Fun Jack Facts

Jack is growing and changing every day. Here are a few uniquely Jack things...

• Jack is very adept at peek-a-boo. He plays it with all kinds of things, and really likes objects he can look through. His newest word is "boo" (more like "beew") and it completely tickles him.
• Jack is quite the talker. He adds a word every couple of days, it seems like. He says a few words (mama, dada, hi, boo, up, uh-oh, and hot) without prompting. He says lots of other words repetitively after we say them (hipp0, airplane, apple, and sometimes thank you and down). He also sometimes signs "more" and "milk," but isn't really into the whole signing thing.
• Jack wants to be just like his daddy, and tries to imitate him. When Daddy snaps his fingers, Jack tries too! He waggles his fingers and opens and closes his palms. It's too funny!
• Jack has FINALLY started to finger feed himself. For all that he can do verbally, his fine motor skills have been slow going. But he's doing it now, when he feels like it anyhow, and we are so happy for him. I'm trying to make lunches almost exclusively finger foods to help him learn. He is also finally starting to drink more water from a sippy cup, which should help in a few weeks when we introduce whole milk.
• Jack loves the following, in no particular order: swings, the refrigerator and freezer, big mirrors, computers, cell phones, mommy's coffee cup, being outside, hanging out with Daddy in the morning (ok maybe Mommy loves this event more... zzzzzz), yogurt, lift-the-flap books, and playing with his cousins.
• Jack also has a serious love of combs. Seriously. Hand him a comb, and he's happy. He can "comb" his own hair, and sometimes combs yours if you ask him to (just watch your eyes!). Currently he's playing with Kennison's purple comb most of the time. To each his own, right?

Hope you enjoyed Jack trivia day!

5 Things

So, I got tagged. And, we needed some fun, so here you go.

What I was doing 10 years ago today:
Hmmm. I was 14- finishing up my freshman year in high school. If it was a Monday, I had piano lessons. If it was a Wednesday, I had church then choir practice. If it was any other week night, I was probably studying or doing homework. If it was a weekend, I was probably doing something at church. I was getting ready to go to Argentina to nanny and practice my Spanish for the summer.

Five things on my to-do list today:
Get everything in order for tomorrow's talent show- done!
Meet Mike at his grandmother's visitation- also done.
Get the stroller that I left in Allison's truck- I'm 3 for 3!
Pack for Des Moines- not yet.
Make Jack yogurt- probably not til Monday.

5 snacks I enjoy:
Strawberry yogurt with granola on top
Wheat Thins
Fruit
Anything from Starbucks (drinks can be snacks, too!)
French Fries (she says sheepishly)

5 things I'd do if I was a millionaire:
Pay for our house
Buy Allison, Kenny, Kennison and Colton a house next door
Help find a cure for Breast Cancer
Buy Camp Center Stage a permanent building
Travel

5 places I've lived:
Savannah, GA
Clifton, NJ
Jacksonville, FL
Hickory, NC
Independence, MO

I tag: Allison. Check back soon for Jack's 7 month pics.

7 Things

Almost daily, I read a blog called Confessions of a CF Husband. It is the ongoing story of a Nate, his wife Tricia who has Cystic Fibrosis, and their now 9 week old daughter, born 15 weeks premature. It is so uplifting and incredible to keep up with them, I encourage you to look at the blog when you can. My family has been touched by CF- my dad's cousin Gwyneth is a living miracle, although her struggle has been long. Ironically, Tricia and Nate's new baby girl is also named Gwyneth. Recently, Nate posted 7 Things You Might Not Know About Me on his blog, and encouraged readers to do the same. I thought it sounded fun, so I'll give it a whirl for me and Jack!

7 Things You Might Not Know About Me (Tori)

1. My whole life (until college) I thought I would grow up to be a pastor in a Lutheran church. In college I decided I was meant to teach. I also went though phases where I wanted to be: a writer, a college professor, a librarian, a photographer, and a music therapist. Looking at the list, I guess I'm kind of a nerd. Currently, I think it would be great to become a Child Life Specialist for kids in the hospital.

2. I don't like the food on my plate to touch. At all. You know those sectioned plates you get a buffets and school lunches? I am campaigning for sectioned china plates.

3. I've always wanted to visit Africa. Some day I want to do something meaningful to help women and children affected by HIV there.

4. I am a much different mom than I thought I would be. I generally thought I would be pretty go with the flow about my babies. Instead I think I've become kind of a nervous mom. I'm trying to strike a balance.

5. Back to my weird food habits... I eat each different part of my meal one at a time instead of taking bites of many different things. This sometimes even includes my drink.

6. I was born with foot issues. My heel cords weren't long enough, and my feet were turned funny. I wore casts for some of my first year. The doctors told my parents I might not walk. Flash forward to me walking 60 miles in 3 days last year in the Breast Cancer 3 Day. Guess they were wrong.

7. I love school. I would go to school forever if someone would pay for it.

7 Things You Might Not Know About Jack

1. Jack loves hair. He loves to grab it, run his fingers though it, etc.

2. Jack is going to be tall. He is in the 98th percentile for height.

3. Jack hates to have his arms restricted. He didn't like his arms swaddled even in the hospital, and would manage to get them out of the blankets, even when the nurses did it (and they are pros)!

4. Jack has beautiful big blue eyes. They will probably stay that color because Mom and Dad both have blue eyes.

5. Jack knows his name. He looks at you when you call it.

6. Jack loves bananas.

7. Jack is named after his grandfather, who was a great dad to me. Hopefully, one day he will be a great dad too.