Blue Jeans, New Shoes, Standing, and 12 Weeks!

Jack has had a big week...fashion wise :)  He got his first pair of blue jeans and real shoes!  I am not ready to see my baby in blue jeans yet, but his daddy wants him to have a few "boy clothes" as he calls it, so I gave in.  I have to admit, they are mighty cute on him!

As for the shoes, Jack is getting so close to walking.  He is cruising on everything and loves to walk holding just my 1 finger.  This week he has gotten brave and has started to let go and stand without holding onto anything for long periods of time, just won't take that first step :)  I decided that with all this "almost walking" maybe he was ready for real shoes....something with a little more support than his beloved Robeez he wears everyday.  So Jack is now sporting a classic pair of white Keds!  I love them...they are tiny and SO cute on his little feet!

Lastly, today was my 12 week OB appointment and I got to hear a strong heartbeat and loved every second of it!  I have been feeling pretty great until this week when all of a sudden morning sickness appeared, but it is still mild and I am very thankful for that!  My doctor told me we will delay our next ultrasound until 20 weeks since everything is going so well and since we won't be finding out the sex of the baby. I'll leave you with a picture from my bedside table book showing what Little Baby looks like about now.

Another Snow Day

I can't believe a Mississippian is saying this, but I am tired of the snow!  I am not going to complain anymore about it though...It is beautiful and I still get excited when I see school closures even though I haven't worked in the school system in almost 2 years :)  BUT I can't wait for warm, spring weather.  I guess it is easier to get "cabin fever" when you are a stay at home mom.  Jack and I did venture out to Square Books Jr this morning for some story time (which was GREAT by the way) and a little socializing before we became home bound due to the snow.  Jack went down for his afternoon nap around 12:30 with nothing falling from the sky and he woke up at 3:00 with close to 3 inches on the ground!  Since we are stuck out here in Taylor, we have been practicing our "walking".

 

Jack is getting closer and closer to the real thing everyday.  As long as just one hand is holding on to something, he will walk all over the place.  As exciting as the walking thing is, I'm not sure I'm ready for my baby to be a toddler!!!

Baby Fish

Jack has had a full week of play dates at friend's houses, story time at the library, lunch and playtime at Chickfila, and our first swim class.  Jack loves playing in the bathtub, so I really thought this "Baby Fish" swim class would be something he would love....boy was I wrong!  We decided this would be a good daddy/son activity so Allen was the parent who got in the water with Jack (I didn't even take a bathing suit).  It started out really well...Jack and Daddy played with the ball and splashed around a bit. 

About 10 minutes into the 45 minute class, Jack decided he wanted his Mama, who was sitting on the side of the pool taking pictures of her little fish.  When he realized Daddy wasn't going to take him over to Mama, he had a complete meltdown.  Allen looked over and mouthed, "Walk out!!!"  So I did as I was told and got out of sight.  This resulted in a panicked little boy searching the entire pool for his Mama and getting pretty upset when he couldn't find me.  The remaining 35 minutes Jack looked like this.

I am proud of Allen for not giving in and getting out of the pool.  Jack wasn't scared of the water, he just wanted his Mama.  Next week either I will be getting in the pool or I won't even walk into the pool area with them, so maybe Jack will completely forget that I am there.  I know this is a phase and we will get through it, but it breaks my heart when he is so upset and all he wants is Mama to hold him and I have to walk away.

10 Months Old!!!

Hi, my name is Jack Cravens and I am 10 months old today!!! (Well, yesterday really...Mama's a little tardy once again with this post).  Please excuse the fact that I am wearing my pj's in my 10 month pics....it rained all day and Mama said these days are meant for all day long pj wearing!  Here are some things going on in my life right now...

• I move 10 hours of the day...the other 14 I sleep.  Notice the blurry picture?  It's because I never stop moving!

• I weigh about 21 pounds and wear 12 month clothes.  I wear a size 3 diaper during the day, but Mama puts me in a size 4 sleep diaper at night.

•  I drink a bottle of formula in the morning and a bottle at bedtime.  During the day I drink my milk out of a sippy cup...I am a big boy!  Mama is going to try to start my morning bottle in a cup this week.

• I love to eat, but don't like baby food any longer.  Mama is having to get really creative with mealtimes so I get all my veggies in!  My favorite foods are baked sweet potatoes, whole green beans, black eyed peas, bananas, mandarin oranges, and yogurt (note to other new moms: look for Yobaby 3 in 1....found in refrigerated yogurt section.  It is organic and has a serving a fruit and veggies.  It is Jack's favorite!).  Other new favorites are waffles, goldfish, any kind of cracker, cheerios, cereal bars, anything Mama is eating :) 

•  I am not walking yet, but Mama thinks it will be any day.  I cruise along all the furniture and I love to walk holding Mama and Daddy's hands.  I am a little cautious and when I realize I have forgotten to hold on and I am standing alone, I will slowly squat to the ground.

•  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Cuba and Cuba is beginning to like me a little.  Mama says "Where's Cuba?" and I take off in search for him.  I really like to pull his hair and give him bites of my food.  Cuba will get his toys out and bring them to me to play with.  He is a sweet furry brother.

• Speaking of brothers, did you hear I'm going to be a big brother?!?!?!  I'm not real sure what this means, but Mama and Daddy are mighty excited about it.  I know that in a few months, I get to move into the room with the bunk beds! (Mama did just burst my bubble and told me I will still be sleeping in a crib and not on the top bunk....bummer).

• I still love my sleep!  I go to sleep around 7:00 every night and get up at 6:15 every morning.  I then take a nap from 8-9 and from 12:30-3:00.  I am a champion napper these days and never ever cry when Mama puts me in my bed.  Sometimes, when she comes to get me up, I don't want to get out of my crib :)  Mama says she is 1 lucky mom to have such a great sleeper!

• I get so excited when my daddy comes home from work.  Mama says, "Jack, Daddy's coming home" and I crawl real fast to stand in my chair at the front window.  We watch and watch until I see his Jeep come around the corner, then I squeal and jump up and down in my chair with excitement!

• Daddy finished my playroom upstairs and even put a tent up for me to play in!  Daddy, Mama and I play up there every night and Mama never has to tell me "No no Jack" because the entire room is 100% baby proof!!!!

• I am FINALLY saying "Dada".  Daddy is SO proud of me.  Mama still tells me I am a quiet baby, but I will talk and babble when I am playing with my cars and trucks and reading my book about tractors.  I like to say "Mama" a lot and will stand at the baby gate and say it over and over and over again until Mama opens the gate up :)

• I still only have my 1 tooth, but Mama thinks the second one is coming in now. Brushing my "tooth" is one of my favorite things to do...Maybe I will be a dentist when I grow up just like my Pops.

• I have started throwing little fits when Mama says "No" or won't give me something I want...Mama says I act just like my daddy and Daddy says I act just like my mama.

• Mama and Daddy are getting ready to leave me for 5 whole nights in a few weeks.  They are getting on some big boat to float out in the ocean somewhere.  I am SUPER excited about spending lots of time with BOTH sets of grandparents while they are away!  I bet I get 1,964 kisses from Mama on the day she leaves me, but she will be just fine on that big boat without me :)

• I have gotten mighty attached to my Mama.  If she is in the room, then she is who I want.  I also get teased when someone speaks to me who I don't know very well.  I will bury my face in Mama's shirt and grin.  Mama says she secretly likes this phase...it is the only time I am cuddly.

• Favorites as a 10 month old: trucks (I push them all over the house), being outside, bath time, balls, Cuba's toys, helping Mama clean (she gives me a rag and I "wash" the floor), playing with my buddy Wyatt , playing chase with Daddy,  reading books, emptying the kitchen cabinets, looking out the window, puzzles, watching "Baby Signing Time" and "Super Why".  Mama and Daddy say I get to be more fun everyday and that I am such a good boy!

This is how about 98% of our photo shoot went...

And this is what happened when I said "Jack, sit down and give Mama a big smile!"

A Little of This, a Little of That

I  just downloaded the pictures on my camera from the week and I have to share my favorites. 

We are learning to clap at our house :)  Most the the time Jack just uses one hand to clap the table, his leg, whatever is in in front of him, but he is finally figuring out how to use the other hand while clapping and he gets a KICK out of it!

We SO enjoyed the weather here on Saturday...almost 70 degrees and SUNNY!!!  We took the top panels off the jeep, strapped the carseat in the back and headed into town to spend the day at the park (well, 30 minutes at the park...babies don't last very long there).  Daddy had to show Jack the ropes :)

If Jack can't be outside, then his next favorite thing is to be looking outside.  This is the window in our dining room (aka playroom).  It looks out to the front yard and the street.  We had to pull the chair over for Jack to stand on because his tip toes were getting tired :)

Jack loves standing at the glass doors that lead to the screened in porch.  This is where he watches the deer in the back yard...and Cuba :)

Guess who will be 10  months old tomorrow?!?!  Hopefully I'll get the 10 month post up sometime during the day :)

It's No Fun Being Sick

This little guy has not been feeling well the past 24 hours.  He woke up yesterday with a little stomach bug....NOT FUN!  This is Jack's first time to be sick, and boy did he pick a good one.  We have been through more clothes and diapers than I can count...YUCK!  He seems to be better this morning, just a little weak.   He has enjoyed the bananas, popsicles, and pedialyte though :)  He has had lots of good snuggle time with Mama and has gotten to have his paci all day long :)  Hopefully we will be back to normal by tomorrow... we have a day planned at the park now that the weather has FINALLY decided to warm up for us!

Note: I'm sure you all noticed his little bruise on his forehead...This is day #5.  It looks SO much better than it did.  The column between the den and living room just got in Jack's way :)

And Baby Makes 4!

Thank you all for you sweet words about our growing family.  We are beyond thrilled!  I have had lots of questions, so thought I would answer them all right here :)

1.  Many have asked though it is really nobody's business...Was this a surprise pregnancy? haha!  As crazy as we might be, this was planned :)  We didn't expect it to happen so soon...we were thinking of spacing Jack and a sibling 18-24 months apart, and we will almost hit that "plan" with this baby arriving right when Jack turns 17 months old.

2.  Will you be finding out the sex of the baby this time around.  The answer is NO :)  I thought I would want to, but the more we talk about it, I want this baby's birthday to be just as fun and exciting for us as Jack's was, which means we will wait 7 more months to see if Jack is getting a brother or a sister.

3.  Do you want a girl this time around?  To be COMPLETELY honest...I don't care.  I want a healthy baby :)  I would LOVE a little girl to dress up, put bows in her hair, play with dolls, BUT I would also love for Jack to have a brother since they will be so close in age.  I think there are wonderful pluses to both, so I truly don't care.

4.  How far along are you?  As of today, I am 8 weeks 4 days.  We saw the baby on ultrasound last week and heard his or her little heartbeat and we couldn't keep the news to ourselves any longer.

5.  How do you feel?  So far, I can't complain one bit!  I get a little queasy every morning and right around mealtimes and I'm having a hard time thinking of anything I want to eat, but it has been NOTHING compared to how sick I felt when I was pregnant with Jack.  PRAISE GOD!

6.  Are you nervous about having 2 under 2?  Not really...or at least not yet.  I think (and hope) I can manage a newborn and toddler, but am a little nervous about next summer when I have a 9 month old and a 2 year old...that seems a little difficult to manage :)

Again, I can't tell you how thrilled we are!  We appreciate all prayers for a healthy pregnancy :)

This cutie patootie is going to make a GREAT big brother.  Just today I saw what I thought was Jack sharing his goldfish crackers with Cuba.....then I realized he was letting Cuba lick the salt off, then Jack would eat the cracker.  Oh well, it's a start at sharing :)

An Early Valentine Surprise

A Day in Jack's Life

To remember what life what like at 9 1/2 months old, here is how Jack's typical day goes when we are at home...

6:00ish  -I  wake up and talk in the bed.  When Daddy comes in from the gym around 6:15, he gets a quick shower then comes to my rescue.   I always have a nice messy diaper for Daddy first thing in the morning, then we have a little "guy time" with my morning bottle and Daddy watching Fox and Friends.

6:45 - Daddy takes me into Mama's room to wake her up and I get in the bed with her and watch 15 minutes of Handy Manny while Daddy gets ready for work.  We then get out of bed and play in the den with Daddy.

7:30 - Daddy heads to work and I get breakfast - oatmeal and fruit.

8:00 NAPTIME!  Mama better get a shower during this hour if she wants one today!

9:00 Mama wakes me up and we play and play and play....mostly in the den with all my toys.  This is also the time when we run quick errands to the grocery store, bank, ect.  I LOVE riding in the car and going to places with lots of people.

11:30 Daddy comes home for lunch and we sit at the table together and eat.  My favorite lunch foods are oranges, apples, bananas, baked sweet potato, green beans,  peas.  After lunch, daddy plays with me for a few minutes before he heads back to work.

12:30 - 3:00ish NAP TIME!  Mama tries to be productive during this time...washing clothes, cleaning house, figuring out supper, emails, ect.

3:00 Wake up and snack... yogurt and milk

3:30 Playtime in my room.  Mama says it is the only room in the entire house that is 100% baby proof, so we can play in there without her saying "No Jack" every 5 seconds.  We read lots of book when we are in my room.  She says this is our learning time and we practice learning body parts and colors and singing songs.

4:15ish - Mama tries to take me outside for a little while everyday, but it has been either cold or rainy for the past 2 weeks.  This is when we stroll and let Cuba play in the yard.  I LOVE going outside and I squeal when Mama opens to door for us to go out!

4:45 - I get to watch my Baby Signing Time DVD or Sesame Street while Mama starts supper.

5:15 Daddy comes home and plays with me while Mama cooks.

5:45 Supper.  I usually eat whatever Mama cooked.  If she cooked something I can't have, she will make me veggie ravioli or a scrambled egg plus some veggies.

6:15 BATH TIME.. I love bath time!

6:30 Playtime in my room with Daddy and Cuba....we wrestle and play with boy toys.

6:45 Mama gives me a bottle, rocks me for a minute, then puts me in the crib.  I am normally out in 5 minutes...worn out from my long day!

The Blizzard of 2011

Yes, I called it a blizzard.  In my book, 8 inches of snow in Mississippi is considered a blizzard!  All afternoon on Sunday we sat around just waiting on the snow.  Phone calls from family in Grenada confirmed THEY were getting the snow, but it was nowhere to be seen in our neck of the woods.  It finally started sleeting late Sunday afternoon, then the snow came, but I was not impressed.  It looked more like flurries than the showers that had been forecast.  So we went to bed (early as always) and woke up to a true winter wonderland!  Allen immediately got up, dressed, and ran up to the neighbors house to sled down their hill (at 6:00 am).  Later in the morning, Jack and I bundled up to venture out.  Jack was not sure what to think about it.

Allen insisted that Jack have his first go at sledding....Jack wasn't impressed.

But you can't get much cuter than this :)

All in all, our 20 minutes out in the snow was fun.  Allen had to venture to work in the mess, but came home after lunch and headed out with all the other "neighborhood adults who think they are kids" for a couple more hours of sledding.