Fun with Daddy

Chris is such a good dad.  Every day when he comes home from work, he spends time playing with JT - no matter how rough his day was or how tired.  I love watching them play.  He is definitely a daddy's boy.  Sometimes their playing is so rough that I freak out - but {usually} no one gets hurt.  And even when someone does get hurt - it has been nothing a sucker can't make better.  I usually don't get to take pictures of their interactions because Chris is usually not appropriately dressed for public photos.  Yesterday, I told him that he needed to start putting appropriate clothes on so that I could take pictures of him and JT.

 I was about to take pictures but JT was in just his diaper (as he is the majority of the time) - I grabbed some clothes out of the closet and asked Chris to get JT dressed.  I did not realize the shorts were two sized too small - but Chris managed to get them on him! Unfortunately - they were so tight that every time JT tried to walk - he fell down.

Not sure what JT's fascination with sunglasses are - he owns three pair and will commandeer anyone and everyones glasses and sunglasses ~~ but he will share!

The little guy is extremely flexible...

Watching the two of them play brings me more joy than I could ever express

And JT is constantly cracking me up with his little expressive face!

Slowing down the pace for 2012.... or are we?

After a busy month of visiting family,celebrating JT's first birthday and another trip to WV (to take Gran home) - we are finally starting to slow down. JT still looks at Gran's bedroom and says "Ga Ga" (his name for her) every morning.  Chris and I miss her talent for being able to get the wiggle worm dressed without having to tackle him to the ground. We did get lessons from Gran on how to get him dressed - but he just does not cooperate with us like he does Ga Ga. 

On January 5th - JT got his very first haircut!  He did much better than I thought he would and we were quite proud of him.  And yes!  I did cry when he got his hair cut - I had to admit to myself that he was no longer my baby - but a toddler - a little man....















We went to a place called Spoiled Rockin Kids in Southeast Huntsville.  It rates a 10 on the coolness scale!






Chris had some time off work, so he was "in charge" for a few days.  I have to admit, having him in charge of JT is quite entertaining.... 

First Picture ~ "Avocados for breakfast!  woo hoo!"

Second Picture ~ "When daddy feeds me breakfast, mommy gives me an extra bath!"

Third Picture ~ "Why, Yes!  Daddy did dress me.  Why do you ask?"

Fourth Picture ~ "Seriously daddy?  You have to cut up my food - ESPECIALLY if it is cantaloupe!"





Chris's vacation is over and he has gone back to work.  Today, JT got up from playing with his dinosaurs and walked over and got the phone.  He walked up to me, threw the phone at me and said "Da Da".  I could only assume that he was wanting to call Dada - so we called.  Dada was not at his desk - so we had to call twice so JT could listen to Chris' voice on his voice mail.  




It gets harder and harder for me to entertain that active little guy.  I am working on scheduling more play dates (local moms, please message me if you are interested!), we are also going to try a mommy and me class at The Little Gym next week.  Some days I wonder how in the world I can keep up with that little ball of energy that we call JT. But somehow..... I do!

New Motivation to Blog

OK - I am totally excited about blog books!  I saw one of my friends post on facebook that she had just finished her blog book.  So after stalking her blog, I googled blog book and realized it was the perfect substitute for Scrapbooking.  I figure since I have not scrapbooked in over a year, I need to do SOMETHING...  So, I have been putting together my blog books from 2008 - 2011 and I am committed to doing a better job of keeping my blog updated so I don't have to worry about scrapbooking all our memories!  I think I can.... I think I can....

The Quest for that perfect picture....

Last year, on Christmas Eve, I wanted to take a picture of JT in a Santa hat.  Chris laughed at me and said that it would be way too big for him.  I told him THAT was the point - it would be cute to see his tiny little head in the big Santa hat.  He thought it was silly, but once he saw the picture, he thought it was adorable.  But of course every picture we take, we think JT is adorable.


This year, Chris wanted to get the "exact same picture" with the same hat.  I knew this would be a challenge with an active one year old.  It seemed especially challenging when Chris informed me that JT needed to be laying down - because that is how the first picture was.

The first attempt of course was a disaster. He was not a happy camper that we laid him down AND put the hat on him.... 

So, the next thing we tried was me wearing the hat. I was singing and dancing and showing him how much fun wearing the hat was, hoping to get him to want to wear the hat...

It seemed to work - he reached out for it - but as soon as we tried to lay him down with it on him - he freaked out.  So then, I got a brilliant idea..... 

                              

A sucker!

While it is not the best picture,,,, it will do!



MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I seem to remember people telling me it gets easier.... they lied

No Problem Mon

Yes- I rember that not just one person, but many people told me  that things will get easier as JT gets older.  Liars Liars - pants on fire!  JT will be 7 months old in two days.  Although he is not crawling forward - he crawls backwards and does the "butt bounce" and other creative moves to get to where he wants to be.  Most of the time, where he wants to be is with the kitty.... or where there are electronics.  He keeps me on my toes - that's for sure.  With his increased mobility, I have had to start saying "No, No!"  At first JT just didn't seem to get the "No no", but then I said it very sternly with a "mean old mad mommy face".  The first time I did that, JT looked at me, his little bottom lip started quivering, and then he cried.  It was so pitiful.  I no longer feel that pity I felt for that brief moment, because now, when I put on that mean old mommy face and say very sternly "NO NO!"  He looks up at me and just laughs and laughs.  {{sigh}}

JT and Duchess ~ Duchess is SO patient with him

JT is not the only one that likes the teething bling ~ Duchess does too

He continues to fight sleep - both at nap times and at night.  I have resorted to putting him in the car and taking late night drives to get him to go to sleep. 
We just got back from a trip to South Carolina to visit my cousin Mike and his family.  It was an adventure..... he was pretty good, but yet he was definitely a challenge.  With two road trips under our belt, we will be taking our first plane trip soon.  I can't say I am looking forward to it, but I know it will provide me with a lifetime of memories that I will one day look back and not only cherish, but laugh about.  I must admit, that although he is more work than before, he brings more and more joy each day.  His smile brightens the room and when he giggles - you seem to forget all of your worries.  He is developing an amazing little personality.

7/2/11 ~ JT's first time on the swing at the park

Trying to get to one of his favorite toys ~ needless to say, he needed help getting out!

Playing with Mommy

Constantly climbing....

Loves his Daddy

Sitting on his new chair ~  this is the face he makes when daddy comes home

First Sucker (stolen from mommy)

Trip to South Carolina to visit mommy's cousin Mike