Such a Clean Boy!

Well, I've known for quite some time that Jack likes things tidy and clean. He loves washing his hands, if something spills he'll run for a paper towel to wipe it up, loves putting his toys away, etc. But we seem to have moved on to the next level. He saw me using a swifer duster, lifting things up and dusting underneath and must have thought this was the BEST! He asked for one and immediately started dusting all of his toys. Not just the top of his toys but going as far as to lift things up and dust underneath. Nothing is quite so precious as seeing your little boy lift up his toy car and dust the garage! It was all so adorable until he dusted off his bowl of grapes. But I guess that was my fault for having them on the coffee table.

And don't get me started on the vacuum! He's always loved watching us vacuum (as long as he can sit on me or sit on my hip), but has just now taken to trying it himself!

From his last website...

This was my last update on Jack's baby website.. in August, I think.....
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* * * * * * * * *

The latest:

* Jack has learned to jump up off the ground with both feet.
* Jack puts away his toys.
* He says "Thank you" when you hand him something.
* Jack can vacuum with a dustbuster!
* Jack can count to 15!!!!.

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Words and phrases:

* Too many to count! *

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* Want to see some video clips of Jack? *

Jack pulling toys

Jack using the phone

Jack spinning

Jack wearing Mommy's shoes

Jack saying "I love you"

Jack vacuuming

Jack giving Daddy a Zerbert

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Handsome Boy!







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~ Jack was born November 4, 2005 at 11:57 am. ~
~ I wasn't due until November 9 ~
~ I weighed 7 lbs 2oz and was 19 inches long. ~
~ I had a small amount of hair ~
~ And I was born naturally - no drugs! ~

NOW:

~ Jack has a lot more hair and it's so blond from the sun! ~
~ Getting taller every day! He opened a door the other day! ~
~ He weighs a whopping 23lbs ~

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Here is a little montage I made for Jack's 1st birthday:




or go to this think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C2beY5hjKs


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Jack's favorite non-toys:

* Any of mommy's shoes that he can wear!*
* Any bag - mommy's purse, daddy's lunchbag *
* Dust Buster! *
* Pots, pans and spatulas *
* Mommy's keys *
* Foam ball cat toys *

Jack's Current Favorite Real Toys

* Cars!!! *
* Hess Trucks *
* Playground balls *
* Fisher Price piggy bank *

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Prodigy?



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* The little things we love about our little man *


* Kisses!! When we say "kisses" he'll pucker up and lean in! *

* If we hold onto his pacifier in our mouth by the handle he thinks it's the funniest thing in the world *

* Makes himself laugh when he sneezes, and says "Ahh-do" *

* The way his face lights up and he runs to the door when I tell him daddy's home. *

* How Mels-Mels can stop his world. *

* He loves to give running hugs!! Eric and I will sit across from each other and he'll run back and forth *

* He'll say "I love you". *

* He has to put his toys away before he leaves the room (most of the time). *

* He loves to "drive" mommy or daddy's car and say "beep beep" when he honks the horn. *

* He wants me to take his shoes off so that he can wear a pair of Mommy's or Daddy's shoes! *

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Our little mischief maker




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~ My name may be Jonathan, but please call me Jack ~
~ My middle name comes from Daddy's PopPop who passed away before I was born. ~
~ Natale means "Christmas" in Italian ~
~ I look just like Daddy from the nose up ~
~ But my mouth and smile are just like Mommy's ~

~ I'm long and lean, and everyone says that I ~
~ have the best disposition ~

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There is just something about Grandpa...


... and Aunt Leah (a.k.a. "Eeah")


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Just like Daddy!


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Going for a stroll...


I like to pull my own wagon. Thankyouverymuch!




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Driving already?


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Sharing a drink with Daddy.


Rocking with Daddy.


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I like feeding the goats!


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Jack's "Firsts"

Here are some of his milestones and "firsts" that I had listed:

(in reverse order)

Walking - Monday, November 13, 2006

Well, he finally did it after about a month of taking steps here and there. He made the concious decision that walking will be his main mode of transportation!!!

1st Birthday - Saturday, November 04, 2006

Our little man is 1 year old and I am still in shock. We love him so much and it's unbelievable that we have a toddler now.

First Steps - Wednesday, October 11, 2006

He took 2 steps to get to Nana!

Waving bye-bye - Monday, September 18, 2006

Walking Assisted (With walker) - Saturday, August 26, 2006

He LOVES his walker!!!!

Waving - Sunday, August 06, 2006

We don't know if it was a fluke or not, but Jack waved to us when we waved to him.

Cruising - Saturday, August 05, 2006

He's going to be a walker before no time! He's taking steps while holding onto things!

Said Mommy - Thursday, August 03, 2006

Well, after saying "Dada" since 6 months old Jack finally took the plunge and said "Mama"!!!

Pulled Myself Up Alone - Saturday, July 22, 2006

Daddy went in to get Jack in the morning and there he was.. standing up in his crib! We lowered the mattress that morning!

Clapping - Saturday, July 22, 2006

He's so proud of himself when he claps.

Crawled For The First Time - Monday, July 10, 2006

After weeks of rocking back and forth on this knees he crawled for the first time on Monday 7/10/2006. He was in the living room with Daddy and heard my voice from the bathroom. Next thing I know he was at the bathroom door! Eric didn't even see him leave the living room!

Said Daddy - Thursday, May 11, 2006

I know Jack doesn't know the meaning of the word yet, but he said "dada" last night!!!! Eric was repeating the word to him and Jack just said it right back!

First Tooth - Saturday, May 06, 2006

Jack got his first tooth just two days after his 6 month birthday!

Kissing - Wednesday, May 03, 2006

He figured it out.. after much practice. If you get close to his face he will grab your face, pull you close and do a short little "suck" on your cheek!

Babbling "Talking" a lot - Saturday, March 18, 2006

Rolled Front to Back - Friday, March 17, 2006

Reaching out for things with both hands - Thursday, March 16, 2006

Trying to sit forward when reclined - Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Splashing in the tub - Monday, March 06, 2006

Ate Solid Food - Saturday, March 04, 2006

Took to it right away.

Rolled from Back to Right Side - Sunday, February 19, 2006

Discovered Feet - Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Grabbed a Toy - Wednesday, February 08, 2006

First Laugh - Saturday, February 04, 2006

Found his hands - Saturday, January 28, 2006

Held a rattle - Friday, January 06, 2006

My First Christmas - Sunday, December 25, 2005

Came Home From Hospital - Sunday, November 06, 2005

I Was Born! - Friday, November 04, 2005

Baby Shower - Saturday, October 01, 2005

Jack's First Birthday Party

I had a lot of planning go into this party. And after planning and setting up and getting everything ready Jack wakes up with a very high fever in the middle of the night before his party. Poor thing was so uncomfortable and miserable. It was a tough choice to continue with the party or not but everything was already paid for and people were coming from out of town so we decided to have it anyway. Jack certainly wasn't very happy, just clung to one of us the whole time, letting a smile slip out here or there. He didn't want anything to do with his cake and he didn't want anything to do with opening presents. But don't worry, he had a nice big piece of cake the next day when he was feeling better.

He took steps!

Jack took 2 steps (unassisted) at Nana's! He was standing on his own and took 2 steps to get to her!!

Walking assisted

Jack decided to walk... yup... walk!!! He got his little push toy out from the corner and just took off like he's been doing it all along!!! He does stumble and fall over but he gets right back up again. And my little perfectionist gets MAD if he falls too many times!!!

Jack tried Ice cream

Jack tried ice cream today! He saw my ice cream cone and decided he wanted some so I geve him a taste off of the cone. His initial reaction was pure surprise at how cold it was and Eric and I thought it was hilarious. After he got over that he decide that he LOVED it and couldn't get enough. He kept opening his mouth for more and even tried to grab it out of my hand when I wouldn't give him any more!

Climbing the stairs

Jack climbed the stairs last night!!!!!
He saw me go upstairs and decided that he wanted to come too. I was curious to see if he could do it so I told Eric to get behind him in case he lost his balance but Jack did it all on his own! Now we're really in for it!

Cruising

We are going to have a walker before much longer! He is making deliberate steps while holding onto things and has figured out how to sit back down from a standing position.

Said "Mama"

Finally! He said "Mama"!!!! He's been saying "Dada" since he was 6 months old, but he's been holding out on me with the "mama". Well, during his bath Eric and I heard him loud and clear... he said it!

Standing and Clapping

It's been a busy couple of weeks! He just learned to crawl two weeks ago and now he is pulling himself to a stand and clapping.



Eric went to get him in the morning and there was Jack, standing in his crib and completely proud of himself! Just a few minutes later when Jack and I were playing on the bed he started clapping. He gets good sound from it too!

First Trip to Gettysburg

Jack made his first trip to Gettysburg! (For those of you that don't know, Eric and I are Civil War freaks)
We only stayed for a few hours so that he wouldn't get too worn out. He slept on the way there, we had breakfast at the Avenue Diner and went to Devil's Den first. It was really hot because they took a lot of the trees down so we didn't stay there for long. Next we found a nice shady area and spread out a blanket so that Jack could "stretch his legs". I think that was the best part of the whole trip. He discovered grass for the first time and had a ball crawling all over the blanket and playing with his toys.

Jack Crawled!

Jack crawled!

He's been rocking back and forth for several weeks now and he finally crawled this evening! He was in the living room with Eric and I was in the bathroom. Jack must have heard me talking through the door and he decided it was time to crawl and find Mommy! Next thing I know there he is at the bathroom door looking completely proud of himself! Eric didn't even notice that he had left the living room!

General Update

General update -

Jack is still getting up on his hands and knees but isn't actually crawling anywhere.

He says "dada", "baba" and a few other sounds that come out sounding like sentences!!

He puts his arms out to you when he wants to be picked up and doesn't want us out of sight for very long either!

He loves bathtime and especially loves it when Daddy (Eric) plays with him. Mommy (me) just can't make the same kind of sound effects.



He loves to growl and will often get into a growling match with Eric. We caught it on video the other day. If I ever figure out how to download the video I will share.

Happy 8 month birthday to my little man!

Jumperoo

We bought a jumperoo for Jack this past weekend. He LOVES LOVES LOVES it!!! He has always liked jumping (while standing on our laps), so getting the jumperoo made sense. He really goes to town in it and I swear that he would jump for hours if we let him. He gets so excited when we go to put him in it that he will start to kick his legs before we even set him down! I got video of it but no pictures yet. I will share when I have them.

6 Month Check-Up

Jack had his 6 month doctor's appointment last night. He is 15 lbs 9 oz (18th percentile), 27 1/2" (80th percentile). We have one long, lean, little man!!! She said that he's doing great developmentally, and while we were in the waiting room he said "Dada" for the first time!!! Eric was repeating the word to him and he said it right back!

Sitting and feeding himself

Jack has learned how to sit. He doesn't know how to "sit up" yet, but when we put him in the sitting postion he can do it really well. This past weekend he would do it for a few seconds at a time before falling over, but yesterday he just made up his mind that he would sit... and he did! In the morning he sat for 8 minutes before finally falling over. And he knows to put his hand out to catch himself if he goes off balance! We have such a brilliant boy!

Last night he fed himself a piece of cereal for the first time. Over the weekend I had given him two pieces of cheerios, but I had to put them in his mouth for him. Last night we put some gerber veggie puffs on his tray and he went right for them! He did have a little trouble getting them in his mouth, so he'll have to work on his coordination, but he did get one of them in!

Second Tooth

Jack got his second tooth! And only a week after the first one! He had a little more trouble with this one coming through and was in more pain. He did great, though!

Portraits and First Tooth

Saturday was a busy day. Jack had his first professional portraits taken for his 6 month birthday at Sears. He did great! He spit up on himself about half way through, so the photographer had to be creative to hide the wet spots!



That afternoon Jack got his first tooth! We knew they would come in soon and there it was! It's the lower right center!

Eating his sock

Jack has recently discovered that he can play with his feet instead of just staring at them. Last night on the way home from the babysitter I caught him trying to eat his sock. There is a picture posted.

Playing with Binky

Yesterday Jack learned a new trick. He will often take his pacifier out of his mouth, play with it a little, then put it back in his mouth. Sometimes he gets it right-side-up, other times he doesn't. Yesterday I was holding is pacifier, we saw it, reached over to me, took it off of my finger and put it right in his mouth! Too funny!