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Thursday, February 04, 2016

12 Months

**Woops! I had this all written and ready to go, and I guess I forgot to hit publish...**

12 Months
November 27 – December 26


Long story short:

-Milestones: Jack took his first steps this month!!!  He wrapped up the month with 2 more teeth- making it 8 in total.  Jack said his first words this month, “ho ho ho!” (so fitting for my day-after-Christmas-baby, AND just in time for Jack to celebrate his first Christmas. 
-Likes: Jack is still crazy-obsessed with his walkers- especially his Y-bike.  Houston has been having very warm weather for December, so we have been taking advantage and visiting our park across the street at LEAST once a day.  Jack loves going across the bridge, eating rocks, going down the slide, and pushing his y-bike as far away from me as possible.  Jack is also really into playing peek-a-boo lately.  He loves to hide under a blanket with his little hands and feet sticking out and twisting in excitement just waiting for me to pull the blanket off. 
Favorite toys: Y-bike, stacking rings, light up ball, stacking ducks toy from Aunt Renee, crib aquarium, empty Diet Dr. Pepper cans (that’s my boy!), straws.
-Dislikes: Jack still hates having his face, nose, hands, etc. wiped off.  Either do it yourself or get used to it, buddy.  He also severely dislikes when anyone takes something away from him, and he super hates when I have the nerve to leave the room without him (major mommy attachment this month). 
-Foods:  Jack’s love for avocados is still going strong.  He also really enjoys grapes, pasta, yogurt, chicken, goldfish, and his sippy cup of water.  He really does not enjoy eggs or bread.
-Sizes: Diaper size 4, Clothing: 18-24 months, Shoes: between size 4/5
-Sleep: Overall, Jack is still sleeping pretty well!  Although this month has brought us more sleep disruptions than I care to discuss due to teething, travel, etc.  Also, I hate to acknowledge it, but I think Jack is beginning the transition from 2 naps to 1 nap.  Neither of us are really ready for this (him, because on the day he tries 1 nap, he is an awful Grinch until bedtime, me, for selfish reasons and wanting two “breaks” each day).  Sigh.

Long story (very) long:

49 Weeks (November 28 – December 4):



Well, it happened- Jack took his first steps!  It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and we had stopped over at my Aunt Mary’s house to visit.  Mary and I were sitting across from each other, and she was holding him between her legs.  I had literally just gotten done telling Mary how Jack didn’t really seem to be too interested in walking when he started fussing for me and took about 4 or 5 steps over to me.  I couldn’t believe it!  He did it again a couple more times and then again when we got home so David got to see it, but then he didn’t step again the rest of the week!  It was like he was thinking, “oh oops, didn’t mean to let you know I could do that.” 

It’s hard to top first steps, but a few other highlights from the week: kneeling and playing rolling catch. 

Open mouth kisses

Big park, little baby





 50 Weeks (December 5 – 11):


I started preparing for Jack’s first Christmas this week.  It’s so fun to think about Christmas with a baby around.  And SO crazy to think about what I was doing this time last year.  

New this week: drinking out of a straw and beginning to throw mini-tantrums.  I guess it’s getting me ready for life with a toddler.  Jack loves to push his y-bike outside, but he loses his mind when I won’t let him go into the street.  I know, mean mom. 

Grill master



Meltdown



51 Weeks (December 12 – 18)


This week we Jack got to meet Santa TWICE.  The first meeting was a little neighborhood setup, and to be quite honest, Santa and Mrs. Claus truly were a bit frightening, so I don’t blame Jack for being skeptical and then flipping out.  Later in the week, we went to visit Santa at the mall.  This encounter was a little less upsetting.  We are still having amazingly warm weather, so we are making at least daily trips to our across the street park.  Jack is FINALLY becoming less interested in putting the pebbles that cover the playground floor in his mouth.  But now he will sit there and throw handfuls of rocks over his shoulder, which ends up with a shirt and diaper full of rocks.   

Also new this week- Jack loves playing with my iPhone and he thinks it’s hilarious to “talk” to Siri. 




Well, that's one way to do it



He loved his first candy cane!

Visiting dad at work

Spending a rainy day at the Children's Museum



52 Weeks (December 19 – 25)


Jack had a very busy last week as a baby.  We started the week off with back to back birthday parties at The Little Gym.  Jack had a lot of fun, and was worn out afterwards!  We traveled to Phoenix this week to celebrate Christmas and Jack’s first birthday with my family.  It was so fun to be with family for these two special occasions.  Of course, Jack didn’t have any understanding of what was going on as far as Christmas or his birthday went, but it was still fun to celebrate with him.  He got some great gifts from Santa, but he of course mostly enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper and ribbons.  On Jack’s actual birthday, we had a few family members and friends over to my parents’ house for a little birthday celebration.  Jack was so fascinated when everyone sang him happy birthday, but he was not at all interested in his cupcake.  I was really surprised!  We had a great time though, and I can’t believe my sweet boy is ONE year old now!  

New this week: Jack’s first word- “ho ho ho!”  So fitting for my little Christmas baby! 




New trick - crossing his fingers

Santa on the plane - Santa pushing his sleigh

All dressed up on Christmas Eve

Our 1st Christmas Eve as a family of three

Christmas morning fun

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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

11 Months

11 Months
October 27 – November 26



Long story short:

-Milestones: Standing independently, 6 teeth, first Halloween, first Thanksgiving
-Likes: Jack’s favorite activity this month is running around like a crazy man with his walker.  We’ve been taking his walker to the park, and he loves having so much open space to run around.  Jack has a strange obsession with the alarm panel, the thermostat, and the tiny green light on the smoke detector.  Another new obsession is the microwave.  Strange baby.  Favorite toys: big stuffed bear, walker, stacking rings, light up ball, Leap Frog spin toy, empty plastic bottles (or basically anything in the recycling bin), Pat the Bunny book.
-Dislikes: Jack hates having his face and hands wiped off.  He also really hates the toilet seat locks I installed.  Sorry, buddy. 
-Foods:  Jack has become avocado obsessed.  He usually eats a whole avocado over the course of the day.  He also really loves grapes, yogurt, and puffs.
-Sizes: Diaper size 4, Clothing: 18 months, Shoes: between size 4/5
-Sleep: Overall, Jack is still sleeping pretty well!  Once or twice a week he wakes up once during the night- usually around 1AM, but the rest of the nights, he has been sleeping all the way through the night!  Unfortunately, he still hasn’t really adjusted to daylight savings, and he has been waking up for the day around 5 or 5:30.  Jack is still on two naps a day.  The morning nap is pretty reliable, but sometimes he will fight his afternoon nap. 

Long story (very) long:

44 Weeks (October 24 – 30)



Jack was busy this week getting ready for his first Halloween.  We went to two more pumpkin patches, and tried to wear all of his Halloween wardrobe all week.  In other news: Jack has stood independently a few more times.  He usually does it when he is holding something in his hands and doesn’t realize he isn’t holding onto anything to help him stand.  As soon as he realizes this though, he will slowly sit down like, “oops, didn’t mean to do that.”  Jack is cutting his two top middle teeth, and these two teeth are REALLY making us all miserable.  Poor guy is napping horribly and waking up at night with a sad little cry.  I will miss Jack’s funny little vampire smile, but I will be SO glad when these dang teeth finally come through! 

Halloween 2014 vs Halloween 2015






Skeletons love bubbles

Little boy, big world

Mom can't take me shopping anymore, because I insist on pushing the cart


Legs stuck!

45 Weeks (October 31 – November 6)



Jack celebrated his first Halloween this week!  I dressed him up as a koala, and he was almost as adorable as the real thing!  We took Jack trick or treating with the neighborhood group.  It was fun taking him around, but he only lasted about an hour. 

Other new things this week: Jack now pushes my hand away when I’m trying to feed him something he doesn’t want to eat or when he’s done eating.  He’s like, “Stop shoving things in my face, lady!”  Jack’s new “thing” this week is sticking out his tongue and then wanting everyone else to stick out theirs, too.  Jack discovered the microwave this week.  Our microwave is one of those under-counter ones, so it’s right at his level.  If I turn it on, he will speed crawl over and sit right in front of it until the timer goes off.  I may or may not sometimes set the timer for 45 seconds with nothing in the microwave so I can run down the hallway and do something quickly like go to the bathroom alone.  Oh, and those 2 top teeth FINALLY came in!  He has a little gap between his front teeth, and it makes his little smile so cute!



Halloween party with my friends

Fun at the Childrens/ Museum


My view these days






Obsessing over the alarm panel
46 Weeks (November 7 – 13)



Lots of baby-proofing happened this week.  The house is now decked out with outlet covers, toilet locks, cabinet locks, more outlet covers, and furniture/TV tethers will be installed soon!  Sorry to spoil all your fun, Jack.  We also lowered Jack’s crib mattress to the lowest level since I was afraid he was going to figure out how to climb out. 

New trick this week: Jack makes this hilarious sound when he’s excited now… to me it sounds like a dolphin squeak.  It’s pretty cute, and it’s usually accompanied with his trademark “happy hands/feet” move and/or rapid arm flapping.  


Rocking my poor teething baby

Hanging with my lady friends at the park

Well, at least one of us is having fun

#pushallthethings

47 Weeks (November 14 – 20)



My dear friend from college, Jen, visited us this week.  I was so excited for her to meet Jack, and we had such a good time.  Jack loves his Tia Jen! J  

Other highlights of the week: Jack is standing independently more and more, but as soon as he realizes he’s not holding onto anything, he slowly sits down. Silly boy.  He is really enjoying his sign language class, and he LOVES his teacher!  He even did his first baby sign this week- daddy.  He will make the sign for daddy when David comes home from work and when we FaceTime with him at work.  Jack is really into sticking his tongue out this week.  And he especially likes it when you stick yours out back at him- he will usually try and grab it.  The weather has been amazing this month, and Jack is loving spending time everyday at the park across the street.  


I love Aunt Jen!


Playing with the diaper bin





Teacher's pet at Baby Sign Language

Pat the Bunny - new favorite book


48 Weeks (November 21 – 27)



This week Jack had two 1st birthday parties to attend- such a little social butterfly.  He had a lot of fun, and it made me excited to celebrate Jack’s 1st birthday next month!  We road-tripped to Austin this week to spend Thanksgiving with David’s family.  Jack did great in the car, and he had a lot of fun visiting with family and friends.  He was pretty “meh” about the Thanksgiving turkey, but he loved the pies (that’s my boy!). 

Other news this week: Jack is fighting naps like crazy.  I fear that he is trying to transition to one nap a day, but I REALLY don’t think EITHER of us are ready for that yet.  I hope it’s just a tooth that’s messing with his naps. :-/  Jack still loves climbing the stairs, but now he likes it even more if you pretend to chase him up the stairs.  He cracks up when he turns around and sees you coming after him.  He is also super enthusiastic about baths these days, and he shows it by splashing like crazy.  We BOTH end up pretty wet at bath time.  

Baby's 1st selfie

Do I seriously have to wear this birthday hat?


Jack learned the hard way that when you fall asleep with your shoes on at a party that someone is going to mess with you

All bundled up for a morning jog

A quick grocery run

Gobble til you wobble

Forget thanksgiving turkey. I want noodles and avocado

Thanksgiving 2014 vs Thanksgiving 2015


Reading with Aunt Renee

I love you, my sweet boy!  I can’t wait to see what your last month as a baby brings!  


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