2 Peas in a Pod

Today are just some random thoughts bouncing through my wooden head....

I've noticed that I don't second guess what I'll find when I open the door to Jack's room anymore...you know the thought, that instead of finding my boy sleeping in his nursery that it will be the old second guest room with my messy craft table in there. I was afraid for a long time that I'd wake up from this long, long wonderful dream where yes, it really, really happened...I had a baby & he's my Jack!

So even in my subconscious, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, my dream came true!

Now, back to reality...

Jack's almost mobile. He's belly crawling backwards which really irritates him when he gets further away from the toy that I'm trying to tempt him with....He's getting up on 3 extremities (1 leg to go) and then he'll be off. So my world will become more intense very, very soon.

Everyone says how beautiful he is and I agree....he is so darn cute. What will I do when he gives his heart to another woman (in 25 years, no doubt).....I hope I'll be ready for that....but for now, he's mine, mine all mine. What a wonderful time this is!

PS: November 15 is the 1st official UNC game...so only 75 days to go!

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!

Jack's Best Friend

When Jack sees his best friend, there is a special twinkle in his eyes....his mouth opens into a big 2-toothed smile and he bats those long eyelashes. His whole body tries to jump to get closer and he's leans his head toward her when she hugs and kisses him. He has reserved all his neck sugar for her and she partakes frequently! What a bestest friend in the whole wide world---his Mother, Tarheel88!

Here are some of the latest & best pictures of Jack & his best friend!

1-800-NANNIE

The 2 weeks was way too short but not more than 5 minutes passed by without Jack getting kisses from his Nannie. He learned how to speed dial "1-800-NANNIE" so she could tell him secrets in his ear...We sure do miss her and of course, Jack cried more today because he wasn't as entertained as he was during her visit. Nannie taught Jack how to turn over from his back to his stomach and thought up new ways to disguise the taste of rice cereal. She gave him some super sink baths and made him laugh alot. What will I tell him when he grows up & asks me why we had to live so far away from so much love? We'll see her again in 10 short weeks...

Jackets in July

Nannie's here! Nannie is the name that my Mom uses & boy is she the best Grandma, I mean Nannie, in the whole world. Today, we took Jack to a park and he swung for the first time! He loved it! He saw his friend, Sean, and we had fun walking in the park with my friend Celia. Yes, it's summer, but sometimes, it's cool enough for jackets in July...

Jack's Shirt Reads "Property of Tarheels"

Here's Jack doing his standing exercises with Chris...He's happy as long as he doesn't know he's actually standing. There's no fear and probably won't be for a while, I've heard.

Jack is slowly sleeping longer (now up to 10-11 hours at night) and we are very rested parents. Gone are the newborn days when you hope to sleep 3 straight hours. He looks so beautiful and peaceful when he's sleeping.

I'm starting to feel what other parents describe is a normal process....you start telling yourself that the long pregnancy wasn't that bad and the sleeplessness of the beginning was pretty short...it's a process of convincing yourself that yes, you could do this again, maybe. That's when I get a little sad, knowing, that Jack is an only child and each stage that passes is gone forever. Then I have a moment of anger & sadness b/c I know that infertility robbed me of having more than one child---in my 30's instead of my 40's. The feelings pass when I hear my Jack laughing from the family room, where Chris is feeding him his morning bottle. One is OK, I tell myself, especially at my age. I will want to say goodbye to Jack in 18 years as he goes to college because I will be closing the gap to retirement...Wow!

Jack Likes (Plastic) Crab Legs

Jack enjoys bath toys and his first favorite is the orange crab above. He's also starting to enjoy his 1st/2nd fingers and occassionally his thumb. The pacifier is past tense now...rarely to never does he want it, which is fine by me. It will be a few years before he gets to try real crab legs!

Standing Jack

Jack Was Worth the Wait

Jack loves his exersaucer and his little (fat) feet look like he's doing the river dance!

Jack is 7 months today! Tomorrow is 14 years of wedded bliss....so many celebrations....Here, he's wearing his outfit that says..."I was worth the wait"....a wonderful gift from Ann N....one of my friends & mentors from Children's. Thanks Ann for believing it was going to happen! She bought this outfit way before Jack became a reality and that was a real gift of hope to inspire me!

You can see Tucker in the background...on is "Dog" bed...can you believe it? Tucker is now a (gasp) dog! He thought he was a person for so long and even sat on his green chair but now...he has to sit on a dog bed. He curls up and sleeps through all the noise & commotion. His life is still better than 95% of all other dogs...so don't feel sorry for him. He still sleeps between us on the king sized bed with the suede duvay cover....what a life!

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.