Today Jack is...39 weeks old.

Look at that kid. These mirror shots never get old. He is just so delighted by his reflection. Hope this reaction lasts a while.

This week was filled with more physical development for the little guy. His top tooth (maybe teeth?) broke through. He's gotten very speedy with his army crawl and has figured out how to go from crawling to sitting up. He is constantly pulling up on stuff. The cast is super slippery on our hard wood floors so he can't really stand yet but he gets up on his knees all the time.

He is also super interested in the things he shouldn't be - the fireplace, John's guitar, my computer cord, and, of course, the TV and DVD equipment. The little guy definitely knows it's off limits and yet...

I've completely stopped breastfeeding. I made it 9 months and that seems pretty good. He's totally taken to the bottle and in fact, on occasion, he'll grab the bottle and feed himself. Pretty amazing actually.

As for his food, he still eats like a half a jar of baby food a meal but we're mostly on to finger foods. Though the "finger" aspect of the finger foods isn't quite accurate since I still have to put the pieces in his mouth. He is practicing his pincer grasp and is getting pretty good. But still has a hard time with small pieces. Today he enjoyed broccoli and cauliflower. This led to a wide range of emotions.

He still isn't making any consonant sounds (pa pa, ma ma, da da, etc.) but he does babble a lot. This week he figured out that if he stuck his face into his cup and started babbling, it sounded pretty cool.

This week we seemed to settle into a predictable daytime schedule. This is literally the most predictable he's been in 9 months. Better late than never I guess. He wakes up around 5:45 (which is way too early if you ask me) and naps around 9:30 to 11. Then another nap around 2:30 to 4 and then bedtime around 7:15. Of course, let's not get crazy. I still have to hold him for those naps and he still doesn't sleep through the night. He's up and wanting a bottle anywhere from 2am to 3:30am. Oh well. Good thing he's cute.

And now, more pics from the week!

Climbing up on the chair

Enjoying yet another Target run

Looking just like his daddy

Five for Friday: Things on my Wish List

Here are the things I've currently saving up for. Beware, they aren't exactly fun items. In fact, now that I look them over, man, I am boring.

My top 5 Things on my Wish List:

5. Touchless dual trash and recycling can - Most of you know we have a touchless trash can in our kitchen and it's awesome. But how much more awesome would be trash AND recycling cans? It would certainly help me recycle more.

4. Real Simple magazine - I read this magazine every time I see it in a waiting room or someone's house. It just seems to have great recipes and great ideas for the home.

3. Tripod for my camera - After trying to take a family Christmas picture this year by balancing my camera on some books that were on a stool that was on a couch, I'm thinking a tripod might be helpful.

2. LA Zoo Annual Membership - The zoo is literally 8 minutes from our house and it's such a great place to go on the weekdays to just walk around. There are lots of trees and bushes for Jack to look at and I can only assume that one day soon he will be excited about the animals. Plus they have this "couple" membership pass that allows the member plus a guest every time.

1. UPPAbaby Vista Stroller - Okay, this stroller is ridiculously expensive but it's also on sale for $200 off. The stroller we have right now is kind of weird because it won't let me sit Jack upright. So he's always reclined back and trying to sit up to peer out. And it's sort of low and the Uppa sits the kid up high. Plus you can buy an attachment for a second child to sit or stand. And, no, I'm not pregnant. I just think it's a cool stroller.

Playmates

I've been lucky enough to make friends with a great mom who has a son only 2 weeks younger than Jack (Nicholas, in the pic above.) It seems like most of the babies in our play group are girls so I'm so happy that my little guy has another boy to play with. And, as I've gone to more and more playgroups, it's obvious that boys and girls play very differently. In fact, one older mom was talking to me about how you end up only being friends with moms who have boys because girls don't want to play with boys. It's sort of sad considering that some of my new mom friends have lovely little girls who I know will not be interested in playing trucks and bashing around with Jack in a few months. But, happily, Nicholas' mom is great and we've been having fun hanging out.

Jack and Nick seem to like each other...as much as 8 month olds can. Sometimes they pull at each other and get mad when one is playing with the other's toys, but I guess boys will be boys.

Baby proofing

Our little guy is on the move and he's into everything. Of course. Just like every other crawling baby. We've done pretty well with moving the super dangerous stuff out of reach and putting the little padded corners on the coffee table and fireplace. But while I don't want him to get hurt, it's pretty funny how much joy he gets out of everything. He's obsessed with the curtains and can't play peek-a-boo with me by hiding behind them which is pretty awesome.

He loves the fireplace and heads towards it every chance he gets.

He can crawl up the step as well as use it to stand up which is pretty cool. I think he knows it's one of those off-limit places though. And he doesn't care.

He loves crawling to his high chair and grabbing the leg and moving it across the tile. Anything with a loud grating noise or bang is a plus in his book.

This foot stool never stood a chance.

He loves the remote control but that's not surprising.

And he ADORES the cable box and the receiver that sit below the TV right at his eye level as he crawls around.

He uses them to stand up as well which is pretty amazing. So it's hard to tell him to get away from those things. Not that he would listen. Besides, there are no wires exposed so he can't really do much damage. The little guy is getting more and more mobile every day.

Eating is Fun

So lately Jack has been less interested in baby food and more interested in finger foods. I need to start cooking some more so that he can try new things. I didn't quite capture his beaming face but he's got a slight smile in the picture above. That's because he tried the most delicious thing he's ever tasted. Literally. A pumpkin chocolate chip muffin. Before you judge, know that I didn't give him any chocolate chips and he had just two tiny morsels of the pumpkin bread part. But his eyes lit up and I could tell he loved it. It was pretty cute. Especially since it might be my favorite baked good recipe ever.

In the past week or two he's also sampled chicken, turkey, mashed sweet potatoes, bagels, watermelon, cantaloupe, kiwi, avocado, scrambled egg yolks, and tortillas. His favorites were the chicken, turkey, and watermelon and his least favorite was the avocado. I just can't get this kid to like avocado. That's okay though...they're expensive!

Photo Challenge Week 9 - Phone Photo

Full moon from our backyard

Next week...Nostalgia.

Today Jack is...38 weeks old.

Another good week and now we've only got a week and a half left of the cast! He still hasn't let it faze him in the slightest and his army crawl is getting even faster. This crawling thing is awesome. He can just be happy and play on the ground on his own. See how pleased he is with himself?

Here he is practicing his elevated crawl (still not successful) but he's getting there.

There he was smiling, right next to me so I turned away to choose a book off the bookshelf and when I turned back around, he was off and out the door.

What happened to my little immobile baby? He's a speedster. One of his favorite "toys" this week was an accounting envelope John brought home with an address window so it had like cellophane plastic that would crinkle when he would throw it around. He was very very amused.

He also is still obsessed with mirrors and MAN, he loves himself. Which he certainly doesn't get from me.

The little guy is still into books and his daddy is more than happy to oblige most mornings. It's quite adorable.

Earlier in the week we headed on over to our favorite outdoor mall where they were setting up Santa's house. I'd like to say that this is him looking in awe at the Christmas decorations, but he is just enthralled with the big fountain as usual.

In other news, I'm almost done breastfeeding I think. Each day I've done it less and less and he seems to be taking it just fine. He's chowing down on the formula bottles. I think he's getting a lot more than usual because he's eating less baby food. But I guess that's a fine trade off. I don't know really but I'll just keep doing what I'm doing.

And now, more pics from the week!

Looking at himself in the car mirror

Modeling his latest winter wear

And some pics of Jack enjoying time with our friend Orlando

Five for Friday: Things I Don't Understand

My Top 5 Things I Don't Understand:

5. The appeal of "Mad Men"

4. One-shouldered formal dresses

3. The current kale food craze. It's gross people. Raw or cooked.

2. Hating Christmas and Christmas music

1. Paying $700 for fancy high HIGH heels that will literally cripple your feet and bring you pain.


What are your 5?