Look Who's Eleven Months Old!

You may be asking yourself if I forgot about Jack's eleven month birthday on the 27th. Though we have been really busy with Christmas and traveling to Minnesota, we didn't forget the day. Let's see... This month Jack added Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota to his travel log. He already visited Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan when we took our trip to Michigan last summer. Jack is wearing 12-18 month clothing although some of his 6-12 month stuff still fits. He's eating many of the everyday foods that John and I eat just chopped smaller. His favorite food is probably cheese, but rice pudding is a close second. Jack loves being around other children. He's a social butterfly. John and I were in a restaurant the other night when the next guy in line started talking to him. Jack reached out his arms and tried to go to the guy. It surprised me and the guy in line. He continues to be a sweet natured baby who has stolen my heart.

Snow Play

It's really too cold for Jack to play much in the snow, but we took him out for a few minutes anyway. Jack didn't crack a smile the entire time we were out. I think he inherently knew that it would hurt his teeth if they were exposed to the cold. I think I may have mentioned to him on our drive to Minnesota that I remembered it being so cold here that the snot freezes in your nostrils, your sinuses hurt, and your teeth ache. I should have stayed quiet because I'd probably have better pictures to show for our five minutes in the snow. More to come.

Christmas 2009

We enjoyed Christmas Eve with Linda and her family. I cooked for the first time, and I surprised myself when everything tasted pretty good. It was lots of fun to see Charlie, Joe, and Rachel. Even though we only live about 30 minutes away from them, we don't see them regularly. Everyone is busy. Charlie is finishing up at Western Kentucky soon. Joe is living in Nashville. Rachel just got accepted to the University of Tennessee's nursing program, which is quite impressive. We had a good time catching up.

On Christmas morning, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Annie, Eric, and Tiffany were there to help us celebrate the holiday. Jack made it through opening one gift (the firetruck from his Aunt Annie) before it was nap time. When he woke up, Grandpa and Daddy had his wagon put together, and let me tell you it was quite the hit!

Soon, we're on our way to celebrate Christmas for the third time with Kathy and her family. They hold a special place in my heart, so I am really looking forward to it!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I'll post more photos soon once I figure out my new software that Santa brought me for Christmas.

All I Want for Christmas...

is Photoshop Lightroom 2. I've been playing with a free 30 day subscription which runs out today. Yesterday, I decided to just buy the program for myself because I love it and I rarely buy anything for myself. I went online to find the best place to purchase it and found out that it is sold out everywhere! So, unless Santa has something up his sleeve, I'm going to have to wait until my birthday to be able to make any more photos look this good. Boo...

A Boys' Adventure

John helped me out a lot today by taking Jack outside. While they played with the dogs and dragged timber out of the woods, I prepared dinner, finished all the laundry, and vacuumed the entire house. I don't think there is much that Jack enjoys more than spending an hour or two outside with his daddy. You can see that he was so excited about his adventure that he flashed that dimple at Mommy.

MckMama's Giveaway

So, if I blog about MckMama giving away a copy of Lightroom, I get one more entry into the drawing to win. Wouldn't it be fun if I won???? I really, really want Photoshop Lightroom, but Santa can't be that generous this year. Check out MckMama's blog if you want a chance to win, too.

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

There's also a Photoshop Elements giveaway on this blog.

http://grammiemommy.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

We celebrated John's birthday last night. I loved Jack's expression as he looked at all 31 candles on the cake. John received lots of farm related gifts. He got a Carhartt jacket from his mom and dad and a sledgehammer and wedge for woodchopping from me and Jack. He was delighted. Happy birthday, Daddy!

Tinkerbell Park

When Charlie, Joe, and Rachel were little kids, I took them to Tinkerbell Park in Franklin all of the time. It's by far the best playground I've ever visited. Unfortunately, much of it was closed yesterday for winter repairs, but I cannot wait for Jack to play there when he's walking. We had a good time swinging and walking on the paths yesterday. Jack also enjoyed watching the kids on the slide and in the sandbox. You better believe that there will be many Tinkerbell Park pictures in the future on this blog.

Santa 2009

A Lesson Learned

Aren't these shoes cute? They were Jack's first pair of shoes, and I absolutely love almost everything about them. I think they're adorable, and I appreciate how quickly I can slip them on his wiggly, squirmy feet. So what's the lesson to be learned? Velcro, my friends. Jack is so smart (Hey, that's what the sales associate told me!) that he figured out how to take these shoes off nearly as quickly or quicker than I can put them on.

So, sadly, I had to make another trip to the shoe store which is where I fell in love with these. Aren't these shoes cute? And, the best thing about this pair of shoes is that they were 50% off tie! I know it's hard to tell that these do indeed tie, but I challenge you try to get my little man to stay still long enough to take a photo of his shoe.

Grandparents

Unfortunately, I wasn't ever really able to have a relationship with any of my grandparents while I was growing up. I vaguely remember my dad's mother. She passed away when I was four, but I remember going to her apartment and enjoying Tang. Dad always told me that Grandma Thorn was able to spend a lot of time with me during those four years because she was retired. He told a story about Grandma taking me to the park in Algona. I insisted on climbing the ladder to the slide that was too high for me, and of course I fell and scared the daylights out of my grandmother. My maternal grandparents were in their late seventies when I was born and soon after suffered the loss of my mother. They didn't have the energy to keep up with the willful child that I was. The situation was unfortunate for me because from the stories that my brother and sisters tell, they were amazing grandparents. My only real knowledge of grandparents came from watching my dad interact with his grandchildren. My dad shined as a grandfather. Jake and Megan were especially blessed to have him around so much, and the relationship they formed with Dad was heartwarming to say the least.

Coming from a limited experience with grandparents, I had no idea what to expect. I've been absolutely delighted by what I've watched develop between Jack and his grandparents. The pride and patience that Jane and Marion have for Jack is boundless. We were eating at a restaurant last week when Jack began to get fussy. Marion scooped him up and walked around the restaurant with him. Everyone at the table affectionately agreed that he was probably stopping to talk with people he didn't know to tell them that Jack is his wonderful grandson. Marion has even spent the last few weekends helping John turn our bonus room into a playroom for Jack. Lucky boy. If you've ever had the chance to visit Jane's house, you know she has some very interesting antiques that would tempt any baby to touch. Those little treasures have been wordlessly packed away until Jack's a little older. The Christmas skating scene has a new home this year, right at Jack's eye level but lovingly out of his reach. When Jack arrives, a safety gate is placed in front of the dangerous stairs, and the birdseed is moved so Jack can reach his favorite toy (the doorstopper). All these little acts of love make it apparent that Jack has a place in their hearts.

As for Jack, his love for his grandparents becomes obvious when one sees his toothy grin and hears his delighted squeals when we arrive at Grandpa and Grandma's house. He's a lucky little boy to know the love of his grandparents, and I'm the lucky mother who gets to watch!

Counting Down the Days 'til Christmas

First Bee Sting

Jack got stung by a bee this morning while I was letting the dogs out. He didn't cry to indicate that he was hurt, but Rachel and Charlie saw it happen so I took him inside and had to take this out of his cheek.

His poor little cheek turned red immediately, so I put a baking soda and water paste on it.

A lot of the redness went away quickly, but you can still see his sting in the next photo.

Poor little guy.

I'm Santa's Favorite...

... and Mommy's too!

Christmas traditions are fun for the most part. I say for the most part because the Thorn family had one of the worst traditions when I was a kid. Every Christmas Eve, we had to eat oyster stew, which is perhaps the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted. Bleh! On to happier topics...

Since this is Jack's first Christmas, this is when all the Seaton family traditions will be established. John and I have one tradition that we started when we got married that we will continue. We take the cut off part of the trunk from the Christmas tree and write what big events have happened in our lives that year. Then I display them in a basket as a reminder of all the blessings we've had throughout our marriage.

Now that we have a baby, we want to add a few more traditions. My sister, Kathy, started getting her kids an ornament each year many years ago. That will be a tradition that we steal. Each year when we put up the tree, Jack will get to open his ornament and add it to the tree. As for the tree, now that we live in what we hope is our forever house, we are going to buy a small live tree each year that we will plant after Christmas. Jack is going to get to open a present on Christmas Eve. The gift will always be a pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve as he waits for Santa's arrival. Another Christmas tradition we're going to have at our house is that Jack is always going to receive a Christmas themed book as a gift on Christmas Day that we can share as a family. Jack will definitely write a letter to Santa each year, and his elf on the shelf will be helping Santa make sure that Jack is a good little boy. Does anyone have any other traditions that you used with your kids or that you remember from when you were a child? I'd love to steal some good ideas!

Look Who's Ten Months Old!

Jack is ten months old today! We're cruising through this first year at an alarming rate. Mom wants to put the brakes on! Here are some quick notes about Jack now. There's no time for big long narratives any longer. Jack is too busy!

• This month Jack moved from taking three naps a day to taking two naps. His bedtime is 7:30, and he generally sleeps through the night though we've had a few exceptions this month. He wakes up around 6:00, but I can usually get him to lay in bed with Mom and Dad until 7:00. He loves snuggle time.
• Jack still uses his Army crawl to get around, but this month he started pulling up on anything that stands still long enough for him to get a grip. He'll let go of one stationary object to reach for another, but will not take any steps in between until he's got ahold of the next object. He's "cruising", which means that while he's holding on to something, he'll move all around it. All this movement has caused Jack to slim down. Pants that fit him a month ago are loose at the waist now. He's still wearing mostly 6-12 month clothing, but he's about ready for the 12-18 month stuff. 
• Jack loves to play. His favorite toy this month is probably his Fisher Price stacking cars. It's so cute because whenever he picks one up, he makes a car noise similar to Mom's. When toys are stacked, Jack tries to carefully remove the top toy instead of making them all tumble. 
• One of Jack's favorite things is to be read to. Jack's favorite books are That's Not My Penguin by Fiona Watt (We LOVE this series!) and Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora. 
• We have a verbal baby on our hands. We think he says "hi" when he waves. He babbles all day long, and when I sing so does he. 
• Jack loves our dogs and is extremely interested in Grandma and Grandpa's cat, but he is afraid of unfamiliar dogs. 
• There's still no evidence that Jack will struggle with stranger anxiety this coming month, but he does keep one eye on what Mom is doing at all times. Sometimes he chooses to cry when I leave the room, but most of the time he just continues to play. 
• Our little man HATES having his diaper changed or getting dressed, but it's all worth it if bathtime is to follow. 
• We're working on finger foods, but I think most of the work is on Mom's ended. Finger foods sort of stump me. What can he handle? What's easy? Is that too slippery? Too big? I've had lots of anxiety about finger foods. 
• All in all, we have a happy baby on our hands who is growing up all too fast. 

Mommy's Rambling

Our little man is growing up. It's amazing how it seems to happen overnight. He's pulling up on everything, moving around the house at breakneck speed, letting go of one piece of furniture to move to another, and yesterday he climbed his grandparents' stairs like he'd been doing it forever. All the while, he's jabbering away as if I understand his every word. When asked how big he is, he only raises one hand instead of the customary two, so John and I have decided that Jack believes he is only kind of big. A fake cough is still Jack's way of getting attention. It cracks me up. He has also developed a fake smile that he uses when the camera comes out, so I'm beginning to favor the photos in which he is not smiling.

Jack still shows no sign of stranger anxiety. I love watching people's reactions to a smiling baby. I took Jack in to get a flu shot last week. There was a sulky teenager sitting across the waiting room. In no time at all, Jack had her playing peekaboo and laughing. It was absolutely heart warming. In Dillards not too long ago, an aging salesman came toddling out of the shoe department to chat it up with Jack. My favorite story happened while I was in the grocery store earlier this week. There was a young man, probably 22 or so, who we met in every aisle. The first couple of aisles, he pretty much ignored Jack even though Jack was grinning and squealing every time he saw the stranger. By the third aisle, the guy was chatting with Jack, and throughout the rest of our shopping he waved and laughed every time he saw our smiley guy. Everyone seems to love a happy baby, but most certainly this mommy loves her baby.

Jack's Work

Fall's Bounty

Leaves. Jack played in them while John and I blew them into the hugest leaf pile you've ever seen. We blew leaves for FIVE HOURS today and still have at least that much more to do before our big house warming party on Saturday. The work is worth it to be able to gather our friends and family to celebrate our move.

Mommy's New Toy

Letting the dogs out is not as easy as just opening the back door like it was at the old house. We don't have a fence and really have no intention of ever getting a fence, so they have to be watched. Luckily, it's like being on a hike every time you step outdoors here, so this chore isn't really a chore! Up until today, I carried Jack on my chest in his Baby Bjorn, but the 23 pound stinker has gotten so heavy that I was going to bed with a backache. So, I bought a baby carrier on Ebay that is definitely my new favorite toy.

A rare mommy shot... and yes, that is our new house in the background.

And, if this face is any indication, I think Jack likes this new toy too! Look at that dimple. I don't capture that in very many of the photographs I take. Score!

Turkey Days

Turkey days are coming. The Thanksgiving turkey day as well as the hunting turkey day are both just around the corner. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. When I was younger, I loved the holiday because my family came together for two of my favorite things: turkey and stuffing. It's become so much more important as I've grown older to actually take time to reflect on how thankful I am for all I have and who I am. This year I am ever so thankful for the health and happiness of this little man.

I am also fortunate that I have this man in my life (the taller one).

I knew that John would make an awesome father one day when I married him, but he has exceeded my every expectation. I find myself taking him for granted too often as married people often do, but on this Thanksgiving I will be counting my blessings that I am married to you, John.

Alright, alright... on to the other turkey day I mentioned. This year John will be participating in his first ever turkey hunt. John and his dad have bought licenses as well as a blind and hope to shoot three turkeys each for us to enjoy this winter. But the bigger blessing in all of this is seeing John and his dad enjoy time together. It is my hope that one day Jack will enjoy keeping his father's company as much as John enjoys keeping his father's.

I would be remiss if I did not thank Gigi Merc for making Jack another special shirt. The turkey one in the first picture is definitely one of my favorites in Jack's closet right now. Thanks, Merc!

I know that each of you who reads my blog is special to me, and on this upcoming turkey day, I will be counting you as one of the blessings in my life.

Peekaboo... I See Jack Reading!

We Take Eating Cheerios Seriously Around Here

Standing Tall

I've been worried because everything I've read indicates that Jack should have been able to pull himself up to a standing position about a month ago. On Wednesday, Erin suggested that I take off Jack's shoes and lo and behold, that very same day I walked into the kitchen and came back to this! Now why didn't I think of that?

Wordless Wednesday

Helping Mom in the Kitchen

Jack has become quite the helper in the kitchen. He has figured out how drawers work and thinks they are pretty magical. He has yet to pinch his fingers, but I know it is coming. Putting child safety locks on the cabinets and drawers is on John's To Do List.

This evening I stripped Jack down to his diaper because I am trying to help him learn how to stand up by pulling himself up on the furniture and his sweatpants make him slip. The little booger took off across the living room, crawling on his knees! It surprised me because he has been doing the Army crawl for so long that I never expected him to do the traditional crawl. I guess that is a disadvantage of trying to learn how to crawl in sweatpants weather versus shorts weather. We'll have to crank up the heat periodically and let Jack explore. Jack and I have to finish cooking dinner. We'll see you next time.

Jack of Sweden

Aunt Kathy and Megan sent Jack this sweet little hat from Minnesota. They got it at a Swedish store along with a pair of mittens with a string that keeps them together that were exactly what I've been looking for. I don't think there is a Swedish bone in Jack's body, but we're all about pretend play around here! Thanks, Aunt Kathy and Megan!

Look Who's Nine Months Old

Jack is nine months old today. Again I ask, where has the time gone? Jack has changed so much in so little time. This month he learned how to pull up although he tends to get stuck on his knees. His daddy taught him how to wave hello and goodbye. Jack believes it's a pretty universal gesture and uses it anytime he wants some attention.

Jack is eating lots of finger foods although he would be happiest if he could live off Cheerios and cheese. I continue to make his pureed baby foods. Lately he's had blueberries, corn, chicken, peas, applesauce, nectarines, bananas, pears, and green beans. In the freezer ready to be prepared are beef, cauliflower, broccoli, and tofu. There's a website that provides lots of information about what to feed a baby and when called wholesomebabyfoods.com, but even with it's guidance I find myself wondering if I am doing a good enough job of introducing new tastes to Jack's palate. I am hopeful that if I am persistent now, I will have a child who will eat well later.

At Jack's 9 month check-up today, he weighed 21 lbs, 14 oz which keeps him in the 75th percentile for weight. He was 27.5 inches long which puts him in the 50th percentile for height. He's growing and healthy, which is all I ask for.

I'll take a cue from my man Jack and tell you good-bye for now.

The Day My Stuffed Animal Went CRAZY by Jack Seaton

I was just playing in my room, minding my own business...

when one of my stuffed animals came over to play.

Little did I know, that guy was crazy. He started attacking me!

I looked at Mom to see if she could help,

but she was fighting with this black monster that flashed in my eyes. I realized I was going to have to take care of this beast myself. So I did what every kid would do. I bit him!

Then I clawed out his eyes.

He was no match for Super Jack! I taught him a lesson he'll never forget.

Aren't you proud?