Throwback Thursday

Now that he's starting to walk, interesting to look back to when he was just starting to crawl (Aug 1, 2010).

Our little walker

His big belly is the only thing that keeps pulling him down!

Passport

On Saturday, we took Jackson to the post office to get his first passport. Aruba will be his first stamp in February, but hopefully it's just the first of many international trips he will take in his life. Anyway, his passport picture is pretty bad ass thanks to daddy who had him wear his bones pj's.

Weekend Fun (and first steps)

We had a good old time this weekend doing absolutely nothing. I was happy to be home after being gone the past 4 out of 5 weekends (Cleveland, DC, NYC, Chicago) and we spent the time......

Opening Christmas presents from G-daddy Phil

Being tickeled by the Tickle Monster

Playing with blocks (A is for afro, B is for biker, C is for corndog)

Breaking mommy's vase

Climbing boxes and......

Taking first steps! He's been doing practice steps for about a week, but Saturday he took multiple steps throughout the day so figured it was time to say he had taken his first steps. Tonight he demonstrated his newfound skills to Grandma and Grandpa Porter on the web cam. Look out!

10 month update

Weight: 25 lbs 12 oz

Length: 29.5 inches

Visitors: Grandma and Grandpa Porter came to visit for 2 weeks over Thanksgiving. We had lots of fun hanging out while mommy worked. We went for a walk, went to the mall, went to DC for Thanksgiving, and then I hung out with Daddy and Grandpa while Mommy and Grandma went to NYC for Grandma's 60th birthday.

Sleeping patterns: Well, this past month has been a mixed bag of sleeping experiences. For a few weeks, I would wake up in the middle of the night and cry for mommy and daddy, who would then bring me into the big kids bed with them, which made me really happy and I would immediately fall back asleep. However, mommy and daddy weren't getting any sleep so it all came to a head on Thanksgiving when mommy said "enough is enough." She read a book all the way home from DC and made a new rule that I had to be in bed by 8 pm each night. We also spend about 15 minutes playing in my room beforehand. Works like a charm - I'm back to being a great sleeper and sleep about 11 hours each night.

My Likes: I love climbing up the stairs, but know that I'm not suppose to because I look around to see if anyone is watching me. I also like riding my truck that Aunt Milly and Uncle Jason gave me for Christmas. I can even push it forward with my feet! I also like to pretend I'm reading and to play ball with daddy.

My Dislikes: I still don't like having my diaper changed.

Other milestones: I've now got 6 teeth - 3 on top and 3 on the bottom. This means I've been eating more "people" food lately. Boy, did I love that guacamole that mommy made! I also started standing on my own, but have yet to take my first true "steps".

Trips: We took a trip to Aunt Milly and Uncle Jason's new house outside DC for Thanksgiving. I had so much fun crawling all over their big house and playing with the girls (or completely ignoring them).

Looking forward to in the next month: Going to Milwaukee and Tomah for Christmas. I'm going to meet Santa, too!

Baby it's cold outside

Although we're just getting our first snow today, it's been pretty cold outside. Given that Jackson won't keep a hat on, we had to buy him a winter coat that had a hood. Here are the boys on their way to work/school!

So sleepy

Not sure what happened at day care on this particular day, but it totally tuckered Jackson out. At 6 pm, he laid down on the floor with his blanket under his head and slept for half an hour before he woke up, ate dinner and then went to bed for the night!

Throwback Thursday

If you can't pull yourself up, then just make silly noises.

Crazy

Life has been a bit crazy lately with visitors, the holidays and travel. Here is a quick recap (and explanation about why so few posts lately).

Grandma and Grandpa Porter arrived the Monday before Thanksgiving and stayed for two whole weeks (with a short break to head to DC for Thanksgiving). We also went down to DC for a couple of days for Thanksgiving. Then it was back to work for a few days before Grandpa and Grandma were back in Wilmington just in time to celebrate Grandma turning 60. Then on Friday, Adam and I had tickets for the theater. Then early the next morning, Amanda and I took Grandma to NYC for her first visit. We were back on Sunday late afternoon, only to re-pack as they were flying home the next morning and I was going to Hershey for 3 days for a client workshop. So, now I'm home for the moment, and thought I would upload this picture of Jackson and his crazy hair before I leave tomorrow morning for a girls weekend in Chicago. Up until last weekend I had only been away from Jackson for one night since he was born and this week alone I'll be away for 5 nights. 'Tis the season!

Throwback Thursday

The baby buddha when he's 5 months old and starting to sit up and crawl (and just lay there and kick his fat little legs)

School dayz

Jackson poses with his teachers and classmates (Miss Kim, Miss, Kaitlyn, Colin, Sophie) for his first school picture! That is some magic the photographer worked to get all 3 babies to look at the camera.

Thanksgiving (and an early Christmas)

Grandma and Grandpa Porter arrived on Monday for a 2 week visit. This included us all heading down to DC on Thursday morning to spend Thanksgiving with Jason, Milly, Jocelyn, Bella and Ruby. Since we were all together, we figured we might as celebrate an early Christmas as well. We had a great time and so did Jackson - he loved exploring the big house, climbing the stairs, playing with his new toys, eating turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberries and always having a set of hands to hold him.

Grandma and mommy made these turkey cupcakes on Wednesday. Let's just say that didn't quite look the same on Thursday when we got to DC.

Grandpa carving the bacon crusted 30 pound turkey

Grandma and Jackson climbing stairs

Jackson checking out his stack of presents

Uncle Jason and Jackson unwrapping his new push truck

Aunt Milly and Ruby looking FAB-U-LOUS after Ruby smeared herself with make-up

Jackson testing out his new Christmas jammies

Jackson up to no good

Jackson riding his new truck

Ruby painting Uncle Adam's toenails

The cousins!

Throwback Thursday

Throwback to when Jackson was 4.5 months old and trying rice cereal for the first time.

A Visit to the Stuarts in Cleveland

We headed to Cleveland this past weekend to visit Ian and Kate, Adam's friends from grad school, and their almost two year old - Adam! We had a nice time hanging out and watching the boys "play" (or ignore) with each other. I'm pretty sure Jackson would have loved to have just stayed there because they have so many great toys! We also got a nice glimpse into what life will be like in about a year, including walking, talking, watching Dora, going down slides head first, playing with "choo choos" and eating lots of bananas.

This little clip shows Jackson and Adam "dancing" together. Shake your head, clap your hands, raise your leg, bend your body - it's the way the cool kids dance these days!

The only downside to our trip was getting to our car at the remote airport parking lot and realizing we had lost our car and house keys. Thankfully our landlord was able to get into our house and run an extra set up to the airport, but not exactly the way we wanted to end our nice weekend! Jackson was a champ though and dealt with the ordeal much better than mommy did.

9 month update

Weight: 23.5 lbs (90th percentile)

Length: 29.25 inches (90th percentile)

Visitors: Grandma Honey and Jenna came to visit in the past month. Jenna came while daddy was in Italy. We hung out, played and went shopping in Philly.

Sleeping patterns: I generally have been sleeping really well at night. However, the past 3 nights I've been waking the entire house up around 12:30 for some attention. My pediatrician says that I have developed object permanence, so when I wake up, I cry for my mommy and daddy because I know they are somewhere near by.

My Likes: I love to walk behind my little truck all by myself. Sometimes I fall, but I'm actually pretty good at it and always look at mommy and daddy with a big smile on my face because I'm so proud of myself.

My Dislikes: I still HATE having my diaper changed. I really don't like my big boy car seat either.

Other milestones: I've been shaking my head a lot and clapping my hands. I went to my first baby swim class and have also started music class. I'm really good in all of my classes and would best be characterized as an "observer." Tonight I climbed up the stairs to reach a plastic bag.

Trips: We leave on Friday for a weekend in Cleveland to visit Ian and Kate Stuart and their son Adam who is 2 years old. He's going to show me the ropes on what it takes to be a toddler! I have it on good word that I may also be in Aruba for my first birthday. Woo hoo!

Looking forward to in the next month: Grandma and Grandpa Porter coming to visit for two weeks over Thanksgiving and celebrating Grandma's 60th birthday with her. We are also going to Aunt Milly and Uncle Jason's new house for Thanksgiving.

Anything for a plastic bag

Tonight Adam and I were talking and when I turned and looked, Jackson had crawled up one stair. He has only done this one other time and it was a long time ago. He had a goal in sight though - a plastic Target bag - that he just had to get his hands on. So, I stuck the bag higher to see if he would go up, and well, let's just say we need to get some baby gates.

This is how we roll at Target

Instructions for making shopping at Target easy with a 9 month old
1. Put a big Christmas plastic bin in your cart
2. Put said 9 month old in the bin
3. Fill bin with lots of different things they like to put in their mouths and ruin (e.g. Pink Post-It Notes)
4. Open up unpurchased snacks and feed them to 9 month old so they leave the Post It Notes alone
5. Put too small hunting hat on head
6. Laugh at how foolish he looks
7. Snap picture

Clap clap clap

We love to shake our head, but this is the first time I've seen him clap!

The Life of a Leopard

Did you know that leopards.......

drink bottles?

take naps?

cry when they wake up from their naps?

get their picture taken with their daddies?

cry when they can't crawl very well?

ride in a stroller?

go trick-or-treating?

take pictures with mommies?

read Halloween books?

eat their tails?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Vintage Leopard

Grandma Honey made a leopard costume in 1970 for Uncle Aaron. Who would have thought that it would survive the test of time so Jackson could wear it in 2010.....forty years later!!! Everyone loved Jackson's "vintage" costume.

Jackson, 8 months, 2010

Uncle Aaron, 27 months, 1970

Daddy, 15 months, 1972

Auntie Andra, 16 months, 1975

What a weekend!

We had a fun, busy weekend that went something like this......

Friday - Trick or Treating at mommy's office in Philadelphia

Saturday - Jackson's first swim lesson, bought a new (used) Pilot, installed the big boy car seat, watched the World Series with Dave

Sunday - Went to Gymboree for some play time, had Amanda over for lunch and the Packer game, went trick-or-treating, handed out candy to trick-or-treaters that came to our house

Walking (with some help)!

He hasn't stood without support yet, but he's starting to master walking across the living room behind his truck. This was a good $5 investment at the baby sale. It even "picks up" toys as it goes and spits it into the truck bed. Today he picked up his own rattle!

Even Super Heros Ride in Car Seats

And get mad and try and take their socks off!