Spotlight on J

I wanted to take a moment to highlight our sweet Baby J, who often shares (even relinquishes) the spotlight with his big bros. When you're #3 in line, its harder for a mama to take note of all the amazing, wonderful things happening in that one little boy's world. I'm trying, I tell you, and he's definitely not stopping to wait up!

First things first, J is sweet. Truly. Nothing can melt this mama like her boy toddling up, turning around, and planting his little bottom on my lap. He always wants to sit in laps, no matter whose lap it is! The other week I picked him up at the gym nursery and learned from a mother who had stayed with her daughter that J had walked up with a book and sat right down on her lap, expecting to read. So cute!! He also gives lots of hugs and seems to have a general lovey, affectionate disposition. We can only hope it will stick around through the terrible two's! He loves his brothers and finds them so silly. Most wonderful lately has been watching the fun friendship develop between J and T. They have similar personalities and should make famous friends someday.

Secondly, J loves music! While both older brothers seem to have an ear for a tune, neither have started singing as early as J. His first ballad was "Twinkle, Twinkle" at 14 months. New tunes include "The Itsy, Bitsy Spider", "Row Your Boat", the Thomas the Train theme song, and "Lullaby" and might I add, very much on pitch! While the words are still a good bit in coming, I think it's so cool that this is J's little way of shining.

Speaking of words, he is slowly adding to his vocabulary, but often with the first part of the word-- "foo" for food, "boo" for book, "bobble" for bottle, "boobbuwy" for blueberry, etc. Can you tell he likes "b" words? :) And let's not forget his two favorite words of all time: "Papa" and "Dada".

GG's dad has affectionately become the center of J's adoration, the topic of many conversations, and the object of our every morning when he arrives to take the boys to preschool. Papa rules without question and I find it so sweet to see J adore his grandfather so! GG comes in a close second, inciting extreme enthusiasm and a plethora of hugs and yells from J when he arrives home in the evenings. No doubt it makes GG's day to be greeted so enthusiastically.

Three additional things I want to mention--J has a stellar pencil grip at 18mos (speaking from the perspective of a teacher--I definitely don't remember this with the other boys), he uses eating utensils with precision, and he loves balls. Loves them. That about sums it up!

J pushed around a baby doll in a pink stroller the other day during church nursery, hopefully a sign that he's ready for a little baby doll sister of his own! We will do our best to make him feel loved and a part of all the goodness the new baby will bring... Love you, sweet J! You help complete our family!