Monday, July 07, 2008

I Clean Up Blocks

Dear Jackson,
You were a little bit of a turkey today. For some reason you were determined not to take your nap, although conditions were 100% perfect for a normal nap time. I don't know what went wrong. Please keep napping, son. So tonight after we ate our Papa John's pizza and got you in your pajamas, you and I headed upstairs for your early bedtime. You are getting too heavy for me to want to carry up the stairs, so I let you follow me (the bearer of your cup of milk) up. When we got to the top it was apparent that we had left your new blocks strewn across the playroom floor. I had a one track mind - bedtime. You, however, got very excited and said, "I clean up blocks!" I am marking this down in your baby book/blog because this could be the one and only time that you initiate cleaning up anything and indeed get excited about it. What a sweet moment. You love your new blocks and you wanted to be responsible for them. It was a sweet end to a long day for both of us. I love you, little turkey.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Amanda, I have to tell you that I have a 2 1/2 year old little boy who for the past month has skipped his nap one or two days a week! Yikes! I am still praying that it's just a phase. I so need him to still take a regular nap and I imagine that you feel the same way about Jackson. Having a 2 year old boy is often crazy, but man, it's so worth it, isn't it?!

Sherry said...

GI Joes!

It was GI Joes around our house. Your post brings back memories of the many days I had to work my way through the little army battlefields on my son's bedroom floor. The tiny little guns and other itsy pieces could be painful when stepped on. I still have a huge commando center (or something) in the attic.

But too soon he was grown and now has children of his own. (I really don't miss the messes.) In about 4 years, I will be dodging the GI Joes again -- we have a new little grandson:)

As you've surely been told a zillion times, enjoy your little one each and every day.

Blessings,
Sherry

Holly said...

He may have been playing the "delay-fish" game, as well as being a cheerful helper. Hee hee!

Our four have rest/ nap time every day (older kids during the summer). We all need some quiet and down-time. The older kids can read, color, play legos, etc. I even give them a time they can come down/ upstairs. It seems to help ALL of us.

Every once in awhile we have a non-napper little one. I have no idea why--new teeth perhaps?

Have a blessed week, Amanda! Chris is really enjoying Curtis' book. Tell Curtis, "Keep on writing, brother!"

Amy Beth @ Ministry So Fabulous! said...

How precious is that! And, would he like to come over to my house to clean for awhile?

Just wanting to, um, develop the gifts that are obviously inside of him.

Darlene R. said...

Oh, keep that up! My kids are at the age where they would rather do anything else than clean up their things!

Missy said...

Precious! I love that you are documenting these moments. They are going to be so much fun to share with him one day. You are such a super mom, Amanda!

Michele said...

Enjoy those "block" days. My little boy, who just turned 11, and I used to build blocks for hours at a time. Now I find he is growing up way too quickly. I look back on those days very fondly. Such a sweet mom you are.

Mindy said...

Yes, it could be the only time he initiates cleaning up.....heaven knows, my girls don't ever want to clean anything. BUT, I have found that for my girls at least, whatever stalls bedtime a bit is fair game. They might even stoop to asking to clean up. =)

Linsey said...

It must have been something in the Texas air. Gage has the perfect conditions for his nap, but, instead, decided that pooping, then screaming, laughing, playing was more important. I, too, pray that our tods keep napping. Because if Gage doesn't nap, mama doesn't nap, and if mama doesn't nap...God bless us all!

Rose said...

aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, i miss a toddler at home, enjoy him everyday, my 4 year old reminds me every day that he is a 'big boy'! :(

connorcolesmom said...

So sweet
I miss the days of my boys napping
Cole is 4yr and he says that he is too big to nap LOL
I love when they are proud of what they can do - Cole told me he made his bed today (of course all his sheets were hanging off one side but at least he tried - hehe)
God bless
Kim

BethAnne said...

I was determined that my kids would take naps until they started school.....who knew that they would eventually grow out of them?

I was wondering if you might bring Jackson over to my house so he can teach my boys the importance of cleaning up their blocks.......think about it. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Yes, the kids are always willing to give up naps WAY before the Moms are!!
It is sweet when they want to help clean. I love when my 18 month old starts putting his toys away (of course he gets sidetracked but it's a start)

MamaCass said...

I hate to tell you this Amanda but naps are much more erratic from here on out. And when they do occur much shorter. Gone are the glorious 2-3 hour naps. I am thankful for just an hour these days. But the older he gets the more he entertains himself so I am still able to get stuff done throughout the day. Every once and a while he will sleep really long in the afternoons and I relish in it or sleep along with him.

Unknown said...

Awwwww how precious!!

Sunni at The Flying Mum said...

Oh wow! Jackson, you tidy little boy! Can't wait to see you!

Angie @ Flibbertigibberish said...

Oh yes. I remember the times when my girls did that for the first time, and I thought it was sooo endearing. And then it happened the next night and it was still pretty cute. And then it happened the next night and it was a smidge less cute.

Welcome to the wonderful world of stall techniques. Watch out, mama! He sounds like a master!

(I'm sure hoping his naptime isn't ending... for YOUR sake! Both of my daughters tried that around Jackson's age, but I didn't make it an option. Naptime prevailed! Hooray!)

Marla Taviano said...

Um, you sure he wanted to be responsible for his blocks? I'm thinking he wanted to be responsible for putting bedtime off as long as possible. :)

DO NOT GIVE UP THE NAP!

Cindy-Still His Girl said...

You are going to be SOOO glad you had this blog and documented even Jackson's turkey days. Cliche, but true... it goes by so, so fast. Some days it may seem like bedtime will NEVER get here, but then all the sudden they are too big to be carried. Enjoy your sweet little man, and thanks for sharing little things like this with us. :)

katiegfromtennessee said...

Little Jackson,

One of the most loved little people, I do declare! Blessing straight from the LORD! First arrow in the quiver:) May he glorify the LORD with his life always:)

katiegfromtennessee

Lindsay said...

AWESOME idea of a post. I think about things I would like to say to my kiddos, but like they would understand anyway?! Thanks for the great idea - what a sweet family you have.