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.

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidaze 2008
“What a year it has been.” thought the big red dog, while he licked his chops. He thought of how much his life had changed since he had to share his little girl and little boy with a new baby, named Jack Christopher, born last year on December 3, 2007. Sometimes he didn’t like sharing them because he had been their one and only big red dog, but his heart understood when he saw the love in their eyes for their two-legged son. Baby Jack had grown from a 7 lb little baby to a 27 lb big boy, who crawls around fast and would soon be walking. The little girl and the little boy did their best to help baby Jack learn to play nice with the big red dog, but sometimes he had to run away from Jack to get some peace & quiet. The big red dog didn’t really mind, because he believed them when they told him what a good boy he was and how he was a very smart big red dog, smarter than even some one-year-old two-legged boys!
Life for the little girl and the little boy was very different now. They were busy helping their baby Jack grow and learn and taking good care of him. It was hard work but love helped them grow more patient and persistent. Their happiness had never been as great as it was when they looked into their handsome boy’s face. Of course, the little boy still helped protect the good people from the bad people and the little girl still helped sick babies get better but now it was much better. Because when they came home, not only was the big red dog waiting for them, but their baby Jack was there too…either angelically sleeping or waiting at the window with a big welcome home smile!
As Christmas time approached, the big red dog thought about his wish list as he stretched out to sleep in a rare sunny patch. He wondered if 2009 could possibly be even happier than last year and he hoped he could learn how to play with a one year old. Of course, he wished for more salami and hoped Jack kept dropping his food onto the floor from his high chair for him to eat. He thought about how grateful the little girl and the little boy were for Jack, their dream come true. When he saw the twinkle in their eyes, he knew they wanted to keep making happy memories with Jack, their boy that they loved so much. He knew there was enough room in their hearts to love both a four-legged and a two-legged son!
So each night on their little Northwest farm, you’ll find the little girl or the little boy rocking baby Jack in his nursery while the big red dog waits patiently behind the chair. After Jack is sleeping soundly in his crib, the big red dog gets a special pet if he hasn’t shaken his head and disturbed Jack with the sound of his flapping ears. Either way, they all go get into the big bed together and the big red dog still believes he has the best life that a big red dog could have…still sleeping between his little girl and his little boy!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you & your family!

Timing Christmas Pictures

So this is the one that I sent out...You can't see Tucker's face...but it was so cute to see Jack petting Tucker...brothers forever!

If you don't belly laugh when we see this one, you're not in the Christmas spirit...where's Chris' head?

Chris had a big smile in this one, but I didn't use it because I wanted Jack to be the best looking one in the photo.


So, we tried to take our own Christmas picture, using the timer on the camera. So Chris would set the timer and try to rush back & get Tucker into position. Tucker isn't interested in looking at the black Nikon. Jack is most interested in Tucker...both of them wondered what all the fuss was about. Chris & I both got our workout for the day. You'll notice that Chris & Jack have on their matching Carhart overalls....or overhalls (that's how Mama says it!) So if you were wondering why our Christmas picture wasn't like the perfect professional ones that you receive from other people...these were the ones we had to chose from...

Jack's First Acting Role

Jack Checking Out the Gifts Brought By The Wise Men

Jack played baby Jesus in our church's Christmas program. He didn't cry b/c I held a piece of paper up in front of my face...so he couldn't see me. He was a handful for Mary (aka Kayden) because he wanted to play with the gifts, brought by the Wise Men. He did a great job and enjoyed all the wonderful singing!

It was the first of many times (I'm hoping )when I will have a big grin on my face, beaming from ear to ear....& thinking...yes, yes, he's doing a great job...& he's mine!

Christmas is Coming

Jack's Leaning Tree

Christmas is coming faster than I thought...Jack has enjoyed his "little" tree and taking the ornaments off the big tree. The tree fell over and he could reach even more ornaments!

Stats for 1 year Ped Visit

So, no one was correct for guessing Jack's 1 year weight....even me & I lift him multiple times a day. He weighed 27 pounds and was 31 1/4 inches tall! Wow! Still staying on his growth curve of 90-95%.

First Haircut

The Before Picture
Sitting in the chair, enjoying a speed racer

Jack & his barber, Lynn

Chris helped keep Jack distracted and still :)

I've been wanting to get Jack's hair cut for awhile now, but Chris was hesitating. He wanted Jack to have a ponytail Steven Siegal look. He's so "pretty" that some people were mistaking him for a girl (despite the usual boy clothes). So, finally, we went to Dick's Barber Shop and barber Lynn did the honor. Jack turned his head (quickly) and had a little poke in the ear, but otherwise, he sat still on Chris' lap and enjoyed the new toys. We saved some of the hair and even got a 1st haircut certificate.

I'm both happy & sad that we did it...Jack looks so old now...so grown up! I'm certain that I'll have many more of these moments until one day when I look at Jack and he will be a grown man. But for today, he's still my 1 year old baby, who has a nice big boy haircut!

Birthday Success

Jack actually enjoyed his birthday party...he didn't cry at all....even when Chris blew out his candle before he made his wish. Jack tried to touch the flame and voila, the flame was gone. The picture is a little small...but guess what type of cake Kjersti made for Jack...a Carolina blue basketball cake! Isn't that appropriate when you're Mom is Tarheel88? Of course, on April 6th, we will all be happy when UNC is crowned National Champions! Of course, basketball season week #4 and we're still #1!! Those dirty Blue Devils have inched up to #4 and I have to wait until 2/11 to see us beat them in their house!

Tomorrow!

Jack always has a smile for Mommy & Daddy!
Jack isn't happy that Mommy is taking off the plastic bag without his help!

Jack loves the toy but is wondering where the plastic bag is going....

Thank you for all my presents!

Tomorrow, tomorrow is the BIG day...our boy will be ONE! We received a birthday box from Grandma/Grandpa California and we opened it a day early. Jack was most interested in the ribbon...and the plastic bag that held the present. Jack loves plastic bags but you know the warnings that are on all plastic bags...CAUTION...do not give to babies & small children due to the risk of suffocation.....so Tarheel88 decided that it's not a good idea to let Jack play with these...(I have been educated beyond my intelligence!)....can you tell these are tired ramblings...

Jack was so excited to play with his Leap Frog Baby Learning See & Learn Driver! He is going to love his birthday! Thank you!

Safe & Sane

We have a new way to keep Jack safe (& us sane, sometimes) and it's called a play yard. It's the ultimate in baby proofing. Don't tell anyone that it appears that we have put our beloved boy in a C-A-G-E....

Sometimes he's happy (usually when we are inside with him) or he's actually playing with his toys and sometimes he's sad (like the photos above). But at least, he's safe.

Top Ten Most Loved Things About Jack

4. Seeing how he looks at Chris and how cool it is to see a Daddy & his boy playing!

A Grateful Heart

During this season of thanksgiving, I have so many blessings in my life. First and foremost, I had the opportunity to go to the best university in America (UNC), actually graduate (in 4 years), and watch many, many basketball games where they beat the socks off their opponent.

Are you laughing yet? I am...I'm not THAT shallow. Of course, I like UNC basketball (even though I have recently totally missed watching one game due to a time difference calculation error....usually, I'm translating east coast time to pacific coast time but I had to translate from Hawaii time & missed it by 2 hours!)...

I am so grateful for our boy Jack, my husband Chris, our big red dog Tucker...many family & friends that make my life so happy!

THINGS MOST LOVED ABOUT JACK

5. The smell of his hair after his bath...so, so sweet!

? Future in Football

You know & I know that Jack looks like he will be a football player. I'm wondering would he like to play on the offensive or defensive line? He is already practicing his tackling...he came up with his own "pretend" tackle dummy...his high chair. He pushes it around and was really proud of himself for pushing it down 2 steps while I was trying to take a picture.

Whenever the football topic comes up in conversation, I whisper "kicker" in his ear! I don't want my boy to get hurt and kickers rarely get tackled!