A Tsunami of Development

Well, I've certainly been neglecting this blog.  I have about 2000 (no exaggeration) photos to go through from our travels back east and it's just too daunting to sit down and do at 9pm.  So I thought I'd just do a little post about what Jack's up to.

I swear, in the past 6 weeks he's aged light years in terms of development.  He hadn't really been saying much before that but now he says a lot!  Since I can't seem to write coherently right now, I'll just make a list of all the cool things he's doing:

1.  Saying about 15 of 26 letters of the alphabet.  And he can recognize all of them and pick them out.  Loves his fridge magnets!  And loves to yell out "O!" and "S!" and "D!" etc when he sees letters on signs, posters, and papers.

2.  Can say about four numbers (#8 is his favorite) and loves counting everything.

3.  Pretty much insists on feeding himself with a spoon rather than taking mommy's help

4.  Says new words every day much to his mother's shock.  We'll be reading a book and suddenly he'll yell out "tree!" or "cat!" or something he's never said before.  And I feel like he's understanding the books more.



5.  Loves the color blue (it's the one he can say) and only wants to wear blue shirts in the morning.

6.  Appropriately says "hi" and "bye" when people come and go.

7.  Since he rests his head on daddy's shoulder and daddy pats his back, he has started to do the same to daddy...pats his back to reassure him it's okay.  Pretty cute.  Combine that with his now perfect pronunciation of "dah-DEE" and it's just too much.

That's all I can think of now but I know there's a billion more things.  Oh well.

And, as a bonus, just because I think it's cute, he makes the funniest sound for his "where?" when we're reading a book. It's kind of fake because he usually knows where the animal or picture is, but he makes the noise anyways. So cute.

 

18 Months Doctor's Visit

 

 Well, not much to report on this visit. As usual, the little guy was not into having the nice doctor examine him. Hated getting weighed, hated being poked and prodded. But he emerged with two new shots and a nice Spider-Man sticker which made it all okay.

 He actually weighed less than I thought (he feels so damn heavy after carrying him more than 5 minutes!) Here are his 18 month stats:

 Weight: 26.2 pounds (55th percentile)
Height: 33.5 inches (80th percentile)

 Go Jack!

18 Months Old!

Well, we're a little late but here are the little guy's 18 month photos.  Can't believe he's a year and a half old!  He is certainly enjoying these little photo shoots less and less.  He would hardly sit still for this one.  Just wanted to run and jump all over the couch.  But we managed to get a few good ones.  Enjoy!

pointing out all the "o"'s to me

my assistant was very helpful

We're home!

 

 We are back from our trip and settled in nicely. Jack woke up at 4am this morning ready to go so hopefully we can get him back on west coast time asap. I have SOOO many pictures to post but I have a few things I have to get done first. Sadly, this blog falls into the "optional luxury" category of my time. But we had a blast and I can't wait to share the pictures!!

18 Months Old! (a placeholder)

Well, sadly I don't have any pictures to publish today because we are traveling and I didn't want to take the photos a week ahead of time.  That would be cheating!  But I will take them when we are back in a few days and post them pronto.

In the mean time, my little guy is a year and a half!  Happy birthday Jack!

Week in Review - 8/11/12

 

 Well here are the pics from our week at home before we fly off to the east coast. Cute as usual. :) Jumping is very popular nowadays.

 

 

 And here are the rest of the pics!

 

reading with daddy

still have to work on his spoon skills

drum class at the park

asleep in the car...but doesn't want to let go of his laptop toy

chewing on a straw...just like mommy

beating the 105 degree heat

playing peekaboo with the curtains

And we're off!

 

Today we leave to fly to the east coast for an epic trip that will take us from DC to Philly to Harrisburg to New York state to New Jersey to Manhattan. We are excited to see everyone and nervous about our little unknown that we like to call Jack. How will he handle it? Scream on the flight? Not be able to sleep at all in a pack n' play? Continue this recent behavior of being a grumpy toddler who likes to say "no"? Truthfully, he'll probably be fine. We'll see. You'll certainly hear about it when we're back. 

Regardless of how he acts, he sure looks damn cute in his new backpack that's ready for travel. Thanks Grandma!

 

Terrible Twos?

 

 So my little adorable baby is all grown up. And for a few weeks, months, he was just so adorable. But the past two weeks has seen a bit of a shift. He's turned into a cranky toddler. He loves screaming "no" and shaking his head. If he doesn't want to do something he'll shriek and make his whole body tight and flail around. And all of a sudden he doesn't want to do things. He has strong opinions. He's stubborn (like his parents). I know all of this is 100% average and normal, it's just tiring. Especially since he's worst around me. Of course, I guess most kids reserve their best whining for mom. I was just hoping he'd be in a great place for our upcoming trip back east. But no, everyone will get a handful of a cranky toddler! (but a toddler with a haircut.)

 

Birthday Parties for kiddos

 

Check out that giant blow-up water slide. Whoa. That was at one of the two birthday parties we went to on Sunday. Quite a set-up for a one year old. Of course, it wasn't for the baby but for some of the 85 (!) guests who had assembled. I have to say, standing in 100 degree heat, I totally wished that I was 8 years old so that I could go down that slide. Looked pretty fun. Of course, Jack was too young for that but he did play around in the kiddie pool. The kid sure loves water.

 

jumping up to make a big splash

 

making a break for it

Our second party was for a two year old and they had a bouncy castle. Elmo's Fun House to be exact. And, man oh man, Jack loved it. I think his daddy liked it even better and the two of them were in there for probably an hour total. They had to keep taking water breaks because they were sweating but it was pretty darn adorable.

 

John showing Jack how to get some air

bouncing!

Week in Review - 8/4/12

 

 As Jack creeps closer to 1 1/2 years old he gets cuter and cuter and more and more difficult. :) First, the cuteness.

   

 I mean, really. He's adorable. And loves his mommy which is awesome. But he has also learned how to say no and has no trouble using it. And, something more troubling to me, sometimes he gets in these moods where he is seriously anti-social and doesn't want to share. He'll start crying if someone is using the truck he wants or on the slide he wants to go down. Not just sad but pissed off. Sigh. I have tried to do what I can when he gets like that but I guess it'll just take time before he learns to share and be, well, nicer and friendlier. In the mean time, at least he's pretty smiley when he's at home with me.

   

He is really into letters and numbers now. Here he is practicing saying his alphabet with daddy in the bath.

   

 As usual, he can't get enough running and climbing and jumping. The kid loves some good action-packed playtime.

 

the middle of a really intense jump

"ready, set, go!"

 

 And now, more pics from the week!

 

peek-a-boo

making chalk drawings