Lee and Julie Jacobsen: Elaina and McKay update

Hello Family,

I've been super bad at keeping this blog up-to-date. It feels like it doesn't matter because we talk to most of you on the phone fairly often, but then I look at all the pictures we've got that no one has seen. :( So I'm posting them here in an effort to help everyone catch up visually. Here's what the kids have been up to.

Elaina:

Elaina's growing up so much. She is a big help around the house and keeps her brother in line. Our only worry is that she thinks she's in charge half the time. We're working on that, but it's going to be a tough battle. How do you stamp out bossiness while encouraging leadership? If anyone has any hints, let us know.

The other day, she went into the garden and picked some basil, because she wanted tomato soup. I was already making dinner, and didn't want to make a new meal, so I told her that we'd used up our garden tomatoes (which we made soup with previously) and that I was making wings for dinner. Undaunted, she went to the pantry and said, "Mommy! I found some more tomatoes!" She got a can of tomato paste, and gave it to me with her basil, then asked if she could make soup. So I let her! I opened the can, and told her what to do, but she made it herself, and even cut up the basil with a butter knife. But she didn't stop there! She then got out 4 bowls from the dishwasher and served them up, setting each bowl on top of a plate like I do for fancier dinners. She completely set the table, and called everyone for dinner. It was so cute, and really showed me how capable she is. I need to put her to work more!

She also is doing fake preschool with me here at home. We have Grandma Jake to thank for that! Grandma started doing a few school-like lessons with Elaina when she was here in June, and Elaina's been asking when she could go to school ever since. So I got her a folder and a little $5 school bag, and started a free online pre-preschool course that is going through the ABC's and all the sounds that go with. She really loves it, and some mornings it's the first thing she asks to do. It's fun time for the both of us, and she can now look at a newspaper heading or a title of a book and say, "Look, mommy! I see 3 A's. Do you see them?" It's fun.

McKay:

McKay is an adventurous little dude. It gets him in lots of trouble, but he is learning. He really likes to climb, dance on the table, push things off the counter, spread butter in his hair, throw mud up against the house, you name it. But he's a true boy, and I suppose that's what you can expect with boys. He is so sweet and affectionate for a little toddler. He loves to give mom, dad, and even reluctant Elaina hugs and kisses. He also likes to give my hand kisses when we're walking together. What a sweetie! That and his big grin make up for all the messes he tends to make.
He also seems to be getting stronger, immune-system-wise. He's been sick for about a week, and hasn't developed pneumonia, which is promising. He's even needed his inhaler a few times, which used to be a sure sign that an emergency-room visit was coming, but we've avoided it so far. He's still coughing though, so I guess we're not out of the woods yet.
So, McKay LOVES water. He's not scared about it at all, and absolutely loves going all the way under. It started a few weeks ago in the bath, he began lying down in the water, like he was trying to float on his back. Then we set up the pool in our yard, putting our slide in the water to see if he'd go down it. He wouldn't STOP going down it! Face-first, right into the pool of water. Then we went to a water park here called Blue Bayou, and he just couldn't get enough. Lee was even dunking him all the way under the water, and he'd always pop back up with a huge grin, giggling his head off. Sheesh. We really have to watch this boy around water now. He thinks he's a fish.
McKay still doesn't talk much. He jabbers all day long, and sings the "clean-up" song. He says "apple" for any kind of food, and "wa-wa" for any kind of drink. And he says "go", and "abook" for 'read me a book, please'. And sometimes I think he says "Lina" for Elaina. Other words like "uh-oh" and "oh no!" when he makes a mess. But that's all he says on a regular basis. Hmmm...oh well. It's not like he doesn't hear enough talking. Maybe he hears too much and wants to set an example?