Around the House

Now that Jack is fully mobile (crawling quickly), he is much happier in his play, but also much more likely to bonk his head on everything. He keeps wedging himself under the futon in his room and he can't escape because he hits his head on the frame when he tries to push up to crawl away. He's getting on his knees very comfortably, and is now occasionally making it to his feet, but he forgets to hold on and has a lot of small falls. He clearly prefers the bathroom and the laundry room (the two rooms I don't let him go into because they are the most hazardous) and of course any cords or outlets are preferred over his most exciting toys.

It's funny what he finds interesting. He spent 15 minutes this morning playing with the latch on his toy chest in his room, but still hasn't discovered how to ransack the trashcan nearby or how to crawl into the closet where his toys are kept. I'm sure he'll get around to all possible mischief given enough time.

Other favorite things are chasing the vacuum, playing under the kitchen table, crawling into Mommy's lap, crawling over Daddy's legs, closing doors and getting stuck on the other side, excited-face-slapping on anyone who holds him, playing chase around the circle formed by our hallway and living room, and his new ride-on car (see photos below).

He turns his hand to do a sideways wave. He's not very reliable at waving bye-bye because he only does it when he feels like it, and usually not when someone's leaving.

 Always on his knees, playing with the bedframe here.

 Wanting in the dishwasher.

 Loves this Elmo toy. He likes to take the pieces out and have someone put them back in. It's a non-stop cycle of us putting them in and him pulling them out.

 With Aunt Natalie

 Found a cord. I intercepted quickly.

 I noticed at other people's houses that Jack really likes sitting on rocking horses or little ride-on cars. We went on Craigslist and got him this little car that he loves. He just loves to sit up there and holding on and shake his booty. It looks like a little dance. He's even figured out how to hop off without getting hurt.

 Shifting gears.

 Not loving the mashed cherries I made him.

 Scooting around the kitchen.

 Chasing Mommy.

 Climbing up.

 Chewing on anything that's not actually a toy.

Little Crawler at the Park - 9 months!

 

Ski Trip

We spent a long weekend at a cabin in Tahoe for the annual Gieseke family ski trip. The trip was greatly improved for me from last year for 2 reasons: I got to ski this year, and I wasn't pregnant and feeling the altitude so severely. I only did a 1/2 day of skiing, but it was great to get back out there and it felt like I had never taken a break (not that I'm that good, but at least I wasn't falling all over the place). The rest of the time we sledded and ate a lot of snacks.

Oldest cousin Ben and Jackson smiling at each other

Fun in the cabin

 He's batman!

 5 cousins playing. The bigger kids didn't hang out with the babies that much, but sometimes they'd come check out what the little ones were doing.

 Took a bunch of pics trying to get a group shot and this is the best we could do...

 ...because all the rest of the pictures look like this.

 New toys to study

 Some polite conversation with Uncle Jon and Aunt Eileen (nope, that's not Dan in the picture)

 Didn't care much for the snow clothes. All tuckered out.

 Trying to sled in the backyard. Very icy.

 Cousins got matching PJ's from Grammie, but again hard to get a picture. Evan is 3 weeks younger than Jack, but he does not like to sit still.

 At least they're both looking the same direction in this one.

First Haircut

Jackson was getting pretty raggety looking with his hair growing at different lengths and coming down over his eyes. I did 2 haircuts in one day (Dan and Jack) and now both guys are looking sharp.

Before

 During the cut

 

 After

Jackie at the Ritz!

Ok, prepare for a million pictures. We got to stay at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay this weekend because Dan had a work conference, so we got a free room. It was such beautiful scenery. Dan was busy most of the time, but me and Jackie had some fun getting pampered and seeing the area. Well, I had fun. Jack was recovering from a cold, so he wasn't very smiley. I could get used to room service and easy living, but alas, it's back to reality.

 

Sunset at the hotel, overlooking the 18th green.

 

 Snotty little man.

 

 

 

 

 Jack's a little cranky. There was a bagpiper serenading us as the sunset.

 He loved his bath in the huge tub.

 He loves going up on his toes.

 Chocolate covered strawberries with the Ritz logo imprinted on the bottom. Delicious!

 This is how he sleeps now, with the bottom in the air and the legs tucked under.

  Practicing the crawling and standing skills.