DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!!!

Jack has graduated from ba-ba-ba-ba. Yesterday, he figured out da-da-da-da, which I think is a bunch of garbage because 1) I have been pushing ma-ma-ma FOREVER to no avail and 2) Paul didn't even notice! Jack started doing da-da yesterday morning. Paul didn't hear it the first three times because he was too busy watching football. Then, when he did hear it, he didn't think he was saying da but instead ga. I told him he didn't even deserve it!

As soon as Jack figured out that he made a new sound, that was it. It was DA-DA-DA-DA the rest of the day at various levels of loud! It's adorable and he's pretty proud of himself. Can't wait for MA-MA!!!

Jack's First Bears' Game

First Bears' game

Smiling, even though he's sick!

Daddy's new football buddy

Jack loves football!

Daddy shows Jack an example of an I-formation.

Labor Day

Getting ready to go to Aunt Fran and Uncle Vince's

Dancing with cousin Sierra

I LOVE dancing with cousin Sierra!

Grandma, Jack and Sierra

Jack's first Labor Day was exhausting!

Teeth (and other stuff that's LOTS more fun!!)

Jack in his new Adidas jumpsuit

Future Number One Draft Pick

Jack's first Fremd football game with Chase Hinojosa

Teething is a pain. And if it's a pain for me, you know it's bad for Jack. He cut his first tooth on August 28th and it seems that the one right next to it is trying to rear it's pearly white head. And it's causing my boy to be pretty bummed. He's such a good boy about it and he really doesn't cry about it (though he did have a good cry for about five minutes on Wednesday night) but he just doesn't act himself. He has kind of spoiled us by being such a happy, active boy so it is really noticable when he doesn't smile and his eyes don't light up. And it's hard when you only see him for four hours a day and he is not himself. The last two days have been better and hopefully, they will continue to be so.

He also attended his first Fremd football game. They had a staff appreciation night where there is a staff BBQ and everyone brings their families. Jack enjoyed seeing all of the commotion and playing with the kids. He especially enjoyed seeing Josh Clement, who he had met at a previous playdate. He was so excited to see a baby his own age and he greeted Josh by slapping him in the face. We are going to have to work on his friend making techniques. He liked getting into everything and playing with everything he could get his hands on, including Mommy's Pepsi, Mommy's chips, Mommy's cheeseburger and Mommy's cookies. Needless to say, I had a very quick dinner that I barely had time to taste! We are really going to be in trouble when he gets mobile.

Speaking of getting mobile, he keeps on trying but has little success. He does get a big better each day but we took a couple of steps back the three days this week that he was really feeling his teeth. He seemed to have a much lower tolerance for frustration and we didn't push it! His legs are very strong and mostly, he prefers to walk holding on to your hands. When trying to crawl, he can push his butt into the air and he can push his upper body up with his arms. He just hasn't figured out how to do it together! I am thinking it is because his arms aren't strong enough to lift his big upper body. We'll see. It's just fun to see him try new things and experience the world around him. And maybe I shouldn't be so excited for the mobility part, given his desire to explore and touch everything!! Good thing we got the house babyproofed before the start of school!!

Mom don't want to work and Jack wants to bang on the drum all day

Jack enjoys playing with Mommy's kitchen supplies. At least someone is getting use out of them!

Back to School

So, yesterday we went back to school. It was almost harder than leaving Jack at home in April. Probably because I now have the entire school year in front of me rather than just two months. It's also difficult now because, now that Jack has a regular schedule and goes to bed at 8 rather than 10 or so, we only get four hours with him rather than the usual twelve. And that's on a day when we can get home at 4.

I also don't get to see him in the morning, which is my favorite part of the day. I love walking into his room, having him smile his first big grin of the day at me, and knowing that we have the whole day together. Now, Carmen gets to see that on a regular basis. However, the past two days that I have been at school, it is almost like he knows it. Yesterday, I left around 7 because we had a later start due to Institute Day. He happened to wake up just before I left just so he could say goodbye. This morning, he uncharacteristically woke up at 5:30 crying. After letting him try to cry it out for awhile, I finally picked him up around 6:15. As soon as I picked him up, he stopped crying and just snuggled in. Though I wanted him to get good sleep, I felt so happy to get the chance to hold him and hug him goodbye for the day.

When we have gotten home the past two days, he has greeted us with a lot of excitement and big grins. Today, he was so happy to see us and, though he was super tired from his rather awkward sleeping day, he fought sleep for hours because he wanted to play with us. I put him down for a nap but he cried until I picked him up. He just wanted to be with us. Eventually, he fell asleep in my arms but I didn't put him down after that. I just wanted to hold him and snuggle.

Afterwards, we played on the bed (one of his favorite thing to do because he is not afraid to flop around and fall over) and laughed and snuggled. It is amazing how much he learns and explores each day. I think he will walk before he crawls-he is so good at taking steps and hasn't quite figured the mechanics of crawling yet! He is close to pulling himself up to standing and can stand, holding on to you for a little while. He also is searching for hugs more, which I, of course, never mind!

I find that now I hate bedtime more than I did when I was a little kid myself. I dread the 7 o'clock hour, when I know that I have only an hour left. I keep hoping, like when I was a kid, that the story we are reading will last just a bit longer. And I get a little choked up each night when I give him the last (of many) goodnight kisses and set him down in his crib.

Jack has really helped me put things into perspective. I have been much more relaxed about the start of school than usual with regards to the work part. I have promised myself (and Jack)that from the time I get home to the time Jack goes to bed is the time that is reserved just for us. No grading, no planning. There will always be another day to plan but I cannot get back the minutes I lose with my boy. And I know that no matter how much time I have with him, it will never be enough. But I have promised that those four hours will be the best hours of both of our days.

There are many things that are important to me in my life but nothing in this world is as important as Jack. I never understood it before I became a mom-how powerful this experience and love could be. He is simply the light of my life. I can't believe he is mine and I can't believe how lucky I am to have this wonderful, perfect, sweet boy in my life. I don't know what I did to deserve him but I know that I have been given this most extraordinary gift--I get to be his Mommy. And I cannot screw it up. And I promise to never take this gift for granted.

Barnyard Zoo

The African goose was nice enough to get close and put on a show, which delighted Jack.

My boys

Hello, Goat!

Jack loved the swings at the playground.

Jack thought his day at the park and zoo was great!

On Saturday, Paul and I took Jack to the Randall Farms Barnyard Zoo just 5 minutes from our house. What a hidden little gem! Paul discovered it when he took a peek at the nearby golf course and suggested we try it. It was fun for all! Just $5 (Jack got in free) got us in to see horses, llamas, ducks, geese, reptiles, goats, sheep, cows, donkeys, pigs, etc. Jack, like on his trip to Brookfield Zoo, really only liked the things that he could see (i.e. the things that moved) That made the reptiles (which made me happy) and the pig rather uninteresting.

He especially liked the geese and ducks and also enjoyed the donkeys and goats, who came right up to you so you could feed them. We didn't do that this time, as I don't think Jack is ready to feed them but soon! After checking out the zoo, we went to the attached park/playground. We watched the pony rides and put that on the list of things to do when he is older. Jack loved the playground. We put him in his harness and went on the teeter totter with him, which he found to be great fun. We also put him in the baby swing and he couldn't stop laughing. We had to stop for fear he would throw up! It was great to find such a nice place so close to home. I love taking Jack new places and love watching him learn and experience new things. It's fun to see his new world through his eyes.