The Herrick's

What a funny, funny boy we have.  I just had to share some of JD's recent escapades.

 

So I came home from work last Friday and JD greeted me at the door, very excited as usual, that I was home.  I gave him a hug and he ran off and I noticed some rather large white marks on the rug between the kitchen and dining room.  I asked him what was on the floor, as Reece was coming upstairs, so JD goes over and proudly points the spots out.  Reece got to him before I did and said it was salt.  JD had taken the salt shaker off the table and dumped some on the floor.  Then I look in the living room and realize JD has emptied the salt shaker all over the place.  The coffee table was covered and the couch had salt on it and just for good measure he took his Vermont Teddy Bear off the couch and salted him too.  Reece told him to go sit in the chair in the corner and got the vacuum out to clean up.  I was going to talk to JD and tell him that dumping the salt out all over was "not good", but the more I thought about it, the funnier it was and then I started laughing and couldn't stop.  Daddy had to handle this one and since he was cleaning it up, he didn't find it quite as funny as I did at the time.  Needless to say the salt AND pepper shakers are now out of reach.  He did try the pepper, but it probably didn't show up on the carpet as well as the salt, so he didn't bother emptying that.

 

On Tuesday night this week JD didn't want to eat dinner, so he was upstairs watching a movie in the spare room.  I kept hearing noises like drawers or closet doors shutting.  After we ate, I figured I better go see what he was up to. When I got to the door, he was on the other side of the bed (and you'll see why this detail is important shortly) grinning at me and every pillow (4 regular, 2 euro squares, 2 decorative and one body pillow) and the comforter were on the floor at the foot of the bed and the top sheet was pulled down to the bottom of the bed.  The rest of this activity was soon be revealed.  I called Reece to come up and see what he had done and turned around to go back to the room and there's JD...standing in the hallway...in his shirt, no pants, no diaper.  I cracked up and told Reece to hurry up.  We finally got a diaper and his pants back on him and all went downstairs.  I went to the basement to use the computer for about 10 minutes and when I come up, JDs coming down the steps to the living room, holding his diaper and his pants are in the kitchen. Not sure why he picked that location. So far we haven't had any more exhibitions, but I can't figure out why a child who took his own diaper off twice the night before, couldn't take it off when I asked him to last night so he could get in the bath...go figure.

 

UPDATE (2-11): Well that only covered the first half og the week.  Thursday night I walked in the door and JD was in the living room holding a DVD he wanted to watch and just in his shirt again.  I called Reece to come up and see what JD had done and when he looked for the diaper, he found it on next to the coffe table...and this time it wasn't just wet.  Luckily the diaper was dirty side up.  We clean him up, but notice there's not much on him, so we start to wonder where it is and I start checking everywhere downstairs...nothing. Later I'm in his room putting clothes away and he come in and points to his bed and when I look, I find what I had been looking for downstairs.  He must have taken his dirty diaper off in the living room, went upstairs to his bed, climbed over the bed rail and sat on his bed.  So, now I had to change his sheets and clean and disinfect his bed rail.

 

Saturday I go grocery shopping and I'm just about to check out and I get a phone call from Reece.  He said I don't know how we're gonna potty train this kid when he won't tell us when he has to go.  Reece had come upstairs to find JD sitting on the couch with his diaper off an a large wet spot on one of the cushions.  Not sure if it was an accident, but none the less, he pee-ed on the couch.  We got out the steam cleaner and took care of that.  I was a good thing Reece didn't take it back down to the basement, becsaue later I would need it to clean up after JD went to try and get himself a drink.  Almost a whole container of orange-pineapple-banana juice was all over the living room floor.  Luckily that was it for the week...

This is a little late considering JD turned two 2 weeks ago, but I wanted to give you all a little update.  JD had his two-year well child checkup on January 15^th.  He weighed in at 29.5 lbs and measured 34 inches tall – so for weight he’s around the between 50% and 75% and for height, between 25% and 50%.  He also demonstrated his full lung capacity and ability to out-scream any horror movie actor. LOL We had to wait for the doctor and after a while he wanted out of the room and he did the whole lay on the floor tantrum thing because we wouldn’t let him. So the doctor comes in and she’s asking us all her questions as JD sits on my lap glaring at her and then she takes her stethoscope off and JD blows a gasket.  Screaming, tears, and his face turned a nice shade of purple the whole time she’s checking him out.  Then she stops and asks us if he’s ever fainted.  Hunh?  We tell her he hasn’t and she said well when kids get as worked up as JD was sometimes they forget to breathe and just kind of turn light blue and faint - nothing to really worry about. Nice…thanks for the heads up.  

 

I think I mentioned before that he’s been testing his limits (and ours) and asserting his independence more.  This was happening way before his second birthday and so it continues.  I think it would be a lot easier for us to deal with if he would just talk.  I’m pretty sure he can, but just refuses to.  He’d rather ooh, ahh, make noises and point and act like a monkey to get what he wants. You’d think we live at the zoo when he wants Reece to get on the floor and play with him…he crouches down and makes noise and points to the floor.  It is kind of funny though.  We’re also going through round 2 of separation anxiety.  If either of us walks out the door, even to get the paper or start the car (and he’s going with us) he runs to the window and cries.  He’s getting really good at his wooden puzzles and can find and replace the items in his alphabet magnet book when I ask him to find certain things.  He’s started following instructions on Dora the Explorer or Go Diego, Go, like when they say things like clap your hands, stand up and dance, or reach out in front of you.  He’s understanding that it’s not nice to hurt others (for example, hitting, even by accident) and if I tell him “ow, that hurt mommy”, he’ll come over with a hug and kiss. The big new accomplishment is drinking from a regular glass/cup.  He’s tried before but would go so fast all the liquid would rush at his face and spill all over.  He’s got it down now.

 

We’re looking forward to warmer weather already and have been thinking about camping and places we’d like to go.  We’re already booked for a week in Nags Head with family in a big beautiful beach house.  It will be JD’s first time at the beach and I’m looking forward to taking lots of pictures.

 

Guess that’s all for now…more later.

It's been a while, a trip to Houston and few holidays since I've posted.  We went to visit the McPherson's on Oct. 9th...it was JD's first plane ride.  He did really well and fell asleep for about an hour right after take off and when he woke up, he watched movies on the laptop.  Our big event this time was the Texas Renfest, which is far bigger than the one here.  Good food, good beer, and lots to see.  Keith and JD were knock out before we even left, but not Jason.  He's like the energizer bunny.  We also went to the Houston Zoo on Columbus Day...JD's first trip to the zoo.  He LOVED it!  He gets so excited over animals, so it was the perfect thing to do.  AJ, Stacey, Reece and I went out to The Red River Dancehall and Saloon one night...just like the old days.  On our last night we went to a great place for dinner where we got to sit outside and there was a huge sandbox for the kids to play in.  We ordered JD the quesadilla kids meal - it was big - and he ate almost all of it.  We were all impressed.  Our flight back was pretty much like the one there...JD fell asleep again and then got up and watched a movie.

 

This year was also JD's first Halloween to go out trick-or-treating.  He was a pirate.  His grandmom and I made the pants and top and she found a great pair of boots at a second hand shop.  So we dressed him up, pirate hat and all, gave him his pumpkin and daddy took him around the neighborhood.  The first few times he was offered candy he took a piece and gave it back, so we had to explain a few times that he could keep it.  He caught on and had fun.  After they got back he helped me hand out candy and then got into his own.  We let him have a little more then he would usually get and he was litterally bouncing off the walls.  In the basement he'd run from the front wall to the back wall, hit it and run back to the front one and hit it and go back.  He did that several times.  We thought it was kind of funny, but decided to put a serious limit on his candy intake.  (Although now he knows where the candy jar is and that there are candy kisses in it from Christmas, so he pulls his chair up to the counter and digs in.  We usually catch him, but he's gotten away with a few.)

 

Reece went back to work on November 3rd after being laid-off since mid-June and was finally able to start Chirstmas shopping.  The second weekend in November, I went to stay with my friend Sher, in DC.  My first night away from JD by myself.  I think Reece was a little worried about having JD all night alone, but they did very well.  We went to happy hour and had great martinis and a great dinner too.  We were going to go out and party all night, but we went back for Megan to change and started drinking wine and talking and next thing you know, it was 1am.  The next morning we went to breakfast (which I didn't have to share a little sidekick or feed him first).  The coffee was fantastic and the breakfast was so good.  I think that was even better than going out the night before.  We walked to the Washington Natl. Zoo where Reece and JD met us.  We had talked about doing this a long time ago and it finally happened.  Sher's friends, Megan and Molly came too since they had heard so much about JD, but never met him.  While we were in the gift shop there, he saw a plastic christmas ball Reece was looking at and wanted it.  Reece gave it to him and he said "ball, ball, ball" and threw it.  Thanks god it was plastic.  BTW...we haven't heard the word ball since then.  A few weeks later I went out on another overnight with Laura to Cancun Cantina West to see the Low Cash Cowyboys.  It was fun and the band was great.  I don't get to see Laura a whole lot anymore because she's going to school for her master after earning her Bachelor's this past spring...graduated with honors I might add.

 

Thanksgiving was here this year and mom and dad came down from NJ.  They had been here a few weeks before to take care of JD while Carolyn and Dean went to visit her cousin in Missouri.  I cooked most of the food and we took it to Carolyn since there was more room there.  Reece brought the fryer and cooked the turkey again.  It was good and we have a new idea for the next fried bird.  A few weeks later I finally got my new digital SLR camera...a Nikon D40.  It's so fantastic to catch all the pictures I missed before because of the delay on the Cyber-Shot.  We packed up and headed to NJ for Christmas this year.  Santa was informed that JD would be at him mom-mom and pop-pop's so his gifts were delivered there. He got a race track for his matchbox cars and more animals for his ark.  Santa even knew how much he loves mac-n-cheese so he got a box in his stocking.  Mom-mom and pop-pop got him a wagon, a toy hamster that runs on an exercise wheel (it looks so real), a raggedy andy...the list goes on.  LOL  Dave's girlfreind Amy came over and had dinner with us and she brought JD some new puzzles which he played with alot.  My gift from Reece and JD was a Wii Fit and I love it. (I've been trying to do it everyday for at least 30 minutes. Hoola-hooping, the strengh training and yoga are awesome.) Dave got mom and dad a 42" flat screen HDTV, which was a huge surprise for them and they love it.  We came back here to have a small Chirstmas celebration with Brynn and Zach who were here from CA for the holidays, Reece's brother Joe, Carolyn and Dean.  Oh, I almost forgot, the best part about Christmas this year...JD's gifts for his grandparents.  Each one received a sealed up milk carton and inside was a custom made t-shirt that said "Got Joey?" and "Being a grand parent is hard work.  All that loving, teaching, and collecting hugs and kissed would wear anyone out.  Studies show that laughter is the best medicine and when Joey's around you get more than your daily dose.  He's smart; he's silly; he's everything a little boy should be.  He's my grandson. Smile."  They all loved them!

 

We actually went out for NYE this year.  Went to Cancun Cantina and it was fun.  Not quite like old times when the whole gang was there, but it was nice to go out.  The next day we all slept late and stayed in our PJs all day.  Now we're in birthday mode, as JD will be 2 in 5 days.  We're having a very small family party on Saturday with my parents, Reece's parents and brother, JD's godmother, Chris and hopefully his godfather, Norm.  I'm making him an aquarium cake this year and I'm looking forward to doing that.  I'm sure there will be many pictures to post.  Hope you all have a very Happy, Healthy, and Safe New Year!

We decided to go get our pumpkins yesterday and chose Baugher's in Westminster.  We got there around 11 AM and it was packed already.  The first thing we see is a big pumpkin moon bounce which JD got really excited over, but was too short to go in.  So we hustled him off down the sidewalk and found the make your own scarecrow area and decided to do that.  One thing we discovered is that it's way easier to make an adult size scarecrow rather than a kid size one.  Even though it took us a good bit of time to do this little project, due to all the readjusting, JD was really good and very helpful when it came to getting straw for us to stuff with.  Reece took Mr. Scarecrow to the car and then we got on the hayride (with was only $1 per person over 3 yrs) to the pumpkin patch.  JD wasn't so sure at first, but once he saw the tractor, it was all good.  I figured it would take us quite a while to find the perfect pumpkin, but we found 3 (a large one and two smaller ones) pretty quickly.  We had to wait in line for the wagon back, which was okay, except when the wagon loaded up twice and we hadn't made it on and JD cried...loudly...quite a production.  Lunch was next and we had fresh apple cider with that and then got our mum and some cider and apple butter to take home.  JD fell asleep in the truck on the ride home and slept for an hour after we got there.  Mr. Scarecrow is stting in front of the house with the pumpkins and some lights...our house finally has a festive fall feel now!  I'd definitely recommed Baugher's if you're looking for a family friendly, fun and not super expensive place to go for pumpkins and apples.

 

That wasn't JD's only adventure for the weekend.  He stayed with grandmom and grand-daddy on Friday night when we went out and they took him to Arundal Mills on Saturday.  Grand-daddy knew they had those cars/trucks you can sit in and ride and wanted to take his Joey to play on them.  I saw pictures this morning and it looks like he had a great time.  Grandmom said he wasn't so sure about them when they put quarters in to make them move, but he liked being in them.  They said he walked the whole mall on his own with them...grand-daddy was impressed because for a little guy with little legs, that's a LONG way. He slept in the car on the way back to our house and then slept longer when he got home.  He had quite a weekend!

 

Now, it's off to Houston to visit the McPherson's on Thursday.  They finally have thier power back on, thank god!!!  I think Stacey was a little nervous.  I was.  I'm sure we'll have lots of picture to post after that.  

There are a few things I forgot to add in the last blog that I wanted to mention.  Mommy brain just never goes away.  Both things were about JD and new things he's been doing.  He has a Little People Noah's Ark and lately he's been taking the food bins that came with the set and setting up all the animals around then like they are eating.  I used to do that for him months ago and I guess he must have remembered that.  It was so cool to watch him play like that.  He other new thing is to sit on our bed a look in the mirror and stick his tounge out at himself and very recently he'll look at himself and let loose a huge shreiking scream and then kind of laugh.  He's so silly.  My mom and dad got to experience this over the phoe last night and my dad was cracking up. 

 

After dinner eysterday we gave him a pack of alphabet flash cards and played with him.  We asked him to find different things that were pictured...balloons, grapes, a dragon, pmpkins, etc... and he did really well.  I think we'll play with those each day or every other day and before long he'll know them all.  I can't wait to see what kind of changes happen after spending 5 days with Keith and Jason when we got to TX...maybe we'll even get some more words out of him.   Should be interesting.