Walking?

So I THINK Jack took his first steps. But I don't know what qualifies as Official First Steps. For the last week or so we've been playing the "Walk to Mommy" game where I stoop down a little ways away and he has to let go of whatever he's holding onto to walk to me. Mostly it would be one or two steps and then a forward lean with the assurance that I would catch him. But over last weekend, I moved a little farther away, then it became two or three steps to get to me. Today, I was a good six feet away, so he had to take about five steps. Does that count? I think I'm counting it. Right? 

I'll try and get video so I can put it to a vote...

Otherwise, all is pretty great. Work has been mellow-ish and we're about to head into 10 days off, which I'm very much looking forward to. Jack's been in a great mood except for the four or five days when he all of a sudden had this bout of separation anxiety. He was screaming before bed (which he hasn't done in MONTHS) and wouldn't go down for naps. He'd just stand in his crib with his arms out toward the door, screaming. When I'd go in and pick him up, he was super clingy in a way that he never is (usually he'd pushing me out of the way to get to either food or toys) and once I even had to nap with him because he hadn't slept all day and had been crying for like 45 minutes. Sigh. But, knock on wood, after a few nights of a very extended bedtime routine (our usual bedtime routine consists of him drinking his bottle and me singing him a song, then he's in his crab and that's it), he seems to be handling it much better. Weird. 

Photos below from when we were at the playground last weekend and met up with my cousins. As we were coming over to greet them, Jack was mobbed by his two superfans - twin girls named Josie and Georgia. I had been told that they LOVE Jack but had never actually seen them with him - they literally were trying to crawl on top of him in the stroller - kissing him, trying to touch him - it was a little crazy. And of course Josie had just eaten something red and smeary so Jack looked like he had lipstick marks on both cheeks. 

I'm sure I'll post again after Jack's unofficial (early) first birthday party on Sunday in RI, but here's a couple photos for now (courtesy of cousin Caolan, mostly) of Jack's fans and the continued futile efforts to get him to drink out of something that's not a bottle and not Mommy's glass. So far, no luck. I fear he'll still be drinking from a bottle when he's eight...

Josie can't contain herself. Note the red mark on his other cheek where she already kissed him.

What can I say? The ladies love me.

I even attempted delicious sugary juice since I read that makes them want to suck from a straw. Nope. Jack DID learn that if he squeezed the juice box he didn't have to suck. Great lesson. 

 

Picnic lunch in Prospect Park last weekend

At the playground after J discovered that sprinklers are AWESOME. He loved playing in the water with the big kids, which meant I had to play in the water with the big kids. Hence my hair.

Cruisin'

Keeping up with Jack has officially become a workout. I'm not saying it's the equivalent to taking a spin class, but it's exhausting. The boy is very much on the move. We spent an hour at the playground today while he practiced his "cruising" (for any non-parents out there, this is what they call the phase where they can't really walk on their own, but they can walk around while holding on to something, so can make their way around the room if the furniture is positioned close together) He's still faster crawling so if he really wants to get somewhere, he'll drop and crawl, but he definitely likes feeling like a Big Kid at the playground and standing with all the other kids. 

He was up on the playground equipment holding on to the railing and I was trying to give him some space and stand a little bit away. A little boy (maybe 2 years old) runs past me and starts to run past Jack when Jack totally nonchalantly grabs on to this kid's t-shirt and proceeds to pull him down to the ground. He then of course grinned evilly, so proud of himself as he stood over the big kid who was now flat on his back, while the older kid starts crying and I start apologizing to his mother. I think mostly the kid couldn't believe that he'd been taken down by a baby and was certainly not really hurt at all, but it was my first "I'm so sorry my kid hurt your kid" parent moment. Thanks Jack. 

Video of him cruising around the playground here: http://youtu.be/CtIk6W1pHIA

Other than that, it's been pretty mellow. We went back to the Dr AGAIN on Friday for this cough that just hasn't gone away (I think I've mentioned it in my last 12 posts, it seems like he's had it for that long) and we were FINALLY given antibiotics because apparently Jack has pneumonia. Granted, it's "only" walking pneumonia, but it makes me feel vindicated (and furious at the dr) that we've been like 5 times in the last month and only now are they finally giving him something. He's been on the medecine for 3 days and he's already a new man - so much more energy and his sleeping and eating are much improved. Poor little guy!

Memorial Day in RI was great - beautiful weather, great time, I even got to see a movie which was so nice. Jack still has a bit of an aversion to grass, but my mom bought him an Adirondack chair (baby-sized) so he can sit on the grass without sitting on the grass. This kid has the life, I'm telling you. We got to hang out with the Carney kids and Jen, thanks again for being the voice of reason in regards to docs and sick kids and medicine - made me feel so much better! And I think her son Jack somehow taught my Jack how to use a sippy cup because he seems like he's doing it now (finally). He also wants to give himself his bottles and feed himself his meals. He no longer has any patience for me spoon feeding him (unless it's yogurt). I think this is good thing?

In non-Jack news, I had my first open house today for my apartment. I can already tell that keeping it clean and ready to show at moment's notice is going to suck, but I'm hopeful it will sell quickly so I can move on the other apartment. I still don't really understand how no one will sell you an apartment if you need to sell yours first. Is everyone else in the world able to carry two mortgages? I would think everyone would need to sell their current house before they buy a new one? Isn't this the norm? Maybe it's a weird Brooklyn thing....

With Uncle Matt at the Botanic Garden yesterday