Goodbye 2015

I thought it was time for a quick family update before we end this year and start fresh again in 2016! I look the idea of a fresh start in a new year... what I don't love is that I rarely have what it takes to actually have that fresh start. Oh well... another story for another time.

Life in Minnesota is moving along quickly! I am still loving my job and all the crazy that comes with it! I've had a couple of very busy weeks with National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Kiwanis Holiday Lights and our Adopt a Family program for Christmas. I can't even say things are going to slow down because now we're gearing up for biggest signature event, Pedal Past Poverty. Maybe after March I'll have a little break! ;-) But I can't complain... I'll be leaving on a plane with my sister in less than a week to spend a week in Hawaii! Woot! 

Anyway, back to the job. The only downside is wishing I got paid a little bit more. But honestly, I love what I'm doing. I love making a different and helping others. And that really means so much more. In other news, I hate insurance. Being a small nonprofit, we don't have employee health insurance so I've been forced to work through the state for my Obamacare. Let me just say that I am all for universal health care. Let me also just say that we are not going about it correctly. It sucks. But you don't really want to hear about that. 

Austin is doing great as well. He's in between jobs right now, hopefully working on finalizing something more permanent and full time here shortly. He's been going to treatment and meetings and has just really shown what an amazing person he is. I'm so proud of him and all the hard work he continues to do. There is not a day that goes by where I'm not thankful that we're still climbing this sand dune. 

And the joy of our world - Jacob. Every single day, sometimes every single hour, we are simply amazed by our little man! He is growing up so quickly into a handsome little boy! First and foremost, he is a healthy kid. And we thank God for that every day. We can see the imaginative play starting to come out which is so fun to see what his little mind comes up with! His speech is getting better every day as well! We've been working on full sentences with him when he asks for something instead of just saying please. So when he asks, we tell him to say: "May I have _____ please?", repeating each word after us. Then we say the full sentence and ask him to repeat it. Well he gets so excited about getting what he wants, he blurts out a mixture of words and garble but always getting it what he wants and the word please! It's honestly one of the cutest things. Well lately, he's actually been saying the full sentence slowly in order! And then of course, how can we not give him chocolate at 7:30am? :) 

He likes to say goodbye to every one and every thing... "Goodbye Mickey. Goodbye House. Goodbye Grandma. Goodbye Michael (his monkey)." And then he always says "See you at home!" It's really too cute. As well as talking all the time (wonder who he gets it from...), he is really starting to sing along to his favorite songs: the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song, the Hot Dog Song (again Mickey Mouse), Row Row Your Boat, Jingle Bells, just to name a few. He also loves to dance! We have little dance parties all the time! He especially enjoyed dancing to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music! He even enjoyed some Karaoke at Christmas with the Zaruba side of the family! He was dancing and singing up a storm! 

We are not closer to potty training... sometimes I think we could be because Jacob doesn't like getting his diaper changed but I think it's mostly because he doesn't want to sit still that long. But we try to get him to sit on his potty but he's just not interested. And I've heard not to push it so that we don't turn him away from it even more. So we're waiting. 

He's such a polite boy, always saying please and thank you. He makes sure we pray before every meal and often offers to "sweep up" after putting his highchair away after meals. In fact, he even got his own broom for Christmas! :) He still LOVES Mickey Mouse, Frozen and bathtime. He also likes Cookie Monster and the Magic School Bus! We don't read quite as many books with him as we use to but hopefully that's something we can start doing again. He still loves books. He also loves to move! So much that we got him a trampoline for Christmas! It's a fairly good size one that is currently in my parent's basement. Jacob loves it! And I love that he has a place to get some energy out that is not the couch! 

He's also a huge fan of Christmas Lights. We've been to the Kiwanis Holiday Lights show multiple times with him and each time he is never ready to leave! He could look at those lights all day (or night!). He continues to work on the ABC's and counting. He can easily count until 10 and sometimes even to 20 (with some help)! He likes to sing the ABC's and while he may miss some letters while singing, if you point out a letter and ask him what it is, he'll be able to tell you. He also does amazing with shapes and colors! He's a pretty smart kid! 

And finally, he's not a shy kid. He might take a little bit of time to warm up to people, but then he's good to go. He'll talk and tell stories. And he loves to play with other kids... and by that I mean, run after them and get all excited! His older cousin Evie has learned that she can tell Jacob what to do have him follow her around, which is also pretty cute! And if he's warmed up to you enough, he'll always give you a hug goodbye! And of course, a "see you at home"! 

I think that's about it for us. We're looking forward to the new year and continuing to work on those things that we've recently started to take time to address - our relationship, communication, our own personal shortcomings, appreciating more time with Jacob. Life is short and we're remembering how to enjoy every bit of it. Let's see what 2016 will have it store! (Hopefully nothing too exciting??) :)