Evening constitutional

Yesteray we made it around the block in less than a half hour. This is quite an accomplishment. You see, Jack is a big fan of walking (and running) around our block, but he usually tires out and starts to meander before we get halfway round. Don't get me wrong --- I'm all for exploring and "stopping to smell the roses", but some nights he'll have us staring and poking at the same crack in the sidewalk forever, and he requires some encouragement to continue on.

But yesterday he was all business. Down the driveway we went, Jack running and Chris and I following close behind. He turned onto the sidewalk and away he went. He didn't even stop to inspect the neighbor's plumeria or cattails as he normally does. He turned the corner and kept on going, stopping only to close the gate at the house on the corner. (The house on the corner has a low wrought iron fence and they often leave the gate open --- Jack closes it every time he walks by.) Then it was around the next corner. On this side of the block he decided to run up the walkway of EVERY house before turning around, stopping, sprinting down the walkway, and then making a hard right to continue to the next house.

And so it went and we made it home in record time!

Get Into The Groove

Jack is a dancin' fool. Are all babies like this? He hears music and immediately stops whatever he's doing and starts to dance. It's hilarious. If he decides he wants to get his groove on and there's no music to be heard, he'll go to his favorite dancing spot (in front of the coffee table) and start shouting "dance, dance" and move his shoulders up and down. Or he'll walk right up to the computer, point at the screen, and say, "song".

English as a first language

Chris or me: "Jack, are you fine?"
Jack: "I'M FINE." (yelling)

He seriously cracks us up with this stuff. This came out of nowhere last weekend. Chris and I laughed so hard that he kept saying it. "I'M FINE. [laughter] I'M FINE. [laughter] I'M FINE."

Favorite question: "Hot?" (He asks this before I feed him ANYTHING.)

Most used word: "NO."

First two-word combo: "Car hot" (and it was)

Second two-word combo: "More wawa" (water)

Second funniest thing he says: "High fi" ("High five" as he lunges toward you with his hand up in the air.)

And so it goes. The little guy is learning to communicate. And it dawned on me the other day that he pretty much understands most of what I say to him. It's all so mind boggling. To think that just over a hear ago this little person couldn't even roll over...

"You should really write this stuff down"

This has long been my mother's mantra. She used to say this to me every time I told a funny or interesting story. I now know very well that you should ALWAYS listen to your mother. Over the years I've had bold ambitions of keeping a journal, but somehow writing things down has always gotten lost in the shuffle of life. But now that Jack is a part of our lives, I'm feeling the need to be a record keeper of sorts. I want to recall the funny stories and all of the absolutely amazing and wonderful things that he's doing. I want him to know that I was scared at first but now I cannot imagine life without him. I want him to know that makes me laugh every day and he continually amazes me with his accomplishments and understanding of the world around him. So this is for Jack and Chris and me so that we don't forget the small stories that make up everyday life. It's for our friends and family too, of course.

I'm not going to promise to write every week or every month...I'm just going to promise to write.