Cuteness

We had a bit of a rough week last week with a temperature and a molar coming in. No one slept well, Jack didn't eat well, it was just a yucky week. But this weekend, we did get to have some fun and today, he seems right back to his normal happy, CUTE self.

Here's a few fun shots from the past few days...

Grams and the gigglebox:



And Grams and Jack with more hand motions. I think they were flying this time!



Playing with the spatula on the island at Gram's and Gramp's house:



Waiting for the rest of the band to show up at Aunt Audrey and Uncle Eddie's house:



Having fun with Daddy:



Sporting his new big boy pj's that Grandma bought him as he tried to figure out how to open the gate and get up the stairs:



And the gate...well...it's there to make sure that the following doesn't happen without someone right behind him:



He LOVES going up the steps and would do it all day every day if we'd allow it. He sits at the bottom and stares at the gate and cries sometimes. It's hard to tell but when he gets to the top, we all clap. That's definitely his favorite part!

Fun on the Farm

Yesterday Jack and I went to Orange to see Ansley and Page and the baby cows! It was a gorgeous day and Jack loved being outside and didn't seem to be scared at all. The babies are just so cute!







Gisele came over to check Jack out too! The baby ducks flew away as soon as we got to the pond so we'll have to get back to see them.



Thanks for having us Ansley - we can't wait to get back!

Happy Friday!

Just a sunny smile to wish everyone a great weekend!



Hope that it is sunny and warm where you are.

We're still here!

It's been a while, I know, but it's been raining for what feels like weeks and we haven't gotten out to do too many fun things...and I failed to capture all the fun things we did inside on camera! Either way, we hear the sun is coming out tomorrow and we can't wait!



Yesterday we did finally get to go to our 12 month doctor's appointment after their big pipe bursting disaster. They were still a bit disheveled from it but all went fine. Except that Jack has figured that place out. He usually is perfectly happy while we are there. It's a very bright, colorful place with lots of toys and smiling faces. But yesterday was different and according to the nurses, 1 year is about the time they all figure it out and it lasts until they are 3-4 they say. He clung to his Daddy so tight and had NO smiles for Dr. Schweiker, even though she can usually pull quite a few out of him! It also may have something to do with how we aren't going there every few weeks for visits without shots now that he's not in daycare. Who knows, but either way, he didn't enjoy the trip, or the 3 vaccinations.

The newest stats:
Weight: 20 lbs 12 ounces (25th percentile)
Height: 30" (50th percentile)
Head: 19.5" (off the charts)

He's thinning out a bit which she says is normal when they get moving. He walked for her holding my hands and she said he was ready to go in terms of the mechanics of it, he just needed the courage. She encouraged us not to turn his carseat around until he was walking well even though he's 1 year old and 20 lbs. She thinks the milk intolerance is dose related, so he tolerates a small amount, but not large volumes. Since the soy milk is going ok for now, I think we'll stick with it for a while longer but I was quite encouraged to hear her say he needs only 2-3 ounces at each meal, not the 16 ounces I had read elsewhere. He has given up the bottle on his own pretty much, swatting you away when it's presented, so we got to escape the "no more bottles" lecture. So, all in all, things are going great it seems!

In other news today is St. Patrick's Day! Not Jack's first, but I can't even remember it last year and feel certain we were still in the sleepless fog, so hopefully this year will be more fun for him. The O'Donnell clan sent him a St. Patty's Day duck!





Who knew such a thing existed, but there's no more perfect gift for him at the moment since he is hooked on ducks! Thanks guys! The doctor said he should know 1 word at 1 year and his is definitely "duck." He hasn't moved past "duck" and "uh-oh" but she said he probably wouldn't until 15 months when he'd pick up a handful of new words...and she warned us to start watching which words he hears! For those that haven't heard him say it yet, here's a little clip. We know it needs work and most people wouldn't know it's "duck," but he uses it appropriately and can spot ducks most anywhere!



But maybe he's going to speak in clicks instead of words anyway...here's his newest trick...



Sure hope that the day is full of rainbows and pots of gold for everyone! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Celebrations

Jack had a busy birthday week full of parties and playdates. It started the weekend before his birthday with a trip to my hometown to see Granny.



He had so much fun exploring and checking out everything at her house!



She was so sweet to have a little birthday celebration for him to kick off his week of birthday fun! He got some great presents...





and she even had a cake for him to try!





He was NOT a fan. The icing was sticky (as all icing is) and that seemed to bother him. I have him a piece with barely any icing in hopes of that helping...but it didn't.



We had a great trip though and really appreciated all Granny did to make the day special for Jack.

Monday we had the big snow and so Kenny was home with us all day which was such a treat!

Tuesday was Jack's big day but the snow got in our way a little bit. It was really cold and everything was pretty icy so I didn't want to chance going out in the car with him. We stayed in and played most of the day. Auntie Stephanie and Uncle Dan and Emory and Ellie and the Bradburys had sent Jack such great gifts so we opened those one at a time every hour or so throughout the day. Thanks guys for being our snowed-in birthday fun! Kenny came home early and we took Jack for a stroll up to the park to watch the sledding.







Wednesday schools were still closed so we got to have a playdate with Mary Alex and some of her friends! I forgot the camera so there aren't any pictures but we had a great time, as usual!

Thursday I had a haircut so Gramps came to play with Jack for a little while which was such a treat.

Friday we had a playdate with Carter at the park which was also lots of fun! Jack was not in the best mood but it was a lot of fun for me! Kenny came home early again so that was a nice treat too.

Saturday was a big day! We started a parent and child swimming class at the Y first thing in the morning. Jack was again, not in the best of moods before it began and as such, it didn't go that well but we have high hopes that in the next 8 lessons he'll get a bit more comfortable. The class is designed only to familiarize them with the water, not to teach survival skills or any real swimming skills. It's based around song and play and seemed like it would have been a lot of fun had Jack not been so fussy.





Here's hoping next week goes better - he's got to be pool ready by summer!!

After that we had a little family birthday party which was a lot of fun. I never would have guessed we'd be in the teens and under 5 inches of snow in the same week that we'd see 80 degrees, but it was a beautiful day for an outside first birthday party!





Jack was surrounded by his parents and grandparents which made the day extra special!









He had a great time opening presents and playing with new toys...though the Jack in the Box might have scared him a time or two.



But I think his favorite part was his own little table of treats.



He loved getting to eat all of the crunchy treats he wanted!



Despite working really hard to make these cupcakes for him...






and even offering him a cupcake without icing, he had NO interest in the cake (or hat) part of the party. Oh well! We all had a great time and we really appreciate everyone coming to share the day with us.



Sunday was another beautiful day so we headed out to Maymont to get some fresh air! Jack was more concerned with his cheerios than the animals...until it looked like a goat might be able to snag a few cheerios right from his tray. Then he was a bit concerned.





It was such a nice day even BOTH of the bears were out!





I love my boys...and pretty Spring days spent at the park with them are just about as good as life can get!!



Sunday night Uncle Eddie & Aunt Audrey came over for dinner and a little more fresh air. Jack loves being outside and gets really fussy when he's inside these days. So he enjoyed their visit even more than he usually does, which is a LOT!







It was a wonderful week and thanks again to everyone who helped make it so! Hope your week was great too.

One year old

I'm still not sure it's possible, but according to the calendar, today is the big day. Jack is ONE year old!

There's a fair amount of satisfaction in the realization that we've kept Jack alive and fairly happy for a year. That he's growing right on track and learning very quickly. However, even with all of that, it's still quite bittersweet. My baby is a year old. He's so much more independent than he was on this day a year ago. He won't ever fit in the crook of my arm again. He'll never need me as much as he has so far. He's just not the tiny guy he once was. I love this stage, as I have loved them all, and I wouldn't turn back time for fear in what I'd be missing in the future.

Before having a baby I always thought moms must look back on their children's birthdays with a feeling of relief. "Thank goodness I don't have to give birth today." And maybe some do. But I'd give birth all over again in a heart beat to relive that most amazing day. Motherhood definitely suits me. Jack, however, might prefer today to that day...



He's not yet walking on his own but gets a little braver every day. He has made it almost all the way up the steps (with someone with him of course) and cruises around quite well while holding on to anything he can find.

He has mastered "uh-oh" and when to use it. He also can say "duck" which sounds more like "duh" but it's close. If asked to pick out the duck amongst other toys, he usually can. He shakes his head or hand at me when I say "no" and most of the time, will move on to something else. He definitely understands a lot of what we say.

He loves watching TV, especially "Jack's Big Music Show" on Noggin which is full of music which he loves to dance and clap to.

He's gotten to be a pickier eater and vegetables usually have to be disguised as something more exciting to have a chance. He's doing much better with the sippy cup though - having finally figured out that you have to tilt your head back to make it work!



Books are still his favorite pastime, though toys in general took a backseat to exploring this month. He just wanted to be into everything more than playing.



He got some great new bath toys for his birthday and has graduated from the smaller baby tub to the big bath tub!





He also loves brushing his teeth after his bath.



He was supposed to go to the doctor for his 12 month check up today and some much needed advice on how to lose the bottle and formula but our winter weather caused their pipes to freeze and burst overnight. They called early this morning to say there was water everywhere so they would have to reschedule. We'll be sure to update you about that visit once we go. Until then...here's a look back at our favorite little guy and how much he's changed in one short year:



Thanks for checking in on us and here's to hoping year 2 is just as much fun as year 1 was!