Little damn fool selves, or PRESSURE!

You've got that crazy look in your eye!

There’s this parenting magazine that Heather gets that had this really funny piece about what life is like with a toddler. The editor of the magazine was complaining to her mom that all she seemed to do was try and keep her kid safe; to which the mom replied, “Yes, that’s what you have to do-keep their little damn fool selves from killing themselves.” I can totally agree. I notice that there is this tension in my body that comes from ‘constant vigil.’ We were at this restaurant, the China Lily in Lindon, (the walnut jumbo shrimp were out of this world) and I noticed that there was a tension in my body that never went away, at least until bedtime. Now, that comfort in my life has dwindled as well. Just last week, I commented to some friends about that magical time of night when I could stop locking my garbage can, because Jack was in his bed for sleep. Well, Jack has learned to climb out of his crib. I feel like a small part of me has died or something. I HAVE NO PLACE LEFT TO HIDE! He’s so cute, too, when he climbs out of bed and wanders into my bedroom asking for me in the pitch black of 7 am. “Da-da?” When he finds me, he pulls the covers off and places his cold little hands right on my face. That is what increased pressure and diminishing freedom feels like.

Jason, This is your child! Part 1

I love ketchup. I joke that when I first fell in love with Heather, it took me some time to displace cheesecake on her list of faves, and I still think I'm only barely Number 1 in her book with cheesecake hot on my tail. For me, the love is ketchup. I was so pumped when I discovered ketchup-flavored potato chips, you can only imagine. There's this place in New Mexico called Stahlman's Country Farms, they mostly grow and sell pecans, but they have this jalapeno-flavored ketchup there that is just to die for. If you are ever in the area, I strongly recommend you stop by. Besides the world's greatest condiment, the have a lot of other good stuff, too. Anyways................I discovered that Jack will eat stuff if it has ketchup! I know that this is probably very disappointing to my Dad, but Dad, there will be time to grow hair on his chest with salsa later. For now, thanks to an affinity for ketchup, Jason, this is your Child! I generally try to go easy with the stuff, and will add it to his food only as a last resort, and of course, I'm very pleased when it works and he eats something he had previously refused. His second favorite is Sweet Baby Ray's barbeque sauce, but sometimes it's too hot for him.

Heather, this is Your Child! Part 1

Here's one I found of Jack with his Mama Fala and his cousin Kia when they came to visit for Jack's 1st anniversary of his B-day in April of '08.

So, Heather does this thing where she always crosses her legs (ankles?). No matter what, her legs just do it, almost like they have a mind of their own. She could be sleeping on her back, her stomach, no matter what, her legs are crossed. If she could drive with her legs crossed, she probably would. And, so does Jack. The first time I noticed it Jack was in his high-chair. It is so cute to me because it is a perfect marker for something Heather does all the time. Heather, This is your child!

Cinderfella Christmas

Another word that Jack can say is vacuum. Ok, so he doesn't really say vacuum, it comes out more like 'bah-king,' but we know it means vacuum. Jack LOVES to vacuum, so for Christmas, this is what he got from Santa, and it is also the gift he liked the most. On Christmas day, it was the one thing he kept going back to, over and over.

This is the face you get from Jack when you take his picture, along with a really cheesy 'shee-sh,' for cheese. You have your head tilt, your teeth exposure, and the slurpy 'sheeeee-ch.' It's really great.

Like father, like son.

Where's that pose? And the cheesy grin?

Oh, there it is!

Cinderfella

Our little Bubba likes to vacuum and clean. 
Don't tell him I told you this..........
but, he might be getting his very own authentic Dirt Devil, with Real Bead Action!

For Christmas this year. We are not, however, getting him a broom.

Hee Haw!

This is Jack's first attempt at pony-wrangling. I feel kinda sad though, cuz, when I asked the girl what the pony's name was, she said that as far as she knew, the pony had no name. Sadness!! A pony that is used for little kid rides should totally have a name. I don't care if you make one up everytime someone asks, but geez., pony should have name, right?

On a different day, went back with our friends Tim, Jenny and Ashtyn, and the calf and pig where probably trying to sleep in their little barn when Jack and Ashy happened upon them. This is the look in Jack's eyes when he decided-I'm going for a ride!

And so, up he hopped!

It must have looked like a lot of fun, because Ashy hopped right up there with him.

That poor little calf, I bet he or she was ready to eat kids by the time this was through.

More Hee Haw

Hee Haws is such a long ways away from where we live, we really tried to enjoy ourselves when we went, we can't really go too often. Here Jack plays with a pig. That little guy was really onto something, he was digging like mad.

Jack with his friend Ashy, on the hay-trampoline thingy.

The pig and calf were all peopled out, I think, but there was no place to hide. This is before Jack decided to go for a ride.

Jack is finally taking an interest in animals. Earlier in the year, when we took him to the zoo, I think it was still too early. He didn't really get it, but now, he's all about the animals.

Ahhhhhhh, how cute.

Elmo's World

First Words

Jack's words up 'til now are as follows:

• "Off": Works for pick me up, put me down, get me outta this highchair, take these gloves off!
• "Ma-ma": Works for both Mommy and Daddy
• "Num-num" plus pointing: Works for all food and drink items or even non-food items Jack thinks might be palatable (at least he doesn't point with the bird anymore!)
• "Dis?": Jack's most helpful word, used with everything including which books to read
• "Whadisdat?" or "Whasdis?": Used for just what it sounds like, What is that and what's this?
• "Heeeee-Yah!": Jack's angry word, usually accompanied by a slap
• "Yah": the affirmative to any question posed to Jack, including "Do you know the square root of 54?" , "Is your Mama beautiful?" or any question we want to ask to make us feel good about ourselves
• "Buusshh": toothbrush
• "Hat": hat
• "Ice" with upturned palm: give me the ice from your glass
• "Baby": the picture of Baby Jack on the wall
• "Mmmmmmmm": How we know Jack enjoys his food

Jack also understands "Do you want to go outside?" and answers by grabbing his shoes from the rack or hanging on the doorknob. Bathtime is answered by running to the bathroom door (which is shut very tightly, by the way), bedtime/naptime by running to his bedroom closet where his fan is kept to provide white noise during this sacred respite.

Most of this entry was written by Heather, but you know I have to get my two cents in. Heather has (very proudly) taught Jack to respond with a loud, full-tongue "Blaaaaaaaah!" when you say the words, "Taco Bell," "Miracle Whip,"or "canned peas," to him. Incidently, these are all things that Heather really dislikes. Imagine that........

Animal noises include those of Bunny (a sniffing sound), Cat ("mao"), Dog ("rowf"), Fish (puckered lips), Tiger ("rrrrr"), Cow ("mooooo"), Bear ("haaarrrr"), Elephant ("ppppppppppt") and Horse ("bbbbbbbbbfff").

LBJ: Life Before Jack

This was our little camp. Cozy, huh?

Little did we know that just around the corner was-The Angriest Heather-Face Jason Had EVER seen. You see, out in the woods there is no electricity, so there were no fans to drown out the terrible racket that is Jason's snoring. Heather says she spent most of the night hitting me and telling me to turn over in order to stop snoring. About 5 in the morning, I couldn't stand getting beat up, and Heather was tired of trying to make me stop snoring, so I took a blanket and went and slept in the car. When we got up in the morning, Heather was still mad at me because once I left, it was quiet, but then it was too cold. Sometimes, you just can't win. However, the hotdogs were very tasty. And the look on her face-it was the angriest I have ever seen her.

I had bought a fishing pole to try out at this nameless lake, and after I had set it up and made a few casts, Heather got bored and asked for a turn. She immediately hooked this guy, and then another. "Hey, I like this fishing thing, it's kinda fun!" I caught one, too, but of course it was way smaller than either of the two that she caught.

All three tasted excellent.

Here's the bitty one I caught. Notice how hard was for me to step back far enough to get the whole fish in one frame.

Not only did we use our Lexus to climb this gnarly hill (which I didn't get a picture of-if I had you wouldn't believe that we got the Lexus up to our camping spot without 4-wheel drive), we used it to cook on.

What is it about the great outdoors that makes breakfast taste so good? It must have something to do with the clean crisp air, the smell of trout frying in sausage grease, and pine permeating the air.

Just a little salt and pepper, fresh caught trout for breafast.

Hmmmm, nummy nummy, good for my tummy!

Wally World

Gotta love the medical profession. It great to be walking around a wal-mart and see one of your former patients and have the first thought that crosses your mind be, "Where do I know that guy from? Oh yeah, I've wiped his butt before. That's where I know him from."

Death of the Chocolate Bunny

In order to properly introduce Jack to the heathen traditions of Easter, Heather chose this chocolate bunny.

Jack needed minimal instruction, and once the process of destruction began, carried out his work with much enthusiasm and much grunting and hmm-hmmming of approval.

The Bunny didn't stand a chance, as the Baby Bunny killer cackled with delight and glee over his fallen prey.

This was April-ish of 2008.

The Chocolate Bunny's blood ran thick that day, as the Bunny died a horrible, messy death. His demise will be remembered forever. Or, as long as I have this blurry picture to remind me.

Your honor, as you can see from this picture, the defendant showed absolutely no remorse whatsoever, and actually took pleasure in the demise of my former client, Mr. Chocolate Bunny.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, I now address you. Does this look like the face of contrition?

I say again, it does not.

The deed already complete, the culprit just waits to be wiped.