Happy New Year!!!

Another long weekend! It has been pretty quiet. We are all breathing a collective sigh of relief that the holidays are over. Well sort of, I'm not happy that my snowman buddy in the yard has to go away. We all realized this year that with my birthday, Christmas and New Years all within a week it makes for a hectic but fun time!

Today my parents took me to a UNR basketball game. We crushed em', but wouldn't expected anything less since the school we played wasn't great.

I still don't have quite the attention span to sit and watch a game, so I moved around a lot and wanted to leave about 3/4 of the way through it. It doesn't help that I'm teething two of my two-year molars...ouch!

My parents then took me to a new pizza place in our neighborhood and it just so happens our good friends Melodie and Ryan had the same idea, so bam! a dinner party was born. I had fun eating pizza and my daddy and Ryan took me to play pinball which now I'm totally jazzed about!

After getting home from what I called a 'busy day' we called our family members to wish them a happy New Year! Can you believe it? 2007 out and 2008 in! Hard to believe...

Hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year!

Bye-Bye Holidays!

Don't worry Jake your snowman will be back on Christmas Day!

This is what my mommy and daddy told me as my prized Frosty the Snowman was stuffed into a tiny box, and shoved not so lovingly onto a shelf. How do they get him in that box? I don't even want to think about it!

He better be back next year, or I will not be happy! My mommy did get a good picture of me spreading the last bit of Christmas cheer with my Santa hat on!

Happy Second Birthday...To Me!

Today is not only Christmas but my birthday...my second birthday to be exact! I'm the big 2 today! My mommy has been very emotional about the the whole thing. She said that me turning two has been harder than when I turned one last year. What that means, I have no idea! It is pretty darn amazing to think I have been here for two years. Guess time flies when you are having fun, and chasing a toddler around! What did my parents do before having me?
My mommy and daddy put together this video montage of my first two years of life.
I sure have had a lot of fun these past couple of years!

HO, HO, HO Merry Christmas!

Wow, I can't believe it...Santa actually came! I got up this AM and the cookies, except for a few crumbs, were gone! The celery too! Guess what? There were presents under our tree from SANTA! I was so excited! The bottom of our tree was completely empty when I went to bed last night. I was able to unwrap presents by myself this year. I was actually more excited about the tissue paper, bows and boxes than the actual presents. It was pretty funny to watch!

I overheard my mommy tell my daddy that my excitement over the morning is truly what Christmas is all about.

Santa even left a gift for my mommy, daddy, munchkin and Wylie.

From my family to yours we wish you a very Merry Christmas!!!! We hope you all have a great day!

T'was the Night Before Christmas...and my Second Birthday!

This year I'm actually into Christmas, and get that Santa is coming for a visit tonight. I have been telling people Merry Christmas. I'm actually really excited about it.

We have spent a very quiet day together. My grammie came over and brought some presents. I got a new warm coat w/ scarf from grammie, and a new outfit from my aunt Holly and Evan. I also got some new jammies and a bedtime bear from grammie.

It is Christmas Eve so my mommy helped me bake candy cane cookies for Santa and washe celery for his reindeer's. We have been tracking Santa's movement on the Internet all day, and I wrote a note to Santa. We even drove around the neighborhood this evening to look at all the lights and 'Christmas Buddies'....

It is all so exciting!

I guess I better get to bed so Santa will come. The last time we looked he was in Virginia...

Happy 2nd Birthday Little Man----Letter from Mommy

Dear Jacob,
Last year at this time I wrote you a letter, and thought I would start a tradition by writing another letter this year. It was very emotional last year to talk about all the amazing things you had accomplished and taught me in that first year of motherhood. My life had changed so much, so fast with your arrival. It is true that having a baby changes everything. Nobody can EVER prepare you, or even begin to explain what it is like to be a parent. I guess it is something that you learn ‘day by day’ and ‘year by year’. Kids just don’t come with an instruction manual. Trust me; I have scoured the internet looking for one.
I can’t believe how fast this year has gone by. You are an amazing little boy. Gosh, I can’t believe I’m writing ‘little boy’. It seems just like yesterday a nurse at the hospital brought you to me in a big red Christmas stocking on Christmas Day.
You have filled my life with such entertainment, excitement, joy, and let’s be honest, work. It has taken me two years to realize and accept that; 7 a.m. really is sleeping in late; that even at 30, I can and do have a curfew earlier than when I was 16, something that should take the average person 15 minutes, takes me 45 minutes, and finally, that kids really do say the darnedest things. Anyone, who reads a parenting magazine soon realizes that their kid has the potential to land them right smack in the middle of the ‘baby bloopers’ section.
It has also taken me two years to realize that the smell of your hair after a bath is one of the best smells on earth. Seeing you grow and change is astonishing. Watching you sleep is peaceful; hearing your laugh makes me laugh, and hearing your cries makes my heart hurt. That kisses, hugs and hearing ‘wove you’ from a 2 year old really does fix any and all problems.
Being your mom is one of the greatest gifts I have ever been given. You teach me every day, in your own special way, how to be a better person. You lead by example and don’t even know it. I don’t why I’m so blessed to have such an amazing little boy like you in my life.
Our family has had its share of heartache this year, with the passing of your NoNo, and joy with Wylie coming to live with us. It is the funniest thing in the world to see how happy you are when both puppies chase you through the house. It is the sweetest thing to see you give your ‘NoNo Bear’ a hug and kiss. Even with all the changes in the past year you have rolled with it, and before my very eyes became such a big boy! I try to imagine what the next year will bring, but know whatever I think up won’t be even close to the actual amazing things you will learn and do. Happy 2nd Birthday buddy!
Love,
Mommy

School Birthday Snack

Today my mommy and daddy surprised me at school by providing me and all my friends with pizza for lunch. Pizza is one of those rare foods I get, but I love it when I do.

Then both my mommy and daddy showed up at school with cupcakes for all of us at afternoon snack time. It was great! Everyone sang Happy Birthday to me and my mommy brought ogre ears for everyone to wear. Just like for my family party.

Some of my buddies were really into their cupcakes. Some even wanted another one. I had a couple of good bites, but then was done. I got very upset when my mommy tried to put icing on my face. It was fun and I was telling everyone 'Jacob's Birthday'!

Jinglefest 2007

Tonight was my school's annual Jinglefest program. All the CDC classes get up and perform, even the babies. This was my first year attending. Last year I was sick.
It was really fun! Our teacher, Miss Sally has been teaching us a dance to the Christmas favorite 'Winter Wonderland'. We all did smashingly well if I do say so myself. In fact, we did such an amazing job that Santa himself made an unexpected stop at WNC on his way back to the North Pole to let us know how great our performances were. I actually sat on his lap...and smiled!!!!

2 Year Pictures....Oh, and Christmas too!

My mommy and daddy took me to have my 2 year and Christmas photos today. It was actually a pretty adventurous experience for all involved. The photographer couldn't have been more comfortable with the two year old population (insert sarcasm here) . I wanted nothing to do with any type of posing or smiling other than my 'cheese' grin. All I kept saying was 'All done'. Anyway, we all made it out alive and the following link will lead you to my pictures....I becoming such a little boy!

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?r=1&e=3371052
Jacob Rivers
Pictures taken on 12/15/2007
Password: rivers

Grandma and Grandpa's Annual Old Fashioned Holiday Hayride...

Last night was my grandparent's annual Holiday (carolling) Hayride through Empire Ranch. The night started out with a fun gathering for drinks and dinner, then everyone got into the truck for a good old fashioned hayride through the neighborhood. Last year I was too small to go at all. This year because I'm getting over a cold and had a very rough day I was able to go, but I had to be in the truck with the heater, sweater, and big coat on. I was able to get out and join Julie, Dean, Hannah, Jack, Daddy and Grandma for only a couple of minutes.

I was grandpa's co-pilot helping to honk the horn and say Merry Christmas to passers by. My mommy also rode in the car because she didn't want to be in the cold.

Everybody else bundled up and got warm drinks. There were plenty of tunes to sing. All though the singing was a little off. Everyone sang when there was no one around and didn't know what to sing when someone did come outside. Also there was a lot of trying to sing difficult, can't remember the words to the song, type Christmas music which made for a great laugh! I laughed, I cried and at one point I announced to grandpa and mommy 'No more singing!' We made our way back to Grandma and Grandpa's house. I was so tried. I started telling daddy on the way home that I was 'sleepy!'

The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss...A Wacky Book of Opposites

My mommy really is a stalker!!!

Aidan's Second Birthday Party!

Today I was invited to my little buddy Aidan's 2nd birthday party. His party was at Jump Man Jump up here in Reno, and it was ALOT of fun! They have all these bounce houses. There was a huge slide that I went down with both my mommy and daddy. There was also a traditional bounce house that was super fun until I bit my tongue when I feel, and then there was a bounce obstacle course which had all sort of things including two slides that I went through about 10 times. Both my mommy and daddy went with me and I was doing so well climbing and wasn't scared of the slides at all. It was awesome because it was near impossible for me to get hurt and I had so much fun keeping up with my parents and the bigger kids. They have open bounce times throughout the week, so I hope we get to go back really soon.

We topped the afternoon off by having pizza and cake. I was a little cranky at this point. So much excitement. Plus we got a fun goodie bag to take home with a slinky, bubbles, glow sticks, balloons and more. Happy Birthday buddy! Thanks for inviting to such a fun party!!!

Of course with all the excitement of the day my mommy and daddy forgot the camera. Hopefully, Aidan's mommy will send my mommy some pictures so you can all see the good time we had. Stay tuned...

Daddy Can

My parents went to my daddy's work Christmas party tonight. Lindsay came over to watch me and we had a great time. I didn't even care that my parents left. I just said 'bye-bye daddy and mommy' and blew both of them a kiss as they headed for the door.

It turned out to be a pretty exciting evening because my daddy was nominated and won Employee of the Year for the RSCVA. He had no idea! He has worked there nearly 10 years, and really does deserve it. Both my mommy and I are very proud of this accomplishment and all that he does. He got a nice plaque and gift from the RSCVA president/CEO. Congratulations daddy, I think you are not only an 'Employee of the Year', but a 'Daddy of the Year '!!!

Santa Baby!

Tonight, I attended one of my mommy's Christmas work parties. This one was just for the Bureau she works in. There were lots of little kids of all ages. It was fun, and guess what??? Santa showed up! I was very shy with Santa and wouldn't even think about sitting on his lap. Finally, my mommy jumped in the picture and I calmed down enough to take a picture. Of course I wasn't really smiling. We had to work fast because I was on the verge of freaking out.

After Santa left, all I could say was 'Where Santa go' and 'Santa bye-bye'! I was all of a sudden very excited about seeing him. I talked about Santa and Frosty the Snowman buddy until I went to bed!

Second Birthday Celebration...

I celebrated my second birthday today!!! My actual birthday isn't for a few more weeks but my parents thought there is no better time to celebrate than now.
The party theme was Shrek and everyone including the dogs wore ogre ears. We even had Shrek bowling and an awesome Shrek cake...yummy!
Last year we had a birthday bash, but this year we decided to keep it simple and just invite immediate family. My aunt Holly and cousin Loren drove from Rocklin, CA, and my papa, grandma Karen and Bailey came up from Palm Springs, CA to help me celebrate the day. Even my 88 year old great grandma LaVerne made it. I don't get to see her often.
I had a great time but was a little shy anytime all eyes were on me. I got some very fun gifts including blocks (love, love, love the blocks), a baby Shrek doll, tricycle, a donkey doll from the movie Shrek, lots of books, puzzles, a pirate ship, clothes, and even an actual set of golf clubs with golf bag...yes, they make them that small...scary! These were quickly sent back to grandma and grandpa's house. Why, I'm not sure, but the dogs, TV and my parents breathed a collective sigh of relief.
I had a lot of fun chasing Hannah and Jake around the house. I love playing with older kids. The rest of the night I kept asking where Hannah and Jake went.
My papa, Karen and Bailey stayed till Monday night. It was great to visit with them and I now refer to Bailey, whom I'm quite smitten with, as Bailey Bo...oh sigh, the older woman.
Thanks to everyone who made my day special. Can you believe I'm actually two???