All That Joy

Jack Vincent, you have such a happy nature. You get it from your dad. Your smile and laugh are contagious. The world is a better happier brighter place since you have been in it kiddo. As your mama  I promise to do all that I can to help you hold tight to all of that joy. I want you to have so many more moments like this one. Moments where you are so happy, jumping up and down seems to be the only sensible thing to do. 

The Best Day of His Whole Life

Today we took Jack golfing for the very first time. He was in heaven. I don't know if I have ever seen him have so much fun. Being outside, driving the cart, finding golf balls, chasing ducks, adding several good finds to his rock collection (Because Jack collects rocks now. I find them in his pockets all the time. He brings them inside and begs to take them into the bath with him... so we have a very large very clean rock collection..) made him so so happy. Grandpa got him a cup of Orange Juice and a bag of Skittles and basically the kid was set for life. He better sleep well tonight because he wore us out! Jack and I seriously live for Saturdays. We were so spoiled when Parker was still a student. Basically we wait all week for our fun day with dad!
And here are a billion pictures because pretty sure Jack man is the best looking golfer around. They are blurry because he never really stopped moving. (He picked that hat out all by himself and wants to wear it all the time. He gets really mad if I try to straighten it so he can see.  He desperately wanted to wear it to church last week.)

  

Little Boy, Giant Heart

There is a rabbit problem in our neighborhood. Apparently a couple little girls got pet bunnies. When their little bunnies started having little bunnies there just were too many little bunnies and a bunch got out. Off they went across the neighborhood making more and more little bunnies. Now there are wild rabbits everywhere. I have a new found respect for the term multiplying like rabbits. It is out of control.  Which explains why our dog who is usually pretty well behaved has been taking off lately. He can't help himself. It's the rabbits. 

So today Daxter took off. I mean really really bolted. Jack does this incredibly cute thing where he imitates a whistle to try and get Dax to come. He puckers his lips and makes this really funny noise. So he starts kind of whistling and yelling "Daaaa der Baaaa!" (which in Jackanese means Daxter Back!) and for about five minutes I think it is the sweetest thing in the world. He just looked so cute. 

But then he started to get upset because, Daxter was not coming back. I tried to bring him inside and he went hysterical. He was running from door to door to window looking for his dog with these huge tears running down his cheeks. He was really upset.

We searched for that dog for over two hours. We walked up and down the street. We drove around for forever the whole time I  could hear Jack in the back seat "Daa der Baaa" between sniffles. It was the worst. Seriously the worst. 

We finally came home and I tried to explain to Jack we just needed to wait and Daxter would come back. He of course did not understand. Instead he kept putting dog treats in Daxter's bowl. He would run out with a huge smile on his face, so proud of himself positive that Daxter would come running for a treat like he always does. Daxter wouldn't come and the tears would start all over again. I broke down  and called Parker sobbing because I had no idea what to do. I couldn't find the dog. I couldn't distract Jack or make him happy. Even with Tarzan and fruit snacks and that always works. 

Finally Jack was so exhausted he fell asleep. I laid him down and came upstairs to check one more time and sure enough Daxter was on the porch. 

I kind of wanted to kill him. But I couldn't because I found out today how much Jack really really loves that dog. Jack was so excited when he woke up and Daxter was home.  So that was nice. But still the whole thing was terrible. 

It sucks to see your child so devastated. It feels awful when you can't fix everything. It is not my favorite part of parenting. Not by a long shot. It was a really really bad day. 

But today I was reminded that this little boy has a giant heart. I felt how fiercely loyal he has become. I saw that determination I have come to know so well. I'm proud of him. I always am. 

In the end it's ok. Dogs come back. Little boys take naps. Bad days get better when dad gets home. 

Jack Vincent I don't know how that giant heart fits in that little body, but I am so glad that it does. 

This View

 A paint speckled Jack in an early morning bubble bath and giant snow flakes coming down outside the windows made the perfect Monday morning. Look at this. I don't have to travel or even look very far to see beautiful sights and amazing views. Because nothing beats this. 

Jack begs for a bath several times a day. He doesn't want to play with regular bath toys. He steals measuring cups, spoons, funnels and strainers from the kitchen.