18 Months

Jack a boy is a riot these days! He is walking all over, running on his tip toes, waving goodbye to everyone he sees, giving flirty smiles to people who will talk to him. He has also learned to give hugs instead of pull hair to his friends or little people he sees. The only problem with this is that he is built like a Mac trucka nd sometimes bull doses them over while he is loving them. He also loves the 3 and 4 year old girls. LOVES THEM! Will not stop looking at them. Hugs them at every chance. He loves the older ladies.

Jack is also working on his vocabulary. His latest and most impressive is "bubbles" that he learned with Aunt Tris. You get smarter just by hanging out with this lady. He has "momma, dadda, dawwwwg, door (doh)" down. He has also started to say "bye (bah)" and anything else you say to him. If you ask him to say something, he will try and usually at least has the number of syllables right. He loves to go "out (ow)." And knows how to say more when he's eating "mo!" Oh and he also says "ni" and takes his drink and pulls it away from you like it's mine. What a goof.

With his incredible charm and hilarious sense of humor comes also the beginning of tantrums. He knows what he wants most of the time and though we try and distract with other things, he does not so easily forget these days what he wants. So, instead of giving him something that is not good for him, we have to hold the hard line and then love him after he has fitted. This is the hard pert of parenting and we are in it now.

New Baby News

All is going well with little Clark, or Colin, or Owen, or Oliver. He have quite a list of names we are considering so thank you to all of you who have suggested names. This one is hard. He is good though. I finally am feeling him kicking all of the time way low in my belly. It is quite a change from last feeling Jack kicking my rib. I am thankful for that right now. Those days will be here soon. We have about 4 months left in this pregnancy. January 25th will be here before we know it! Will we have a new kitchen by then??? Will we have any sanity come February? I am not planning on it.

This pregnancy is treating me a little differently. I am so sore after water polo practice. My abs are not working with me and I will have to calm down the jerky reactions in the water to changing direction and reaching high out of the water for the ball. I am lazy pregnant lady right now. Also with swimming. Yesterday I puled my back muscle trying to reach out far when I was sprinting. I will have to be like those ladies who do head up breaststroke so that they don't get their hair wet. Cruise. I hope that I just don't fall asleep in the water!

Tech Mom

Steve has this great idea to start a blog about how a mom these days is so technically inclined. I do have my own personal gateway to technology having him around, but honestly, it's the only way that I can keep up. Mommy groups are organized online and with contact groups, evites to functions and mom nights out, I do everything via my iphone because I am not sure I would read anyone's twitter, facebook or email, let alone get any calls to anyone if I din't have it. Jack would have my computer if he could. When he sees me on it, he is all over it. My phone is a little less attractive and is always with me when I have a second.

New blogs will be coming in more often since BlogPressLite app just came out. So I will keep you updated via my phone. Hopefully I can be eloquent and interesting while on the go. We'll see.

2009-06-25

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Trapped

There is never a time in your life, other than when you are responsible for another human being, that when mistakes happen, the stakes are so high. Like locking your keys in the car... with your child in it as well. 

We just finished a nice dinner for Jack's cousin's birthday and were getting in the car to enjoy some ice cream cake at her house. I threw all of the junk in the passenger seat and the key in the driver's seat so I won't loose it, and got Jack all buckled up and ready to go. I close the passenger door and look down at the lock that is down, and then to the driver door lock which is down. I grab my head and say "Oh no oh no what do I do????" A man nearby getting some Hawaiian BBQ hears me and says first you go in and call 911 from the restaurant and they will get someone to open your door. The police man came, he saw that Jack was chillin (thank goodness he is so mild mannered) and the tow truck was close by. Though Mini Coopers are extremely hard to jimmy into, they ended up pushing the unlock button of my key with a long stick. 

Jack was a little sweaty but in good spirits and with a little playing, he was giggling like that was the greatest thing he had done in a while. We hung out and drank a little water while the car cooled down and had some ice cream cake at his cousin's house.

Luckily tonight it wasn't very hot out and there were many people around that were being helpful that it really calmed me down. Jack was fine. He was interested in all of the people trying to slim jim their way into the car, watching all the people that would wave to him like the police man that I thought was going to arrest me. 

There have been many times that I thought, "Poor child, you have me as your parent." The fact is though that we are all human and we make mistakes. Hopefully they are not life threatening. It just seems so magnified when you are a parent to this real live human and they are relying on you for everything. It's tough and you feel so responsible. So all is well and now I will check for locks before trapping my child into any vehicle. 

May Day May Day-He Has Taken Off

It is official that Jack is walking all over the place these days. He is loving it and highly influenced by his friends who are running all over the place and he crawls really fast and then hurts his knees. I am happy because i can just hold his little hand and walk him places instead of picking him up. It's a very sweet time. 

He is also "jolly" as my friend Sarah put it so well. He will laugh at people, with people, smile and squint his eyes and then hide behind something like he is so shy! Oh everyone gets a kick out of him. He is also starting to communicate well. He is using the signs we have been practicing with him, making animal sounds that we've taught him, and mimics sounds like "hi daddy" and "all done." It's so crazy to see happen. 

He also is very strong willed and strong bodied. If he wants to do something, he will try his darnedest to do it. I am trying to redirect when this happens. He is also so into loving people but with a grab and open mouth, like, "I am going to eat you!" It's a little scary to me and definitely scary if you are a little kid. Easy and gentle are words that are used at many play times during the day. It's good that he has such a big heart:)

This month we have visited Santa Barbara where we have met a new little baby and got to hang out with some good friends. We also got to hang out with a friend who is expecting as well. Babies everywhere! We just returned form a visit to Southern California where Jack got to meet his visiting Great Grandmother. That doesn't happen very often anymore! She is 85 and still kicking. Jack was also adored by his grandma, grandpa, uncle, and of course his cousins. Those two girls just would smother him with hugs and kisses at every second if they could. I am not sure anyone could adore him more. Jack is lucky to have such sweet cousins. They will look out for him for sure.

As we embark on our first trip to Yosemite as a family, we have one more to consider now as well. I just found out form a test this morning that we will be expecting another McGhee probably in February. I am both excited and very nervous. How will pregnancy be this time while running after a toddler? How will I take care of a baby and Jack at the same time? The great thing is that people do it all of the time. It will work out and we will find ways. I just can't believe how excited I am knowing how tough it is to have a baby. I am looking forward to seeing it:)

Here is a video of Jack laughing with Grandma and in the water, of course.

http://photo.stevenandria.com/gallery/8276121_QFoQF#541784551_BMGhy-A-LB

Jack Walks

And I missed it! While I was at water polo, Grandpa Matt was holding Jack's hands as he was standing between Matt's legs. Matt said that Jack "allegedly" let go, took two steps and fell to his bottom. Does this count if the parents don't see it? I think it does. Oh man! I am gone for 2 hours and this is what happens. At least he feels like he can take some chances with someone else watching him. That is great.

New Independence

It's not even July and I am celebrating Independence! Jack is growing into a young boy. He is not breast feeding during the day, Steve takes him for hours on end and it feels really good to be able to just relax without a constant buddy. Though now I am starting to savour those times with him when he hugs me or sits next to me to explore something like a whisk or when I get to feed him to sleep at night. He's getting more fun.

I turned 30 last week as well! It's quite an honor. I play water polo with these women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, have such great friends in their 30s, have an impressive mother and mother in law, and to be one more step closer to them is fantastic. I was saying all week that I have much more confidence than at 20 but the ability to make some seriously fun decisions about where my life will go. 

What topped off my birthday was a wine and cheese party that my husband surprised me with. I didn't think I wanted a party but to be surrounded by all these great people (and those who couldn't even be there) made me really happy and thankful that I have them as guides and companions in my life. 

That's a secret, I guess. Put yourself around good people and all the bad ones fall to the waist-side. Life is really too short to waist your time on the dark side. It's really going to be a good decade. (Now waiting for my other half to get there, hee hee hee!)

The Thinker

Time is flying by and all of a sudden, Jack will be 1 year old next week. He is doing so much. 

Physically he is crawling like a mad man and pulling himself up to stand. He is just now starting to be daring and let go to reach another chair nearby and stand for a couple seconds by himself. We just went to his first Gymboree class which was so much fun and met some new people and saw some old friends. Jack just loved following the kids around, meeting them, taking their eyes out of their sockets. The class is great because they are moving so much, singing, doing things together to help them walk and climb. He has 6 teeth with 2 coming in a little secretly this time. 8 in total by his birthday I presume.

Mentally he is a little engineer. Grandpa McGhee (AKA Opa) says that John was like him, always trying to figure out how things work. A couple weeks ago it was the light switches and now it is knobs. He loves to open and close doors.  Huge breakthrough was when he was closing the door yesterday to the bathroom and the cupboard door was blocking it. I asked him what could be in the way and what would he do and he closed the cupboard door and then closed the bathroom door. It was fantastic! He was really intent on figuring out how the fix that problem. 

He is still a big guy. I am not sure if any pounds are flying off of him but I am not worried. He might just be a tall boy. He goes to the doc in 2 weeks to see how he is doing and get a shot, eww. Dr. Nash is great for him though and great for me because he is so mellow. Maybe we can figure out what Jack's little rash on his cheeks are from.

In our house, Steve and I have had our 4 year anniversary. I got out my wedding dress to bask in it's beauty and then we gorged ourselves in a 4 course meal with wine. Yum. Steve wouldn't let me wear my wedding dress but I guess I can wait for our second wedding for that;) (We will be getting married again to each other. I will keep you posted.) 

Grandma and Grandpa Hough came to visit and loved playing with their little grandson. Jack's God Mum Anna and her hubby Ben visited from England. It was great to see our good frineds who live way too far away. I have been happy to get away on the weekend to get a massage here and there or do some Andria time. I have also been playing polo with my awesome ladies every week. I love it. It has been great to have the sun out and Jack napping so well (knock knock on wood.) I can finally do some email and blogging and whatever else I need free hands for. I also had a chance to wine taste with my uncle John who is such a great guy for showing us around a couple wineries. He is starting a great blog about wine and marketing which I hope to study more thoroughly once I get some time to go back into working. Check it out if you are interested. It is getting a lot of attention. http://thinkwinemarketing.wordpress.com

Pictures to come!

I forgot my pants!

Well maybe not my pants. Yesterday I got the crew all packed in the car, Charlie and Jack, and all that goes with them, drove to Grandma's to drop them off and go to water polo practice. I was cozy, in presentable clothes but as I hop out of the car, I look down and I have my slippers on. Ah the life of a parent. Now I can understand why I see moms out with the weirdest of things on. Thank goodness grandma's house and the pool were my only destinations.

Explorer Jack

Jack had his 10 month check up last week. All was great, and is still off the charts for weight. The doctor said he is just the size of a 18month old. The only problem we have with that is that people might start thinking you have a retarded child who doesn't talk and walk when he should. He said once you tell them he is only 10 months then you will see the "ahhh, okay" light bulb go off. Our pediatrician is funny and I can see his point.

Today Jack has amazed me. Yesterday he was super clingy and drove me crazy, not able to do anything. Today I tried to let him explore everything. I vacuumed and he crawled around me as I did. When I stopped, he pushed the vacuum back and forth like I did. Same with the broom. He also gave me a kiss with an open mouth and blows kisses by saying "ba" instead of mwoah. He has been crawling like crazy and now pulls himself up on anything and makes a walker out of chairs, toys, Charlie. Today he let go and was standing for a couple of second by himself. Woah! This is the first of his independant high up life. Let's clear the second shelf of stuff off! He can now get to it. All in one day. He is a busy boy.

With my new computer, pictures and videos will be on line soon! For now, here is Jack in his first bike helmet and first snow. Not an infant helmet, no, he has outgrown that one already. He is in a toddler one already, Big Heed!! The second is our trip to Tahoe with the local McGhees. The last two are of naked time before bed. He has no modesty (maybe that's us).

Christmas!!!!!

Last time on Jack: well that was some time ago. He is getting seriously busy.

Jack is crawling on his tummy like a champ these days. With one arm as balance and the other to pull him like he is going under barbed wire in boot camp. Dr. Jim says that that is called crawling and he has yet to creep with the tummy off the ground. This boy's tummy is sizable so I think we should give him some time for that. He is flying with the crawling trick already. We are now baby-sizing our house.

More impressive is how he cal crawl and then tuck his leg under and push himself back onto his bum. He'll crawl, sit to inspect something he has come across, then continue along the floor with thing in hand or it being tossed to the side. He loves Charlie his "dig" and now tries to climb over him. Charlie is okay with most of it but moves when he is annoyed.

Things that amuse him are fake coughs, I think because he does fake coughs and knows we are onto him, attacking our hair, tickles in his rib and pudgy thighs. He is kind of sneaky and laughs when we catch him at things. He also is keen to wave at you if you do it first, except with Opa McGhee which he just does whenever he sees him. I think he does a little wave when he wants more of something.

We think he repeats words like momma and dada when we say them but we aren't sure yet.
Check our pictures for more updates and movies for his first Christmas. He asked if Santa was real already and we told him to just believe. Inquisitive kid. He hasn't spoken again since. :) Jack also wanted a Red Rider Beebee gun but was told that he'll shoot his eye out. He got a play structure. Just as usefull right now.