Jack Finn Update: 3.5

It's been a while since I really updated on my first baby - the one who first opened my heart bigger than I ever thought it could go. My little Jack Finn has grown so much these past 6 months. It's incredible to see him become so bright and kind and caring and temperamental and opinionated. Like I was warned, 3 really is a tough age. So much emotion and overwhelming growth going on, but still a lack of reasoning skills and abilities. It makes it tough for kids this age to share, take turns, understand patience, listen, take direction and process big emotions.

These are all the things I tell myself on repeat when Jack is having a meltdown because I had the audacity to watch a "mommy show" on Netflix while he was playing. How rude, ya'll.

But it's getting easier. He's getting better at processing these emotions, and I am really grateful. We have rough days, but he's getting so much better at listening to me when I ask him to be quiet as I put Luna down for a nap. And he knows that as much as I wish I had a million hands, I only have two, and that means he has to wait for my attention sometimes. I hate that part. I hate having to choose between which kid I have to help first. With Daniel gone most of the time, there is just not enough me to go around.

Jack absolutely loves his sister. I've said it before, but seriously, I am really surprised at how well he's adjusted to being a big brother. I think had I gotten pregnant a year before I did, it would have been really HARD. But with Jack being a little older, he's been a lot more understanding that I expected and never once has taken his frustration out on her. Granted, she's only 3 months. We haven't entered the sharing toys stage yet, so I guess we'll see how things go then. :P

Size wise, my little guy is about 38.5 inches, 32 lbs and wears anywhere from 2T-4T clothes depending on brand and type of clothing. I can't believe he's been potty trained for almost a year now. Getting back into the diaper game has been not so fun (and expensive, although we're switching to full-time cloth soon.) He only naps once in a while now and that's a good thing. 

He's still crazy smart and loves to learn. We didn't do preschool yet this fall like so many other kids his age because we are still mid-move and I didn't want to get him enrolled somewhere just to have to move him. But I'm thinking maybe in the spring. I know it would be a big social benefit for him.

His favorite color is red, his current fave shows are PJ Masks. Miles from Tomorrowland, Puffin Rock and Scooby Doo Mystery Inc. He still has zero interest in watching full-length movies. Weird.

His fave foods include: chicken strips, tuna, toast, oatmeal, cereal, eggs, bacon, watermelon, blueberry Eggo waffles, bananas and sno cones. lol

He loves blowing bubbles, riding his bike, playing Pokemon Go and going swimming at his grammy's house.

He's finally started liking playing with some of his toys, which makes me happy that I didn't waste a bunch of money. Ha. His imagination while playing is pretty hysterical.

It's so amazing to watch your baby grow into an actually little boy. It's bittersweet for sure. Some days when he's whining and crying for me to carry him and I just can't, I try and remember that soon he won't ask for me to carry him at all anymore. And that breaks my heart. With Jack, because he has a tendency to act a lot older than his age sometimes, I get frustrated when he acts like a 3 year old. I need to be better about savoring these moments and this time with him. It goes by too fast.

Some days I can't believe I've been a mom for 3.5 years. Hell, some days I don't even feel adult enough to be considered a grown up. But here we are, all doing the best we can, I think. Jack really is my best little buddy. I can't imagine my life without him. I am so lucky to be his mama.