Fashion Sense?

So Jack has decided that like his daddy, he loves hats....if he can get his hands on one it is surely to stay on his head. These are pictures from last week when he put on his hat, grabbed one of my purses and my keys and decided he was leaving for the day. Not so sure he has any fashion sense though, lets see if his sisters will be able to help him with that one!

On another note, here is one picture of Jack on a ride along tractor at the Mission Community Center. They have open play Tuesday-Thursday 9:30-11:30 for $2 a child. There are a million toys, bouncy houses and balls, etc... They are a wonderful place to go during this winter season for the kiddos to run off some energy; I highly recommend taking your children. Jack really enjoyed himself and was so tired on the way home that he promptly fell asleep before we had left the parking lot!

Cluck Cluck!

For Halloween Jack was a chicken! He really enjoyed the extra stuffing around his waist and kept waving his arms like a chicken, too cute!

Look Ma! No Hands!

I am beginning to think the toys Jack has to play with are a bit too young for him these days, he has however found a way to make them fun anyway! This was last night right before bedtime. I think his short stature has given him amazing balance as his center of gravity is lower.

Also, here is a picture of Jack running at the pumpkin patch from a couple of weeks ago.

Sunny October Day!

Had a big Sunday and started off with a trip to the pumpkin patch with Preston and Marie! Tried really hard to get a photo of the boys together but they are just too busy, I think Marie got one eventually. Jack loved looking at all of the pumpkin sizes and really enjoyed being a GIANT walking all over the baby pumkins. Later that same day we met up with Marie and Preston again for their neighborhood Oktoberfest. Lots of fun, food and music were enjoyed. This neat park has a tunnel that the boys find super entertaining, and I love the photos of that tunnel. Even got this great video of Jack dancing to the German band while eating his hotdog (sorry but it is sideways...I will one day figure out how to change that on this computer).

I'm a big boy now!

Jack and I went to the park yesterday and he finally is no longer afraid of the slide. Before this lovely milestone Jack would fall backward and hit the back of his head on the slide and the fun would result in tears. He would look at me like I was torturing him and why or why would I think this was a fun thing to do?! He just couldn't quite figure out that he needed to hold himself up in order to enjoy the ride down. Now that he has figured that out he did a cycle of about 15 times climbing the stairs and going down the slide and instantly running back to the stairs to do it again and again. Lots of fun!


And here is a photo of the view from Julie and my bedroom in Mexico....

Sick and jittery

Well our household has been a hotbed of illness over the last couple of weeks. Jack got sick on Friday at daycare and I took him to the Dr. on Saturday. He has an ear infection and an upper respiratory infection. Well he got worse over the weekend and we went in to the Dr. today and ended up with Albuterol treatments every 2-4 hours for the next few days! Super fun!

Zoo!

Jack had a busy week filled with his 15 month check-up, painting with Preston and going to the zoo. His check-up went well, he survived the three shots with a smile (almost), and is overall a super healthy and happy boy. His weight did not change much from his one year check-up, still in the 3% at 19lbs 12.2oz, but has gained a little height, now in the 12% at 29 3/4inches.


Jack loved the zoo and was in total awe when we went to the petting farm area where he fed the sheep. On our way out of Africa he wanted to walk the entire (and I mean ENTIRE) way out, which those of you who know the Kansas City Zoo know that is a very long way. After three hours of exploring the animal habitats we retired to our air-conditioned car and sang the whole way home. Surprisingly he did not fall asleep and was in a great mood. Bedtime did arrive a little early at 6:15pm, and he slept until 7:30 the next morning!

Big Boy!

Christina took this photo of Jack at the pool last week. Doesn't he look like such a big boy?!

Wipes! Ohhhhh, Ahhhhh

Remember how our parents use to tell us stories about how despite all the amazing toys we had as children we never had more fun than with a box? Well, Jack loves, (and I mean LOVES) to play with a number of not-so-fun things including: wipes, diapers, pens, jars, tupperware and sunglasses. Here are some photos of him playing with the wipes....
I guess the older we get the more we all realize how right our parents are!

Dancing!

Jack is quite the dancer when Noggin plays music, not sure whether he has rhythm or not. Let's all hope he did not inherit his father's moves.

I'm crafty!

We went over to Preston's house today for some craft time. First, Jack and I hit Micheals for the essentials. While we were walking through the aisles I came across so many fun projects for the future...we are going to be having sooo much fun! Here are a few pics of Jack making a painting for Grandma Nelson's birthday!Here is a before photo in his super fabulous smock...an old tee of Mrs. Marie Hooker's....thanks Marie!

Loose Park Water Spray Park

Went out to spend some time in the sun on this beautiful Kansas City day! Met JWP and Milo and Emily and Nicola at Loose Park and let Jack run wild! He really enjoyed watching all of the other kiddos scream and shout as they ran through the water spouts. After an hour or so Jack got the courage up to get closer to the water. I think he may be a daredevil in the making.

Cheese!

Jack is continuing to explore the growing options of eating and greatly enjoying the surprises! Here he is eating his new favorite, grilled cheese!

Arggg!

Well, Jack is officially a pirate! For his birthday my Fake Mom, Jane, bought Jack an outfit that although super cute won't fit him until he is maybe 4. So, I took the outfit back to the boutique she got it from to exchange for a smaller size. Well, Jane had bought the smallest size available so I was faced with picking another outfit. I got him a pirate outfit! The pants are frayed at the ends with a patch over the knee, super cute!
And I couldn't help but put on his red Arggggyly socks!

Times, they are a changin'...

My parents have just left town after a wonderful (albeit too short) visit to KC. Jack had another 1st birthday party while they were in town and my oh my did he get some great new toys! My brother David and his wife Michiyo bought Jack a classic, The Cozy Coupe! Jack thinks this is the best thing ever and giggles everytime he gets into his wheels. Apparently the car should have usable doors on both sides though as he often attempts to get out of the car through the passenger side window!



In another giant milestone, Jack has begun to walk! He took his first unaided steps on Wednesday the 27th and although I did not get those first ones on film I did capture a few today! Sorry that the video I have is sideways but I can't figure out how to flip it other than to take a new video.

So unbelievable that he is starting walk, still makes my stomach flip when he does it and my eyes tear up! What can I say, I am my father's daughter.

1st Birthday!

It is so hard to believe that Jack is already a toddler! One year old, unbelievable!
We had a wonderful birthday/Mother's Day celebration. Dinner with family, cake a presents followed and what a great experience that was, for us and Jack. Anytime anyone mentions a first birthday my thoughts always move to the cake and all the questions that follow. Did he like the cake? Did he cry? Dig in? Well I was extremely curious as to how Jack would respond. He did like it, but it took a little while, I think as long as it took for the sugar high to kick in! I was most amazed by how much he did not like having icing on his hands. After the cake-eating experience Jack got a bubble bath, which he always enjoys. All in all it was a wonderful day.

Today was Jack's one year check-up with lab work and shots. He did really well and only cried for a minute or two. His percentages have not moved much, but are as follows:
Wt: 19lbs (3%)
Ht: 28inches (5%)
HC: 45%

So we still have a short, skinny kid but head is not quite as big!

Here are a few photos with Jack's big first birthday gift, isn't it too cute!

Soul Cleansing and Cerveza Drinking!

This last Saturday was the annual Lund Cinco de Mayo Party! This was the first year that I have been able to attend, but not my first Lund House Party. What a difference a year makes! I remember parties starting at 8pm and going well into the wee hours of the night (or is that the wee hours of the morning?). This party was kid-friendly with many children running about and having a great time with the party favors Molly and Erik provided; sombreros and marachas! The party was wonderful with great food, drinks and even better company! The Lund's are amazing hosts and even better chefs! Jack enjoyed his first guacomole and tortillas! Here he is with Ellen Lund, what a stinkin' cutie!

The other part of my weekend was spent scrubbing and reorgainizing my house. I went to Target and picked up some new cleaning supplies. I know it is weird but I LOVE cleaning supplies, and it really got me motivated. Tom went out of town to New Orleans for Jazz Fest and while he was enjoying the weather and music I have had 5 days of cleaning, and it has been wonderful! I have been busy cleaning, and I mean DEEP cleaning the house like it has never seen before. Baseboards, crown molding, doors... music blaring loudly through the house as I work on my hands and knees scouring and singing at the top of my lungs; oh what the neighbors must think! Whatever the reason, I feel so wonderful after a day spent cleaning my house. There is a definite connection for me between being organized/clean and feeling totally at peace. I sleep better, I dream more vividly and I am a much happier person to be around. Maybe, just maybe I should make a habit of it....

YUM YUM!!

Went to Julie's for dinner on Sunday night and boy were we all in for quite the treat! Julie decided to make a wonderful spread of Chicken Scallopini with a Cream Saffron Sauce, Orzo stuffed peppers, Prosciutto wrapped Asparagus and Sun-dried tomato and garlic corn muffins! The meal was amazing and the company even better!

This is going to be a longer post because I have been a slacker and not posted anything is quite some time...sorry. Well, Jack is 11 months old now and really a whole lot of fun! He loves to bang on any and all surfaces, loves to read books (especially an Elmo book that we have to hide after awhile or he would have us read it 500 times in a row!), and is just about the greatest little boy ever! On Easter Julie asked us if we would like to go to the Royals game with her and Sean. She had been given tickets by our friend Courtney! I have never felt like such a rock star. The seats were in the Diamond Club level and came with front door parking (Thanks Courtney!). The game was a lot of fun and the Royals won over the Yankees!




Later in the week we went on a trip to DC and got to see Tom's aunts and took in some of the sites as well. Jack did well on his first plane trip, crying for the first 10-15minutes of both flights before settling into one of our chests and sleeping the majority of the trips. I will say that I have a whole new appreciation for parents flying with crying children; there is a special place in heaven for them. One of Tom's coworkers gave him some advice prior to our trip, "The first thing you should do when you get on the plane is get a stiff drink!" Also, it is interesting how your timing changes when traveling with a baby. Jack woke up on the way home and we were trying to keep him happy by giving him a toddlers version of Cheese Puffs. Towards the end Tom looked at me and said, "We are ten Cheese Puffs away from landing." Gotta love it!

Here is a photo of Tom, Jack and Me at lunch with Tom's Aunt Kathie and Uncle Ken Jarva and Aunt Kathie and Uncle Scott.
Here are some photos of Jack really enjoying the giant bed at the Marriott that we stayed at in Maryland.
With Jack's new bathtub he got a Frog Pod. This is cool bathroom staple that scoops up all of the bath toys and is stored on the wall. Jack really enjoyed the box more than the toy, some things never change!
Here Jack is playing with his best friend Preston Hooker. Jack loves to go to Preston's house and play with all of his toys! These boys are just too cute when they get together!


And last, but certainly not least here are some 11 month photos! Unfortunately, Jack just was not feeling it on his 11 month birthday so these are not his greatest photos.
Whew! Thanks for reading about our month!