Munds Park

Jack and I finally took a day trip up to visit my Grandma in Munds Park. I had wanted to go last summer but Jack was only crawling and he wouldn't have had any fun outside. I'm so glad we went because Jack got to play outside on the deck, we took a walk, and did more playing outside. This kid loves to be outside and he must be tortured during the summer because we are forced to stay inside.
We picked up my Dad and Vicki and escaped the heat for a day. It was a great trip and my Grandma was so glad to see Jack again. (She hadn't seen him since he was 9 months old!) We will have to go back when Gabe has some time off.

It was hard to get a picture of Jack standing still! He found one of he dog's balls and he was off.

If you have a broom Jack will find it and play with it!

Loved the fact that the deck was secure...Jack could run around the house and he wasn't going to get into any mischief. 

He would periodically come back and check on me.

Practicing his soccer skils

Grandma, Dad, and Vicki

Jack playing catch with his Great-Grandma

I think Jack was showing Vicki how to work her phone. :)

Having a ball. 

Pacifiers, swim and molars

Well, I think we have successfully weathered the storm and are done with pacifiers. Jack only had them at bed time, but we still didn't want him to be the 4 year old kid who needed them still. Plus, our doctor told us we should wean him off of them in the next couple of months before he turns 2 but I'm more of a cold turkey kind of gal.
The first day without pacifiers was so easy! I was shocked! The 2nd day wasn't as great...This was also the first day of swim lessons so he was traumatized and had some weird rash going on. I am a mean mommy and didn't give in though. Now it's a week later and he is done with them! (He even spent the night at Grandma's house on Saturday and didn't need them!)
I'm glad we stuck to our guns because life is easier without them!
Jack had his second day of swim lessons today and it was much better. He still cried when Bonnie took him but during his "rest" time he wasn't crying. We go 4 days straight this week so I'm hoping each day gets better.
I think Jack is on the verge of getting his first 2 year molar...He has been so whiny lately and is constantly chewing on his finger. We have had to use Tylenol for a couple of naps to make sure he gets good sleep. I am ready for all of these teeth to be in...I am not a fan of the teething process!

Playing outside on the 4th of July. It was the "coolest "4th I can remember with it only being 83 degrees.

I'm never in any pictures but this makes me laugh because Jack is saying "cheese" when the picture was taken. Of course I had just gotten home from the gym so I looked lovely....

He is becoming obsessed with sunglasses. I had to give him an old pair of mine to wear around the house. The other day in the store he rode around in the stroller with them on. 

He still loves his books. He calls this book "Amy book" because my sister gave it to him. He likes to put 2 words together when describing things now. 

He can't be sweet all the time...Here is the start of the tantrum when I wouldn't give him my phone.

Meltdown time...

Swim Lessons...aka Torture

I have been looking forward to this day since January 2nd...Jack's first day of swim lessons. I was lucky enough to get Jack swim lessons with Bonny Holtorf who has been teaching swim lessons out of her backyard for years. These lessons are pretty exclusive which is why I had to call on January 2nd (which was even late for booking with her)!

With all of the drownings we hear about I was bound and determined to get Jack swim lessons to teach him his basic survival skills. I don't see him being the next Michael Phelps (although I wouldn't mind...) but I want him to be able to stay afloat if he falls in the water. Bonny told me the first 3 swim lessons would be hard to watch because he wasn't going to like them and he would cry alot. Well, Jack didn't disappoint! Lucky for me I had Gabe go with us for the first day and he ended up getting in the water with Jack so I could take pictures. 

Here is Jack and Gabe getting used to the water. Jack doesn't know what is about to happen...

Now the fun starts...

Going underwater a couple of times

Turing to the side of the pool and getting ready to swim to it. 

He was such a strong kicker!

Made it!

Definitely doesn't want to do it again!

Jack "graduated" to getting pulled in from the side and having to swim back. He wasn't thrilled.

Not even Daddy could soothe poor Jack when Bonny was done with him.

I wish I would have gotten some "after" pictures from today but the poor guy was so traumatized. The video I got was classic though...Jack basically cried the entire time and kept calling for Mommy or Daddy. Basically, anyone but Bonny. We go back tomorrow so we shall see how much he hates me as we pull up to her house...

Summer Fun

Jack and I have been out of school for about 2 weeks now and have been trying to take advantage of the "nicer" weather before July hits. We haven't done much but it's nice to not have a schedule.

 Believe it or not we had an 80 degree weather day the first week of summer vacation. Jack and I took full advantage of this day. I was the one telling him we needed to stay outside longer! ha!

 We have introduced Jack to frozen yogurt! It didn't take him too long to warm up to it. When I wasn't taking these pictures I was sitting on the other side of Jack and he was trading off eating our yogurt. We were trying to feed it to him slowly so he wouldn't get a brain freeze!

 This week Jack and I braved our bathing suits and the backyard to do something different. All this kid wants is to do is be outside and it is so hot! I figured if he liked the hose then we could play longer. He was so torn between playing with the hose, lawnmower, and slide. He had so much fun he didn't even fight me when it came to coming inside!

Jack is a daredevil...He jumps, runs, tackles, and now he is trying to do somersaults! He hasn't made it over on purpose yet but he is getting close. Notice in the last picture he has a red mark above his left eye...that's from trying to get into the somersault position too fast and hitting his head on the floor. This kid should be wearing a helmet 24/7!

Start of Summer

I am officially done with school for the next couple of months so get ready for more pictures and blog updates. :) Jack and I don't have much planned except for volleyball camp and swim lessons but I'm sure we will find plenty of things to do...
Here are a few pictures recently that shows just how big my little guy is getting.

 Jack has started lifting his shorts up so we can see how white the tops of his legs are. He thinks it is so funny and he walks around when them up. The kid does have some tan legs though!

 Look at that bed head! Too bad later that day we got him his 4th hair cut. When his hair gets too long there is no chance on styling it!

 Jack is obsessed with my Iphone. His favorite things to do with it are watch videos of himself and watch the intro to Sesame Street or the Hot Diggity Dog song from Mickey Mouse Club. It amazes me how smart he is...he can unlock the screen all on his own. For right now he seems to be pretty careful with it. Hasn't thrown it like he does his other toys.

Joe came over tonight for dinner and we made his hat smaller for Jack to wear. (Yes, this is an adult hat!) Jack didn't keep it on for long but he looks like such a big boy wearing it!

18 Month Checkup

Jack just had his 18 month checkup and I am always anxious to see how he measures up against other kids his age. (I find myself looking forward to these doctor visits for this reason!) After waiting a looooong time for the doctor to finally make an appearance I got my answers...Jack is still a big kid! He weighs 30.8 lbs (98%), height is 34.5 inches (97%) and head circumference is 50.5 cm (99%).
Jack's vocabulary is growing every day. He tries to say everything you say...this could come back to bite Gabe and I. You can tell he is Gabe's son because he now recognizes Ironman on tv. He is also starting to put together short sentences.
Jack is still running and being as crazy as ever. He doesn't care if he falls...he just bulldozes everything. When this kid is awake he is moving. We are trying to get him to watch shows to give us a little break but he won't sit longer than the length of a commercial. He does like to watch the Sesame Street theme song but he has no interest in watching the show. Believe me...you can only take hearing that song so many times.
I love all the wild and crazy things Jack does. He makes me laugh every day and gives me more love than I ever thought possible.

Waiting patiently for the dr. Thank goodness for snacks and the iphone!

Sitting on his "seat". 

The difference 6 months makes! He is growing into such a big boy!

Splash Pad

Gabe and I recently took Jack to a splash pad at Kierland. Ironically, Gabe wanted to go at 9 am on a Sunday morning when the shops weren't open...thanks for that... :(   Regardless, we had a blast! Jack was obsessed with the water and was soaked in no time at all. (Next time we are bringing his swimming suit!) We weren't too sure how he was going to like the water but he was having the time of his life running into the water and then screaming and running out. He would run up a small grassy hill and then run straight back into the water. I could have stayed out there all day long watching him! I have a feeling this is going to be a regular summer event...except next time I will go when the stores are open! :)

We pretty much had the place to ourselves. Jack is soaked!