Dining Out

We went out to dinner recently at one of our favorite restaurants, The Pit.  Dining out is practically an Olympic sport based on how much preparation we have to do before we head out. We have to make sure there is something on the menu that Jack will eat, we have to make sure we take his bib, and place mat, and sippy cup, and some snacks (in case the food takes too long), and something to entertain him.  We are often exhausted before we ever leave the house, but Dave and I both feel that taking Jack out to restaurants with some frequency is good for him.  We want him to be a well-behaved child when we are out to eat and the best way for him to learn those skills to practice them.

A little pre-dinner coloring

Enjoying a biscuit as an appetizer

Horray! The food is here!

I can't believe I ate the whole thing!

Wipe your mouth.

All clean!

Brrrrring, Brrrrring....Hello?

Jack is a little obsessed with telephones lately.  For the past several months he has enjoyed playing with our cell phones.  And then he got a toy cell phone from his Auntie Allee and her family for his birthday and that has just encouraged his obsession.  His toy cell phone rings, makes noise when you push the buttons, has pre-recorded messages and I was even able to record a message of my own.

My favorite part of him "talking on the phone" is when he screams Hiiiii! and then puts the phone to his ear shoulder.  He appears to answer several questions (quick, one-syllable words) and even laughs at something funny (his imaginary friend must be a hoot!).

When we have actual people on the phone, he clams up immediately.  He doesn't want to talk to real people.

Then & Now

There are few things as good as snuggling with my baby, but it sure is hard to get him to stay still long enough for a good snuggle now a days.

Snoozing with Mommy (5 weeks old)

Tolerating a snooze with Mommy (13.5 months old)

Faking a snooze with Mommy (13.5 months old)

Little People with Great Big Plans

I did a little shopping on Craigslist recently and found a huge lot of Little People for Jack.  I have always loved Little People and almost all of my students have too.  I always get the theme song from Little people stuck in my head when I start thinking about them... Little people with great big plans. Last week, Jack and I drove to Chapel Hill to pick up our findings from Craigslist and I hummed the song the whole way there.  I was clearly much more excited about this purchase than my son was.  We met the lady and made our exchange in a grocery store parking lot and then we were off to pick up our other purchase.  When I got back in the car, Jack was a little upset that he didn't get to get out with me so I reached into one of the bags and pulled our a character.  I cleaned him off and handed him to Jack.  The one that I happened to pull out was a pilgrim from the Thanksgiving set.  I told Jack that it was his daddy.  He held on to that little guy the whole way to our other pick-up location and then the whole way to the gym.  He spoke quietly to the pilgrim and studied him intently.

Jack does not appreciate his private moments with "Daddy" being captured

Loving the "Daddy"

Whatcha lookin' at?

Taking "Daddy" for a ride on his firetruck

Very sad that Mommy took away his "Daddy"

Oh wait, there he is!

First Hair Cut

Jack's hair has been looking a little raggedy lately and we decided to get it cleaned up a little bit.  My favorite hair dresser is swamped lately and Dave was getting anxious so we went to the local Great Clips to get Jack a little trim. 

We weren't too worried about him acting up, but we weren't really sure how he was going to react.  The sweet lady that cut Jack's hair was so nice and patient with him.  She took time to show him all of her tools before she used them on his head and worked with him as he moved around constantly.

Glenda and Dave discussing the style

Jack apprehensively happy

Profile...before

Jack got some hair on his hand was was a little weirded out

Glenda working to get the front meticulously straight

Jack checking out the clippers

And my boys look even more alike now!

Jack's new smiley face

 All in all, Jack did a great job and hopefully he won't be afraid to get his haircut in the future since he had such a successful first hair cut.  I think he looks so much older since the trim.  What do you think?

Sew Much to See

I've been doing a bit of sewing, embroidering, and appliqueing lately and thought I'd share some of my creations (or at least the stuff that I have pictures of).

I made Madison and Delaney shirts with their names on them.  I remember when I was little and I loved having my name on stuff.

Madison modeling her shirt

I also embroidered a sweatshirt for Granny Roady.  A couple months ago she said she wanted a sweatshirt with all of her grandkids on it.  She also mentioned in passing that it should say "Granny's Gang".  I sat back and took notes and then got to work on a special shirt for her.

Granny modeling her shirt (she and Madison went to the same school of modeling)

I made Jack and Miles matching bags so they could keep all of their important stuff with them when they went swimming together over Christmas.

"Wait!  I dropped something."

And their off

I also made Jack's birthday shirt.  Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture of Jack in his birthday shirt so here's the best I could find...

I did not make this hat!

I have a very dear friend who is having a baby-any minute now-and I sent them a little "Welcome to the World" package last week that included a few burp cloths and a couple of my (in)famous business casual onesies.

I also just made Jack a Valentine onesie.  It's not too girlie like most things Valentine's Day related. 

Tough Love

And, of course, I've also made some bikini onesies and some pillow case dresses.

For the beach babe in your life

First thing I ever sewed unsupervised ( a few years ago)

Needless to say, Bernie (the embroidery machine) and I have been busy lately and I'm in the market for a new sewing machine.

I've enjoyed making things for Jack and his friends and family.  I've sold a few things here and there, but a majority of the things I've made I have given them away as gifts.  See anything you like?

Reward?

One of Jack's favorite things in the house is the vacuum cleaner.  I like to use it as a reward.  He just likes to use it!  He knows where we store it and if that door is not shut properly, he will get it out and push it all over the house.

Alright, I got what i want!

I can push it while crawling

I like to stand on this part

I giggle when I push the vacuum

Where's Jack?

Ahhhh, the closet of good fortune!

Let's see how I can get this thing out...

oooooooo, the vacuum!

helping Mommy vacuum