oh hello there

I am a horrible mommy blogger.  I haven't written you a letter in months.  So here are a few random moments, to hold you over, until I get my act together.  Which is going to happen.

Jack-isms of late:

(Squirming in car) "Mama there's a booger in my throat and it's making me move!"

(Looking through a magazine) "I think Dada gave me this magazine when he was a mailman."

(Telling Katy and I what the specials are at your "restaurant") "Sour muffins that are good actually."

And some Instagram photos:

playground romance...

teacher's pet...

tackle football in indy...

snuggle time with mama...

I love you, Mama

That's what you just told me, clear out of the blue...

I said, "I love you too Jackson, more than the whole wide world.  How much do you love me?"

And you said, "twenty minutes."

I'll take it.  

(Image here)

"A leeeetle baby"

Nope, that is not you, that is mommy holding brand new baby Paxton. You and I went to visit him last week, and the whole way there you couldn't stop talking about "leeeetle baby Pat-ick-son." Of course, you showed zero interest while I held the sweet little guy (there was a skateboard in the midst, I mean). But you still talk about him, about how small he was and how he made "waaa, waaa" sounds. It's hard for me to remember you being that "leeeetle." Sigh...

Back!

As of late, when you don't want me near you (I know, I don't get it either) you sort of shove me with your hand and say, "Back, Mama, back."


Back where? Back where I came from? Well I've got news for you, Buster Brown, YOU came from me! So if anyone is going BACK where they came from, it's you. Into my womb. Huh? I don't know what I'm saying, I'm tired...

Mama

HOLY LACK OF UPDATES. I'm sorry, son. It's just that... you turned into a Crazy Person Big Boy Kid all of a sudden and I have zero time to write blog posts. Well, right, except for my other blog that I update daily. I still love you.


So, it took almost a year and a half, but in early September you finally said my name!!! And the masses were right, I shouldn't have worried myself into a tizzy over the lack of the word because now that you've mastered it you say it a lot. A LOT. There are even a few variations in tone, and I've come to understand each...

1. Question Mark Mama... this tone comes into play when you're trying to get my attention. Usually, you stick your face right in front of mine and you say my name quickly and more than once. "Mama? Mama? Mama? Mama? Mama? Mama? Mama? Mama?"

2. Why Did You Do That Mama... when you use this version it means I've done something wrong. At least in your world. If I take something away or ask you not to put Cheerios in your ear, you go, "Oh, Mamaaaaaaaa." Sort of like, "Aw, man! What's wrong with this woman. She's no fun."

3. I Love You Mama... my personal favorite. Your tone is sweet, and it's usually accompanied with a hug. "Mama!" If I could bottle this one up, I would. Because I know there will come a day when you call me Poopy Head Face, and this will make me sad.

Muck

Now, in addition to signing the word "milk," you've started to say it! Only, it sounds like you're saying "muck." It's adorable. Muck, muck, muck. Although it sort of makes me think you want a glass of this:


Google image, you are really incredible. "Glass of muck" actually yields results? Photo here.

16 month update

You have discovered how to climb stairs. We congratulate you when you do it at the playground. We say NO when you do it at home...

Your hair looks like this, curls or mullet?


Your new words are "golf ball" and "apple" and "car" and no, you still have not said "mama" - I'm starting to wonder who you think I am...

You love to eat these and Mommy (that's ME) wants to buy stock in the company (photo):


Last night you were up at 10:21pm, 12:08am, 1:00am and 4:37am. What's that about?

You know how to sign "milk" (photo):


You continue to be your Mommy and Daddy's best friend!

E-I-E-I-Oh.

Hey Buddy,

It's been awhile since I've written to you, but I swear I'm only neglecting you in bloggy blog world and not in real life. We've been up to SO many fun and interesting things!! Here's an update...

HITTING


This one falls in the "interesting" (said sarcastically) category and not the fun one. You've hit your mama (moi) and more than once. It happens when you're a combination of frustrated, angry and exhausted. As a 15 month-old, you're not exactly sure how to handle these emotions yet. So you hit me in the face. My response has been a very stern NO (which causes you to sob) followed by a gentle (I think) explanation on why you don't hit your mama. This should work. Right? Right.

SLEEPING


You have 4 teeth coming in right now, which has been interrupting your sleep habits. (Don't worry, if I had 4 poky things piercing through any part of my body I would scream in my sleep too.) The only thing that seems to sooth you back into a peaceful slumber is when I sing Old McDonald Had a Farm. However, I'm a little koo koo at 3:30 in the morning, and sometimes it's hard for me to remember what belongs on a farm. The other night, my rendition of the song went something like this...

Old McDonald had a farm. E-I-(YAWN)-E-I-O. And on that farm he had a (LARGE PAUSE) folder. E-I-E-I-OOOO. With a fold fold here, and a fold fold there. Here a fold, there a fold...

You get it.

TALKING


You've been saying lots of new things! Step, truck, beach and of course, DADA. What woman's name have you uttered? DORA. That's right, not mama, but DORA. The EXPLORER. It's okay, I'm not bitter, because it is adorable when you say your girlfriend's name. Dooooooooooh-rah! (As long as I'm next...)

Photos HERE, HERE and HERE.

Some words?

Vroom. Diggle. Duck. DADA.

While Scrabble may not officially accept the word "diggle" since it's actually not a word at all, I'm pretty sure they would allow "vroom." Yes? Scrabble lovers? Never mind that, I accept it as a word because YOU say it. All day long. Mainly because we have a lot of these in the backyard:


You also love to say DUCK. Duck, duck, duck, duck, duck. I'm trying to get you to QUACK but for now the ducks just say DUCK.

And finally, DADA. The word you say the clearest. You look right up at your father and say Dada with a twinkle in your eye. It's adorable. WHY WON'T YOU SAY MAMA?!? It's not for a lack of trying on my part, believe me. I've decided I'm going to try and get you to call me by name. SIRI. It's better than nothing.

Signing Time

I'm trying to teach you (and myself) some sign language. Rachel Coleman teaches American Sign Language through a series of music videos, and they're fantastic. Check out her YouTube channel here.



Rachel's first daughter was born deaf. And her second daughter was born with cerebral palsy. Talk about overcoming challenges. It's amazing how, as parents, we adapt to whatever situation we find ourselves in with our children. "Normal" can mean a million different things. I hope you always remember that, Jack Attack.

If you're interested parents, you can read more about Rachel's story here.

Your first girlfriend

That's right, Katherine Heigl. Yes, I know we never watch that BS Grey's Anatomy but why else are you always calling out her name?? HEIGL. Hi-gull! You say it eleventy times a day.

Son, I have no problem with older women but she looks naked. Come on.

ma ma da da

You're not talking yet, but you do like to babble. What's the difference? I don't think you know what you're saying. At least I hope not. You've got the "da da da da" and the "ma ma ma ma" down, but I don't think you've connected those sounds with me or your father. If you HAVE, I'm upset. Why? Because when you're happy, you're all "da da da da" - I'm talking ridiculous happiness. But when you're upset, because we're shoving meat paste down your throat or forcing you to sleep through the night, then you're all "ma ma ma."

Why do you equate the unhappy times with me? Or do you think I'm the one that will get you out of a jam? I will, of course. But I'll also skip through meadows and climb rainbows with you. So let's even it out a little, okay? Great.