Hello, I'd like to introduce you to Trouble.

(Jonah and Cairo are helping Garrett get up. Garrett is my friend's little boy.  He is three days younger than Jonah and Erik is watching him during the day.)

We need to change Jonah's name.  At first I thought we should change his middle name to Trouble, but I've decided that changing his first name to Trouble would be more appropriate.  He is T-R-O-U-B-L-E and he knows it!  As he stares you straight in the eye, with that evil little gleam in his eye and smile on his face, he does what he knows he's not supposed to and then laughs about it.  If he knows you are going to try and intercept him and keep him from trouble he speeds up and tries to do whatever it was in double time- two-times as fast, two-times as frantic, two-times the smile on his face.

The other day Jonah ran into my parents room where there were things he needed to stay away from.  Erik told him he needed to get out of there and he retorted, "No way!"  Erik wasn't quite sure he heard right.  No way! Really?!  But Jonah's comment made Cairo giggle and say to Erik, "He, he, he.  He said 'No way.'" So, Erik knew he must have heard right after all.  That boy has a smart little mouth.

Don't leave the door to the bathroom open!  Before you can even say trouble Jonah will be splashing in the potty or climbing in the shower.  He will be rearranging the cupboards (sanitary pads and all) and rummaging through the drawers.  Occasionally, thanks to big sister Cairo, he ends up with clippies in his hair.

Erik and Jonah often have show-downs.  One particular incident was with the drawer to our nightstand in our room.  Jonah likes to pull the drawer out and get into it.  Yesterday when Erik was making the bed, Jonah kept going toward the drawer and Erik kept taking him away from it.  While Erik was on the opposite side of the bed pulling up the covers Jonah started for the drawer again.  Erik told him no and started his way around the bed.  So, naturally, Jonah made a break for it.  He ran to the drawer as fast as his little legs would take him, yanked it open and out, and dumped the contents of the drawer all over the floor.  One point for J Bear.  He did it again today. Two points.

I guess it all boils down to the word No! The words seems to egg him on, like a dare you just can't resist.  As soon as something is forbidden Jonah will do anything in his power to do it... and he is persistent.  It's getting to the point that we are going to need to get a babysitter for him.  You know, someone who will actually sit on him.  That way, maybe Erik can have a little peace during the day.

Sharing

Sharing isn't always easy.  Cairo and Jonah are working their way through things.  Sometimes we have to intervene and sometimes we just let them work it out on their own.  I am not too worried that Cairo will plow over Jonah.  He's pretty vocal and will try and push his way to what he wants.  The term mine is becoming more common coming from Jonah's mouth.  He's also not beyond tackling Cairo or Xander to get a toy. 

I was watching the kids interact and it just struck me as funny.  It didn't seem so long ago that this was Heather and I or Danny and I.  I grabbed the camera and tried to tape it for my own nostalgic purposes.  One play piano and each kid wants it all to themselves.  In the end, they both had their chance to play with it.

Sometimes the kids struggle, at other times they do a great job, and sometimes it's a little over kill... as in they want to share everything whether the other one wants it or not.  Jonah is often seen running after Cairo with her blanket and water bottle screaming Sissy! and thrusting these items at her.  She will set them down and he will just pick them up and chase after her again.

Monkey

Cairo has always been a little clumsy.  I wouldn't consider her the most agile of people.  She's starting to get a little better at working those long legs she has.  Maybe there is hope for her, yet, at being an excellent climber like her mommy.

Not-C

Cairo was practicing writing Cs and she said she was a "C writer."  She then went on to say, "Jonah doesn't know how to write Cs.  He's a Not-C Writer."  Say that fast and you will understand why Erik started to crack up.

Saturday at the Zoo

Erik, the kids, and I went to the zoo for a morning of entertainment.  It had been a few months since our last visit and we were happy to see a new little giraffe has made an appearance.  The giraffe is a family favorite.  Jonah has a little "rass," as he calls a giraffe, that he carries around and cuddles with at night.  He knew exactly what we were looking at.  He yelled out "RASS" as he pointed to them.

Cairo also insisted on seeing the tortoise.  She didn't take the best picture, but there you have it.

We also got a little peek at the big elephant, which isn't really on display yet, but it is living at the zoo.  Sometime this fall the new Pachyderm Forest is supposed to open up and we will get an even better look at the intelligent and majestic creatures.

It makes me Smile

The things my kids say and do continually make me smile.  I believe this is one of the most rewarding and fabulous parts of being a parent.  I wish I had a video camera with me recording at all the times so that I could catch all these moments and remember them forever, but I know that some of these things will soon fade. 

My sweet, little trouble maker, Jonah, with a cheesy smile on his face and a gleam in his eye, is starting to take the role of little brother seriously.  He gets into ALL of Cairo's things, snatches things from her and runs away, follows her around and tries to mimic all she does, attacks her with hugs, and tries to push her off and away from things he wants.  I know my job as a parent is to keep peace between my kids, but I can't help secretly routing him on.  I am and always will be the annoying little sister and age has not decreased my drive to push the buttons of my siblings. 

This morning I got up with him bright and early.  We cuddled, we read books, and we played.  About 45 minutes later, Cairo made her appearance.  Jonah was busy playing so Cairo crawled into my lap and started to cuddle with me.  Jonah ran over and tried to push her out of my lap, yelling "move, move."  I couldn't help but smile.  Fighting over mommy, that's not going to last forever.  Luckily, there was room for both of them and I got to snuggle my babies at the same time.

The cutest thing in the past few days, though, is Jonah using the potty.  Last night he went to the bathroom door (which we keep closed because he likes to splash in the toilet) and yelled to Erik, "poo-poo."  Erik asked him if he wanted to use the potty and he nodded his head vigorously and said. "ya-ya."  So, Erik took J's diaper off and plopped him on the potty.  Erik said J's belly is so big he wasn't sure if his little hose was pointing into the potty or not.  After a few seconds J pointed to the toilet paper.  Erik gave him a little piece and J took it, tried to wipe his buns, and then he was done.  Boy was he proud of himself.  Of course, he missed the whole concept of actually USING the potty, but at least he's showing interest.  Then this morning he repeated this whole process with me.  It's so funny to see this tiny little guy trying so hard to be just like his big sister.... and the smile plastered on his face is priceless.  What a proud big boy he is!

Grammy is a Senior Citizen.... he he he

Last weekend my mom turned the big 55!  To celebrate the occasion we (my mom, the kids, and I) went and visited the two amazing people who made it happen, Nana and Papa.  Erik and my dad got to stay home and work on painting the house.

While we were there we took advantage the the beautiful weather.  The kids spent some time playing with the kickity-kick ball, J-Bear discovered the fountain on the patio (and, naturally, Cairo had to join in the fun), and we went to Swing-Swing Park.  I helped Papa put up a new trellis while Jonah napped and Cairo had quiet time with Nana and Grammy.  What was the highlight of the trip?  Papa's fillets on the BBQ, of course, and spending time with some of the people I love most in the world.

Playing Kickity-Kick Ball.  No hands, J-Bear!

Playing in the fountain-

Swing-Swing Park was always a favorite of ours when we were growing up.  Just like Danny, Heather, and I did when we were little, Cairo got to ride the pony.  For $3.50 you get a LONG ride.  I think by the end, the pony was ready for a break from Cairo.  She talked and sang its ears off during the entire ride, but the pony did get to some nice renditions of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  Jonah watched from the sidelines screaming out "Horsey, horsey, horsey" over and over again in a high little voice he often uses when he's excited.  It appears that J has finally recognized that not all animals are doggies.  Now, they are either doggies or horsies.

CHEESE!

When we got back to Monrovia, we told Cairo to tell her Dadddy and Bapa about what she did at Swing-Swing Park.  Of course, I was sure that she would excitedly tell them about the pony ride, but instead she said very enthusiastically, "I got to ride a chipmunk!"  Well, technically she did...

Jonah had a fun time smelling all of Nana's fake flowers.

Family pics-

Grammy, getting chores done even though it's her birthday.  This just shows that even OLD people can be silly!

Happy Birthday Grammy!