Jack's 1st Steps!

New Year's Eve!!  Jack picked an easy day for us to remember the 1st time he took steps of his own (Eli took his 1st steps on my birthday)!!  We've been practicing walking with him a lot.  When JR got home from work today he went into the office to take off his shoes.  Jack and I followed him in there, Jack in the lead with me holding his hands and walking behind him.  We stopped and he acted like he wanted me to let go of his hands so I did.  I came around in front of him and kneeled down, he was standing there in front of me for about 5 seconds and I said "come on jack!"  With a huge smile he took 3 to 4 steps on his own before he fell into my lap.  They were very sturdy steps.  We were all there to see it and it was very exciting!!  I know it means more "trouble" but I'm anxious for the next step into big boyhood (no pun intended!).  

Christmas Eve 2013

We were a little under the weather this year for Christmas but that didn't stop us from having fun.  On Christmas Eve we stayed home and did some cleaning, laundry and most importantly, made Christmas cookies!  We had to make sure Santa had cookies.

Eli's elf left him a Christmas Eve goody bag before he went back to the North Pole.  When JR got home from work Eli got to open it.  Inside he found: a pair of Christmas pajamas for him and Jack, a new plate and mug for Santas cookies, hot cocoa and a new snowman mug to drink, a Christmas puzzle and book, plans to build a lego Christmas tree and some lollipops.  There was also some reindeer food for Eli to sprinkle on the lawn, so they could find their way.  It was oats with sprinkles mixed in :). He had so much fun.

Here he is sprinkling the reindeer food!

Eli didn't have much trouble getting to sleep after we assembled his Christmas tree, set up the cookies for Santa, cut the apples and carrots for the reindeer, drank some hot cocoa, and read the Christmas story.  

Picking out Santa's cookies 

Putting together carrots and apples for the reindeer.

Drinking hot cocoa.

We got all the presents under the tree and I was so excited I almost couldn't fall

asleep!  It's great seeing the joy in their little faces on Christmas morning.  

Can you see the bed head? ❤️

Jack is 16 Months

Jack is a busy boy.  He's not walking yet but getting really close.  Just this month he is starting to take forward steps while holding our hands or pushing a toy.  Christmas came at a great time because we made sure to get him plenty of items that he could practice with.  He is really proud of himself when he walks.

As far as Jack's personality goes, we think he has a good sense of humor, loves to dance, and loves music.  Jack seems to be more sensitive than Eli.  He takes longer to come around to strangers.  He also cries very easily.  We try our best to keep him happy but this is a busy household.  

Jack has 7 teeth now.  Part of the reason he's been crabby lately is because he got one of his molars.  I feel like teething is harder on Jack than it was for Eli.  We have to stop sometimes and remember that there are so many things that babies are going through at this age and this is not necessarily who Jack is.  If that make sense?  I mean he's not always going to cry all the time and be grumpy.  

We also discovered that Jack has some intolerances or allergies to foods.  On Thanksgiving I gave Jack a couple spoonfuls of ice cream.  Within 10 mins the area around his mouth, neck and wrists everywhere the ice cream had touched was red and welted with hives.  I had my suspicions on two other occasions when I had given him a couple of tastes of Eli's milkshake.  His face had gotten really red where the ice cream had touched.  As a baby I had given him yogurt and he always spit up afterwards. And another time I gave him a yogurt drink and he threw it up all over the place.  So Jack doesn't eat any dairy and it is limited in my diet (we are still

nursing).  

He really likes meat!  Especially hot dogs, sausage and bacon.  Chicken nuggets and fries he enjoys when big brother Eli eats them.  He likes ketchup and pasta sauce.  He likes pretzels and bunny crackers and fruit snacks too.  He likes grapes, blueberries, and strawberries.  He loves coconut ice cream :).  

He's better in the car but still fusses most trips.  He is still facing backwards in his car seat.  We will turn him around when he turns 2 (that is the recommended age, or longer if able).  

Playing with his new vacuum cleaner for Christmas.  

December Instagram

It's been a busy month so far.  I'm taking a page out of another bloggers book I've seen.  Here are a few pictures from my Instagram:

Top row from left to right: Our beautiful

Christmas tree and fireplace.  We have an extra stocking hanging from our mantle this year for Grandma!!  We got new stockings to celebrate.  Jack feeding Charlie his food, they are new best friends, haha.  Jack making his new funny face, he's so cute.

Second row from left to right:  Eli's Dear Santa letter.  He asked for 5 things this year.  He wrote the entire list himself.  Jack napping by the Christmas Tree.  Our elf on the shelf Snook causing elf shananigans!  He got locked up in lego jail for misbehavior :)

Third row from left to right:  Jack is looking outside the window at all the snow we got.  We bundled up and braved the frigid cold to run through the snow for 10 mins.  Like I said, it was really cold.  Snook came back from the North Pole with a super cape!  He needed it to keep him warm and navigate the windy weather.

Last row from left to right:  We went to the Christmas Tree Farm with Annice this year.  It was fun including her in our annual tradition.  Last year I was thinking Jack would be walking by now but next year he will be for sure.  He will have a blast running around there!  Jack saying hello to Charlie,  he loves the cats.  

That's our month so far.  We will have more pictures soon!

Sami