Yes, I know I had pictures taken of Jack in October, but those were HALLOWEEN themed. And when Jess offered some mini-sessions at a great cost, this photo addict couldn't say no.
And a sampling:
Jack was busy (shocking I know), but the pics are wonderful. Thanks, Jess!
Since I am awful, awful AWFUL about blogging, I'm doing November all-in-one.
So, first was the Sibling Rivalry Car Show (Toyotas and Scions). Daniel has to go, so we dressed Jack in his cute MR2 outfit and off we went.
First, Jack had to help Daddy work on the car
And drive the car
OK, daddy, you can sit here, but I'M driving!
Then...NAKED BABY! This kid won't keep a diaper on for 7 seconds anymore.
We got a package?!
Cool!
What's in it???
It makes a good chair!
Really
And with clothes on, playing with the neighborhood kids:
(a six year old, a pair of 4 year olds, a pair of 2 year olds, and an 18 month old and Jack. We have fun!)
I love my Moe!
Hmmmm....
Attacking poor Little N at Doing Dishes pottery studio. We made cute stuff though!
In St. Augustine for the Lighting of the Town
Canon rides!
Present Rides!
Dancing with mommy
I found a leaf!
Family portrait;)
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| From November 2009 Favorites |
So, forgive the awful header. I will fix it when I get pro photos done by Karen tomorrow. And now, i'll blog:-)
Here's a montage made by his instructor of him swimming and floating. The black suit he's in is a footie pajama, NOT a wetsuit!
I think sometimes I don't blog because...I don't blog.
No, really. I go so long, and have such a backlog of things I "need to post about" that I don't until I have the time/energy/inclination to catch up. So...screw it.
Today, finally, after what feels like most of his life (and was, in fact, about a fifth of it) we had day 1 of Jack's swim test. Swimming has been...interesting. We had a rough start with the screaming and the hating and the sick. Then it got better. Then the instructor was sick. Then Jack was sick.
And, so, the last 2 weeks have been intense. And good. Jack is doing really well now. It took some effort (basically, he knew he wasn't going to be allowed to drown, so he'd just hang under water until the teacher would get him. A very few extra second pause convinced him to come on up.) He pops right up no matter how you put him in and floats on his back. Today he was tested in a real (disposable) diaper and a pair of thick, fleecey footy jammies. He did great. Really. She dropped in so his feet touched the bottom of the pool and he was up and floating in seconds.
Tomorrow he goes in with shoes and jeans and a sweater and a cloth diaper. Oh my! But I have faith in my boy. I do.
I know some people have issues with ISR classes. I get it. I mean, I don't let my child cry. I wear him, I hold him, I play with him, I sleep with him. And I put him in swim classes where he's cried 10 minutes a day, most days, for weeks. But I have 3 thoughts on it: 1) I live on the water, spend time on the water, and spend time in pools. I also have a very adventurous, climby son. While I don't think sleep is worth his tears, his life is. 2) I've been with him every minute. Ten feet or less away, telling him what a good job he's doing. What a big boy he is. He knows I'm there. He may not like what he's being asked to do, but he knows I'm there. 3) He still LOVES the water.
My mom did these classes with me, and I've loved the water my entire life. They're safe. They're tested. They're only in 10 minutes at a time, one on one with an instructor (Jack's is a nurse). And I know that if against all odds my baby sneaks out of the house and over the fence while my back is turned, he can float himself to at least give me a chance to find him. As my father-in-law says about what he did when my (very adventurous, very climby) husband went missing as a child "you always start at the water, as it has the most risks, and work your way up". ISR is just giving me a few minutes to get there.
The 1st Dave Ramsey step is to create an emergency fund. A small one. We sort-of, kind of have a decent one, but it's VERY tied up and we don't really want to go into it...ever:-) So this is supposed to be easily accessible money.
Well, we did that. Then our water pump (the one I spend $200 fixing in September. We replaced it yesterday) broke. And this thought went through my head:
"Our emergency fund is so pretty, I don't want to go into it to fix the pump. We should use a credit card."
Seriously. I said that to myself. How freaking backwards is THAT kind of thinking???
LOL. I think I need the FPU class.
I'm a Southern girl, so I'm not sure I should mention money in my (semi) public blog. But...oh, well.
Anyway, between 2 houses, a never-ending list of things that break, a baby, 2 dogs and a horse, and my out of control spending...we're having a few minor financial issues. Nothing major, but we need to get things under control before major happens.
I need to stop spending.
And it would be really nice if I could make some money.
Here are the issues with that (not in order of importance): 1) though I have several degrees, they're kind of worthless unless I want to practice law. I don't. 2) I firmly believe that what is best for me and for Jack is that I'm home with him. I know some parents have to work outside the house. I know others LOVE to work outside the house. I envy that second group! But, I have wanted to stay at home with my kids since I was one. And while I'm sometimes whiny, I love it. I love almost every minute of it. And I think I'm pretty good at it.
So, I have tried to have my little design business. And while the customers I've had have been more than satisfied, there haven't been a lot of them. I'm not completely giving up on that (anyone want a christmas card, photo book or family tree????), but I certainly can't count on it.
I applied for a job. The perfect job. The part-time nanny of a 14 month old boy and the parents are fine with the nanny bringing her own child(ren). I have NO IDEA if they'll even contact me, much less hire me, but that would be so much fun and I'd make a little extra money without having to be away from Jack. We'll see. At least I tried.
I've been wanting to go back to school. I know, finally, 100% what I want to do with my life. I want to be a counselor. I've known for 9 years I wanted to do something with Psychology, but I just to think I wanted to be more research oriented. After all of the craziness in my family the last few years, I know I want to help people who are going through emotional issues. I just don't know when! I want to have more children. I want to be a full-time mom while they're young. I'd love to counsel 3/4time once they're in school, but how do I do the education part now. And WHY did I go to law school, when I KNEW I wanted a degree in Psychology. I could have worked for 3-4 years already and not be in this position. Oh, well. Looking back does no good.
Anyway...that's where I am. Oh! And Daniel and I are attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University classes. They're kind of helping.
Halloween was extraordinarily busy this year. The Florida/Georgia game (aka the World's Largest Cocktail Party) was on Halloween and as a rabid Gator fan, we must watch. We also must sell parking in my grandfather's law firm parking lot (about .75 mile from the stadium). We make about $500 in 2 hours. We just can't pass it up.
But, first, PICTURES! Because, well, I'm addicted. So we got all ready and headed to my friend J's house for her halloween luncheon/Halloween pictures with Sara.
After a few minor costume mishaps (Daniel's had to be glued back together, and Jack's made him cry), we had pictures taken.
Then, J's luncheon, which was a ton of fun. Lots of kids in lots of cute costumes and lots of yummy food of which Jack ate lots.
And then to downtown Jacksonville to sell parking. It seemed slow, which apparently was because we raised our prices overly high (I thought we charged more last year than we did). We eventually sold out though (and THEN figured out our prices were too high), and headed to my stepmom's house to watch the game - we needed some down time!
The gators won, as we will, and we got BACK in the car to come home, and go to our cute little neighborhood's cute little Halloween party. With cute food. And drinks. With alcohol. Followed by trick or treating. Which Jack totally didn't understand, but he did LOVE following his friends around.
Before I get to the photos...I have to mention the costumes.
Daniel really REALLY wanted to team up with Jack and go as "Jack Daniels". I tend to prefer cute/pretty costumes (I do know I have a son, thanks) and so after much discussion we compromised on:
Daniel was "Jack in a bottle" and Jack was "Daniel's Jack in a box".
Our friend and neighbor "drinking" Jack Daniel's
Jack riding in the little jeep. He loves loves LOVES that thing and followed the big kids (2-6 year olds) until he got a ride.
Mommy and Jack
And, then, the night was over, and the costumes hung up for next time. 
We've had a lot of fun with the Halloween build up.
From Halloween pics with Karen:
to a day at the pumpkin patch with Daddy:
(I don't think he liked it too much)
And another patch with friends:
Pretty much all I ever see of Jack:
Jack and Savannah
What's in there?
It's Jack!
A quick swing by the Whole Foods Halloween festivities and Petting Zoo:
And off to dinner with friends.
Today should be pretty darn busy as well!
Ok, we don't. In fact, I hate shoes and wear them as little as possible. I'm a flipflop girl year round.
But Jack? Jack LOVES his shoes. He just picked one up and brought it to me. I said thank you and put it on my desk. He did his NO I WANT IT grunt/babble (one day, I swear, he will talk) so I handed it to him. He took it and stared at me and started to yell. I asked if he wanted me to put it on him, he put his arms up, I put the shoe on. So now he's running around perfectly happy in a diaper and 1 shoe.
I haven't posted in AGES!
Ok, last weekend we took Jack to watch the Gator Game @ Mellow Mushroom and he had a great time playing with other kids. Then he went to bed early and woke up at 3 with a 103.2 fever. I gave him Ibuprofen, it went down, he woke up feeling fine/acting normal, and we decided to go to the Fall Festival. He had fun, had a good (if a little sleepy) attitude. After his nap, he woke up with a fever again.
And it went on and on and on. I called the doctor, they said to bring him in if the fever lasted more than 5 days or if he seemed to feel terrible.
He'd be OK in the morning (acting normalish), then have a fever in the afternoon and middle of the night. And he wouldn't eat. He'd nurse a little, but did not eat a single bite of real food all week.
Finally, Thursday I took him in, they gave him a flu test (negative), said he has bronchitis and an ear infection. They gave us a nebulizer for breathing treatments & an antibiotic prescription to use at our discretion (basically, they gave it to us b/c it was late in the week and they didn't want me to need it over the weekend and not be able to get it).
He HATES the breathing treatments. He screams. And screams. And screams some more.
Thursday night he woke up coughing a TON, but didn't have a fever all night. tFriday morning he had a 101 fever. And he hasn't had one since!!! I started the antibiotic, just in case. I'm just tired of him being sick, and I'mtired of him feeling terribly.
Today, he's acting normal, eating well, playing, no fever. I'm SOOO Happy. He's lost a ton of weight. His clothes that he'd basically outgrown fit again. It's kind of sad, but I know he'll gain it back now that he's feeling better. He still coughs and has a runny nose, and we have to continue the drugs and nebulizer for 5 more days, but he's definitely on the upswing.
Poor, sad baby boy.
OK, so at Mamarazzi Chronicles she has a storytelling Saturday. 
You open your pictures file, blindly choose a folder, blindly choose a photo. Then tell the story of it.
Sounds fun, and I want to blog. I know I'm a bloggy failure, but I don't wanna be!!!! (whiny Kimberly)
So, here we go:
Awful, blurry picture, isn't it? It's a close up ofJack's face concentrating on the wagon that he and Moe were sharing on a walk one night. The previous picture is MUCH cuter:
One day soon I'll get pics from my Dad and from friends and post about Jack's birthday party. For now, I'll talk about his Birthday.
We had a great day! It's been a LOOOOONG time since we had Mommy/Daddy/Jack time to relax and have fun and be a family.
This morning Daniel went to work and Jack and I went to swimming lessons, but then Daniel got off at 1ish, and spent the rest of the day with us.
First, we went to the Loop in Avondale. It's on the water and SO cool. We ate outside and broke the rules by throwing food for the geese and fish and turtles. Jack loved the birds and french fries. He didn't really like his chicken fingers.
He loved his straw. Man, that kid loves straws.
Then he took a ride on Daddy's shoulders back to the car and we went into Avondale to shop for toys at the Green Alligator. We got him a few new fun toys, and let him play for a few minutes. Then after a quick stop at Willie's (Oh my GOODNESS GRACIOUS I want the Santa Gator Jonjon that they have there. I can't spend $80 on one of his (3) Christmas outfits. Can't do it. Someone stop me.)
And off to the zoo. It was around 3:30 when we got there, so it was a quick trip, but fun! We saw the Monkeys, the giraffes, the lions (who, of course ,Jack called Moe), some birdies (including Grandmommies favorite, the Mingo), brushed the goats at the petting zoo, and played in the splash park (where he moved too much to get a decent picture of his face). We had to work hard to keep Jack from moving in with the animals. 
THEN, we came home and went for a walk around the neighborhood with the dogs and Jack's new Step II Push Around Buggy. He loved it. Loved it. Loved the steering wheel, and the horn, and feeling like a big boy. He had a blast.
And finally, we went to dinner at Kan-Ki with my mom. He was a wonderful boy, enthralled with the cooking and loved his chicken.
We had a wonderful, busy, fun, peaceful day and it was a wonderful way to spend his 1st birthday.
Tomorrow my baby will be 1. It really means so little, he'll be 12 months old instead of 11 months. He'll still be a baby. He's been a toddler.
But it's a milestone, and a big one. It means something. He's growing up. Too fast, too slow. Mainly fast. There is so much to look forward to, but so much that I miss and won't get back.
We're still nursing. Still cosleeping. Still, occasionally, babywearing. We stroller more now, though, because he loves to get down and push it around. He wants to walk. He thinks he's a big boy. He's changing every day. I look at pictures, and he's a kid. A little kid, but a kid. There's baby there, don't get me wrong. There's a lot of boy there too.
I miss the itty bitty baby in my arms. I look forward to the boy who will run through the icky swamp woods behind my house. Who will ride his bike in the street. Who will play fetch with the dogs.
Jack's 364 days old today. We celebrated with friends and with family. He swam and slid and ate a supercute surf board cake. We sang happy birthday and may the good lord bless you.
Tomorrow, Daniel's taking a 1/2 day from work and we're going to the zoo. Maybe the beach. We're going to take some family time and enjoy each other. Enjoy our family, our little boy. Watch his birthday slide show and remember the last year. Talk about all of the fun to come.
One year ago tomorrow, our 1st family photo. Today as our family and friends wished him a happy birthday.
So, I have had a number of people throughout my life tell me that I was a really sweet, happy child until my sister was born. I was 4 when Kelley came and we moved. And I became evil. And remained that way for most of the next 17 years.
So, now, I have had a couple of people tell me they are worried that Jack will become evil when we have another baby (which is eventually going to happen). Should I worry about that? I mean, of course I worry about that. I just don't know if the worry is rational. And I don't know how to encourage Jack to remain a sweet, happy boy once he's not the ONLY little person in our world.
Because I needed other things to stress over in my crazy little head.
We went to watch the Gators beat the pants off the Volunteers on Saturday at a local sports bar. Poor Daniel stayed home and worked on our fence, but Jack and I met up with Grammy Duck, Yaya and some of their friends at a local sports bar.
Jack wasn't too sure he liked the place at first.
My mom bought me a bunch of new plants as a VERY belated birthday present. Since we haven't managed to actually plant them yet, Jack and I have to water them. He enjoys it. A lot.
I don't know what my problem is. I think about blogging several times a day. I want to blog. I want to write the minutiae of my time with Jack. Our days. Our nights. Our sleep issues. His swimming lessons. His 11 month photos. Teething. The new AC system we need. The birthday party we're (I'm) planning. The fence we (Daniel) built. Jack's 1st word (Moe). My stresses, my worries, my crazy mommy concerns. The Gators. The crush Jack had on the waitress at the sports bar when we watched the Gator game on Saturday. My grandfather who thinks I should get a job and that I'm being lazy by staying home. The fight with my sister and the epiphany I had as a result. Church. The many, many blessings in my life.
I want to blog. I want to remember. I want to vent. I want to show off cute pictures of the cutest almost one year old on the planet. I want to reminisce.
I want to blog. Why don't I?
It makes me sad. And happy. And all kinds of things.
Mainly it makes me stressed. Because that means that his birthday party is in 17 days, and oh boy do I have a lot to do!
Seriously.
Yikes!
Oh, I am SOOOO glad that when he turns one I can quit this monthly stuff. I mean, I'm sure I'll still do a zillion pics (I have plans for Halloween, house, and Christmas), but at least I won't feel pressure to do it on any given day/week. At least until I have baby2 (one day in the future which is not up for discussion until Jack sleeps at least part of the night alone), who I am determined will not be photo-deprived. Uh huh. Sure.
Anyway, here are Jack's last monthly pictures!!!!! Next up, 1 year photos!
I hope it's OK to break the no-tv rule for the Gators. (ok, and readeez). It's just too darn hard to keep him from watching TV when I want to watch it. I can do w/o shows. I can't do w/o the Gators. He's so flipping cute, though.
We went to Hurricane's, b/c I've been wanting wings, beer adn football for months now. Jack was in a GREAT mood, was looking at everything (not really at the TVs much), smiling at people, playing in my water glass. He was just so happy. He pigged OUT on chicken (Hurricane's has grilled chicken strips on their kids menu) and celery. He was just so much fun. I'm trying to teach him the Gator chomp, but since he barely waves or claps...I don't have much hope:)
I wish I'd had a camera. He just cracks me up. He's such a happy little guy. He's such a little person now.
In honor of the 1st Gator game (and Savannah's Gator themed party coming up), I ordered him this. I've been wanting it since last fall! He'll be SO cute.
And, the Gators won. At least I think they did. We didn't even quite make it to half time with the boy (he wasn't getting cranky, but it was 9:00 and, well, he's not in bed yet), but when we left it was 35-3, so I'm pretty confident.
Yay, Gators!
Thank you to good friends for last minute babysitting.
And for others for helping us build a fence.
And for her awesome husband who has built us MOST of a nice, tall fence.
And for her sweet baby boy who may have said some words today.
For church, for reminding me of God and lifting my spirit.
For her mom, for taking her to church and helping w/ the laundry.
For sweet puppy dogs who don't get enough attention.
And neighbors who aren't making us replace their mailbox after Daniel ran it over.
Did he talk? I don't know. Today, at three specific times, I thought maybe he did. But when is it clear?
This morning, he woke up, started pulling up my shirt and saying Nuh, Nuh. Was he saying nurse?
This afternoon, my wonderful friend Lindsay watched him while Daniel and I went to a Crown Ministries orientation (more on that one day), and she said he carried a ball to her and said Bah a couple of times.
And at home, tonight, he pulled on my pants and said Mahm, Mahm, until I picked him up.
But, he babbles. So was it coincidence?
Who knows.
He is most of a year old. It seems incredible, amazing. I look at this toddler and picture the tiny little baby he was so recently. It's crazy. He's beautiful, sweet, happy. He has been since he was born. He loves the dogs. Every day he loves to play with them more. He loves the water. (Any advice on how to both provide the dogs w/ water AND keep him out of it?) He loves to play w/ the car steering wheel. He still loves the guitar. He has days where he loves to eat, and days he has no interest. He pretty consistently will eat chicken or hotdogs, but fruits, veggies, and other meats are more difficult. He still nurses every 3 hours during the day, and every...2-6 hours during the night. He has 8 teeth and a molar on it's way. His hair still has blond days, red days, brown days. His eyes have pretty much settled at hazel. They look blueish from a distance, but up close they are somewhere between green and brown. He will take something he knows he shouldn't and then look over his shoulder at me with a big smile as he heads the other way. He walks everywhere. He doesn't run yet, but doesn't crawl at all anymore. He climbs onto or up anything. He won't take a sippy cup. He loves to watch other children and is SO good when he's around them. He's needy. He wants attention, but will play alone for 20 minutes or so, depending on his mood. He loves Readeez and Auntie Kelley on Skype. He has just started to point, but I think he also uses it as a wave. When he sees someone he's excited about, he either points at them, or puts both arms straight out in front of him and heads towards them. When he eats something or feels something he likes, he throws his head back, grins, and breathes deeply. We had the worst sleep of his life this month (getting that 8th tooth was hard) and haven't managed to put him back in a crib since. He babbles constantly, but doesn't saying any words yet. At least not that adults understand. He'll say Mom, I'll say Jack, he''ll say Mom, I'll say Jack, but I don't think he gets it. He'll copy my sounds now. He plays peekaboo, he loves balls. We're planning his birthday party. He had his dtap and Prevnar vaccines together, and did fine.
He's a lot of work. He makes lots of messes. He opens drawers and pulls everything in them out. He pulls clothes off hangers and out of laundry baskets. He takes his diaper off (OK, fine, they are BumGenius with bad velcro, but still!).
He's the best thing that's ever happened to me. He's my purpose in life. He's a wonderful gift.
He's almost 1 year old, but he's still my baby boy.
And more wonderful photos (many of which are unedited), but the incredibly talented Karen Heiring!
The password is love.
http://karenheiring.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=9418588&AlbumKey=tjF4o
So, after 2 weeks of misery and no sleep, Jack's 8th tooth (his bottom left lateral incisor), FINALLY CAME IN on Thursday the 13th! And so, for 3 nights, he's slept progressively better.
Last night, he woke up at 1:30, 4:30 and 6:30. I swear, this is a really really good thing.
Last night we went to dinner at my dad's because my (step) brother RJ was in town. He's an almost-Junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, but has spent the summer interning at Walter Reed and will be studying in Costa Rica in the fall. He's home for 5 days to visit in between all that.
RJs a brilliant kid. Organized, smart -- I kind of hate him.
He hadn't seen Jack since New Years, and well, Jack's grown. They played. A lot! Which was cute. And it exhausted Jack. Which was good!
But odd.
RJ would play with him for a while then, twice, he tripped him. And laughed. Obviously it didn't hurt Jack or I would be furious. Jack caught himself with his hands and looked around confused (but it's not like he doesn't stumble 47 times a day). After the 2nd time, my dad told RJ to stop, and explained that we don't trip babies. Even on the carpet. Isn't it a little odd that we had to explain that to a 21 year old?
Anyway, I think he's learned that, well, we don't trip babies (hopefully he knows this also applies to children and the elderly...and really most of society), so the next visit should be safe.
Nothing major's happened, but Jack's teething and cranky, Daniel's working hard, none of us are sleeping, everyone's off. And I've had people I love angry at me. Several different people.
Some of it's my fault. I'm cranky, and perhaps too quick to anger.
Some of it has nothing to do with me and I'm bearing the brunt of frustration that should be directed at other people.
Some of it is just a ridiculous misunderstanding that has spun out of control. But that one's major. Someone important is really mad at me and Daniel. Really mad.
I get awkward when people are upset with me. I don't get passed it well. I want to be loved. I want to be liked.
Even when the other parties are over it, I'll still be awkward. Not angry (I can't hang on to anger for more than about 9.5 minutes), but awkward. And I dread that just as much as I hate the current situation.
And I don't know how to fix it. In fact, I've been clearly and directly told to stay away and not to try.
So I won't.
But we had a good day today, my boys and me. We did fun stuff. I took cute pictures of Jack and Daniel playing. We rode the ferry.
Yet all day long I've had a lump in my throat and tears just behind my eyes. I know it will be better eventually. But it'll be awhile. And meanwhile, I'm sad. And I don't know how to stop feeling that way.
Ok, I went a little bonkers this month. Shannon Curry does a free 15 minute themed session most months. We wen for the watermelon pics, 'cause, well, how fun!
I love how they turned out, but hate trying to decide which to buy.
You can see them here. Password is hellmuth.
By the always wonderful Karen Heiring
While we were at the beach last week, Karen came down to do Jack's 9 month pictures. She also did a session for my cousin, Kennedy's family as a gift for Miss Karley's 1st birthday!
Here are a few pictures from both sessions:
And you can see the rest of our session at:
Session
Password = love
(Most of those pictures are unedited proofs, just FYI)
As a rule, Jack gets NO screen tine. No videos. But thse (particularly the Wordeez) seem less like TV?Video and more like...oh, I don't know. But we like them. Not that he gets many, but one or two in the morning seems Ok. And he's probably too young for them, but we still like them.
Jack's Favorite So far:
My favorite so far:
www.readeez.com
I am forever leaving my sling or wrap at home, and I have NO stroller control. This would be awesome:
Enhance family living! And see eye-to-eye while you’re out and about with baby. With all the organizational elements you expect in a well-made diaper bag – plus innovative features to simplify your outings – the Sidekick is a must-have for families on the go.
FEATURES:
Separate compartment for diapers and wipes
Changing pad
Baby-friendly fabric that easily wipes clean
Exclusive, custom-designed patterns
Double side pockets, roomy enough for bottles or sippy cups
Cell phone pocket
Key clip
Plenty of easily accessed pockets for your essentials
Insulated bottle/snack pouch
Wipes case
Wear it three ways: over the shoulder, across the shoulder or
on the waist
Designed for use by babies with good head control, weighing
up to 35 pounds
Dimensions: 12" high x 15" wide x 4" deep
Why did my 10 month old just figure out how to take his diaper (full, poopy) off?
Why does he always (ALWAYS!) get sick w/in 24 hours of a shot appointment -- meaning it's too late to cancel but I'm not going to give him shots?
How does my house get SO messy SO quickly?
Will my horses be OK at the farm?
How do I manage to spend quite so much money and have quite so little to show for it?
That means in 2 months, he'll be a year old. Where'd time go? Where'd my baby go?
He can climb into the bathtub on his own. He climbs onto any table he can find.
He loves to get into the dog crate.
He LOVES his puppies and giggles as they play. He shares his toys with them and loves to be licked by them.
He is a bit of a drama king - he can make the poutiest faces, but he's so smiley most of the time.
He's grown a lot this month. I'm interested to see what he weighs tomorrow. He's been nursing like crazy and eating more.
He's still more interested in playing with food than eating it, but more and more is getting in. And the diapers are getting stinkier and stinkier. He's not dropping nursings yet though.
He LOVES to get to stand in our laps in the car so he can play with the steering wheel. He thinks it's SO MUCH FUN!
He loves the boat, the pool, the beach. He's my child. And Daniel's.
He's started to look more like a Boyer. For months he was a little Daniel clone, now he's looking more like me or my dad. It's bittersweet. He's beautiful, but I love the Hellmuth tradition of identical men.
He's walking a lot now. He can't turn yet, and sometimes he veers off course and can't get back on (clearly, he takes after me), but he can go across our bedroom, across the den. He is choosing to walk more and more.
Straws are his current passion. And styrofoam.
He is sleeping really poorly right now. It's teething. Or something. I hope. We did get a 4 hour stretch last night. Then 3.5 after that.
He can open cabinets and drawers and fireplace doors. I'm thinking babyproofing may be easier than constantly staring at him.
His eyes are some odd combination of blue and green and brown and silver. They change based on the day or outfit. I hope they stay like this, they're pretty!
His hair changes from blond to red to brown based on the day as well. That makes even less sense.
He claps. Not on command, but when he's happy. And he points at things that fly (birds, helicopters, kites). Nothing else.
He is growing out of 12 month clothes. He's growing out of Carter's 18 month clothes.
He's tough. He rarely cries when he falls. Which is frequent. He's learning to walk, after all.
He's jabbering a lot, but not saying anything. Except, possibly, Jack. He definitely says it, and he knows his name when I say it, but I don't know that he knows he's saying it.
He hugs me when he's tired now. I love it!
He LOVES his daddy and is such a happy boy when Daddy's around. He also goes to sleep much better for Daddy than me.
He loves music. I have to remember to keep it on.
We're moving to Gymboree Level 3 today. I can't believe it!
He loves other kids, and the church nursery and the Y kidzone. He loves it when our friends with three kids come over.
I adore him and am so blessed to have him. He's wonderful!
1. I'm being a blog failure again. I can give excuses like: we've been at the beach for a week; I have had no internet at my house for 2 months; I have a 10 month old. Truth is, I'm just a blog failure.
2. BUT! I do have internet at my house now. Not the AT&T U-verse service that everyone in my neighborhood has. Nope, our house can't have that. But, at least, DSL.
3. And, I have a 10 month old. Back when Jack was born (10 months ago today), 10 month olds looked so big. TWO month olds looked so big. But he's still my baby boy.
4. Even if he does think that he's a big boy and only babies have to sleep or nap. No amount of explaining that mommy and daddy also sleeping will convince him. He KNOWS he doesn't need too. (Or maybe it's teeth, but this boy has so much attitude I'm thinking it's a conscious decision to torture mommy).
5. We went to the beach for a week. Yes, I know, I mentioned that. We had a great time! I love my house and my life, but we all needed some time away (Don't tell my step-grandfather-in-law!). We stayed at my grandparents condo in Crescent beach for a week, while my cousins from the other side of my family stayed at a Condo about 1/2 a mile away. Between them, they have a 7 year old, 5 year old, twin almost 4 year olds, and a just-turned-1-year old. Jack had SO MUCH FUN playing with them! And I tried so hard to keep him from getting sun, but that boy must have my skin. He still got a bit of a tan. And blonde. He's just pretty:)
6. While we were gone, my stepmom, Lori, came over to work on our house. She painted our deck (which had been red) blue and white to match the house. She painted our mantel white. She made and hung a valance in the kitchen. She cleaned and prettied for us. She's awesome! She also called last night to say she has finished reupholstering our couch. That she gave us. Seriously, I love this woman. I know I'm her current project (she always has some), but I'm good with that!
7. Jack woke up with a runny nose and a cough. He's supposed to have a shot appointment tomorrow. Do you think that he knows that and PLANS to get a cold every time he's supposed to have shots? I mean, this is RIDICULOUS!
8. I've been working on some new design ideas - photobooks are expensive and I don't have the marketing (skills, time, energy) to push them. So I'm trying to fill up an etsy story (kimberjeb.etsy.com) with some other stuff. The newest additions are photo letters, posters, and car show signs. It would really be nice to sell something:)
9. I'm happy. Ok, yesterday, cranky was making me miserable, but in general, day to day, I'm happy. I love my life, my boys, my house. I love taking care of Jack. I love watching him learn new things and the excitement on his face when he succeeds at something. I love playing with him. I love Gymboree and Storytime and playdates. I love his cute little diapers. I love nursing him. I love knowing that he's happy and healthy and that I'm contributing to that. I love watching Daniel come home from work and kiss on Jack (or Mac or Moe). I love my family. I love my life. I am so blessed.
10. I swear I will post pictures soon! I mean it!!!
"Kimberly just started her period again after 19 months without one. Sadface."
1) My country. I have some issues with a lot of things. There's just too much government to make my little libertarian heart happy. But it's a beautiful country, a great country, and still, in many ways, a free country. I'm proud to have been born here.
2) My cute blue house and my husband who works hard at getting it together. He painted before church today. And after church. And it's going to be beautiful!
3) My sweet baby boy. He's still a baby, darnit! I don't care if he is almost walking.
4) Great friends and great family.
5) Fireworks! Love them.
Or, at least, stepping.
Jack took his first steps tonight. I've been working with him since his 9 month birthday on Sunday (I didn't want to encourage walking before 9 months, and I'm stubborn). Basically, just having him stand and then asking him to come to me 1.5 feet away:) He tends to lean forward until he can grab my arm and then walk to me holding on.
Well, tonight Daniel and I decided to grill out and Jack and I were on the deck while Daniel got something from the kitchen. So I asked Jack to come to me - and he did. He took 2 steps, grabbed me and laughed. I couldn't believe it! And neither could Daniel when he realized he missed it!
He did up to 5 steps at a time 4 separate times tonight, then decided he was sleepy (and went to bed super-easily without screaming tonight!).
My baby boy is growing up so fast, I just can't believe it. Part of me is proud of him. Part of me is sad that my cute crawly baby will be gone soon.
I support our President and I try not to denigrate him (criticize him, sure, but not with some of the ridiculous commentary so many people make). I don't, however, support 90% of his policies. At all.
I do think he's a good man, and he seems to be a good dad.
I'm at my in-laws house (Jack broke my computer, long story) and my Father-in-law printed President Obama's Father's Day speech. It's impressive, insightful and interesting (as are so many of his speeches).
But one part really hit me:
And it’s not enough to just be physically present. Too often, especially during tough economic times like these, we are emotionally absent: distracted, consumed by what’s happening in our own lives, worried about keeping our jobs and paying our bills, unsure if we’ll be able to give our kids the same opportunities we had.
Our children can tell. They know when we’re not fully there. And that disengagement sends a clear message—whether we mean it or not—about where among our priorities they fall.
So we need to step out of our own heads and tune in. We need to turn off the television and start talking with our kids, and listening to them, and understanding what’s going on in their lives.
I need to remember this. Daily.
Jack's 9 months old today. That means he's been out as long as he was in. Wow!
Some days are so slow, but sheesh! the months are fast.
He's the sweetest of babies - since the day he was born, he has only had maybe 1.2 a dozen crying episodes that couldn'tbe fixed immediately with cuddling, feeding or diapering. For the most part that's all he cries about.
He's developed a smidge of separation anxiety, but no stranger anxiety.
He LOVES his puppies and laughs when they lick him.
He pulls up on absolutely anything he can reach, and cruises like crazy.
He can climb the stairs with no problem and goes to them anytime he can. He's way too dangerous going down...he wants to go down standing.
He still loves paper and cords, but has settled down enough that we can read again. For a while I couldn't read to him 'cause he'd just eat every book.
He LOVES the guitar, and will stop and listen if he hears anyone playing it. When my mom plays (she's taking lessons), he goes from wherever he is to her immediately and starts strumming/drumming on it.
He lights up when his daddy gets home. No matter what kind of afternoon it's been, he is a happy boy when he sees daddy.
He's a bit of a bruiser and a toy thief with other babies. I'm hoping he outgrows this. I'm terrified he'll be like I was.
He has 7 teeth, with 1 more about to come through.
His hair is getting lighter every time we go outside. Right now it's somewhere around strawberry blond. No idea where the reddishness came from.
His eyes are...hazel? They look brown to me up close, but green to a lot of people. From a distance there is still a tinge of blue. I don't get it. They're huge and they're pretty, regardless.
He loves to swim. Loves it. Will stay in the water as long as I will. He loves the ocean, the pool, anything. He kicks his little legs and tries so hard to go on his own.
Lately, he's been biting us with BIG smiles on his face. I think I've figured out that we all (Daniel, my mom, and me) often "nibble" on his toes or whatever and just blow on him to make him laugh. He doesn't understand that he's hurting us when he does it. So no more of that!
He never would eat purees - it was a screaming fight every time, so we went to finger foods. He -- plays with it. He'll kind of gnaw, massage, drop, suck on whatever we give him. Not a whole lot of actual swallowing yet. But he's still nursing every 3-4 hours, so, it's fine. Eventually he'll get it. I've talked to a few moms whose babies weren't interested in food until 9-10 months, and my mom didn't even try to give me solids until a year.
He's sleeping well at night. 1, maybe 2, wakeups to nurse for a while in a 10-11 hour night. That's good for me. Going down has been difficult, but it's easing up I hope. We're working on a routine, maybe that'll help.
He's not particularly vocal/pointy/etc. I've utterly failed with working on signs with him, and I am not really a pointer. He puts his arms up for "up" and hegrunts and kicks for down. He babbles a lot of mamamamamamamamama and bdubdubdubdubdubdubdu and gegegegegegegege and occasional combined syllable babbling. He occasionally goes Maaa but I don't know if it's random, if it's mom, or if it' Mac or Moe. :)
Jack is smiley, happy, busy, adventurous, stubborn, smart, sweet. Basically, he's me + Daniel wrapped up in one cute little ball of trouble! I love him.