Skiing, Mercy Truck,, and other Christmas shenanigans

This Christmas found us in Utah visiting Uncle Brandon and Aunt Erin.

Jace had asked Santa for an "RC truck with a remote control" but it sounded more like "A Mercy Truck with Remote Control."  He got that and so much more that was right up his alley!  Since he loves to tow, he got a tow truck with a chain, a remote control crane, and a tablet that were his top gifts.

It's fun watching him open gifts because he is waaaayyy into it.  Ashlynn enjoys it, but it has never been really the same, so watching Jace is a real treat!

He LOVED playing with all of his cousins, and his cousin's cousins, and feeling like he was just one of the boys.  He parrots everything, and imitating them was no exception.

We visited Temple Square and he would NOT hold my hand, but had to hold a cousin's hand instead.
In the hotel, he played in the hot tub and scared me to death in the main pool because he thinks he can swim and he can't.  He kept screaming at me to let him go, not realizing if I do that he will drown!! I definitely need to remember to bring floaties next time!

Finally, he went skiing and his grandma had bought him some new boots and skis. Jace has some sensory issues too, but the opposite of Ashlynn.  Everything bugs him.  He is hypersensitive to textures, tempereature, and if he perceives his shoe as being too tight it's over.  That was the case with his new ski boots.  He wanted to go skiing so bad, but he just couldn't handle the boots that fit his feet.

We finally gave in and had him use Ashlynn's which are way too big when she came back from her lesson and he was happy.  His dad reported he came out of his boot because they are too loose, but he is getting the feel for staying up on his feet!  Look at that smile!

This month, he also adds "the weekend" to every sentence.  We're going to play trucks the weekend, or "I see that the weekend."  

Oh, and every the thespian, he emphatically "really, really" has to do things now.  This trip it was, "Mommy, I really, really have to go potty."  or "I really really need to play with my cousins."  haha.  That kid always cracks me up.

Similies and comparisons...all at age 3

No one should be shocked to know I'm an SLP.  I happen to be incredibly good at grammar, language, and I think,writing.  Honestly, it's my thing.  It is so natural to me and always has been. It's been a huge learning experience to have a child with a speech and language disability.  It's hard for me relate to.  Speech and language come so easily to me.

Jace though.  My little guy.  Even though he is mechanically inclined, he is also really good verbally. Okay, granted, many things he just repeats, but he also comes up with pretty brilliant things on his own.  Sunday he declared that the plate of sausage looked like a campfire.

Listen people.

"The sausage looks like a campfire."

That is a similie!!  I don't know what grade they start teaching similies, but it's not preschool, and he just rolled one off of his tongue.

He also said yesterday,

"A car is faster than a train."

This is not only a comparison, but the language involved is highly complex.  Okay okay, I know.  I'm being an annoying proud mom, but comparitives, particularly ones said with this complex format are not commonplace at 3.

He is so dang smart and I'm so proud.  Now....if we could just stop his incessant screaming!!

We heard a baby in Target today upset and crying.  A mom in front of me with kids my kids' age how soon we forget and how grateful we are that it isn't our kid!  I wanted to relate, but honestly, Jace still screams.......like ALL THE TIME, like that.  It's just now, he has words to accompany the crying.  I think it's just his brilliance, but even though I believe that, it is still VERY challenging as a parent.

Hey! Who turned out the lights?

If I had a quarter for everytime Jace has said this, we would be going on an awesome vacation.  I have no idea where he picked it up, but it was funny and made us chuckle the first 50 times, and now....well....let's just say it's not AS funny.  He is so cute when he says it though.  He'll pull a hat over his head and walk around bumping into things saying it, or whatever.

He also tells stories and let's be honest, lies.  He states things as facts just to be part of the conversation.  I keep trying to teach him about lying and telling stories, but it doesn't seem to curb them.

Learning colors, you first catch, and "reading" books.

Jace is almost 3 1/2 and is about 3 months into his preschool experience.  There was some adjustment with him learning to share, follow the rules, and listen, but the teacher remains steadfast that he is a typical little three year old boy.

I decided to hit colors really hard recently because he is just not getting it and he really is too smart not to know his colors.  Cody would get frustrated and say he's not trying, but I kept with it.  He's getting better and more consistent, but he does still need some practice!  The Christmas lights going up everywhere have given him new incentive!

Of particular note though was that he just could not catch a ball.  Cody and I would play with him, and he would get disinterested after a few minutes.  The other day, we were over at my parents house and my dad played ball with him.  They did silly things like throw it behind their back, hike it through their legs standing upside down, and make funny noises.  My dad started bouncing it and making Jace hold his arms out, and wouldn't you know it Jace caught his first ball!!  He went on to catch quite a few more and I got one on videotape.  When we all cheered his little proud face killed me.  It was so cute.

The other amazing thing he did was "read" the Mighty Dad book from cover to cover.  He had memorized the entire thing.  As I videotaped him that same proud look washed over him and he happily read to us again.

I'm so proud of my smart little guy.

The frog hopped into my mouth again!!!!!

This story really starts with Ashlynn, but Jace is the one who has kept it going!  Both of my kids caught their first cold of the year.  One day, as I was dropping Ashlynn off with her Grandma, I told DeAnn that Ashlynn's throat had a frog in it, but I thought she could still go to school.

Thus ensued the never ending saga of the frog.

Ashlynn exclaimed to her Grandma:

"You know I opened my mouth.....and a frog jumped in!"

LOL

Jace though kept it going.  When he got sick after Ashlynn, he dramatically exclaimed, "oh no!  The frog hopped out of Ashlynn's mouth and into mine!!"

Well, both of them recovered and the frog it seemed had returned home, that is, until today.

We were driving home and Jace coughed!   A look of panic swept across his face as he said, "Oh no!  Mom!  The frog hopped back into my throat!!!"

I can't do anything but laugh.  Seriously.

I cannot EVEN mom.

Jace continues to make us laugh with his sayings and an uncanny dry way of speaking that seems to lend itself to the perfect punchline.

The other day he was trying to pick something up and exclaimed exasperated, "Mom!  I cannot EVEN pick this up!  It is TOO heavy!

It might be funnier in my head, but seriously he cracks me up.  I've always said he is my future engineer, but maybe I can see comedian in his future as well.

This week we were listening to a bible children's CD his Aunt Kris gave Ashlynn for her Birthday, and after so many songs singing "praise him" Jace demanded to know, "So mom, what's the deal with these princess songs?"  It took me a minute to wonder why he thought they were princess songs until
"praaaaaaaise..him" wailed once more on the radio.

ROFL

My favorite part though...I kiss him goodnight and tell him he's my good little boy, and he always responds with a hug and that "I'm his good little mommy" too.  :)  Love that kid.  Here's his first ever school picture.  His eyes are Cody's, but his expression is such a Baskall.  Love that boy.

Mommy

Floating on his own!

I have so much guilt sometimes because Jace's life has been tagging along while Ashlynn gets dropped off at speech, OT, and swimming.  Even though it's work, I don't think Jace sees it that way. Ashlynn gets all the attention, then she is told we are proud of her, and he is left out.

I did enroll him in preschool even though it's costing me over 200 dollars a month just for him to go two half days a week, but I know his self-esteem needs it.  He loves acting big, putting on his backpack, telling me goodbye and sitting at the table with all the kids.  His smile is worth more than the money we are paying.

Since he's been really wanting to swim, I've been having Ashlynn's swim teacher Josh see him the last 5 minutes of her sessions, so he doesn't feel so left out. Today Ashlynn was sick, so Jace got to have the entire session to himself and boy did he make the best of it!

He was jumping in the pool without hesitation, jumped right into his head bobs, and when it came to his back float, Josh let go and Jace floated alone for 10 seconds!  He was soooo proud!!  Look at that smile!  He also did a back kick on his own for four seconds smiling all the way.

He gets so cold easily and was shivering, but he was determined.  He was so tired by the end he couldn't even manage a kick.  He truly gave it everything he had!

I really want to find an activity that is just for Jace...maybe Karate, maybe soccer, I don't know.  I want him to feel special and proud in his own right.  He deserves it.