For months now - I've wanted to sit down and start a post all about Jack. You always hear from other moms that you have thousands of videos and pictures of your first kid - but less and less of each child after that. I feel a bit guilty that I haven't set aside more time to blog about the little man. And now that we're gearing up for our move I have even less time to blog. I started writing this maybe a day before we found out that we were accepted into SMU. And now life is super-duper nuts, my days are filled with packing and organizing and still trying to maintain some sense of normal life for the kids...
(Side note: While Jack is phenomenally better at sleeping in his crib than Aimee ever was - he still wakes up twice through out the night. Usually at 3:30 and then around 5:30... I'm a little over feeling like a milk-cow all night, so we are working on this.)
Now, like I said, he is usually in my bed because after the 5:30am wake up, I am just too tired and incoherent to put him back in the crib. He isn't usually up for the day until closer to 8, or earlier if Aimee wakes him up.
After our happy good morning time, it's time to get the breakfast ready 'cause this little guy loves his breakfast. And I better be quick about it too. Jack is not one to wait around patiently when he's hungry. I usually give him Cheerios to tide him over until I can cook him some eggs. He loves egg yolks! And toast, and Eggos, and yogurt... I really am surprised he isn't a chunky baby. He must have some sort of super metabolism.
Jack is quite content to feed himself. Most of his food makes it into his mouth, but quite a bit ends up in his hair, the high chair or floor. If he's bored with his food (a rare thing - but it has happened before) he likes to drop it over the side of the high chair, watch it hit the ground and say "uh oh".
His clothes are covered in food. So off they go - which is perfectly fine with Jack. I think he prefers it that way.
After we clean up the mess - I stick him in the play room with Aimee. Now that he is finally mobile, he is free to get into all of Aimee's things. They play ok together... A few months ago if Aimee snatched anything out of Jack's hands he'd just grab something else. Nowadays, he gets mad. He yells, sometimes it seems like he is saying "No" it sounds more like: "Nah nah nah!!" He'll wave his finger in her face..
On most days, I have minimal refereeing to do when those two play. I love it when they play well together, especially when Aimee makes Jack laugh. His little chuckles shake his whole body. It is music to my ears!
Back to our typical day: if I have the car we run errands! When we step outside Jack gets so excited! His eyes light up and get even bigger (if you can believe it). He "Ooos" and "Ohhs" while his little hands and feet shake and twist. He LOVES to be outside. He loves picking at the grass (and eating it) digging in the dirt (and eating it) coloring with Aimee's chalk (and eating it)...
But today - today we are running errands. Once Jack realizes that he is getting in the car, this can go one of two ways. One - he doesn't mind. He sees Aimee over there next to him and is perfectly content for go for a ride (as long as it's less than 10 minutes). Two - he really really really wants to be eating his grass and dirt, so he screams, arches his back and makes the whole buckling-him-into-the-car-seat an unpleasant activity. But don't worry, once we get where ever we need to be, he's back to his happy self.
Jack doesn't mind being in the stores, I keep about a dozen snacks handy in the diaper bag. Lots of old ladies stop and say, "Hello blue eyes" and "Oh my, look at those eyes!" (Yes, I am doing a little bit of mommy bragging here) - sometimes he will smile shyly for them, usually he just stares. It's kind of funny.
After errands, it is back to the house for morning nap time. Jack takes 2 - 3 naps a day. Two is the norm, 3 - I'm lucky. 1 - it was a rough day for all.
Jack lets me know he is tired because if I try to put him down for any length of time he cries. When I pick him up he burrows his head in my shoulder and says, "Mam-mam-mam" in a little fake-cry voice. It's another favorite thing of mine.
After he's well rested and wakes up - it's time to get this guy some lunch. Stat!
We do the food, then clean up, then play routine again. Today Jack is lucky because we play outside with neighborhood kids in the afternoon. I keep taking the sticks/rocks/grass/dirt out of his hands. He is undeterred to keep putting it all back in his mouth.
We go home and I attempt to put him down for another nap. (And change his clothes again - because they are filthy) For whatever reason - this late afternoon nap is much trickier. Jack has a harder time falling and staying asleep. And he usually wakes up crabby. Sometimes the only thing that will get him out of his crabbiness is to put him in the bath.
Oh the bath - once Jack is in there - all is right with the world.
I think Jack would play in the tub for hours if I let him. Aimee too. They still get bathed together and provide each other with endless entertainment.
Sadly, bath time must end. Today - Jack is ok with this. Some times he throws a mini-fit. Back arching, squirming and yelling. But like I said, today - he is ok with getting out.
He's dressed, hair brushed, and smells oh-so fresh. Now it's play time before he gets put to bed.
Getting him to bed can be tricky sometimes. If I am lucky, I can nurse him to sleep and stick him in his crib with no problems. I try to make myself enjoy the quiet time I have with him every night. Hold him. Look at his sweet face while he sleeps... and really try to soak up every minute of this time, because it goes by so very fast.
