Tinkering and Tracking

For Jack's 2nd birthday, we visited a nearby children's museum with a train section that is quite impressive.  Jack clearly was not disappointed and spent quite a bit of time angling trains across bridges and through mountains.  There may have been one moment when he knocked over a smaller child, but sometimes those trains got to get where they are going.  Luckily the museum also has many other attractions that kept Kyle entertained.   Even better, Daddy got involved and put all the small children to task with his airplane build.  Pretty sure it was his assistance's help that pulled it off.

Sometimes you need a little push...

For the boy who loves slides with a passion, you would think a bounce house would be joyous.  Yet most recently, Jack has come to love climbing even more than slides.  The joy came in climbing to the top, where it seemed Jack was willing to spend the entire day.  Luckily, he had a sister who was not going to let that happen.

Animal Encounters

With the unusually warm weather, we realized it had been awhile since we trekked to the zoo.  So we headed out on a nearly 80-degree gorgeous day.  There were lots of happy folks but the animals were not quite as active.  I suspect this family will return to zoo trips on rainy days when we have the place nearly to ourselves. 

Two to Grow On

Today, marks the end of babyhood for the Watson family.  Jack is turning 2 and in the full throws of toddlerhood.  He is active, determined, and busy.  It's not surprising that Jack hits this day with a black eye - the unfortunate remnant of a dance party that went a little too wild.  This might just be a sign of his future.

Jack does everything with an intensity.  He is determined to accomplish any task on his own.  He climbs, creates, and tackles.  At 2, there is not a ladder, rope, or other apparatus, that he will not let slow him down.  That playground equipment says 5 and above - other parents look on in fear but I know Jack will make it to the top....over and over again.  Yet the fun side is not missing because every slide down ends with silent claps and a whee. 

Jack loves with fury.  He is quick to give hugs without any reason except for the fact he just wants you to know.  He may also be quick with an occasional swat and a devilish grin.  If the opportunity is any way possible, he will find the mechanism to be in your lap.  Then quickly get up for something and start the process all over again.   Jack continually wants to make sure someone is watching him.  He loves tromping through the yard checking to make sure we are in sight, then when he knows, there is a quick bolt for whatever activity he knows is not to be occurring.  He is fast and mighty...And never happy when stopped from that activity.  Jack is just as intense with being told No as he is with giving hugs.  He will tantrum and throttle for minutes, then suddenly stop when something new has taken his attention.  There have already been treks outside of places with screaming child in hands.  I don't anticipate that ending any time soon.  For the minute he knows he will have to leave, he plants himself on the ground with a firm No, then the screeching starts.  It is a joy.

At 2, Jack loves vehicles of any style - trains, trucks, airplanes, boats, bikes.  He knows them all and will announce each one.  Hours on spent outside pushing dump trucks, tractors, climbing on his sister's bike, and pushing around his pedal truck.  On mailbox walks, he is more fascinated by the cars driving down the road than anything.  If allowed, he will spend hours playing in the car or on daddy's tractor.  Jack loves books, especially anything with flaps. However, he is also a destroyer of books which means they have to be kept out of little hands.  He loves fruit and bread but steers clear away from pasta.   He is very decisive about which foods he is willing to try and will share an opinion.  He will never step away from candy or ice cream though.   Luckily his sister is pretty good at sharing.  Jack loves stomping, puddles, and anything outdoors.  There are many days where you wonder just exactly how he ended up looking like this.  The fact we settled on 40 acres leaves little doubt this will become Jack's favorite playground.  The future is filled with treehouses, forts, forest treks, and race tracks.  Jack will conquer it all.

Jack is creative.  He quickly learned to stack stools and utilize cabinets to climb up on the counters. He builds and assembles then knocks things down with excitement.  He wants to touch and know everything little thing.  He is a helper from sweeping to feeding the dog to closing any door he encounters. Jack is a man of few words but he uses those that are necessary often asking "why" or saying "I wanna" and "thank you".  He is a handful in a small package but you can see he is starting to learn and accept the boundaries of only being 2. 

There is little question that Jack loves every member of his family.  He is a tiny bruiser but also a gentle cuddler.  He adores his sister and wants nothing more than to spend a day sitting on her floor slowly destroying any Lego creation she might have built.  He wants to be a big kid and independent but he also wants the knowledge of knowing so one will be there to dry the tears and provide the hugs.  At the same time, he will quickly jump in and offer love to anyone that needs it.  He is friendly and outgoing, happy to share a story, and engage in endless play.

There are few words to describe Jack - feisty, tough, joyful, exaggerated, intense, loving, independent - only touches the beginning of the surface.  Jack is simply Jack and there is no one we would rather wish him to be.

High Climbs and Great Slides

With the addition of land, it was not long before we knew the space was calling for a play structure.  With the help of all family members, it was constructed and utilized immediately.  Kyle assisted with painting and building spending hours outside with daddy.  Jack tried to take as many bolts as possible and then hide them. It was all worth it though for that first slide.

It seems the play set was a hit though. It sure wore Jack out!

A little off the Top and a Lollipop

After some time, it was clear Jack needed a trim.  Given our move, we tested out a closer salon for kids.  To Kyle and Jack's joy, it was located in a toy store inside a mall that seemed designed for kids.  There were tons of rides for only a quarter, and my extra change was soon disseminated.