Johnny: #2

Another year has flown by and our baby boy is now 2. He has changed and grown so much over this past year that we can hardly keep up. It has been incredible to watch him develop into his own personality and we couldn't be more proud to call him our son!

Here's a little bit about Johnny:

• All of his teeth are in except for his final molars, which we are expecting any day
• He has one speed: running. Because he likes to run so much and his feet can't quite keep up, he's been wearing a lot of bandaids. If he isn't running, he is usually galloping. 
• He loves to sing
• Paw Patrol is his favorite show
• Johnny is wearing size 4 diapers
• Clothes sizes: 2T (3T Jammies)
• He is super strong! He can push/pull just about anything he wants to (Mellany's power heels, John & I's bicycles, chairs, etc)
• He loves to help with anything and will tell us to "Be Careful" if we are carrying something. He has also recently told me to "slow down mom" while driving
• His vocabulary is incredible. He talks more right now than I ever would have imagined! 
• Swinging is one of his favorite outdoor activities, as is riding our little camouflage 4-wheeler and playing in water
• Johnny is obsessed with trucks/cars/tractors/construction equipment/airplanes/trains. They are his go-to for playing. He also really loves legos. 
• He loves to pretend to cook
• He is so interested in finding out how everything works and he will do whatever it takes to do that (like laying on the floor)
• As a true little brother, he can identify a few of the disney princesses by name
• He loves to watch firetrucks on youtube
• Wearing his hat is a must
• He tells me all the time that he needs to potty, but doesn't have any desire to really sit on the potty yet
• He no longer has a binky (we got rid of it shortly after his second birthday). Instead, he has a really cute stuffed puppy that he picked out. The transition was really pretty easy and probably could have been done a lot sooner.
• He sleeps very well. He will take an afternoon nap around 1:00-4:00 and then sleep from 8:00pm-7:30am
• He loves to be chased and play hide and seek
• He doesn't like sudden change (especially when coming inside) and needs to be given a 5/10 minute warning.
• He loves to eat and will try just about anything. His favorite foods are chicken nuggets, muffins, donuts, tuna casserole, applesauce, mandarin oranges, plain strawberry poptarts, yogurt, cereal bars and apple juice.
• He can go up and down stairs at a super fast speed.
• He loves to pick out his jammies for bed
• Riding on the lawn mower or "daddy's truck" is a big highlight
• His #1 buddy is another little boy named Simon
• Johnny is always saying please and thank you, you're welcome, no thank you and excuse me-often without having to be reminded
• He loves any book that has trucks/cars/etc on it and Biscuit books. Other than that, his desire to read doesn't last long
• He can do some counting and can partially say the ABC's. He also knows a few colors and shapes. These are definitely things we will be working on in the next year.
• He follows directions when he feels like it. Sometimes you have to be "right there" to tell him something, but he will usually do it without fuss. 
• He has a love for water
• Getting his hair cut is like torture for him
• There isn't much that really scares Johnny
• He loves animals--especially our neighborhood cat Oreo
• There are times when Johnny doesn't want to do what he is asked and flat out tells us "no". For that he gets to sit in time-out. He does not like being in timeout and cries the whole time he's there. 
• He has learned how to loosen the straps on his car seat. Thankfully, he will be switching to Mellany's soon and it is more difficult to loosen. For now, we will use a safety pin. 
• He would prefer to not wear any shoes and loves to take his pants and diaper off
• He has started brushing his teeth on his own (with help from us when he's done)
• When he eats, he is a hot mess all over...his hair, his ears, his lap...it's all a mess. 
• He loves to play play-doh
• Watching the trash trucks pick up our neighborhood trash is one of his favorite times of the week

On our "to-do" list for the next year: Potty training, ABC's, Counting, Colors, Shapes

2 Year Wellness Exam

Weight: 26# 6oz

Height: 34"

Head Circumference: 50.5cm (19.88")

Johnny's 2 year appointment went great! He was a little reluctant to get on the scales and have his height measurement taken but we did get it done. After we entered the exam room he quickly sat on my lap and did not move or speak except for "thank you" to the nurse for bringing him a sticker. I was partially ok with this because I was able to answer all her questions easily and without her having to repeat herself one hundred times. Once the nurse left, we took his shirt and shorts off and played trucks while we waited--he was his totally normal self. As soon as Dr. Fahler knocked on the door and entered the room, he was back on my lap and went totally mute. Again, this was nice to be able to talk about his development and answer questions that Dr. Fahler had, but on the down side, Dr. Fahler didn't get to witness his normal behavior and that he loves to talk. Once Dr. Fahler looked in his ears and attempted to look in his mouth (Johnny would open his mouth but then put his hand in front of it), the appointment was over. Dr. Fahler was very pleased with everything I told him as far as eating, physical development and growth and his mental development (he was particularly impressed that he can loosen his car seat straps). A different nurse came back in and let him pick a sticker, also checked his head circumference, and we were finished. Hallelujah for no shots!!!! We go back in 6 months for his next wellness exam. 

Birthday Celebration!
This year's celebration was so much fun!! Gammy, Nana, Aunt Amy and Daxton were all here to celebrate with us and it was a blast. We had cookie cake and took a trip to play and eat at Chuck E Cheese. Johnny was completely spoiled by the gifts he got (including presents specifically picked out by Mellany and Daxton--which I love!) and was in heaven! 

Presents!

Chuck E Cheese!

Playing on the iPad...waiting for Johnny to wake up

Teasing Uncle John/Daddy

"Happy Birthday"

Playing Johnny's birthday game: Uno Moo

Opening Presents

VBS 2016: Submerged!!

The theme for this year's VBS at Calvary was "Submerged" and just like last year, the three of us had a blast (hopefully one of these years John will get to participate too)!! I volunteered as a helper with the Kindergarten which allowed Mellany to be with the 3's & 4's and Johnny to be with the 2's and under. 

After listening to the music for about 4 months now, Mellany was super excited to put motions to it and sing the songs with her friends. (Johnny's age group didn't take part in the big opening rally and music class, but he can still sing the music right along with her at the top of his lungs.) And she learned the motions very well!! She was doing them after we got home on the first day and I could hardly remember them! Any time I would look over at her during rally, she was very intently watching and singing. 

At the end of each day when we came home, Mellany would tell me everything she did; from snack to music to crafts, what Mr. Shark liked to eat (more details below) to the bible story (which I think she repeated word for word from her teacher), her excitement was through the roof! Even Johnny was able to tell me about the snack he had and who he played with, what he played with and that he rode in a wagon.  

It makes my heart so happy to see the kids love something that I loved just as much as a kid!! We already can't wait for next year (Mellany actually had tears on the last day.)

Just like last year, there was a photographer taking pictures during the week. I am so thankful for this because otherwise I would have none. Here's how the week went:

Opening rally. I am in the top picture with my Kindergarten class all the way to the right. Mellany is in the bottom picture with her scuba tank on her back behind the boy in blue. 

Music rotation

My Kindergarten class

A highlight for Mellany: playing in the water

My class in music rotation 

Mellany's group of 3's & 4's

Three of Mellany's closest friends from church: Elizabeth, Charlotte, (Mellany) & Nolla

Johnny's group of 2's and under

Wagon rides with Johnny's buddy Simon

More wagon rides from play time in the auditorium to their classroom

Mr. Shark. Mr. Shark was a very special component of VBS this year. (And definitely one of the main highlights for Mellany) Each day the kids brought in offering to help build wells in Honduras. That money was then counted and for every $100 brought in, Mr. Shark would tell the group what he liked to eat (referred to as Shark Bait all week long). Those items were put in a bucket and at the end of the week they were mixed together and dumped on a few teacher's heads. The items he liked were: Cereal, gatorade, sardines, gummy fish, creamed corn, spaghetti noodles, cottage cheese, and pudding.

Sharing his slushy with the photographer

At one point these two had their cups in the cup holder and were diving head first into the cups 

Last day performance. Mellany yawned almost the whole time.

A whole group shot...Mellany is just a little bit left from center, front row, pink shirt

Shark bait being dumped on the teachers. The smell was so awful that I had to leave the room. 

Mellany telling about what Mr. Shark liked to eat on Day 1. The whole group would have to say "Mr. Shark, what do you like to eat?" and then he would come on the screen and respond. 

Singing with the big group. Front row in the pink shirt. 

After they sang one song with the big group, the 3's & 4's sat back down to watch. Mellany felt the need to have her own little performance on the side to her favorite song.