Christmas Hangover

Opening presents can be exhausting for a little boy...

Things got a little silly after a morning filled with cookie-eating and all sorts of new toys (here, Jack has wedged himself between a brick step and lawn furniture and is refusing to get up).

Visiting Family for Christmas

Here's Jack with some of his favorite people...

Ethan (cousin Jeff's son) and Special Agent Oso:

And Baby Jack 2 (cousin Jackie and Mike's son):

Christmas (Eve) Morning

We traveled to Carlisle, PA for Christmas this year, but we did take some time on Christmas Eve morning to celebrate Santa's arrival at our home. Jack opened a few presents under the tree and played happily until we hit the road (here he is with his new train set, some Hotwheels, and a cool roadmap rug from Aunt Marge).

I wish I could say the entire morning was magical, but... when we came downstairs to see what Santa had left under the tree for Jack, we walked right into a big pile of cat puke on our living room carpet. Upon seeing the puke, Jack gagged and promptly threw up on me (Patty).

Classic.

Jack Says: "All Done!"

Last week, after licking the icing off two cupcakes, Jack decided he was done with his daycare holiday party. His schoolmates quietly ate pieces of fruit and gluten-free crackers while Christmas music played in the background... but, after Jack got his sugar fix, he had no patience for merriment.

At the Park

Balls

Holiday Preparation

Nose Picker

The following is Jack's complete, unedited, daycare report from November 29:

"Jack had a good time dumping lots of toys during small groups. His mood was well but he still did pick his nose a lot. I just try to keep his nose very clean so he can't pick anything. He played well on the playground and helped clean up".

Pink Escalade at Toys R Us

We bought Jack a train set and saved $30 by picking it up at the store. We liked checking out the luxury SUVs.

At a Newly Discovered Park

Fun with Leaves

Great Car at the Park!

Halloween Screams!

Jack hated his Halloween costume, but he loved dumping cereal on the couch!

Cox Farms Outing

Jack, Patty, Marge and I had a great time at Cox Farms. While we really didn't realize how much goat feces has accumulated on our shoes until we were driving home, 'Goat Village' was worth the scrubbing.

We Miss You Terribly Mom, Grandma!

I still haven't come to grips with the fact that we'll never see you again. We had no way of knowing that our last time together would be at the park behind your house in September. Jack won't remember it, but you loved how he picked dandelions for you - clumsily snatching them from the ground and then giggling as he raced to you. I knew you'd save those dandelions forever, but had no idea your forever would be so short.

As I tearfully disassembled the shrine to Jack you'd constructed in the dining room at your house, worn corners on the some of the photos made clear that you'd carried a few of them with you in your purse, so proudly sharing pictures of your only grandson with friends and strangers alike. I smiled, remembering the story you told about the woman on the bus who, when you brandished the photos, told you that you'd already shown her your pictures of Jack four times.

You will live on in me, Jack, and everyone else touched by your tremendous spirit. May you rest in peace, Janet Ann Babb.

Chee! Chee!

That's what Jack says when we wants his morning Cheerios (or Kix).

Pumpkin Festival

We had a great time at the Leesburg Animal Park's Pumpkin Festival.

Jack Loves Bun Bun

Jack and his stuffed bunny have lots of fun together.

Soft Play Area

Today, Jack enjoyed "soft play room" at the Chinquapin Park and Recreation Center in Alexandria. What's more fun than a ballpit?

Mini-Tantrum

We often post videos of Jack doing cute things. Jack's being bad in this one.

Ricardo, Barb, and Luis visit

We had some visitors this weekend, and enjoyed some beer and Pakistani food. You might recognize Luis, he's kind of a big deal in Puerto Rico.

At the Park

Jack had to share his beat up car at the park today with another little fellow. It was challenging for him, but he did well. In this photo, a stern-faced Jack is trying to tell me that another boy's playing with his car. In the video, you can see the little boy with Jack's car in the background.

Spinning Before Bed

Jack likes to spin before bed. Can you blame him?

Bathtub Object Identification Time

Sometimes we think Jack's only willing to take baths because he knows we'll play with his picture sponges.

What does a Nittany Lion say?

ROAR (except when playing Alabama, of course)!

At the Park

We haven't been posting much, but that doesn't mean we haven't been to the park 15 times a week!

Fun with Cousins Aimee and Angie

Jack had a great time with his cousins in Rhode Island. He loved fried cod, Disney movies, chasing (and being chased), and had fun at the beach.

Future Pole Dancer?

We had a great time visiting Paul's camp in Maine. Jack's favorite part was this pole -- he spent a lot of time spinning around it and laughing.

French Toast Lover

Sailor

We ended up taking Jack out to dinner again, and it was a a mess, again. He tried to squirm out of his high chair, grabbed everything on the table, insisted on watching a video on my phone, and refused every bit of food, all while his friend, Auden sat quietly, ate beets, and was an angel.

At the National Aquarium

Jack made a gurgling sounds at the fish -- trying to communicate with them.

New Bunny

Jack 'claimed' a stuffed bunny during a barbecue, giving it hugs and kisses. My former boss, Steve, was hosting the gathering, saw him playing with the bunny, and was kind enough to give it to Jack. In this video, Jack can't decide whether the bunny should be inside or outside of our cabinet.

J

No More Dining Out

Patty and I had a Groupon for an awesome Thai restaurant two blocks from our house. We were starving and it was relatively early on a Sunday evening, so we figured the place wouldn't be crowded. We planned for a nice quiet meal before most customers arrived for dinner.

It was a disaster. Jack wouldn't sit still or eat any of the foot presented to him, the place became very crowded soon after we arrived, and an overly friendly, inebriated gentleman named Mogi insisted on buying me a shot of vodka. Mogi then insisted in having a conversation with me, all of the way across the restaurant. We won't be dining out with Jack or Mogi for a few more years.

Glen Echo Park

Jack wasn't quite sure what to think of the carousel.

Buckets of Fun

Jack Loves Reading

A Classic Car at the Park

People in Arlington leave kids toys at the parks. While some are in really nice shape, others have seen better days, resulting in an 'Island of Misfit Toys' of sorts. For some reason, Jack and other children always seem to be drawn to the Cozy Coupes left at the park. This one has only three wheels, and is rather unstable. But that doesn't mean it isn't fun!

The Terrorists Have Won

Flying out from DC's Reagan National Airport, Jack's milk bottles were placed into a strange device by the security experts of the TSA. The device told the security experts that the milk needed additional testing, so the security experts asked me to open each bottle so they could use some sort of litmus paper to perform a secondary test. Thankfully, the explosive dairy product test came out negative.

On the way home, we encountered a similar team of security experts, operating a device similar to the device at Reagan that placed Jack's bottles into secondary screening. Again, the security experts protected us from certain death by taking twice as long to perform the same tests that had been performed on the way out, asking, upon further review of our all plastic milk bottles, 'Is there metal in that milk?'.

The attached picture is a little blurry, but you might be able to identify a security expert using a third device to scan Jack's milk, while Patty is receiving a very thorough pat down in the background. That pat down seemed somewhat akin to turning my head and coughing for high school sports physicals.

Danger Magnet

If there's danger within 20 feet, Jack will find it, as evidenced by this picture next to a "DANGER - HIGH VOLTAGE" sign at the Navy Pier in Chicago.

Great Grandma Leaf and Great Aunt Barb

We had a great time visiting with Patty's Grandmother and Aunt Barb.

Jack Attacks 'the Bean' in Chicago

Jack couldn't get enough of the giant reflective bean at Millennium Park in Chicago.

Ice Cream Hunter

At the zoo, the only thing Jack liked more than the elephants was the gelato.

Sleepy in the Car

We went to the zoo in my pickup truck. Jack, of course, fell asleep two minutes before we finished parking. He desperately needed a nap, so Patty and I sat in the car for an hour while he rested.

Squirrel Face

Jack's face in this picture is priceless.

Meat Eater?

Jack hasn't been the best at eating meat, so we were very excited when Jack loved the kebab at a Lebanese restaurant several blocks from our house. He insisted on feeding himself with a fork.

As Grandpa Steve and I prepared to toast to our having a successful meal with the boy, Jack spit out nearly all of the meat that he'd evidently been storing in the side of his mouth (like a chipmunk).

Fountain Tour 2011

Jack explored several of Ballston's finest fountains with Grandpa Steve. He was tentative at first, but really enjoyed the last few.

Water Table

Jack's aunt, Katie, got him an awesome toy that has become a staple in our outdoor playing. Thanks, Katie!

Cupcake Fever

Aunt Margie brought over some wonderful Fathers Day Cupcakes, and Jack couldn't resist them. He's been into sharing lately (handing mulch to us, offering his half-chewed string cheese, etc.), and graciously smeared some icing on Patty's face.

Caption Contest

Here's a lousy example - "This pirate's had too much grog!"

Fun on the Slide

There are several parks in walking distance from our house, and Jack loves them all.

Grandma and Grandpa!

Jack had a great weekend with Grandma Chris and Grandpa Steve. Here's he's resting his arm on Grandpa's belly after a chasing Grandma around the house.