Destin 2011

Jack and I just got home from a week long stay in Destin, FL with Nana, Pops, Aunt Mea Mea, and Cade.  We were so sad that Allen couldn't be there with us, but he is going to take a little vacation with us to Smith Lake later this summer.

I was not surprised at all that my child loved the sand, but I was very surprised that he loved the water...maybe he did learn something at swim lessons a few months ago after all :)  Jack loved absolutely everything about the beach...the sand, the water, the boats, the airplanes, the people watching, and waving to everyone who walked by.

 We headed to Baytowne Warf in Sandestin our last night in town for a little food and fun.  Jack entertained EVERYONE with his dance moves while we listened to the band.

After a little dancing we headed over to the carousel which was a huge hit!

Jack became pretty attached to his Pops during this trip.  If Pops was around, he ignored everyone else!

I told my mom on the last morning there that I don't remember a time when I was ever so sandy and had such an even tan (from not getting to sit down, but rather being up chasing a busy 14 month old).  I realize that my beach days have completely changed from the laying out and reading to the up and chasing and playing, and it will stay that way for quite a few years.....and I wouldn't change it for the world!

No Kisses & All Done

Cheesy Grins, A Big Boy Haircut, and Other Stuff

Jack has perfected the "cheesy grin".  Anytime I pull out the camera and say "Jack,  CHEESE", this is what I get...

As you can see below, Jack's mullet quickly grew back :)  I was content to just let it keep growing, but of course Allen was all about him getting another haircut.  I became a very very brave women on Saturday morning and I put the boys in charge of haircuts while I stayed in bed.  Allen got Jack up and dressed and left the house before 7 am with instructions from this mama that he was only to have the mullet cut....no length off the top was to be touched!  He followed my directions and my little baby came home a BIG BOY!  It makes him look SO grown up, but it is pretty darn cute.  I think it's a little too short, but I know it grows fast and it will be nice and cool on his little neck for our upcoming beach trip. 

Mullet #2 - prior to haircut #2

Haircut #2 - Such a BIG BOY!

I didn't do a 13 month post, but I just  have to write a few fun things going on with Jack right now at 13 1/2 months old.

• Jack still isn't using many words to communicate, but he talks constantly in what we call Alien Speak and has hand gestures and lots of intonation while telling you something (or talking to himself).  He is still doing great signing and signs Eat, More, All Done, and we are working on Please.  He shakes his head No when we tell him no or when he doesn't want something.  He also shakes his head no if he is doing something he knows he isn't suppose to do :)

• Jack is such a boy and LOVES trucks, 4-wheelers and tractors.  He loves to sit in the drivers seat and "drive".  There is a house being built right next to ours and the tractors and dump trucks that were present for a week while they did dirt work provided MANY of hours of entertainment in this household.

• Jack's little walk gets faster and faster everyday.  He is beginning to climb on all things which makes this Mama very nervous!

• Mealtimes are becoming interesting at our house, because Jack wants no part in someone feeding him.  He is such a great eater, but will only eat if he can do it himself. We have been practicing with the spoon and fork for the past month, but things get pretty messy when we have things like oatmeal, yogurt, or mac and cheese.  He still loves fruit over anything else (especially blueberries)  and other favorites include cheese, pasta, baked sweet potatoes, peanut butter, and fig newtons.

• Jack is doing such a great job listening to and understanding directions.  I will ask him to go get a book, and he walks to his room and pulls a book of the bookshelf (or several....or all of them).  I tell him to put his shoes on so we can go outside and he walks to the door, picks up his shoes, and brings them to me.  And my favorite is when I tell Jack is it time for his nap, he walks to his room, points to the sound machine (that he likes to turn on by himself...I think I have an independent child), then walks to his crib to get his paci and bunny.

• Jack LOVES being outside.  We are loving this weather and almost everyday we stroll, swing, walk up and down the sidewalk and pick up every rock Jack sees, play in the grass, blow bubbles, drive riding toys up and down the driveway, and pick Mama's flowers when she isn't looking :)

And a little paragraph about sweet baby Witt.  His arrival time is sneaking up on me and I am beginning to get a little panicked that I have done NOTHING to prepare for him.  We have moved Jack to the "big boy room" so the nursery is vacant and ready for a new crib and bedding, but I haven't done anything else.  Little Witt will be here in a little over 3 months so it is time to begin preparing!!!  Other than the crib and bedding, there is little we need (so nice having another boy close in age).  I just need to pull stuff out of the attic and organize.  I had my 24 week checkup last week and Witt's heartbeat sounded great, but I did fail my glucose screening (which was a total shock to me...I wasn't even worried about it).  I went back to the doctor this morning for the 3 hour glucose test and just barely passed it.  The good news is, I don't have to cut out all the sugar in my diet, but the reality is, my glucose level is borderline high so I need to be a little more careful with what I eat because it appears my hormones might be getting in the way of producing and or using the insulin I need to break down the sugar I take in.   With that said, no more Saturday morning donuts until Baby Witt is safely in my arms. A few weeks ago I noted that Witt seems a little more laid back "in utero" than Jack was.  I take back those words.  This little boy bounces all around my belly.  I think I'm going to have my hands full in 3 1/2 months :)

Paci & Bunny

Jack loves his paci and bunny.  He only gets them when he is in the bed or on a long car ride.  I broke the "breastfeeding mom's #1 rule" 13 months ago and gave Jack a paci the day we got home from the hospital.  It never hurt anything and we have always tried to keep the paci a "going to sleep" thing.  My original plan was to take it away when he turned 1, but after talking with his pediatrician, I have changed my mind on the issue (as well as MANY others) and am going to let him keep it a little longer...maybe even until he is 2...who knows :)  When I get him out of the bed I tell him to throw his paci in the bed, and he does just that...with lots of enthusiasm and never seems upset to not have it.  His bunny is a soft little lovey his great aunt Judy gave him before he was born.  He slowly became attached to it, but I now wonder if he could even sleep without it.  He LOVES bunny and we now have an extra that stays in the car for road trips while the original bunny stays in Jack's crib (you can't tell them apart and I wash both once a week so they smell the same).  Jack always puts bunny up to his face when he is tired....too too sweet :)

We had a tough day at our house yesterday with a big fall off the chair and a bruise on the head as well as a cut under his chin which happened earlier that morning.  Top that off with a very short nap and things just weren't going well for the little guy.  This Mama decided it was a day to break the rules and bunny and paci got to make a special appearance out of the bed and into the den while we snuggled and watched Baby Einstein for the rest of the afternoon.  Paci & Bunny can make everything better!

Lately...

We have been busy busy lately with lots of fun things going on!  Weekend before last, we ventured to the square for the Double Decker Arts Festival.  Jack was happy in his stroller for about 15 minutes, then wanted to walk.  I put Allen in charge and they walked all over the square.

This past weekend was my 10 year class reunion.  We started off the weekend with a picnic at the Kirk Academy playground.  Everyone brought their spouses and kids and we had a GREAT time!  Jack was worn out from watching and trying to catch up with the big boys :)

Kirk just added on to the playground with a new preschool area.  Jack had a blast playing on it.  Of course his Nana was there to slide down the big slide with him...That's what Nana's are for, right?

Saturday night was grownups only with a private party at First and Green.  We had a great crowd with 22 Class of 2001 classmates there plus significant others.  I think everyone had a GREAT time and we are already talking about a 15 year reunion!

Sunday morning, we woke up to a full house at the Moody home (Mama, Daddy, Meagan, Cade, Allen, Me, Jack and the dogs Mallie, Doc, and Cuba) and a major plumbing problem in the kitchen.  We took on the adventure and cooked homemade monkey bread for Mother's Day breakfast with no water or plumbing in the kitchen.  I think my poor mom was ready for everyone to leave so she could have her house back and her kitchen working again.  We snapped a quick family photo before leaving for church (even Witt is quite noticeable in this pic).

We have had a low key week so far with lots of playtime with Jack's buddy, Wyatt.  Whatever happened to the days when these boys would just sit in their bouncy seats and stare at each other?  Now they wrestle for the chair :)

Last night while I was getting supper ready, Allen and Jack were outside doing boy stuff.  I looked out the window and saw this... Jack is now a huge fan of the sprinkler :)

Little man is always worn out at bedtime.  We moved him into his new big boy room a couple of weeks ago and he obviously isn't having any problems adjusting to his new room and bedding...sweet guy!