Peek-a-boo!

Now that Jacob is almost 15 months old, we have been finding all kinds fun things to do to keep us healthy and active.  We go to the gym a couple times a week.  I can exercise and he can have some time to play with other children.  It's pretty much the only time we ever spend apart, so it's good for us in a lot of ways.  We have also been going for bike rides every evening and once in a while a jog.  A couple weeks ago we got stuck out in the rain.  I would have stayed under the shelter of the canopy, but Jacob thought it was cool getting rained on, so we got totally drenched.  

I'm still having a difficult time feeding the boy.  He shudders, hisses and now sticks his tongue out and spits it out.  It's hilarious actually, he's so dramatic.  But, he always loves pasta, Blue Diamond cheddar and his all time favorite, yogurt.  Cheerios are all over the place and they crunch under our feet at random.  We like dipping them in peanut butter or just throwing them on the floor.

I love that I can put him down now and he walks beside me like a little prince instead of being such a fungus all the time.  He went from crawling to running with no regard for walls or furniture.  He's getting into everything now, too. He is officially a destroyer of cupboards.  He devastates my kitchen every night and hides things in other places. It's funny when I'm looking for something he walked off with and find something I didn't know was missing.  I still haven't found my keys though.. 

Every morning around 3:00 he asks to come into my bed, and I get to wake up with him by the sunlight. Sometimes, before he even opens his eyes he starts chanting my name, "Ma ma ma ma."  It's so sweet, and yes, I realize that I'm a total slave to this young man.

Jacob Fact #11: He needs extra wide shoes.

 After our rainy jog.

 At Domino Farms.

There's not much a 90 degree jog can't cure:)

 Brunch at Gratzi <3

 This dude can sleep anywhere..

Jacob at one year

This morning Jacob went for eye surgery to open his tear ducts which have been closed since he was born.  I’m happy to report that both baby and mother handled the procedure like champs.  Although, I must say, it took his sleepy ass way too long to wake up.. I was freaking out.   But when he finally did, he was like a sweet little angel. He's heavenly and I’m so blessed to have such a healthy and amazing baby.  When we got home I had a glass of wine which is a for certain nap and I needed some sleep.  Jacob walked from one toy to the other while I laid on the couch watching him with heavy eyes, totally sublime.  Before long, he was sleeping on the floor with toys piled all around him.  He’s never done that before.  It’s very different raising a baby without a partner. I can enjoy some things that I wasn’t able to enjoy and I’m missing out on some other blisses that are so precious and important.  But the only reason that I’m so utterly alone is because I’m an orphan.  I don’t have any parents, they died in a firey car crash when I was about 8 months old.  That makes Jacob a grandorphan on both sides.  His dad’s parents died in a similar manner about 3 or 4 years ago.

Jacob fact #10:  He’s the beautiful part of my everyday.

 Jacob still comes to work with me Monday through Friday.  

Jacob's first birthday cake was made by Cake Nouveau. Getting her to make it was like getting accepted into an exclusive club.  But who could pass up making an AdventureTime graffiti cake?

 Still a monster sometimes..

  Visiting with Aunt Randi.

 Happy kiddo with lots of new toys:)

The Monster

Winter is finally over!  I’m giving mad props to Mendoz Argentina for providing my most beloved Malbec that assisted me through the claustrophobia brought about by the harsh elements.  I can hardly believe that I’ve been carrying my baby with me everywhere I go for almost a year.  I’m so thin that if I had the skrilla I could totally test the limits of business slutty.  Unfortunately, I usually walk around looking like I’m donning a fat girl’s hand-me-downs. 

But anyway.. Jacob!  This is his blog!  And he has some really great news.  My handsome young master is walking!  He has six teeth and his favorite new pastime is opening and slamming cupboard doors.  He doesn’t really even get into what’s inside.  He just opens, slams closed and repeats while laughing and bouncing.  I really think he’s trying to piss off the downstairs neighbors, which warms my heart.  He is eating some table foods but is still very apprehensive and choosy.  He often shutters at the very thought of trying something solid.  But after his tiny spasm, he comes forward for a try and it’s either a win or a lose.  He’s also saying Mama and Dada which is weird because there isn’t a Dada.  But at least he is learning some consonants.  He also makes some really great monster sounds and has a "biting thing."  I have to be very careful not to let him sink his teeth into me.  It's usually out of affection but sometimes its frustration and he has drawn blood and left bruises on me..  It's kind of hair raising to even think about.  Recently we have been planning his first birthday.  I decided to do an Adventure Time theme, which is the only cartoon/TV show Jacob likes.  I've been feeling more optimistic about things in general and I’m very excited about taking Jacob for lunchtime walks downtown and exploring the parks with his big brothers.

Jacob Fact #9:  Jacob’s zodiac sign is Aries

 Edamame was a win!

 Jacob and Conor

 Tubby time with Big Boss aka Da Wolf.

Serving the Young Master

“Hey Officer.  The baby’s upstairs in the bathtub, is this going to take long?”  That’s the line I’m going to use if they knock on my door about the music again.  It would be entertainment delivered right to my door.  We have an alarming bit of cabin fever ~ me and Jacob.  I think I just ordered a hit on Phil the groundhog.  I wonder how it will turn out..  Jacob’s fever is coming in a different form.  He believes he’s some kind of royalty.  Therefore, as you can imagine, I’ve been serving the young master.  I’ve been tending to his every whim and on occasion getting yelled at and even abused by his highness.  I’ve been wiping his royal heinie, fetching his royal playthings, preparing his royal meals etc. etc.  Sometimes I do these things while grumbling profanities under my breath like the royal Fool.

Jacob fact #8: Jacob can lift one eyebrow at a time.

With John and Eric.

 Me: Conor, I told you to feed him not to put him to sleep.. 

Conor: Well!.. I did both:)

Just before first haircut <3

My handsome young man<3

Another Ladies Man

We had a lot of new beginnings over the holiday season.  At almost 9 months old, Jacob is speed crawling, getting up to the furniture, and sitting in the bathtub without assistance.  Food is a very touchy subject for him.  He literally gags when I bring certain foods toward his mouth; it's actually hilarious.  All in good time, I guess.  We woke up and spent Christmas Eve like it was Christmas this year.  The kids spent the day playing with their gifts and then we went to Asia City for dinner.  It was the first time I put Jacob in a highchair at a restaurant; he handled it like a pro.  I kept him busy by giving him a can of mints and letting him suck on a lemon wedge, which he Loved.  It was precisely that evening that we realized Jacob is a ladies man.  I have three boys.  My first son, Deven is a ladies man and always has been.  His grandmother was his favorite lady and as a baby, he flirted with all the women no matter where we were.  Even today, most of his friends are female.  Conor, my second son, is and always has been a mans man.  His favorite guy was his papa.  He was always a rough, fearless tumbler properly dubbed "The Terminator Destroyer" with a poison control file an inch thick.  Today, he has a gang of bros that he calls his friends and isn't really interested in having a girlfriend although he has "about ten different girls who really want to be his girlfriend."  It was on Christmas Eve at Asia City that Jacob made his first move as a Lady Charmer.  She was a very lovely, Asian hostess with long black hair who seemed very serious about her job and was very busy at the time.. until she stood a little too close to my Playa.  Jacob very gingerly seized her arm and looked up at her.  He didn't smile or laugh, he just stared at her with his striking blue eyes and she melted right there at the table.  She giggled and kind of danced around and didn't dare try to remove his hands from her arm.  I sat there watching thoughtfully.  It was only a moment ago that this woman was so engrossed in her duties and even irritated with the indecisiveness of my drink order.  And now she was a prisoner at the hands of my baby and I wasn't offering her my assistance.  It was during this reflection that Deven leaned toward me and whispered, "Mom!  He's a ladies man!"  "I see this."  Jacob's amazing behavior opened a new door to some freedom.  We have been able to go out to a few meals since that night and even spent New Year's Eve at Zingerman's Roadhouse where he had his first bites of steak, mashed potatoes (which he loved), and hot fudge brownie sundae.  

Jacob is s super solid guy.  It was difficult for me, at first, not to scoop him up when he bonked his head or face planted from a sitting or crawling position.  If he wasn't clearly hurt, I would let him fuss for a moment and he would soon forget and move on.  Now, he doesn't sweat the small stuff and usually only cries to me when he's tired or frustrated.  I'm so proud of my little bruiser.

Jacob Fact #7:  Jacob loves cuddling and watching cartoons with me at night.

We lowered the crib mattress just in time..

Jacob is starting to show interest in books.

 Jacob's first Christmas.

 He loves bath time:)

 Def a future gamer kiddo.