More technology

So I thought I'd attempt to post to the blog from my BlackBerry. I should be able to upload photos this way, too. I just have to figure out how to change the file size as the photos my phone takes now are too big to send this way. Technology continues to amaze me!

Captain's Log

We find ourselves saying the following phrase several times a week, "Jack sure does enjoy his groceries!" This is definitey a growing boy. I was reviewing photos this past weekend of Catherine at similar recent ages to Jack and while they share a lot of the same facial features (it's the eyes, mostly), Jack has had one major standout difference... his TEETH. At 14 months, Catherine had her bottom middle two, that most kiddos push up first. And one of her top front ones was JUST peeking through the gumline. Not our boy! He's got at least 10 and all his molars are pushing through. And they all seemed to come at once. So he is putting them to very good use and can get almost anything into his tummy that I'll dare to put on his tray. He seems to like drinking water as much as his sister and parents do and we're thankful for that. Then again he and his sister have something of a mean mom since all I let them drink is milk and water with the occasional 4 oz juice box. Ah well.

Jack is a ham. Can't imagine where he gets that from. He has a bit of a flair for the dramatic. If he wants someone or something and is sitting on the floor when he is denied, he will just flop over at the waist, forehead to the ground, and wail. It's usually short-lived, but quite dramatic. He likes to point and while his speech is obviously still just "Jack-ese" he understands a lot and likes to nod his head, and let you know he knows what you're talking about.

He is more interested in our beloved yellow Lab, Chili (more on her later, I think), than Catherine was at this age. He investigates the feel of her tummy, feet and nose. She, of course, could not care less and likes the attention. Chili camps out under Jack's high chair, despite the fact that this behavior is rarely rewarded by Jack. He doesn't leave much behind. When's he is finally full (an occurence we've not often seen) he'll maybe drop a morsel over the side. She is most grateful. I realize that at this age many of the photos of the kids are while there are in the high chair. I don't think I imagined I'd see that thing in my memories so much when I selected it way back when Catherine was just starting to eat solids... It has definitely served it's purpose. As Jack isn't walking yet, we often have to "park" him somewhere to keep him contained. What better place than a venue for eating? I don't think he minds.

So about the walking... Catherine, like her Mommy, was late accomplishing this milestone. She was well into her 16th month before she made those first steps. We keep thinking Jack is going to beat her, as he's been cruising for quite sometime and he crawls faster than I've ever seen, but he's still taking his time about it. He loves to pull up on anything that will (or won't) hold still, stand on his tiptoes to better reach or see, and has no problems plunking back down to take off like a shot after a toy, his sister, the dog, or whatever. As he'll be 14 months old this week, I guess we still have time to break Chatty's record.

Jack has had a harder time staying healthy in these past few months than Catherine did at this age. He seems to be prone to respiratory illness and this crazy Central Texas weather doesn't help. I'm thankful, at least, that he seems to recover quickly and is all the more stronger after each episode. Additionally, it's probably good that he's giving his immune system such a workout with all the friends at school and his sister's contributions... But I'm ready to decrease the frequency of visits to our wonderful pediatrician, Dr. Joe. We'll see.

OK, so I'm more caught up now... maybe I'll be better about getting my observations and our stories posted here a bit more often. Maybe not. Life in Liberty Hill, TX has been fun these past few years we've been here. I know it's just going to keep zooming by.

Catch-up with Chatty

I'm really not doing a very good job of keeping up to date with this blogging thing. I thought I might try and use it more like an online journal of what is going on with the kids, but I just can't seem to get it together to make regular posts. Will try to be better!

So in the last several weeks, what have we done? We are really glad that the weather is turning to Spring. Chatty Catherine loves to be outside, riding her bike (OK, it's really a tricycle, but whatever), or blowing bubbles, decorating our very long driveway with chalk, or just running around the backyard. She's getting pretty good at kicking around a soccer ball... so we'll see if we join the ranks of the Herd Ball crew at the Liberty Hill City Park when she turns four. Sigh, it's beginning, isn't it?

I am just continually thankful for the blessing of Catherine's and Jack's school, The Good Earth Day School. These wonderful people are helping our children explore all kinds of things that don't occur to me or those things that I haven't been able to have time to share with them. I am reassured and confident that the time they spend away from Christian and me, while we earn our keep, is interesting, fun, safe, and full of wonder and caring. I wish all work-outside-the-home parents could be so blessed.

Catherine continues to amaze us with her ability to soak up so much of the world around us, even the more difficult, abstract and philosophical... Last week in church, Father Bruce was giving his usual 5-minute sermon to the kids before sending them off to Children's Chapel where they go during the sermon, Nicene Creed, Prayers of the People and Confession in our service. He was talking about Jesus' presence in our lives and how that can be hard to see and was giving examples thekids might understand of where we see Him. Catherine piped right up and added, "And in our hearts!" at the end of his list. Such a wonder!

Chatty loves her little brother, Jack Attack. She likes to read to him, share all her toys (well, she likes to have him share with her, too, of course), instruct him on proper bathtime play, a

nd give him big hugs and kisses before bed every night. We've never experienced any toddler "acting out" aimed at Jack. If she's ever needy or having a "Thunderous Threes" moment she just directs it in on herself and throws her own kind of dramatic fit. It's hard to believe that she's on the back half of three years old and is going to be four in just a few short months.

We're struggling with bedtime. She finds every excuse in the book to get up, or sing, or play... Mommy isn't ready to concede that it may be time to push her bedtime (7:00) later. We have to be out of the house between 7:15 and 7:30 most mornings, so I am sticking to my guns that she needs to be in bed that early. But if she's not sleeping... Sigh... we'll see. A common soap box for me is that I feel so many child behavior problems stem from lack of sleep. More to come, I'm sure, on this drama as it continues to play in our house.

Bye Bye, Baby Curls!

Daddy was getting tired of Jack's lengthening locks, so it was time for the first trim! Mommy was very sorry to see the adorable curls go away, but knows her little guy is getting to be a big boy and needs a big boy haircut. Mommy's experience at giving haircuts isn't very extensive, so try not to look too closely at the hairline... I need some practice. But he's trimmed and looking quite "dapper" as Chatty would say.

Touchdown! Jack Boyd is ONE!

Jack Attack is ONE! We had a birthday party with a lot of visitors! Mimi and Papa (Cutter), Grandma and Grandpa (Boyd) came down from Colleyville and Grapevine. Aunt Aimee and Uncle Brett have moved back to Texas for good now and we were so excited they could come! We had friends from the neighborhood, work, and school. It was such a fun day. Jack handled it quite well, despite all the people. As you can see, he loved his chocolate cake! At first he wasn't quite so sure of what to do with it, but after an initial grab and the celebratory song and candle extinguishment, the eating part came quite easily. Lots of friends "helped" Jack open his gifts. Catherine really liked having all those friends to play with in her room! She did a great job sharing her gifts!

Captain Jack is One!

Our big boy has had a great year! While he seems to be a bit more prone to illness than his big sister is, he is a fun, sweet, "talkative," and busy little boy. At his 12-month check-up with Dr. Joe, Jack weighed in at 24 pounds, 12 oz., putting him in the 75th percentile for weight. Not surprisingly, given Daddy's height of 6'5" and Mommy's of 5'8", our tall guy is 31.75 inches tall, putting him in the 95th percentile for height!

His hair is growing... it's time for a trim. Daddy says he has a mullet going on right now. Hmm... Mommy hasn't had the motivation to trim off the baby curls, just yet. Soon, though. Soon. Jack is cruising all over and pulls up on anything that will (and somethings that won't) let him. He loves to chase after his big sister and has gotten so fast on his hands and knees that we wonder if we can keep up. Put him down, turn your back, and he's GONE! His favorite spots are his sister's room, playing with the switch on the light inside the clothes dryer door, and making a beeline for the bathroom scale in Mommy and Daddy's room, to play with the buttons of course. I think my new scale profile says I'm male, 7'8" tall and 48 years old... Don't think that's quite right, Jack.

Jack likes to eat... and eat... and eat (of course)! His favorite foods are... well, anything. We've not really come across anything he doesn't like. He's pushing his eighth tooth through now, so gums are a bit tender, but he's willing to gnaw on anything he can shove in. He's not quite learned the concept of 'capacity' for his mouth, so he sometimes gets more in their than he can manage. He's looking forward to his birthday party on January 31st! I'll post again with that story! In the meantime, Happy Birthday, big boy!

A New 'Do for a New Year!

I took Catherine to get a big girl haircut today because I was starting to feel like we couldn't see her adorable face very well under all that hair! She's of course had haircuts in her life, but instead of going to "Cool Cuts 4 Kids," this time I took her to my hair stylist as I felt we needed a little inspiration. She enjoyed getting her hair washed despite not having a fun bath to go with it and sat very still in the big girl chair while Tiffini worked her magic. We are all very pleased with the outcome and I can't help but be a little sad that my little girl is growing, growing, growing so fast!