This week in the Shores' Home

One of Jake's favorite things to do is help me in the kitchen. Yesterday I pulled a huge salmon filet out of the fridge. I flipped it on the scale side and said, "look Jake, can you believe this used to be a big fish in the river?" His response, in a LOVED squeezing the lemon juice all over the fish and sprinkling the pepper too.

I don't know why he's so sensitive lately. Monday while I buckled him in after work, Jake asked where I got the owie (sp?) on my finger, he asked if I fell (it was like a dot!) I said, I don't know, I probably cut myself with a knife. I don't know why I thought that answer would sit well with the owie patrol. He asked very concerned what happened and I simply explained that sometimes when I'm preparing food I knick my skin a little bit. He said, "ohhh, that hurts my heart."

So Jake's really into taking off his wet diaper lately and either running around naked or putting on a new pair of his Trey-hand me down undies. He was looking in the mirror at himself in the tighties(and I agree, he looked adorable!) he grabbed his package and said, "awww, it's so little, how cute!"

I don't know where Jake got this from but he always describes himself and others as a _guy. So "I'm just a little guy: or "he's a funny guy", etc. So in his OCD "coloring" time the other day, which involves him asking me to draw the picture that he wants because he can't do it good enough (oh boy), I drew his carrot and told him to color it. Exasperated he said, "NO, I CAN'T! I'm a tough guy!" I guess tough guys don't color.

Sam has now made a new game of wiggling out of my arms when I get him out of the car or open the door even a crack. He bolts for the street, literally walk-running and smiles the whole way down. If I haven't called his name by the time he gets to the sidewalk, he looks back at me, and when I give him the "no" face or say no he smiles and proceeds forward as I'm running to grab him before stepping into the street. He will do this over and over and over until I finally take him inside. Hmmm, so much for a less persistent son this time around :)

New signs, gestures and word include: hi, bye with wave,(signs and says)dog and duck, says turtle, signs more and all done. Signs blowing a kiss, and gives hugs and kisses on command (SO CUTE!) He's trying to say Jake, it sounds like "day"

Matt got offered some cool extra sports med jobs this week. He will be working with the White Sox during Spring Training as well as the Diamondbacks. He will also be covering the NBA All Star events hosted here in Phoenix, including the practices with the NBA All Star players and the Celebrity All Star Game. He continues to travel with the ASU Basketball team on their away road trips and is loving it, especially the star treatment he receives with food and lodging. He looks forward to watching the biggest superbowl of his life-to date this Sunday!

I am thoroughly enjoying the balance of teaching at the swim school (just got a raise, woohoo!) and playing with the boys. I was viewing a little video clip of Sam when he firt learned to walk a few months ago, and I got kinda sad at the thought of how FAST these boys are and will continue to grow up! But NO, I do NOT want another anytime soon! I am quite content with my load at the moment!

GOOOOO CARDINALS!

So apparently I'm not alone in the category of Cardinals fans that you may label as "fairweather". One month ago you would likely be able to have your choice of Cardinals shirts in any size wherever you go. Not so these days, stores are losing money! I have searched high and low and cannot find myself a Cards shirt and a new fresh one for the boys! So I've been forced to come up with my own home-made spirit for this weeks' festivities. We encouraged to wear red this week at work, so tomorrow I will wear my red lifeguard suit with red and black ribbons in my hair, and my new Cardinals toes! I finally had to paint my own Cards shirt for the NFC Champs game after striking out at the stores, so I'll wear that tomorrow and Sunday as well.
I am just so proud of our team. The team that Matt stood by through thick and thin all these years, when I'll admit, I often asked "why are you a fan of this team again? At the NFC Champs game I caught Matt with tears in his eyes after the victory, and later he admitted that along with our wedding day and the births of his sons, his sports teams' major victories rank up there with the happiest days of his life! WOW, if sports is THAT important to you, I celebrate with you! So here's my spirit for your teams, babe! I'm praying for them for the big day! No matter who wins, I hope you always remember how much joy the road to the Suprbowl brought you!

Just when I thought he never listens to me..

..Jake said the sweetest thing yesterday.
So the behind-the-story is that right after Christmas I had Jake help me go through all the toys to pick ones they don't play with and pass them to children who don't have toys to play with. No surprise, he picked mostly lame McDonald's happy meal toys or parts to toys that were missing parts, etc.
Meanwhile, everyday I deal with a stubborn, often hard-hearted little boy who laughs when his brother cries (especially when he created the injury), sneaks treats behind his back and lies to me about it, and disobeys his parents, often doing the opposite of what we ask. Sometimes he screams in my face, he demands what he wants "RIIIGHT NOW!" and all the other fun 'I'm about to be three' moments that discourage me from thinking he is never gonna change.
So the glimmer of hope...we're on the couch reading one of his favorites since he was a little tike, "I am a Bunny". It is special because Jill Roth, my friend Amy's mom, gave it to Jake when he was born and wrote a message in it that it was her kids' favorite book so she thought he would like it to. About half way through the book, Jake said, "mommy, we need to give this book to a little kid who doesn't have any books." I looked at Matt and we both froze. I got tears in my eyes and we both told Jake how sweet that was that he would put another kids needs before his own. I have to admit that I automatically thought, "really? THIS book?" but when your kid has a moment of feeling like he needs to give THAT item to a needy child, you don't ask twice!

Celebrating the Fall Leaves...in January!

Our neighbors have two huge Ash trees that shed a TON of leaves in the winter. Every time I set Sam down out of tne car he makes a b-line for the neighbors yard to play in the leaves (that and the street). Jake loves to run through the piles of leaves when I rake them (shuffling his feet) so I thought I'd capture the moment

Why not to give your 1 year old a bowl of pasta

More Jake hilarity

* The other morning Jake said to Sam while in his hichair eating breakfast, "K-poop". I looked at him with quandry and he said, "that's spanish for muffins and bacon."

* Jake's been working on his puzzle of the US and he can just about put all the states in their place without help. He knows several by associations we've made, like "this is where we live, this is where Grandpa Cooley lives, etc." So the other day he asked "mommy, where do I live?" I said you live in Phoenix, Arizona. He shook his head and said, "no, I don't live in puzzles, I live right here, (pointing down) in this home!" I hadn't thought of how strange that concept must be for a kid to see a tiny map of a huge place and understand how we could live in that tiny little wooden square-looking space!

On a more spiritual side...
* Jake pointed to each of his family members and said, "I love you and you and you and God" (ohhhh...)
* Each night his prayers have been soley about food items. Never people, just "Thank you for bities (vitamins), sneetch treats (what I made for take-homes for Sam's b-day), candy...etc.
* Sometimes in the car I suggest we pray for a car/accident on the side of the road or situations we're in, etc. Monday on my way to work I realized how very low on gas I was, and the gas station by our house was OUT of gas. So in fear I'd be late to my 9am class, I said let's pray we get there safely without gas. After work at 3ish that day we were driving toward the gas station and Jake said, "mommy hold my hand" so I reached back and did, and then he said, "pray". SO SWEET!

Sam I am is ONE! A tribute to him...

My little baby boy is ONE YEAR OLD, I can't believe it! I think back on 2008 (which began 8 days in with his birth) and it was such a trying time in the beginning. Jake was at the peak of hitting terrible two (wait, can a peak last 12 months?). Sam had to endure a ball pump needle (4 inches long) up the nose at 5 days old (leaving him with a bloody nose, and thank goodness no internal damage). At two weeks he had a crouton and blueberry fed to him through his nuk passy. Fortunately those did not obstruct the airway. Jake pushed him off our 4 foot tall bed. At 6 weeks he was hospitalized for 5 days with RSV, on Jake's 2nd birthday, and for 3 months he was a blood curdling screaming, fussy and colicy baby and REFUSED to take a bottle until 8 months! And I can write all this with a smile (kind of) of victory over all the trials that God has pulled us through. It is so clear that the Lord is protecting Sam and our family and that there are a pack of angels surrounding this boy. Today we wake up with a cheerful, smiley boy who is such a blessing and joy in our family. So I'll take a minute and share the mommy version of who my one year old is. Sam loves to play with toys. If he's not interrupted by the bombarding bro in his life, he will just sit and play with his and Jake's toys forever! He walks everywhere now and stands from the ground, loves to explore the entire home, including toilets and garbage cans. If a bathroom door is open, he will lift the lid and splash away! (YUK!) ANother pass time for Sam is climbing into the tub and playing with all the bath toys. This is how he chipped his front three teeth! He signs "all done" "more" and waves saying "ba ba" when people leave. He also says mama, dada, neenee (Lyndee) and hot (ot). This morning he added the lovely word "no" as Matt said "come on Sam" (out of the bathroom). Sam looked up at him, shook his head three times saying "no". He will go to anyone, and loves being held and snuggled. When he goes to sleep he has to have his blue blankie and he pulls it into his mouth while sucking his left thumb (only at bedtime). He eats anything and everything you put infront of him and he also enjoys eating sand and dirt (we're actually thinking about getting him tested for anemia on that one!) He has just been such a delight and we look forward to watching more of his personality unveil as this year goes on and he grows and learns more each day! Stay tuned...

The Worm

Yesterday I had some gardening to do, and Jake was happy to help pull weeds.`I called him over when I found a huge earth worm, but I didn't think he would even have the guts to touch it, maybe just look. I was wrong. The poor guy ended up enduring 45 minutes of two year old torture, and made it out alive! Jake was playing with Sam's school bus he got for his birthday and he decided that the worm needed to ride in the bus. He put him in the bus and was giving him a "ride". So the worm scoots to the back of the bus, and Jake says, "oh no mommy! The worm is trying to get out!" me-he probably wants to get out buddy, just let him out. J- NO! So he shuts the back gate of the bus. Then the worm goes toward the front door, and again Jake panics, "MOM, he's trying to get out the door!" me-ok, let him out buddy, he doesn't like it, just set him free." And Jake continues to close the door on the worm, even shutting the door ON him a few times, and I could not BELEIEVE the thing lived through all the squishes. Meanwhile, I'm laughing in my head that we're having this conversation about the worm like it's a real person on a real bus, trying to get off the bus and Jake is standing in the way (which would be totally realistic). Then he says, "I can't wait to tell Daddy! He will be SO excited that we found this worm!" To which I laughed out loud (for those who know Matt, you know that is the FURTHEST thing from the truth!