Wearing Carrots: Up Close

I remember seeing lots of dirty faces on kids before Jack and wondering, why don't they (the mothers, whom I was so, so jealous of)...why don't they clean those dirty faces more often. They could even ignore the carrots that were all over the face. Now, I know....it's all about priorities. Well, it's also about time management, which is about priorities. Now, Jack's face is sometimes dirty and I may appear to be ignoring it...but it's b/c it's the best thing for Jack at that moment to have a dirty face. I pat myself on the back and tell myself (positive self-talk, instead of the usual motherly negative self- talk)...you are a great mother!

Wearing Carrots

Jack loves eating...carrots & sweet potatoes are his favorite veggies and spinach is great too. He loves fruit with applesauce & pears at the top of the list. He does like to wear his veggies too!

Jack likes to laugh and does alot of it when you are dancing with him....like here with Grandma California.

His Real Name Is.....Chris

I've been thinking about the names that I use on the blog..specifically, I'm Tarheel88 and Mr. Tarheel and I've decided to make a bold move and tell you that I've decided to call Mr. Tarheel by his real name...Chris. Most of you know this already, so why try to remain anonymous? He actually pretends to love (like) the Tarheel games as much as I do, but really, calling him Mr. Tarheel, is pretty dumb and inaccurate. He really only tolerates the Tarheel games and uses his concentration skills to listen to everything I have to say about the team. He knows that he won't be watching the Discovery channel or the History channel when my games are on and sometimes, he quietly leaves to get on the computer. If I have paused the game, he is sure to look up the score in real time and tease me by giving me the look of knowledge and asking me if I want to know who wins...but despite all this, we are madly in love with each other and our boy Jack!

Jack's Back!

I'm back...so, so sorry to all my readers for the long 10 day hiatus....I'll try to be more polite next time and give you a heads up. I've worked 3 long shifts and enjoyed a visit from Grandma & Grandpa California! Boy, oh boy, Jack loved having all their attention! Thank you for everything! Having grandparents visit is like calorie- free ice cream on a hot afternoon---so, so grand!

Future Sheriff

Notice the 3 yellow stripes on Daddy Tarheel's left sleeve...yes, today was his first day as Sgt...Jack was all smiles as he was wishing Daddy a great first day! Jack has his own (play) badge and it reads "Sheriff"!

Happy Father's Day Daddy Tarheel

Jack wanted to put the sign in his mouth...but it says...Happy Father's Day 2008, I love you...Jack Christopher.

Once upon a time, there was a very special Daddy, the kind that every son wants to have. He was the best father in the entire world. He was so special because he never ONCE verbalized (aka complained) about waking up in the middle of the night to help his baby boy. Even when he was double dog tired and Mommy just kept sleeping through the crying....he would jump out of bed, wash his hands, and help his son. There was a special twinkle in his eye when he talked to his son and the son always gave back a big smile and the "look" which said....I know I can count on you! Thank you for each and every moment...you are THE BEST!

First Tooth

Here it is...the first tooth after weeks of constant drool, a neck rash requiring hydrocortisone, doses and tylenol and motrin, and realizing that owning 30 bibs isn't enough not do laundry for 4 days....Jack's first tooth erupted on 6/10 and is making progress....

Flexible Jack

The Olympics are almost here and Jack's practicing his baby flexibility....yes, he can & does suck his toes. He prefers his big toes. Here he is doing his hamstring stretch...without the pain that will be involved in another 40-50 years....oh, to be young again....

Jack's Remote

It's only just begun...the battle in Seattle....over the remote control! Jack wants to grab everything now...even MY remote...so we have an extra one and gave him his own remote...sans(without) batteries. He's happy now!

Sitting Jack

I'm sure every mother feels this...but Jack is the most beautiful baby in the world. Maybe it's the hours and hours that I spend looking at him because I see other babies at work who I think are beautiful too. But no other baby melts my heart like Jack does. Here he is...an almost, non-supported sit. Mr. Pooh Bear isn't really necessary anymore to help hold Jack sitting up....he's so proud of himself...

Jack Likes Avocado

Jack's first food was rice cereal, then sweet potatoes (Daddy Tarheel chose this southern veggie, while Mommy was working)...and then...drum roll.....avocado! Now, we bi-coastal parents (one being from CA and one from NC) have to alternate our veggies....Sweet potatoes was first, then we have a classic Californian favorite veggie. And Jack loves both...like he loves both his parents!

20 pound Boy

I'm sure all you picture hungry people were wondering why didn't I post some pictures of Jack @ 6 months yet....well, I hadn't taken them yet...

We took Jack to Dr. Brian for his 6 month visit and here are the stats:

Jack is

20 pounds, 6 oz---can you believe it? And he is 27.75 inches tall---both of these are in the 90% percentile. His head is 75%--which is OK...& normal....& in the normal range (ha, ha). So here is a sample conversation between me & Dr. Brian:

From Mommy Tarheel...."now, Jack can roll over and has rolled over, but doesn't like to roll over very much. The Denver (a developmental scale) says that he should be rolling over @ 5 months...are you concerned?"

Dr. Brian, smiling.."look, he is sitting with minimal support and those scales were developed when babies slept on their stomachs, so there's no cause for concern."

Then Jack looked up and rolled over! Daddy Tarheel & I both laughed!

6 Months of Joy

Well today, Mr. Jack Attack, is 6 months old...I can't believe how fast it has gone or how slow all the long, sleepless nights have been for us over 40 parents. Each day is filled with it's joys and challenges and I have never been so very grateful for a gift from God, than for our baby Jack. For so long, I felt so angry and directed this toward God and others, when in all reality, I was angry at myself. Misplaced emotion, I call it. And so much wasted time and energy...

The anger has receded and even the relief. Yes, there was so much relief, when I saw Jack, born @ 37 weeks, and he was healthy. I'm glad of who I have become because of this process. Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't like walking through the fire. I resisted at every step. But, I have become the person that God saw would be the right person to be the mother of Jack. But the waiting was so agonizing.

So now, we're about the business of parenting Jack. He didn't come with a manual for an over-analyzing & sometimes controlling Mother. I'm sure there are more fires to walk through...maybe I'll remember faster next time (I really am a smart person, not as smart as RaRa, but almost)....there's value in the journey to your destination and hopefully, I won't waste so much time on misplaced emotion.