9 Months

Stats:
Height: 31" (off the charts)
Weight: 20lbs 12oz (50%)
Head: 46.2cm (75%)

Is he really 9 months already?!?!  We had our 9 month checkup, it went well.  At one point the Dr. started asking if Jack played patty-cake, or did sooooo big, or waved, etc.  We kept saying "no", "no, he doesn't do that", finally I pointed out that "In his defense, those aren't really things we do WITH him..."  At which point Craig jumped in and told her that "It might sound dumb, but I really feel like he knows his name."  She looked at us and said "He should... You guys should play some of these games with him, it will be fun for him."

Ugh, so now I feel like a sub-par parent.  She made it clear she didn't think Jack was lagging developmentally, just his parents.  So now we are in over-drive.  I feel like we are trying to play catch-up with his "tricks" and teach him new ones, so that he can "perform" at his 1 year appointment.  I don't want to disappoint.

Shockingly, pictures are getting increasingly more difficult, as in someone doesn't want to cooperate.  He's going to be a handful, I can tell already...

Ho Ho Ho

We went early and got our picture taken with Santa, before he was tired of screaming kids, and before there was an insane line to pay an insane amount to sit on a stranger's lap (who is possibly insane).  I can't get over how big/old Jack looks in the picture.

Thanksgiving

We went back to Florida for Thanksgiving this year.  Each year the house gets a little smaller, or maybe we just keep adding occupants.  Last year I was about 5 months pregnant with Jack, this year there were 2 little ones "running" around... so Mads was running around, Jack was just sitting around.  The plane ride down was uneventful, the plane wasn't full, and we had a seat between us.

Jack had a drink:

Or two....

We went to breakfast on our last day there, Craig had the omelet special.  It had escargot in it.  He ordered it, not one of us batted and eye.  After he was pretty much done, I finally said something along the lines of how I couldn't believe he ordered a snail omelet.  He gave me a look like I was crazy, and I finally asked him if he knew what "escargot" was, he said he thought it was a sauce.  It was hysterical.

We went to the beach on that last day as well, Jack loves the sand and water.

A Christmas Photoshoot

We attempted to get some "Christmas Card" worthy pictures, Jack wasn't interested.  Here are a few share able pictures from the attempt though.

Eating Cheerios

Just enjoying some Cheerios

8 Months

Stats:
Height: 30.5"
Weight: 20lbs 9oz

A New Toy

I've heard that kids like playing with the boxes more then they toys that came in them, but I can honestly say I didn't expect the current favorite toy to be something we'd have in Jack's toy box.  When visiting Great Grandma Gesie Jack liked playing with her oxygen tubing.  She gave Jack his own tube, and he pulls it out all the time to play with.

Just Like Dad

Other than the fact their farts smell the same (yep, I know), and Jack has started doing this nose scrunch thing, that I finally figured out is the same face Craig makes when he comes home and is all excited to see Jack, and that they both give me this look... even though he can't talk, Jack looks at me the same way when I do something dumb that Craig looks at me when I say something dumb.  Oh, and the fact they both think that someone is going to steal their manhood and need to constantly verify its still there...  They have matching outfits.

Jack is ready for a future with Ryan Lawn and Tree.

Happy Halloween

From the cutest little lion of them all!

Halloween Part III

Ok, here are pictures from the REAL Halloween.  We only went to a few houses in the neighborhood.  Jack got some candy for mom and dad to eat, which the dogs ended up eating.

Jack all ready to go trick or treating

Jack's last stop, he was over this whole trick or treating business

Halloween Part II

Another chance to dress Jack up, and take pictures of him with pumpkins.

He wasn't interested in that pumpkin to his left being there.

Halloween Part I

While we were in Iowa, Jack went trick or treating to a few houses.  Mainly, for me to show him off and get as much use out of the costume as possible.  He's pretty compliant yet, so he didn't complain too much about the costume.

Great Grandma and Grandpa Holly

Hey!  What are these things on my feet?

Great Grandma Gesie

Great Aunt Tina

More Pumpkin Carving

We carved pumpkins with Aunt Niki and Geoff when we were back in Iowa.

Jack was pretty excited to get started

A little taste test

MOM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

Hmm, nice texture

Finished products

(L-R: Niki's Pumpkin, Jack's, Geoff's, Jessie's)

Geoff and his pumpkin

An impartial judge declared my pumpkin the winner!

99 Bottles of Beer

We are back in Iowa again.  This time for Great Grandpa and Great Grandma's 60th wedding anniversary.  On the trip back Jack woke up with about 2 hours left in the car ride.  I've recently discovered that singing "The Wheels on the Bus" does a lot to calm the hysterical crying when he's over riding in the car seat.  It has to be Wheels, Mary had a Little Lamb, Old McDonald's Farm, every other song I know doesn't do it for him.  Needless to say, my version of Wheels on the Bus has a few extra special verses.  All of Old McDonald's animals also ride this bus.

We'd exhausted Wheels, and at a loss for anything else to sing and in search of a song that would kill some serious time, I started singing 99 Bottles of Beer, mother of the year award here.  It was enough to put him to sleep.

Bath time at Grandpa and Grandma's

Chillin with mommy after a bath

Reading a book with Grandma before bed