Making a Thank You Card for Grandma Pat

I love it that Jasper is just coloring on the table while the girls go to town on the card. Katie is thinking to herself, "Should have used the washable crayons..."

11 Months Old

This is the last post documenting Jasper's infancy because in a mere few weeks he'll be a toddler in just about every sense of the word and celebrating his one year old birthday to prove it. It really does feel like only just recently I was feeling my first cramptractions and preparing for his arrival into the world. Now, if it weren't the milestones blowing by to signify how fast time has passed it would be the sheer size of this boy and his cheeks. I try to squeeze him into his brother's old clothes but his body type is just so different that he looks silly. Where Will was long and lean, Jasper is tall and husky. Will wore trim pantsuits and sweater vests and Jasper is a t-shirt and roomy athletic pant kind of guy.

While they are about as different as two boys can be, they do have virtually the same hair, thus far. Jasper is getting the same soft blonde curls that Will had at this age. I think it will be awhile yet before he'll need a haircut. His hair is still pretty sparse on top.

His sounds are probably the most memorable part of this past month. He says dada, mama, mum mum, baba, nana, ha, makes a "bow bow" sound and a million raspberries and growls. Loooooots of growling. And whistling. He whistles through his top teeth. He is also a very loud breather and sounds like he is putting forth maximum effort in everything he does. When he gets excited about something he either says a cheerful high pitched, "Hiiiii!" or he starts breathing so hard he whistles.

His cat, who completely ignores him and avoids him like the plague, often gets the most enthusiastic greetings of anyone in the household. Will is the next favorite and can get him to laugh more heartily than anyone else. His dad plays nearly the exact same role as he did for Will: the carrier. Both boys love to be carried up on dad's shoulder and expect to be carried by him at all times when he is around. The other day we were laughing because Jasper was going over to Paul and laying down flat on the floor in front of him in an effort to get picked up for a ride. I'm the constant in his life: the source of comfort, warmth, nutrition, and inspiration. I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm funny and that I can read his mind.

This month he has surprised me with taking off his socks and shoes while we are in the car. I go to get him and there is a barefoot boy grinning up at me. He started to correctly use his ball tracker (put ball in hole and get it at the bottom) and he loves to do simple shape puzzles, look at books, and work with some of his Montessori materials (egg/cup, pegbox, box with cube). For awhile he seemed intent to show me where my housekeeping was lax and would bring me all the tiny pieces of things that he found on the floor. The other day he brought me tiny pieces of tissue for nearly fifteen minutes. He can operate his brothers spinbrush and if it is left within reach, he will be found sitting on his potty each morning with the spinbrush clutched in his hand. When asked for a kiss he opens his mouth and dives for your mouth. He climbs stairs and cruises all over the house. He has taken some wobbly steps but stil prefers the security of holding something while walking.

This month he continues to enjoy table food and expand his repertoire. His favorites this month were salmon, garlic bread, roasted chicken (pieces), buckwheat cereal, yogurt, macaroons, bean patties, nectarines, fig bar, hummus, and green beans.

Easter Egg Hunt

Cruising

Bad Words

Yesterday at breakfast Will was relaying to me a story in which someone in his class told the teacher that he said "the B word". I asked Will what the "B word" was and he solemnly said, "Blood."

He told me that he has been thinking a lot about the B word and the other alphabet words. He wishes he knew what all these bad words were. He said that he thinks that the "P word is Poop" which means that the "E word must be Pee" since P is already taken. Apparently Will has surmised that there is a bad word for each and every letter of the alphabet.

After a few moments he threw down his spoon and said, "These bad words are so silly because people don't even seem to know what they all are!" He said solemnly again, "My friend says that she knows what the F word is." I asked him what it was and he said in a very serious and quiet voice, "Fuff" Then we laughed. He said these bad words are so ridiculous because they don't even mean anything.

Rub a Dub Dub

Jasper usually takes a bath with me in the evening before bed but when we are in a rush or require a bath without mama then this is what we do-- the laundry tub! He loves the laundry tub baths because it is warm and mysterious in there with tools all over the walls and all kinds of items in storage. The kitty sleeps on the dryer overlooking the entire event which is also very exciting and Jasper calls to him the entire bath.

With a six year old in my life I know only too well how quickly it comes that they don't fit in laundry tubs anymore. We relish this time together!

Return of the Sun

Did you realize that Jasper is wearing pants with pockets? Well, I sure didn't and when we got home and the pants were removed I could have filled a bucket with the sand that emptied from those pockets! Why do babies have pockets anyway?



We were in shorts sleeves and sandals by the afternoon. Don't be fooled by the fleece jackets in this photo. We were overdressed.


Oh, we have missed you! Warmer days are here again! And the mountains! These photos do not do justice to their perfect clarity today.