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1.20.2015

Jack | 11 Months

Somebody grab me a tissue! 
My baby is 11 months old and I simply can't take it.
Where has the time gone???
 11 month old Jack loves...
his dino paci
Huckleberry and Herschel
being outside
walking everywhere!
his cars/trucks
experimenting (throwing) food
rough housing with daddy
Me! 
(I'm still his favorite person and am soaking up every minute of it)
 11 month old Jack hates...
diaper / outfit changes
long(ish) car rides
anything taken away from him
napping

Health: The past 2 weeks have been rough for all three of us! We decided to pass around the cold and we all experienced the whole fever, sore throat, congestion thing. Jack was such a trooper though. He never lets feeling poorly slow him down. I just wanted him to stop and snuggle with me but he simply charges ahead like nothing is wrong even when he has a temperature! He's a busy, busy boy! Other than that he's had a great month and really just enjoyed walking all around the house. Still in a size 3 diaper and wears mostly 12 month (some 18 month) clothes.

Food (Nursing): Jack's nursing habits haven't changes any this month. Still nursing about 6 times in a 24 hour period with 1 or 2 of those feedings being at night.

Food (Solids): Jack has really made it known this month what he likes and what he doesn't in the food category. Namely by throwing his food on the floor and laughing with delight as he watches Huck eat it. He is still a huge fan of blueberries, strawberries, avocado, mac & cheese, and (his new favorite) whole wheat toast with cream cheese.

Sleep: Jack is still napping twice a day. Usually 1 - 1 1/2 hours each. He's been going down around 7 and waking at 6:30-7ish. He actually has been sleeping a lot better this month. He starts out in his crib but comes into bed with me around 11 most nights. I know I'm crazy, but I have no plans of sleep training him to get him to sleep in his crib all night. I'm actually really happy with the progress we've made, but I find myself staring at the baby monitor each night willing him to wake up so I can bring him in bed with me. Deranged mother, party of one!

New this Month: So much! Paragraph form no longer suffices...
+ Walking everywhere! He took his first independent steps the day he turned 10 months, and 2 weeks later he was booking it on those chubby little legs! I love to watch him toddle around.

+ Lots of pointing. He's been pointing for a while now, but now he actually points while trying to communicate. For example, I can say "where is Huckleberry?" and Jack turns towards him and points.

+ Speaking of Huck --Jack has been terrorizing him a bit more than usual lately. Little man is a rough houser and is always jumping on Huck, pulling on him, and patting him not-so-gently. Huck is such a good boy though and never gives me cause for concern around him. Lately, Jack has loved climbing onto Huckleberry's bed and snuggling with him.. for about .02 seconds and then proceeds to push Huck off...

+ Exploring outside. On the few nice days we've had this month, Jack Jack has really enjoyed walking around outside and exploring! Picking up leaves, touching the moss, feeling the stones in the driveway. It's so fun to watch his wonder and amazement at these seemingly ordinary things.

+ Stacking rings. Jack is all about those colorful stacking ring toys. He has completely mastered it this month. He sits down and stacks each ring one by one and waits excitedly for praise between each victory. It is simply the cutest!

+ He seems to take after his mommy in the OCD clean-freak department. Jack is always picking up his toys and putting them away. He enjoys putting everything back in their proper cubby and then taking them out so he can do it all over again.

+ He also enjoys helping his mommy with laundry! He loves to move the clothes from the washer into the drying and then shut the machine doors. He's a pretty amazing helper if I do say so myself ;)

+ Throwing temper tantrums. Now when you take something away from Jack distraction no longer works! Those days passed far too quickly... He definitely is throwing tantrums, like all out on the ground kicking and crying tantrums. If you take anything away from him he falls onto his belly and puts his face in his arms and cries. Luckily they are short lived!

+ Gives kisses. He has kinda, sorta been doing this for a while, but this month he definitely perfected giving the best open mouthed kisses!
Whew! There have been so many new things this month that I fear I didn't remember it all! Jack Jack is just growing up way too quickly. I feel like he changes everyday and is looking more and more like a toddler rather than a baby. I can definitely say though that this past month with him toddling around has probably been my favorite. I love every stage he's been in, but right now he is just so much fun! I am enjoying how he interacts with me and others and just watching his eyes light up when he makes connections and learns something new. Being a momma to this little boy truly is a fascinating thing!
^^tantrum in the making^^

Hey Baby Bear,
I really do wish I could bottle you up and make you stop growing.
It brings tears to my eyes knowing in less than a month you'll be 1!
You are so precious to me. You are my joy.
I couldn't image this world without you.
Mommy and Daddy love you so, so much!
Happy 11 months, Jack Jack!

1.01.2015

In 2014 I Became a Mother

In 2014 I became a mother. I experienced a range of emotion I never even knew excited. I lost a lot of sleep and had to make a lot of hard decisions.  At times I felt such love, appreciation and joy, and at other times I felt myself being engulfed in misery and an overwhelming sense of failure. I cried a lot, but I also laughed.  I quit my job, but they fought for me... and I can't even put into words how good that makes me feel. I struggled finding the balance between working from home and caring for my son around the clock. I still haven't perfected it, and know I never will. I grew a lot. I questioned myself more than I should. And I'm still growing, changing, and finding my way.
In 2014 I fell more in love with my husband. The father of our beautiful, little boy. I saw a tenderness in him I hadn't seen before, a patience I, at times, was envious of, and a love for our son that was simply the most attractive thing I have even seen. He is a great husband, an amazing father, and a blessing to me and Jack each and everyday.
In 2014 I welcomed a son. Jack Ryan has stolen my heart and the limelight on this blog (oh, wait... you hadn't noticed??) Watching him grow has been an exciting, albeit emotional, journey that I am grateful for each day. My little family (Huckleberry included, of course) brings me more joy than I could ever fathom describing. I am blessed. So, so blessed. And very grateful for this past year and all it has brought me and taught me.
2014 was a great year, and I pray for many more to come.
Happy New Year, friends!