Why you shouldn't take pictures of kids on your cell phone

I realized it's been a good little while since I gave an update. We are here. We are well. Life is good.

Jack FINALLY started eating again yesterday, after almost two weeks of refusing anything and everything except baby cereal. As much as I'm ready to be done nursing, it's probably a good thing we still are because I'm sure that helped sustain him.

Anyway, I haven't really taken any pictures lately. Not really sure why, I just haven't. But I did notice that I have a lot of cute pictures on my cell phone from various events around our parts so I thought I'd share those.

Um... actually, looking at them I realized that you really shouldn't expect pictures of kids on your cell phone to come out well. Or to come out at all. Kids don't stay still, and apparently any little movement on a cell camera causes a blurry mess. In fact, other than this one of Kennison the first day I took her to preschool...

the only other non-blurry ones are of Jack sleeping. So anyway, here goes!

Jack being a walrus (see the straw in his mouth?) and clapping vigorously at a restaurant.

Kennison growling at the camera while Colton hangs out in a kitchen drawer.

The kids playing in the Diego ball pit that my aunt and uncle sent Jack for Christmas. And now for the "good" ones.

Jack asleep last week when he was sick.

 

Jack asleep looking cute in his sweater vest. Although the white balance on this one is out of control.

And thus ends our lesson on why you shouldn't take pictures of kids on your cell phone.

Oh, and P.S. go here to see pictures of how much Jack loved his latest haircut.

House of Sickies

Jack and Mike have both been sick.  I'm doing my best not to catch any of it, so cross your fingers!

Mike caught the stomach bug that's been circling our parts since New Year's Eve and was home from work yesterday. From Allison to Colton to Kenny and now Mike, this is one mean (and lasting!) bug. He seems much better today, and even ate a frozen pizza with me for dinner.

Jack hadn't been eating well all week, had been waking up at night and was SO. FUSSY. on Thursday, that I thought about calling the doctor just in case it was his ears. Well, he solved that problem for me as he woke up at 4 am with a 102 degree fever. Long story short, he has an ear infection.

The boys spend the majority of yesterday and today in this position.

Yes, Jack is actually sleeping. Out in the open. With the tv on. It's been approximately 6 months since that happened.

The antibiotic seemed to be working this morning, as he was somewhat back to his happy, playful self.

 

Unfortunately by dinner time the fever was back, and he was once again pale and unhappy.

Pouty lips and all.

And yes, he was in the same pj's all day... and returned to them after a bath to try to bring his fever down this evening.

As I type, he's back downstairs with us, burning up, after going to bed at 7 for a few hours. He's found his happy spot on Daddy's lap and I'll probably just let him sleep with me tonight.

Here's hoping for a better tomorrow.

The Mountains: Sunday-Tuesday

We left our house on Saturday at 9 am. Luckily, our flight to Atlanta was nonstop, because Jack cried/screamed off and on the whole way there. He had been sick, and we thought he was feeling better, but we were wrong. My parents and sister picked us up, and we drove the 3 hours to Murphy. It was a LONG day!

Because Jack still wasn't feeling great Sunday, we just hung around the cabin, which was beautiful! My mom's sister Angela and our cousin Mae came and joined us for the week. Here's a picture of Mae, Lauren, and Jack.

By Monday we could tell he was feeling better, so we planned to rent a boat on Tuesday. And so began Jack's first BIG ADVENTURE of the trip. As you can see, he wasn't too keep on the life jacket he had to wear...

And driving the boat with Papa Jack wasn't his favorite thing, either...

But after a nap on the boat bench, he was feeling much better. We had to build him a fort to keep the sun out of his eyes.

After his nap, we put him on a float in the water, which he enjoyed more than this picture shows!

The rest of the day we spent hanging out at the cabin, and Jack slept great after all that action!

Sickie

I'm not feeling so great... again! I've been running a fever since Tuesday night and my tummy hurts. I can't sleep for more than an hour at a time. Mommy took me to the doctor, but they said, "just a virus." Just! I'm miserable! Yesterday I seemed better, but today I'm sad again. Here are some pictures of me being a sickie.

(Ok, so I still remember how to smile).

Some new things in Jack's life

Jack has had a big few weeks. He's really enjoyed having his Gigi here and has definitely been showing off for her. We'll see her again in two weeks for our family vacation in GA, so I keep telling him that he needs to learn lots of new things in that time and impress her when we get there. I think he's listening! It seems like everyday he learns or does something new. Here are some of the milestone's he's reached or is working on lately!


Jack is standing to play more, and although he can't pull up on stuff (furniture, toys) yet, he pulls up on Mommy lots! He will stand for a long time!

He's trying to crawl... and walk! He's been going from sitting onto his tummy and sometimes getting up on his knees. He even "crawls" backwards when trying to go forward, which makes him VERY mad. His favorite thing, though, is to "walk" holding someone's fingers and has had a blast exploring his new house this way. Now, he's starting to let go of one, sometimes both, hands and attempt the walking thing. He falls, of course, which is not a favorite of his.

Waving! When Gigi says "Hi Jack" and waves her arm, he sometimes waves his arm back. And, no, that's not what he was really doing in this picture, but it sure does look like it, doesn't it!

Sleeping in his crib at night and Pack n' Play for naps. FINALLY! Certainly more of an adjustment for Mommy, and he's doing great!

Other new things that I don't have pictures of:

Playing peek a boo- he'll pull a blanket over his face, and then if you say "Where's Jack?", he'll pull it down and grin

His first ear infection... NOT fun, poor baby! He's a champ with the antibiotic, though, and is feeling much better.

Starting to cruise the Pack n' Play, furniture, and moving from Mommy to the furniture.

Playing football with Daddy. Here's the video:

And here's one more picture of Jack being cute, asleep in his stroller.

Our 4th in Pictures (a week later)

Since my mom has been in town, you'd think I have more time to blog and post pics, but if you guessed that, you'd be wrong. We've been unpacking and arranging and hanging pictures, etc. Then this past week was my camp show and Jack was sick... ick! So FINALLY, here are pictures from our 5th of July party, which was a blast!

Some camp friends in a rousing game of bocce ball

Jack and Gigi

Jack and Grandpa

Gigi and Kennison

Action Shot

Look, Mom! Just one hand!

Jack in his cute hat from Nana Shelley

Dad grilling

Kennison at Jack's new picnic table

Me and Kennison decorating cupcakes

Pouting

Here's Jack, master pouter.

Today was one of THOSE days. Jack has a cold, AGAIN. He probably got it on the plane. Poor kid has been sick almost as much as he's been well, at least since January. My school musical is tomorrow night, so I've had rehearsals every morning at school this week. Today he had to come with me. He was a good sport, and one of my 8th graders played with him during the rehearsal, which was a lifesaver. The kids got a kick out of his red collared "uniform" onesie that matched their uniform shirts. Too cute.

The rest of the afternoon and evening he fussed between naps, which he actually took plenty of. Not much I (and later Mike) did for him made him happy. The picture above is a perfect example of his mood. Check out those chubby cheeks. Even grumpy, isn't he cute?! It's been rainy here, and all the extra moisture has made his hair really curly in the front. Cuteness. Hopefully tomorrow he'll be feeling much better. He's going to Wendy's during school and then hanging with me at school until Daddy comes to pick him up. I'm sure he'll be in bed by the time I get home. I'm really bummed about not getting to see him for more than a few hours tomorrow. Check back this weekend for more pics!

Back in Missouri

... and back among the living! I am feeling a ton better, although it took me a lot longer than I thought it should have. Jack, however, is still nursing his cold. He is Cranky with a capital "C" and just generally miserable. He was actually ok on the plane ride back thanks to a well-planned nursing schedule. His ears really bother him on the descent, so I have to try to hold him off eating until we're landing, which can be tricky timing-wise. Here's hoping he's feeling better soon and back to his happy self! I am going to get him weighed at breastfeeding support group tomorrow night because he hasn't really wanted to eat, and my milk supply has been down because of the fever. Not that he can't afford to slow down some, but I just want to be sure he's ok!

Yesterday we went over to Allison and Kenny's for breakfast and to see Kennison and Colton. Allison's mom made Jack and Colton each a MU blanket and a KU blanket. You see, Kenny and Mike are big MU fans... Dale, Allison's dad, is a big KU fan. Well, Jack likes them both, and donned his KU blanket all day yesterday, cheering the Jayhawks on to their Final 4 victory. But I'm partial to the KU blanket. Why, you ask? Yesterday Jack took at 2 hour nap with it, and today, he took a 1 1/2 hour nap with it! For a kid who never naps, that is HUGE! Thanks Nana Shelley for such a GREAT Easter present! After hanging out and relaxing all day, Kenny and Allison and crew came over to watch the basketball game, and Kennison practiced taking my picture with our old camera. I got her first, though! Today we just lounged around all day... we didn't make it to church but we did make it out this evening with Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Dave for their wedding anniversary/Grandma's birthday. After a relaxing weekend, we're looking forward to a great week!