12 Months - 1 YEAR OLD!!

Soooo, that was a fast year?! My baby is 1 year old - insane! Jack had a wonderful day today...I think he would say it was by far his best birthday yet :) We woke up and he opened one of his gifts and we had birthday pancakes for breakfast. We then met Grandma & Grandpa, Auntie Gretchen and all of his cousins and Choo-Choo Johnny's for lunch. I wasn't quite sure if Jack would get a kick out of it or not, but he absolutely loved it. He did not stop smiling the entire time we were there as he watched the train run overhead. We sat at the counter, which has a track for a train to come out and deliver your food, and every time they blew the whistle to signal an order was coming out, he would turn in the direction of it and watch it come around the track with a huge grin or giggle. After lunch we came home and sang happy birthday and gave him his owl smash cake. He ate about 3 bites of it, smeared all the chocolate in his hair, and then didn't want anything more to do with it...oh well. He at least touched it and ate something, so I call that a success. We then opened the rest of his gifts, played a bit and he took a good afternoon nap. I think he knew it was his birthday today or something. He was so happy and so sweet and smiley all day, my heart just melted over and over.

What a fun day celebrating my little man and what a year this has been! This past year has brought us so much love, pride, smiles and laughter and every day truly gets better and better. Jack, you are my world, and every day I thank God for you and for letting me be your Mommy. You are the sweetest, most hilarious, craziest nutball of a little man and I love you to pieces. There is no better feeling than watching you learn something new, and I can't wait to see what this next year brings you!

Speaking of learning new things, here are some of Jack's latest tricks:
- He is walking around everything and can crawl faster than lighting. He isn't too keen on practicing walking on his own, but every once and a while you can see the wheels turning as he tries to go from toy to toy, or he'll let go and stand on his own for a bit when he thinks no one is watching, so I don't think it will be too much longer. Actually, I'm predicting it will happen the week I am out of town for work at the end of the month :(
- He is trying to repeat a lot of things - banana is the most deliberate, but he'll also attempt things like Lucy, Grandpa, Elmo, etc. They are all just grunts, but he's trying so we applaud the effort :) His latest trick is to make the animal noise a sheep says. Trying to get that one on video!
- He gives hugs when asked...and it's awesome. He has also become very snuggly lately and will crawl over to just put his head down on my lap or shoulder randomly to say hi before he heads back over to his toys. So sweet.
- Knock on wood, but he seems to be doing much better with his naps. I honestly think it has been because we've been home so much over the holidays, and he feels like we're around enough for him to relax and get the sleep he needs and he won't have to miss us :) He's also been awesome at going down for his naps too. Once he starts to get crazy, I can ask him if he's ready for a nap and he'll reach for me to pick him up and immediately put his head down on his green blanket on my shoulder. I reallllly hope this is not a phase!!!!!
- He's mastered the sippy cup and bottles should be done soon. We also tried whole milk for the first time today. I did a half and half mixture with the formula and he sucked it down. Hopefully that will be a smooth transition and we will be done with formula within the next couple of weeks. I've given Jack more time to make these changes taking his prematurity in account, and I think it's worked out really well for us so far.
- He is understanding more and more every day and it amazes me. I feel like he understands so much of what we say and ask of him. If you ask him to give you his pacifier or something in his hand, he'll do it. Close/open the door, put the ball there, etc. he is really getting it all!
- We are still sitting at 12 teeth, though I've not looked for any new ones in a bit so who knows!
- He tries his best to eat only puffs, bananas, blueberries and bread and is sometimes very picky to try new things. But, we've made a lot of progress with table food in the last month or so, so I'm confident that he'll be eating everything in sight in no time.
- He fits comfortably into 12 and some 18 month clothes. We've still been rocking the size 3 diapers, but 4s are up once our current box is done. He is still sleeping 11-12 hours at night and taking 2 naps a day.

We head to the doctor on Friday - will post his stats after that!

Very Merry Christmas

Jack had a great first Christmas! The festivities started on Sunday, the 23rd, with Christmas with the immediate Luchansky clan. He ate like a big boy at the adults table for dinner, and enjoyed his first serving of french toast. When it came time to gifts, he showed interest in ripping off wrapping paper here and there, but that was very short lived, and he preferred to crawl around amongst the chaos instead. On Christmas morning, we woke up and opened presents and stockings from Santa, and Jack spent the rest of the morning riding around in his new red wagon. He LOVES it! He will sit contently and ride around the basement, giving out high fives to whoever he passes. We've also created a makeshift ball pit in it,  courtesy of Kristy and Jonah. We spent Christmas day with the extended Luchansky family, and Jack did a great job hanging out with everyone and even taking a good afternoon nap despite the excitement of the day. The Christmas celebrations came to a close with our Morrison Christmas on the 30th with the Nobles. Jack spent the whole weekend with Grandma Susan and Grandpa T, and not surprisingly, we left with a whole new wardrobe and just about any battery operated toy you can think of :) We had so much fun with Jack this Christmas, and certainly look forward to many many more Christmases in our new home!

11 Months!

Yes I know, terribly delayed here - but this month I feel I have a great excuse! Andrew and I were in the Dominican Republic last week for Jeff and Kim's wedding!! It was an awesome 5 days of sunshine and relaxation, and the wedding was gorgeous and a super fun time. Congrats to the newlyweds and thank you for inviting us for your special day!!!! Jack did great while we were gone, and yet another huge thank you to my parents for watching him round the clock so we could go.

Time to report on the 11 month happenings of Mr. Jack Harold:

- He is still comfortably wearing 12 months clothes and can still squeeze into 9 month stuff. He has some hefty thighs and can get quite the belly going throughout the day, but he really is just a big, solid guy. He went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago to check on a cold, and weighed in at 23lbs.
- He is down to 3 bottles of 8oz a day. We are working on using a sippy here and there, but it will still be a bit before we are ready to give up the bottle. Food wise, he is eating 3 table food meals a day, with a bit of baby food still mixed in there for good measure. He is a carb man and really likes puffs, bread/toast, and cheerios, and also enjoys bananas, applesauce, cheese and blueberries.
- He still sleeps 11-12 hours a night and naps are still...a joy. Paulette says that I wasn't a good napper until I went down to 1 nap a day, but I dropped naps all together by the time I was 2 1/2. Good thing Jack is exactly like Andrew in every way, so this shouldn't be an issue for us. Riiiight.
- He has recently gotten really good at walking with his walker around the basement. He hasn't mastered steering yet, but he can plow over anything in his path and still keep his balance which is impressive. He will still occasionally walk with hands, and every once and a while we'll catch him letting go of the toy or furniture he is leaning up against, and stand by himself for 10 seconds or so.
- He is getting so good at recognizing people/objects and really understanding questions and directions. He recently has become a huge fan of Elmo, and if you ask him where Elmo is, he'll stop what he's doing, scan the room for Elmo, and crawl right over to him and give him a big love. We were recently at Target and pointed out an Elmo doll of the shelf to Jack and he seemed to be excited, yet very confused as to why Elmo was also at Target. He also loves turning off light switches and opening and shutting doors.
- He is talking/babbling a TON these days. He's got Dada and Mama down, though he's yet to associate either of us with them. He is also starting to try and repeat words (see "Banana" post below).
- He loves to be chased and to be startled. One of our favorite games is for me to hold Jack while we run around the room while Andrew jumps out and chases us. Jack giggles and squeals and kicks his feet like crazy. He also loves hide and seek, and playing catch.


It's so insane that in just a few short weeks this little dude will be 1. It's also crazy to think that this time last year, I was waddling around and nearing the surprising end of my pregnancy. What a shock his entrance into the world was, but we feel so fortunate that we were given an extra 6 weeks to get to know him and love him and we could not be more proud of how far he's come and what a strong, healthy and happy little boy he is. I can't believe how fast this year has gone, and while I am terribly sad every day that he'll never be this little again, I am so excited to see how he continues to learn and grow and see what kind of a little person he develops into.

 

Banana

I know I need an 11 month post, but in the meantime, here is a new video of Jack "saying" banana. He's a genius!! Over the past few days, he has gotten really good at trying to repeat words that we say. Banana, elmo, kitty, Lucy are among the ones that he sometimes (ok maybe once or twice) has tried to repeat. Also this morning during breakfast he made a growling sound that I mimicked back to him, which started a growling war that was hilarious. I was able to successfully initiate another one over lunch, so I'm hoping this is a new trick that will stick.

https://vimeo.com/55553321

10 Months!

I feel like Jack took off between 9 and 10 months and he is more like a little boy vs. a baby every day these days! Here is what the big guy is up to as he rolls into double digits:

- not sure on weight check, but he seems to be working on getting a good belly going again. He can still pull off 9 month clothes (though pjs are a bit tight) but fits more comfortably in 12 month stuff. Size 3 diapers.
- He's still taking 4 bottles a day of 7oz. 2 meals of baby food, and maybe a snack here and there throughout the day. He's had baby yogurt and loves it and has mastered puffs and Mum mums. He's had slices of apple in a mesh bag, and while We've tried to start to work in finger foods more, he's not a fan yet. The kid sticks absolutely everything in his mouth that he can, but put a piece of pear or potato in front of him and he won't touch it. Or, he'll touch it, but put it close to his mouth and it's no dice. He's getting better with a sippy cup too, but I think he mostly prefers to drink straight from Grandma P's water glass.
- 9 months marked the big crawling milestone, and these days he is ALL over the place and is becoming quite the speed demon. Especially when he knows he's crawling towards something he shouldn't have, like Grandma's wine rack in the basement. It's hilarious though - you can see him spot it, wait for a second like he's plotting the best time to take off and then bam, he's off and running, literally.
- He's also a big fan (as am I) of playing hide and seek/chase. He'll start in his room and I'll call him out from around the corner.  As soon as he sees me he squeals and his little arms flail and he takes off back into the room as fast as he can. Sometimes he falls over himself because he's going so fast, but it's hilarious. And I love that he "gets" how the game is played.
- He pulls up to everything he can and has absolutely no fear. When he first started doing it, when he was ready to sit down he would just let go and tip backwards/sideways and either expect someone to catch him, or take a pretty decent tumble. Now, thankfully, he has figured out to bend his knees and sit down. He'll move around the sides of a table or pack n play and is starting to bend down to pick things up in one hand while standing. He also sits/stands up in his crib when he is done with naps or up for the morning. And he loves to play with this music machine now that he can reach it, pressing all the buttons and turning the music and night light on and off over and over again.
- He can wave! It's so cute. He sticks his whole arm out and shakes it. He started doing it the week of Halloween and while he doesn't do it that much anymore, he'll still bust it out every once and a while. I know my parents are very proud as they are the ones that got him doing it. And, as of last week, he can also do "so big". he does it very randomly,  not always when prompted, but he can do it nonetheless! Yesterday he was doing it while sitting on my lap and was launching himself completely backwards onto the couch cushion next to him. Again, no fear with this kid.
- As of this week, he is working on tooth #7 and it is a big one! Top left, and not immediately next to the others which is random. Over the weekend he was a bit crabby and tired and I think that was the cause. He is also a shoulder biter when he gets excited but he is getting better at not doing it. A few weeks ago, I was calling him "little Edward" multiple times a day.
- he finally loves books again! For several months, trying to get him to sit still long enough to read a book was not worth the struggle, but now he'll happily sit and go through several books in 1 sitting. He loves to turn the pages himself and is digging touch and feel and the peek a boo books Grandma Susan got him.

while Mommy was in Orlando

playing with Jonuts

fun snooze with Ma

not impressed with LeMutt

pumpkin patch

not impressed with his costume

love this face

Saturday morning fun

Boy on the Move!

Wow - the past few weeks have been huge for Jack! He's at the point where he is growing and learning leaps and bounds and everyday there is something new. Since he started full on crawling, the kid is always on the go! He rarely tummy scoots anymore and I can't even remember the last time I saw him roll, which used to be nonstop and his preferred mode of transportation. He is a pro at going from sitting to crawling, back to sitting and is good at catching his balance if he starts to topple a bit. He has also pulled up to standing a few times but that is one we need to keep a close eye on as he is completely oblivious to the fact that he needs to keep holding on in order to stay upright. Last night he would have gone headfirst into all kinds of corners or fallen completely backwards had I not kept 1 hand on him. Crazy dude. He also gets the biggest kick out of crawling into bathrooms, towards outlets or any of Grandma Paulette's fake plants (and there are MANY to choose from) and gives a good squeal when he sets out for any of the aformentioned. Below is a video that helped me survive my week away in Orlando. Note: his juicy burp at the very beginning of the video and his delight when he notices the outlet on the wall :)

https://vimeo.com/51999371

I'm taking notes for the big 10 month post next week - lots more to report on for little Jack Harold!

9 Months!

3/4 of a year - holy moly! Can't believe it just 3 short months we'll be celebrating Jack's first birthday! But what a fun 3 months it will be - Halloween, Turkey Day, Christmas parties, Christmas and plenty of quality time at Grandma and Grandpa's house :) Here is what Jack is up to as a 9 month old:

- we went to the doc last Thursday for his 9 month appointment. Kid has exploded and weighs 21lbs 9oz which puts him in the 75th percentile UNADJUSTED. He is 29inches which is 70th percentile UNADJUSTED. I definitely feared I was overfeeding him for a bit, but seeing how his height took off just as much as his weight makes me feel much better.
- due to his size, he is comfortably in 12 month clothes. He can rock 9 month stuff, but who knows for how much longer
- he is eating 4 bottles a day - mostly all 7 oz (sometimes an 8 here or there) and has solids 2 times a day. Cereal and fruit in the morning and cereal and veggies at night. Starting tomorrow we are on to meats and veggies for dinner :) We have yet to try and table/finger foods though he has started to get the hang of puffs and can successfully get them into his mouth on occasion. He also CAN pick up and use the sippy though he's still not too keen on that one.
- he's still a rock star nighttime sleeper and usually sleeps 12 hours a night. I think he really likes his new bedroom - it's a lot darker than the condo and think allows him to sleep in longer in the am. For the past few weeks we've not needed to bring him into our bed for another hour at 6am, which is nice - though a good morning snuggle with the much is always welcomed. He also now sleeps with a blanket and bumpers on his crib, GASP! Pretty sure he loves how snug they make him feel.
- he can give "high fives" - meaning if you stick your hand up in his face and say "give me a high five" he'll hit your hand.
- he always likes to stand and likes to practice walking with the help of sturdy hands overhead.
- he also still LOVES his baths. he gets so excited as soon as the water is turned on.
- he can plan peek a boo with a blanket and gets a real kick out of it. Some of his best belly laughs come from blanket games and tickle sessions.
- he has 4 teeth - 2 on the bottom and the top 2 both came in around the same time a few weeks ago. When the top first started to appear he had a nasty habit of grinding his teeth, but thankfully that seems to already be over!
- And finally...as of tonight, he is CRAWLING! He has been very close and has become very efficient scooting on his tummy to wherever he wants to go, but guess he decided today was the day! He did it several times and even fell down on his tummy and pushed back up a few times, turned directions mid crawl and started to pick up some speed. I guess we really did get out of the condo just in time!! There is much more room in Mokena for little man to take off. Eeks! such a big boy.

Happy 9 months, Jack Harold! We love you to pieces and everyday you entertain us more than the day before with your new tricks, expressions and discoveries.

working hard

Bearing down

how most of the 9 month photos turned out