Follow Your Instincts!

When Jack was born, instead of doing the hospital portraits, we took him to a portrait studio when he was a week old. (By the way, to all of my pregnant friends, I HIGHLY recommend this! You end up paying about the same, but the pics turn out so much better and you can actually pose them! Just take your own photos in the hospital. I can't remember who it was that gave me this advice, but THANKS!) Since then, Jack has gone back once a month for pictures. Jay and I just think that babies change so much during the first year, so we wanted to capture the changes in monthly pics and then after Jack turns a year we will probably just do twice a year. Anyway, so Jack was due for his 10 month pictures. (I know that on the page marked "10 months" there are some pics, but those are actually his 9 month pics, I just hadn't had new ones done yet.) Before I ever even called to schedule, I started having second thoughts about doing 10 month pictures. I was really debating because he really didn't change that much this month and I knew that he probably wouldn't cooperate well and that it would probably be a waste of money. I was really, really torn. Part of me thought it would be fine to skip 10 AND 11 month pictures, but the other part of me thought about how nice it would be to have an album with months 1-12 in it, so how could you just skip two months?!?!

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I should have followed my instincts NOT do it. But did I listen to myself....nope. Do I regret it...yup!

Let me just say that they do not make a strong enough deodorant for the feat that I was up against. It was like trying to wrestle monkeys and yet make them smile at the same time! Jack would NOT stay still and apparently our photographer had never heard of "action shots". If Jack did momentarily stop for a split second, then our photographer would kindly ask me to move his feet to the left. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? HE STOPPED MOVING--TAKE THE PICTURE!!!!

After a half an hour of this Olympic feat, the photographer didn't have her "minimum number of poses". Well, unless she wanted the last poses to be of tantrums, we were DONE! She then started to get the pics ready for us to go through and about that time Jay showed up. Argh, I think I will let him do next month!

The photographer got the pics ready for us to look through and there wasn't a single decent one! All of my efforts were for nothing! He didn't smile for a single one! (Actually, I should say, she didn't take any pictures when he was smiling because his feet or hands weren't in the EXACT right spot. Can you tell that I wasn't pleased with the photographer this time???) Jay and I did order two poses just as a pitty purchase since she did spend time on us.

Tonight, when I was putting the pics on my computer, I realized that I had him dressed almost exactly the same as last month. Argh.......it really was for nothing :-( The worst part is, now I have to do the 11 month pictures, how could I have an album with every month BUT one???

Fun with Friends

I recently (and then Jay followed as well) joined facebook. I would have done it long ago if I had realized how many friends I would be reconnected with! A few weeks ago, I found an old co-teacher and friend that I hadn't seen in years! We decided to get our families together and go to dinner.
This was our first experience ordering off of the kids menu, call me corny, but that was kind of exciting. The excitement didn't last long though as I realized that I was going to be paying $5.99 for a grilled cheese sandwich! We also let Jack eat a couple of fries (yeah, I know, I didn't think it made much sense either, I started out handing
him the Organic snacks that I had brought for him and by the end of the night, I was letting him eat French Fries!).
Jack behaved wonderfully and I owe all credit to Grace, Cora and Olivia for keeping him entertained so well! They played and played with him and Jack loved all the attention!
Olvia, Jack apologizes for pulling your hair, he just thought it looked so pretty that he wanted to touch it (over and over). The girls were incredibly sweet and we all had a great time catching up!

Tressa and Matt (the girls' parents) are probably going to kill me for saying this, but doesn't the above picture look like Hef sitting with Holly, Kendra and Bridget?!?!?

On Monday, we had Mommy Monday, of course
and Jack was BUSY, of course. He had tons of fun running around Melissa's house and showing her son where trouble could be found.

When we first arrived at Melissa's, this kitchen island had pots on the bottom and wine bottles in the rack...notice how that had to be removed and Jack now is in their spot?????
Who needs toys when there is a whole house to explore?

We are going to visit my family in a few weeks and I have already started to warn my mom about Jack. She has never believed in baby proofing....I think Jack will change her mind.
When Jay came home tonight, I was telling him that I think Jack travels about 100 yards every 20 minutes. Jay didn't believe me at first, but then watched him for a few minutes and counted it out. He then agreed that it was about 100 yards every 20-30 minutes. Argh, if only I ran along side him, I would have lost the rest of the baby weight by now!
In other Jack news, today Jack learned how to stand himself up without holding onto anything! (Jay is still claiming that Jack did it once in December, but I really don't think so.) Just yesterday, I was trying to teach him, but soon gave up and I thought he will just have to figure it out on his own. Well, he did and it is saving him a lot of time not having to crawl over to the couch every time he falls down.

More Walking!

Jack's walking has really improved over the last week! Jay was gone all week and couldn't believe how much Jack had improved in only a few days! Jack is still not able to stand himself up without pulling up on something (Jay claims he saw Jack stand himself up without holding on to anything way back in December, but I still don't believe him) so he still uses crawling to get to something to stand himself up. Otherwise, he is pretty much just walking!

So Big!

***WARNING--Turn down the volume on your computer before pressing play!***
****WARNING--Loud, Annoying Mommy in the backround!****

Last Monday, my friend Becky taught Jack "So Big"! I had been working on it with him for weeks and he had no interest at all. Becky said "So big" twice and lifted her arms and Jack followed her lead instantly! It is so fun to watch him learn something new!

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
Jay and I did not celebrate with a big fancy dinner like we have done in year's past, but I think this was my most favorite ever.
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Jack entertained us all evening with his games and his giggles...it was better than any play or movie Jay and I had ever been to!

Jay picked up Chinese food from our favorite Chinese restaurant and we planned to have a picnic on the living room floor.
I don't really know why I thought that was a good idea, looking back, I realize that was quite silly of us!
Jack spent a good two minutes crawling all over his food before Jay and I gave up and we all went to the dining room to eat our dinner at the table. Jack loved his sweet and sour chicken!

Here is a picture of Jack giving me one of his well-intentioned-yet-over-zealous-and-somewhat-painful kisses. This one is actually a little better than the norm, usually he tries to hold you down so he can give you a really good kiss!

10 Months!

Jack turned 10 months old today! I know I say this every month, but, Wow, I can't believe how time flies!

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Update:

Jack has gone back and forth about walking over the last couple of weeks. He will walk quite a bit for a couple of days--then give up for a few days. Right now, he is pretty consistantly walking most of the time, but as soon as he falls down, he needs to crawl to something to pull himself back up on. Also, when he has a need for speed (like when he sees the bathroom door open) he will crawl instead of walk. I can't say that he is very good at walking. I will admit that one thing Jack gets from me is "more guts than skill". In my experience, most children actually have the ability to walk before they do it, they just lack the confidence to do it on their own. Not Jack, well before he was anywhere near successful at walking with our help, he would just be standing by something, let go and take a step. He would always land right on his face, but wouldn't even give it a second thought. Again, more guts than skill. (Any of you who ever been with me on any sort of water craft know as to what I referring to.)

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Jack also has a new way of showing affection for his mommy and daddy. He has started trying to share his pacifier with us! OK, yeah it is kind of gross when he shoves his slobbery pacifier in your mouth, but it is also really sweet that he is willing to share his most prized possesion with us.

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Jack's new favorite game is "Chase". He loves it when you chase him around the house and then tickle-attack him when you catch him! He then will also take a turn chasing you :-) !! He also likes it when you hide from him and he has to come and find you. Jay and I barely even turn on the TV anymore, as Jack is the only entertainment we need.

Mommy Mondays

If you have read Jack's blog for long, then you have heard me mention "Mommy Mondays". Since Jack was about 4 weeks old, we meet with 4 other babies Jack's age and their mommies (who are all first-time mommies as well). We were put together as a group in the hospital we delivered in and then we just started to meet on our own after the class ended. Jack is the oldest of the 5, but the youngest is only a week and a half younger than him. I LOVE getting together with the other mommies and babies. It is so wonderful to hear other mommies are going through the same things you are and that you are not the only one that goes completely crazy when your husband sets the dishes on top of the dishwasher (rather than to actually place them IN the dishwasher) or that you are not the only one that is convinced that you have somehow "missed" the developmental window of a certain skill and that because of this your child is destined to become a serial killer (see, this is why I need this group, these thoughts actually go through my head). Anyway, as I said, I really enjoy Mommy Mondays...Jack on the other hand has tried his hardest each week NOT to be invited back.

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It all started the first week. Jack started out happy and full of smiles, but by the end of the very first Monday, he won the award for the worst behaved. This is a legacy that Jack has continued each week. The last week that we met at the hospital, Jack hit an all-time low. It was so bad, I was convinced he was doing it so that he would never have to see any of these people again. Much to Jack's disappointment, the other Mommies overlooked Jack's behavior and still invited us to be part of their group. We have now been meeting (almost) every Monday for nine months. Jack started out as the baby that cried the most and has now turned into the toy-taker, the bully, the well-intentioned-yet-over-zealous-kisser, the food hoarder and also very rarely will even crack a smile. He also will "investigate" to what degree the other mommies have baby-proofed. He then will show them in what areas he feels they are lacking in that department. (He hasn't broken anything yet, but I am thinking we may have to dip into his college fund at some point to refund the other mommies.) It is amazing that the other mommies haven't "voted us off the island".

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I know you probably think I am exaggerating, but I am serious, once it was so bad that one of the mommies suggested that we all go outside so that Jack would calm down. I swear this kid doesn't want me to have any friends at all.

Here is the proof:

On this day, Jack and I were headed to his favorite store--Costco. We invited my friend Brie and her baby Ava along. Ava nicely waved to everyone we passed and would clap her hands with excitement. Jack acted like he had no spine and had some unknown chromosomal disease. He would lean out the side of the cart as if he was afraid that Ava was going to give him "cooties". The two did enjoy trying to take each other's pacifiers and they also were very excited that it was sample day at Costco.

Here is Jack at the ball-pit last Monday. He acted like I was torturing him (OK, I was having germ-o-phobe issues in it, but he is way too young to understand that). This picture was taken after about 15 minutes of him clinging to me, he finally let me set him in the balls. Can you see how much fun he is having? The other babies happily played with the balls and even laughed when the balls were tossed into the air.

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I hope that some day Jack will start to come out of his shell when he is around his friends, but until then I want the other Mommies to know that I am truly thankful that they tolerate us!

Walking Man!

On Saturday, Jack decided it was time to start walking!!!

He would take up to 10 steps at a time! Jay and I were so excited!

Unfortunately, by Monday, Jack decided that walking is over-rated and has gone back to crawling and only will walk if we coax him along. I can't say that I blame him, you can see at the end of the video that landing is not easy!

Again, please ignore the annoying mommy in the backround.