Recent

Sorry it's been a while, I'm a little overwhelmed with obligations at the moment. I'll just run through the Daily Intake forms quick and add that currently the things that will stop Jack dead in his tracks are:  safety cones, keys and toast with jam. He also notices when we are in a toy store and wants to play with the things he sees whereas before he was pretty much indifferent. He also enjoys doing things that mimic Momma and Poppa. He really likes the kitchen set up they have at school, his kid-sized broom at home and you should see the little bashful smile of pride on his face when he wears the little backpacks they have at school. 

March 4, 2009

Jack had a great day today like always. Jack tried to give Amelia a kiss today it took some time but he finally did. He also had a green backpack on and we said "Jack are you going to school?" and he had a huge smile on his face.

March 6, 2009

Outside in the yard, Jack giggled as he chased bubbles.

March 9, 2009

Jack, Jack L., Solomon and Olufemi went on a stroll/walk on campus this morning with all of the toddlers from Room 2!

(At Jack's school there is access to the room next door so that kids can get used to the room they will be in next year. Jack is a frequent visitor to Room 2-sometimes bravely, sometimes not so bravely. Also on this day, one of Jack's teachers told me that they had flubber out and Jack was the only one who would touch it, although he preferred to carry the canister of it around the room.)

Pictures I had trouble adding to the last post

and from his Intake form:

date?

Today Jack enjoyed playing with the spiral ball slide (in picture above). He smiled as he watched the balls roll down the spiral and land in the trap.

2/20/09

While outside today Jack and Olu were playing in the sand together. After, they both went to ring the bells and were smiling at each other while doing it!

2/25/09

Jack Simon had a great day as usual!! He went outside and played in the sand, as well as with bubbles and couldn't stop smiling.

2/27/09

Jack had a great day today. We went outside and TA's from Room 2 were blowing bubbles and Jack would try to eat them.

3/2/09

Jack was looking in the mirror today and yelling "Jack!" and pointing at himself as he yelled.

babies brains double in size in the first year

It is really hard to keep up with all the little intracacies (sp?) of the developing Jack. It's amazing watching his brain step up a level pretty much every couple of days. Like the day that I realized he was no longer satisfied when I handed him one toy or object. He needs to have two so he can find the relationship between them-put them together, stack them, bang them together. He's making the leap and it takes me twice as long to realize he's moving on again!

He really watches kids that are just slightly older than him, especially Olu and Jack Reilly at school, and follows their lead. At daycare on Monday Olu put on a tutu so Jack and Edward did as well. When I walked in Jack was happily playing with the spiral ball slide in this tutu which he had been wearing all afternoon. (it was so cute I could hardly stand it.)

He's trying to run now and wants to walk around on the bus, not just sit still on my lap. At swimming he stands when they do "Humpty Dumpty" and jumps into the water rather than sitting and just sort of leaning into my arms; he also splashes and grabs for things under water. 

I had Jack out on the back porch of the building the other day, and he was very pleased to sit in the chair and swing his legs. He REALLY likes sitting in chairs, especially ones that are his size. The other day Sean had to stop me from buying the $5 Barbie lawnchair at the second hair store that Jack pulled out and delighted himself with sitting in.

He also knows where things are kept and goes back to those places to find the things he likes to play with. 

I mean, sure, this can easily start to sound like those annoying parents that think every flicker of the eye is a sure sign he's a genius. BUT THE REASON I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE PARENTS (ha ha) is because I recognize that all kids go through this, and I find it utterly amazing every time. When was the last time I did something in one year as significant as learn to walk??? Even a graduate degree takes a couple years at least. When was the last time I comprehended something as crucial to the universe as "when you close the door, the object is still there, and it will be there tomorrow when you come back too"?

It blows my ever loving mind and I am utterly riveted watching Jack's face as he takes some new piece of information in. Or he recalls his hair when we look at the picture of the girl's pelo marron in his Spanish/English picture book. 

 

no wonder he's been having such a hard tim

In addition to the fact that Jack has been sick, he's got a molar about halfway in-I spotted it this morning when he was laughing. The molars are supposed to be tough.

Jack also drew a picture in school today without eating any crayons (yesterday I tried at home, but the peach crayon is his favorite). I'm certain it's because he's drawing with other kids who are just slightly older than him at the same table, and they don't eat their crayons. I always notice that on the way home from daycare Jack is more concentrated, and I dare to say "grown up" about his actions. Today on the bus he took my necklace watch off of me, and then put it around his neck and then with diligence and focus he put it on his neck, took it off, wrapped the chain around his shoulders, touched it, took it off and so on. He did the same thing with one of his toys yesterday-draped it around his shoulders and let the blocky part of it drag on the ground while he walked around the house. It's really fascinating to watch.

Intake notes:

2/13/2009

Jack had a fever 101.3 or more at 11:15

(this was the day I had to bring him home early)

2/16/2009

Jack was singing five little monkeys today as well as head, shoulders, knees and toes with Adriana.

2/18/2009

Jack had the giggles all day today! He thought everything was hilarious!

( I think he was pretty goofy from being tired)

but one thing

I love watching Jack discover his ability to move. It's fascinating how he has no sense of limitations. He's completely IN every part of his body and he'll try to move in any direction he feels like. 

oh yea, and Jack likes black beans.

And he mimics the work we do. Putting things away, wiping up, and Sean said he was trying to hang up his coat on his little coat rack that Gramps made yesterday.

winter cold

We've all been pretty sick lately. Jack had to come home early from daycare on Friday and we took him to the doctor. No ear infection, no lung problems. Just have to treat the symptoms and work our way through it. Jack has had a terrible time trying to sleep, poor little guy.

Anyway, it's hard to keep up on everything because Sean and I are both really run down as well, but I hope to get more pictures and posts up in another week or so.

almost 13 months

Jack has had a good time going back to swimming, even though it messes with his sleeping schedule. He loves to splash when he first gets into the pool. Because the lessons happen right when he normally sleeps, he's usually kind of tired and just wants to hold a ball or ring and watch. But he seems really fascinated when everyone sings songs. Papa taught him to growl when he sees an alligator in his book and so now he growls when he's given a rubber alligator toy at swimming. Jack is walking better every day, it's still always a shock to see him get up and walk across the room. He's not always good about navigating around things in his way, so he still falls down, but then he does his "knee-walk" to finish up the distance to his destination.

The whole family has been sick for while now, and consequently Jack has gotten very nervous about being separated from mom or dad. His cough has woken him up a couple times (generally around 3:30 am) and we just tell ourselves that this too shall pass as we try to get him back to sleep. 

Even though it's a little big for him, Jack really likes his little table and chairs from Grandpa Lew and Grandma Muriel. He's able to scoot himself up onto the chair to look at books and he also does this funny thing where he tips one of the chairs over and walks in between the upturned legs while babbling to himself. I would give my eye-teeth to know what is going on there.

Infant daily intake (I think I'm missing one), Sean and I were laughing about how every sheet seems to start out with "Jack had a great day". It's become the running joke. "So Jack, did you have a great day at daycare today?" He also drew his first picture in daycare and didn't eat any crayons! They framed it and put it up, but they told me they'd have him draw more so I can take one home. (when I try to get him to draw at home he always eats the crayons)

February 4: 

Jack had a great day. He went outside today which he always enjoys. Jack has also been practicing saying "stop" and raising his hand saying "stop"

February 6:

Jack was so excited when we played the "Monkey Song". He held on to a riser as he danced and popped his body up and down. Sol was crying when his father left but he stopped and joined Jack on dancing when he saw how excited Jack was.

February 9:

Jack was sitting at the table eating his cheese and he pointed to the cups and it sounded like he said "water"