The other night, Jacob noticed a flag at half mast, and asked why the flag was broken. I explained that President Ford went to Heaven to live with Jesus and Clarence, so the flags are at half mast. On the way to church this morning, Jacob pointed out "the flag mast" at the car dealership.

Jacob's new camera is really fun to download. You never know what you're going to see, and sometimes it takes a minute to figure out where the picture was taken (like the bottom corner of a doorway, or part of a shelf). His favorite thing to take pictures of is the ceiling, but there are quite a few pictures of his stuffed animals too. He even "helps" one of his stuffed animals take pictures with the camera, by using it's paw to push the button! It is fun to watch!

Tonight we saw fireworks in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard, and learned how to fondu. He liked eating things with toothpicks again this year!!

Tonight Jacob had a little New Year's party with his friend, Daniel. I told Jacob that we were going to have fajitas for dinner, and Jacob kept trying all of these pronunciations, trying to get it right. Finally, I said, "Fa-heat-ah...it kind of sounds like fa-EAT-ah". Jacob repeated it correctly, thought a second, and said, "Fa-heat-ah apples for lunch Mommy!"

Jacob and I were talking about What New Year's is, and that it is going to be 2007. We talked about how he is 2 years old now, and in 2007 he will get to have another birthday, and then he'll be 3. I asked him what he was going to do when he turned 3, and Jacob said, "Go to the dentist!!!" He is really excited about going to the dentist.

"When I get big, I am going to drive a big garbage truck...and I won't drive your car anymore!"

The kitchen looks like an art gallery with all of Jacob's projects. As we got Christmas cards, Jacob got to hang them up on the doors in the hallway. It was really cute because they were all at his level, about 3 feet off the ground, all the way down the hallway! He liked putting them on his bedroom door the most, and finally had to get a stool to keep adding to his door.

Jacob was also a great age for the cartoon Christmas specials this year (Frosty, Charlie Brown, Rudolph, etc). The first time he watches a show, he asks questions about it the whole time. The second time, he'll tell you all about what's happening during the whole show. My favorite is to hear him laugh out loud during a part he thinks is funny. His favorite Christmas cartoon was the Grinch!

Merry Christmas!

We celebrated Christmas all weekend with extended family, so this morning were the gifts from Santa, and Mom and Dad. Jacob loves taking pictures, so Nate and I got him a digital camera for Christmas. He took pictures of his toys, the tree, me taking a picture of him at the same time, and himself (see below) Santa brought play dough, and new art supplies. Jacob was busy playing until the afternoon, when he got the flu for Christmas.

Jacob has been learning his full name the past few weeks, and has started to learn to identify the letters on the refrigerator. He's also started connecting this to other people. He refers to Nate by his first name sometimes, instead of Daddy. Last week, we had Dad and Alyce over for dinner, and Jacob said, "Nate will sit right there to eat". My dad was caught off guard, and tried to correct Jacob, "You mean Daddy will sit there?" "No...Nate will" Jacob said. The other day Jacob referred to me as "Mommy Birkeland" because he didn't know my first name, so we've been learning that too!

Sledding around the yard.

This morning, Jacob and I were having a play dough party. All of a sudden, he cut out a heart, held it up to his chest, and said, "I love you Mommy!"

We celebrated Christmas with Carol and Grandma and Grandpa Hanson today. Jacob learned what mistletoe was, and liked asking people over to meet him under the mistletoe for a kiss. He still gets a little confused, and will tell people "Happy Thanksgiving" instead of "Merry Christmas".

Today the shuttle finally landed! Jacob has been collecting pictures every few days to decorate the hallway. We watched it land during dinner, and when the astronauts came out, said a few words, and loaded onto a NASA bus, Jacob waved from the dinner table and said, "Bye, bye astronauts, have a nice Christmas!"

Well, everyday lately, it feels like I live at the Kenedy Space Center. Jacob is REALLY into rockets, space shuttles, space, etc. When we back out of the driveway, Jacob counts "5-4-3-2-1-lift off!", as I switch from reverse to drive and start driving down our street. This morning, he said he had to put his "space mittens on, so my hands will not be cold in space". Tuesday night, Jacob got to go outside and see the shuttle and the International Space Center in the sky.

We were driving home and Jacob yawned out loud like a big sigh that sounded like "Ho, Ho, Ho". I asked him if that was how Santa yawns. Jacob said, "Yes...and this is how Santa coughs", and then pretended he was coughing.

Jacob heard a Chrismas song on the radio, and asked for it to be "turned up a little bit please". After it was turned up, he said, "Can you turn it up a little bit louder please...AND LEAVE IT LOUD!" He really likes Christmas music! He can tell you when "Joy to the World" comes on just by listening to the instrumental intro. The other day we were playing, and all of a sudden he started singing "Rockin around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday!" His favorite song is "Rum, pum, pum, pum" (The Little Drummer Boy) He always asks what the songs are about. When they first started playing Christmas music on the radio, Jacob kept asking "Who sings this song?" His little mind is always going!

It is so sweet to see Jacob pray. He is so focused, and as soon as he says Amen, he proclaims "I prayed with my eyes closed!" (We've been practicing that.) After prayer tonight, he pretend to pray so I could take a picture.

Tonight Jacob climbed up to the table for dinner. We had pork chops and green beans, and when Jacob saw his plate, he said, "The farmer grew these green beans just for me! I'm gonna eat the farmer's green beans...mmmm!"

After dinner, Jacob and I went to the grocery store to get a few things. We decided to go as "Santa's Little Helpers", and wear our Santa hats!

Today was Jacob's first Christmas program at church. He sings the songs pretty good at home, but he was more interested in watching the other kids during most of the service. He sang really loud for a few lines here and there, and did a lot of the actions. We were all sitting in the pew right behind Jacob, and the first time he turned around, and realized we were all there, he was so excited! He waved at each of us one at a time, and said, "Hi Kristen!...Hi Grandma!...Hi Grandpa!", etc. He was fun to watch!

Last night, we house sat for Papa and Nana. Jacob has his own little suitcase, so I got it out, and asked him to pack what he would need to sleep over at Papa and Nana's. (We talked about things to consider, but I was curious to see what he'd come up with!) A few minutes later, he brought it in the kitchen, even latched. When I looked inside, he had packed pajamas, clean socks and underwear, a blanket, Baby Fellow (his stuffed animal), and a can of play dough!

Tonight we went to a drive through live nativity. On the way home, Jacob said, "The sheep said Bah...Helloooooo there Jacob!" When we got home, Jacob wrapped his present for Baby Ben. He picked the paper and ribbon, covered it in stickers, and addressed the tag. He slowly thought aloud as he "wrote" Tooo...Bae...beee...Beeeeeen...Luuuuuv...Jacob!

Saturday we watched the space shuttle launch on the NASA channel. Jacob was totally attentive and asked a lot of questions. Now he launches everything into space when he's playing, and he says
"5-4-3-2-1-lift off". He's asked me to turn on the NASA channel for him several times now to see the shuttle. A lot of the time you just see the communication center on Earth, but today we got to see the astronauts working in space!

When we wash our hands, Jacob and I sing "Happy Birthday to You", so we know how long to wash our hands. I always pause and let him finish, "Happy birthday dear...". Lately, we've been singing to "Soap and Lotion" because that's what he sees on the counter, but it varies. Sometimes when we're done, Jacob will run down the hall, and come back with an imaginary piece of birthday cake for us to eat!

This is what Jacob thought up when he was playing tonight!
The sheep is visiting Baby Jesus in the stable!

Tonight we went to a community Christmas party. Jacob colored a picture, got a tattoo on his cheek, had a cookie and juice, and of course...put in one more request for playdough!

About 6 weeks ago, I decided to try Jacob in the 3-4 year old class for Sunday School. Since he's not quite 3 yet, I asked the teacher to let me know if he was too disruptive, or just not ready for the class. I was a little worried when the teacher pulled me aside this morning, but she had a cute story. The kids were working on activity sheets for today's lesson. Jacob saw the word "Jesus" on his paper, and said, "Jesus--J-E-S-hooooo-S---Jesus!" She was surprised he recognized the word Jesus and knew how to spell it. He has been really interested in letters, and spelling words with the refrigerator magnets lately, particularly spelling his name. He can pick out the right letters he needs, and usually figure out if something's not right (See video). The other day, he spelled out his name on the frig, but somehow he had an N at the end, he pointed to each letter as he said them, and said, "J-A-C-O-B---Hey!, That doesn't go on there!", and he started laughing!

Tonight Santa road down our street on a big fire truck
and waved at us!














Jacob likes to help put the dishes away in the cupboards.
I hand them to him one at a time, and he puts it in the right stack.
He hasn't dropped anything yet...knock on wood!!

We've been learning quite a few Christmas songs lately, some for the Children's Christmas Service at our church (Dec. 17 @ 4pm), and some just for fun. We usually sing songs before bedtime. Tonight one of them was Jingle Bells, and we talked about what a "one horse open sleigh" was. For prayers tonight, Jacob climbed into bed, folded his hands, closed his eyes all serious, and said,
"Dear Jesus,
Thank you for one horse open sleigh
Hey! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh
...and Mommy, Daddy, Jacob, Fellow
Amen"

This weekend we finally got to start Advent! Jacob can tell you that Advent means "Getting ready for Baby Jesus to be born". We are doing 2 Advent things. One has little numbered stockings with different surprise gifts inside, and the other is an Advent calendar that Jacob's Great-Great Grandma made, that I had when I was little. Each pocket has an ornament to put on a felt tree. Jacob is so excited everyday when it's time to do the Advent calendars!

Tonight we went to visit Santa, and Jacob finally got to ask for his new play dough. Afterwards, we went and got ice cream, and threw a penny in the water fountain. As we were leaving the mall, Jacob said, "But where is my play dough from Santa?" Then it hit me...I forgot to tell Jacob that Santa doesn't bring presents until Christmas!! He took it okay.

A couple people have asked about what to get Jacob for Christmas. Jacob loves doing things! So any kind of craft projects, things to build with (like Lincoln Logs or Tinker Toys), and board games for ages 3-6 (Chutes and Ladders, Hi Ho Cherry-O, Candyland, etc.) would be fun. He could also use some long sleeve shirts (button down, sweatshirt, or sweater) size 3T.

A few weeks ago, Jacob wanted to buy something with 2 pennies we found. Thinking fast, I lead him over to the candy dish, and told him he could buy "one candy corn, or one m&m for one brown penny". (Little did I know what I was getting myself into!) Now, one of his favorite things is to play store together. We have a coffee can for change in my bedroom, and he is really good about asking before taking any, but we really play it up! He comes in and says, "Um, excuse me...I would like to buy this toy tractor (or whatever) please". (It's very business-like!) I'll tell him what it costs, and when he pays for it, I'll say, "Here you are sir!", and Jacob says, "Thank you...have a nice day!" It is very cute! Until recently, we had just been using pennies, so he would have to sort the brown pennies out from the rest of the change in the coffee can, and count out the right number that it costs, which is good practice. The other day, his purchase cost "2 brown pennies, and one little baby dime" (which was something new). And once in a while something will cost "brown pennies, and a smooch!" He's so fun!