It's Jack...Just Jack

I've been struggling with people calling Jack Jackson.  We specifically named him Jack, not Jackson and it irritates me that people just assume his name is something other than it is.  If I introduce you to my son and say his name is Jack, why would you think it was anything other than that.  I can kind of  understand when people shorten someone's name like Elizabeth to Liz, but why would you make it longer?

Anyway, so I got up this morning decided to try and rectify the situation.  I got on my dear embroidery machine, Bernie, and made Jack a special shirt that says "Just Jack".  Passive aggressive?  Maybe. You decide?

Lunch Date

Jack had a lunch date with his girlfriend Ellis earlier this week.  Before we headed out for lunch, Ellis' mom gave Jack's hair a little trim since it had gotten a little straggly since his last hair cut.  Jack was such a big boy and sat all by himself in the chair and didn't fuss at all.  I think he may have been trying to impress Ellis!  Everyone in the salon was shocked at how well behaved he was.

still flinching from the water being sprayed

sitting up like a big boy

All done...baby faux hawk and all

After Jack looked a little more like Beckham, we headed out to lunch.  Jack often gets attention when we are out to eat...he has quite an appetite, but Jack and Ellis were like little celebrities in the restaurant.  Everyone wanted to come over and talk to them and play with them and comment on them.  All Jack and Ellis wanted to do was make googly eyes and blow kisses at each other.  They were really cute together.  One woman asked if she could be invited to their wedding.  It is always good to get together with Erin and Ellis.  Jack and Ellis are 3 days apart in age and Erin and I are always asking the other for advice or just support.  I'm sure we will all be lifelong friends (if not family some day).

15 Months

Better late than never!  We have been too busy watching Jack grow up to do much blogging.

Jack went to the doctor for his 15 month well check-up and the doctor agrees with us in that Jack is the happiest, most relaxed little guy ever.  He flirted with the nurses and cried after his shots, but quickly recovered by the time we were leaving so that he could wave and say bye-bye to everyone.

His current stats are:

Weight:  23 pounds, 10 ounces (35th percentile)
Height:  30.5 inches (30th percentile)
Head:  46 centimeters (20th percentile)

This month, Jack:

• wears mostly 12 month clothes (some 9 and some 18)
• wears size 4.5W shoes
• wears size 4 diapers and size 5 overnight diapers
• eats everything! His current favorites are raspberries, tomatoes, spicy foods, and chocolate
• can now walk/shuffle sideways
• can tell us what a lion says and what a sheep says (fairly consistently)
• says "hi", "bye", "Mom-Mom", "Dada", "Yes", "Uh-oh"
• loves to give hugs and kisses
• throws the dog toys for Molly
• is starting to climb
• can stand up on his own without pulling up
• is transitioning from 2 naps a day to 1
• sleeps 12 hours a night
• enjoys talking on the phone (both to pretend and real people)
• says "hi" anytime he hears a phone ring (even if it's on tv)
• loves swimming and jumping off the side of the pool
• likes to help throw trash in the garbage can and play in the dishwasher
• enjoys being outside
• loves to get his stuffed animals out and snuggle them (he says "mmm, mmm" while hugging)
• likes to "read" books with you and by himself
• brushes his teeth (with lots of help)
• pushes his cars around and makes a "vroom vroom" sound
• is starting to tantrum when he doesn't get his way

We really won the baby lottery with Jack and we continue to feel so lucky to be his parents!

300

Wow!  This marks our 300th post on Mulley Musings.  Thanks for sticking with us through all the busy times and the not to so busy times.  We appreciate you!

We are so sorry we've been MIA...

We've had a crazy busy March and therefore the blogging took a back burner, but I have played a little catch-up and to make it easier on you, I have made links to all the most recent posts so that you can see what we have been up to.  I still need to post about Jack's 15 month check-up and stats, but I'll get to that tomorrow (hopefully).  Until then, here's some of what the Mulleys have been up to.

Baby Bennett was born and Jack and I went to see him

Jack got all grown up

Mr. T came for a visit

Jack fell in love with some chickens

Jack got a passport

We played at the park

And that brings us back to do...

I'm sorry I haven't been a very faithful blogger as of late, but we have been busy living life, getting sick, missing Daddy when he travels and honestly I've been putting off blogging.  I hope you'll understand and still come back and check on us often.  I will try to get better.  If Jack would just learn how to type, maybe I could pay him to blog.

Park Time

We have had some awesome weather lately and therefore have enjoyed some serious time at the park.  Jack doesn't enjoy swinging as much as he used to.  He still likes to swing, but not for as long as he would before.  Now, he wants to get down and explore.  He like to climb to the top of the play equipment (while closely supervised) and he's learning to enjoy the slide.  He is completely enamored by the wood chips that are all over the ground and he occasionally tries to taste them.  When he sees a girl on the playground he likes to stare at her, follow her, love up on her parents, and just flirt.  He doesn't care if the girl is 2 months old or 200 years old...he is in love!

Ahh, wood chip heaven!

More wood chips

Starting the climb

Ready to walk the wobbly bridge

and because we got some video footage...

That Was Easy

As you know, the Mulleys are going to England this summer to see our family and participate in go to the Olympics.  Because we are leaving the country, Jack needed a passport.  No, he cannot be on our passports (a very common question we have gotten).  Here's how the process went...

1.  Went to get Jack's picture taken for the passport.  It took over 30 minutes to get his picture because he wouldn't stop smiling.  My boy has never met a camera he didn't love.  The girl at Sears said he wasn't allowed to smile in his picture and I kindly told her that it was either smile or cry.  I think she finally wore him down or caught him right before a sneeze and we were finally able to leave.

Jack's mugshot passport picture

2.  We called to make an appointment with the local passport office and were quite surprised to find that the first available appointment in all of the Raleigh area was over a month away.

3.  We filled out the appropriate forms and made all necessary copies so that we had everything ready when the big day came.

3.  We waited and waited and waited...

4.  Dave found out that he would be traveling the week of our passport appointment.  This is important because both parents need to be present when getting a passport for a minor.  I guess there are crazy people out there that steal their children and leave the country.  Since Dave was not able to be present, he had to get another form notarized saying that he gave consent for Jack to get a passport.

5.  The big day finally arrived.  I gathered up all of the pertinent documents (and Jack) and headed off to the passport office.  I was sure it was going to be a long wait (it took me several hours the last time I got my passport) so I had books and snacks and milk and water and blankets and all kinds of things to keep Jack occupied.  We walked into the office about 10 minutes before our appointment time and walked out before we were even scheduled to begin!  The lady working behind the desk was very appreciative of my organization and was very efficient herself.  She commented on Jack looking so sad in his photo and I told her about the whole debacle with getting his picture taken.  She said, "Oh honey, babies can smile in their pictures."  I almost had the woman retake his picture right there...but I refrained.  My mom always said that you should look like you need a vacation in your passport picture.  Jack certainly fits that bill.

6.  Today, less than 3 weeks after we submitted the application for Jack's passport, it arrived in the mail.  The lady said it would take between 4 and 6 weeks-probably closer to 6.  Apparently, the people saw Jack's picture and thought he really needed a vacation and put a rush on his passport.

We are one step closer to our trip to England.  We can't wait to see everyone and give them big squeezes!

Chickens

Our friend Rick's parents were in town and besides seeing all Raleigh had to offer, they wanted to see a toddler.  We were unable to make it to the dinner that they planned, so Jack and I headed over to see everyone on yesterday afternoon.  Rick and Rob have flock of chickens so I was pretty excited that Jack was going to get to see them.  When we got there, Rick took Jack outside to meet the chickens and Jack was mildly interested.  Then they came back inside to visit and Jack showed off all of his tricks.  After a while, a couple of the chickens got up on the deck so I took Jack over to the sliding glass door to show him.  He immediately sat down and was mesmerized by the chickens for a good 15 minutes.  Bookie and Max (the dogs) were very interested in sharing Jack's snacks while he watched the chickens, but Rick wouldn't let them.  When Jack grew tired of the chicken show, he got up and placed his snack cup in Bookie's kennel.  He's a good sharing friend!

one chicken

Barbie (on the rail) decided to join the party

Rick threw some food out there to encourage the chickens to entertain Jack

I Pity the Fool!

Jack has started wearing his links as a necklace.  This morning he decided he needed to wear all of them at once.  He then proceeded to walk around like he was Mr Big Stuff.  He got one on and then he wanted to keep putting the "necklaces" on until there was no more accessorizing he could possibly do.

Showing off his bling

Jack now likes to charge the camera when he sees me taking a picture

So proud of himself

Time Flies

When I got Jack dressed this morning, I had no idea that he had transformed from a sweet little baby into a big boy who looks like he is ready to head off to college.  Where did that sweet little baby go?

"Hey ladies.  How you doin?"

Baby Bennett

My good friends Elizabeth and Chris (and Jack's auntie and uncle Nida) recently had a baby boy.  Jack and I made plans to take Elizabeth lunch so that we could see that sweet baby again.  While we ate lunch, Bennett slept happily next to the table and Jack would turn around to check on him often.  After lunch, Bennett was a little hungry himself so he got a little fussy.  Jack wasn't really sure what was going on, but didn't seem to be too distraught over the crying.  I honestly wasn't sure how Jack would do with the little baby, but I think he did great.  He was gentle and observant, but also happy to play on his own (and show auntie Nida what would need to be baby-proofed in the future).