Ten Months

Ten months, five teeth, three days without whining, one happy boy. You've temporarily let go of your momma's apron strings and are now becoming a bit more independent each day. Which means much less whining and trying to crawl up me and much more playing with the large green dinosaur now inhabiting the living room. Along with the "Learn n' Play" lawn mower. I'm not sure why Fisher Price thinks you need to learn to play with a large, blade-equipped piece of machinery, but whatever. You've got ten fingers and technically only really need two to eat with anyway.


I still get nothing but comments on how charming and sweet and smiley and pinchable you are whenever we go out. It's a little nauseating, really. One woman even stopped us the other day at the grocery store to say how much you were like a baby Paul Newman. Ummmm. Sure. I think she'd been spending a little too much time in the pharmaceutical aisle. Either way, you've become an attention hound, seeking out the limelight wherever we go. I'm convinced you have a future in entertainment or politics. Oh, please, let it be entertainment. I soooo want to meet the cast of Lost.


This being December, you've also had your first experience with Jolly Ol' Saint Nick. You've had this issue with men for a while where if they approach you too quickly in a new situation, you lose your ever-loving baby mind. Women, no problem. Men, be gone. I was very worried we'd be having a merry meltdown, but you were just very, very curious about this guy. What's with the ridiculously overgrown beard you neo-hippy freak, I could see you wondering. I'm proud of how inquisitive you were and how stable you remained. That's my boy. Stable.


Your new favorite activity this month has been standing. You like to do it anywhere and everywhere. Car seat? Check. Stroller? Check. Crib in the middle of the night? Check. You are so highly proud of yourself and like to smile and screech to announce to anyone within a ten-mile radius that you, the living younger twin to Paul Newman, are upright. With this new skill comes the requisite tipping over and banging your head on every household surface. Still Paul Newman's twin, but just with more tears and a poutier lip.


As we came upon your tenth month, your personality again changed and we got to see more of that brighter, smilier boy we knew was in there. You seemed to have lightened up a bit and learned to relax in the world. It now seems a little less intimidating and a lot more exciting to you. It's such a treat to watch you try out a new skill or just smile your toothy little grin when you've triumphantly pulled yourself up beside the couch to grab the remote. I love this time, Jack. I can't wait to explore more of the nooks and crannies of our lives and home together. You are a crazy, busy, squeezable ball of energy that vibrates the best of what life has to offer all of us. I just wish you didn't need to tell us how wonderful it all is to you as you dance in your crib at five in the morning.

Love,
Your Momma

Just Chilling with the World's Largest Teepee

Jack is on the road again. We left Calgary on Friday and you were an awesome little roadie. You slept for an hour and a half, ate a bottle and then only moaned for ten minutes before settling down for some serious thumb sucking and blue bear time. Before you knew it we were in the Hat where you ferociously attacked the unbaby-proofed house of Grandma Beresh. I think you love it here because there is shiny stuff everywhere. However, your greatest find is a maraca from some Caribbean destination that Grandma bought for $0.50. It tastes great and is as big as your head. Good times. little man.

Anway, you've been close to an angel here filling the house with sounds of laughter and constant cabinet door bashing. You're going to be choked when we get home to those large, inaccessible pot drawers. I can't figure out why you are in such a good mood here but at home you follow your mother around moaning at her. Is this part of a long-term plan to get her to buy you your first car? I strongly recommend changing your tactics as I don't think she'll buy you an air filter at the rate your going. Just back off her a bit and put a smile on your face while you wait for your morning bananas rolled in brown rice cereal. Yummmmmmmm.

As for things you did this weekend - we hit the mall for some Christmas shopping where you stopped everyone with your smile and fruit puffs crunching face. We went to church this morning where you were bombarded by people just wanting to stop and smile and you blessed them with your beautiful smile. There was a children's pagent and you sat for half an hour with just a little bit of monkey wrestling and baboon moaning. I thought we'd only make it five minutes in and I'd have to take you out of the gym.

Overall, it's been a nice weekend and I thank you for being you, smelly diaper and all - smelly maybe because you've been eating at a chicken breast a day since we arrived.

Love ya,
Pops