Mobile Mischief

Jesse is such a little boy. He's finding mischief to get into, and he's making tougher and tougher on his Mama to watch out for him. I guess God makes it that way - so Mamas can slowly acclimate to the dangers of having a boy.

Some interesting things I've learned:

People say, 'don't let kids play with plastic bags' because kids like plastic bags! Jesse has a knack for finding and grabbing plastic bags if they're anywhere close.

People say, 'don't let kids play with electrical cords', because kids like to play with electrical cords! Jesse will find any hidden cord in a room. This will be very touch to kid-proof. I wish he could just play with them. It'd be a lot easier. He finds them behind the tv, under the couch...anywhere.

MISCHIEF

Mama uses this to get boogies out of my nose. I used to HATE it. Now I think it's funny, AND I LOVE chewing on it....just like Barry. He's chewed up a couple of these already.


Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm! Yummy!

MOBILITY

Mama sits me down in the living room to play for a bit while she works in the kitchen. That used to be No Problem.

See how cute I am? What trouble can I get into? She's right there.

Here's one thing I can do.

I have a combination scoot/roll plan of attack.


When I get out onto the tile, I make a little yell to celebrate a successful effort, yell at Mom to watch for me, and warn Barry that I'm on my way.

Do I get the green ball or Barry?

I'm gonna get Barry!

Getting into good position...

Jesse rolls on his back to be in a great cuddle position with Barry, and Barry gets up. He's outta there.

That's ok. Who needs Barry? I found a trash can and a big plastic bag!!

I got all the way over here - that darn ball rolls when I go after it.

Mom confined me to the jumperoo so she can work on dinner. Barry's thankful.

CONCLUSION

Mom's gonna have to keep the floor clean if I'm gonna be movin' all over it, and I'm alreay getting banged up. I had rubbed spots on my elbows and knees tonight after all of my moving around. I also had what looked like a little rug burn on my wrist. Mom's gonna want to put me in knee pads.

Game Day in Stillwater

This past weekend we went to Stillwater for the first football game of the season. Jesse's bag was packed with lots of orange and OSU gear. He has plenty! :)

Our friend Todd rode up with us. I was nervous he'd get out at the first stop - riding with an 8 month old, two parents, and a dog. But Todd stuck it out. He may never ride with us again. :) Jesse did great driving up on a Friday and back on a Sunday. That's a rough drive for the adults in the car - it had to feel like a lifetime for Jesse.

The trip was worth the effort. We got to see lots of great friends and family, got to eat some Stillwater favorites, and witness a great victory by the cowboys. Go Pokes!

Jesse had so much fun the afternoon before the game that he fell asleep about an hour before his normal bedtime and before the game even started. Jesse. You're gonna have to learn to love OSU football at some point. Maybe it'll be easier for him to love an afternoon game. :)

Here are some pics of Jesse playing with his friends and family:

Grandpa! I LOVE this book! It has soft things for me to touch - I'm SO good at that!! :)


Let's hang out Grandma, cause I'm gonna crash early tonight.

A Family Pic in our OSU Gear. Dad says my hair looks like Dana Holgorsen. Mom says I look MUCH better than that raggedy guy.

LL Cool J = Ladies Love Cool Jesse

I love my Auntie L. She's funny!

My Grandma had this really pretty necklace on - I tried eating it. Are you surprised?

My Papa brought me a really cool OSU windsuit. I'll look like one of the football players in it.

My Cousin Ella is lots of fun. She takes good care of me. She's fast to get my pacifier and water to me.


Krissa came to visit me and my mom. She felt badly about not wearing orange. We forgave her.

My Papa and Grandma B

Jesse's like his Mama. He LOVES visitors! :) Our latest visitors were Jesse's Papa and Grandma B from Bartlesville. Jesse enjoyed having Grandpa around to read to him before he went to bed, and Grandma tried spoiling this boy to sleep. :)

One of Jesse's favorite books is 'Down By The Station'. Daddy's the best at reading it, because he makes realistic 'beeping', 'chuff-chuffing', 'broom-brooming', and 'nee-noor, nee-noor' sounds. When it was Jesse's bedtime, his grandpa offerred to read to him. I brought out 'Down By The Station', and Papa was such a good sport that he sang and did good sounds! :) What a good grandpa! :)

'You're a good reader, Papa!'

Jesse wore his favorite shirt while his Papa and Grandma were here. They got this for Jesse when he was a newborn. He saw that his Papa had a light orange shirt on, so he wanted to try to match.

Almost matching! Both have green horsies. :)

Jesse has been great about napping for a long time now. We just take him to his room, give him his lovey and pacie, and lay him down. Sometimes we'll hear him kicking (surpirse!) on his matress for a while before he goes to sleep. Sometimes he'll 'talk' himself to sleep with quiet little 'mmm...mmmm...mmmm' sounds. But lately, sometimes he'll decide he doesn't want to nap. He did that some while his grandparents were visiting. He didn't want to miss out on any of the fun. He's a smart boy. He knew he could catch up once they left. :) So, Grandma knew he was sleepy and helped him to to sleep. He usually doesn't let me rock him. He looks all around and pushes away from and arches his back. I'm just not as good a 'rocker' as Grandma. :)

Grandma rocked the boy to sleep. Aren't they SOOOO sweet when they're asleep?!

Then, Grandma helped put the boy down for the night. It's fun having extra hands around! Thanks for coming, Grandma and Papa!! Come again soon!! :) We all love you very much.


Ready for bedtime in his sleepsack, with his pacie, and his lovey. 'Let's go cuddle in my room, Grandma!'

Reading By Myself

Jesse's Mama was a teacher. She loves books and reading. Her Mama was great at reading to her too. So, Jesse is getting in the habbit early. Allow me to brag on his reading skills. :)

First of all, I'd like to brag that Jesse is being sweet to share the pictures with me here. What a thoughtful reader of a picture book.

Next, I'd like you to notice that Jesse is experiencing his senses in a way that the book suggests and BEYOND.

This is a 'Touch and Feel' book. Jesse's so smart, he chooses to taste as well.

These animals have some very moist coats when Jesse is finished with this book.

Take note to how Jesse is alreay such a good side-reader. This is a skill that not everyone has. He can read from the side and show the pictures to the listener. Very impressive and so advanced!!

I will feel these animals first...

Then taste!

Motivation and Opportunities

Jesse isn't a crawler yet, and that's ok. I've heard some moms say that their first didn't crawl as quickly, because the first borns know their moms will just pick them up and take them where they want to go. Ok. I can go with that. :) But I'm trying to at least give him some opportunities to try to crawl.

I'm really not too concerned that Jesse doesn't crawl or have teeth or some of the other things kids his age have done. He's perfect at being Jesse, and I'm very convinced that he will crawl and walk and have teeth one day. :)

Anyhow. Back to the opportunities I'm giving my boy to try to crawl.

I lined up some toys in front of Jesse on his belly.

Try and get them!

You can do it!

He got tired. Then upset.

Mama caved and let him sit up with the toys that were in front of him.

Another thing I did to encourage the boy to move about was removing the coffee table from our living room. Our house here in Tejas has mostly tile floors. I wasn't a fan at first, and the jury's still out a little. But I'm thankful for it when Barry brings in lots of leaves, dirt, and mud through the reallly handy but messy dog door. Anyhow, we have a rug in our living room, but he coffee table was taking up most of the rug. I took a hint from the Stalveys (Henry's fam) and moved the coffee table. Yay! More moving and playing and toys room. And Barry can spread out too. :)

Another good reason for moving the coffee table.

Jesse tried hiding from his Mama!




I see you! And I don't want you to bang your head, kiddo. That table's gotta go.

I'm playing on my playmat and rug and starting to get my knees up under me. If only I could get my head up too.

I got up on my knees, I was on my belly...how'd I flip over?





Look! I can inch my way over here - so there! Who needs to crawl?!

I believe we're on our way. :)

My Buddy

Jesse has a good buddy named Henry. Henry turns one next week, so he's a little older than Jesse. Since Henry's older, he has lots of wisdom to impart to his little friend. We're excited to see all the fun these boys get into. :)

Out and About With Henry


Henry's Dad can hold both boys at once. The boys wanted to get together for lunch. They let the parents come along...we have the cars.



Here are the boys at church with their friend Gatlin. Gatlin's a week older than Henry. He's in charge.

The boys wanted to go bowling. Jesse's with a girl from our youth group. She flirts with Jesse AND Henry, but the boys don't get upset.

Playing at Henry's House

Last week, Henry invited Jesse over to play. Henry worked at teaching Jesse how to talk. They conversed some. Henry tried to show Jesse to crawl, but Jesse's still in the observation stage of learning. He'll crawl once he knows he's seen everything he needs to see about this thing.

Don't be alarmed. Henry is not beating up on Jesse. He's teaching Jesse some wrestling moves so Jesse will be able to defend himself if he ever needs to.

Henry says, "Jesse. If you ever get in a wrestling match with a bully, get on top of him and give that bully one, serious zerbert/rasberry. Blow and blow on the bully's belly!"

Jesse asks Henry, "Can I kick the bully? I'm really good at kicking. Watch me kick this leg! It's so fast, it'll be a blur!"

Henry shared this really cool whistle instrument with Jesse. Henry knows how to play it, but Jesse's just watching how it's done for now.



These are Church-Going Boys

Jesse and Henry are in a gang. It's called the Wittle Wascals of WordServe. Something like that. :) Sundays are long mornings for these boys. Jesse usually likes to take an early nap in the morning, but he doesn't always get to do that before we leave for church on Sundays. This last week in the nursery, Jesse got so tuckered out that he fell asleep in his swing. Henry fell asleep on his Mama. Just call Amber the baby whisperer! :)

Someone said Jesse looked like an old man in his recliner.

Both of these boys are expert sleepers. They just sometimes make their Mamas work for it. Here are some verses about rest. I don't want anyone to think these boys don't obey the Word of God. They don't sleep because they're bored at church. They rest, becaus the Lord says to REST!

Heb. 4: 9-11 'There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God...'

Matt. 11:28-30 'Come unto me....and I will give you rest...'

Gen. 2:2&3 'By the seventh day God...rested...'

Zeph. 3:17 'The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.'

Couch Photo Shoot

Jesse was playing around on the couch the other day, so I pulled out the camera and got to work. He actually looked at the camera, and I got some CUTE pictures. :) Jesse hasn't always loved 'tummy time', but he's slowly become more ok with it. Maybe one of these days he'll take off and crawl.

One motivation to get going is Barry. A lot of times when Jesse and I are playing on the floor, Barry will be right there. As Jesse rolls around, he tries to grab Barry's paw or face or any part. Barry usually inches away, but sometimes he'll let Jesse grab him for a bit. As Barry pulls away, Jesse will kick his legs and reach...reach for his puppy. He's no where near getting there, but it's fun to see he has something pushing him. :)

Side Smirk for Mama

Eyebrows UP!

Bite the couch...Jesse tries biting everything


Sweet Baby



Smiley Boy!