My favorites...

We spent this weekend at my parents' house. The weather outside was beautiful. Jack absolutely loved playing on the tractor again. He wasn't too fond of touching the grass with his hands...but eventually adjusted. My dad bought an awesome new camera, and I had a blast taking pictures with it. I can't wait to get one of my own! I now have hundreds of photos of Jack, and I have to figure out what to do with them. These are two of my (many) favorites.

Pictures from the weekend...

Little extra update...

I forgot to post about Jack's new stats from his 12 month appointment.

Weight: 19lbs 8oz (5th percentile)
Length: 28.5 inches (10th percentile)
Head Circumference: 17 inches (not even 5th percentile)

Basically, what this all amounts to is......one smaller than average boy!! It kind of looks like Jack lost weight, but truly the last time he got weighed was with all his clothes on...they really like to only use the well-baby visits for trending. At 9 months, he was 19lbs even...so he's gained 0.5lbs. His head and length though have increased since the last time they were measured. I certainly would feel better if he was following along the growth curve, but genetics and a crazy activity level are working against him. The pediatrician isn't concerned at all, so we'll just keep moving forward and see what he does in the next few months!

Today, we got to visit with Jace, Laura, and Greta for a little bit. She's growing up quick! Jack was fairly interested in Greta until he discovered the new linking block set they'd brought for him...he wouldn't let go of them until we pried them out of his hands before bed. Thanks, Uncle Jace, Aunt Laura, and Greta!! Anything that keeps him entertained is fabulous in my book.

Jack and I have a low-key day tomorrow (i.e. pajamas and maybe a good long nap together), and then its back to work as usual (these 4 days off were nice though after last weeks busier schedule).

Exploring at home...

Alternatively titled: Getting into everything I'm not supposed to

A Rare Treat

We rarely go OUT to dinner. We just don't have one of those kids that goes with the flow. He pretty much sets the current...and if we choose to go against, its not usually pretty. The last week has not been a pleasant one for us. It has almost seemed like Jack entered the terrible twos instead of merely turning one. He's been rather difficult. Our schedules were off. Trying to wean him from the bottle. He'd just gotten over being sick. He got shots. He has 2 teeth that are breaking through the surface as we speak. Not his fault--but it hasn't made it any easier. So far our life with a toddler has made us really miss what life was like with a baby.

Today, though, he was in much better spirits after a couple days at home (and after mommy discovered teething tablets--they actually have a warning on the box that your kid may fall asleep after taking--is that a bad thing?). So, anyway, we braved dinner after the haircut and it went quite well....as long as we kept the snacks coming. Stop the steady flow of puffs and crunchies and things get hairy real fast. But we had a nice time, and it was great to go to a rare dinner out as a family.

The First Haircut

Today, we said goodbye to the baby mullet....and got Jack's hair trimmed for the first time.

Before

During

(Eva--who cuts my hair--was glad to have the honors of the first haircut. She's been doing my hair for 6 years. I took care of one of her little men, Ethan, for 7 months in the NICU. He's definitely one of those 'miracles'. And, with 3 boys of her own, she's a pro at chasing crazy little fellers.)

After

(Apparently, Jack was over the papparazi-like shooting I was doing during his haircut. He didn't really let me get a picture of the trim until much later. We didn't cut much off --we didn't want him to look bald again--but it sure looks much tidier. Now, its time to grow it in thick, buddy!)

Jack's goofy face....

Jack started making this face two weeks ago. Its a cross between a strain and a smile. Its hilarious. At first he would do it when he was excited about something. And now he does it to mimick us or make us laugh. It is hilarious. I'm not sure it will ever get old. You have to watch the video to see it in action...its too funny!!!!

The one where I catch up on pictures....

One of the first nice days outside....(and the day Jack turned 1).

Jack has recently gone back to his old ways. He's a thumbsucker once again.

Jack with his Poppy.

A four generation picture....Bob, Granny (Bob's mom), Jack, and Grandpa (Bob's grandpa).

And these pictures are from a month and a half ago...goofing around in his bedroom.

One Year Ago....

One Year Ago Today...

• At 8:43am we heard Jack take his first breath...followed by 45 minutes of screaming.
• The baby in our hearts became the baby in our arms...wish I could hold him forever.
• Our family of two became a family of three.
• Was the last time I woke up truly rested...I'll never sleep well again with my 'heart' running around outside my body.
• I was only beginning to grasp what it meant to be a mother...and still have only touched the surface.
• I still didn't understand how much I would grow to love that little guy...more every day.
• Our lives changed forever...and we couldn't be happier about it.

I could only get this one photo to load for now, but I'll keep working on it. I have so many photos from the last couple weeks. Hope to work out whatever issue my computer and blogger are having.

Missing my Laptop...

So, I probably won't add any pictures until I get my laptop back from the Geek Squad. We had one week left on the additional warranty we'd purchased with it, and it needed some minor repairs. Since they were going to be free now, but not later, I had to suck it up and let them take it....for 2 weeks. It would have been extremely rough since I am way too cool to use the desktop, but being married to an adorable computer nerd does come with its perks. Bob was able to bring an old dusty laptop home from work for the week. I wouldn't give it 5 stars, but its TOTALLY getting the job done.

On the rest of the home front, we are hanging in there. Jack was either really teething or sick again this past week. I'm going to vote for teething, just because I'm so over the alternative. Of course, I don't have any teeth yet to prove it, but those nubs are up there. Just taking their time!!!

Today, we got to have a playdate with Julie and CC. It was lots of fun (will be even better when they're naptimes coincide). And I'm so glad that CC is a few months older than Jack so I can get the scoop from Julie on what Jack should be doing. Needless to say, the visit prompted a trip to Target so I could get all the accoutrements that a ONE YEAR old requires (to eat the appropriate things that a one year old should be eating). We'll have to see how Jack adapts to these changes....he's not so big on change. His stubborn little self rebels at anything he perceives as different. Ah well!!!

These days all he does is walk around. Its amazing how much better he's gotten in the last week and a half. He doesn't crawl anymore at home. He'll stand himself up and walk to wherever he wants to go. We let him toddle around the driveway this evening, and could hardly keep him from the road. Little scary, that one!!!

Less than a week until Jack turns ONE!!! Crazy!

Here it is!!

This is a video of Jack walking across the living room the other day!

We're walking....

Jack took his first steps a couple months ago...and while he's definitely been practicing and improving, he's just been too impatient to take more than a few steps and then drop down and crawl (he's a pretty speedy little crawler). This week, however, he's suddenly just been doing it. And he's gone from only walking a foot or two at the beginning of the week to being able to walk across the living room. He certainly isn't stellar at it yet....but his little drunken sailor walk is quite funny to watch. (I hope to get some video this week)

Finally...

This little man has finally started gaining weight (he was almost at a standstill for the last 2-3 months). We had to make a trip to the doctor today....and he weighed in at 20lbs 8oz. That's nearly 2lbs since he was weighed at 9 months. It appears that his appetite has finally caught up to his activity level (certainly helps that we've 'almost' left puking by the way side).

And now for my venting session:

Sickness has once again hit our house--Jack is coughing up a storm and super snotty. I'm so overwhelmingly tired of Jack picking up things at daycare (he doesn't really go anywhere else because one of us is always sick nowadays, so this is about the only option). I know its going to happen. Its par for the course. Its nobody's fault. And I can tell myself all this til the cows come home, but it doesn't make me any less frustrated. We haven't gone more than 2-3 weeks between doctor's visits since November. One of us is always coming down with something. I've been to see our family doctor more this past winter than I've been to see a doctor in the last 15 years. Its insane.

I'm tired of Jack being sick, tired of getting sick myself, tired of Bob getting sick, tired of worrying about getting sick, tired of spending an outrageous amount of money at the doctor's office and the pharmacy, tired of one of us having to call in to work, tired of using my vacation time for sick time--I think you get the picture. We try so hard to never send Jack to daycare when he's sick. Certainly, there are times when they are contagious before they have symptoms and it can't be helped. But is everyone else doing the same? I can't see how. Its just so different when its YOUR baby that keeps catching bugs and getting sick.

Anyway....hopefully this beautiful weather this week will signal the start of spring (and maybe just maybe the end to cold and flu season). I sure hope so cause I'm not sure how much more I can take.