4.5 months

Jack's first time laying in the grass.  He liked it minus the sun in his eyes.

Desiree thinks I always teach Nico bad things like how to blow raspberries with his lips and how to climb stairs.  She thought it would be fun to teach my baby the same.  Thankfully he didn't catch on!

My favorite sister ever!

And she is the best baby wrangler I have ever met!

Jack practicing his tummy time with Uncle Louie.

Jack & Nico with Grandpa & Grandma Schep.

Nico hardly kisses anyone but he always has kisses for his cousin Jack.  He really does love him. 

 Sweet boy!

One happy Grandma!

Andy and I decided to eat downtown IC one night and took a stroll around the ped mall.  It's so nice to live within a short walk of downtown Iowa City.

And here's Jack in front of the Hawkeye black and gold tulips in the Pentacrest.

Sweet boy and handsome Daddy :)

Nothing is better than hearing your baby laugh.  I can get some good laughs out of Jack but Andy can really get him going!

That gummy smile and dimpled cheek are the best!

And here is Jack with his friend Claire.  She spread his burp cloth out on the couch and then motioned for him to go "nye-nye".  She is going to be a great big sister and a wonderful mom someday! 

4 month notes:
25" (51st percentile)
14 lbs., 1 oz. (30th percentile) I can't believe my chubby baby is really in the 30th %!

Jack is the sweetest baby!  As I write this I want to go get him out of his crib and smoosh his little chubby cheeks against mine...and then eat his fingers.  I used to put his whole hand in my mouth but now I just do the fingers.  That's what you get to do when it's your baby!
Jack is continuing to be a great night time sleeper.  I usually nurse him, lay him down with his duck and paci and he's out.  He usually sleeps from 7:15pm-6:30ish.  Not bad!
He is able to sit up on the couch for an extended period of time and can sit up on his own for about 5 seconds...it's a start!
He now has a whiney cry that gets a little high pitched that he pulls out from time to time.  It's very dramatic.
He is actually starting to semi-enjoy tummy time!  He used to cry after about 1-2 minutes on his tummy and now he will play for much longer.

Easter in pictures

3.5 months

Remember all of the belly shots that I took in this spot when I was pregnant?  This picture looks awfully similar...just with a little baby head and leg popping out!  I have been taking walks with Jack in this wrap carrier.  He really likes it.

We have had beautiful summer like weather this week.  That has meant lots of grilling!

Daddy and his mini-me.  I still can't get over how much Jack looks like Andy!

Last night I was filling up the tub for Jack and as I was undressing him I decided I should run outside and take a few pictures of him since it was so nice.  

At first he was calm and relaxed. 

Then he wanted to play a little.

And checking out his arms.  They have been mostly covered since birth.

And trying to remember how he rolls over.

And then he was done!  Time for his bath.

A day or two after I wrote his 3 month update he started rolling over.  He rolls from back to front.  He hasn't quite perfected his front to back yet, but I think it will be any day now.
He is also wanting to reach and touch everything!  If I'm reading him a book he will touch each and every page.  He also puts every toy, burp cloth, blanket, etc. etc. in his mouth.  This past week I taught him how to splash in the bath.  At first he'd move him hands up and down and make little splashes and within about 15 seconds when the cause and effect clicked for him, he was making huge, out-of-the-tub type splashes.  I also taught him how to kick his legs in the tub.  I think we have a little fishy on our hands!

National Wrestling Championships

We were lucky to be able to spend this past weekend in Omaha, NE with Andy's parents as we cheered on the Hawks to a National title in wrestling.  We ended up with 8 All-American wrestlers, 5 in the finals, and 3 national champions.  We had a blast!  Jack did great sitting through three full days of wrestling.  He also got to stay in his first hotel room and take his first dip in a pool. 

Here he is in his Hawkeye bib, hat, and paci clip.  I had to come up with three black & gold outfits for the event!

With his Grandma Carol.

And watching some wrestling with his Grandpa Jerry.

And taking a nap with Daddy at the hotel.

And a little more wrestling!

And pool time!

And here is the big back-floater himself.  I just put a finger or two under his neck and he just layed completely relaxed in the water.  I'm sure he would have floated had I moved my hand away.  All of his bath time swimming practice is paying off!

3 Months Old

A face I don't want to forget...content and satisfied with milk dripping out of his mouth.

This is my favorite way to hold Jack, cheek-to-cheek.  Oh, I love this boy!

Jack lounging in his Baby Leg leg warmers.

And 3 month old baby toes...I smooch these tootsies every day.  Jack likes it.

And a new trick- hands in the mouth!

3 month notes:

• Jack started sleeping in his own room in his crib this week.  It was kind of sad because I loved waking up to him right next to me, but he was waking up from hitting the sides of the craddle.  He is now sleeping great in his crib.  We usually lay him down at 6:30pm and he's sleeping until about 5:45am, eats, and then sleeps until 7am before he wakes up for the day.  He doesn't have a specific nap schedule yet, but he is at least napping better now that I have cut out all caffeine.  It's straight decaf for me now!
• Current nicknames: We usually call him Jack-Jack.  And when his shirt is drenched, we call him 'Drool Monster'.
• Jack still usually cries when we take him out of the bath so Andy and I have gotten quick at diapering, lotioning, and dressing him.  As soon as that's done, he's a happy man again.  He does like getting his diaper changed and usually gives us the biggest smiles and giggles on his changing table. 
• We have been enjoying the early spring weather and have been taking lots of walks.  He likes the fresh air and usually takes a nice long nap while we're out strolling around. 
•  Jack loves playing on his playmat, reaching for his toys, and is now trying to put them in his mouth.  He is also proud of himself when he gets both fists in his mouth.  We're very proud of him too. 

 

Bad Parents?

So I know babies really shouldn't watch TV until after age 2, but YouTube has lots of fun animal videos to classical music that Jack really likes.  Isn't he a good sitter??  

Ready to Read

We have had a few fun deliveries from the UPS guy.  My Aunt Pat, Uncle Randy, and their kids sent Jack this adorable reading chair...

And just in time, my cousin Janean and her husband send Jack a set of Mini Masters board books.  Here he is reading In the Garden with Van Gogh.  Janean works for the St. Louis Museum of Art and Jack was the lucky boy to get these fun books from her!

Jack says a BIG thank you!