A Boy and His Dog

Jack and his Monnie are inseparable.

Jack Talks Colors

Jack's favorite color name to say is yellow, hands down. This video is two months old at this point, but he still says everything is "yeeeewoah!". Still makes us laugh!

Jack - 20.5 months

What you're saying these days -
You've added just a couple of two word phrases to your repertoire, including "My turn", "Tank oo" and sometimes "Blue dog" (instead of just Bluuuuu).  You repeat a lot of what we say now as new words.  Everything is "yewwoh" if we ask you what color it is, but you will repeat red, green, blue, and purple after we've said it.  My favorite new words are: Melmo (Elmo), Hey!, K (okay), Pweeease, Uh-oh.  You constantly call for "Monnie" to come see you and are always asking about her.      

  

Favorite activities -
Drawing with a pen or crayon, watching 'Ma, 'Ma!  (Thomas) just to hear the sing-along songs, standing on the kitchen chairs and getting things off of the table, blowing bubbles on the deck, playing in your water table, going to the neighborhood pool "Wa-wa?", opening and closing the garage door for us.

Favorite books -
The Little Engine That Could
My Truck is Stuck
The Davey books
McDuff books

Weight - ~29 pounds
Height - ~34 inches

Clothing - size 2T in most things, but some 18-24m Gymboree stuff still fits.  You've moved up to size 6 diaper and wear a size 8 shoe.

Teeth - 15.  The top cuspids are through and a second molar popped through on the upper right since the last update.  I noticed the points of the last two cuspids last night so I'm hoping those pop through soon since they have been about the worst.  You're still a pretty decent teether though, so by worst I mean really not that bad. 

Movement -
You can jump with both feet off the ground now and like to say "Jump!" while you do it.  Last night we were headed up the stairs, and I was surprised to see you taking the steps without holding on to the railing.  You thought that was pretty hot stuff!  You didn't quite make it up the stairs doing that, but I was impressed nonetheless.  You are strong!  You've also recently started to enjoy throwing balls 

Big kid stuff -
We've been doing puzzles lately and you can now complete both your wooden M&D puzzles.   You're a great helper and can follow a lot of simple requests.  You put your shoes away after we get into the house (if we ask and lead you to the basket), and last night you unpacked your clothes out of my suitcase.  You would run an item into your bedroom, I would tell you if it was dirty or tell you which drawer it belonged in, and you would put it where it belonged.  I thought that was a pretty great new game and hope we can do that a little more often!   

Jack and His Construction Puzzle

This is just a little reminder of Jack's mad puzzling skillz around 19 months. It's long and probably only interesting to us and grandparents (and maybe Ashley who bought him this puzzle), so you've been warned.  

18 Months

Happy belated half birthday, Jack!  We had a special day last Friday for your "birthday", just you and Mom.  We went to the mall (your favorite - ha!), bought some new Stride Rite shoes for you since I grossly mis-measured and ordered the wrong size online (lesson learned), and had lunch at Panera where some sweet little girl gave you a flower cookie.  After your nap you went to the park, but that's pretty normal on nice days.

New stuff this month:

*Words: water, milk, truck (GUH), dog, boots, shoes, binky, book  

*Signs: monkey, hat, dog, and some signs that you're good at but we unfortunately don't know.  We need to remember to ask Ms. Krysta and Ms. Annie this week.

Official stats from our (new) pedi visit last week:
*Weight - 27 lbs, 1 oz (75%)

*Height - 33 inches (68%)

*Head Circumference - 19 1/2 inches (92%)

*Teeth - Still 12.  The top cuspids are getting ready to pop through soon.

*Clothing - 18-24 months, some 12-18m or even 2T depending on the item or brand.  Still size 5 diapers, same setting on your cloth dipes.    

Here are a few gems from your 18 month photo shoot.  You weren't really in the mood.  

WE LOVE YOU.  Even when you make faces like this.

17 Months

You're 17 months today, Baby Jack!  Very soon you'll be closer to two than one.  Weren't you just born?


New stuff this month:

*Words: birds, cheese, please, geese

*Signs: please, thank you, eat

*Naps: down to one, in the afternoons after lunch.  At home it's usually 2+ hours, and at school it's between 1-2 hours.

*Weight - 26+ pounds

*Height - 32 inches

*Teeth - 12.  The last first-year molar popped through a few days ago.

*Daycare crud - two (or one continuous) double ear infection that is hopefully completely gone now

*States visited - add Texas to the list with Indiana, Illinois, and Utah.  And Missouri, how could I forget Missouri!

(You do have more than one pair of pajamas, by the way.  We're getting a lot of mileage out of those Christmas jammies.)

Jack Facts - 15/16 months

Happy 16 months, Jack!  

Weight - 25 lbs 14 oz - 64th percentile
Height -  31 3/4 in. - 60th percentile
Head Circumference - 19 in - 76th percentile

Teeth - 10!  Three teeth popped through during the month of January and two more are getting close.

Words and Sounds - Bath, basement, no, down, up, Blue Dog ("bluu"), banana, yeah, Hi, hot, more, milk.  Some of these are new in the last week or so.  Last night I got you out of the bath and started yelling for your dad to bring up the clean laundry because you were all out of jammies in your drawer.  I started yelling "Breeeennnt, Brent, help!" and you started yelling for Brent too.  Whoops, I meant..."Daaaaaaaaddy!  Help!"  I suppose it's officially time to watch what I say.

Eating - you still have a good appetite but have gotten a little pickier on us.  Things that you've sworn off for now are eggs and most meats.  You're eating a lot of Greek yogurt, beans, and peanut butter toast for protein.  Your affinity for macaroni and cheese, bananas, and broccoli has grown deeper.  It's pretty common, though, that the daycare report says "all" beside each food item we've packed - meaning you've slammed your hippo lunchbox full of food.  You are getting pretty good at feeding yourself with a fork and spoon - held in your left hand.      

New things you can do:
* roar like a lion
* put your finger to your mouth and say "shhh"
* make an elephant sound and move your arm like it's your trunk
* blow kisses
* blow on your food
* identify your nose, eyes, ears, hair, and feet

Things you like to do:
* sit on our heads if we're lying on the floor while playing in the basement
* grab the computer mouse and put it to your ear like you're talking on the phone
* pull Bonnie out of your chair...or just sit on her in a squatters rights stand-off
* throw things - doesn't have to necessarily be a ball - always with your left hand
* have dance parties in the basement
* give hugs
* rock and sing songs at night
* sign "more" for everything, all the time
* feed yourself with a fork or spoon
* draw with an ink pen - again, left-handed

Things you don't like to do:
* brush your teeth
* have your nose wiped
* get out of the bathtub
* watch us leave the room at school

What we think about you at 16 months: 
Other than that we think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, you mean?  Well, we think you're a busy, busy, wild man.  You're into everything and we both hit the mattress pretty exhausted at the end of each day.  You are so playful and good-natured.  Your smile comes easy and you're such a pleasant child.  We're so proud of how well you did during your transition to school and are proud to claim you as our precious baby.  Typing this out and thinking about you makes me smile.