Oh, what fun!

Christmas Season

7 months

Arrived here at seven months and Mr. Jack is busy, busy, busy.  He started eating solid foods again after about a month off (some stomach virus) and is really interested in all the new tastes.  He loves sweet potatoes, greek yogurt, mangoes, peaches, and apples.  Oatmeal and rice cereal are okay as long as they come with the yogurt, and peas are pretty low on the list, but still tolerated. 

Lots of rolling in all directions and with pivoting to turn towards items of interest (dogs, cat, toys), with an addition of creeping the knees under him!  Then there's some "rocking" while on the knees, but no movement.  Mom and dad are just fine with limited mobility at this point--things are going too fast as it is!!!

Also this month, Jack as uttered his first consonant sound, "BA."  Pretty exciting to hear something familiar.  We didn't know we hadn't already heard it...until we heard it!  Since then we thing we've heard some LA, MA and maybe a DA sound.  Jack likes to babble and tell stories with these new sounds.

Also this month... a record number of hours slept at Granny Mary's house, for 9.5 hours!!  Then at home last night we beat it by another hour!  Bliss!  For everyone!

 

The Naked Truth

Dear Jack

Today I go back to work.  Back to school where I teach the older kids.  Teach them how to read good.  I miss you before I even walk out the door.  I always knew I would want to continue working when you got here, and was curious if that idea would change after falling in love with you.  I did fall in love with you, very much so, but I am excited to get back to the classroom.  I cannot really begin to think about the last six months we just had together, you and I.  Grateful doesn't really begin to describe how I feel.  These months are a blur.  You came in May, and here it is, three days from December. 

We went out a lot at first.  Cruised the mall and I nursed you in the Nordstrom mother's lounge quite often.  We were safe there, and it gave me something to do outside of the house.  You went with me everywhere.  When the rain finally stopped, we picked berries several times.  Once or twice it was just you and me and the Bjorn carrier.  I got to turn you facing out before 3 months, which scared me, but you loved looking at everything, and even fell asleep that way while I picked Marionberries!  The back of the Tahoe was also our private nursing lounge.  I knew we could pull over anywhere and feed you, so off we went on endless field trips and errands. 

We met new friends at Mommy and Me group, and hung out with them at the zoo and at Cook Park when the weather was warm and everyone else was back at work and school.  Luxury!  A lot of lunch and walk dates with other new mommies, as well as meeting daddy as much as we could, or just drop off coffee for him.  You stayed at his office quite a bit while I went to the gym.  Sometimes I just parked in the parking lot at the gym and took a nap.  Thank you very much!

I tried to hold still with you.  You were so good at playing or napping in your swing while I kept too busy.  But I hope there were more times than I remember where I just held you while you slept and we snuggled for a while.  I will remember one time napping with you in the chair in your room so long, it was dark out when I woke up, and still you slept.  My full bladder won over your continued sleep, and so it had to end. 

We both stayed in our pajamas a lot.  Good for us.  We walked out side and looked at God's planet.  I hope you could enjoy the colors of the autumn this year.  So many more to come.

You are in wonderful care my son.  Howie and Winston promise to look after you while we're not at home.  I will think of you all day; having fun, learning, and growing.  I. love. you.

Thanksgiving in the Snow

We traveled with Ryan's family to Leavenworth, WA, a little Bavarian village close to where I grew up in Ephrata...VERY central Washington.  And we were blessed to have some snow (a lot) while we were there.  It felt like a great start to the holiday season.  Complete with Grammy and aunts and uncles and cousins.  And turkey!

 

6 months

At six months, Jack weighs 18 lbs, 14 oz and is 29 inches long.  That makes him in the 99 percentile for height!  He is sitting up unassisted and rolling all over!  Babbles and screeches and yells in a very happy way, maybe just to hear himself.  Grabbing at anything and EVERYthing in front of him.  Look out when he's at the table!  Loves watching the animals saunter by from the view in his "exersaucer."  Jumping in the doorway jumper is also fun times.  Music soothes him in the car, and he falls asleep to ocean waves at night.  He has also turned into a side and tummy sleeper; a change from being swaddles and only sleeping on his back.

**This green and yellow truck as made by Jack's great grandfather, Jack Burrell Godard, who gave it to his son, Donald Wesley Godard.  Jack's uncle Wes also confirms this used to be his truck.

Halloween

 

Pumpkin Field (it wasn't a patch...they just dropped the pumpkins there)

FOOD!!!

1Tablespoon of rice cereal + 3 Tablespoons of breast milk = Jack's first meal!

five months

Mr. Jack is rolling in both directions and will go after a toy or object of his affection if it's in sight.  He started rice cereal shortly after five months, and now can't get enough it seems!  He also lets us know when he is tired, and again when he is REALLY tired. Okay, okay, we get the message!  Has two lower "bumps" on his gums where teeth will eventually show up, and likes to put toys and fingers in there. Jack really loves people and looking at people's faces the most.  He lights up at every person, unless he's sleepy, and just can't muster the smile.  You may even be so lucky as to hear one of his famous happy squeal/screeches.  This is the ultimate in happiness!

mom and jack's awesome autumn adventure

The most beautiful and warm (deceptively warm) October afternoon, and we couldn't stay inside any longer!  The best I could capture with one hand...and we kept spotting all these fuzzy caterpillars!  Hadn't seem one of those in so long!