Jack is 6 months!

I know I am behind on my blogging, but life is full and we are enjoying every moment.  I don't say that casually.  People keep telling me 'soak it all in', and 'this phase goes by so quickly', and 'he'll be big before you know it'.  I have listened and am trying hard to love every minute with Jack (even those moments that come when he should be napping).

Recently my wonderful sleeper has been waking earlier than I like, but he's happy to stay in his crib and talk until I come in to get him at 7:00.  The mornings are a sweet time in our house.  Jack is typically blowing bubbles and making loud noises until he hears the hardwood floors creaking.  He gets very quiet, in what I believe to be anticipation, then smiles and coos when we walk into the door.  It is such an amazing feeling to have someone be so excited to see your face each morning.  He doesn't care about bed head, morning breath, or my old sweatpants.  He is just happy to see his mommy and daddy.  

Jack is full of new skills and tricks this month.

• He's now consistently rolling over belly to back.  (after taking a break for a few months, we are happy to see him rolling again!)

Almost there....

I did it!

• He's holding onto his toys and moving them right where he wants them to go--his mouth

One for now and one for later

• He has figured out that his hands have fingers, and keeps himself busy staring and chewing on them
• He loves to blow bubbles and stick out his tongue
• He's chewing on everything.  Watch out!  He will try to chew on you if you get too close to his mouth

Got milk?

• He helps to turn the pages when you read to him
• He gives high-fives.  Next time you see him, give it a try.  It usually comes with a big, proud smile
• He looks really cute in overalls.

• He is eating many new solids - sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, banana, avocado, pears, and mango 

He likes avocados as much as his mom.  Time for guacamole?

Jack had his 6 month check up with Dr. Bird on Tuesday.  The appointment went well and I learned a new trick about shots.  Apparently Jack didn't swallow all of the oral vaccine before the nurse moved on to his shots.  He started to cry when he felt the second prick, but couldn't because his mouth was full.  Before he could figure out what to do next, I was able to swoop him up and distract him from the pain:  no tears!  

Here are his stats and his 6 month picture.  Thank you for the Reds onesie Uncle Karl and Aunt Erika!  (Actually, Jack has two of these onesies.  Was the other one from you, mom and dad?)

Weight:  20lb 9 oz  - 90th percentile

Height - 28 3/4 in - 95th percentile

Head - 45 1/2 cm - 90th percentile

Happy little Reds fan

May 11, 2001

May 11, 2001 was a Friday.  The school year was just wrapping up and my six week substituting job in North College Hill was just days away from completion.   I had bus duty that afternoon and then I rushed off to the CET studios to help Jack Samad  with his Sex and Young America project.  I was paired up with his son Jacob to record the introductions to a few segments in the video.  

I remember being late and  fretting about what I was wearing for the shoot.  I remember being nervous about reading the teleprompter, and wondering how this was all going to turn out.  I also remember pondering what I was going to do later that night.  So when Jacob asked me to join him for a Reds game, I said sure.   He seemed nice enough and he was easy to talk to.  What did I have to loose?  He also played the guitar at Bible Study and I thought that was pretty cute.  Ok, I thought he was pretty cute too!  

When we walked out of the studio we learned that the Reds game had been postponed due to the rain, so we changed our plans and headed to La Salsa in Hyde Park Plaza.  We sat and talked for three hours.  Three hours at La Salsa, a fast food mexican restaurant!  After that we weren't ready to go home, so we rented a movie and went back to his parents house to watch it.  Yes, his parents house.  Did I mention that Jacob was 19?  Man, it feels like forever ago.  Oh, and we watched Pi.  That might tell you a little bit about how things went after that night.  A guy took me out for fast food, back to his parents house, and then chose a really, really strange movie and I was still thrilled to go out with him again when he asked two days later.    

After a few more dates and many emails, phone calls, and hours spent together, we knew that we were a match.  I officially became 'that roomate' who never had time for my friend, and Jacob and I became inseparable.  (Sorry Danni!)

I am so glad you asked me out that night Jacob.  Thank you for ignoring all of the people that discouraged you from asking!

Thanks for a great ten years together.

Thank you to whoever suggested that we pose for a picture while Christy was taking her prom pictures!
5.19.01

Skyline

So far we've given Jack rice cereal, carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and water and milk from a sippy cup.  He's not too excited about the food and he seems pretty disinterested when he first sits down to eat.  I guess what he really wants is a bite of his Daddy's cheese coney!  It took him about a half of a second to lunge forward with his mouth wide open when the server set the coney within arm's reach.  Jack, when you are old enough I promise to introduce you to this Cincinnati classic.

Who Are The People in Your Neighborhood?

Jack and I had a few errands to run around College Hill today, and it was nice enough to walk.  The sun was shining and people were smiling on the streets.  I was hoping to get in a bit of exercise, but our pace never picked up long enough since we were stopping to talk to neighbors, people at the bus stop, and friendly passers-by.

I couldn't help singing the familiar Sesame Street song, The People in Your Neighborhood.  You know the one - "Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? In your neighborhood?  In your neighborhood? Say, who are the people in your neighborhood?  The people that you meet each day."

It was a perfect song for today's walk since we saw so many different people.  It all started with a friendly conversation with the garbage lady.  She stopped to comment on how big Jack was and wished me a Happy First Mother's Day.  How sweet!

As we continued our walk we encountered many people.  These are the people living and working in our neighborhood:

• garbage collectors
• firemen
• bankers
• postal workers
• crossing guards
• police man
• restaurant workers (yes, I stopped at Goodies for a regular pig sandwich)
• a suspect wearing a blue hoodie last seen heading south on Hamilton Avenue

Hey - it happens.  We live in the Hill!  I do have to say that the police were great and we never seemed to be in harms way.  This is just a small part of what day to day life is like in College Hill.  We live with the bad to take the good -- the crossing guards that stop to meet Jack, since they remembered me when I was pregnant. Or the old lady walking down the street who stopped to talk to us and shared stories about when her kids were Jack's size.  Or the friendly mailman that remembers Jacob from when he lived two streets down as a child.  Or the big group of teenagers hanging out on the street who politely said good afternoon and moved out of our way to make space on the sidewalk.

It's not picture-perfect here in College Hill, but it is home.  The people working at the bank know my name when I walk in the door - and so do the people at the coffee shop, the wine shop, and the jeweler.  I can walk to all of those places, and soon Jack and I will be walking to the library, too.  We know most of the people who live on our street and many of the people who live in the community.  College Hill is a great place for us and we are invested, involved, and encouraged about the changes the community is making to create a safe place for families.  

Happy Birthday Christy!

When Jacob and I started dating ten years ago, his sister Christy was still in high school.  In fact, during one of our first dates we came back to his parent's house to watch her leave for her Junior Prom.  I remember watching her walk down the stairs in her dress and thinking, "Man, she is beautiful!"  

Well, Christy is still beautiful, but now I know so much more about this girl than just her pretty face.  I am thankful for the ten years I have had to get to know her.   Here is just a little peak into what I've learned about my sister:

• She can roll her eyes better than anyone else I know
• She is a fiercely loyal friend 
• She is creative and is great at giving intentional, unique presents
• She is way more extroverted and energetic than I can ever hope to be
• She is private and protective but is supportive and loving to you when you need her
• She always has funny things to say and makes me smile when I see her
• She is committed and determined -- she just finished her first half marathon!
• She was the best server First Watch ever had, and is now kicking butt at 3CDC
• She is a wonderful aunt to Jack

Now, I  have to admit that after getting to know Christy over the years, that last one kind of shocked me!  Don't get me wrong, I knew that she would love him and care for him, and maybe even offer to babysit once in a while.  I knew that she would be the aunt to take him on fun adventures and the one that would spoil him rotten.  I just thought that this whole baby thing would be a bit boring for a young, cool girl with a fun job and a boyfriend.  Boy was I wrong!  

Christy loves Jack and has gone out of her way to show him that.  She is a self-proclaimed baby-hog, and is not shy to let people know that it is her turn to be with Jack and that they will just have to wait.  I love it!  Recently she was scheduled to babysit on a rainy night when we were planning to go to the Reds game.  She kindly informed us that if the game got rained out, we still had to go somewhere -- she was going to babysit one way or another!  

Christy has stopped by a few times recently to hang out with us.  I am no fool.  I know who she wants to see.  Hey, I don't mind.  It is a great way for me to catch some Christy time too. 

Christy, happy birthday! We love you and thank you for being such a great sister and aunt.  We hope you have a wonderful day today!  

Day One

Hanging out 

Jack helped his Aunt Christy open her gifts

My Aunt is the Coolest