December 2010

It's been a crazy couple of months. JJ and I have been staying at my parent's house in South Carolina while Jeremy has been in Texas working. It's a really long story, but the short version is that we were renting a house in Texas (that seemed to be falling apart) and our lease was over. We moved out, Jeremy shipped us off to SC and he's been staying with friends. This has given JJ and me time to spend with my parents over the Holidays and allowed us to save money for a new house. I've also enjoyed the extra help while working on growing baby number 2! Our goal is to be into a new house by the end of January.



JJ has had a blast with Poppy and Grammy. Of course, he's completely rotten. Even as I type this blog entry, it's almost 11:00 pm and JJ is sitting on Grammy's lap watching Horton Hears a Hoo because he couldn't sleep. In the mornings Grammy and JJ fix breakfast together...scrambled egg and cheese. JJ scrambles the eggs himself! Every evening JJ waits for Poppy to come home from work so that they can play in his room.


One evening JJ and I were at home by ourselves and we heard keys jingle and the door open. JJ said "Poppa"! Another time Poppy walked in and JJ was watching television in his bouncy. He saw Poppy and said "Up Poppa"! So cute. Needless to say Grammy is a little jealous, but why would JJ bother learning to say Grammy when she gives him whatever he wants without him having to call her by name. Like I said, super rotten!


Discipline has been an interesting challenge. JJ is one stubborn 15 month old. He's normally very well behaved, but not when it comes to touching or getting into something he's not supposed to be around. A simple "No JJ" does not work. I've tried a firm "no" with a hand pop without much luck. It normally results in a mimic "no" from JJ. Once he even said "no" back to his Aunt Jaclyn and attempted to pop her. Our greatest challenge has definitely been this Christmas season. Grammy's house is loaded with festive temptations, specifically the Christmas tree (he loves to say "tree"). JJ has decided that the crime is definitely worth the punishment when it comes to harassing the tree. A stern "uh, uh" and a pop on the leg may bring a few tears, but then seconds later he is right back into the tree. He's even started disciplining himself. He will walk over to the tree, say "uh,uh", touch it and then walk away while popping his own leg. It's very impressive! Stubborn just like his father.

Even though JJ is only 15 months old he was able to sing with Wee Praise (for ages 3+) at Grammy and Poppy's church. Of course by sing I mean squeal and clap like crazy. This was possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen him do. He's a huge fan of singing and dancing. Grammy has taught him how to sing If You Are Happy and You Know It and Praise Ye the Lord . He also loves to snap his fingers and nod his head to the beat of the music. Poppy and JJ stomp around the house playing "marching band". JJ could play this game forever. He loves to beat objects together, march and sing. Very cute! Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer is his current favorite movie and Sesame Street is JJ's favorite television show.

I am now 25 weeks pregnant. So hard to believe. Whitson is growing like crazy. My due date was March 25th, but at Friday's ultrasound I was measuring for a due date of March 17th. I'm going to have another huge baby boy. The ultrasound was really amazing. My sister Jaclyn was able to go with me to the visit. The tech spent 45 minutes doing all of the baby's measurements and checking his vitals. It's such a blessing and a miracle to be able to see my little one before he is born. I have some beautiful pictures of him even though he wasn't at all cooperative! Whitson is really a wiggly little boy and rarely holds still.

We have had a wonderful time here in South Carolina but we sure do miss Jeremy. I'm counting down the days until I see him again. House buying can't come soon enough. I'm sure that moving at 8 or 9 months pregnant will not be any fun, but I'm ready to be home. We have going to the cabin for New Year's to look forward to and then a new house in 2011. Yay!

P.S.

For those of you South Carolinians, we took JJ to see the Pelzer Light People yesterday!