Thursday, June 14, 2012

Update on the Little Blessings

Our beautiful children are at such fun, special ages, so I've been wanting to let you all in on their preciousness!  Here's an update on my JackJack (almost 3 1/2) and Fia (almost 1 1/2):

Jack
  • Calls himself "JackJack" when he refers to himself in the third person.  I think it's adorable that he's self-adopted a nickname!  (Some people have called him that on occasion, but we never do, and it's certainly not a regular thing.)
  • His die-hard favorite color is dark blue.  Someday, we are going to end up with a dark blue house, a dark blue minivan, and a host of other dark blue things!
  • Takes great pride in being funny, and is always telling us "jokes." 
  • His favorite scent of soap is cucumber melon.  He fell in love with it at Grandma's house.  Yesterday we bought some at the store for him, and he pridefully carried it all the way to the car.  

  • Favorite foods: apples; vanilla yogurt (which he calls "mavilla," and staunchly refuses any attempts to correct the pronunciation); peanut butter; apple juice; oatmeal; pepperoni pizze...he dislikes eggs and mushrooms.  
  • He loves books and reading; he's started "reading" books to us recently, which is so great!
  • He loves to help me cook.
  • He's a sweet, affectionate, empathetic, intuitive little soul.  He seems so in tune with the moods and needs of those around him; nothing slips by him.  Sometimes, I am shocked by his level of understanding, which is way beyond his years.  
  • He has the maturity to know that it's okay to not play with someone if they aren't nice to you; it's okay to choose your friends.  
  • His current favorite Bible story is "Jesus Walks On the Water."  He asks for it nightly, for about 2 weeks running now.  He also wanted me to buy him some water shoes so he could "walk on top of the water, just like Jesus."  
  • He seems to be quite spiritually aware...He talks often about Jesus in his heart; whenever he gets hurt he declares, "Jesus will heal it!," or when he or anyone is healed of an owie he states matter-of-factly, "Oh, Jesus healed you!"  He is very moved by the truth that "Jesus is God," and picks up on it anytime he hears it, and says it often.  One of my favorite things I've heard him say is when, one time, I told him a joke, and he laughed and said (while still laughing), "That makes Jesus laugh in my heart!"  One time he also told me, when there was a dispute over which child was to sit in which car seat, "I was asking God which one was mine, and God told me this one" (the one he wanted, of course)--how do you argue with God?
  • He loves playing outside, especially with toy cars and trucks in the dirt, making roads for them and such.  He also loves riding his bike.
  • He is independent and fearless, always up for trying new things.  But also is a Mama's boy :). 
  • He's a very helpful shopping assistant.  He tells me very honestly if he likes or dislikes clothing I've picked out, or if I can't decide he will pick which one is better.  Yesterday, I asked him about something I was looking at, and he said thoughtfully, "Hmmm...I'm not sure about that...you should try it on."  
  • He is very much all boy--loves scary monsters, aliens, robots, guns, superheros, trains, trucks...He also loves puzzles and building with legos.  He's very good at working with small pieces and being creative.  He's also good at figuring out how things work.
  • Loves to dance.  Loves to jump.  Loves to throw things. 
  • Loves babies!  He sweetly coos over his sweet new baby cousin, about how cute and little she is, and wants to hold her.  He very much wants us to have another baby, and tells me consistently that he wants another baby girl, because they're cute and sweet. 
  • Has been noticing and expressing curiosity over the differences between boys and girls.
  • Generally does not like trying to pray out loud, until recently when he's witnessed how we exclaim over little sister when she prays her adorable prayers, and now when we pray he'll pray along out loud, semi-repeating what we're saying.  
  • Is very excitable.  
  • He's incredibly smart.
  • Adores his sister, and is very sweet to her.
Safita
  • Hates wearing clothes.  Lately, you'd think we were torturing her every time we try to get her dressed!  We've also battled lately with getting her to keep her diaper on--she casts me a mischievous smile, and tugs the tabs to rip it off...
  • Has an affinity for sweaters.  She's obsessed with them.  If she's going to wear anything, it must be a zip-up hoodie sweater.  Even if it's 90 degrees outside.  And she insists on having her sleeves down.
  • If she has to wear clothes, she wants to pick them out, and is very expressive about what she does and does not like.  
  • Has recently decided that it's fun to yell at the top of her lungs, "MAMA! MAMA!" all day long, about anything and everything, regardless of who she's talking to.  She doesn't yell in an angry way, just a very loud way.
  • Loves to eat, always!  Favorite foods: crackers, grapes, and beyond that--almost everything!
  • Loves accessories like shoes and sunglasses and hats.  Definitely a little fashionista.  She's always saying "Eyes?" to ask for her sunglasses, and wears them proudly.  My favorite is when she puts them on herself and gets them upside down--too cute!  She likes to paint her nails.
  • She loves books and reading.
  • She loves the help me clean.
  • She continues to dearly love cars and trains, as her adored brother does, but also has a growing interest in dolls and feminine things.  She's started to combine the two, and I find her pushing her doll around in the dump truck. 
  • Wants to do everything Jack does, and copies so well.  I heard Jack complain today--I think for the first time--"Safita is copying me!"  That's what sibling do, my boy. 
  • Loves, loves, loves babies!  She's obsessed with her new baby cousin, and whenever we're out and see any random baby, she lights up with excitement and wants to touch and pat and poke the eyes (in a loving way! she's learning to be gentle).  Whenever we ask if she wants to have a baby brother or sister, she nods vigorously and seems delighted by the idea!
  • She's goofy and silly!  She is always making us laugh.

  • Is very sociable.  Whenever we go anywhere, she smiles and waves and blows kisses to everyone we see.  Sometimes it takes a while to go places, because everyone is her friend.  That contagious smile of hers sure does melt hearts in a hurry!
  • She loves to be outside, and loves to go places in the car.  
  • She's very agreeable, and very sweet, and very content; she's tough, and loves to roughhouse.  She's full of love and kisses.  But if she gets upset, it's not pretty!
  • She loves to watch movies, and has a growing attention span.
  • Her word list is exploding!  Every day she's saying more new things!  I'm guessing here, but she has perhaps 40-ish words she can say understandably (at least, understandable to her parents).  
  • She's very curious and interested in things; she always wants to learn new things and watch how I do things. 
  • At each meal, when we announce, "Time to pray!" she will fold her hands and say, "Thank you, Jesus" (which sounds more like, "date-doo jish")--adorable. 
  • She loves washing her hands and being clean.
  • She loves balls, and will ask Dada to watch "ball" on the TV--a little sports fan!
  • She's got dancing and singing in her blood!
  • She loves finding little nooks and crannies to sit in; and if we're sitting on the floor in butterfly position, she can't resist but to run over and plop her cute bottom into the crevice of folded legs.  What can I say, she takes after her Mama!   
  • Apparently knows all roads to Grandma's house, even the not-often-traveled ones--a very smart girl!
  • She thinks it's her undeniable job to sit on us when we're exercising (sit ups, push ups, etc)--she's a good strength trainer! 

  • Adores her brother.
I know these lists are long, but I still feel like I'm forgetting tons of things!  Anyway, it's a decent snapshot, at least!  I love watching these little miracles of humans grow, but sometimes I wish I could freeze time and just enjoy right now for longer than a moment!

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