T-t-t-t-t-TEN MONTHS

Sweet Jakob. Yes, I am going to go there- this month disappeared. This was a pretty good month, though. This kid keeps getting more fun! Jakob is keeping us entertained with his funny faces, cute expressions, goofy noises, HEARTY APPETITE, ... Yep, he's a funny kid.

Jakob is hungry a-L-o-T. I know I heard it a dozen times: watch out. He's a boy. Yep. There are days that I'm pretty sure he has eaten more than I have. He is very easy to please... Only plain Cheerios make his dislike list. (I can see why :) Just about everything else is fair game. His favorites are raisins, graham crackers, bananas, pears, carrots, and spaghetti. I might not have mentioned this yet, but he knows how to make a royal mess as well.

This guy is officially crawling now (as of last week), and I don't see his inchworm crawl much anymore. He's still very deliberate with his moves, but it's adorable. He is into everything. He's not quick enough to be dangerous, but I'm sure it's only a matter of days. I must say, his playtime is still quite simple. He will contentedly examine some toys, laugh to himself, crawl to another toy.. repeat... It's amusing to all of us. He is just starting to put things in his mouth that he finds on the floor. I spend most of my day sweeping, obviously. Jakob started pulling up a week or two ago, and I have a feeling he's going to start cruising around soon. He already seems like he wants to go! He is very determined as he plays, and I love to see that.

He loves to jabber, though he doesn't seem as vocal as the girls were at this age. He says "na-na" all the time now. "dada" is still a favorite, I've heard a few "ba-ba"'s, and I dream of a "mama" every now and then! He's precious. He jabbers with a little flirty smile, to boot. I like to think he's mama's little guy, but he is pretty fond of his daddy, too.

At 9.5 months, Jake was 19lbs 15oz (55%), 28" long (19%), and his noggin made it into the 95th percentile :) He's got just enough pudge to squeeze, and I'm worried he will start thinning out now that he's getting more adventurous! This probably goes without saying, but Jake just loves his sisters. They are getting better at playing together all the time! Jakob knows how to belly laugh with them, concentrate with them, and he does it all with a puddle of drool and lots of patience. I cherish these days. I will always enjoy the memories of them playing this way!

As for sleep, well, it could be worse. He is pretty consistent about sleeping from 6:30 - 7am with one party in there somewhere. Usually it's at about 10, and most of the time, he just needs a little hug before going back to sleep. I hope we're over this hump soon! I am pleased with how far he has come, though. We definitely had a few rough months! His morning nap is about 1.5 hours, and his afternoon nap is over 2 hours on a good day. We're *almost* officially done with his evening catnap.

Here are my notes for this month:

fun's:

* Love the little squeals he makes while he plays and crawls around. His little high pitched voice cracks us up!
* He has awesome chubby knees and arms.
* I can't quit kissing his cheeks. He still enjoys letting me rock him, and he will usually let me kiss all over his forehead and cheeks as I do. Yes, I take advantage of it.
* He's pretty good at shoveling food in his mouth, and I do enjoy watching him chew and shovel in more without missing a beat. Some would deem it gross, but after dealing with two semi-picky toddlers, it's REFRESHING!
* He goes giddy when he hears the bathwater running. He could play in the bathtub all day. He loves to crawl around and splash... it's so fun!
* His hair is growing very fair. I'm not sure it will ever be light enough to call blonde, but it's definitely light.

not-so-fun's:

* Jake is starting to get more clingy to mama. I am secretly flattered (OF COURSE), but I do find it challenging to leave him sometimes :(
* He laughs when I try to keep him from touching outlets. As of now, this is his only vice :) Um, mommy is going to win this one, son.
* 8 teeth now, and he's good at biting. 'Nuf said.
* He slaps and hits everything. Holding him is an adventure at times.
* He LOVES to pull hair. Elyse's especially.
* It's hard to watch him get so big- even looking at him as he sleeps reminds me of the little squirt he used to be. *sigh*

I think the highlight of this month with Jakob was introducing him to his namesake, Jordan's Grandpop, Henry. Jakob Henry seemed to love him, and the time we were able to spend with them was wonderful. Grandpop has a fascinating story, and we were especially interested to hear that the name "Jakobus" came up somewhere in that story. It's too long to type out, but I'm excited to tell Jakob someday about his amazing heritage.

We love you, Jakob! You are only 2 months away from the big year old celebration, but we have been celebrating for 10 months... You're such a sweet boy.

9 months

Yes, I am trying to catch up from a whirlwind month! Jakob turned 9 months on the 3rd, and I know this will be outdated in two weeks :) He sure is a funny little guy. He started the new year off with a bang, for sure! Apparently, our trip to Indiana and our weeks of packing and unpacking did a number on him, and he spent about two weeks exhibiting newborn night-sleeping patterns. Fun times. Now that we are beyond that, I can appreciate a bit more Jake's appreciation for routine and schedule :) After all, he didn't have it when he was a little baby. Look what I did to him...

Most people seem to notice his resemblance to Emily immediately. Though I can definitely see it at times, to me he is quite a mix. His hair is getting curlier in the back (and he still has his curl on the top of his head), so he might favor Elyse in that department. He is a big kiddo- we'll see how big on Friday- and I suspect him weighing about 21 lbs. We'll see. He's not as big as he could be, though, for which I am immensely thankful. My back is trying to wave the white flag as it is!

SPEAKING OF MOBILITY, Jakob is still getting around. Formal crawling does not seem to be his thing, so I will enjoy the inchworm while it lasts. He was such a proud boy last month when he put himself into a sitting position all by himself, and now he gets around the room and sits wherever he pleases, thank you very much! It's pretty cute. Babies always have such great posture! How do we ruin it?!? He is trying to pull up, but as of yet he hasn't had any success. He loves to chase the girls (and their toys!) around, much to their dismay. He giggles and makes a little motoring sound as he gets around. It's awesome.

Jakob loves making loud noises. Did I mention he is a boy? Yep. He is determined to bang his toys on the floor, and he winces with every blow. Does it make him stop? No. His hands smack his high chair tray from the moment I snap it on. Add finger food, and you have a really nice display of manners.

Jakob is officially eating table food. Hallelujah!! I am so happy! I am having to be a little more creative with his diet while he is dairy-free. I forgot how easy it was to put cheese on a baby's tray! He loves finger-food, and the slow-at-times process doesn't seem to discourage him as much anymore. He is a little piggy, though, and he is definitely eating a "share" of our meal plans now.

He is also getting more verbal - as in noise-making. He love to make ALL KINDS of noises. His favorite is clicking his tongue and saying "da-da-da-da" over and over. He laughs whenever I prompt him to say "mama" :) Why?!? Squealing and fake-laughing are heard often, and I love his chatter. Here are some of my fun's and not-so-fun's for this age:

fun's:

* I cannot get over the cottage cheese-y legs! They kill me. Those and the tummy/arm rolls. AAH!!!
* He has a cute little toothy smile - all seven of those pearly whites make one cute grin!
* He wants me to hold him (you know- the let-me-go-and-give-me-to-mommy stretch? Yeah..)
* He loves peek-a-boo and tickles
* He adores Daddy!! (and that makes four of us...)
* He doesn't mind car rides or errands.
* Jakob loves naps and his little bear blanket - together, that is :)
* I still catch him sucking his index finger every so often. It's pretty stinkin' cute!
* He claps like a champ, and he's learning to wave and poke our eyes (okay, the last one should be below.).
* He still smells like a newborn after his bath. I don't know what magic is in the smell of clean babies, but it's powerful :) It makes you forgive every stinky moment of the day!

not-so-fun:

* temper, temper, temper! Boy, he has one.
* winter coats + carseats = Mommy's need for quiet time later in the day
* mr-arch-his-back comes more often these days. Not cool.
* He really wants to hit me sometimes. I can feel it! :) No, really, he does slap my face and startle me with his strength. Oh dear.
* He still pulls the before 6am thing once or twice a week. *sigh*
* He is definitely more interested in chewing on books than reading them. Not shocking, but I do happen to have two girls that DON'T chew on books and that actually like to read. Together. As a family.
* Jakob LOVES Puffs. He loves them so much, he practically throws a fit when he can't have more. Needless to say, I should remove them entirely from his diet (and probably not for that reason alone?!?).
* Seeing him move into 12 month clothing is startling. Slow down little guy!

I love you, Jakob Henry! You bring me smiles with your baby blues and your squinty snorts :)

Elyse is 4!

Another birthday rolled around.  Seriously, this birthday thing on Christmas Eve is sure a challenge!  We love the birthday GOD gave Elyse, but sometimes, I wonder how I'm going to keep two important celebrations separate!  We've toyed with the idea of a half-birthday celebration in the future, but I'm a sucker for big celebrations on the day of the event... at least for now.  

We spent some time mid-December with my family up in Indiana, and we rolled back into our driveway at 11pm the night before Elyse birthday.  The next morning was spent doing laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, feeding children, bathing children, cupcake-baking, and - oh yea - Christmas prep.  Amidst the flurry of the day, my mind kept straying to my sweet Elyse and how much I love the fact that she chose Kraft mac & cheese for dinner (not "Mommy's mac & cheese" mind you.  I should be offended!)... along with pineapple and cucumber slices.  Seriously, that made her birthday dinner much easier!  In addition to her meal selection, I just adore HER.  She grown into more of a little girl this year, and I've watch toddlerhood slip away.  Though I still ache for the little Elyse (I probably always will), I love the little girl she is becoming.  

Elyse is in love with the color pink these days, and much of her day is spent playing with pink things, talking about pink things, or dreaming about pink things.  I would love to know what causes this, but she says she just thinks it's "pretty."  Hmm.  She loves to play "mommy" to her babies, dress up, mother Em and Jake, color, paint, read, TALK TALK TALK (and keep me laughing my head off!)...  Her dialogue is hilarious, and I'm amazed at what interests her intellectually.  Right now, she is curious as to what makes God happy.  Yes, we have some interesting conversations!

I love how patronizing she is right now.  I know that sounds like a backhanded compliment, but it's very funny.  She will say things like, "Mommy, you know what would be fun?  How about we have a special piece of candy for breakfast?  Wouldn't that be fun, Mommy?  It would!   I know you would like it."  We have moments like those all day.  :)  How can she make me feel so guilty when I say no!?!?  I also love that she takes it upon herself to update me on every move Jakob and Emily make.  It's so funny.  If I dare to remind her that tattling isn't acceptable, she will just tell me "funny stories" about what they are doing.  Boy, do I eat crow when I run into the other room to patrol after that!  

We have had to recently embark on an adventure in manners and chores. It's interesting. It's pretty much a failure at this point, honestly, for Em! Elyse does seem to be learning a lot (considering she is getting quite good at correcting my elbows on the table during dinner...), and I am always humored when I hear her ask me if a certain behavior is "good manners." Most of the time, it is in reference to someone else, but I hope she is learning something :) Ha. We ventured out to the eye doctor a couple of days ago for a visit, and we had such a fun time together. She was astoundingly brave during the exam, and she made me proud as she read the eye chart (filled with fun pictures!) with giggles and smiles.

Elyse seems pretty tall for her age (we'll see what the doc says in a few weeks about that), and she has the skinniest little legs ever.  She loves to pretend to be a ballerina and do her twirls and pirouettes.  I love to watch her focus on her footwork without thinking twice about us watching.  

The other morning, she woke up to see the beauty of a sunrise-tinted sky. The clouds were trimmed in pink, and the blues and oranges were so vivid! She gasped in awe as I opened her curtains, and said, "Oh, Mommy. I wish my tongue were always pink like that!!" Speechless.

We cut her hair for the second time ever last week. She looks adorable (I know, I'm totally biased and completely okay with that). She is ever-dramatic, so precocious at times, and genuinely determined to keep Jordan and I on our toes.

Elyse was the first of our kids to introduce me to the wonderful world of parenthood. She will always remind me that life is precious and sweet, and that spending time wisely is about snatching up every opportunity... that quality time should not be measured in moments of freedom to do the things you envision as "worthy." She is my firstborn, and I hope she will grow to be forgiving of her amateur mommy. I relish the fact that her greatest joy right now is cuddle-time with a pile of books and blankets, and that she seems to be quick to overlook my mistakes in choosing the tasks that aren't as worthy. I love this girl.

Happy birthday, Elyse Noelle. I love watching you grow. Someday, your world will be bigger than the color pink and the joys of candy, but for now, enjoy all of those little tastes of something bigger and better. Jesus has a lot more for you!

Please pardon my low-quality photos. We moved last week (a story for another time!), and for some reason, Mr iPhone seems a bit more convenient when my life is chaotic!

Nothing can prepare you.

Nothing. I still remember trying to think of what it would be like to be a mom. You know, the dreams of rocking your baby to sleep, dressing them in precious clothes, watching them grow before your very eyes, ... I remember them well. Nothing could prepare me for the hard parts of being a parent, though. People tell you, you know, but you don't really acknowledge it. It's defeating to enter a new stage of life with a negative mindset, and rightly so, so we ignore it. We believe the best about the stage, and we know we'll somehow make it through. And you do, you make it through.

We were blessed to have our three children close together. Would I ask for that again? I'm not sure. I'm glad we don't get those chances to go back anyway. I think no matter how many kids you have or how far apart they are, parenting is just hard. Nothing can prepare you for the endless sacrifice. It starts small when that first child is small. You lose a little sleep, lose a little free time (or a lot?), lose a small amount of sanity (or a lot!), and you gradually grow into a big sacrificial parent (not always by choice, either). Nothing can prepare you for the years that roll by before you realize that you never really get a break. You never stop thinking about (or on behalf of) your children. You have to watch yourself, or you completely crowd out your amazing husband that helped get this ball rolling! And when you mess up, you come running back to that guy and promise you'll never forget your first love again. And you remember how much you need him... and he saves the day, like he always does. You can never prepare yourself for the endless laundry, the little bellies that are somehow never full, the kitchen floor that can never stay clean, the incessant demands on your body, your time, and your patience. You never really think about those things when that pregnancy test shows "YEP!" And rightly so. Those things just happen, and you struggle for patience, for worth, for clarity, for sanity. You struggle to stay true to your marriage, your faith, and your children. You struggle to put on the energy mask and get it all done. And you do. You get just enough done... and if you're fortunate, you get a little extra done, too. You can never prepare yourself for the days that you completely forget to play with your kids. They pepper you with kisses and you can't quit thinking about the vomit-covered clothes soaking in the sink or the checkbook that hasn't been balanced in three weeks. Nothing prepares you for the intense battle you have with your sinful self. I knew I was selfish, but I had no idea. I had no idea what it would be like to literally CHOOSE to walk away from the fight instead of put in the work. I wasn't prepared for the times I would come to my patient husband and beg him to tell me this wouldn't go on forever, right? We laugh, but inside, we both know it's probably a good thing kids grow up.

Though nothing could have prepared me for that, nothing could have prepared me for the love. I am still completely dumbfounded by the love I feel when I hold their sweet little cheeks between my hands and kiss their precious noses. I am terrified by the way I would do anything to protect them. I'm shocked that I can go from pleading God for patience to silently crying at the way they fit so neatly in my lap (not all at once, mind you...) just because I'm their mom. I never want to forget the way they look up at me for my approval. All the "Look, Mommy!" over and over again- it can either drive me to madness or remind me that they will soon stop asking. I never want to forget the way the girls try to hold my hands during prayer.... winding our fingers together till they are just right. I want to cherish the sound of their small voices, chattering on when they should be eating. I never want to forget the delight in their eyes as they look with excitement at the things I see over and over again... the sloppily placed strand of Christmas lights, or the candle that flickers to mask the smell of burnt popcorn (another interrupted task). I can't get over the joy I feel when they run to me for help or praise me for making the best chicken EVER. I find myself smiling long after they've left the room in their undies because they want to "run in their bum instead." I find myself laughing to myself over the way Jakob looks just like his daddy when he concentrates - or the way Elyse reminds me of a schoolteacher of mine already! Age 3.95.

Nothing could have prepared me for the joy in sacrifice. It's true: lose your life and you will find it. Jesus was right. Clean up the mess for the umpteenth time out of love, and you have loved Jesus. Wipe that tush for the billionth time, comfort that screaming baby again, do that special thing with the pb&j that she loves... do it in love, and you do it for Jesus. I have learned that I will keep messing up. I will keep forgetting the "lose my life" part. I'm not there yet. But, the more I find that my life is in Jesus, the more I want to lose myself in the finding.

It's good you just don't know all you get into when you have that sweet baby. Or three sweet babies. If you did, you'd miss the process of discovering that crucial truth: you have to lose your life to gain life. Really, is anyone dying to lose their life? Hmm.. I wasn't. But, until you experience that sweetness, you just don't get it. Until you experience a God who lost his Son so you could gain life, you won't appreciate it. I don't appreciate it unless I remember.

Oh, I long for that day when I don't have to "remember" the truth anymore. I can't wait to finally be THERE. But, for today, I don't want to miss a moment. Even the stinky (literally) moments are precious. I'm not going to lie... I am terrified by the way they look to me. Terrified to think that they will remember all the things that I've muttered under my breath when I just can't get something done. But, they forgive. They forget, thankfully. Someday, I hope they will just remember that I loved them like I loved Jesus: imperfectly at times, but faithfully. Tonight, my lap was claimed by a feverish baby boy. My second-born was in a small rocking chair next to mine, rocking her puppy. My firstborn was dancing to my poorly-sung song, impressing me with her fabulous ballerina moves. Emily looked up at me, patted my rocking chair and said, "You're the big one, I'm the little one." She had no idea how that set my mind to racing...

The big EIGHT

So hard to believe December is here! Poor little Jakob celebrated his eight month birthday with lots of STOMACH FLU. Poor kid. I know there is a first time for everything... too bad flu had to be one of those things. He has not exactly been chipper through this first flu, but he sure is cute as a bug when he is in the mood to snuggle. The dreaded sickness hit as we were unloading our family on the way to the annual Christmas parade in our community. Jakob then unloaded on me. In his carrier. Down the front of my shirt. Three times. I was heartbroken for him, but it reminded me to be thankful for health when we have it.

Jakob has had an uneventful month, really. He has had a cold or two, but he hasn't changed much in his mobility (still an inchworm). He is sitting up very well now, and he's feeling more freedom to plop himself over when he needs to move on. I love watching him sit in front of a favorite toy. His expressions are funny... always snoopy, sometimes delighted, rarely ticked off. The girls love to replace and replenish his toys, and someday he will revolt. For now, he puts up with it well. He seems to be thinning out some, but I still love the pudginess he still has :)

His sleep has been fine during the day... still not very predictable at night. He will do stretches of two or three nights in a row that make me forget he has some "night" issues. Then he will remind me. Strongly. I am a very sympathetic mommy knowing that he was getting 5 teeth at once, and 2 have yet to cut. He now has three on the bottom and two on the top. He is still a little eater, and his favorites are sweet potatoes, squash, applesauce, pears, and rice. I still tease him with peaches, but he still despises them!

Since most of his outfits are used, he can fit comfortably in some 12month clothing, but he's mostly on track for his age. He is getting loud - exercising his voice in all different ranges and volumes. His new favorite is sitting in the shopping cart (!!!) while we grocery shop. He holds on for dear life and charms all the old ladies who love the curl on the top of his head. He LOVES to hear the "Jakob Henry" song the girls sing to him, and I love the way he will peek out of his crib to find them in the morning. He is still SUPER ticklish, and he loves to have his earlobes massaged :) Yea, only a mom cares.

Here are my fun's and not-so-fun's for now:

fun's:

* I love when he is healthy and happy. This sicky thing is pathetic!
* I am really enjoying the way we are interacting. He loves to hit my face, so we have our first "training" project on our hands. Even the girls are teaching him the world "gentle!"
* He still scrunches up his little face and squints his eyes when he's begging for something.
* Drinking dark chocolate almond milk. Wait- that's me... because of him. Duh! Sorry...
* He is so curious! His favorite toy is a little musical table that I have stashed under Em's bunk. He scootches over there and tries to get it (not without injuries!). He also loves trying to play with their dress-up necklaces, and he gets a little annoyed when I confiscate them.
* He is trying to clap so hard! He can smack toys together well, and he ends up just clapping his fists together now.
* He BEGS for his food. As soon as he sees his highchair, he goes crazy. Hmm-ing and smacking his mouth. It's so funny!

not-so-fun's:

* I have heard his scream more than I care to with all of this teething stuff! :(
* Jakob is definitely all boy. He smacks and hits everything, and I just have a feeling his first injury is going to be putting his little fist through our tv cabinet window. Hmm...
* I have been cleaning out clothes, and I just about started crying at the giant box of boys clothes that he has through already! It's crazy how fast time goes.
* I think I'm read for CONSISTENT sleep at night. Is that possible? Should I try again in 10 years?
* This dude is almost done with his infant seat. There are rarely times that I carry him in his seat anymore.

We love you, Jakob! We can't remember life without you. You make our little family happy :)

What's up.

Here's a little update on life around here lately.  Most of my updates are just funnies right now, but I don't want to forget them!

* Halloween- So funny.  The girls had no idea what they were in for.  We visited some neighbors and ended up at a nice trunk-or-treat event at the church down the road.  They. were. in. awe.  They had so much fun seeing other costumes and riding in the wagon coach Daddy pulled around.  It was pretty fun.  Jakob finally fell asleep on the way home, but he seemed to enjoy the fun evening out!  It's amazing how long 1 hour can feel...  :)

* Jabber-boxes.  That's what my girls are these days.  From the time they wake 'til the time they sleep.  Talk talk talk.  I love their dialogue.  I often video it from an obscure corner.  They are hilarious.  Well, in this mom's humble opinion...  Here are some cuties from my cuties:

I was fighting a cold last month, so when Em tried to kiss me, I turned my head a bit more and told her I didn't want her to get my "bug."  Elyse then kissed Em and asked her not to get her a bug bite.

Emily was drinking a smoothie, and as it slowly came close to her mouth when her cup tipped, she giggled and said, "It kissed me!"

For some reason, Emily always asks me, "Mommy?  God made Jesus walk?"  Not sure why it's always worded just like that.  Honestly, I have no idea what she's talking about.

Em heard the coffee percolating before breakfast and said, "Hey!  Coffee's crying!"

Emily often complains about her tags on her pants tickling her "bum bum." I also love how she calls bandaids "Ban bains."

Elyse must have noticed I had a rotten night's sleep... She looked over at me as we were eating breakfast and said, "Mommy, you look like you need to go back to bed."  Thanks.

Elyse was VERY upset when we were out driving early one morning, and the sun was shining right in her eyes.  I advised her to close her eyes or look away...  Her response was, "Well, can't God's Father just MOVE the sun!?!"  Hmm...

Emily was really upset after cutting her hand.  We washed her hands in the sink before lunch a few hours later, and she came back into the bathroom crying after we were done.  She was very upset that I couldn't wash off her boo-boo :(

Elyse and Em love to play hide and seek.  Their version is odd.  They each take turns hiding in the exact same spot and they just look the other way while they're waiting to be found.  Jordan asked Elyse the other day why she couldn't see Emily "hiding" 5 feet away from her.  Elyse said, "Daddy, I can't see her cheeks or her lips!"

Elyse tried to tell me a secret today, and I noticed she was just mashing her face against my cheek.  I told her that secrets were supposed to be whispered into ears.  She laughed and said, NO, they should be told to cheeks.

I still love how Em answers questions... "Emily, did you go potty?"  "Yes I AM!!!"

Elyse tucked her knees up into her shirt the other day and started laughing so hard... she said, "Hey, Look!  I'm a mommy!"  Oh, dear...

Emily is pretty much potty trained.  I am so thankful.  Now that #2 is down, things are much easier around here.  We still have a little work to do in some areas, but she has just enjoyed being a big girl!

   The girls were roasting marshmallows over their fire :)

I love these three!

7 Months!

I'm late.  Jakob's seven month marker came and went amidst a busy weekend (not good busy, by the way...), and I am actually glad I am sitting down right now to record what is going on with my little guy.  Why?  Just because.  I want to.  It's quiet in this house, and for some reason the sound of typing is comforting to me tonight.  I have spent a lot of time reflecting lately... mostly sparked after losing a friend last week.  Death has that uncanny ability to make you reflect, cherish, hug a little tighter, and love a little deeper.  I have looked at my kids in a new light, and I pray I will remember the way they look in that light.

My little guy is definitely looking all BOY these days.  He is incredibly fun and is incredibly cute in overalls (I just learned).  He has recovered from his first ear infection last month, and he has displayed to me that he sleeps best when there are NO teeth coming in.  Nice.  Yes, he's cutting his two top teeth.  He is feeling better with my adjusted diet, and I'm thankful that he still seems to be growing pudgy.  He weighs about what Em weighed at 1 year old... I'm guessing almost 19 pounds?  His favorite foods right now are butternut squash, peas, and carrots.  He is quite a voracious eater, and I have learned not to goof off when spoon-feeding this kid.  He might bite.  He now slaps at his tray (fun new habits, right?) and whimpers like he hasn't eaten in days while I rush from counter to chair.  There's just no delaying with this kid.  He is very focused during mealtime and doesn't like to goof off much, thankfully.

(Mom, help?!?)

Jordan and I were wrong: he's not crawling yet!  We thought for sure he would crawl in October, but he is just content to perfect his inchworm across the room.  The girls are pretty patient with him for now.  Even when he gets into their things, they will often let him make a mess or patiently tell him to play with something else.  I'm not naive enough to think it will last :)  Jakob is sitting really well these days, and he obviously likes the change of scenery!  He loves to chew on his toes in the tub and splash most of the water on me.  I absolutely love giving this kid baths!  He enjoys every minute.  He loves to squeal and jabber, especially when the girls are egging him on.

I'm not sure if all boys are like this, but my little guy has quite a flirty little smile.  He loves to play games with me- peeking at me around objects and looking away coyly.  It's adorable.  I feel like he is constantly adjusting his schedule around, and he currently makes it almost 4 hours between feedings.  He actually eats 4 solid meals a day now (SO interesting, I know...), but he seems content with that, so I go with it for now.  I am REALLY looking forward to finger foods!

Here are my fun's and not-so-fun's for this age.

fun's:

* I love his morning routine of waking up laughing!
* His little "ha - HA" entertains all of us throughout the day...
* Watching Jake interact with the girls is so awesome.  I hope they always love him this much!
* Jakob loves to take in all the sights and sounds around him... He ends up bopping his head around trying not to miss a thing.
* He is my little buddy- flexible when I need him to be, and he's always content to sit on my hip.
* He's enjoying his toys so much right now.  I can almost see his little mind working away as he pushes buttons and watches things move.
* His sweet smile when I get him up from naps.  MELTS. MY. HEART.
* Cutest feet ever.
* I love watching him sleep!  He sucks on his index finger and sometimes holds his hand in his mouth with his other hand.  Adorable.

not-so-fun's:

* He is not really sleeping in his car seat much anymore.  Sad.
* He screams.  When he is upset, watch out.  You will hear the scream/squeal/holler.
* He poops all the time.  Seriously.  Boys...
* He loves to slap.  I am sometimes a recipient of those.
* He definitely knows how to arch his back.
* Seeing how fast these next 5 months are going to go- not so fun at all!

We love you, Jakob Henry!  Happy Seven Months!