Walking Around the Sunny Farm

Isn't his matching coat/hat cute? Thanks Brook~

In case you didn't know, Jack is heavy...about 29 lbs now. So we're working on having him walk everywhere possible. On one of our rare Northwest winter sunny days, we took a walk around the farm. The gravel was initially a challenge but now it has been conquered! Sorry, there's no cute smile shots...Jack was too busy to look at us to smile....there's a world out there to explore!

Tarheel Mania

Tonight is UNC vs Clemson...at 6pm PST, you will begin to hear the hollering coming from the plateau...Jack & Tarheel88 will be watching & cheering on her team...We are up to #5 this week...who would know that Wake Forest is the new #1. The Dookies are still #3 (BOO, BOO)! Keep your fingers crossed!

Finally Eating Bananas

Actually holding a banana
& taking a bite of it~

You might be wondering what is so significant about eating bananas..they are healthy and most people like them...well....Mr. Jack took about 50 attempts to even keep some in his mouth. I had to tell myself over & over...it is not my "job" to have Jack like bananas or even eat healthy. My job as a mother (& director of nutrition) is to OFFER healthy foods. So offer I did. Over & over & over. At least 50 times. That took lots of patience and saying to him...so you didn't eat any of your bananas...that's OK, maybe next time. I would let him see me eating banana and make yum yum sounds...to tease him. It finally worked...one day, lo & behold, he actually walked over to me to take a bite of my banana.

So, I've been rewarded...he actually likes to bite the banana and even hold them now. Next we'll work on teaching him to peel his own. Tucker was my 4 legged helper through all this...he is one dog who loves banana!

Early Morning

Jack likes balls, yes throwing balls. He's not that accurate yet...but we are starting off with tennis balls which may be hard enough for a boy to break something!

On a cold dark morning, I'm typing softly. I hear Jack talking in his crib. He's awake, but I don't want him to know that I'm awake. It's 6 something AM. Jack is a morning person, like his mother. He's happiest in the morning. Sometimes, he goes back to sleep for an hour. A glorious hour...all you mothers of young kids know why I use the word glorious. A free hour!

It's been 3 minutes since he's said anything. A couple more minutes and I'll know that he is back asleep. I'm half way through my cup of coffee, so it really doesn't matter either way. I only need a few minutes to wake up and I'm ready to get going on my day.

Tonight is UNC vs Miami. Listen carefully, off in the distance, you may hear a happy, southern scream as we are winning...that will be from 6-8 PST!

It's been 5 minutes now...YIPPEE...he's asleep, what will I do with myself?

Random Musings

So, so sorry to all the blog watchers...I have no picture~! Can you believe it...no picture of precious Jack. You see, I'm on "pill hill, 6th floor" and no where near that big, black Nikon. Yes, work, I'm talking about. So my random musings about Jack will have to suffice for tonight.

Our boy is almost running around. I can lose him in the house now. I have to be very quiet (hard for a loud Tarheel fan) and listen. If it's quiet, something ain't right (a Southernism). We're working on holding hands and walking b/c my elbow (tennis, I've researched) is now hurting when I pick him up for several days in a row. My work shifts help my elbow recover...even picking up the rare 9 lb baby seems very, very light.

He loves getting into & back out of his new green wagon. He loves shutting doors. He has started climbing (very discouraged by Mom) and he first tried to climb up the drawers in the frig. He helps me do laundry by pushing the basket (every day I'm off b/c I'm OCD) and he loves to wrestle & fall down into the comforter. If I say, "1, 2, 3"..he will fall down on his back so I can "pin" him! He still likes to disassemble every night light and he drinks his "water" from my empty coffee mugs. He's just the sweetest thing that I ever seen...you know, a sight for sore eyes....Wow...I still have 17 years and 5 months of joy before he graduates from high school!

Jack & his friend Talon

The Boys Go Out to Eat

Jack's smiling but Talon's eyes are closed.
Talon's nice smile!

Jack & Talon are friends and as they get older, they are going to enjoy more "boy" time together. Fishing & hanging out with Dad are going to be a favorite activities. I'm smiling right now thinking this will me some free time for me.

More of Walking Jack

Yes, he walks all over the place and you will usually find either a Mommy or Daddy following close behind. Poor, poor Tucker has to move quicker to stay out of Jack's way. Sometimes, late at night, when Tucker is between us in the big bed, and Jack is sleeping soundly in his crib...I believe that Tucker forgets he is mildly irritated to have a little brother.

Nannie Came; Jack Walked

Jack walking in front of the Christmas tree! Note his proud smile...

Looking at the snow with Nannie

Love at it's best!

Last time when Nannie came (Tarheel88's Mom), she taught Jack to roll over--both ways! This time, she taught Jack to WALK! Yes, on 12/27, Jack started to walk all around the house after Nannie set up stations for him to practice. Now, there's no stopping him. As Emeril says, "Kick it up a notch"...that's how my eyes feel, b/c I'm always scanning the environment to see what he is doing.

Winter Wonderland

Chris & Jack
All Smiles!

Wow, the snow was a winter wonderland but the roads were like scarey icecapades & Jack loved to look out of the window at it....but he wasn't too keen on being very cold, but his new John Deer sweatshirt helped keep him warm.