Five.

Dear Jack,

5 months old already? Good grief! You are like a completely different baby now! You suddenly seem so old to us - a newborn no more! That's probably because you're doing so many Big Boy things now! Most notably, you're eating solid food. We introduced you to baby oatmeal this month, and it was love at first bite. It didn't take more than 2 or 3 attempts for you to completely get the hang of moving the food to the back of your mouth. And you gobble it up fast! While it has significantly helped your digestive system, it hasn't improved your sleep yet. Full belly or not, you're still waking a couple times a night. You're taking fewer naps, down to about 2-3 short naps and 1 longer nap a day. You bring everything you can get your hands on to your mouth. Though none have popped through yet, you are definitely teething - so much drool! Here's what is peaking your interests this month:

Favorites
Mirrors - You just love to look at that beautiful face of yours in a mirror. Though we're pretty certain you have no clue that the boy looking back at you is actually you, you appreciate his smiling face. You also love it when Mommy or Daddy is smiling at you in the mirror, too (and you don't seem to be jealous that we're holding another baby!)
Your Pacifiers - You are still a pappy addict! You are instantly soothed by a pacifier, which is an awesome tool for us to have in our arsenal. Sometimes, all it takes is a pappy and a snuggle with Mommy to get you to sleep within seconds. You've started playing with it now, too, grabbing it with your hands and chewing on the hard plastic. You can fall asleep without it if you're tired enough (unlike your siblings - they never could), but you are certainly comforted by it most of the time!
Splashing - You're just now starting to enjoy bath time. You splash around like crazy with the most serious face, like you're trying to understand what exactly is going on. You splash so much that the entire kitchen is soaked by the time we're done. Because of this, and the fact that you've grown so big, you took your last kitchen sink bath this week! On to the little blue bathtub now!
The Wheels on the Bus - This is definitely your favorite song. Mommy sings it over and over again, all day long. You often fall asleep to "The people on the bus go bumpety-bump..."
Technology - You are already fascinated with technology! If a remote control or cell phone is nearby, your eyes lock onto it and you start reaching for it. You must have it! We know it's only a matter of time before we have to start hiding them from you.

Not-so-favorites
Strangers - Oh boy, stranger danger is in full effect! If you aren't in a really happy mood, you want nothing to do with strangers talking to you! Outside of Mommy, Daddy, and a few token family members, you are already very uncertain of others and make it known when they get near.
Getting into your car seat - You do not like being buckled into your car seat one bit! About 75% of the time, you start to cry when we set you in there. You're so smart that you just know it means you won't be held for a while. That being said, about 90% of the time, you're completely calm by the time we snap your seat into the car and remain that way wherever we're going. You stare at your sister in the back seat, gaze out the window, and play with the toys dangling from your car seat.  

Another huge milestone you've hit this month is sitting up unassisted. You can sit up without toppling over for a minute or two if you have something to play with. This has opened up a whole new world to you. We brought up some of the baby toys from the basement, like the stacking rings, for you to play with now that you're upright. If your toys get out of reach, you stretch so far forward to get them. You're also rolling both ways constantly and even starting to scoot yourself backwards a little bit. You're just such a busy little man now!

Jack-Jack, we just love you to pieces. Your smile is the absolute best; it makes even the hardest days melt into blissful ones. You are such a perfect little boy and we just love to watch you grow!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Sentences Only Parents Say.

I think every parent remembers the feeling they had when they first uttered a sentence they never in a million years thought would come out of their mouth. I remember it. I don't exactly remember what it was, but I remember an overwhelming feeling of "Wow, I am officially a parent. My childless self would have never had any imaginable reason to say that sentence."

Well now it happens on an almost-daily basis. I hardly flinch when it happens anymore, but sometimes it is just so ridiculous that it's hard for me to even believe. So I started writing down some of my favorites.

Without further ado, here is my first installment of Sentences Only Parents Say:

"Honey, your back is attached to you so it's always touching you."

"You may not kiss your brother's butt. We only kiss lips, cheeks, & sometimes hands."

"You don't give shots on peoples' faces!"

"Buddy, don't lick your sister's nose."

"Stop kissing the wall! That's gross...and really weird."

"Babe, they don't put pepper in gummies. Sugar? Yes. Pepper? No."

"No licking belly buttons."

"Don't hit the baby with the bobblehead."

"You can like the baby. You may not lick the baby."

"We don't stand on the couch and we certainly don't stand on our sister."

"Your feet aren't exactly clean so please don't put your string cheese stick between your toes."

"Do not eat the noodles that are stuck to your Skyline chair!"

(Upon further review of these, I've determined that I really need to just staple Joe's mouth shut. I'm shuddering remembering some of these situations.)

Joe is 3!

Our very rambunctious, loud, silly, empathetic, and sweet boy is 3 today! He's equal parts adorable and insane. He has more energy than we realized was possible for such a tiny human. Two was a very tough age for us with this guy - he's just too busy to stop what he's doing to listen to us. But it was also so completely awesome. He talks non-stop and has hilarious things to say. His vocabulary is that of someone much older, especially for a boy. He is so smart, much smarter than we give him credit for (poor 2nd child...) He has the most infectious giggle and a very high-pitched screech. He is the epitome of the expression "full of life".

I can't wait to see what this coming year has in store for him. Between potty training and preschool, he's almost completely transformed into a Big Boy. It's going to be fun to watch, that's for sure. Love this crazy boy to pieces!

Joe's Birthday Interview: Year 3
1. What is your favorite animal? A doggy. (This is a lie, he's afraid of dogs. He's big on the giraffes at the zoo.)
2. What is your favorite food? Bagels.
3. What is your favorite show? Scooby Doo. (He's seen it twice. He's not allowed to watch it anymore because we really don't need scary ghosts to be yet another reason he doesn't sleep at night.)
4. What is your favorite color? Red.
5. Who is your best friend? Owen & Molly.
6. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Super Why cereal! (Alphabits, with Super Why characters on the box.)
7. What is your favorite restaurant? Skyline.
8. What is your favorite book? Superman.
9. What is your favorite song? Buzz & Woody (You've Got a Friend In Me) and the Bear Hunt song.
10. What is your favorite toy? My planes and my Buzz Lightyear.
11. What is your favorite snack? Chocolate bears. (Teddy Grahams)
12. What do you like to sleep with at night? My puppy doggy and my duck.
13. What kind of birthday party are you going to have? A Lego one!