Finally, a Chair for Jack

This chair is mine!

We were recently at a birthday party for a two year old who had a small wingback chair.  Jack spent lots of  time at the party getting in and out of the chair, so we knew we needed to get one.  After much thought and research, we got this one from Pottery Barn Kids yesterday.  He loves it!  As soon as we got home tonight, it was the first thing he went to.  Maybe he will start to sit down for a few minutes now....who am I kidding?

15 Month Photo Outtakes

As you can imagine, the monthly photo is getting more difficult to take each month.  Everything is more interesting than posing for the camera.  He likes to grab for the numbers, hug his bear, and try to get back down to the floor.  Here are some hilarious photos of the not-top choices:

15 Month Photo

So he had a sore, runny nose, but he is pretty cute anyway!  I love the tractor shirt and striped socks!  He has some great clothes for this Fall. 

14 Month Summary

At 14 months Jack started saying "Thank you."  I have also figured out that "Baba" that he says all the time is his version of "Mama."  I was taking a nap in our bedroom with the door closed a couple weekends ago, and he was banging on the door, saying "baba."  It clicked to me that he had been saying that all along for me!

Jack also likes to get in confined spaces like Duke's house and behind the chair in the living room.  So, I bought a little playhut with a tunnel that he hangs out in all the time now!  We took down baby jail finally!  We found we didn't need it anymore. 

Jack is also quite the walker now and almost a runner! He liked chasing John's remote control Corvette in the driveway one Saturday night.  It was a sight to see!

Jack has loved getting in his buddy Duke's house lately!  I have to keep the door closed so he won't get all covered in dog hair. 

Jack and Grandma were taking a walk when I got home from work a few weeks ago.  He didn't mind the grass this time!

Here is "Linus" Jack and Terry hanging out in the famous monthly photo chair.  He had such a nice visit with his grandparents September 17-18!

I can walk down the hall all by myself!

We love the shark towel Grandpa Steve and Grandma Norma got him for our Gatlinburg trip.

This is our new sleeping position, tush up in the air.  Notice the passy fell out of his mouth!  The pillow in the background is from when Jack was a little baby and had his Echo at St. Francis. 

Jack at Independence Park!

Labor Day weekend was the perfect time for a trip to Independence Park just south of us on Morgantown Road. Jack is finally big enough and a strong enough walker to have fun at the park! We didn't even have to bring the stroller because he's such a good walker now!


This park is perfect for Jack because there is a big kid playground and a baby playground. The baby playground has equipment that is very low to the ground, so it's easier to keep up with him. There were several other babies there that Jack had to check out. He's very into watching people now.



We got on the teeter totter with John on one side and Jack and me on the other side. He liked that too! We arrived at the park not long before bed time, so Jack didn't want to leave. He refused to walk to the car when it was time to go, so I had to carry him away! Jack's personality is really shining through now!

Jack also finally signed more for us on Labor Day.  We've been working on that for so long!

How gorgeous in front of the marigolds!

Check out Baby Jack! He looks just like his daddy in this picture!

Jack loved crawling through this caterpillar tunnel. It's the first time he has ever been big enough to play on all the equipment.

Jack is now two and a half feet tall!

Of course we had to swing on the baby swings! Jack loves the swings, and for awhile he had them all to himself.

The static covered hair on the slide is a classic! Jack was able to sit up the whole way down the slide. At first he wanted to lay down. Daddy loved catching him too!

Playing on the teeter totter!

What a perfect evening!

Jack at 13 Months

Life has gotten extremely busy since I went back to work at the beginning of August.  You can tell by the lack of posts from me during the last month.  Luckily, we have not been too busy to continue to take photos of our little bundle of joy!  I decided to give Jack a little bit of peanut butter last Sunday which proved to be a terrible idea.  He broke out on his face and chest, and his eyes were very red and itchy.  I gave him multiple doses of Benadryl as the day went on, and he was okay.

We found this great shirt at Gap Kids when we were in Gatlinburg this summer, and now Jack is big enough to wear it!  I love how it says, "This is How I Roll."

Jack is resisting eating plain bread now (one of the reasons I slathered it with peanut butter last week), so we tried some grape jelly yesterday morning.  It was a big hit!

Aunt Sara brought Jack this awesome backpack last weekend!  He wore it around like a big boy and looked so grown up.  When it was time to go, we packed all of his toys and other gifts inside. 

Here are Jack and Ashlyn playing with the iconic Cookie Monster toy that is over 30 years old!  The Cookie Monster party was inspired by that special toy.  The last time Ashlyn saw Jack he was just a little baby getting baptized.  Notice Jack got some new shoes!  He actually puts his feet out for us to put them on him.  They are really soft and easy for him to walk in!

I wish I could still spend my days at home with Jack.  It makes things especially hard when the beginning of the school year is so hectic and demanding.  I feel blessed to have the summers with him, and we make the most out of our evenings together!  What a wonderful little boy we have!

Walking Jack!

Jack is becoming quite the walker, compared to crawling at least!  He likes to stand up just from the ground and take a few steps.  In the past few weeks he has really improved on his walking.  He especially likes to walk between Mommy and Daddy in the evening.

Jack was back at Sharon's full time this week while I have been working so hard in my classroom.  I have spent at least 40 hours in my room this week going through hand me down materials along with all my own teaching resources!    

Mom and Terry were here Sunday, Monday and Tuesday to visit with us and help in the classroom.  Mom put lots of hours in with me and made such a difference.  We were moving furniture and sorting through numerous books.  I was uneasy about starting over at a new school, but the other teachers in the building have been great about welcoming me and answering any questions I have had.  Not to mention, we have had some wonderful lunches together too!

This is one of the most stressful times of the year, but family has made it all better!  I am not sure it gets any better than watching Jack stand on his own and walk to me.  I am excited for my school work to slow down a little bit so I can enjoy Jack even more! 

Meet the Teacher Night is Tuesday, so I want to make sure everything is ready for the parents and students to see.  For those of you who know me well, I will not rest until that room is perfect!!