I am 8 months old!

Well, Mommy turned 30 this month and that seemed to be a big deal.  I really wanted to top her milestone with one of my own, so I started planning something big for my 8 month birthday.  I'd been getting on all fours and rocking for a while.  This caused Mommy and Daddy to get really excited, so I knew there was something to this.  I thought and thought about what this could mean.  I would wake up in the middle of the night and experiment.  Then, finally, on February 15, it just hit me.  If there was a toy that I wanted and it was out of my reach, I could crawl to get it.  I like an audience, so I waited until Mommy and Daddy were both home and focused on me.  Then, I went for it.  It was exhilarating!  I can crawl!  I haven't stopped since.  I crawl across the room to explore such objects as:  the dogs' toys, Mommy's and Daddy's shoes, cords, DVDS on shelves, books on shelves, really anything on shelves.  (Don't worry, Mommy and Daddy are watching me and keeping me safe.) This is glorious!  I am experiencing true freedom.  Mommy and Daddy have started this process called "baby proofing."  They think that will make my exploring safer, but little do they know that I'm constantly watching how things work and I'm sure I'll find a way around the roadblocks they set up for me.  I can also pull up from sitting to standing with the help of furniture. Do you know what's scary?  Tile.  It's cold, slippery, and unknown.  I'm slowly getting over my fear of this flooring and venturing farther and farther out into the kitchen. Oh, the fun is just beginning!  Even when I get into a bit of mischief, Mommy and Daddy seem so proud of me and love watching me explore and discover.

Due to my new exercise options, I'm having to expand my diet for more energy.  I have added both yogurt and chicken to my menu.  They are both pretty gross (which I clearly express with my face), but I eat them anyway.  I love to eat puffs, crunchies, and yogurt melts too!  I am a master at the sippy cup and gulp my water down.

I currently weigh in at about 19 pounds.  I am wearing 9 month clothing, but Mommy has been pulling out the 12 month items.  She says she gives me another month before I've outgrown my current wardrobe.

I'm an active sleeper.  I roll over and sleep on my side or tummy, often curled up in a ball.  I like to practice crawling in my crib before I pass out from exhaustion.

If I do say so myself, I'm kind of hilarious.  I get the giggles a lot, especially when Daddy plays with me, Opa bounces me, or GP makes goofy faces at me.  My new laughing style sounds like I'm gasping for air because I'm so tickled.  I continue to get spoiled by Oma and GM too, not to mention the rest of my family.

Lately, I've been very into my Fisher Price racetrack from GM and GP.  I know all the ways to turn it on and off and I really enjoy the cars.  Opa really enjoyed it too when he played with me.  Maybe I should get him one for his birthday.

To update you on my teething progress:  There is none.  No teeth.

I keep a busy calendar with weekly coffee dates with my 3 year old friend, Harm.  Actually, we just hang out and eat puffs while our mommies drink coffee.  I also get to see my friends Tyson and Harrison.  They have been a huge inspiration to me and the reason I finally got the courage to crawl. 

I am such a happy boy and I am loving life with family and friends.  I wonder what I'll be up to in the next month.  Stay tuned...

Love,

Jake

Wearing GP's hat

I am missing football season already

Splish splash

Ready for an outing

At a Hail and Farewell with Mommy and Daddy

Trying on hats

Mount Scott

Lowe's...where I can stare at fans and light fixtures.  Heavenly!

My GP met Curtis Lofton.  He got me his autograph.  Curtis saw a picture of me and said I am going to be a big guy!

Ready for the Superbowl

Harrison and me playing with a bucket.  We shared some puffs and toys.  It was a good day!

Sitting up in my crib, ready to start my day

Awe!  How cute am I asleep?

Tyson and me just hanging out

My brief first encounter with snow

Puffs for everyone

Daddy's head makes a fun drum

I am 8 months old!

Mommy and me

Mommy, Daddy, and me

7 Months Old!

I am 7 months old today!  Here are a few tidbits about my life right now:

On the menu:

I love to eat!  I am still guzzling down the milk but I am also enjoying two solid meals a day.  Mommy has been making my food and it's delicious.  So far I have had:  peas, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, mango, apples, pears, bananas, prunes, avocado, oatmeal, and rice cereal.  It's best when it's all mixed together so that some of the sweetness of the fruit overrides the flavor of the green veggies.  I hum, grunt, and dance as I eat.  Mealtime is when I demonstrate my "Hulk" skills by ripping my bib off.


Hangin' in my crib:

I spend a lot of time in my crib and it's a pretty nice pad.  I go to bed between 8pm and 9pm.  Mommy and Daddy put me down when I'm awake, but sleepy.  Watching my mobile's light show and listening to the music helps me drift off on my own.  I sleep pretty well, although lately I quietly cry in the middle of the night.  Mommy says that maybe I'm teething (whatever that means), but I usually fall back to sleep on my own.  Honestly, I have so much on my mind with all the new skills I'm learning, that it's tricky to just relax and rest all night.  I work so hard during the day, that I actually take naps consistently now.  Three naps a day and I'm rested and ready to tackle the world...or at least my toys and occasionally the grocery store.

Work hard, play hard:

I am one busy baby!  I still love my jumperoo and my activity table from the Surette family.  My other favorites include:  my soft blocks, my basketball goal, and my race track and driving toy.  Shaking toys, like my maracas, always makes me giggle.  Other favorite objects include Tank, Bella, and all of their toys.  We play Tug of War with an old sock and I get really sad and show my boo boo face when Bella takes the sock away.   This is usually a diversion the pups use so that I don't notice that Tank has taken off with my basketball.

Movin' and Groovin':

I am a pro at rolling across a room to get what I want - shoelaces are a current object of interest.  However, I've noticed that if I'm sitting and I let myself fall forward, I am on all fours.  I have a sneaking suspicion that I could also move from that position.  Every time I try, Mommy and Daddy say, "Yay Jake!" and clap, so I may need to explore this option further.

Party On:

This month I was spoiled rotten which is saying something since that's my norm.  I got to celebrate Hanukkah with Mommy's family and Christmas with Daddy's family.  I'm not sure what all of this is about yet, but here's what I've figured out about both holidays:  People gather around me, I am allowed to rip paper and stick it in my mouth, new fun toys appear from beneath this paper, I play with them, people take pictures and clap.  Pretty awesome if you ask me.

Until next time,
Jake

Here are some pictures from this last month:

The first night of Hanukkah with GM and GP

Catching up with Natalie at Hanukkah with the family

Where exactly were the men in my family while this picture was taken?  I can't believe this is public now.

Hey Anna, check out my shoes.  I'm tired, but still styling'.

I Light Up Mommy's Life - according to my onesie

Uncle Joel really wanted me to try a latke, but Mommy said no.  Who invited her to the party?

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve with Oma and Opa

Wrapping paper is glorious!

Ready to drive

Crunching numbers at the office with GP

Opa and I are ready for a nap

Checking out downtown OKC with Oma

Boating with the Bandi men

Thunder UP!

Playing with my new race track and maracas 

Shooting hoops

Bored watching Mommy brush her teeth

Big deal in my new car seat

Reading Drummer Hoff with Daddy

In the shopping cart at the pet store - apparently Tank and Bella need to eat too.  

7 months old

Cute with a bit of drool

6 Months Old - Wisdom from my first half of a year

Hello friends and family,
Can you believe that I am 6 months old?  I've learned a lot in my first few months of life and I'd like to share my nuggets of wisdom with you.  Here are a few things you need to know when you are half a year old:

Solid foods are delicious!  I love my veggies - peas, green beans, squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

Fruits can be a bit tart at first.  Have your mommy mix them with veggies and cereal and you won't make this face.

When Uncle Luke and Aunt Stephenie have a baby, it's called a cousin.  I can't wait to meet my cousin, Sylvie, and play with my big cousin, Finn again.

Naps are best taken on a grandparent.  I am lucky to live close to GM, GP, Oma, and Opa so I get spoiled frequently, which I highly recommend.

Women spoil babies, especially my cousins.  I had my first Thanksgiving and got lots of love from my Carson, Raff, and Epstein cousins.  At Thanksgiving, it seems that everyone enjoys a delicious meal while I was stuck with rice cereal, green beans, and milk.  I plan to improve on this for next year. I've made a mental note.

Mommy and Daddy are still at the top of my list of favorite people.  Daddy is incredibly fascinating to me these days.  I study everything he does and greet him with a smile, giggle, and grunt. I am constantly grabbing for his iPhone and the remote control.  He claims I won't win that battle, but I'm not so sure.

Mommy writes my blog, yet rarely appears in pictures.  Here's a shout out to you, Mommy!

Cousins are great!  Big, tall ones can appear scary, but they are really nice.  I will be a wonderful man like Adam someday.  Someday I will also get over my fear of his height.  I am so glad I got to meet Adam and spend time with the best Godmother in the world, Natalie.

Sometimes it is best to sleep through football games that look like they will end in a loss.  Mommy and Daddy don't respond well to these games.

Puppies are fun!  Pull their ears, stick your fingers in their mouths, grab their legs.  They really love the attention!

Jumping in your jumperoo is great exercise!  I recommend 3-4 times per day.  However, my legs are pretty chunky so I might need to increase my frequency.

Another great form of exercise is rolling.  I can roll front to back and back to front!  Rolling across the room to get a toy I need is a very efficient form of transportation.

Sitting up by yourself is a useful skill.  I don't face plant anymore - I'm a big deal.

Grocery shopping is dumb.  Enough said.

Santa is an ok guy.  I wasn't really impressed, but I wasn't scared either.

I enjoy being festive.  I love shoving Dreidel Man into my mouth and pulling my Santa hat over my eyes until I cry.

Reading is delightful.  The more texture on a book, the better.  Plastic bath books do not taste good.

Every month Mommy takes a picture of me in the same chair with the same caterpillar who is still hungry (he should eat more solids).  I've learned that you grow a lot in your first six months.  I weight 16 pounds, 8 ounces.  I am 26.5 inches long with a 17 inch head.  I wear size 9 month clothing. The pediatrician was super impressed with my solid legs, although she was hoping that the next time she sees me that I'll have teeth.  I am a great eater and sleeper.  I have learned to put myself to sleep which Mommy seems thrilled about.

Tune in next time for an update on my first Hanukkah and Christmas with my family!