Jonas update.

Jonas.

This kid.

Five and a half, and he owns my heart. Probably always will.

He's half way through Kindergarten, and sailing along beautifully.  He is so dang smart, constantly amazing me. He has his daddy's math mind, and Spanish is coming so easily for him.  He had a conversation in Spanish with a woman at the doctor's office a month ago, and I tried not to stare at the two of them with my mouth gaping open. She asked me if we spoke Spanish at home, and when I told her no, he is in the Spanish immersion program, she was impressed. To say the least.

While I knew Jo would do well in school academically, I worried a bit about him socially.  He is quiet, and can be really shy. He embarrasses easily, and I wondered what Kindergarten would be like for him, it being his first school experience without his mom as his teacher, and all.  The month before school started last fall, I questioned (and kicked, and doubted) myself, and my decision to enroll him in preschool with me, instead of with another school, and a different teacher.  But, when I sat down with his Kindergarten teacher at his first PTC in November, my social worries were washed away.  Mrs. Banks and I discussed his test scoring, and she smiled as she told me that Jonas was above grade level in every category, and that he was reading at a 1st grade level in both English and Spanish. (Way to go Jonas!) But, when we moved into the behavior section,  her face got a little serious.  She told me that Jonas is quite social.  He has a lot of friends, and the kids enjoy him because he is funny. She told me that Jonas even makes her laugh (that he is just so cute), but she'd had to move him around and change his spot at the rug, several times.  He's had a few yellow cards, but not a red yet, she told me.  Red means that you miss recess, and it seemed that Jonas understood how far he could take it, before he'd get that red card and miss out on his favorite activity of the day.  As Mrs. Banks talked with me about his chattiness, she looked at me funny, and I realized that I was smiling.  Smiling! Oops.  It's just that I was so relieved to hear that he was interacting with his peers, and that he had friends, and that his friends liked him. It made me smile. So what if he had been naughty, he is a five year old boy.  Shouldn't he be a little bit naughty? :)

Jonas lives for time with his Gram.  Gram comes over on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, to watch Piper and Jonas while I teach preschool.  Jonas picks out special outfits for "Gram Days", colors Gram pictures, and puts together little treat packages for her.  They read books together, build with Legos, and play the Wii.  Well, Jonas plays the Wii.  He's given Gram the special assignment of "Watching" him.  

Jonas is growing, like physically. Finally! I picked him up the other day to read with me in our chair, and he felt wider, thicker, and stronger.  I didn't like it. But, I sort of liked it.  He's a handsome little dude.  He is still, stiiiiiiiiiill the pickiest eater on the planet.  He's getting better, slowly.  But, still refuses to eat meat.  Luckily, he likes raw almonds, peanut butter, and black beans. (Not together.) So, he gets his protein in.  

Jonas is hilarious.  Just plain hilarious.  He always makes me laugh. He makes EVERYONE laugh.  He has the kindest heart.  He takes care of me, often asking  me what I need. He's not the best helper around the house. In fact, he's kind of mess when it comes to toys, and food, and putting his clothes in the hamper. But, the way he loves me? It's the best. He noticed a few months ago that I was going downstairs every morning after Ryan had left for work, to heat up my rice pack. Then I would get back in bed until Piper woke up.  One morning, several weeks ago, he took it upon himself to come into my room, and without asking me,  take my pack downstairs, and  heat it in the microwave for "2-0-0. Two minutes, Mom." So thoughtful! He now brings my pack to me, nice and heated, and climbs in bed with me to snuggle, nearly every morning.  Such a sweet little man.  I sure hope he always takes care of me.  

Jonas has become the perfect middle child.  Sandwiched between two independent, very much in charge, sisters. He gets what he wants from me most of the time, and pushes the buttons of Piper and Ellie appropriately.  The button pushing drives me nuts from time to time, but most days his sisters deserve it, and I secretly smile. He'd do anything for those girls, he really would.  Even if he pesters them:)

Jonas can't wait for Spring.  He boogie boards in the living room, Ryan is currently building him a balance board, and skate boarding is at the top of his list for spring activities. He still loves his Batmans and Transformers, but he has really been in to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Legos, of late.  The kid can build anything out of Legos, it's amazing.  (Have I mentioned he has his daddy's brain?)

I love this handsome dude, so much.