Jack's Teething

Patty and I wish we could somehow divert the pain from him to ourselves...

Blowing Bubbles

Kids friggin' love bubbles.

Fran and Owen Come Bearing Blocks

Fran and Owen visited this Saturday, bringing Jack some great blocks and a Wiggle Worm. Both were a hit with Jack, but the blocks immediately became a part of the "keep Jack occupied" toy collection.

Jack and Auden at the Park

Jack and Auden had a fun afternoon at the park. It was Jack's first time on a swing, and it initially terrified him. He had become much more comfortable by the time we shot this video.

Jumping Around

Jack loves his jumper. We know someday he'll pinch his fingers between the seat and the door frame, but in the interim, he has a blast and it occupies him for five minutes so we can eat dinner.

Jack loves the bath (for a while)!

He has a blast, but then he grows weary of what's often 3/4 playing and 1/4 actually getting clean. When he's ready to get out, he often pulls out the plug in the tub and drains out the water. We like to think he's ending the bath on purpose...

Jack and Grandpa!

Nothing gets Jack fired up quite like Grandpa Steve. His intense masculinity somehow transforms even the crabbiest little baby into a giggling ball of joy.

Giggles

At 12:59 a.m., Jack turned 5 months old! During that time, we have endured some seriously long days -- but, somehow, time is flying by way too fast. We are having lots of (sleep-deprived) fun!

To commemorate Jack's birthday, we decided to let him "cry it out" this morning. Ugh. After waking up at about 2 a.m. for a bottle -- which he didn't really need -- Jack screamed (literally) and cried for a 45 minutes before finally soothing himself and going to sleep. It was MISERABLE. For all of us. I never realized that letting your baby cry takes serious restraint. Even in the middle of the night.

Here's a video of Jack in happier times. He laughs so easily now, and it is the best sound in the world.

Gone Fishing

This past weekend, we headed to Luray, VA for some fishing and spelunking (no, really!). Jack spent lots of time sitting by the river and enjoying the outdoors. He repeatedly tried to eat grass and dirt, but we managed to keep him from doing so -- or, at least, we're pretty sure we did. He may have snuck a fistful or two.

If this picture appears blurry, that's because Jack was a little wobbly while trying to sit up for the photo shoot. He has been sitting up on his own for a week or so, and he usually manages to stay upright for a minute or two before tipping over. He is getting so big!

Jack and the Sweet Pots!

We've been trying to gradually introduce solid foods to Jack. The rice cereal-added-to-the-formula sessions were not particularly notable - at first Jack made a face, but then he powered through and took down the rice like a champ. The introduction of sweet potatoes to his diet warranted our purchase of a high chair, the use of 3/4 of a roll of paper towels, and our taking a few photographs.