Adventures of the Traveling Baby

I apologize for the not-so-much blogging lately --- my MacBook was in the 'puter shop, and I only write well when I'm cozied up on my favorite spot in the living room. I kick my feet up on the ottoman, pile a pillow on my lap, and type away! Without my laptop, I haven't been motivated to stick myself in the den and blog. Good news...my computer is fixed! {Jack spit up on it as I was teaching him all about computers...baha}

On another note...Jacks a-crawlin' folks! We've ventured into this "go baby" stage and it's very hilarious and scary at the same time.

In a matter of days I've learned a TON about baby-proofing my house. A few lessons:

1. Jack doesn't just sit in the middle of the bed and quietly play with toys as I get ready in the morning. We almost had our first fall-off-the-bed accident at 8 months! I gladly caught him and we giggled and snuggled in relief.

2. Cords, wires, sharp edges, and furniture are Jack's new favorite toys. He sees something he's interested in, boogies his way over there {grunting all the way as if it's the toughest job to make it two feet} and then shoves whatever he shouldn't be playing with in his mouth! I had NO idea babies chewed on FURNITURE?! Yes, wood furniture. I guess I'm going to need some plastic covers for his crib, changer table, and the whole house. I see it now...a house wrapped in baby-proof plastic =)

3. Take my eye of Jack for a few minutes and what happens? He's into something he shouldn't be, or he's crawled to a place where he's getting in trouble. I thought the saying goes "terrible twos"? Maybe they should rename to the "terrible crawls".

He's almost pulling himself up on furniture -- he can do it in his crib so far. Jack's also VERY interested in walking and standing up, still with help of course. I know some moms get really sad when their baby 'grows up too fast'. I am very sad, however, I love kids so much that I'm really excited for walking and talking. I have a strange feeling Jack will be one of those kids that asks "WHAT?" or "WHY, Mom?" all the time, and I can't wait!

What's under here?

Wires? I think I like wires!

What's this?

Hi, Mom!

Chicago

Four days away from Jack.

Three nights sleeping in a tiny queen-sized hotel bed.

Two days of adventures in the 3rd largest city in the U.S.

One mini-vacation --- to Chicago!

Eric has never, ever taken an entire week off work. Well, his new job requires a consecutive 5 days of work off each year {score}! And, my sister was dying for some time with her little booger man. So, we decided we'd tackle Chicago for a few days.

I was sick-to-my-stomach about leaving Jack for three nights. I worried Eric and I had forgotten how to spend time just us. I was thought that we were too used to our safe neighborhood and would absolutely hate Chicago. Well, we had a blast! In a matter of days, we pretty much saw everything you should see in Chicago, and more! Best of all...we enjoyed our together time. We reminisced about when we were teens, chit-chatted about life before Jack, and spent most of the time missing our booger dude. But we made it!

Chicago:

Planetarium

Sue!

Holy huge...and to think I was at the top?! Willis (Sears) Tower

MMMmmm

Chicago-style AMAZING pizza!

View from the Sears Tower

I needed this...otherwise I would have made Eric drive back home to see Jack!

The BEAN!

Eric and I had an amazing mini-vacation to Chicago. My sister did a great job taking care of our big man. I am thankful for our time away...which made me even more grateful of my time at home. I realized I missed a lot while away:
Jack's gigantic slobbers and his giant squeezy hugs when he first wakes up.
Our big, fluffy, white towels.
Our king-sized bed -- genius!
Maggie Suester Doggie
Waukee
Our kitchen -- we ate out every meal, and I missed home cookin'!
Big, open highways that I can drive my car on
And...again...most of all -- Jack!

A Day in the Life...

These are the simple joys of a normal summer day with Jack and Me.

A morning bottle, a little Sportscenter, and the cutest little man in the middle of our CLEAN living room. This is before Jack gets ahold of his toys...


Jack and I meet Daddy for lunch about once a week. Below is Jack chillin' in Daddy's office! The staff Eric works with gets so excited to see Jack! It's nice because during the school year, there's absolutely no way I could enjoy a lunch date with my hubby, so we make it work as much as possible during the summer.

Yesterday was Carlos. MMMMMMMmmm. Jack made a lovely mess all over the booth and surrounding area! He munched on Cheerios, reached for our nachos, and tasted refried beans and ice cream! He pounded on the table, threw this toys and pacifier on the floor beside his high chair, and drank some of my water from my glass. It's definitely an adventure going to lunch or dinner with Jack now...but I love it. He still adores being out-and-about, so he's always happy and chatting with the waiter and tables around us.


Jack absolutely loves outside! We usually go for an hour walk in the morning. He sits up in his stroller and watches as we walk, and walk, and walk. There's usually a pit stop at the park across the street from our house; they just put in a baby swing and he loves it! Later, we venture to the pool, or just hang out in the yard for awhile.


There's usually a baby play date or two sprinkled into the week! We're fortunate to have a few sets of friends with kiddos, too. Our friends, Jill and Quinn, came over the other morning. It was fun to watch Quinn and Jack play together. Too cute!

We also play with toys, munch on Goldfish, and Jack gets some Jumperoo action. There's lots of naps, snuggles, and giggles. I love our lazy, carefree days of summer! =)

Toys, toys, toys!

I don't know who's more excited about bright, colorful, music-never-stops baby toys: Jack or me? Either way, toys have become our new obsession...

Do you remember this toy from when we were little? I sure do! Fisher Price Classic :)

This is Jack's newest "Shreeeeiiiiikkkk!" in excitement...so adorable

He's such a boy...he tears off the top, slams it down, and proceeds to dump them all over!

Jack loves Elmo -- this is his "what's going on?" face when Elmo is wiggling and giggling!

He even tries to look like him, ha!

This is definitely what our living room floor looks like everyday...I can't wait for a finished family room in the basement someday :)

And...this is Jack plowing past his toys. Now that he can crawl, he feels the need to plow!


Now that Jack can move around...he's starting to get more interested in computer cords, baby wipes cases, and more! I hope he continues to love toys {as much as I do}. I still rotate the toys, and that seems to work. It's almost like a week without one toy makes it feel new when he sees it again! I get the SHREEIIIIKKK and gigantic smile out of him...then he's playing for awhile.

"I don't want to grow up. I just want to be a Toys 'R' Us kid!"

Big Boy...

In the last few weeks there have been handfuls of milestones that put our little Jackson into the "toddler" category...move over babies!

1. Big Boy Carseat!
I noticed Jack's carseat was ridiculously heavy. He wasn't nearly as happy riding along in the car in the fill-every-inch-of-it seat. And, his little legs were almost sticking out of the other side. While the Chicco seat guarantees 'up to 30 pounds', I decided it was time to move on from this carseat Jack's butt has called home for the last 7 1/2 months.

I did a little research. We went to Babies 'R' Us, which is becoming not nearly as cool as it was when Jack was little -- hello Toys 'R' Us! The clerk there was sure that we needed the $360 fancy booster seat. Thanks, but no thanks! I finally landed in Walmart's small selection of booster seats for big boys. I picked the 'cutest' one, which ran around $40...and thought I'd try it out. Well...
SUCCESS! Jack doesn't cry in it. Jack fits in it. Jack absolutely loves his big boy seat in the car. Let's hope this one lasts awhile...

2. Cart rider!
Now when we go shopping, Jack rides along in the cart. We plop his two little feet through the slots, strap him in, make sure he's holding on, and we're off! He absolutely loves people watching from the best seat in the cart. Shopping with Jack has always been easy (since we took him everywhere from his very first day out of the hospital) but now it's even better. He will flirt with people around us, kick his little feet, and blow bubbles. All while Momma gets to shop! He looks like such a big boy sitting up.

3. Booster Seat Baby!
Oh, and he also sits in the booster seat things at restaurants. He bangs his toys {yes, he's that baby} and eats Cheerios as Eric and I enjoy our dinners. We even make bite-sized pieces of some of our food for him. I can't believe he's able to sit, play, and even eat people food already...

4. Sippy cups!
This was an easy milestone. Jack picks up the sippy cup and sips away! So far, we've only filled his sippy cups with water...and he's one thirsty babe. He will drink, and drink, drop it, and drink some more while we're on our morning walks around the neighborhood. He likes his water ICE cold. =) So do I!

5. Standing up!
Jack can stand up on furniture, toys, and in my lap. And, he'd prefer to be standing and attempting to walk than anywhere else...but my arms get tired helping him. I play Sesame Street clips of Elmo on our ottoman, and he stands and bats the ottoman in excitement. Eventually, he tumbles down. He always wants right back up!

6. Crawling!
Army crawl, anyone? Jack can definitely crawl around the floor now. For now, he goes from sitting to face planting into the carpet. He then looks more like a beached whale for a few seconds...gets up onto his knees, and scoots and scoots. He will do this over and over if a food trail of Goldfish or Cheerios is involved. Sometimes, he'll see a toy or me out of reach and move and wiggle his way over. Too cute!

As I watch him squirm, I'm realizing my house is actually pretty well baby-proofed! Our outlets came child-proofed already, I don't have much clutter, and my sharp-edged things are high up enough for it not to be a problem. Yes! Gates, however...we need gates...

I can't believe how much Jack's accomplished in the last 7 1/2 months. He's such a big boy. I'm looking forward to "Momma", "Daddy", and walking {and I have a feeling this little dude will be a runner!} Ah!

This should be...

...a Toys 'R' Us AD! =)

My Little Fish

Splish, splash, Jack was taking a...pool?!

That's what Jack thinks a pool is -- one big bathtub! Since he takes a bath every night, he's become quite fearless in the tub. He is no different in the pool =)

Yesterday was family pool day for the Krieger's. We went to the pool at my old apartment complex because it's quiet and usually empty. We plopped Jack in his bumble bee floatie and off he went -- splashing and smiling! The water was so cold that Eric and I gasped as our bodies got used to the chill. How was Jack? He didn't mind one bit.

Our little fish.

It was nice to have Eric at the pool with us...it's amazing how much easier things get with four hands instead of just two! We pushed Jack around, played peek-a-boo, and lounged in the sun attempting to get Jack to take a nap. Our little routine of him falling asleep at the pool hasn't worked the last two times, so we last for an hour or so and then head home. I don't know why, but having him in the hot sun for longer than that makes me feel bad...



Last summer, "baby Krieger" and I spent our days relaxing at the pool. My baby bump saw lots of sunshine and spent many days in the water. I oodled at the kids and babies -- secretly hoping my little booger would be fun at the pool. I remember being SO bored last summer...and I was sure that this summer would be much more eventful.

Well, I was right.

I am so happy I have the coolest little fish for a baby I've ever seen. =)

Adventures in Baby Food

As Jack gets older {again, GASP!} we're trying new things each day. Today was Jack's first attempt at a little pasta dish -- which was just extra bowtie noodles extra cooked and cut into smaller pieces coupled with some tomato sauce. Oh, and don't forget peas. Sounds delicious, right? Not! But, it's the perfect meal for a baby learning how to grab and eat his food.

There have been a lot of "new" adventures in what Jack eats:
-We stirred together tiny helpings of rice cereal.
-We transitioned from breast milk to a million different formulas.
-We added pureed peas, carrots, and applesauce to the mix.
-Gerber Puffs became the newest addition to my diaper bag.
-Cheerios, goldfish, and mandarin oranges covered the highchair tray.
-Now we're onto pasta dishes, whole peas, halved grapes, and much, much more!

The following pictures attempt to show the hilarious display of Jack's eating adventures. He makes the silliest sounds and faces when trying something new! Eric and I just laugh and laugh as he figures out new foods, tastes, and textures.

Check out my two teeth...

This is the look of determination...I can get that pea!

Maybe if I stick my whole hand in...

One more pea...

Yum! Success =)

Oh, and I'm really hoping the whole-hand-in-my-mouth in attempt to eat will be something Jack grows out of? If not, eating in the school lunch room someday might get interesting... =)

{I've decided that many of my pictures of Jack are of him eating. I think this happens because Jack is happy and content in his high chair - which gives me free hands for snapping photo after photo!}

Hoarders

It's 8 o'clock on a Saturday night. My two boys are sound asleep -- we had our first neighborhood block party today and it must have exhausted both of them. So, here I sit...blogging and watching Hoarders.

Why am I so compelled by these strange people? Why can I, the person who absolutely hates sitting down and watching t.v., stare and watch episode after episode of these strangers? I'm obsessed.

It leads me to think: is there an opposite of hoarding?

Instead of keeping things, I absolutely love getting rid of things. You can guarantee that on Friday - garbage day - our garbage can AND recycling bins are filled. In our old apartment we had dumpsters and oh man I loved them. In fact, I still visit those dumpsters if I am feeling in an overly-get-rid-of mood and my garbage is filled already.

Is this normal? =)

As I watch these strange people with houses filled with clutter, dolls, feces, dust, and dirt I'm absolutely disgusted. I'm inspired. And, I throw more away.

I also clean like crazy.

This morning, I put Jack by my side in his Bumbo seat, threw my hair back in a ponytail, and I blasted my iTunes. I cleaned every inch of my fridge, wiped every non-existent smudge of my stainless steel appliances, and cleaned and re-cleaned every mirror. I scrubbed all three toilets (one huge downfall to having so many bathrooms!), wiped down every sparkling inch of my countertops, and dusted everything. By the way, new construction homes are filled with dust - my biggest enemy! Tonight, as Eric napped on the couch, I shop-vac'd the edges of our carpet, our stairs, and every rug in our house. {Everyone told me I'd give up on my clean house after kids...they were oh so wrong}

Well, I'm going to diagnose myself with: Gnidraoh, the opposite of hoarding. Instead of keeping, I get rid of. Instead of being unorganized, I alphabetize my canned goods. Instead of living in filth, I live in sparkling clean. And...if you ask me...I'd much rather have Gnidraoh than Hoarding. =)

Cheers to all you fellow clean freaks out there!

Ahh....fresh vacuum lines =)

These are my best friends in cleaning. Must buys!

Nothing better than a sparkling clean fridge...

And, I have the cutest little cleaning buddy around!

Another episode is starting...it must be a marathon. Yes!