JHP Update

The Track Star...(thank you Hampden cousins for the cosy tracksuit)


On Your Mark, Get Set...


Everything goes in the mouth....here he is sampling a leaf.


JACK FACTS

Standing: He is getting braver each day and will stand without holding onto anything for as long as 10 seconds, but then he usually plops down on his bottom. He is so close to walking alone, he has been trying to make some short walks between chairs or toys, and so far no real steps. He is a super confident and quick walker when he is holding onto someone else, or even just one finger. He loves to walk around and would keep us going all day if we let him.

Making Coffee: Jack thinks it is his special duty to assist his dad with the coffee each morning. He actually takes it as a personal offense if Jim runs the coffee grinder without him. Jim will carry Jack while he gets out the coffee beans, grinds them (Jack puts his hand on the little grinder to help) and pours water into the coffeemaker. Lately Jack has gotten more and more interested in actually helping with the beans and managed to get several into his mouth yesterday morning. Starting early...

The Vacuum: Jack LOVES the vacuum. He loves it when it is off, but he ADORES it when it is running. He will chase it around the floor, so it gets to be quite challenging to actually vacuum without running into his little hands or feet. The front of the vacuum blows out a steady stream of air, and Jack loves to get his face right in front of it so that his hair stands up in the breeze.

The Lawnmower: Jack also adores the lawnmower and just watching it is not enough, he wants to be on it, or at least carried by Jim while it is going. This is a double bonus, because he loves being on Jim's shoulders. This is a mixed blessing for Jim, because Jack likes to hold on to his ears, or worse...his hair. See below, as he gives his dad's hair a good yank.

Jim feeling much better with a hat to protect his tender folicles.


Simple Pleasures: Jack seems to find the most enjoyment in the simplest of pursuits. He loves his little blue shaker (see video "PreWalking") and will shake that thing all over the house. He will crawl all over, under and through obstacles, all while keeping the shaker tight in his fist. He'll stop crawling, sit up, look at you, and shake it AT you with all his might. He also loves paper. Any kind of paper. He will tear apart a magazine and will carry around a portion of a page, all over the house, for 45 minutes. Crawl a little, wave the paper in the air, crawl a little more, wave the paper. Toilet paper and Tissues are also a big hit. He likes to rip the tissues into tiny pieces and put them in his mouth and then deposit them all around. Jim is very proud of his early efforts at spit balls. Really, we don't let him do this very often...mainly when Jim is in charge of "watching" Jack...
Jack and Kristen and the little blue shaker:



Playing the guitar: Big moment yesterday. While Jim was playing the guitar, Jack pulled the pick out of his hand and for the first time DID NOT PUT IT IN HIS MOUTH. Instead he used it to "strum" on the strings. MONUMENTAL.

He had a check up on September 20th and is still 75% for height and 10-25% for weight (just over 19 pounds) at 9.5 months. He is really a happy guy, but it is still a challenge to get him to laugh and once you do, he probably won't laugh again at the same thing. He loves being outside and around groups of people. He's very observant and in any new place will be totally distracted while he tries to take in every single detail.

Jack's first Rocking Chair experience:


Close Up: