Random september pictures

Another of JDP with Tavin when we went to visit Tavin in Galt, CA.

Corn on the cob Jacob style...

Among the cutest of Jacob's activities- reading and loving books!

Zoo trip! Jacob the turtle...but he wouldn't look up.

Jacob trying to touch the lemur mural.

"Gulp Gulp went the Huge red frog one day.."

Jacob with his (old) new pal Curious George!

That's all for now...more when he's 18 months in a few days!

Tavin and Jacob reunion, part 1.

Warning: cute pale baby butts involved in post.

Solely for entertaining value:

Jacob attempting to yank off his diaper ( it was still clean everyone, don't worry!)

He got distracted with his diaper literally halfway off. The bath was to follow, so no harm. Though I am concerned about what is to come...perhaps before the total diaper throwing he'll be potty trained? (He already loves to sit on his potty, though he hasn't quite got the timing down- and no, we're not really seriously potty trainging him this minute. But we are introducing concepts and he's picking things up quite well!)

Devoted blogees (that a word?) may recall Tavin from all of last year- he was Jacob's neighbor and buddy. Tavin and parents are in town for a bit and the boys got to play again- this time they were much more locomotive and adept with moving quickly. And still quite entertaining together!

Mischief level rising.

Some pictures of unsolicited variations on typical activites that we fortunately caught on camera.

(Eating watermelon REALLY happily.)

(Sitting still for more than 1/2 a second.)

(He was eating underneath the table.)

(Madly brushing the teeth.)

(Breakfast attempt #2: apparently hunger struck and he needed to eat backward on the absolute edge of the couch. And hold his tray backward on his lap.)

(I suppose the smile isn't unusual, rather it has become unusual for Jacob to let me take a shot before he starts begging "peassss" (how he says "please" while doing the sign simultaneously) to watch the pictures/videos on the camera.)

This is becoming quite usual Jacob behavior...hence the side of the crib back in place.

And this was breakfast this morning. He's never willingly eaten fench toast, so i gave in and let him have some powdered sugar. He still ate his french toast, but apparently the sugar had a different purpose.

Happy Birthday Daniel

On the eve of Daniel's birthday, jacob and I though we should put up some pictures to make daniel feel so loved (and some reminders).

Currently, at 17 1/2 months, Jacob imitates his father in oh so many ways.

In regards to sports: jacob shouts animatedly at the television during any kind of sporting event. Don't you wonder where he learned that?

He loves reading about football, basketball, or any ball.

Just this morning we came to a halt halfway down the steps when Jacob said "ball" and turned longingly back to our door...so we had to retrieve one of his 1,298,278 balls. Just so he could hold it in the stroller on the walk to the post office.

Jacob has been introduced to *dietitian in me is cringing* ketchup and will eat darn near anything if it is served with the option of dipping it in ketchup. Daniel, his brother, and especially father LOVE ketchup. Jacob keeps the Pugh tradition alive. Fortunately in JDP's case, he'll eat fish, sweet potato wedges, and other healthy foods while, regardless of ketchup status, other unnamed relatives wouldn't eat unless fried! :)

Little boy has also taken to cuddling/napping on his daddy....something that hasn't happened with his mommy since very young infancy.

Happy Birthday Daniel!

Additionally, Jacob hung-out with Olivia (16 months) and had a check-up yesterday. He's getting lean and taller weighing in just over 23 pounds and a whopping 31.5 inches. This formally chunky boy is now barely in the 25th percentile for both weight and height...hard to believe for someone who once topped the 75th percentile for weight! He's got a follow-up in few weeks to make sure he's gaining adequately due to his flatlined weight gain for the past 6 or 7 months...but really we'll be going back so he can get the swine flu vaccine and have his ears checked. (He's had cruddy congestion for a couple of weeks and now his ears are inflamed.) He looks a little tired of the congestion here...and a little like an elf.

Jascob and Olivia sharing socks. This sock sharing game lasted for nearly 7 minutes.

We got a bed rail for Jacob recently and have used it during the day. We attempted a night...but won't do that again until he is actually sleeping through the night....again. Or maybe until he's a bit more communicative seeing as how he may NEVER sleep through the night! Regardless, he was pretty darn excited and proud to move about his room, including in and out of his crib, freely.

Home Sweet Home Diddily Dum Doodily

We're safely back in Berkeley and we're loving it! We adopted some bookshelves, a desk, and some glasses/mugs from graduating seminarians last May, and we finally get to see them and make them ours (or at least ours for now..we'll see where they go in 3 years). While this summer was truly a gift to see as much family as we did, being back in our home, returning to our community, and getting back into a schedule has been terrific. Like with every other single time we've moved or traveled, Jacob is back to his insomniac ways... He isn't completely weaned yet, so we're working on that and hoping it positively affects his sleep (eventually). Who knows?

Per the norm, we have a few pictures of Phoenix to share that we didn't manage to post before leaving! Another appearance is made by cousin Parker as we got to briefly hang out in Phoenix! We'll have more pictures of Jacob in berkeley soon...

Jacob likes to refer to any child as "baby". So Parker became his best friend "baby" ther weekend they were together. It was sad when Parker left and Jacob went around saying "baby" looking for him!

These shots show jacobn wearing his G.G.'s necklace. The boy loves wearing ties, necklaces, daddy's shirts...anything on his head or neck.

Much love!

The funny farm

As we wake-up with all the energy of summertime and hear little feet hitting the ground at 90 mph way too early in the morning, we know we're in for some entertaining moments, if not whole days. Jacob is constantly acquiring words, concepts, and silly behaviors, but acting like animals sees to be one of the more entertaining games. (As it should be!)
Here's Jacob one morning (as indicated by him still in his pajamas top) sharing some unqiue animal sounds with me. He knows more than indicated on the video, but you can probably still see how his rendition of some animals is rather humorous. -I for one enjoy that the sheep says "da daada". Right now, everything is dada...and though when he needs something i'm "mama!" to him, all other prodding as to who I am is answered with a proud and giggled "dada".

PS-we're not squirrel haters. They just eat all the birdseed which is not for them and are therefore told to go away. Hence, Jacob thinks all squirrels should be told to "GO!".

Jacob goes West...again.

We've made it back toward the west- currently we're with Daniel's folks in Arizona. Until Daniel starts the fall semester ( a couple of weeks), we'll be swimming, eating, and playing out here in the desert! (And I'll be writing my masters thesis, having meetings, and getting closer to my defense and graduation.....finally.)

It's taken a bit of adjusting back to the bone-dry heat, but after some chapped lips, parched mouths, and a few bloody noses (yikes), I think we're all relearning how to balance out the hydration and heat. Jacob has been having a blast hugging and pulling the tail of Izzy the dog, swimming, chatting with great-gramma and great-grampa Pugh, and apparently playing with his newborn carseat as seen below.

I can't believe how HUGE he is now and how, once upon a time, he was too small and required towels for a proper fit in there. Even he thinks that's ridiculous.

Before we left NC, we had a chance to visit the Gallaghers and discovered that Jacob has a special talent. At 16 months, he can skillfully balance spoons on his nose:



We also learned that he needs another haircut after an especially muggy day on the deck...Jacob was sporting the blond fro.

And darn proud of it, too.


Anyway, we miss the east coasters more than we can express but are grateful to have had all the time and visits with everyone! We'll have more photo-ops of Jacob phoenix style now that we're "unpacked" and have located the camera and cord. Love to all!