Happy Birthday Jack!

Jack had his 2nd birthday on June 8, and we celebrated while Angie was in town. He was SO excited to have a birthday "pawty" complete with balloons. We had been talking about it for a week or so before so he was very anxious for the day to actually come.

I had to help him blow out his candle because as you can see, his blowing skills aren't the best. :)

After we sang Happy Birthday to him, he barely picked at his cupcake. He didn't like the confetti in the frosting, which is by far the best part! It was funny to watch him lick the frosting and spit out the little confetti. He took about 3 bites and was done. I gave him another cupcake the next day with no frosting on it (which he called a muffin) and he scarfed it! What little 2 year old doesn't like frosting? He wouldn't eat the ice cream either.

Angie and I were super excited about the cute decorations! One of the best parts of a party is making it cute! We had fun putting it together.

Jack loved the balloons! He has been playing with them ever since the party.

Grandma and Grandpa Brownell sent some presents with Angie that he opened at the party. He was in heaven! Thanks for all the gifts mom... he has loved them. :)

I have to admit I have been dreading the "terrible two's" and now I see why. For the past month or so, Jack has slowly been acting a little more naughty by the day. Screaming at the top of his lungs, telling me "No!" for everything, hitting (only Justin and I), and just not listening at all. Justin would go to put his PJ's on and Jack's response would be, "Don't you dare put my pajama's on!" He learned that from me telling him "Don't you dare throw that at me." Nice, huh? Well all the naughtiness came to a climax the weekend Angie was here (of course) and he was SO NAUGHTY all weekend. We tried to take some family pictures and the whole time Jack is yelling at Angie, "Don't you dare take a picture for me!!!!!" He says "for" instead of "of". We were looking through the pictures and one picture he would be yelling and Justin and I were smiling. The next one, I am turned trying to get Jack to knock it off, and the one after that, I would be smiling again. It was a vicious cycle that unfortunately did not end. Who knows if we even got one single picture where we are all looking at the camera with a half way decent look on our faces. Good luck with the editing Angie! :) Well, Justin and I just could not take it any more and something had to be done. Time outs were pretty much a joke. He stays there but it hardly even phases him. We needed something a little more mean...so we started putting tabasco sauce on his mouth when he was screaming and being extra naughty. You might think that is cruel and mean, but it works. He caught on real fast and we have only had to do it a couple of times since Angie left. It is the only thing that has really gotten through to Jack. I'm sorry if you think I am a horrible mother, but I just cannot put up with him acting like that!! It was driving us crazy!!! You never want to be the mom with the horrible kid, and I was slowly creaping to that point. Needless to say, I feel like I am getting my sweet little boy back. Even though he just turned two, I hope the wost is behind me. It's probably not, but I can still hope, right? The past couple weeks he has been so good and has been a lot better at listening and has barely ever screamed. I feel like we have made some serious progress and we are now a happy family again. :) I love you Jack, but please don't ever act like that again...I like you much better the way you are now!

Here are a few things besides being naughty that Jack is doing at this age:

-weighs a whopping 26 lbs

-LOVES to sing!! Especially primary songs. He knows all the words to a bunch of songs

-loves to go to nursery
-always has to sleep with yellow bear, blue bear, bunny rabbit, his dog Buddy, dog Sophie and "soft blankie"

-would play outside all day if I would let him

-loves to get up in his car seat by himself

-will jump off of anything

-says "Thank you" all the time

-does not want to be in his stroller unless it involves getting food and snacks

-knows all the letters in the alphabet and can sing the song

-does not like to have dirt on his hands or his feet

-loves cars, tractors, airplanes, trains...anything that moves

-enjoys watching the movie Cars, Winnie the Pooh, Madagascar, 101 Dalmations, and Charlotte's Web

-still takes a nap (thank heavens)

-talks in full sentences (I love his little voice)

-helps us out but throwing away his diapers, putting things in the sink, and cleaning up his toys (sometimes)

-loves sidewalk chalk and playdough

-a great eater... loves all fruit and quite a few veggies

-very content in the car and loves to play "I Spy..."

-always wants his Dad to put him to bed

-gives really good kisses

-LOVES raisins and grapes

-loves animals

-absolutley hates the swings

-plays Red Light, Green Light

-loves all sports

-one of his favorite phrases right now is "Will you play with me Mama/Daddy?"

-will finally go down a slide by himself

Happy Birthday Jack!

We love you so much. Our family would definitely be boring without you. Thanks for always keeping us entertained!