Perspective

I'm not upside down. You're upside down.

Lil' Swimmers

Another Monday marks another swim class for Brooks, Cady and Jack (l-r). Cady being the lady that she is sat nicely while the boys splashed and played.

After swimming class we bundled up because it's cold out there! Brr!

Here is my latest creative creation. In our basement we have this plumbing access panel and we can't get rid of it, obviously. So instead of having this framed trim with nothing in it I decided to get crafty and paint a port-hole. Never mind that it's rectangular and not round.

Teeth!

Finally Jack has been able to join his peers with this exciting milestone. Jack has teeth!!

Today his two bottom teeth poked through the gums. We discovered this while on our hike to Savage Mill with Eric, Emily and Colin. When we arrived at the mill we celebrated Jack's teeth with some pints!

(The walk was 2.2 miles each way so we totally earned all the naughty food we ate and all the pints we drank for lunch.)

What's the big deal? You might ask. Well babies are *supposed to* get their first teeth (the bottom two) at 6 months. So yes, at 9 1/2 months, Jack is very pleased with himself to have finally cut his toofers!

"Kitty"

Breaking News!
We have a first word...



This just in Jack has said his first word. Yesterday when Monkey walked into the play room Jack said "Keh-keh" and I thought, ''Wow what a coincidence!' Then later that day he did it again. Well this morning he confirmed that he knows that Monkey is his "Keh-keh" because he said it again on her cue!


For the past few weeks he's been saying Ma-ma-ma-ma and Da-da-da-da but because I've never done this parenting thing before I don't count that as 'talking'. I assumed he would wake up one day and say Ma-Ma and I would know he was talking to me and he would reach for me or point to me or something to confirm that we all knew he was saying a 'first word'. Well, since this is my first time at the rodeo I needed something a little more specific than that and Jack delivered!

5 words:

Matt put Jack to bed.

Woo Hoo!

Updates

For those who spend their time wondering what's new in Jack's world... admit it, it's all you ever think about! This blog is for you.

Early Potty Training:

Jack has been successfully using the potty several times a day every day. He is still wearing diapers but he is holding it some days. Meaning: in the morning after using the potty we eat breakfast and play in the play room for 2 hours, when I go to put him on the potty before his morning nap the diaper is completely dry and he goes in the potty. This certainly doesn't happen every day but it's starting to occur more frequently.

Sippy Cup:

The search for the perfect sippy cup has been a long and arduous one. Ideally I'd love to find one that is spill proof, that he can drink from unassisted and that doesn't have Disney, Dora or Diego characters on them (Don't even get me started). We have found a cup that he enjoys drinking from and is able to drink several ounces at a sitting, but he cannot use it by himself because of the angle it needs to be held at and a serious spill-prevention initiative. So although he likes the straw one to chew on he clearly prefers the spout one for actual beverage consumption.

Walking:

Jack loves walking. His favorite thing to do is walk around the house for hours holding on to my (or Matt's) fingers. Oy! My aching back! Sometimes he will take a few steps holding just one hand but he clearly would prefer to have two-handed assistance. Place your bets now for when he will take his first steps.

Weaning:

Oh my favorite subject. I cannot wait to wean him! Why? You ask... don't you love BFing and cherish the closeness and bonding? Yes, yes that's all well and good, but I would also love to be able to leave the house for ::gasp:: an entire day, or not to be required for nap and bed times. I also, selfishly, would love to eat more than one tuna fish sandwich in a week without feelings of guilt regarding mercury poisoning. Well, it looks like Jack might also be ready for a change because for the last 4 nights in a row he has not wanted his last feeding of the day (right before bedtime). Tonight Matt is going to put him to bed without me. ::fingers crossed:: This could mark the beginning of the dawn of a new era in parenting. We'll see how it goes!

Baby Gate:

We have found that the best 'baby gate' for the bottom of the stairs in the play room is a pile of pillows! It doesn't ruin the wall and it allows us to move it or walk around it easily.

Playdate and a Shout-out

Yesterday we had a play date. The kids got a little rowdy. They look innocent.

Until their is food involved. I don't want to use the words 'swarm of vultures' but....

swarm.of.vultures.

And a shout-out to Twades, Baby A and Baby B... luckily we have a boy and a girl so there will be no switching or "oops which one is which" a la Uncle Jesse with his kids on Full House.

Happy and Healthy times two.


They go from this to that in 6 months... which makes me ask are these tricky babies sneaking in some baby miracle grow?