Saving it for Later

Wheels

I can not tell you how many magazines I've read sitting in the stairwell of our condo building while Jett plays with the wheels on the strollers. I don't know why we even bother going outside.

Don't Forget to Brush!

He Can Play Air Guitar Too

Have a rockin' Thanksgiving!

Winter Wear

What's the best thing about cold weather? Bundling your baby up cute and snuggly, and holding back the laughs when he can't bend over because his belly is covered up in too many layers.

It's a European Carry-All

And yes, he may be rushing out the door to go shopping.

Crocs are Not Winter Shoes

Jett likes to put on our shoes and walk around the house. This is a demanding activity. One of us has to hold his hands while he walks so he doesn't trip. Usually his feet slip right out of the shoes, which completely frustrates him. So to solve this problem I bought him a pair of crocs in the next size up. He can slip his feet in and out by himself, and they don't come off when he walks. Plus, since they are too big, I think they capture some of the novelty of walking around in my shoes, but require no effort from me. I keep them in his toy box, so he knows they are toys, not real shoes.



But he still wants to wear them outside. This kid is constantly outsmarting me.

Shampoo

He said he didn't want to take a bath, but we knew he'd come around. He even had fun getting his hair washed.

Before shampooing.

During shampooing.

All done!
Compare this picture to last month's picture and look at how nice and plump my baby is.
Yum!

Seventeen Months

Happy Birthday, Jett! Yesterday you turned seventeen months old. Seventeen months!

Our main goal this month has been to bring back your baby fat. You gained three pounds last month - nice job. We've gotten pretty good at adding more calories to your diet without actually asking you to eat more food. For example, we stir ranch dressing in to your peas, dip your chicken nuggets in honey, spread strawberry cream cheese on your graham crackers, and add carnation instant breakfast to your milk. We also treat you to the occasional bowl of ice cream which somehow still comes in second to rice krispies.

Of course, after all that sugary food we have to brush your teeth. You are really starting to embrace the concept, thank goodness. Maybe it's because you brush your teeth while Daddy shaves and that's pretty entertaining. Maybe it's because it finally occurred to me to buy you two toothbrushes - one for us to start brushing your teeth with, and one for you to hold at the same time. Either way, it's going fairly well. You only try to escape from the bathroom, toothbrush in hand, a few times a week. That's not so bad.

Mostly, Jett, you are on the move. You are like a spinning top that never stops, bouncing from the couch to the floor to the fridge to the chair. It's hard to get you to sit in my lap and read books anymore. Instead you play with your cars, driving them over the couch, on the trash can, and up the walls. Or you bounce your balls, chasing after them yourself and then throwing them again. Or you want me to spin anything that will spin on our wood floor. Very fitting!

rare moment of standing still

You should know though, that we are making an effort to encourage you to play with more than just cars, balls, and things that spin. I've been getting your stuffed animals and dolls out lately, trying to introduce you to your nurturing side. I also bought you a toy stroller. You love Ellie's so much, I figured for $7 you could have your own. You love it, and I loved watching your smile as you figured out what it was. The downside is that more often than not, you want us to push you in it. That is not the idea. It is the opposite of the idea.

Of course, we'd do almost anything to see your smile. Thank goodness it pops up so often.

Happy Birthday, sweet baby. We love you.

Sunday Conversation

Halloween

Since trick-or-treating in our neighborhood ends practically at the time I get home from work, I called our nanny when I got off the bus and asked her to start putting Jett in his Halloween costume, so we could scoot out the door and start trick-or-treating right away. When I walked in the house Jett was all dressed up and the cutest little bear I ever saw.

We left right away and when we got outside I put him down on the sidewalk, thinking that he would walk with me to the houses that were handing out candy. But he didn't get it. He didn't mind being outside in his bear costume, he just didn't know that he was supposed to walk anywhere.

A sweet neighbor, who was sitting on her front porch with a bowl of candy came out of her gate and handed Jett a small Nestle Crunch. Jett took it, but with a serious, silent face. Eventually he reached out to take the whole bowl, but was too shy to put up much of a fight.

Charlie arrived a few minutes later, and we put Jett in the stroller, since we wouldn't get anywhere if we left him to his own devices. We strolled him through the neighborhood, stopping at homes and stores and picking up a few pieces of chocolate along the way. Jett never cracked a smile or made a peep. I know he was having a good time though, because he kept every piece of candy clutched to his little bear chest during our entire 30 minute walk.

Here he is, eating his Crunch bar in his serious way. (No, we didn't let him eat the Snickers).


Later that evening we went to his cousin Ellie's house and they played together in their costumes.


That was fun, but for Jett the best part of the night was the walk home, when Charlie lifted him up to touch the branches of the trees.


And then off to bed in his Halloween pajamas.