Big Strides

So, we all thought it was pretty neat when Jack took his first step on Christmas day. I was very excited. The timing was perfect, as he did it in front of close family and there were a couple of us who will always be able to say that we saw it with our very own eyes. That was a cool moment.

I didn't realize though that there would be a bit of a lull between when Jack would take a single step to when Jack would actually "walk" on his own. For awhile now, he's made a couple small strides towards walking on his own. At first, he would creep from sofa to coffee table, taking a single pivot in between the two pieces of furniture. Then, he would take a couple steps as we held both of his hands. From there, we would be able to "go on a little walk together," where we held one of his hands and walked for about 10 steps. These were big strides-- and we would flash big smiles seeing Jack progress.

Today, he made his biggest strides to date...
I opened the door to his classroom to pick Jack up from school and couldn't believe my eyes. Jack was sitting with a toy on the floor of the playroom. He saw me and smiled big (the move that makes my day....every day when I see him afterwork). Instead of swiftly crawling to me, he stood up. I was surprised-- very surprised. I stood still to see if he would actually walk over to me on his own. Once he stood up, he lifted up his arms and started walking towards me. He took 8 steps and I picked him up. It was just great! What a big day! He did the same thing for Dad after dinner, making his day too. Big Strides!!!

Time flies!

It seems like our weekends always fly by. I think that's because we try to do as much with Jack as we can....to make the most of our time together. I love seeing his little personality poking through. He's showing some very interesting traits. He's fun-loving, but fiercely determined. He'll set his mind to something and he its hard to convince him otherwise. He loves to be around others, but is also an independent thinker. hmmm...Sound like anyone you know?

He also seems to be a bit adventurous, but does realize then he's gotten himself in a not-so-good situation and calls out for reinforcements. He's making more and more sounds...and they all have one thing in common: When he's happy, he's LOUD...and the sounds are always complemented with big belly laughs. His laugh is so contagious. He just makes both of us crack up. I know he's young, but I'm tellin' ya, he's gonna be a funny kid.

So yes-- time flies-- and not only on the weekend. Can you believe Little Guy is 14 months old today? To celebrate, we went swimming at the Rec Center. We finally had a winter day where the tempature was upwards of 45 degrees, so I thought it would be fun to go swimming. We belong to a great Rec Center that has a huge aquatics area. Once Jack gets older, we'll enroll him in swimming lessons, but for now, we hang out in the kids area.

This kiddie pool offers a lot more than a typical baby pool. It even has a huge pirate ship in the middle that squirts out water. Kids can climb up onto it and exit through one of three water slides. The pool is a zero-grade pool, meaning that one side slopes up to the outer surface (like the ocean approaches a beach). Its great because Jack can scoot all around and sit without putting his head under the water. As he gets bigger, he'll be able to use more of the pool (its gigantic) and then eventually, he'll make his way into the other two indoor pool areas.

He just loves the water. We had to constantly try to remind him that he can't drink the pool water. I'm not sure how successful we were in explaining the concept that pool water isn't drinking water. Its just so funny, how we're trying to explain things to this little being who can't tell us whether or not he actually understands what we're trying to explain to him. Lets just say that communicating with a 14-month-old is a work in progress.

We had a really great weekend-- from going to out to dinner on Friday, to Gymboree class on Saturday morning and then being at the pool today. It was a fun-filled weekend at home...and we made the most of it. Judging from the fact that Jack went to bed at 6:45 tonight, I'd say that we got a lot of fun in.

Here's Jack at 14 months...I know I'm biased, but he's such a cute kid:

Top Dog

We're discovering that Jack likes to climb as high as he possibly can: The top of the slide, standing on his picnic or Mega Blocks table, using the Mega Blocks table as a stepping stone to climb up onto Mike's sports memorbilia table or onto the couch, heading up to the highest step on the stairs....that's what he seems to LOVE to do. Just how do we know he loves it? Because he screaches with glee every time he gets to the top (or in some cases, while he's climbing to the top)...with a big grin from cheek to cheek. Once he gets to the top, its quite evident how proud he is of his accomplishment.

Its hilarious...its like he wants to be top dog :)I just hope that he realizes that he needs to be careful while "climbing" not to fall. Sometimes he gets a little too excited about "the climb." We're trying to let him naturally figure out his safety boundaries. Obviously, we stay very close by to make sure he doesn't get hurt. It just amazes me that he has no reservations about climbing as high as he can.

With his adventurous spirit, I'm thinking he's gonna be a bit of a handful. Right now, its funny...but as he seeks out higher things to climb, its going to get interesting.

Going on a walk

We had plans to go on a trip for MLK weekend. Our plans had us going Columbus this past weekend to meet up with "The Provident Gang" (and their kids). But, Little Guy got sick on Friday...I received a call from his teacher at 4pm letting me know he was a bit cranky and had a fever of 102 (unbelievable). He's fine, it was just a cold, but when there's yellow gunk in his nose with a fever and cough-- its just not right to put him around other little kids. So, we stayed home.

By Sunday, he was feeling better. In many ways, it was nice to have some quiet family time. We played a lot in the basement...and even learned a new skill: Jack will now walk with us when we hold one hand. It might not sound like a big deal, but to us, it is. For the longest time, he pretty much refused to even walk when we held both his hands. He would literally hang and go limp when we tried to get him to walk. It was almost as if he said "Why would I walk when I can crawl so fast and get everywhere I want to go as quickly as I want."

This weekend, he seemed to really enjoy the independence, yet security, of walking while holding our hands. He did quite well...going 30-40 steps before he lost interest or got disracted by something he passed. Mike & I really enjoyed seeing him in action. You could see him getting more and more confident each time we "went on a walk" together. It was awesome!

New Classes

We're often out of town on the weekends...especially in the Fall. But, as winter settles in (and at an average high of 24 degrees, its here), we thought it might be a good idea to look into some indoor weekend activities for Jack. Afterall, I'm convinced that Jack likes to be on the go just about as much as I do...and when its winter and we have to stay inside...we both get cases of "Cabin Fever." I think we found a little fix :)

I did some research and found that there were a couple of different options near us. The Little Gym & Gymboree Play & Music both offer Saturday classes. Our Rec Center also offers swim classes on the weekend, but I don't know how I feel about taking little guy from warm water to wintery outside right now...so we put that one off until the spring. Although, I will say that I can't wait to see him in swim classes. He LOVES water. Anyway, we decided to go with Gymboree because our local center had so many positive reviews.

Our first class was this past Saturday--- and I think he really liked it. He's in their "Play and Learn 3" Class, which is for 10-16 month olds. Its all about exploration through play as they strengthen and develop their fine-motor skills. The classes take place in a very "kid-proof" gym with a bunch of mats on the floor and soft-edged modules to climb on. Jack's favorites are the tiny trampoline and the slide. Of course, every time he climbs up to go down the slide, we have to remind him that he needs to sit up and not go down face first (I wonder who showed him that fun trick...I'll give you a hint...it was a parent and not me :).

So, we signed up for the classes and will see where it takes us. Jack did really well for his first session. There were a lot of kids there who you could tell had been in a number of their classes. Each class begins with free play, then they review the week's gym set up (which always has a developmental theme to it), then towards the end, everyone sits in a circle, sings and plays the parachute game. It takes a little getting used to (especially the circle time when Gymbo the Clown comes out. Yeah, Jack usually crawls out of the group circle at that point. But hey, we're learning and having fun as we both explore.

The typical 13-month old...

Parents.com, the online home of Parents Magazine, has a feature where they outline developmental stages by month. Every now and then I wonder "Is Jack on track." That's a logical question to ask....in fact, I'm sure every parent wonders that. Its not as though these little ones come with instruction manuals (and really, would I read one if they did, or thrive in figuring it out myself, right?)

Anyway, I love reading the updates-- and thought it would be cool to start listing the behavior and mannerisms they consider "normal" for a 14 month old...which JAck will be in just a few weeks. Wow!

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT:
"Somewhere around baby's first birthday, he may take his momentous first steps and begin walking. But before becoming a master walker, your baby will plant his legs wide apart, point his toes outward, and jerk from side to side as he moves--or toddles--forward. (Thus, the term "toddler.") In time, though, as baby achieves a better sense of balance, coordination, and physical control, he'll become more surefooted and gain a more efficient stride. Several months down the road, he may be able to carry a toy in his hand while shuttling across the room, push or pull a toy wagon, step sideways or backward, and even throw a ball while walking.

As your toddler attains a greater sense of mobility and independence, he'll develop a desire to explore his physical surroundings. Before you know it, the controls on your VCR, the cords from electrical appliances, and the car keys you left on the hall table will be well within reach of his curious hands. The sharp edges of coffee tables, fireplaces, and low countertops can also "get in the way" of a roving toddler. It's time to beef up your childproofing efforts, being ever watchful of your newly mobile little one. Create a safe environment that allows him plenty of freedom to explore.

If your child is not yet walking, there's no need to worry: Most babies learn to walk between 12 and 15 months, but some don't step out on their own until 16 months or later. Many factors determine the age at which a baby walks alone--heredity, desire, body weight, and bad experiences among them. (A child who has fallen while learning to walk may not try again for many weeks.) In short, when a baby's muscles and spirit are both willing, he'll take those first precious steps and be off and running before long."

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:
"As his physical universe begins to expand, your toddler will relish his newfound independence--and at the same time be fearful of it. One minute he'll be wandering off to play with a new toy across the room; minutes later he'll come scrambling back to touch base with you and know that he's safe and protected. Your baby may even become extra clingy at this time, or experience separation anxiety whenever you leave him, however briefly. While it's normal for young children to have strong and conflicting emotions, it's important for parents to encourage their child's independence, acknowledge his ambivalence (who can blame baby for wanting to be a "big kid" and "tiny baby" at the same time?), and provide him with lots of extra hugs and reassurance."

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT:
"By the 13th month, most babies are saying their first real words, although the normal range for this milestone can extend from 10 to 18 months. Up until now, your child may have used "protowords," or invented words that have a consistent meaning--for instance, "mmmm" for something to eat, or "ba" for bottle. Now, though, your budding conversationalist may actually say words like Mama and Dada, utter the names of favorite animals, foods, or siblings, or make noises like "woof, woof." Early in the second year, most babies have an expressive vocabulary of a few words they can actually say and a larger receptive vocabulary of words that they understand. In the coming months, though, they will accumulate more and more words, as they interact with you and discover the wonderful world around them."
So that's what a typical 13-month-old is like!

The magazine is quick to point out that milestones happen in ranges. Jack seems to be right in that "normal range." He took his first steps at Christmas, right around the time he turned 13 months (I, on the other hand didn't walk until I was 16 months while Mike also walked at 13 months...dare we say "Like Father, Like Son?"). I've definitely noticed, especially after he went back to school after the holidays, that he does have a litte separation anxiety. This is totally typical-- and all in all, he doesn't do bad with this at all. At some times, its quite funny because if he's really tired, he becomes super dramatic. He'll literally go from laughing loudly with a big smile when I walk towards him to being in an all-out meltdown, complete with real crocodile tears, if I turn away from him and walk away. Usually, he's not that extreme, but there are moments. In terms of his vocabulary-- he is making all sorts of sounds (mmmmmm, ahhhh, ehhhh, bahhhhhhh), but the only real word he says is "MaMa." I'm looking forward to more words to come-- and am sure we'll be hearing them soon. He definitely recognizes words we say a lot. He knows who Daddy is, he knows Boomer/Boomey/Puppy. And yes, he does know the word "No," although sometimes he seems to choose to pretend he doesn't. I wonder what his next "real" word will be!

Sources: Michnick Golinkoff, Roberta, PhD, and Hirsh-Pasek, Kathy, PhD, How Babies Talk (Plume, 1999); Spock, Benjamin, MD, and Parker, Steven J., MD, Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care (Pocket Books, 1998); American Academy of Pediatrics; Nemours Foundation

Jack's Nicknames

Jack's recent mannerisms have landed him some new nicknames. We of course call him "Happy Jack." That one's a given. He loves to flash a smile whenever he can...and I just love how he laughs out loud. He's quite a character...and his silliness isn't just making us crack up, but others notice it as well.

As a result, he's picked up a few nicknames, especially at school:

"BINKY BANDIT:" Little guy is very attached to his binky...so much that we really need to think about beginning to restrict him with it. I'm thinking about cutting it down to sleep time and car time. I'm sure this move is not going to make Jack happy, but its about time. His newest trick-- taking two binkies and putting them both in his mouth at the same time and then laughing. I'll admit it--this is absolutely hilarious. But, the fact of the matter is that its time to start cutting back. So, Jack's New Year's Resolution is to start to say bye bye to binky. My resolution is to try to stay strong and not cave in as much as I want to when Jack "expresses his discontentment with this resolution."

"THE PRANKSER:" Every now and then, I have little "progress meetings" with Jack's teachers at school. The most recent one started like this: "Its amazing that at such a young age your son is showing he has great comedic timing." That's a direct quote. Translation: Jack is emerging as a little bit of a class clown. He does things literally to get a reaction, and then he actually waits to see the reaction and laughs when he gets the looks he wants. Amazing, at 13 months, he's doing toddler stand up.

"NO-NAP-JACK:" Yes, this is the new nickname he's earned in school. It seems as though he is the one child in his class of 8 that has decided that naptime should be play time. He's averaging a 30 minute nap...that he finally takes after the rest of his friends are asleep for over an hour. Now on the weekends, he can nap with the best of them--taking 2 good, long naps. But at school, he's way way way too busy to nap.

One thing is for sure...he likes to be silly. He's our silly monkey...and I love this side of his personality!

Hello 2010!

Its fitting that as January of a new year begins, Jack perfects "the Wave." He doesn't always to it on command, but he is catching on to seeing others wave. We say things like "say bye bye" or "say hi"...and sometimes he begins to start his cute wave. If he sees someone else wave, he's all in. What can I say, its super cute.

I'm sure this year will bring a lot of new experiences. I can't wait for them. I wonder what 2010 has in store for us? There should be some new words for sure. I'm also pretty confident we're going to have our hands completely full with Jack being fully mobile. Judging by how fast Jack can crawl, I'm very curious to see how fast he'll be when he really figures out how to walk and run. Oh boy!

We managed to catch "a wave" on camers...