Toothy Magoo

These past two weeks have been filled with all kinds of new milestones and discoveries for Jack. Two weeks ago, he got his first tooth! He now has 3 of his front teeth (both top teeth are in, as well as one of his bottom teeth), with the 4th front tooth also working its way out. As you can imagine, this has been both exciting and exhausting! And a bit painful...not only for my poor baby, but for me! Jack just loves giving kisses, but he gives them with his gums and not his lips. Now that there's teeth in those gums, Jack's kisses are more like love scrapes all over my face. Here's hoping he learns to pucker up soon!

Another recent development is that Jack started waving hello! He does this by flapping his right arm up and down, usually with a big ol' grin. Marc's mom told me that he stood in front of her fireplace for quite some time last week, waving hi to his own reflection...such a silly goose!

Jack also added a new word to his vocabulary this past week...Mama!! It was such a special moment for me, one that I don't think I will ever forget. Each day seems to bring something new into the world of Jack, and it is such a joy to witness. I'm sure I sound so stinking sappy when I talk about my baby, and I'm sorry but I just can't help it :)

May Day

May 1st has been a significant date in the course of my life with Marc. Five years ago on May 1st Marc and I began dating, and it's been an important day for us nearly each year since. We don't plan it that way, it just happens. Four years ago, we moved from California to the East Coast on May 1st. Two years ago Marc opened his barbershop doors for business on May 1st. Last year we moved into our first home on May 1st. This year, Jack began crawling on May 1st.

It may not be as monumental as falling in love, moving across the country, starting a business or buying a house, but it is still a meaningful event for me. My baby boy is becoming more and more independent, and while I'm so proud of him, a part of me already misses that teeny tiny baby who would curl up on my shoulder to be held with just one hand.

Luckily, the larger, more rational part of me is thrilled that Jack is on the move! He gets such a kick out of himself, you can't help but smile as he chases after a ball or a toy car on all fours. He really seems proud of himself for crawling, but he's also not content just to crawl; crawling is just a means to going over to the nearest piece of furniture, large toy, full laundry basket or person and pull himself up. He then stands there with the biggest grin on his sweet little face and does daredevil maneuvers like letting go with one hand or taking tiny steps from one large object to another.

Last night I was changing Jack's diaper when he decided it was time to get moving. Like a bolt of lightning, he flipped over onto his belly and started crawling over to his toy car, completely naked. I was able to tackle him (yes, tackle) and get his diaper on before he took off again, this time to a laundry basket filled with his dirty clothes. He proceeded to pull himself up on the basket and hold on with one hand while using the other to pull out individual pieces of laundry! From there, he went from toy to toy, checking everything out along the way. I was able to capture most of his journey on film, but had a hard time photographing him actually crawling...he's way too fast!!

Nudie Patootie car climber

Starting to pull his clothes out of the laundry basket

On the move

Reaching for more

Got it!

Still going...

Really reaching for one of his socks

Finally a crawling pic! Check out the pile of clothes left behind by Hurricane Jack! 

Happy Easter!

Marc, Jack and I made our first road trip as a family of three to celebrate Easter with my side of the family in Michigan. Marc and I were very nervous to make the 900-mile trip with an infant, but Jack was GREAT. I was so proud of him, he made a great travel companion and I look forward to many more road trips with my little family.

Easter Sunday was a perfect sunny day. The Easter Bunny brought a basket filled with toys and books, and Jack found it right away! My mom cooked a delicious dinner for our extended family, and it was so nice to visit with everyone. It was my first Easter back home in nine years(!!), and it was well worth the wait!

It didn't take Jack long to find his Easter Basket!

Checking out his gifts from the Easter Bunny

My first Easter with my sweet baby boy

Jack and Grandma

Jack and Grandpa Carl

Trying to get a 5 1/2 yr old, a 1 1/2 yr old and a 1/2 yr old to all look at the camera isn't the easiest!

Showing Great-Grandma some Easter love!

It takes some strong arms to hold these two!