Mile marker

We looked at some photo albums from last summer.

It's amazing how much he's grown.

Jake put on his own shoes today.

True, they were Crocs.

But, he got them on the right feet.

Now he's happily wearing sunglasses, even ASKING for them in his own way.

"Eyeeeees!" (This means I want my sunglasses, Mommy.)

Which, of course, is different from "EyEs." (Ask in, look Mommy, I have eyes. Or look, this dog has eyes.)

I cannot imagine how different things are going to be next summer.

Glad I'm living and enjoying life day by day.

His reach

exceeds his grasp.

You'd think I'd learn to place his toys a bit farther away after the first time.

As you can see, Jake's quite proud of himself.

It isn't uncommon to hear Jake read to himself for the first 15-20 minutes of nap time. (Or have conversations with Dora, Boots, Backpack & Map.) Today I slipped outside to read a book in the sun. An hour later I come inside and hear him loudly playing an hour into official nap time. He's shrieking "Bare! Bare!" Of course I immediately think that he's pulled his pants and diaper off and playing in his poop. (This happened one time when I was babysitting my nephew Zion.) I rush upstairs and see (top picture.) All is well. Now we are an hour and a half into nap time and he's still happily entertaining himself. Please don't tell me that the end of nap time is near!

The taunt

French Soldier-Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.
Sir Galahad: Is there someone else up there we can talk to?

French Soldier: No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time.

Bountiful

Our rogue sunflower unveiled her head while Jake and I were in Missouri. Since our return, several more flowers have opened. This rogue plant makes me very happy. As do the deliberately planted tomatoes. We have several fat green orbs growing in our garden, though none ripe enough to pick! (I check daily!) If I feel this warm and fuzzy about our small garden, does a farmer nearly explode from the love of all things sowed?

A Mother's reflection

Fellow Bloggers,

Do you ever post a photo that you know will someday mortify your child?

I feel like I have the blogging angel and demon arguing it out on my shoulder,

though who is arguing for what is of question.

Yesterday we received a box from UPS. Inside was a bunch of hand me down clothes that Zen has outgrown, sent back for storage in case we are blessed with a second Johnson child some day. (Not yet, people.) But I continued digging since I KNOW Aunty Critter and rightly believed that there would be a happy surprise SOMEWHERE in the box. Jake immediately lit up when I pulled the pink Dora backpack from the box. He started dancing his little jig and singing the "backpack" song from Dora videos. Of course he wanted to try it on! And here are the pics. I'm posting them on this blog so someday when his future fiance is strolling down the photograph memory lane of Jake's life, he can choose to censor a viewing.

A happy compromise, don't you think?