baking Baking Baking

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE to bake. I find great pleasure in baking and always enjoy the fruits of my labor!!! BUT I have done more baking from the 1st of December til now than any human being should ever have to do. There have been parties and concerts and get togethers and they seem to all require a delicious dessert. After baking almost 6 dozen cookies today, I thought that I would immediately upchuck at the sight of another holiday goody! That didn't last long:) I found myself enjoying the fruits once again this evening! But it might take a month or two before I can truly take joy in the work again.

Jacob was a precious cutie bug today, as usual. He was scared of Santa at Lee's Work Christmas Party tonight, and screamed in horror. Of course, that made everyone laugh.

Today we were drawing circles. He's pretty good at it. When I told him to draw a circle, he would, so I assume that means he knows what a circle is now. He amazes me. Guess we'll start on organic chemistry tomorrow.

I hate to post without adding at least one picture...so here are two that are a couple of weeks old. Jacob really loved talking through the gift wrap and Lee really loved sword fighting Jacob with the gift wrap. "Riccccooolllaaaaaaaa"

Labor of Love

I think my mother and brother are the only ones who can truly appreciate today's post. My sister-in-law, Katie, stopped by this weekend and on Saturday we all went to Milan to make Christmas goodies with my mom. This was also the unveiling ceremony of the upstairs of my parents' house. This room was my brother's bedroom when he was younger. I guess some time around middle or high school, when my Dad added on the living room and master bedroom, the upstairs became attic space. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of this room to show how it looked the last time I was up there. There were boxes stacked floor to ceiling and you couldn't see the carpet. There were holes in the ceiling where the friendly squirrels had been trying to drop in for a visit. The toy box was still full of old toys, covered in dust and long since forgotten....by some. There were thick red drapes blocking the sunlight and an old broken air conditioner hanging in the window. It was a little depressing. But look at it now! There is a picture of some of my first children. There were eight of them.....I'll have to find the family photo and post it soon. All the books and toys in the bookshelves belonged to my brother and me. I believe my Dad made the table and chairs before I was born...for my brother. They added a Futon as well. Jacob even got to put ornaments on the Christmas tree. He was originally going to help us make treats, but he was very much distracted by this wonderland of toys. But we eventually got him to help with some cookies. So......THANK YOU GRANDADDY!!!!!

Cutie

O.K. A few things to write. First of all.....my voice. I've been hacking away for about 4 days now, and have lost my voice. Second...crayons. Jacob took his first stab at wall art yesterday, and as I opened my mouth to shriek in horror, nothing came out! Thankfully they are washable and came right off with Mr. Clean's magic eraser. There were 3 areas colored on the wall, but I've only included a picture of one. He also managed to get the washer and dryer! Jacob is totally into his toboggan (sp?). He's been wearing it all around the house like a stinkin' cutie pie. He can put it on by himself and I think he is very proud of that. Jacob was pulling his donkey toy around this morning. It was so cute, but of course when I got the camera out to video, he stopped. The upside is that you still get to see him in his incredibly tight Lightning McQueen p.j.'s and a pair of athletic shoes. Later in the day, after lunch, he was trying to buckle Pooh Bear into his booster seat. I wasn't quick enough to get that one either. He is now calling Pooh by name. Actually by three names. One is simply Poo. The second is, Pooh Bee. The third is Pooh Boo. Also this morning, while watching Sesame Street, he jumped in and counted along. As they began counting on the screen he looked up with interest. After they said, "one", he said "two". And he counted along all the way to 17. But each and every number after "one" was "two". He really loves the number two!

Notice when Jacob stops by the table and sort of half-smiles. He thinks I am taking another picture! Poor kid.