19 and 20 Months Old!

This kid.

Josie's 19 and 20 month stats: 30 lbs, 2T in clothing, size 5 diapers, mama forgot to measure height

Josie's new sentences:

• I see fish
• Statue baby cry
• Baby on top (referring to art Grammy made her)
• THIS IS MINE (referring to everything than can be seen)
• Hey you, babe!

• Ponytails. One, two!
• Bunny hop hop
• Mama, dada, work. Bye bye. (this one's a little heart breaking)
• Puppet mama, puppet dada, happy!
• Raffi sing Dodo! (Josie's favorite artist + her 2nd favorite song)
• Thank you! (which is pronounced "sank you")

And...at 3 am:

• Josie eyes, one two. Peek-a-boo!
• Colby sleeping happy. Woof woof.
• Hi mama! Hiiiiii!

Interestingly, she is really focused on emotions right now. People and inanimate objects are either happy (as in "Ball, happy!) or sad ("Baby crying."). She also notes when someone thinks something is funny (Steve Harvey laughing at his own joke - "Man, funny. Clapping show." or "Bunny, funny" while watching a bunny laugh on tv).

Josie's new tricks:
She recognizes books! She also makes you read 20 before it's time for bed.
You Are My Sunshine = Sunshine
Homes = Homes
Faces in Places = Faces
Not That Tutu=Tutu
Toot=Toot

Josie can brush her own teeth...or she can brush the area near her teeth. This video is a bit long but perfectly captures life with a toddler. Imagine all of the things you do during the day and then do them under water. Blindfolded.

She engages in independent play. It is every parent's dream to become a supporting character instead of the narrator, protagonist, antagonist, and school bus. Speaking of buses, this child is OBSESSED with Wheels on the Bus ("Mama, BUS!"). She makes me sing it the entire 15 minute drive home from daycare. When I run out of types of people and animals, I start using my environment. There's been a toll booth on the bus, a bale of hay on the bus, and road rage on the bus. One day my child will think I am insane but today is not that day.

In other Young family news:

We went to a petting zoo!
There are times when I am not sure Josie is really mine like when she throws fits and then there are other times when it's loud and clear. The delight this child took in loving on each and every goat melted my cold, dark heart.

We got a deck and a hoop!
Our deck isn't stained yet and obviously the outdoor furniture has been cast aside but we are so excited to lounge and play this summer. Here's Josie practicing for the WNBA.

Mama got a running stroller!
I've had my eye on one of these for ages and this purchase has kicked off our weekend ritual: a run around the lake, followed by smoothies and grocery shopping. You can tell we aren't training for the Olympics if we're willing to be smelled in public post-run but it's something to which I look forward all week. I joke that it's my version of religious practice. If you pretend really hard, this is not a man-made lake.

 I'll leave you all with a final milestone: Josie's first selfie. I found this on my phone a few days ago. #diva

Until next time!

Xoxo,

J Cubed

Wedding Details

Hello! Welcome to our family blog, which is doubling as our wedding website. Feel free to poke around after you've had your fill of wedding details.

*If you are reading this before your formal invitation has arrived, it's on its way.

Events

Friday, June 9th: Meet us out for drinks 6-9pm
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant - Burbank
145 S San Fernando Blvd., Burbank
(818) 569-5240

Saturday, June 10th: Meet us out for a wedding 6-10pm

The Phinney Residence

514 East Delaware Road

Burbank, CA 91504

Lodging

Holiday InnBurbank - Media Center

(818) 841-4771

150 E Angeleno Ave, Burbank, CA 91502

*They don’t accept room blocks but mention it’s for a wedding for a discount.

Avg. weather

Expect a balmy 58-79 degrees unless this #climatechange nonsense is actually a thing. You might want to bring a light sweater for the lower evening temps.

Attire
We're wearing wedding stuff. You do you. :)

Event parking

The Phinney Residence is private so parking is available in the neighborhood.

Gifts

Truly, your presence is our present so we'd be very happy to spend time with you. We mean it.

With that said, we understand people enjoy giving gifts. We have a home full of wonderful things, so if you feel so inclined, you are welcome to visit our Honey Fund in the event you'd like to send us off on our Italian adventure in style. 

18 Months Old!

Josie's 18 month stats: 29.2 lbs, 18-24 mos, size 5 diapers, probably 89 inches tall

Josie's new sentences:

• I shut
• Hug you = Pick me up, please
• Get you = We're playing chase and I'm going to get you!
• Baba juice = I want juice in a bottle but I know I'm too big for a bottle so I will accept a sippy cup.
• Pony = Look at my ponytail! or I want a ponytail!
• Mush = More please (said with the pleading charm of Oliver Twist)
• More sunny = I want to do more of this activity
• Beep, beep Colby = You're in my way, dog
• Steam = This was remarked after I dumped vegetables from a pot into a colander. 
• GAH-Leeee = Golly! 
• Mama work bye bye = Describing my recent work trip to Boston (insert sad face)
• Play me = Play with me or else I will hound you for the next 5 hours

Josie's new tricks:
She can spell her name! Jonathan did this brilliant thing where he substituted the lyrics to B-I-N-G-O and any educational psychologist worth her salt knows this is a recipe for retention. Of course every printed word she sees outside of a book spells J-o-s-i-e. Stay tuned - I'm trying hard to record this.

She can paint! Josie created a series of 4 canvases for Valentine's Day gifts completely unassisted. She'd finish one and then I'd put another in front of her and she would just go, go, go. She really loved painting, immediately exclaiming "More sunny!"

Of course, now every malleable substance has become paint, i.e. ranch dressing and yogurt.
                                                   

She can stand on her head. I have NO IDEA how she learned this one.

She rocks her babies to sleep with her favorite French lullaby, Fais Do Do. Josie is ALL ABOUT babies right now and we have about 25 distributed throughout our home. She loves hugging the baby, feeding the baby, and rocking the baby. She even holds the baby whilst coloring.

It sounds like someone is getting ready for Young family member #4. Her parents, however, are not. Yet. Although if we're being real, Josie's mama isn't getting any younger and many of her best eggs are likely residing in a retirement community in West Palm, spending their days playing golf and sipping Arnold Palmers. Not that anyone is counting.

In other Young family news:

Josie started daycare!

We started our first day with "Who Wore it Better: Toddler Edition".

Since then here's a summary of the feedback we've received: Josie is the most helpful and talkative "friend" in class and eats like a lumberjack, so there's that.

Auntie Ashie and Uncle Adam got married!
In the midst of a crazy blizzard, we had such a fantastic time! Just look at these two. <3 Josie was honored to be their Flower Girl. She needed a little coaxing down the aisle and her dada was the perfect escort.

We visited Jersey City and walked around our favorite park (where mama and dada got married)!

We also got to visit with some dear friends: Harper, Trish, and Gord. We were just missing Anna and Lucy!

We also hung out with so many other people we love, including Lilli and Brad, Pauly, and Mera among others.

Once back in Austin, Grandma met us there and we got to play for a whole month! Papa visited too! Below is a collage of Jojo and Grandma spending time together at Lake Pflugerville, our adorable man-made beach.

Josie and I had our first fight
I try very hard to be present and keep my phone away with Josie, except when I see a record-worthy moment (which happens often because I'm a first-time parent and think every sneeze, smile, and sneer should be on film). I had constructed a play kitchen the night before and wanted to take a pic of Josie playing. Well, as much as Josie appreciated the kitchen, she also wanted to surf the net so she toddler-ran over to me to grab my phone. When I said I was putting it away she marched over to her kitchen, collected an armful of wooden produce, and began to chuck it at me. Here I am, dodging eggplants and yogurts narrowly missing my head and trying SO HARD not to laugh. I knew I would meet this "Jaimie, don't laugh right now" parenting moment and it was as rich as I anticipated.
                                               
Finally, it was mama's birthday! My best present was this amazing card:

Until next time!

Xoxo,
J Cubed

A note on blog cadence from the author: For 18+ months, I've tried to capture the spirit of each unique 30-day span of Josie's life from milestones to mishaps and everything in between. Going forward, the blog will assume a different structure with smaller posts on remarkable events and longer posts to mark 2nd birthdays and major holidays. Thank you, all 5 readers, for your loving commentary and readership. 

The Bandaid Fairy

My father has guest authored before and it's time to invite his musing once again...Josie got a flu shot and had a bandaid she REFUSED to let us remove. Unfortunately she is too young for the Bandaid Fairy but I will delight in the opportunity to share this special creature with her.

 The Bandaid Fairy

by Peter "Grampy" Krause

When they were little, my kids used to love bath time, and that was a favorite time for me to be with them.  They liked the warm water, the gentle washcloth and the floating toys.  Being dried off was fun also, and we would sing a song I made up called "Dipeys and Jammys".  We all loved the innocent, sensuous feelings and special closeness associated with bath time.  This was especially true with my older daughter, until... one day...

Jaimie had a booboo on her leg and we had put a bandaid on it.  This bandaid stayed on for over a week, because Jaimie wouldn't let us remove it.  Whenever we would try, she would pull away.  She was five years old and she was smart, strong and clever; and there was no way she would sit still for us to pull off that appendage.  She already knew that it would hurt, and nothing we said could change her mind.  But she trusted me, and so, during her bath, when I was kneeling outside the tub, she let me put my hands near it because she had secured my promise not to pull the bandaid off.  But I did it anyway.  Jaimie screamed and then she wouldn't talk to me.  Period.  I had no excuse.  As far as Jaimie was concerned, I had broken my word, and was never to be trusted again.  Then, I had an idea.

When Jaimie woke up the next morning, she had two dollar bills under her pillow and a note from the Bandaid Fairy.  The note explained how proud the Fairy was that Jaimie was so brave about having the bandaid pulled off, and that not all little girls or boys would have been so good and so smart about the need to change the bandaid to let the booboo get better.  The Fairy said she would be watching in the future to see if Jaimie was just as brave when it came time to remove another bandaid.

Jaimie was absolutely delighted with this note and her gift.  This was her first "good fairy" experience, since she had not yet had occasion to meet the Tooth Fairy.  We never had a problem with her bandaid removal after that.  She usually did it herself.  And each time, there would be a note from the Bandaid Fairy, written by mom or dad, and usually accompanied by a dollar.

All good things, they say, must come to an end, and there came a point when Jaimie was eight, that she received her last visit from the Bandaid Fairy.  The Fairy left two dollars and a card (penned by my wife) saying how proud she was that Jaimie was now a big girl and didn't need the Fairy any more for the bandaids; but there were other little boys and girls who did.  Even though she wouldn't be writing any more notes or leaving any more gifts, the Bandaid Fairy would always keep an eye on Jaimie in case Jaimie needed her.

Actually, the Bandaid Fairy did make one more appearance in our house, for Jaimie's younger sister.  Neither my wife nor I can figure out who did it.

The author and the babe

17 Months Old!

Josie's 17 month stats: 28.5 lbs and 34.5 inches, size 5 diapers, size 2T in clothes

Josie's new words: Cold, dark, peek-oo (peek-a-boo), home, juice, ho ho ho!

Josie's new sentences (she strings thoughts together now!):

• Dada/mama, book
• I'm coming 
• More cheese (Parent: "Josie, say please")...peese 
• Baby sleeping 
• I don't want it
• I know what
• Beep beep 

Josie's new tricks:
In the spirt of the season, I'm delivering some of Josie's latest feats with some holiday cheer:

I think you saw Josie perform her first twirl last blog. Well now we've had to limit her to "two twirls only"! She's not totally hip to what dizzy means and will just spin and spin until she looks like she went swimming in the eggnog for a few days.

Josie rocked her first pigtails! Even though I am a robot super tough and strong, I honestly had tears in my eyes fashioning these two little head spouts. I mean, COME ON.

Josie can sortaaaa kindaaaa almostttt recite the ABCs. Check it out:

Josie's getting pretty good at memorizing some of her smaller books. She can almost read Peek-a-Who to us. It's a 5 page cardboard book with 8 words but it's still pretty amazing. Toot remains her favorite book and she'll bring it to you any chance she can. She also provides a toot ticker - that's right, folks. The Toot book has taught Josie to think toots are funny and newsworthy. She is her father's daughter.

In other Young family news:

We celebrated Christmas with Grandma, Papa, Uncle Paul, and Tia Crystal!

We had so much fun showing them our new home and town. We bowled (Paul won), played board games (Paul won), played video games (Paul won), and chased bubbles (Josie won).

We honored Josie's Jewish heritage with a time-honored Christmas tradition: Chinese food and a movie. For starters, I might be the only Jew-ish person in our town. It's either that or no one told the Chinese restaurants about said tradition. So, Chinese and a movie became just a movie. Fine, fine - at least I have my movie. We set out to watch Sing, an animated film that's one part American Idol and many parts animals. I bet you can guess what happened. Suffice it to say, we watched 1/3 of Josie's first movie!

We celebrated New Year's Eve with our dear friends Russ and Santi! We were on our way home by 9:00 and in sweats by 9:45. #partyanimals

I made this little side-by-side collage from last year's NYE to this year's. I really took for granted how easy posing for pictures once was. This little miss is in charge, that's for certain. Also, good to know some things like my super bright magenta lip color never change.

Stay tuned for our big New York City/Asbury Park adventure to celebrate Aunt Ashie's and Uncle Adam's wedding! Until next time!

Xoxo,
J Cubed

16 Months Old!

Josie's 16 month stats: 28 lbs and 34 inches, size 4 diapers, size 18-24 months in clothes, and about 75% the height of a giant Home Depot bear she refused to put down until her mama told her the following story: He is the Chief Hug Instructor and needs to return to the shelf to teach all of the other bears to give babies nice hugs while their parents shop at Home Depot. Without him the others won't know how to snuggle with their new friends. She nodded and waved good bye to him. She also blew him a kiss.  

Josie's new words (these require explanations so hello bullets): 

• "Walkka, walkka, walkka" which means "I want to walk". Special thanks to Grammy for turning Josie's polite little baby dictator command of "WALK" into this. In case you need a reference refresher:                                   
• "Happy!" Perfect parenting moment #43854: Jaimie and Jonathan (showing Josie the pic of herself below): "Josie, look how HAPPY you were last year to see Santa! Babies are happy to meet Santa. HAPPY!" Josie: "Happy!"  35 minutes later... "Josie, this is Santa! Happy, remember!?" "No Santa!" Please note her baby death grip in the photo on the right. 

Ultimately we decided it's okay to stand next to Santa and pound it out, a new favorite greeting.

• "Hooray!" She's learned this from the "If You're Happy and You Know It" song. I never knew there was a hooray verse, but so be it. This video is everything.

• "Again" and "more" are also recent additions, which pleases our mini dictator. She's basically Oliver Twist, sans manners. I recognize "Please sir, may I have some..." is a mouthful for a toddler but c'mon lady! You catch more flies with honey.
• New animal sounds of note include the ssssssssss for snake.

In other Young family news:

We spent Thanksgiving with Grammy and Grampy on a cruise and celebrated Grampy's 70 birthday! Josie was not impressed, but it's because she's can't count past 2.

That's a better birthday snuggle for Grampy!

We also snuck in a quick hangout with Cousin Pierce and Uncle Phil and Auntie Ale! Josie and Pierce remain disinterested in each other. :)

This towel turkey should win an award.

Josie experienced a series of firsts and had a blast in the baby pool with her new toy ship (not pictured).

We watched our first play, Grease! She was perfect and was riveted by the singing and dancing. We were truly amazed, given the chattiness of our child.

We got our first Cabbage Patch Kid! Her name is Kenzie Addison and she's perfect! Please enjoy the "then and now" photo collage. We are the luckiest to have such a thoughtful Grammie! 

We did our first TWIRL! I decided to keep in the part where she spins herself dizzy and I pounce like an overprotective mama bear.

We successfully used a fork for the first time!

We played our first round of mini-golf. Josie confused golf with softball, but it was incredibly adorable. 

Let's be honest: she smashes eggs into her face and I think it's adorable.

Off the ship and stateside, we kicked off a little holiday cheer!

We got our tree! It's Texas-sized and I'm waiting for the big reveal when the extended Young family can be pictured together (soon!).

We made our first gingerbread house with Jen!

Finally, we've got a big Young family announcement!

Jonathan will be the Director of Education at the Georgetown Palace Theatre. We're so, so proud of him!

Until next time!

Xoxo,

J Cubed

14 and 15 Months Old!

Guys, are you noticing a pattern here? Now the months are being paired. Pretty soon(ish) you'll see a blog post entitled 2-6 Years Old! Momma blogger fail.

Josie's 14/15 month stats: The vet says she's bigger than an average two year-old! 27 lbs and 33 inches, size 4 diapers, size 18-24 months in clothes

Check out our Blue Steel

Josie's new words:  One morning this week she popped out of bed and announced "Done!" to indicate she is finished with sleep and ready to start her day. She is a hoot. Other words include: cup, guy, girl, top, ut (combination of up and out), pumpkin, nana (banana), head, tummy (as she pointed out during a 3 am cry fest), and knee. This is getting harder to track because she says so many new things everyday. Josie does not stop talking - approximately 20% of what she says is English while the rest is adorable baby babble. Please enjoy our child attempting to feed herself whilst making animal noises. Folks, we have a multitasker.

We also have a KID! Jojo is no longer a baby, though she insists otherwise. She loves to name everyone in the room and in photographs. Josie is always "baby!" Actually, backing up a few weeks, Grandpa Bob was the first to receive a personalized nickname from the babe. She's been pointing at the mantel for some time saying "Papa!" We just thought she was recognizing Jonathan but then she was looking at a photograph album, pointed to Bob, and shouted "PAPA!" We have a Papa!

Josie made her first FISH FACE. Some parents swell with pride over counting or ABC recitation but not this mama. #swoon

Team No! has switched to Team K!
I've heard about the "no" phase from parents of two year-olds, but somehow it made its way to 13 month old Josie - LOUD and PROUD. Everything was no, even when she meant the opposite. She's finally adopted "K!" so she can tell you, very decisively, where she stands on food offerings, media selections, and evening book choices. It was surreal when we sat in the rocking chair last night next to a stack of books that were either welcomed or waved away. I love that she weighs in on story time.

Josie has feelings
I mean duh but keep in mind her heritage. As a Krause/Young she probably has more feelings than an entire playground of children. Lately she's been demonstrating some pretty intense empathy. She gets really upset when characters in books are sad and cries when babies cry on tv or when she sees this one photo of herself crying. Auntie Ashie play fainted when Josie gave her the first Josie kiss and Josie got super upset.

Josie plays soccer!
Of all of her milestones this month, the fish face and the soccer kicks are mama's favorites. She actually loves to kick her little ball around and she's more coordinated than some adults I know. Cough cough, Jonathan, cough cough.

Josie speaks French! 
Okay, not really. She barely speaks English however she LOVES to watch her favorite artist, Raffi, sing her favorite song: Fais Do Do. It's also mama's favorite song, which might have something to do with the title. Watch the video to see why.

Sometimes she'll fold her arms and sway to "rock a baby" and we know she wants to listen to her song. On the subject of sleep, Jonathan told me she put all of her babies to sleep the other night and "shh shh shh-ed" them as she rubbed their backs. Can you stand it??

In other Young family news:

We visited a pumpkin patch! Actually, we visited TWO - one with Grandma (pictured) and one with our Justice family friends!

Auntie Ashie had her bachelorette party in Austin so we got to hang out with her and Auntie Alyssa. Josie was giving Ashley a little side eye in her photo and Alyssa got a reluctant high five. Can't win 'em all ladies but trust this little babe loves you to pieces.

Speaking of bachelorette parties, Josie's so honored to accept the role of Flower Girl for Auntie Ashie's and Auntie Alyssa's weddings. We're already practicing not eating the petals!

We're having a blast brushing our teeth, although mama's toothbrush has been hijacked! Jonathan makes any activity fun and of course we have a brush our teeth song. I'll try to take a video for our next blog.

Jonathan is filming a sketch comedy web series this weekend - I'll be sure to post a clip on an upcoming blog. He also built a fire in our fire place for the first time! He also made us Meximarts. Grin.

I participated in the Color Run! The run itself was meh but the dance party after was so pretty!

Auntie Jen moved to Austin!! She's working at my company and the Young family is ecstatic! 

Finally, we're spending Thanksgiving on a cruise with Grammy and Grampy headed to Cozumel! Stay tuned for a vacation update.

Until next time!

Love,

J Cubed