Everyone Wants to Hold Jack

Today is a Snow Day! Yay - I can update the blog and spend time with the family instead of working!

Jack is a popular fellow. I have so many photos of friends and family who have spent some time holding Jack. Here are some from the week of Thanksgiving.

I love the grin on Jack's face here!
Grandpa and Grandma Carol came to visit for Thanksgiving. Grandpa brought an album with pictures of his own Grandpa. I think Jack looks a little like his Great Great Grandpa Nathaniel.

Caitlin Brandau is reading "Pat the Bunny" to Jack. Jack enjoyed the book, but I think his poor teeth were hurting him so badly that day, he wanted to eat the book instead of read it.

Molly Brandau gets a good cuddle with Jack.

Here's Jen Berger teaching Jack what babies drink in Wisconsin.

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I don't have to go back to work until Jan 5th - so expect more updates to the blog as Jack goes on his first airplane ride to Georgia and has his first Christmas.

Jack and the B-17

I realize I am a few weeks behind in posting and I do have lots of new pictures to post, but I wanted to post this topic separate from all the Thanksgiving photos. A couple of weeks ago, a restored B-17 came to town and Jack got his first look at one. We got there only a few minutes before they were closing the tour so we only got a quick look. We will go for a longer tour of one someday when Jack is old enough to enjoy airplanes.

The men who were running the tour didn't really believe I would want to take a baby inside since it is a narrow climb to get in and through, and there are plenty of places to bump your head. Once I explained that it was important to me because Jack's Graddy flew in one during WWII, they helped me by holding Jack and handing him up to me after each climb and narrow walkway. The hardest part was getting through the bomb bay walkway. It's so narrow and I'm suprised men didn't accidentally fall off the walkway/out of the plane when the bomb bay doors were open during missions. There is no way I could have gotten through there when I was pregnant with Jack!



How could Graddy have ever fit in there? I wish I could have put Jack in the ball turret for a size reference. Let's just say it is smaller than his stroller.

It was really, dark, narrow and too crowded for good photos, but here's the best shot of Jack in the B-17. The silver round thing in the background is the ball turret from the inside of the plane.

Ball Turret from above. Now I understand why Dad (Graddy) always listened for the landing gear to go down whenever we were in an airplane.

Jack's October Adventures

We have had such a busy October. Mom had to go back to work which is very hard for mom, but not for Jack. Jack loves to spend the day with his Granny. They go for walks, sing songs, and read books. Jack is very happy to go to Granny's house each day. Mom wishes she could stay at Granny's house instead of going to work - they seem to have a lot of fun and a lot of love.


Jack's first Halloween was great. We went to the downtown Halloween festival where Jack loved seeing all the kids in costumes. He stayed up very late looking at everything and every one. I bet he'll dig it even more one day when he finds out that the nice folks will give you candy if you say "trick or treat". Here is Jack the astronaut hanging out on Halloween with Elliot Beveridge - all decked out in full princely regalia. The kids had some amazing costumes out there!

Check out some of the other fancy costumes Jack's friends had on that night: http://mesoschmidt.blogspot.com/2008/10/happy-halloween.html



Jack loves to go visit Aunt Jane. The day this picture was taken, she taught him about the difference between guitar and piano music. They also talked about all the homophones of you (U, ewe). Jack especially likes the "you" where you point at him and tickle his belly.


Jack is not quite strong enough to sit up on his own, but he doesn't like to lay down much. He prefers to be propped up with some pillows or sit up in play seats. Leah and Eric gave him this play seat that can keep him busy for at least 15 minutes which is a very long time for such a little guy.
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Jack Loves His Teddy Bear

Since our last blog post, Jack's Granny moved to town. She's just 10 miles up the hill from us and she's such a great help with Jack.

Jack is learning about how to reach out and hold things.

Here he is playing with his teddy bear. He is becoming more and more able to grab onto things that he wants.

September

Jack has had a few busy weeks since I last updated his Blog. He became a two-month old on Monday and had his first shots. He did very well - he handled them very well and did not complain nearly as much as his Dad did the last time I made HIM get a shot.
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Jack is also playing more with his feet since last Thursday. We put rattles on them and he enjoys kicking to make them rattle.
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Two weeks ago Jack had a visit from G-Ma and his cousin Elizabeth. G-Ma taught Jack how to say his vowels A, E, I, O, and U. Jack particularly enjoys I and U.


Jack "chilling" before a trip to the museum

His cousin taught Mom how to do a better swaddle and also taught Jack how to hold a rattle. Here is a short video of Jack playing with his rattle.

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This Friday night we went to Aunt Jane's house to spend the night. We try not to let him be in the room too much when the TV is on, but Jack seemed very interested in the presidential debate and kept turning his head to look at the men who were speaking. I think we will still love Jack even if he decides to become a politician. Jack stayed with his Aunt Jane Saturday morning and learned so much from her. He learned how to roll from his back to his side and he also learned to reach for things he wants. He even greeted me this morning by reaching his hands out to me from his bassinet. It's fun to see how much he learns from others. I wonder what he will do next?

Jack 6-7 weeks

Jack at 6 weeks old
Jack is growing and growing. I think I can even see a neck in this photo.

At seven weeks, Jack went to go see Aunt Jane. Here we see Bob looking as if he knows what to do with a baby.

Jack and Jack's Dad enjoying Santa Rosa Lake!

Labor Day, 2008

Dad took a break from working in the yard while Jack took a break from his busy day.

Eve would like to remind everyone that it is her birthday today and she wants to know why she doesn't have a Blog. - Happy Birthday Eve!

Jack - five weeks old

Jack is starting to smile back at Mom and Dad. We do appreciate the adoration of our little fan. He tries to hold his head up more and more (though not in this photo). He's growing so very fast. We still haven't figured out how to get Jack to take naps at home during the day, but he is a good sleeper when we go out and he sleeps well at night.

Jack in his Jammies

8/23/08 Jack looked so adorable passed out in his jammies last night I just had to take a picture. When he was a few days old, he would conk out after every feeding like a drunken sailor. He doesn't do that very often anymore, but last night he was really tired - probably from staying up all day!

Jack on his 1 month birthday 8/22/08

I'm hoping this blog will be useful for family and friends who want to watch Jack grow. I'll try to keep it updated with new photos periodically so that you have new ones to download every so often.

Today Jack is one month old. Mike and I went to the doctor for his checkup. He is very healthy and is now 11 lbs, 4 oz. and 22 in long! We are trying to get him to take naps every so often during the day, but Jack doesn't like them very much. He's getting much better at sleeping during the night, but almost never sleeps during the day.