Problem Solving - Jack Style

As you may recall, Jack is rather fond of his video game controller. He carries it around most of the day and even tries to take it to bed with him. He also likes to hold it in the Johnny Jump Up, but sometimes he drops it, what with all the excitement from a successful jump. Until the other day, we were responsible for picking up the toy & handing it back to him. This changed when he figured out how to retrieve the controller himself. He snags either the cord or the actual controller with his toes, then lifts up his feet so he can grab the toy. Then he looks around, completely proud of himself, to make sure someone was watching. Of course we are!

Valentine's Sneak Peek

We've been hard at work creating a Valentine's Day Card for friends & family. (Thanks, Rene, for the reminder!) We skipped Christmas cards this year, so I figured we were overdue to send out pictures. You know...because there just aren't enough pictures of Jack & Cassady available!!

You'll see the finished product either in your mailbox or here on Valentine's Day :)

The Helper

Jack has developed a sixth sense where the dishwasher is concerned. Even if he's playing in the other room with the most fascinating toy ever (today this role was played by a small jar of sprinkles), as soon as he hears the dishwasher being opened he races into the kitchen. He prefers the unloading process rather than loading. Here, he can be seen assisting Daddy. Note that the aforementioned jar of sprinkles has been cast aside, due to the allure of the fork. Items he is allowed to play with pale in comparison to items he is not. Sorry, sprinkles.

Climb Every Mountain

Jack's been up to all sorts of new things lately. For example, he's learned to open drawers and cupboards. If the room is suddenly quiet, it's probably because he's found something he shouldn't be playing with - like markers.He hasn't figured out how to get the cap off yet, but I'm guessing it's only a matter of time. (Note to self - hide markers!)

Another newly discovered bit of fun: the hallway outside our apartment. While helping Cassady start a load of laundry, Jack found the stairs. It took at least 10 seconds for him to figure out how to climb them. Maybe 15. Now that he's experienced the magic that is stair climbing, he is rather obsessed with getting out the front door. He's even started trying to turn the doorknob. (Note to self: keep the door locked!)

Sister Smooch

Jack loves to play with his sister. Especially when she is trying to play video games or text her friends. He tries to sneak into her room to visit, but she usually leaves her door shut. (That's mostly because it's a mess & she doesn't want me to see it - as if I'd forget!) Jack also really likes to give her kisses. He's started giving open mouth kisses, on the recipient's mouth. He usually only kisses me at naptime - I think he's trying to cute his way out of being put in his crib. Sorry, Jack - I am on to your little game! Don't tell him though, because I like the kisses :)

Cause & Effect

When you sleep like this:

You're bound to get hair like this:

I am so excited that he finally has enough hair to have a little bedhead. It's not much - but it's a start! PS: You may have to click on the 2nd picture to actually see the bedhead. It's there...really!

P-I-Z-Z-A!!

Since Jack decided to get up for the day at 4 this morning, I ran out of energy before dinner. Luckily, Daddy picked up a pizza on his way home. Jack loves pizza. He ate 1.5 slices, plus a banana. Hopefully all that deliciousness will fill his little tummy and put him to sleep. I could really go for a full 8 hours of sleep. I think I'd like that even more than the pizza!

Boys In The Hood

...Or more accurately, boys in their hoods! Jack and Daddy (or Addy, as Jack calls him now) decided to be twins today. Daddy opted for plain white, while Jack went with gray. Jack's sweatshirt, however, bears the words "Mom's #1 Troublemaker"- which has been quite appropriate for today. He figured out how to climb up onto his diaper bag, grabbed the bowl of laundry quarters, tossed the quarters and made off with the bowl. That was the first mess of the day...we'll see how many more there are to follow :)

Basket Case

Cassady loves to play with Jack and is very patient with him, but there are times when she just needs her space. I returned from cleaning up the kitchen to find Jack stashed away in this makeshift play pen. He didn't seem to mind his confinement at all - Cassady thoughtfully provided his favorite toy. Once the picture was snapped, however, he quickly lost interest in being cooped up. Annoying Cassady is much more fun!

Woe Is Jack

Jack has devloped the habit of walking around with his sippy cup in his mouth. He doesn't really mind if it is full or empty, he just likes to carry it with him. He tried walking around with an empty plastic bowl earlier. Unfortunately, he fell face down onto the bowl and got a bit of a bloody lip. He needed lots of hugs and kisses, but has made a full recovery. I'm guessing that from now on, he will stick to the sippy cup!

Up To No Good

For the last two weeks, Jack and I have had the pleasure of spending time with Miss Harmony Rose, who is two months old. Despite what it looks like in this picture, Jack has done very well with sharing Mommy. He (usually) likes to walk over to the swing and watch her, then smile at her. Today, it seems he may have had some rather nefarious plans. I was able to distract him with (what else?) the video game controller and Harmony was safe :)

Don't Let That Smile Fool You...

Today, Jack decided to let a few of his destructive tendencies out. First he tipped over a cup of water (the same one pictured, as a matter of fact). Next, he opened a drawer and tried to eat a crayon. Then, he was throwing toys and being very loud. This was all before naptime. His morning nap. Toddlerhood might get a little messy...

Sounding Off

Jack added a new consonant sound to his repertoire today: Ba! He is now saying da, na, addy and ba. He will yell these "words", as well as whisper them. Usually it's the yelling - he is quite loud these days!

Twofer Tuesday

After breakfast and right before his morning nap, Jack likes to play. We had fun with various toys, we did "This Little Piggy" (he loves that - he giggles in anticipation as soon as I touch his foot), we chased each other around the room and then played peek-a-boo. Apparently all that was just enough to wear him out - he's fast asleep now!

Sip It

Jack has transitioned nicely to using a sippy cup. He drinks mostly water and (extremely) watered down juice. He prefers cranberry or a cranberry pomegranate blend, both 100% juice. I've tried giving him almond milk in his sippy, but he's really not into it. We're avoiding cow's milk because both Daddy & Cassady have some allergies. I need to find a milk substitute he will drink, especially since he's getting closer to being fully weaned. (He nurses at bedtime, and sometimes in the wee hours of the morning.) We'll keep trying new things...one of these days we'll find something he likes!

Game On!

I'm not really sure what's going on here, but his expression made me laugh. The video game controller he is holding has become his favorite toy. He carries it around with him while walking around, while jumping in his Johnny Jump Up and even while sitting in his high chair, waiting for his food to be ready. It's also the first toy he goes for in the morning after waking up for the day. It's quite amusing to watch him walk around with the cord dragging behind him. It's like a high tech version of Linus and his security blanket!

Slightly Peevish

We can't be cheerful every day, right? He missed his afternoon siesta today. I think we may actually be phasing out the second nap, since he refuses to go to bed (without a huge battle) at night if he sleeps twice during the day. Losing a nap makes me sad - partly because it means he is transitioning more & more out of babyhood, and partly because it means less free time during the day for me!

Mommy - 1, Jack - 0

We have begun the bedtime battles. Or, rather, the bedtime battles continue. Jack will sleep in his crib, it is true, but getting him to sleep has become a challenge. Two nights ago, he was awake until almost 3 am (no, really) refusing to sleep. Last night I decided I'd had enough of his nightly shenanigans and put him in his crib at 9 o'clock. He did cry and fuss (loudly) for nearly 20 minutes, but I won. He slept all night and woke up in a great mood that's lasted all day. We'll be doing that 9 pm bedtime thing again. Tonight, as a matter of fact. And then again tomorrow :)

Baby Steps: The Movie

Lion Kisses

Jack got this bop and wobble toy for his birthday. He was completely terrified by it and refused to even go near it. What a difference a month and two days can make!

PS: Jack is officially throwing tantrums now when he doesn't get his way. And today he randomly walked over to me and bit my toe, then laughed at me. Is it possible that he started the terrible two's a little early?

Getting The Scoop

Jack is reading his blog.

Apparently he likes it.

He's got great taste :)

Snow Day!

As you can tell by the view outside my front door, we are snowed in today. Jack certainly doesn't mind - he loves having Cassady home all day. I like it too!

Time For Tea

Jack graciously shared his recent cold with me, and I've been drinking lots of hot tea. Luckily, I'd already finished the beverage before he found my mug - especially since he likes to smash everything! He had a lovely time slamming the empty mug on the hope chest. But, like everything else, this was short lived fun. He noticed that in my haste to rescue the mug from his destructive clutches, I'd left my laptop on the ottoman. You can't take your eyes off him for even a second...

Jump It Up!

I'm letting the pictures speak for themselves today :)

A Post Meal Nosh

After eating dinner, Jack still needed a little something, so we made some sweet potato fries. Not content to leave them in the bowl, he spread them out on the table for close investigation. He started out eating them individually, but then remembered how much he likes the fries, so he jammed as much in his mouth as possible. I think his days of dainty, virtually mess-free eating are over!

Frying Pan Fun

I am starting to think that this particular pan will never make it back to the kitchen. Jack has so much fun playing with it. So far, he's put toys in it, taken them back out, used it as a hat, used it as a weapon, and he's also enjoyed standing with one foot inside it. And that was just today!

Rough and Tumble

Our little Jack is becoming a toddler. And he is such a boy. His favorite activities these days include slapping everything and banging the frying pan (stolen from the kitchen a few days ago) on furniture and toys, as well as his (extremely tolerant) sister. He may look innocent in today's picture, but let me be the first to tell you that this little guy is going to be quite the handful. Oh boy...

Caught You Being...

...naughty. You can just see it in his eyes! Most likely, he was contemplating a raid of the kitchen cupboards or another attack on the kleenex box. Not that he does those things regularly, or anything. I'm just guessing here :)

Where's Jack?

Today, let's play a little game. Your mission: find the baby in the giant pile of toys. With all these options, which did he choose to play with, you ask? Today, it was a frying pan he stole out of the dishwasher to beat against anything & everything in the living room. He then tore up some kleenex - perhaps he was seeking revenge from all that nose wiping? He also enjoyed pushing an empty cup around the apartment. He keeps busy, that is for sure!

Welcoming Committee

Thanks to the holidays, Jack has been enjoying having Daddy home a little more than usual. However, it was back to reality today. After working all day, Daddy came home to a little guy who was very glad to see him. Jack's happy little face sure makes for a nice welcome, don't you think?

Sick Day

Jack is feeling a bit under the weather with a little cold and cough. He has been rather grumpy today. He also seems to have developed an intense fear of kleenex. Whenever we get one out of the box to use for his runny nose, he crawls away as fast as he can. Once cornered, he screams and swats at us with his hands. We did try using boogie wipes, but he quickly realized that those were basically wet kleenex..and therefore suspect. He's too smart and he's got quite the little temper, too. Wonder where that came from?!?

I know the post has nothing to do with the picture of him reading. I assumed you didn't want to see a picture of him getting his nose wiped :)