Pudding Stills

For those of you who can't view our videos, we thought we'd post a couple still shots of Jack's recent pudding adventures.

Here, he is enjoying some delicious pudding.

And here, he is getting cleaned up after his snack. Surprisingly, we did not need to use a power washer. Though we did find residual pudding in his eyebrow as we were putting him to bed.

Jack Loves J-E-L-L-O

Jack does not like to be fed anymore. Oh no. That boy wants to feed himself.

This past weekend, he fed himself some yogurt, and he did a fairly good job for his first try! He actually got some yogurt in his mouth. Yesterday evening we increased the stakes a bit and let him feed himself some chocolate pudding...

Was it a success? Hm. I guess that depends on your perspective:-).

He may not have gotten much in his mouth, but he certainly had fun. Honestly, I am a grown woman, and this looks like a total blast to me.

That Drab Camera Could Use a Hint of Orange, No?

We set out markers and a sketch pad last weekend (as well as a little tarp, for good measure), and Jack's inner artiste came out to play.

After completing several abstracts -- which he immediately ripped to shreds... what a perfectionist! -- Jack switched to a new canvas: his skin. Paper is so conventional!

As you can see, it wasn't long before he tried to color the camera. When he started drawing on the floor, we packed up the art supplies for the evening.

Among the Blossoms

Last year at this time, I thought it was tough to navigate the cherry blossom crowds with my pregnant belly. In retrospect, that was a breeze!

Maneuvering a stroller and baby through the masses? Nearly impossible.

Instead of trying to walk around the Tidal Basin -- the traditional cherry blossom route -- we decided to camp out beneath a nearby cluster of trees and people-watch. Although the blossoms were very pretty this year, Jack seemed to wonder what all the fuss was about.

Cherry Blossom Thug

While downtown this weekend -- en route to the cherry blossoms -- Jack looked every bit the tough city kid.

Hood up.

Cut eye.

Lean.

The photo above seems to say: "I'm a pimp in every sense of the word, Mom and Dad."

When Jack Attacks!

Hanging in the Grass

Choo Choo Soul with Jack!

Mini Temper Tantrum

A Little Better With Solid Foods

Jack Does "the Twist" at Eastern Market

Baby Bonanza!

March 15 was a big day for expectant moms and dads and new babies! Three kiddos arrived... and Jack's circle of friends immediately widened!

Jack sends a shout-out to Jack Michael (a.k.a. JM2) Mallin. Congrats Jackie and Mike! And he asks everyone to put their hands together for Peter Joseph (love the first name) and Margaret Annie Murray. He gives Becca a special fist pump for carrying two nearly eight-pound babies in her belly. Whoa.

He can't wait to meet his new friends!

Throwing It Down

Jack's favorite new activity: Throwing things. He throws everything he can get his hands on. Balls, puzzle pieces, shoes and socks, cell phones, food (the list goes on)... Though the clean-up stinks (especially after meal time), this new habit actually is quite amusing. Jack particularly loves throwing things backwards, over his head. Though he occasionally misfires -- and hits himself on the head -- he usually is quite impressed by his raw baby strength.

I suspect this will get old sometime soon. But, for now, it's really fun to watch him busily enjoying his new-found skill.

Ozzie's Great Adventure

About a week and a half ago, Ozzie embarked on a two-day outdoor odyssey.

It all started on a Saturday morning. I was making waffles. Naturally -- because I possess little to no cooking skill -- I burned the first waffle. Jack had just gone down for a nap, and I was sure the smoke alarm would sound and wake him up. So, I opened the back door to air out the kitchen and... whoops! A collar-less Ozzie escaped.

I think he had been planning the jail-break for months.

Peter and I were horrified. Our friends Katie and John were visiting, and, unfortunately, they witnessed the crazy first-hand. It was a dark time, indeed:-). Peter and I tried everything we could think of to track Ozzie down... we even cooked tuna in a crock pot on our back porch in an effort to lure him home. Peter seriously considered camping outside one night.

On Monday evening, I got a call from a neighbor who informed me that Ozzie was LOUNGING in their back yard. While we were talking, he said: "Oh wait! He's moving... no, never mind, he's just stretching." Suffice it to say that Ozzie hardly minded his little hiatus.

I snapped the photo above they day after he returned. He's laying on the "LOST CAT!" posters I frantically hung on every lamp post in our neighborhood (and later had to retrieve).

He is such a turd...

But we're glad he's home.

Almost One!

On Sunday, Jack passed his 11-month birthday. Only one more month of infancy remains, and then... toddlerhood. An exciting new era of walking, talking and (they already have started!!) temper tantrums. Should we be afraid?:-)

Bath Time!

While visiting the Millers last weekend, Jack enjoyed a bath with his friend, Finn, who generously shared his expanding dinosaur bath sponges.

Tri-Hawk

Jack, as you know, has always been on the cutting edge of hair trends. He sported a sweet rat tail when he was first born, which, sadly, has since grown out. In more recent months, he has been known to rock "Dwight Schrute hair" (parted down the middle) -- all he needs is a mustard-colored dress shirt and some glasses to complete the look.

It seems his taste in trendy hair styles has rubbed off on his friends at daycare. Here's a video of Jack and his boys -- Justin and Eddie -- with totally awesome mohawks.

Giggles

A particularly cute giggle session, which -- surprise -- ended when Jack tried to eat my cell phone.

Small Fry

Jack experienced a childhood right of passage -- he enjoyed his first Happy Meal. Well, truthfully, he enjoyed a few fries from his first Happy Meal (Peter devoured the nuggets).

Ah, the magical McDonald's french fry. As Jack quickly learned, there is no more satisfying junk food on planet Earth.

Baby Steps, Part 2

... Jack has started taking wobbly steps. After two or three, he'll topple into something -- usually me or Peter. He hasn't yet crashed into anything hard ("yet" is the operative word, of course), and his confidence builds every day. In another couple weeks, we won't be able to keep up with him.

You may want to turn your volume down before viewing this video. I let out a piercing squeal at the end... sorry!!

Baby Steps, Part 1

While I was away, Jack started walking behind/pushing his toys. A little more than a week later...

Slackers!

Yikes! Has it really been that long? We're sorry we haven't posted in a while!

The past few weeks have been pretty eventful. Jack's top teeth are FINALLY coming in, and he is starting to walk (baby steps, for now). Also, I traveled for work over Presidents' Day weekend, leaving Peter and Jack to fend for themseleves for three long days (they had a blast, as evidenced by the photo above). And, last weekend, we did some serious visiting, spending only a few hours at home.

Unfortunately, Jack has been plagued by multiple ear infections during the past few weeks. We are heading to an ear, nose and throat specialist later this month. I suspect tubes are in Jack's future.

On with the posts!