11 Months

Just a month away from this baby's first birthday.  I asked Andy yesterday if he was sad or excited about Jack's birthday and he said excited.  I think I'm a little sad too. 

Here's Jack in the cart with me at JoAnn Fabrics.  About 90% of the time he's a good shopper:)

 We even got to be at cousin Nico's the first night he slept in his toddler bed.  Jack really just wants to be stripped down and in undies jumping on the bed with his cousin!

 Here we are at our playgroup's baby halloween party.  I was holding Jack up on the couch so it wasn't as dangerous as it looks.  It cracked me up that the kids didn't even look twice at there friends in costume.  They just dug right into the toys and played away. 

 Jack is a good helped over at the Park Rd. house.  Sometimes he likes to crawl around and find sticks, but usually he is pretty content hanging out in his stroller.  Here he is without pants on...hence the big smile.

And here's Jack on Halloween.  He really liked being a tree frog and if you ask me, he's the cutest tree frog ever!  We didn't quite get pumpkins carved this year, but we can save that for next year.

Jack's first turkey leg.  Desiree is super grossed out by all meat on a bone so we made sure we texted her this picture.  Jack ate two large BBQ chicken legs this night.  Looks like he's going to have to fight his dad for the turkey legs on Thanksgiving!

Just looking handsome in his vest before a walk. 

Poor Jack was really sick with the flu last week.  He got sick probably about 20 times over the course of two days and continued to get sick each day for the next three days.  Thank goodness for hardwood floors and Baby Bjorn bibs which helped make clean-up much easier.  There were lots of baths, snuggles, and naps.  Thankfully he's feeling better now.

Here's Jack reaching up for his Dada.  Sweet boy.  Although he's feeling better, he has been a little more clingy than normal.

Yesterday Andy's mom brought over Panera for my birthday breakfast and also these cowboy boots that Andy had gotten from his grandparents when he was little.  They are a little big on him, but so cute.  And perfect for a little boy who is having a cowboy birthday party!



Other updates:

• Jack dances to the beat of all music.  He looks at me with a look that says "I don't know why my body is moving like this, but I just can't help it!". 
• He likes cereal bars, yogurt, apple sauce, grilled cheese, and other things you'd expect a baby his age to eat.  He also surprises us at times like when he ate an entire pulled pork sandwich, bun and all.  Or when he ate a giant piece of eggplan parmesan all by himself.  We're thankful that he's a good eater!
• Jack really likes to be upright.  He'll let go and stand by himself for a short while.  He especially likes practicing in the bathtub where he'll pull himself up, look at me, let go, stand with a proud smile on his face, and then drop down on his bottom making a big splash!  He will take a few steps towards you on his own but just kind of lunges forward in excitement. 
• I always look at him and say "Kiss your Mama!" and he'll kind of just sit back and smile and then all of the sudden dives in and give me the biggest, wet kiss!
• One word that Jack seems to say often is "yeah".  For instance I'll walk in after his nap and ask him if he had a nice rest and he'll respond "yeah".  Most questions that you ask him he'll respond the same way.  I hope it's awhile before he learns the word "no"! 

I'm really going to enjoy the next few weeks with my baby (before he's a big one year old!) and have fun planning his party.  Does anyone have good first birthday party tips?  I want to make sure it's a fun day for him as we celebrate his first year!



10 months

Jack Jack with Andy's cousin Esme.

 Jack is his Ergo while we cheered on Uncle Tyler during his Triathlon.

 Jack checking out the first leaves of fall.

 Here's Jack at play group with his buddy Claire.  Even though they are a year apart, they really do like playing with each other.  Jack has good taste because Claire is such a sweet girl!

Patiently waiting for me to put him in the tub.  This boy loves the water!

 I love a good paci smile!

Jack wanted to get dressed up for his Great Grandma Frieda's birthday brunch so I made him this bow tie. 

Standing up barefoot in the park.  One of the last days before it got cold!

Andy pretty much summed it up when he looked at me and said "It's like Jack just LOVES being a baby".  He always acts completely delighted to be doing whatever he's doing.  He's such a sweet boy!

Updates:

• He loves being upright and continues to cruise around on furniture and can get around really well that way.  He can also walk holding on to one hand.  His balance for standing on his own still needs a little improvement before he starts taking off on his own.
• His favorite dinner food so far has been chicken & rice.  For snacks he like veggie straws, cherrios, puffs, or string cheese.  He usually eats a Yo Baby yogurt every morning and loves those!  He also is a good meat eater.  He pretty much eats whatever we are eating now which certainly makes it easy!  He is also great at feeding himself with his fingers and tries to pile in the food. 
• The neighbor has a cat that likes to hang our in our yard and Jack really likes seeing him.  His new thing is to crawl out onto the back porch to see him while we make dinner.
• We have had a beautiful fall so far and Jack has enjoyed all of his time playing outside in the grass and going on walks. 
• When I run errands with Jack he'll find someone he likes and give them a huge smile and just wait for them to notice him.  Then when they talk to him he gets SO excited and laughs and gives them a big wave. 
• Jack also really likes when Andy and I hug with him between us.  It's like a Jack sandwich!
• Jack is getting into everything!  Two weeks ago I was showering so I just had him playing on the bathroom floor.  I conditioned my hair and I looked out to check on him and he had the garbage completely emptied and his hand in the toilet.  Gross!  I jumped out and grabbed him and brought him in the shower.  He also has learned to pull on the toilet paper so that has now been moved out of reach.  He can even reach his little baby arms into the kitchen cabinets that have locks on them and can still get things out.  Pretty impressive really.
• Current nicknames: Jack-Jack, Baby Bear, Honey Bear, Love-bug
• We go to a play group each week and Jack has always been the baby of the group.  In the last month he's really got into the groove of actually playing and interacting with the other kids (all about 18-24 months old) which includes sharing snacks and trying to drink out of each others sippy cups.  He loves being around the 'big' kids.
• His top teeth still haven't come through but they are so close.  Andy and I both swore that we've felt them.  He had a few nights of waking up numerous times and has needed to be held a bit more than normal.  Because his first birthday is right around the corner, I'm all about savoring my time with my baby and so I hold him as much as he wants. 

New Project

Andy and I closed on a new project on Friday.  It is located in a very nice neighborhood near campus, is on half an acre, has a wooded ravine behind it, and has lots of potential!  It was built in the early 50's and hasn't really been updated.  Every contractor that comes in comments that it was a really well built house so that makes us feel good.  Also, the rooms are all nice size and it has a lot of storage.  We are really excited about it and already have a lot done...which is good because our to-do list is long!
Project include:

• Tree removal
• New roof
• New windows
• New exterior railing, 
• New driveway and patio
• New kitchen that opens up to the family room
• 2 bathroom remodels
• New trim
• New lighting
• New flooing upstairs and down
• AC installed
• Gas fireplaces installed upstairs and down + chimney lined

Here is the house moment after closing.

 Here it is a few hours later after many trees came down and brush got cleared out.

 We have also taken the awnings off (still on in the pic though). 

 Entryway

 Kitchen

 View into the dining room from the family room.

 Upper family room.

 Bedroom.

 Upper bathroom.

 Entryway with kitchen on the left, and familyroom straight ahead.

 Lower level family room.

 Lower level kitchen (this will turn in to the 4th bedroom).

 Lower level bedroom.

 Lower level bathroom (pink tiles are now mostly off).

 Here is a work in progress photo with the kitchen now opening up to the dining room.  These cabinets are all out now.

We will try to take lots of pictures along the way of our progress!

9 Months

Yes, we are on to the next size of baby clothes over at the Litton household.  9 months!

This is a good depiction of Jack at this age.  Proud of himself for standing on the couch and with drool all over his chin and shirt!

These pictures are from Jack's Auntie Meghann's surprise birthday party at Wildwood Saloon & BBQ.  All of the boys decided to wear their plaid western shirts for the occasion.  I had to post the one with Nico's sad face as well because it's cute too!

These two boys are going to be a wild pair!

Have I ever mentioned that this boy just loves his Dada?!

Jack's play date with too older girls.  No big deal.

And it's time for the childproof cabinet locks!  Jack likes to empty every single thing on the lower shelf and then tries to move to the next shelf which includes ceramic casserole dishes.  Not baby safe!

And Jack is cruising all over furniture, tables, chairs, boxes, Rubbermaid tubs, etc.

He can also transfer from one to the next if they are in reach.

Stats:
17 lbs, 11 oz. (10th percentile) I still can't believe this!  We are working on chubbing him up!
28 inches (40th percentile)

Other update:

• Jack is totally not interested in purees anymore.  He just wants to eat finger food.  Whenever I try he turns his head 180 degree to the left and purses his lips shut.  Sometimes if I start singing or counting he'll look at me and smile and I can shove a few spoonfuls in.  I'm such a tricky mom.  Some of his favorite foods right now include Yo Baby yogurt, Cheerios, baby cereal bars, and pears.  And of course whatever is on mine or Andy's plate!  I want to do a post of all of our favorite baby products, but the Baby Bjorn bibs are an absolute must!
• Jack's bedtime routine includes a bath, jammies, vitamins, rocking and nursing, snuggling with mommy and laying his head on my shoulder, and then laying down with his paci and turning on his sound machine giraffe. 
• Jack still just has his two bottom teeth, but it looks like the top ones will be through in about a week or so. 
• Jack is starting to babble more and more and even stringing his babbles into baby babble sentences using different voice inflection.  
• I am starting to use a few signs with Jack with the hopes that he'll pick them up in the coming months.  I decided on milk, more, all done, please, and thank you.  Any other ones that were helpful?
• Jack is a forward crawler now.  Andy he's quick!  Andy and I continue to surprise ourselves when we look down and see him in a completely different location than where we set him down. 

I have a feeling that this age is when things get wild!