Sister "E" at 15 months

Elin turned 15 months near the end of May, so it is only fitting that I attempt to record a few things for her 15th month before 16 months is here!  Oh well, trust me, this is not the only thing that I am behind on!  Here is a sweet pic of the little Miss when we took Nana and Pop to The Smokies  during their visit.

Elin's language is really picking up, with lots of new words and although I feel that her receptive skills have been noticeably progressing for several months, now she is consistently expressing that she understands with strong, "DO" for "no" and energetic head nods for "yes." New words: "Wowa" = Loa, "soos" = shoes, "bobby" = mommy, "bye, bye," "hi," "go," "down"= up or down,  "eddy" = ready, & "nummy, nummy, nummy" = anything that tastes good.   She also loves to show you her belly & find your nose and eyes. See below for proof.

She definitely has her moments of being independent also.  She does NOT want to be fed, she only wants finger foods unless you can sneak a bite from a spoon into her little mouth to entice her...then she MIGHT allow you to load a spoon for her to self feed.  She also doesn't want her hand to be held while walking, even if she's going 90 to nothing, swinging her left arm all the way down the hill of our drive way!

She likes to play with any ball, of which she will throw and say "go!" immediately followed by  her determined fast paced march to go retrieve it only to do the same routine again & again! She likes to play peek-a-boo (except she says, "bo!'), sometimes only covering one eye... or sometimes putting her hands on her temples instead of eyes.  Playing peek a boo with daddy in the morning when he gets her up has become expected. Her favorite song is Itsy Bitsy Spider  & she really loves the flap board books.

Thanks to our dear friend Janda and her girls, Elin has more shoes than the rest of the household combined & she loves them.  A favorite game to play is dress up with shoes and hair clips.  She will get a pair of shoes, bring them to you, sit in your lap and say "soos?" We put them on and then she will go get another pair of "soos."   (Unless you try to get her to wear pink furry boots, and let me tell ya, she won't have it! she shakes her head saying "do, do, do" and it might turn into a fit if ya push it.) Keith will do this with her, literally for an hour. One day I came home from doing errands & they both  had multiple clips in their hair and Elin was still trying on shoes! ( didn't get a pic of that one!)

Elin loves to go on stroller rides and be outside of course and she still loves her "dake." She is somewhat stingy with her hugs and kisses, but often now when she first sees "dake" in the morning she  tells him to come to her with her hands and then she takes both of her hands to his face and gives him that wonderful toddler open mouth smooch.  So sweet.  Love you "E."

Then & Now at Four Years Old!?!

THEN:

& NOW:

"Oh my goodness where does the time go?" has been the trademark saying of near every older person that I meet in various places when I have my children with me.  Or how about this one, "Enjoy every moment, it goes so quickly!" Or the one that makes me cringe, "enjoy them while they are young, because when they get to be teenagers..." (you know the rest of this very negative statement).  The list of these could go on but here is the scary realization that I have come to,  they are all too true!  Our time with our man Jake has gone so quickly, even though we really make our best attempt to relish the moments raising and loving him.  But guess what?  He is FOUR as of tomorrow!  Happy birthday Jake! 

Here is a little bit about Jake at age FOUR:

Jake loves most all people & rarely knows a stranger.

Jake LOVES wrestling.

Jake cherishes bedtime books and songs with mommy.

Jake protects, calms, & distracts his little sister like a pro.

Jake really wants another baby, preferably a boy, so he can name him "Jake."

Jake doctors his precious Loa.

Jake is fascinated by cartoons of Diego & stories of Maxamillion (a monkey) from Dad.

Jake often has imaginary visitors named, Joey (another monkey), Diego, & Dora.

Jake has a good sense of style & a strong opinion of what he & MOMMY wear!?!

Jake pretend plays with visits from the big, bad, wolf,  a sloth, and occasionally Goliath.

Jake frequently turns into a puppy and crawls around panting with Loa and attempts to recruit Elin too.

Jake often goes on walks or errands dressed as Superman.

Jake loves to plant flowers and dig in the back yard.

Jake is a great baker & an even better taste tester.

Jake's face falls and heart breaks when his sister screams bloody murder in his face, or detests him at all.

Jake puts his trains to bed under the couch.

Jake wants desperately to ride Jesus's horse when we get to Heaven.

Jake loves water & swimming lessons.

Jake loves picnics & popsicles on the front porch with Mom.

Jake loves to be read to & is loving learning to read.

Jake jumps, squirms, wiggles, or flies himself everywhere all day long.

Jake loves to clean, fold, and re-fold.

Jake's right arm is often an airplane and his mouth is full of little boy sound effects.

& last but not least,

Jake has, probably, the kindest heart that I know.

Love you Jake, Happy Birthday!

"Just Jake"

I think I have blogged or told most people who read this little blog that Jake often refers to himself as, "Just Jake."  It is usually in response to us asking him, what he is pretending to be, what he wants to dress up as, or when we call him silly names or one of his many nick name.  For example, he is still really into King David.  He can be, in one moment, frighting off wolves from his sheep herd or slaying Goliath and then in the next moment when I call him and say, "Hey David..." he will sweetly say, "Mom, now I'm Just Jake!"  Well pardon, my mistake.  So anyway, "Just Jake" comes up with some pretty humerus and sweet things quite often.  Here are several memorable quotes/or actions from "Just Jake" over the past several months.  But first, here is the one and only, "JUST JAKE"

When putting on his tennis shoes one day he said, "Dad, these have kinda outgrown me."

When making sure his hair was adequately rinsed while in his bath he said to  Keith, "Make sure my fur is okay."  (I promise the word "hair" is in the child's acquired vocabulary)

One of Jake's chores is to feed Loa.  On several occasions, when we are probably rushing him to do his job, we find him praying over her food... so sweet.

When talking about Keith's new job, Jake said, "maybe Jesus will give me a job when I get big like my Daddy."

Jake loves to play school.  After asking Keith to play school with him he says, "Okay Dad,  I'll be the teacher and you be the STUPID." Bawhahaha!!

After hearing the word, "student" on K-Love, he says to me, "we don't say "student" do we Mama?'

Jake to me before going into the bathroom to shower, "Don't get that pretty off of you Mama." (little charmer)

When he wants Keith to tell him a story, he says, "Daddy, read me a story out of your mouth."

In a disciplinary situation:
J: "Are ya going to give me a spanking?"
B:"No Jake"
J"Are ya going to put me in time out?"
B:"No jake"
J: "Well, Mama what are we going to do?"
B:"I'm going to give you grace this time Jake."
J:  Puzzled and really thinking about it, "Do we eat grace mama?"

Keith and Jake also frequently pretend play with the characters of the 3 little pigs and the big bad wolf.  Keith was going to send the big bad wolf out of jake's bedroom (probably attempting to wind the pretend play down) and Jake says, "Don't send him out of the bedroom into the living room, because mommy and Elin are in there and I would be real sad if we didn't have a mommy!"

Also in regard to the big bad wolf, one day after his rest time I found a big bad wolf torn out of a pop up version of The Three Little Pigs.  
B: "Jake why is this wolf torn out of your nice book? That is not how we treat our books."
J:  "Well Mom, I had to get him out of there so that he wouldn't hurt those little piggies!"

When going out to the car one morning, there was frost on the car. Jake excitedly said,  "Look Mom! There are bird feathers all over the car!

When running through the rain to get into the house he says, "did the rain mess up my Mustache?" (What?? Nope, it's just fine.) He was actually talking about the front of his hair that he attempted to flip up a little that day.

After I prayed over his cut finger, Jake took off the bandaid a few minutes later.  "Look mama there is no bleed on it. Jesus healed it FAST!"

New vocabulary used appropriately (surprisingly) : "realize," "recognize," and "preciate"
 -->"appreciate"

He called a large metal drainage pipe in a ditch, a "belly"

One day while playing w/ Elin he comes into the kitchen and says, "mama, me and my sister are going to college." Then I give him my best sad face, and he says,  "Don't worry it's not too far. (pause) It's actually in the playroom. (he pauses and is still studying my response) So you can come too if ya want."

When he came across a hula-hoop  at walmart he said, "Look Mom, a 'who ler loop!'"

When leaving a salon after a haircut, it was really windy, "don't let my haircut blow off!"
And then in the bath, "I don't wanna wash my haircut off!"

When getting ready one morning, Jake said very seriously, "All I have left is to do is brush my teeth & soth" (for "floss," for some reason that one really struck me funny.  It was all I could do to keep a somewhat straight face.)

To Keith at a sandwich shop, "dad, can I have your "pokey" ( toothpick in his sandwich)

We were sitting in our front yard eating a popsicle & chatting and he says,
J: "Mom, would you like to plant a garden soon?"
B: "I don't know Jake, what would you like to plant if we decided to plant a garden soon?"
J: "I would plant some BEAUTIFUL flowers so that I can pick them for YOU!" (again...Charmer)

At a friends wedding he wanted me to dance with him, and on the way out to the dance floor he said sweetly,   "Mom, let's dance for JESUS!'

"Mommy, isn't it so fun that we have a baby sister?"
"Mom, aren't you so glad that we got a baby!?!"

After nagging jake multiple times to get away from something hot, he says, “ that makes me tired” and I said “what?” and he says, “YOUR WORDS!”  (me too buddy, me too)

After telling Jake that he is going to give his bed to Allison and abby when they visit, he says in an astonished and sad tone, “I don’t want to give them my bed, why do I have to give it to them?”  I say, “ so they can sleep in it” followed by Jake saying, “will they give it back?”

When cleaning off a stain on the couch that sits near to jake’s time out chair, he says, “ what’s that?” I responded w/ “I don’t know.”  Jake then replies “ I think it’s that crying stuff from when I was in the time out chair yesterday” (AKA: tears/ or snot).

I often tell Jake, when he is having a hard time formulating his thoughts into a sentence, "Jake focus, think about what you are trying to say, focus on your words."  One day I was losing my train of thought when I was talking to Keith & jake of course says, "Mama, think about your words!"

And last but most definitely my favorite "Just Jake" saying is this, "My Mama." He says, "My Mama, can I..." ,  "I don't know, My Mama...," & "I love you My mama!" ( I love you too,  "Just Jake").

Sweet Birthday Girl, Elin

So as I said in the previous post, we were living in the Residence Inn when Elin actually turned one, so although we could have actually had people attend her party there (you know, all the friends Jake made) we opted to wait a few weeks until we were in our house.  So it was just us four for her little party & everything was very simple and laid back.  (Now, how can I ensure that Elin never sees the pictures from Jake's previous 3 birthdays... I've been known to go overboard!) We had a sweet time just watching Elin and soaking it all in.  Love, love, love this beautiful daughter of ours.  Thank you Lord for trusting us with this precious soul. We love you Elin!  

                                                   

   It didn't take her but a second to figure out what to do with the cupcake.

But she did keep her eye on Jake, to make sure she did it just right!

        Sugar buzzed; below

PRESENTS!!  Check out her hand on her hip!

               

   (and how about those legs!?!)

           After cupcakes and presents Jake did not think her party was complete, " Mom, I think now, Elin would like for me to blow her some bubbles for her birthday!"  Good thinking kid, she did love them.

Happy birthday little one.  

HOME

So on January 22, 2012, we said goodbye to West Texas and hello to East Tennessee!  Our life seriously seems to have been in transition, umm since Elin was born!  Such is LIFE.  So much has happened, I have no idea where to begin!  Let's just say, we left everything we know (and I mean EVERYTHING), in Texas to come to Knoxville, Tennessee where we know NOTHING!  Well we know one thing... we better become VOL fans quick!! This place is swimming in bright orange, the area code is 865, that would be "VOL," (Seriously!?!), and you dare not say "Roll Tide,"  (whatever that means!).  I also heard a woman say the other day, "Well if ya want a small wedding just get married on a VOL football  saturday because NO one will come!"  HA! Seems a little on the crazy side of team spirit, but I didn't say that! All silliness aside, no matter if I am living here...

Or in Knoxville, here... (Quite Different, I know...but it has character and potential :) )

I will be just fine, because home for me is with my little fam, Keith, the Jake man, and sweet little "E."  And everyday I remember the night we decided to move here, Keith and I were playing out our future.  We had two options, to stay in Lubbock near our family, with lots of wonderful friends, an amazing church, and a somewhat planned out future for our children (HA!) OR we could take a huge step of faith and OBEY God and move 1187 miles away.  I said to Keith, "I just don't want to disobey" and he said, "We're moving." Yikes!

So, we were so blessed to receive a great relocation package from Keith's company that assisted with the move in every way imaginable.  We closed on our house the day after we go here, but the entire thing needed paint, a fence and a few other small things prior to moving in.  So we lived in the residence inn for 7 weeks (we had planned on 2 or 3).  Lets just say 7 weeks in a hotel with two small children is quite interesting! 

Jake loved the hotel life.  He loved having fruit loops everyday for breakfast, homemade cookies at 3 o'clock on the dot, and lots of swimming and more movies than I want to admit.  He was the official key swiper, "alligator" (elevator) button pusher, and laundromat  quarter loader.  He made lots of friends of course, the "cookers," Nancy and Suzie and the housekeeper, "Miss Tammy." He insisted on taking his dirty plate to the sink in the kitchen for them and often made his bed "to help Miss Tammy."  The staff was super sweet and spoiled the kids like crazy.

And little "E" turned 11 months there.   

In her 11th month, she got her 5th tooth, was still trying her hardest to get that walking thing down, and she also really developed a confident tone in her babbling. She has got all kinds of sounds and she is CERTAIN about what she is saying! She really started balking at baby food too.  Not that she wouldn't eat it; but she much preferred table food.  She also loves to drink from a straw, she looks so proud of herself when she does.  New words were, "Dink" for drink, "Te"for keys, "e" for eat, and "dake" for Jake. Oh how she loves her "Dake."

Elin just did her normal thing while in the hotel, unloaded the dishwasher, unloaded the toys from the bottom of the closet as well as all toiletry items from below the bathroom sinks.

 She read, and read, and read it seemed; as well as played with the same few toys that I had packed for the hotel for her.  She didn't seem to mind, but I was bored for her some days!

                                                   

 One cute thing that developed while there, is she somewhat demanded her night time "chat" with Keith.  Her crib was set up in our room, and she would just talk away at him when it was bedtime for her ( and him...he was going to bed pretty early those days!)  The days he stayed up later it was like she would babble (again with authority) until he would go in and have their little chat. He hated it:)

Another funny thing she started doing was carrying things in her mouth.  I don't know if it felt good on her teeth, that she was working on getting through, or if it was out of convenience!  Often times she would carry something in each hand and then an additional item in her mouth.  (Jake commented, "Elin sure has some funny tricks!")

Sweet "E" also got sick for the first time... pretty good for being almost one! But it is still so sad when little ones feel crummy! Just look at those eyes...

While we were living in the hotel we also talked a lot about love & celebrated Valentine's Day while living in the Residence Inn.  We made cards for grandparents and cookies for the staff as well as some watercolor hearts with special things we love about Daddy written on them for him. 

   

Elin also turned ONE while we were in the hotel. (BOO!) I was really hoping that we would be in our home by her birthday but we didn't quite make it.  So we wound up celebrating her big day with the SMALLEST PARTY EVER, but still special, a few weeks late. Pics to come, grandparents and great grandparents.

Well that's plenty for now, maybe too much for some.  More later from the "Knox Box" as Keith calls our house here.

Elin: Ten Sweet Months

Oh what a little sweetheart we have!  But I'm not biased or anything.  So the little Miss E is 10 months old & she is such a delight!  We often can't believe what a good baby she is, she is just so easy going! The big news this month is that Elin took her first true step on the day she turned 10 months.  We were all just playing in the floor and she let go of a toy that she was hanging onto for balance and took her first step!  We all saw it and Jake threw both his arms in the air and said ecstatically, "She walked!" It was pretty cute how proud he was of her!  She has also got some new verbal skills going.  Keith says that she talks "chicken" and makes fun of me when I talk it back to her!  She often chatters away saying "baka, baka, baka" & "daka, daka, daka."  She also will yell out a quick "Ho!" (with an abrupt ending to the word) when Keith comes into the room as if to say, "Hey Daddy, I'm over here... you see me right?" She also has been getting extremely excited when Keith gets home from work and she race crawls to his feet... I know that just breaks his heart!  She loves to be sung to as well and claps her hands along, so sweet.  She loves table food, especially bread.  Hawaiian wheat rolls are one of her favorite!  She also eats, black eyed peas, green beans, (she still HATES green peas) bananas, strawberries, & carrots along w other regular baby foods.  I can't really think of anything else significant from this last month other than we had a beautiful WHITE Christmas in Midland with the Rotan clan.  Maybe I will eventually post some Christmas pics but those for sure are to be delayed as we will be official Tennesseans (YIKES) in a  little over a week & we are very busy planning and preparing for the big move.  We will be living in a hotel for 2-3 weeks prior to moving into our home (assuming that  all goes well with the one we have under contract).  Jake is super pumped because we are staying in a hotel with a POOL and then we get to move into our new house with STAIRS!!  Ha! Oh to be three again!  He, by the way has said some hilarious things lately... oh there is another blog post... 

Elin Kate: Nine Months

     I can't believe that Elin is already nine months old.  These precious months have just flown by, but all the same they have been wonderful.  This month, Elin got her first tooth, signed her first word, and said her first word.  She signed "more" for delicious sweet potato puffs.  It is super cute how she does it too. She turns her palms up, kinda waves at herself, and then brings her hands together while saying, "ma."  Her first word is undeniably "mama" and thus far it is an endearing "mama" and not a demanding one.  Ha! Don't feel too bad for Keith, Jake's second word was "dada" after "ball" of course.  He didn't call my name until he was like 18 months old!  So I'm obviously enjoying the sweet, "mama"(s) I get from "E."
     Elin is also standing for a few seconds without holding on to anything & following us through the house; especially Jake. She also LOVES her baths and near throws a fit to get in the tub when Jake is taking his bath or when it is time for her to get out of hers.

     Keith and I also traveled to Knoxville, TN this month as our family will be relocating there at the beginning of the new year.  Elin got to tag along as we looked for a home.  She did great & actually seemed to really enjoy having a little extra attention!  Let me just add, we are very excited for this adventure the Lord has placed before us; but we would appreciate lots of prayer as we did not find a house and this move is NO simple task.

We hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Eight Months

Little "E" turned 8 months last week! What a big girl she is!  This month was full of adventure for Elin.  In ten minutes flat she can stand at the dishwasher & empty the silverware, get into a magazine basket (literally) in the living room, & make it to the utility room to be found chewing on one of Loa's collars!  Yikes, she's fast!  We took a family vacation to Sea World & she got to meet a third set of great grandparents, Gigi & Big Papa! She loves to yell, I mean sing at the top of her lungs, dance to any music, & she always has a quick smile (especially for daddy and brother).  Elin, I hope you always have an easy, quick smile. We love you baby girl! 

Seaworld

We love you Gigi & Big Papa!

Happy Pumpkin Day!

So do I have two cute pumpkins or what?  Around here, we are not  big fans of Halloween but I'm all about fall and if our kids want to dress up in a fun, un-scarey costume, & eat candy at our church festival until their bellies can take no more, fine by me!  So a few weeks ago, Jake and I were discussing costumes & he decided on superman.  So we did purchase a superman costume and he wore the tail off of it last week... ya know "rescuing princesses" & such!  So I was gonna have him wear it today to takes some pics w/ the sweet ballerina below & to the fall festival at Trinity.  After asking him at least 3 times to put his costume on, he says "mommy, I want to be just Jake."  What?? no superman?  I gave him several opportunities to change his mind & he was consistent, "just Jake!"  Keith even asked him before we headed up to the church just to make sure, explaining to him that all the other kids would have costumes.  Again, "Dad, I'm gonna be just Jake."  So whatever fine by me,  we love "just Jake."  So here are a couple of pics of  "just Jake" & the little ballerina Elin.