Why walk when you can run?

Jack is the type of kid that now that he can walk, all he wants to do is run. And run FAST. Truthfully, when he succeeds, he's pretty damn quick. He can shoot out of an open front door in seconds flat. But often times he trips himself up because he's still getting the feel of being upright. Yesterday he was running down the sidewalk with daddy when he took a header and actually landed on his forehead. Hard. Poor kid. It doesn't photograph well but his forehead has a gnarly red, scraped up bump. Sigh. John says it's awesome because it means he's a tough boy. I'm starting to think that way....

Week in Review - 4/7/12

Another week, another batch of cute photos. This really is such a great age. He is just so darn adorable. And the coolest thing is that he seems to be learning so much every day. His walking is so much better and he practices walking up steps every day. He can open every door. He knows where to go when I say we are going to get in the car or change his diaper or go in the front yard or do laundry. Yesterday I told him we were going to the store and he left the room and came back with the reusable shopping bag that I take to Vons every time. I mean, COME ON! That's amazing. I'm not saying he's a genius (in fact I'm sure this is quite normal) but damn if it isn't surprising to see him start to understand everything I say. Communicating is great. He can clearly tell me what book he wants to read and what food he wants to eat. He is even finally getting the "all done" sign. Better late than never.

He's in such good spirits too. Everything and anything is hysterical. He giggles and laughs all the time. Playing peekaboo in the tent? Hysterical.

Walking in the baby walker? Sooo funny.

Riding in the front of the shopping cart? "I'm the king of the world!!"

And crawling through the tunnel? Funniest thing he's ever experienced.

Jack definitely loves the freedom that walking brings. His favorite thing is when I put him down or take him out of the stroller and just let him go. He loves it and I love seeing how much he enjoys exploring everything. He's such a curious little guy and it's so cool to watch him. Here he is climbing all over a flat bed cart when I put him down at Home Depot.

Here he is running towards the park. Apparently I wasn't carrying him fast enough.

I put him down at the zoo in this big plaza and this is him before he took off like a shot. Exploring every corner of the plaza and playing with every kid he came across.

And now here's even more pictures from the week...

playing with his friend Violet in his tent

ready for his first swim of 2012

living the good life in southern california

big boy...too big to be carried.

praying to the god of ceiling fans

sleeping like his mommy...hands up!

locking mom out of the house

getting dirty and wet as usual

naked guitar playing time

those bangs might need a trim

absolutely fascinated by the shadows on the floor

Week in Review - 3/31/12

Jack kept practicing walking this week and he's gotten quite good. A little too good because now he's trying to walk too fast and he's falling a lot just because he's picking up too much speed. A few days ago he fell and hit his forehead on the toilet, of all things. Later that day a big bump with a bruise appeared but, luckily, his bangs covered it up. Then the next day we were at the park and he was running around and he fell and hit his cheek on the edge of the play equipment. Immediately his cheek turned red and swelled up and he got a bruise on his cheekbone. Geez. So now he just looks like a prize fighter. It doesn't photograph very well but here's one where you can sort of make out his injury.

I am horrified of course but John thinks our little bruiser is adorable. I imagine he'll have many more injuries in his future.

This past week Jack showed his March Madness basketball spirit by sporting an awesome Syracuse shirt.

Sadly, John's alma mater lost, but the boys were glued to the game the entire time.

The other big news this week is that we turned his car seat around. Now he faces forward and he loves it! I just had to do it because I was tired of not being able to see him when I'm driving. I had no idea if he was asleep, if he was eating something, or what he was doing. Now I can see him and it makes me feel much better. And he's happier.

Okay, gotta run because we're out of town again this weekend. But here are more pics from the week!

playing drums with his new friend

playing with blocks

first trolley ride at the mall

black beans!

"who ya gonna call?!"

exploring the shower

Week in Review - 3/23/12

Jack had a good week this week. It's amazing that last Saturday he was barely walking and now he's starting to use it as his main form of transportation. He still falls a lot...when the ground is uneven or when he tries to walk way too fast...but he's doing pretty good. He's also mastered standing up without holding on to anything so he's really coming along. Here's a little video of him walking. Nothing too exciting but you get the idea. (At the beginning he's enjoying the sound his shoes make on the concrete...he loves that.)

His comprehension is really so good that it's astounding to me. He understands when I hand him a piece of trash and tell him to throw it away. He walks over to the trashcan and puts it in. Or when I tell him to put the tupperware back in the drawer, he does it. Or take the clothes out of the dryer and put them in the laundry basket. Magic! This is great! I mean, I assume he'll always listen to me this well and he'll clean up after every mess he makes. How wonderful. The only hiccup we had yesterday is when he couldn't understand why I didn't want him to leave the empty milk carton in the bathroom. He seemed so confused. And hurt that I didn't appreciate that he dragged it all the way there.

He likes standing so much that he now likes to stand up while I read him books. It's pretty cute.

I recently picked up a big truck at a garage sale that he totally loves. He pushes it around outside and he also loves to put things in the bed of the truck. He'll pile everything in there...toys, ziploc bags, blocks, baby food containers, etc.

And now, here are some more pics from the week! (including lots of mommy and son!)

Playing in the dirt...as usual.

"Mom, come on! Keep up!"

Stylin' in his Star Wars shirt

And in case you need a fill of baby laughter, here are two videos from this week.