Future Blogger

Most of the time when I'm on the computer....it's when Jack is sleeping. Today, I tried a new thing...I gave him his own keyboard & mouse on the floor. It was an old one that I had around...waiting for the right recycling opportunity. He is working on his mouse control and learning to type with the hunt & peek skills we all use before our first formal class....maybe blogging is in his future?

New skills this week: the backwards belly crawl is frustrating him b/c he keeps getting further away from what he wants...he also clapped yesterday for the first time. We tried to get him to do it again today, but he gave us the look..."why are you two acting like such maniacs clapping for no reason?"

Another great Jack day....

It's Out, It's Out

Here's something that is always the highlight for me at end of August, the 08-09 UNC Basketball Schedule is out! http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082608aaa.html You know, it's the beginning of my memorization of the player stats, awaiting the preseason rankings, planning my UNC beat Duke party, & analyzing the schedule line by line. This year, no one has shrunk an inch....like Ty Lawson did between the last 2 years. Two years ago, he was listed as 6 foot, and last year, he was listed as 5' 11"...how is that I ask myself? Well, I've recently been remeasured and low & behold, I'm not 5'4" anymore....I've shrunk to 5"3 1/2"...gravity has now compressed my spine by 1/2"! Well, Ty is about 21 years old, so he shouldn't be shrinking!

Read my lips..."2009 National Champions..will be the North Carolina Tarheels"

So when I go to work, I must ask for 2 very important vacation days...April 4, for the Final 4 and April 6, for the National Championship game...

Yes, yes, yes, I did cheer for the USA Olympic basketball team....even though, HE, Coach K was their coach. There was even a close up of his "rabbit" look...you know, when he's mad, he contorts his face and "appears" to look like a rabbit...with black-(fake)colored hair, no doubt.

What's wrong with Uncle Roy's gray locks? Nothing...it shows wisdom & experience....which will help him lead my boys all the way to Detroit, MI to be crowned National Champions!

Finger Curls

Have any of you ever heard of finger curls? You know, you comb wet hair over your finger and when the hair dries, it's a curl. Jack was the recipient of the finger curl tonight. Tomorrow morning, it will turn into crib (aka bed) head and resemble an early morning Elvis interpretation.

First Sweater Vest

Jack officially only wears 12 month clothes now due to his over 23 pound weight & 2 1/2 feet height! Wow! He loved his Carolina blue sweater vest with matching seersucker (elastic) slacks...so he had a big smile sitting in the rocker! This is the (at least) 43 year old rocker that Grandma & Grandpa California gave us...the very same one they used to rock Chris when he was a baby. My boy looks a little preppy today, I think.

Farm for Sale: Memories Not Included

There are so many changes in your thinking after you become a parent and one is where you live...we love the farm & all that goes with it but it takes alot of work/time to keep it going. Now, we would rather focus on Jack and doing things as a family. Plus, the commute...all of you who know what that word entails...we want to spend less time in the car and more with our boy. Here's the virtual tour...see what you think.

http://www.tourfactory.com/443884

So Many Clothes, So Little Time

Here is the most beautiful (I'm biased!) baby in the world!

Learning the words to the Carolina fight song...or twinkle, twinkle little star...I'm not sure which...

He does like the feel of grass, which Chris preferred to crawl on concrete when he was a baby!

There are so many clothes to wear for so many pictures & at the rate that Jack is growing...he can only wear some outfits once. This was one of the cutest outfits we were given (thank you to whoever you are...I can't remember)....mind you, it's a 12 month size and Jack can't wear it anymore because he's too tall for it (no wedgies allowed for our boy!). So I dressed him for a few pictures and Daddy Chris (the best photographer, did the honors)....and of course, one without clothes...while we were practicing the Carolina fight song...

I'll Love you for Always

Today, we were reading books but we had to stop b/c there's a book that always makes me cry...it's the Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. Do you remember the lines?

A mother held her new baby and while she held him, she sang:

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be.

Jack was OK with it, because we read more and played with Pooh. He likes my sound effects from "It was a dark and stormy night on Pearl Street" from Kiss Good Night...

Naturally Loud

The wonderful mobile is almost over...Jack grabs it & swings it round & round and then has a smiley taste....

Like mother, like son....

Some people are soft spoken and others are loud. I'm naturally loud and it seems Jack has taken after me....Here's some pictures of his loud laugh/happy scream....

Most of you know, there's a big difference in happy screaming & unhappy screaming. I'll have to remember to get out the camera to capture the rare unhappy screaming....(it's hard to think when the air is filled with unhappy screaming)...

Tolerant Tucker and Tarheel Talk

Jack laughs & pets Tucker now but Tucker is rarely even faintly amused. Tucker does give doggie kisses & makes Jack laugh. Overall, Tucker has accepted his role as big brother, even with 4 legs instead of 2 and realizes that he is still alpha dog of the big bed because he's the one between the little girl and the little boy, while Jack (ha, ha) is off in his crib in another room....

The countdown is ON...in 3 short months, the new basketball season will begin. ALL of my boys are back...meaning, none went to the NBA. The value of a college education is priceless even if you are a multi-millionaire! Ask Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal--who are both college graduates...

My prediction is...drum roll....UNC will be National Champions in 2009...Jack & I are counting on it! In the meantime, we'll analyze the schedule, player stats, & wear our Tarheel attire...even if it is for only 2 hours until the next blow-out (and I'm not talking about when a superior team beats another one by many, many points!)

Bald is Beautiful

Well, Jack's hair loss pattern isn't in the pictures I found when I Googled "hair loss" but some interesting treatments where described...vitamin supplements, electric pulse treatment, and hair transplant surgery. He isn't a candidate for any of those but "scalp massage" sounded possible. Nannie had started using the brush to "stimulate hair growth" when she was brushing his hair, so I've continued this daily treatment. The funny thing is...I don't think it's going to work until some night time head positional pressure is relieved (aka sleeping in the same spot) has changed....Oh, that's OK...nothing to worry about because honestly, I think his little bald spot is beautiful!

3 Generations of Love

All smiles for the camera! Jack is 8 months old already...& he is almost 100% for weight & length...he weighs

22 pounds 11 oz and is 30 inches tall! How old will he be when we have to look up to him? My guess is 15 or 16!

He loved having his Nannie all to himself for 2 whole weeks...we miss her!