I've moved... to my sister's blog

Mama thought it would be easier to keep up with everyone (and everything else) in one family blog. Please continue reading my Moose adventures but over at Footsteps with Grace at belzerblessings.blogspot.com.

Grace's BIrthday Party for Jack

I know its not quite Jack's birthday yet, but we have medical commitments that day. So this morning, Grace had planned a birthday party for Jack since we opted to cancel his. It just wasn't logistically working out for my brother, the grandparents and Daniel and I. But this morning was cute. Grace wrapped his two gifts that she had picked out to give him, they played, had birthday bananas and french toast, played and now while Jack is napping, she is making birthday cards. Her cards have boy bugs on them with slime puddles. (So, yea.. Papa, apparently the circles around the bugs are slime puddles and "boy" bugs are ear wigs, roaches, and spiders. She wants to make mac and cheese and have noodle salad for the lunch party. Grace spent all afternoon yesterday icing cupcakes and helping me make Ramen Noodle Salad. Then Grace wants to do the party activities we had originally planned to do after lunch.

On his actual birthday we are going to attempt to make a visit to the VA Aquarium after our errands at the Navy Base, and then we have a big lacrosse weekend to follow it up.

Almost A Year!!!

Well, we know we can communicate with Jack. But not sure anyone else can. He likes to call Grace -- Booga (after a game they play in the mornings that Grace has called Booga Booga). He is picking up on the word "up" and the signs for please and no. He no longer says duck. He is starting to let go of things and he will take one or two steps before sitting down and then crawling. Jack has also mastered the stairs at his grandparents' house and now has 9 teeth.

We took the kids to the zoo and Grace saw a chipmunk and says "Awwww, that's so cute!" Jack pounded away on his stroller and said "CKKKKKKKKKK!!!!" which we interrupt to mean "smash".

Next week Jack will turn a year. We are keeping his birthday quiet and calm with just the four of us. Grace and I are going to make some cup cakes and I am going to take the kids to the Aquarium in Norfolk while Daniel is taking care of some business at the Navy base.

When all else fails-- Grace says check the toes

So Jack was in rare form for most of the day. He was just a Mr. Grouchy Gus. This evening, I just gave up after 8 hours and I knew all his immediate needs had been meet and stuck him in his crib to cope by myself. Grace says "Mama, maybe you should see if he as toe jam. Toe jam could make you mad."

Birthday Letter

Dear Jack,

Congratulations on the first of one of our favorite family traditions-- the birthday letter! Our first year with you has been particularly joyful and blessed. You have added so much to our family and have rounded us in great ways. My favorite time with you is in the early morning, when my heart pounds to see you joyfully greet me at your crib. I have so many wonderful memories of the past year! There are four things we want to impart to you.

1. God designed the family to be our stabilizing unit in our culture in which to build vital relationships. Your family is where you are going to learn how to be you and what it means to be you, where you will learn how to live in peace with others, where you will learn how to give and receive love, and how to care for others. Galatians 6:7 says we reap what we sow. This is especially true of family relationships. It is also why I have found a deep fulfillment and satisfaction in exercising my gifts and strengths to bless our family and friends from the strength of our home.

2. We are instructed to set our hearts on choices with eternal results. (Matthew 6:21) You will become a treasure in heaven if you indeed learn to love and serve God with your whole heart. I love and serve God each day through you and remembering to have integrity and patience in the small moments of our day and by serving our family as I serve our Heavenly Father.

I appreciate the beauty and wisdom of my God-given assignment of being your mother. Experience has taught me to treasure each moment because I know you will not stay young forever. I am blessed and thankful for my free spirited son who generally thinks outside the box.

3. In regards to you and your sister, please keep the following in mind. My heart is undivided when it comes to you both. With the privilege of having children, comes the responsibility to care for them. I promise you a whole- hearted motherhood. I have made a personal commitment to you both to be there for each of you regardless if I am at home or back in the classroom. You will also learn the next five things are important when learning to live with a sibling.
1. Fair is not equal.
2. You will always have the right to disagree with your Papa and I respectfully, but we will not change our positions.
3. Any feelings you experience are ok, but you may not overindulge them.
4. You don't always have to love your sister, but your Papa and I will both require that you learn to cooperate.
5. We will not to pigeon hole you according to your place in our family.

4. Now, in regards to your father, there is one thing and one thing only that you need to ALWAYS remember. He has been set by the grace of God to be the head of our household and we MUST always honor that position.

God as been more than merciful and loving to give me this entire first year with you. I have enjoyed every moment we have shared. I have seen it as a truly unique blessing and gift. I admire, cherish and enjoy you and how you are growing into a wonderful and curious pre-toddler.

With endless love,
Your Mama.

WOW!!!

Last night Daniel and I observed Jack saying "wow" over and over as he played with his toys. Well, this morning, he has continued to say "wow" when he does things like stand and walk along the furniture and pick up Daniel's lacrosse stick. Jack really likes the word WOW.

On another note, we rearranged the apartment and put a ton of things away. We pushed one of the couches over to the TV to close up the hole he liked to hide in that was between the couch and the TV. We moved the toys into a toy box and put it on the far side of the room so its no longer under the TV, and now Jack leaves the TV and the wires alone. We have also started keeping all the doors closed. Our place may look super plain now, but at least I have cut back on the number of times I have to nag Jack to leave things alone.

At 11 months, he has the cup thing down, but still prefers the bottle. He has also started to take his diapers off when they are wet or dirty. He enjoyed nesting boxes, waving, rolling balls, tearing paper and looking at texture books. Jack has also started to do little scribbles and will attempt to sing songs along with Grace, but she doesn't like the duet.

Confirmation of New Words

I can confidently confirm that Jack has four new words and uses them appropriately. He now says Duck (for his blue rubber duck), Apple (which he hasn't stop saying since our picnic lunch where he had apples), Baby (which refers to his new stuffed orange horse) and Apa.

24 Hours after New Ears

Life is great. It was great before, but its more relaxed now. The surgery went well, the allergic reaction (to the knock out drugs) rash is all but gone. We all had our first restful sleep for the first time since December. A well rested family is wonderful! Jack is back to his chill self and is hearing new sounds and trying to make some new ones. He has his balance back too (he was upset he was having a hard time standing up yesterday). Jack doesn't mind the ear drops we have to do. (Currently Jack and Grace are wrestling and climbing all over each other). We are totally enjoying our Wednesday resting and hanging out with Jack as he continues to recover. Thanks for all the support and prayers.

They grow up fast!

So this weekend, Jack started climbing up the stairs like a champ. He was so proud of himself, he was like "this is a piece of cake". He has also taken to saying "My Papa, mama ba". I think ba means bad... he only says it when I try to hug Daniel... apparently Jack believes has claim to Daniel and I need to sneak my hugs in when Moose isn't looking. We should have a welcome back party for his ear goo. This time its got crusty chunks... Sorry, I know. Its nasty. He also went from having 4 teeth to being a proud owner of 7. Who gets three teeth in one day?! Who does that?! He could have watered the whole Death Valley today. But in the end I was very fortunate that Daniel came home right before my patience and love decided to check out for a break and recharge. It was a very trying day, and I gave Jack all I had since I know what he is going through SUCKS since it SUCKS for us. (He is lucky I perfected my patience in my early teaching years.... I may not have lasted until dinner time...I may have just called it a day before lunch.) Here is to new days and the gift that God gives you everything you need.

Tubes and Adenoids

Jack is having tubes put in and his adenoids removed on June 23rd instead of in September. I have some mommy guilt only because I had no clue that his ears were THAT bad to move the surgery up by three months. The tests showed some ear damage and significant hearing loss. So eventually he will need speech therapy. I had no idea he was in such pain, I mean.. yea, he hasn't slept in weeks, but he doesn't make his dinosaur screams like he did with his legs 6 months ago. Jack has a really high tolerance for pain. (He growls a little bit when getting his shots, but doesn't cry.) In any case, here is to less ear infections, lots of ice cream, and a full night's sleep in two weeks!

Moose at 10 Months

Jack is still having fun destroyer things. He currently found ways to take the cabinet locks off and use them as a teething tool. In one week he got four teeth, and he continues to get more. Last night he was up every 20 minutes because of teething. He has decided that baby food isn't good enough and he must have our food. I have about 15 jars of baby food if anyone wants them. He is transitioning to a sippy cup and learning how to use a spoon. Jack is also a little chatterbox, and we are certain we will get some new words soon. He LOVES alligators. We took him to an alligator farm in Myrtle Beach, and he could have just spent the entire day there watching them. Jack is also starting to learn to walk. He spends a lot of time tottering, but once he gets past that first step he is usually good to go with his push toy. Jack is also going through a little separation anxiety but only when it comes to Daniel. Papa and Jack are like kindred spirits.

Five new "words"

Jack started using Mama exclusively on Monday just for me. He has also picked up calling Daniel Papa (three days later). We also say baba for bottle, nananana is a song (so we think), and bop-bop when he hits things together. He still signs for more and eat.

9 Months

So Jack is talking. He can say hi, and mmbabapa or mmbabapoop (which seems to mean my bottle please) and sometimes he says dada. He uses mama for me and Grace. All animals are CAAAAA. He is a sturdy 22 pounds and officially only wore his 9 month clothes for about a week. He runs in his walker, and he is pulling himself up on just about anything. Besides the raspberry game he plays with Grace, he also finds some satisfaction from destroying and smashing things. He practices his manly greetings with chest pounds. Jack is starting to get the hang of the cup, waving good bye and picking up on sign language. He still has the green ear goo from four weeks ago, but doesn't let it bother him. But most of all, Jack is emotionally dependent on Papa. It is absolutely wonderful to see him and Papa play together.

Time for baby gates

So I was blogging, and when I was done... I lost Jack. Yes. I lost him in our own house. I finally found him by the stairs. So, its time for baby gates. And we only have 9 more days in the house before we move... if only he could have waited.

All in one week

This week has been a big week for Jack. He has welcomed three teeth, two more are in process. Jack has also become more motivated to crawl. Now in addition to crawling for Grace's snacks, his ball, and sometimes his Eric Carle Caterpillar, he now moves toward clean piles of laundry and boxes. His favorite sound has become the /k/ sound. He will make it for hours, but its more for when Daniel is around and when he sees the cat. The week also ended with Jack experiencing his second ear infection.

6 Months, 4 Weeks.

Jack is a situational crawler. He only crawls for things like the remote, Grace's food and his plush multi-colored ball. He does have a new past time-- spitting. Spitting bubbles. He will do it at anyone at any time. Especially during church and public speeches. This week, he likes to say "uhhh" and and something that sounds like "yay". Daniel and I have also noticed that one of his legs seems to be progressing in the right direction, but we will get confirmation on that next week!

Happy Valentine's Day Mama

I AM CRAWLING!!! For Valentine's Day, Jack finally decided to start crawling. It's official. He gets his hips up, his legs under him- and there is nothing he can't get to...

Clapping

Now that Jack is clapping, he won't stop! He finally got it this morning when Grace and I were playing with vowel sounds. He claps when Grace enters the room, when he hears music, and when he is proud of himself.

Mr. Tower of Babble Himself

6 Month Update on Moose

Jack is truly turning into a MOOSE. At 6 months he is 17 and a half pounds, and as the doctor says this is great news-- he is in the 50% for his weight and height, my experience is with the 5%. I am used to snackers. He is a tank when it comes to food. Jack eats about 32-40 oz of formula a day, a cup of rice cereal and three or four jars of baby food plus his baby food snacks. He is constantly calling Papa- da da da. He makes MOOSE calls at Grace, and saves the alligator tears for lucky me. He is beginning to bring his legs under him, so he will be officially crawling here soon, but will get anything he wants that is within creeping distance. He LOVES his jumper, and has about 6 toys that he will play with. He could still care less of what is on TV unless it is Curious George or Football. He hates his diapers and would rather be naked since he has discovered what makes him a boy. His legs haven't improved or worsened. His hip joint has some inflammation which the doctors are keeping an eye on. And last night was his first night that he slept the WHOLE night in his crib. When he got up at 5, I brought him back to bed with us as a reward. Unlike Grace who was a great sound sleeper, Jack would wake up every time Daniel or I tossed and turned. Jack also is an active sleeper, so in order to save our spines and our mattress (from spilled baby milk) we had to curb the co-sleeping. As long as Jack isn't tugging on Grace's hair, the two of them seem to get along great. We continue to be blessed by our children.

Jack's first Super Bowl

Well, I did have some pics to post, but they aren't posting right now. However, Jack enjoyed his first super bowl. In the words of his Papa "Football has his name written all over it..."

Jack's First Fingerpainting

Grace was a little younger, but Jack did his first finger painting experience yesterday. He did really well-- didn't eat the paint at all. Just enjoyed pounding it on the paper with his hands. Here is the result.

What a difference a week makes

Jack has amazed us. At the end of next week he will be six months. He has really come into his own this week. I think his jumper gives him a new confidence with his legs. He is kicking more, LOVES to jump, and moves backwards when on the floor. Unlike Grace, who snacked and still does... Jack EATS. This is hard for me to adjust too-- because I feel like I am OVER feeding him. Jack eats two of those gerber baby food jars a day, 4 oz of juice, and 32 oz of formula. Like I said-- the dude EATS. Also, Grace was active and always ready to play, and Jack is pretty chill. His "play" mood is really in the afternoon or early evening and even then he will only entertain himself with a toy for a few minutes. Daniel has started recording football games to keep, since that seems to be the other thing that REALLY gets Jack going besides his jumper. Jack LOVES watching football. He has also started to pair the phonemes "DADA" with Daniel, so I think we will start exposing him to sign language. Wow... what a difference once week makes!