three, four, shut the door

It's not that I forgot that Jake passed the 34 month mark, I just couldn't figure out what to write about it. There isn't much baby left to him anymore, and I can only write about his obsession with trains and trucks so many times before it gets old.

The thing that has struck me down the hardest lately is the level of independence this kid has. A few weeks ago, I walked into the daycare and Jake wasn't around. I figured he was downstairs looking at the turtle tanks or upstairs taking a nap, but no. He was in the bathroom, going pee all by himself.

What? When we are at home I have to carry him upstairs, pull down his pants, guide his- um- aim, wipe the renegade pee off his knees, wash his hands, then do some sort of congratulatory dance until my eyes roll back. At daycare he does that all by himself. FOR MONTHS!

Then I find out that he makes his own sandwiches for lunch. Pb&j's, ham&cheese (or cheesenhamns as Jake says), plain cheese. What? He can spread? With a knife?

I didn't even know the kid knew how to walk down the stairs by himself. Mostly because I wouldn't let him. Our steps are steep. And wood. And plentiful. And totally navigable by my son. No more free rides.

Jake can fold his pants (I didn't even know he could take them off by himself). He can fold a washcloth. Wipe a table with a spray bottle full of water and paper towel. He can hang up his coat, untie his shoes, and put on his socks. Get this- he can pour himself a glass of milk, provided there isn't much milk left in the gallon.

I know I baby him on certain things. I didn't teach him how to undress himself because I didn't want him undressing himself all day. I didn't let him use a regular cup because I didn't want a mess. I didn't let him use a knife because I didn't want to ruin our No-ER-Trips-Ever run that we've been having with him. I didn't let him pour because I didn't think he could. I didn't let him use the bathroom because I didn't want my bathroom smelling more like pee than it already does.

I started a job chart with him this week. He has to put away his shoes, do a worksheet (more on these later today or tomorrow), hang up his coat, brush his teeth, feed the cat, clean up his toys, and help cook in order to earn his stars. He is happy enough with the foil star stickers for now, but I'm sure he will want more when the novelty wears off. I'll probably go back to giving him pennies when that happens.

At the end of the day Jake asks to go to bed. He sometimes asks me to lay with him but sometimes he just tells me that he wants to go to sleep alone because he would like to think about his day and plan for tomorrow.

He is really into privacy lately too. "mommy, i need some privacy. please go away. i said please? go away?". Gladly. I can get some things done that are calling my name. Like breathing.

And he calls me "mom" more often too, which I'm happy about. There is lots less pressure when you are a mom than there is when you are a mommy. Mommies have to do everything. Moms get to sit back and watch the show unfold from time to time.

And it's a good one.