the big boy bed...

is a HUGE hit with jack!!
thanks to my mom and some planning we were able to transition the long-time nursery (been the same room since o was born) into a big boy room in just two days!! with my mom all things are possible- at least that is how i feel with projects around my house. we painted, assembled furniture, moved out all the baby stuff, moved in all the big boy toys, and rearranged things. and here is how it turned out...

obviously the window treatments are missing, but other than that it is complete.

one of the most special pieces in his room- his shelf that uncle christman built for him for his first birthday. new paint on the shelves to match the the new color on the walls and some extra room on the shelves for the christmas toys that are just coming all too soon. :)

jack helped too! i wanted him to help with an art project to decorate his walls. he loved painting, but i didn't love the way it turned out so we didn't end up using the canvases. :( he did great, my idea didn't work out the way i envisioned.

well, now's the hard part... will he sleep tight and stay in the bed? we shall see!!
good news!! he is doing great and loves going to bed every night. he even does a great job staying in bed at nap time!! yay jack!!

jack walks...

i guess something in the bowlin/blanchette gene pool prohibits walking around 12 months. looks like our kids are on the 15-16 month track. oh well, better late than never!! :) excuse our annoying cheering and encouragement, but i love jack's laughter and smiles. he is so proud of himself. yay for jack walking and for a fun new video camera!!

my sweet husband gave me a video camera which makes this fun post possible. more on that soon.

our monkey...

is 11 months old! i can't believe how quickly these past 11 months have gone by. i feel like i say that all the time, but i really do feel like it was just yesterday that i was counting the days until i would meet him for the first time. jack continues to smile constantly, but is becoming more opinionated each day. this morning i was about to cut up his banana as i do almost every morning when he started SCREAMING and shaking his head. he did not want that banana cut up in little tiny baby bites, no he wanted it just like a big boy- whole! i hesitated to give him the whole banana, monkey style (as we refer to it in our house), but then thought- why not. the screaming turned to a HUGE smile when i handed over the "monkey banana."

he did great, no choking, and gobbled up the entire thing!

just another reminder that jack is growing up and will be ONE soon. he is still not walking or even interested, but he is trying to talk more and mimics our words. he continues to bring joy to our family.

jack is on the move...

and 8 months old!

no, he is not crawling, but has developed "creative" way of movin' around. let me explain, if i put him on a blanket with toys surrounding him, leave the room, i will come back and he will be off the blanket with the toys pushed out of his way. he kicks and pulls he way in whatever direction he wants to go. i have caught a few peeks at this new mode of movement, but if he sees me he stops! i am a bit sad for two reasons... 1- my baby is growing up so quickly, becoming more independent everyday. 2- the baby honeymoon is over!! once my little is mobile that means he will be into everything!!
in all reality, i am so glad that jack continues to develop and grow everyday. he continues to be such a joy and the happiest baby ever!! oh, and his 2 bottom teeth are getting bigger. (look closely to the picture at the top.) no sign of new teeth, but his a drooling mess these days, so maybe soon.

jack is 7 months old...

it is also sunday so he was all dressed up for church. i asked mark to snap a few pictures before leaving for church because he looked so cute in his monogrammed outfit. thanks shawna for hte adorable outfit!
jack is such a joy. (i know i say that every time i write about him, but it is so true.) he is so happy and just makes us happy! he is now able to sit up all by himself. he can eat gerber puffs and can hold his own bottle. our little baby boy is getting so big!! he also continues to babble and make new sounds everyday. no sign of crawling, but i am very OK with that! the longer he stays still be the better for me.

our little baby boy...

is 6 months old!!! i can't believe it!! where has the time gone? olivia doesn't remember life without him and i am starting to feel the same way. he is such a blessing to our family. he brings so much joy to our home with his priceless smile that is ALWAYS on his face.


i have not been "on top of things" these last 2 weeks so we haven't been to the doctor for the 6 month stats, but those will be coming soon. i did call and schedule that appointment today!! jack has changed quite a bit since my last post about him. he has 2 teeth! they are on the bottom and super sharp. i can't wait for them to get a little bigger so i can get a pic. he is eating 3 meals a day. he continues to love anything that i put on a spoon and stick in his mouth. he much prefers the apples and pears to the sweet potatoes and pea, but who wouldn't! due to his good eating habits he is growing and gain weight. he is finally developing some rolls on his little legs. i love a "healthy" baby! he is ALMOST sitting up by himself. he could do it if he wasn't so interested in his feet or the floor. as soon as you sit him up he bends over to put his feet in his mouth or tries to taste the floor.

that is the update for now. those are little milestones that we have been celebrating in jack's life. how lucky we are to have him!