Independent

Jacob has become very independent lately. Last night I made butternut squash soup and he decided to feed himself.



I am so glad that my little boy is growing up but very sad that he is becoming a little boy instead of my baby. His hair is getting pretty long in the back and I keep telling Andrew we need to cut his hair. Andrew will not let me get it cut and I think Andrew doesn't want to cut Jacob's hair because once we do our baby will be gone.

So what other things make Jacob so independent.....
1. He likes to turn on the water at the sink and brush his teeth
2. He wants to pull his wagon around
3. Go up and down the stairs by himself
4. Feed himself
5. He likes to read his truck book and farm book to himself
6. He loves to be the DJ and play the music when we have DJ Dance Party in the kitchen. He will push the button on his toy and play music while we all dance around.
7. Jacob likes to be the one to close all the doors around the house
8. He will brush his hair and my hair in the morning

I'm sure in the next few months he will only become more and more independent as he uses his words more and gets bigger and stronger.

Walking

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. I really am not into the whole blog thing and when I get home from work in the evenings the last thing I want to do is get on a computer. The first week of August Jacob came down with a horrible case of hand, foot, and mouth so Andrew and I took turns staying home with him until he healed. While we were home with him we worked on walking and sure enough when he went back to daycare on Monday he was walking around the room.

Last night we went to an outdoor concert with some friends and Jacob walked all around. I now know why you don't want your children to start walking :). He got really mad when we tried to put him in his stroller because he wanted to walk by himself. He is very independent.

He is now getting into all new things at home and trying to climb up on everything. We need to step up the baby proofing in the house this weekend. Our little guy is all grown up.

Happy Father's Day

We had a wonderful Father's Day today. We woke up and headed to church and then went down to the Baltimore City farmers market. Jacob had a great time looking at all the characters at the market and checking out the scene. He also loved eating donuts with Andrew, trying kettle corn, and drinking some of Andrew's smoothie. I think Andrew had a great time sharing everything with him too. After we got home from the market we all relaxed for a little while. Then, Jacob and Andrew wrestled on the floor (one of Jacob's favorite thing to do) and watched golf. Of course, Jacob kept saying, "ball, ball, ball" I think Jacob needs to learn some new words :)


Tonight we had steaks for dinner and then we took Jacob for a walk in his wagon. Andrew said he did everything he wanted for Father's Day. I'm so glad that he had a nice day and felt loved.


We love our daddy Andrew! He takes wonderful care of us. :)

Busy, Busy

Well...as you can see I have not posted in over a month. I am not very good at this blog thing but I promise I will try to get better.

Lately we have been very busy. February through May, I was taking a class to sit for my Human Resources Certification and in May I sat for the test. I PASSED!!! WOO HOO. I am now a PHR. I also started a new job last week. I am now the HR manager at an all girls school, Garrison Forest. So far, so good. I am training with the girl I am replacing until the end of the months so it has not been too stressful to this point. Today we actually got out at 12pm because of graduation :).

Andrew and I have also been busy keeping up after a very busy little boy. Jacob is really crawling now and really knows what he wants. He is "talking" a lot and wants to know the words to everything. He really tries to say the words but it is hard for him to make all the sounds. His favorite word and word for anything he doesn't know is "ball". We got a little basketball hoop that suctions onto the oven and he loves to put the balls in the basket.

This week Andrew taught Jacob to put his sippy cup onto the table. He was always throwing his cup on the floor and then the water or milk would go flying. Now, every time he puts his cup on the table he looks at us and waits for us to clap and make a big deal out of his new trick. I hope when he is 18 we are still not having to cheer him on for putting his cup on the table. LOL

What does Jacob love to do now.....follow after his daddy, be outside, ride in his wagon, and swing in his swing. He loves to snuggle, be hugged, sit on your lap, and read books at bathtime. He still LOVES to eat and really wants to eat everything by himself. The one thing Jacob is not doing is walking. He stands, he'll walk with you holding his hands, he'll climb up all the stairs in the house, but he will not walk. I am not complaining....but I am because the kid is heavy. I am a little tired of carrying around almost 30 lbs all the time.

Jacob is turning out to be just the cutest and chubbiest little guy. His hair is growing and growing. Every morning he wakes up with bed head that I cannot seem to lay flat. On Saturday he had Dennis the Menice hair with a little piece sticking up in the back that would not lay flat. It was super cute. I think I might let his hair grow out to his shoulders. What do you think?

To our son on his 1st birthday

Jacob,

Today is your first birthday and your father and I cannot believe this year has gone by so quickly. I can't help but think back (with tears in my eyes) to this day last year when I sent an email to your Aunt Rachel, got up and went to the bathroom, and on the way there my water broke. I can't help but think how scared but how excited I was to meet you. Now, here you are, 1 year old and the most beautiful baby boy I know. I can't express how completely in love I am with you and the joy you have brought to me and your father.

You make us laugh every day. You have your fathers laid back personality and go with the flow attitude. It takes you a while to fall asleep and you always fight your tired eyes but when you finally get to sleep you snore and are out like a light, just like your dad. You have my attitude. You will sit in your high chair, look right at me with a hand full of food, drop it on the floor, and laugh in my face because you know you aren't supposed to do it. I try so hard not to laugh because I know it only encourages you, but I love that you have your opinions and stick to your guns when you don't want to do something. You will yell back at us when we tell you "no" and to not do something (like open the entertainment center doors). You are a ham at the snack table at daycare. You scream, carry on, throw your cup, and make noises and everyone always thinks its a hoot.

You can say dad-da, ball, all done, dog, and uh-oh. You can throw a ball, wave bye bye, play patty cake, give high fives, put a ball in the basketball hoop, and love peek a boo. You love your dad, any toy that makes music or noise when you shake it, your bath, fruit (especially strawberries and grapes), balls and to play basketball, and to be outside. You can't walk but I think you would love to be able to run. You always want to be with your dad but sometimes it is hard for you to keep up or understand why you can't always go with him. You have the pudgiest thighs and chubbiest cheeks that I could kiss for hours if you would let me.

Jacob, you are the best thing in our lives. We love you to the moon and back. This past year has been tiring, stressful, aggravating (b/c you seem to be sick all the time), but so rewarding, filled with love, laughter, joy, and some of the best memories we could have ever hoped to have.

We are so glad that God gave us you and that you are a beautiful, healthy, and loving boy.

Happy 1st Birthday!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Stats:
- Left ear; ear infection
- 28 lbs
- 32 in long

VERY BUSY

I have been very busy over the last few months and I don't see an end in site. I started taking a class on Saturday mornings in February and the reading for the class has bogged me down every night.

Jacob has also been a very busy boy and really cruising around the townhouse. He loves to pull himself up on the trash can and push is across the kitchen floor. Andrew and I have really been enjoying the past few months with him as he has started to say more, point to what he wants, and cruise around on furniture.

Last Thursday, we went to a consultation with and ear, nose, and throat doctor for tubes and we decided to get tubes put in his ears. The doctor had an opening on Friday so we scheduled the appointment. Friday morning at 6:30 we headed over to get the tubes and Jacob did very well. He was pretty mad when he woke up but he calmed down after 45 minutes or so. The rest of the day he was up to his old tricks and played with his cousins at grandmas. Hopefully we can say goodbye to the ear infections or at least antibiotics.

We had a very nice Easter weekend and enjoyed spending time with family. I think Jacob's favorite part of the weekend was crawling around after his cousin Garrett and being a big ham at the kitchen table at my parents. My little sister took some really cute shots of Jacob on Friday in his Easter outfit that my mom made. What a cutie!!

10 months

Jacob turned 10 months old on March 5th and I cannot believe we are only 2 months away from 1. Jacob had another rough spell with being sick last week but I think (knock on wood) we have gotten over the hump. Hopefully the weather will stay nice and the germs will go away. We really enjoyed the nice weather over the weekend and this week. Jacob and I took a few walks the past few days in his new jogging stroller. On Saturday it was so sunny that I made him wear his sun hat (see below :)

At 10 months Jacob is:
- pulling up on everything and starting to cruise around the couch and furniture
- added some vocabulary and screams and yells in delight
- kicks in the bathtub when you say "kick, kick, kick"
- Claps his hands
- Wave bye and hi
- Eats solids like grilled cheese, pizza, hot dogs, peaches, pears, oranges.
- Loves to knock down towers, play peek a boo, and play with this car on the floor.

I just love this little guy so much.