Lots of love for Jack

We spent the past 5 days in Chicago.  Nico really loves his cousin Jack.  He doesn't kiss anyone except for his mom...and now Jack.  It is the cutest thing.  When we were in the grocery store, Nico was sitting in the front of the cart and I was holding Jack and pushing the cart.  I told Nico to give him a kiss and he leaned in towards Jack's head, looked up at me, and gave Jack a big lick.  So funny!  So apparently that is how he likes to give his cousin smooches!

This is how Desiree and I like to spend our days...eating up our babies!

It is amazing how many things Nico knows how to do (he is 10 months old).  When I went to get him after his nap, this is how I found him.  I wonder how long it took him to get his arm out and up through his neck opening.  Andy and I can't believe how much babies change in their first year.  We know Jack is going to grow so fast and we're trying to just enjoy each moment.

We were also able to have dinner with Uncle Tyler and Dana in the city.  They put out a great spread and Jack really liked their ceiling fan and pictures on the wall.  He thinks Uncle Tyler is the coolest!

And a big update- Jack smiles now!  I am hopeful I will catch it on camera today.  Usually I'm too excited and just smile back at his sweet face.  His whole face lights up and he shows off his dimples.  Just wait! 

5.5 Weeks

Well I guess we have to catch up with his one month celebration, first.  Our friend McKinze is very creative and had this great idea to bake her way through a cake cookbook, delivering her goods to a different recipient each week.  Well Jack was the lucky recipient of her first layered cake and she even brought a candle for him.  So sweet (both the gesture and the chocolate cake)!  She documents her cakes and deliveries on her blog, CakeJoy.

Since the day we brought Jack home he has been fascinated with these framed pictures above our couch.  I'm guessing it's the dark frames that capture his interest.  Here he is really bending in half to get a good glimpse of "his pictures".  So funny!

And Jack's first wrestling meet!  He slept through the first half and cheered the Hawks to a victory in the second half.  It's a good thing he likes it.  We have lots of wrestling to watch this winter!

And Grandma and Grandpa got to come to their first wrestling meet too.  I think they liked it, but really they just wanted to snuggle with the baby all weekend.  I can't blame them.

Sweet baby!

Although it's been a little cold, we have been going on short little walks around the block.  Jack likes to arch his back while Andy's holding him and look straight up at the trees. 

Such a smoochable face.  I nibble on his cheeks nonstop.  Poor baby.  I can't help it.

Some tummy time.  He likes it for awhile and then the vein in his head starts pulsing with frustration...seriously!

Here is the beautiful Hawkeye quilt that my Aunt Vicki made for baby Jack.  He loves it!

He usually spends 10-15 minutes on his play mat each morning.  He won't reach for the toys yet, but if I put it in his hand, he will hang on to it the whole time. 

We are heading back to Chicago for a few days so get ready for lots of Jack and Nico cousin pictures when I return!

4 Weeks Old

Jack is now 4 weeks old! 

Here he is from the Orange Bowl party where he cheered on the Hawks to a big win!  I'm glad we have lots of wrestling meets to go to so that we can dress him up like this often:). 

And with his Grandma Carol...

And snuggling with mommy on the couch...

And staying warm before hopping in the tub...

And he finally took a paci!  I knew he would like it once he took it.  He was getting a little frustrated when he was awake since he can't really do anything.  Now he just sucks away!  He's a happy guy!

Jack loves all of the outfits that he's borrowing from his cousin Nico.  Especially this warm kimono!

(there is nothing I like more on a baby than a kimono top!)

A few Jack updates:

• He now focuses much more on objects and our faces.  I can tell he wants to smile at times...I think that will be coming soon and I can't wait!
• He went on a snowy walk in his stroller to get mexican food (don't worry- he was well bundled and covered)
• Pushes up with his legs...I've even noticed he's scooting down in his craddle at night.  I'm not sure how he does this because he is always swaddled up tight.
• Has taken a shower "bath" a few times.  He loves looking at the water streaming down and I think he likes the noise too.
• He also makes the most annoyed face when I turn on the light to feed him in the middle of the night.  Once he doesn't need my assistance to position him when feeding, I'll be more than happy to keep the light off :).

Jack 3.5 weeks

Here are a few pictures from the past few days...

Jack is starting to really like bath time.  And we love snuggling with him afterwards when he's all wrapped up in his monkey towel!

Here Jack is getting his first bottle from Daddy.  He HATES the pacifier (like screams, gags, and even threw up one time) so I figured we better start getting him used to the bottle a bit.  He just ate about 1 ounce and it took him about 10 minutes, but he did a pretty good job.  We'll continue to give him a bottle every other day or so to get him comfortable with it. 

And this is how we spend most of our days...snuggling on the couch.  That is certainly one advantage of having a winter baby.  It makes it easy to stay inside cuddled up when it's 0 degrees outside!

Here Jack is showing off his strong neck!  We have large dark framed pictures above the couch that he loves looking at.  If he's fussy, we just turn him so that he can see the pictures and he's instantly quiet.  He has also discovered ceiling fans and is quite impressed by those as well.  Just yesterday he started to really stare and look at us and would even look back and forth between the two of us.  It's amazing the new things he's discovering each day.

And here he is in his Kicky Pants jammies.  I might keep him in them all day!  They are bamboo and so soft!  This picture also shows off his double chin and full tummy:).  He doesn't go back to the doctor until he's 8 weeks old, but I'd guess he's about 9.5 pounds now.  Such a big boy!

(we just got a new computer and I can't figure out how to rotate the pictures yet...sorry)

Recipe: Garlic Chicken Pasta

I really love the Garlic Chicken pasta dish at the Brown Bottle restaurant here in Iowa City.  I have created a close match.  It is pretty darn good.  Invite some friends over or get ready to eat left overs for awhile.  It makes a lot (easily serves 6-8)!

Garlic Chicken Pasta

2 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts (about 3 large breasts)

12oz. -16 oz. pasta (linquine or rotini work well)

Veggies:

1 package fresh sliced mushrooms

1 cup frozen peas or fresh peapods

1 red onion, chopped

1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, sliced (I use the jarred variety, in oil)

Sauce:

2 cans cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup (Meghann- I used one of each for the batch last night) 

1 cup milk

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

2 TBSP dried parley

6-8 cloves of garlic

1/4 tsp. black pepper

Cut raw chicken into small chunks.  Saute in olive oil to cook through.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water as directed.

Saute veggies in a seperate pan (or they can be added to the chicken)

In seperate pan, combine all of the sauce incredients until nice and hot- no need to bring to a boil.

Combine cooked chicken, veggies, pasta, and sauce.  Serve and enjoy!

Oh and here's a picture of Jack from this morning.  Such a cute little bear!

2 weeks old

In the past week Jack...

• Had a bit of a goopy eye so he has spent the past week with medicine in his eyes. Good thing it doesn't seem to bother him one bit.
• Took his first trip to Chicago- he was so good and slept the whole time while traveling
• Lost his umbilical cord
• Had his first full soak in the tub with me...he wasn't sure about it at first, but I think he will learn to love it
• Learned to nurse while I'm laying down
• Holds his head up for 10-15 seconds and looks around (then his head flops down when he stops focusing :)
• Continues to be a great sleeper, just getting up once each night. How did we get so lucky??
• And had his first Christmas! We were able to spend Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with Andy's family. Everyone got lots of Christmas snuggles with little Jack.

Also, I have to note that Jack gained over a pound from day 2 - day 9. He is a good eater!

And a few pictures...

Baby Jack Slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow