Some videos for you...

This is hysterical! While it's a little longer than what I like to post, it is absolutely hysterical! This is a pretty typical night after dinner at our house. Keep in mind, Jack and Cooper are really good buddies these days. He knows how to pet him nice and will lay on him and tell him night night! So sweet! And we couldn't ask for a more patient and loving dog too!

Our awesome band teacher let Jack bang on the drums after the school sing a long a few weeks ago. He was a natural and knew exactly what to do! I think we have a future rock star on our hands!

We are proud new owners of a new pet...a horsey that doesn't need to be fed or watered or cleaned up after! Note: No child was harmed in the making of this video!

17 Months...Almost 18

So, I am a little behind on this blogging thing, but here it goes!

Jack, you are an amazing 17 months old! Very, very close to the 1 and a half mark! I can't believe it! In six months, we will be celebrating your 2nd birthday! Holy cow! I better start planning now! You are quite the amazing little man these days, doing and saying so much. You are so incredibly active and all boy through and though. You are tiring, and thank god, still a good napper/sleeper! Your daddy and I have been having so much fun with you and we both got to spend a lot of time with you over the holidays. It was so nice to be a little family of three, even though we were constantly on the go! Well, here's a little bit about Jack Matthew these days and what you are up to and into...

•  You are saying more and more every day and really into mimicking, and it's pretty funny! You say hottttt, cheese, da deeee, truck, car, dog, night night, you nod your head yes and no, you wave bye bye, and blow kisses with a big mmmmuuuuaaahhhh, you can make a siren sound and do so for all of your vehicles, you can meow and bark, and more and more each day!
• You are always happy and have the best smile! You love to laugh and be tickled. You are into finding our bellies and try to tickle us to!
• You have recently become into cars and will drive them on the floor, your body and our bodies too! The garbage man is a big hit with you as well as any big truck we see when we are out and about.
• You can throw a bit of a temper tantrum when things don't go your way or when you become frustrated.
• You can throw things in the garbage, but you want to get it back out.
• You love to put objects in things and then take them back out, especially the fridge magnets.
• I can not keep you out of the cupboards and drawers!
• You know where your eyes, nose and hair are. You know where Mommy's hair is and if you are playing with my hair tools, you will try to do my hair! And you can brush your own hair!
• You love the tub and are into splashing. You try to get in by your self.
• You are becoming much more independent and want to do things by yourself. We are working on spoon feeding right now.
• Your favorite foods are spaghetti, pizza, little cuties, bananas, applesauce, all fruit really, cookies, cheese, crackers, squeeze pouches, fruit snacks, and gummy worms! Ice cream is a new favorite of yours too! And, I've never seen anyone eat a cookie faster than you can. My do you have a sweet tooth - Just like Mommy did when I was pregnant with you! Sweets and fruit, yum!
• Christmas was a blast and I haven't been this excited for Christmas morning since I was little. You got lots of fun new toys, but would rather play with the remote, phones and anything you can find in a drawer or cupboard, especially the blow dryer and hair straightener. You also LOVE the vacuum cleaner! Big boxes are a blast for you also.
• You did get a tent from Santa and love going in and out of it.
• You are becoming such a little boy these days an not so much of a baby. You finally have a few baby rolls on your legs right below your knees...hard earned baby rolls though!
• You walk every where and swing your arms by your sides. You are even doing some good running! You also love to bounce and we put you in your crib to play and bounce sometimes, yes, we let you jump on your bed!
• You point to everything...everything! 
• You are still taking two naps during the week, and usually one on the weekend. You are a great sleeper, usually, and like to stick to your bedtime routine. When you do wake up at night, you are usually pretty easy to go back down. I like to think that you just needed a little extra snuggle time with mom! Makes it easier to me to be up during the wee hours of the morn!
• I think you are a little over 24 pounds. You are switching to Pediasure instead of formula and seem to be tolerating it well. You still use your tube for 4 hours at night, but I have a feeling things will be changing very soon! It's so close baby boy! You are wearing mostly 18 month and 18-24 month clothes, but still squeeze into a few 12 month things.
• We are patiently waiting for snow to use your new snow boots and snow pants! We even have a sled too and can't wait to play in the fluffy white stuff with you!

 Loving daddy's headphones, mainly because they have a cord and you are obsessed with cords!

 You did NOT dig Santa at all! You cried so hard Santa would not let you sit on his lap!

 Christmas Eve 2011...We did take you to mass, we will not be taking you again for quite a while!

 Half a family picture on Christmas Eve...all dressed up!

 Exploring new toys that Santa brought you! You must have been a good boy!

You were very funny when it came to unwrapping your toys. You would take a little piece of paper off and inspect it, then shake it off of your hand, then go at it again. It took a very long time to unwrap this year!

 Daddy helped you move the process along!

 And you were happiest with this vase full of ornaments!

 Showing off your new vest from Auntie!

 Cooper likes your new tent too!

 You loved watching the train at zoo lights!

 We hope your holidays were as magical as ours were!

I just can't believe how much you are growing up and learning and doing these days. I love it, but I so very much wish that I was home with you more. The count to summer vacation is on I tell you! You are such an amazing little boy with so much happiness to share. I love it when I get to take you to school and big family events. I feel like I am showing everyone what their prayers helped accomplish!  I really can't get enough of you these days my love! Weekends go by to fast and there is just not enough time when we get home from work. But I have learned to enjoy every second we have together, even if it is chatting or singing with you in the car on our way home from work.

Your dad and I love you like crazy little man. We know that it has been pretty hectic lately, but we are ready to fall back into our routine and get through these winter months into nicer warm weather. Time is going by so quickly, and while that's great, we would love for it to slow down a little bit too! Keep smiling my love! XOXO Mommy and Daddy

Itsy Bitsy 16 Months

I have to share this sweet little video. Jack is really into boxes and laundry baskets right now. He also LOVES to drag around anything with a cord...blow dryer, curling iron, computer charger, etc. He is mimicking sounds and says a real word every once and a while like "hello" and "cracker". I love that after singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Pat-a-Cake" over a thousand times, he is finally starting to do the hand motions!

So here's a few more tid bits about little 16 month old you...

• You are starting to throw slight temper tantrums when you can't have something that you want.
• I am finding things in weird places, like a lid to a pan under the couch and toys in kitchen cupboards!
• You like to drink out of a cup, but it dribbles all down your chin! You kind of slurp it, it's pretty funny! And when you drink out of your sippy you say "Aaaaahhhhh" after a drink!
• You are still a pretty good eater, but are becoming more picky and I can't get you to eat a veggie anymore! You have a sweet tooth and love fruit, especially bananas!
• You are blowing kisses and waving goodbye all the time, even if we just run to the garage real quick.
• You are starting to run a little and love to dance, but you like it when we hold you in our arms and you grab our hand to dance.
• I just noticed that you can point to your nose, eyes and ears! We have a great sitter because daddy and I did not teach you that!
• You are loving Grandpa Wolf these days and will run right up to hem to be held when we see him!
• You are so sweet when we get home from the day and are anxious to see daddy! You run to him with smiles and giggles and I think it makes for a good end to a long days work!
• You are on your tube feeds for only four hours a night - we are pretty excited, but we hook you up at 10:30 and unhook you at 2:30, so it becomes a little tiresome! Your doctor is pretty impressed with your progress. 
• You weighed it at 22lbs 12oz last week and I'm getting out 18month clothes!
• You love to run around naked before bath time and sometimes you escape from us during diaper changes and you think it's hysterical - I love a giggling, naked baby running through the house!
• You NEVER stop moving, EVER! You are constantly on the go discovering new things and getting into everything that you are not supposed to be into! The Christmas tree should be interesting!
• Ice cream is a very special treat that you love!
• We took you to your first trip to Bianchi's, and Ottawa tradition, and you waited very patiently for almost an hour for pizza!

 Checking out the pumpkin Mommy carved for Jack!

Spooky "Jack" themed pumpkins.

 I really got into Halloween this year. Last year, it was our goal to be home from the hospital by Halloween. Jack came home on October 28th, 2010, so this is a really special time of year for us. i decorated and made some decorations and a homemade costume of course! We started a night light collection for Jack, a spooky skeleton, and we got him a toy doctor kit for his special "One Year Home" celebration! Truly a very special time of year for us - lots of good, scary and nervous feelings!

 Kind of happy for a second...

 It was the hat that he did not enjoy...trying to make it all better with a sucker...

But as you can see, it didn't work! But I swear, he was a very happy trick-or-treater and loved walking up the sidewalks holding our hands for only a second. He carefully chose a piece of candy out of the neighbors candy bowls and put it in his little pumpkin.

Last year's Halloween! Our little Jack-O-Lantern!

You sure do keep us on our toes these days! Our house is full of laughter and love and a very tired mommy and daddy! But we love you to the moon and back all over again and will do whatever we need to for you, not only now, but for the rest of our loves son! You are an amazing little boy with an amazing spirit! I know I say this every month, but we do love you more, and more, and more each and every day! Life truly keeps getting better! All my love - Mommy

PS Remind me that I need to take more pictures! I don't know what has gotten into me lately! But I do have lots of pictures on my phone...just need to get them onto the computer!

15...and 1/2 Months

Life has been busy and I have been exhausted, but hey late is better than never! I really need to write this months update because so much has happened, most importantly, WALKING!!!!! Yes out little man is walking everywhere these days. My how life has changed! So here's how that started and a little more about you at 15 months!

• You are off and walking! Holy cow, I can't believe it! It started with a few steps here and there, and now you are full fledged walking and you love it!
• You are so good at playing. You play so good all by yourself and really love to sit and look at your books.
• You are into everything that is not a toy. Opening all of the cupboards and emptying them is your favorite past time. It makes cooking dinner twice as long.
• You are getting so big! You weigh it at bout 22 pounds and 30 inches. We were just remembering when we could hold you on our chest under out chin and your butt hit our belly button. 
• You blow kisses and wave to everyone
• Your red hair still makes all the old ladies at the grocery store stop dead in their tracks!
• You can now say Hi, mama, doggie, I think you say Aggie for our neighbor, and Daddy is your FAVORITE word!
• You love music and are into the Laurie Berkner Band. I turn it on in the car when you are fussy and it calms you right down!
• You have been watching a little more TV these days and will sit and watch an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba.
• You are on your tube feedings for only five hours a night! Woo hoo Jack, keep up the awesome work! Doctor says we will try no tube feeding after the holidays! I can't even imagine how life would be!
• Speaking of the tube, you pulled it out at the sitters house with the balloon inflated! This resulted in an emergency trip to Peoria on a school day. Just more time to spend with you and a pit stop at the park on a lovely fall day!
• I always try to make our doctor's visits special. Last one, we went to the Discovery Museum in Normal, it was awesome and you truly loved it!
• You love to be outside and will cry when it's time to come in or when we can't go out. 
• You are still an amazing napper taking two 1 1/2 hour naps during the week. You sleep in on the weekends and are usually doing one nap on the weekends.
• You have adjusted beautifully to day care...but I'm still working on it!
• You're sleeping thought the night pretty well, except when it comes to teething and having a bit of a cold.
• You are one happy boy all of the time! We are blessed!
• You are a huge fan of spaghetti and pizza! Some of your other favorite foods are pancakes, bananas, cheese, and chicken nuggets with ranch!
• We have recently bought a hiking backpack and have started to take you hiking. Wow, 22 pounds can get heavy real fast! But you enjoy the ride and fall asleep.
• You love to peek thought things...doors, the crib slats, the spindles in the deck, windows. 
• You have been obsessed with cords lately. Especially my hair dryer and such! Great way to keep you busy when I need to get ready in the morning!

At the NICU walk. This is your friend who was born weighing 2 pounds! We got to see all of your other NICU friends as well. We are happy to report that everyone is happy and healthy!

Team "Jack's Journey" raised $1,300 for our favorite NICU! We are so grateful to our friends, family and co-workers!

Checking out fish bigger than you at Bass Pro Shop

Playing in the leaves. You did NOT like being buried in them

Another new obsession, the French doors!

A family hike before the new carrier! We are loving this fall!

Daddy and Jack in Bears gear. Daddy is being silly!

I had to convince Matt that this was a good purchase, so I felt that I had to be the first to carry you! It was pretty comfy, but I was feeling it the next day!

Daddy's turn, and you're out!

"Practicing" trick-or-treating!

Our special day at the children's museum...

There was NO ONE there! You had the run of the place! You loved all the buttons and levers on the tractor and kept going back for more.

But this is the best picture ever! There was a bridge that you went over a hundred times, then you would peek through the glass and giggle at me! It was too funny and you made the best piggy faces in that glass at me!

 These 15 1/2 months have been absolutely amazing! It really does just keep getting better and better. Your laugh and smile still continue to light up rooms. You are the happiest baby ever and aways smiling! Somedays I am sad that you are not a little baby anymore, but you do have your sweet, cuddly moments. I enjoy every second being your mommy Jack! I am so proud of all of your accomplishments both big and small. I can tell, you are here to conquer the world, and you are going to have fun doing it! Daddy and I couldn't be happier to be at your side watching you do it! Life is changing so very fast, but we always make sure to take the time to slow down and enjoy all you have to offer. Love you to the moon and back little man...and then again and again! XOXO Mommy

September Brings Many Things...and 14 Months

September brings many days that are important to me. Days that are celebrated because of all of the obstacles we have faced in the past. September 13th was Jack's due date, the day he was supposed to come. I can't let this day come and go with out pausing, and somehow celebrating this day. So we took Jack for some "due date" ice cream to recognize this special day...and of course he loved it and was devastated when I took the cone away!

"Due Date" Ice Cream. When I asked you for a bite, you gave me a kiss!

September 15 was when Jack had the surgery to reverse his ostomy. I don't think Matt and I will ever forget that day. We were at the hospital very early that morning and snuggled and loved our baby like crazy. I read him "I'll Love You Forever" and painfully waited for Jack's turn to come. We were able to go with him all the way to the surgery floor and waited to speak with the doctors and nurses before he went into surgery. Handing your baby over to someone else to take them into surgery is a very painful thing. But we knew that this was a "good" surgery. So at about two months old, Jack was having surgery to reverse his ostomy, have a g-tube placed and do whatever else they had to do to his intestines to make them work as normally as possible. Matt and I painfully waited in the waiting room for over three hours to hear from the Surgeon. Finally, the Surgeon came and got us and he told us that the surgery was a very difficult one. More intestine had to be removed in both his large and small intestine and there were some other intestinal issues that made the surgery difficult, but all in all, things went well. We rushed to see our little Jack back in his room and I don't think either one of us were prepared. He was not on a ventilator, which was a good thing, but we had to hear our little baby cry out in pain. Oh my, was he in so much pain! It was absolutely dreadful to watch him, he was miserable. Again, there was no holding, the only thing we could do was talk to him to comfort him. The nurses and I worked together to get him as comfortable as we could. Matt had to leave to go back to work, but I stayed until I felt comfortable leaving, which was very late that night. Jack's wound was as wide as hid little baby tummy was and looked like Frankenstein. But, this was a good surgery, he needed this to come home. Day by day, things got slowly better and better. I think it's safe to say that Jack is our hero and always a source of strength whenever we need a little extra to get through the day. As September 15th rolled around this year, I couldn't stop the flashbacks, nor did we really do much "celebrating", but Matt and I acknowledged the day and, personally, as Jack ate supper that night, I just thanked the Lord that Jack had the ability to process food and absorb nutrients. Not many mommies thank the good Lord for that now do they!

This time last year we would sneak into the conference room on Sunday afternoon to watch football and catch some rays!

So baby Jack, on top of all that, you, my dear, are 14 months old! And here is all about you my love:

• You finally got another tooth! Top left! The other top ones are following suite!
• Daycare is going much more smoothly for all of us. I still wish more than anything in the world that I could be home with you, but I now live for the weekends.
• Your red hair looks orange and is curly in the back. Very cute! We get stopped at least three times at the grocery store by people commenting on your red hair!
• You are so very fun, laughing and giggling all night long until it's time to go to bed.
• You can say MaMa, DaDa, Da-de, Dog-e, Yuck-e. When we repeat something over, and over, and over, you will say something like it. You are quite the chatter box though, especially in the morning.
• You are still an amazing napper. Two, 1 1/2 hour naps a day. You go to bed between 7:30 and 8:00 and I have to wake you up in the morning at 6:30 to get ready to go.
• You have pulled yourself up to standing a few times in the middle of a room.
• You took your first steps! Four of them at your Great Grandma and Grandpa Shinnick's house! Pretty amazing, but very bittersweet also.
• We just met with the developmental docs and they scored you at 13 months! You are 14 months and 12 months adjusted, so we were pretty happy with that. Daddy and I beamed with pride as you did everything you were asked to do and then some.
• We also just met with your GI doctor and got your tube feedings reduced from 9 to 8 hours and we will continue to wean as long as you gain weight! Although it's still a ways away, there is an end in sight little one!
• You were 21 lbs 6 oz last checked and that puts you ON the charts in the 15%!!!!!!!!!!!!
• You do not dig car rides lately and it is very frustrating to hear you scream your head off and not be able to do anything about it. I have become queen of the "Paci Reach-Around". 
• You are on the go always! What a busy little boy you are and so very inquisitive and curious!
• 
  
• Daddy and I love to sit and watch you play by yourself and discover from afar. 
• You like to sing songs and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is your new favorite/
• I think you would live upside down if you could.
• You mainly wear 12 month clothes now, but you have no butt and the pants fall down!
• I already have your Halloween costume picked out, but I'm not telling yet! And, yes, I will be making it!
• You still take most of your formula by bottle, but we are trying the sippy more and more. You do just fine with it, but I'm not ready for you to give up your bottle. And I'm not about to take away your paci, but you really only use it when you are sleeping and in the car.
• You went to Chicago for your first time to visit Auntie and we went to Lincoln Park Zoo and you rode the carousel. You watched the animals, but did not like the carousel.  

Loving the kitchen garage sale find!

Getting and giving dog-e kisses!

Happily willing to share his sucker after a doctor appointment!

See, doctor's appointments aren't so bad after all!

Catching a nap in between appointments.

Taking a break to play at the hospital.

Some of our wonderful NICU nurses...love them!

Yum, letters! I wonder if some taste better than others!

Oh my little love, you bring so much joy to Daddy and I every single day! You continue to amaze us with everything you do. Despite this month being bittersweet, as you are growing into a little boy so very fast, it has been filled with so much happiness and even a little relief! Keep growing, but not too fast! And don't forget, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be...XOXO Mommy

All these pictures are from my phone! My camera card is full and I insist on buying another one even though all my pictures are on the computer. But I have taken a TON of videos that I need to post, and I promise to get a new camera card for the weekend!

Almost Walking...And Still Bear Crawling

Yep, any day now! Hopefully it will be on a weekend so I can be there to see it! Maybe even this weekend! I'm just waiting...But it's coming soon!

Just wanted to share how content he is to read books these days. Sorry it's a little long, but I didn't want to cut it. This went on forever! Notice it's an art book, thanks to some good teacher friends!

All Good Things...

They say that all good things must come to an end. I have had the complete joy and pleasure of having the job of being Jack's mom since he was born. No, it was not the way that we had planned things, but I would not have traded it for the world. Some of this time was pretty rough, 3 1/2 months were spent in the NICU, then home health visits, countless trips to the doctor in Peoria, in home therapy appointments, sleepless nights, anxiety, worry, ect. However, I try to focus on the smiles, time we have had in the sunshine, mornings in our jammies playing with toys, naps on the couch, and many firsts and milestones. I truely am devestated that I really do have to go back to work. I have nievely been playing the lotto here and ther hoping, praying for a miracle that I would be able to stay home with you and just be your mom, but that is not the case. And for the days that you miss me, I am sorry, but I am working because I love you!

This is the second full week of school and you are doing amazing well at daycare. You do not cry, you nap wonderfully and eat all of your breakfast, snack and bottles. You are a pleasure to be around and are getting along very well with the other little baby and I can tell you are learning so much from her. Your sitter cares about you so very much and keeps you very busy and active throughout the day. She gives you fresh air, sunshine, new experiences and a whole lot of lovin! I feel 100% comfortable with you there, but can not get over that fact that I want to be the one taking you for morning walks and blowing bubbles in the front yard. I desperately want to be with you during the day and it is killing me that I can't be. I have had a pretty rough adjustment period filled with lots of tears. I thought the tears were over, but today Jack whined/cried a little when I left and I cried the whole way to school.

So, I am just trudging along and am going to make the best of this situation that has been put in front of me. I am so very thankful that I have a job. I work for a wonderul school district filled with the most amazing and supportitive co-workers. I guess I just need to get into a groove, into a routine. I am finding evenings dificult and everything seems to be so rushed.

I would also like to not think of this as the end, but as a new chapter. After all, I am no where close to being done at the job of being a mom. Things are just different now. I can't wait for the upcoming three day weekend and am especially looking forward to our more extended holidays. This is a big adjustment for the both of us, and it's just going to take some time to figure everything out.

Well off to bed for that early morning, after I pack breakfast and lunch!