Adventures in Baby Proofing

This is what I found when I exited the shower recently. Not only does Jack enjoy unrolling the toilet paper, but he also apparently likes to eat it. Gross. So now we keep the toilet paper on the back of the toilet and out of his reach. It's quite inconvenient for those of us who actually use the toilet. We have pretty much closed off the other bathroom in our house because, in that bathroom, we have caught him methodically pulling out pieces of the rug to chew on. I swear we do feed this kid..

We also had to finally install those child proof latch thingies to the kitchen cupboards. I cannot tell you how many times Brent and I have forgotten that the latches are there and practically pulled the doors off the cupboards. I guess we must be slow learners. Jack figured out right away that he could no longer ransack the kitchen and was quite upset. He now repeatedly pulls and slams the doors. I think that maybe his getting into everything was actually easier on the nerves.

Installing the latches was quite the ordeal. We recently discovered that Jack is afraid of the drill (I blame Brent for this, although I have no proof of any wrongdoing on his part). I mean he is really petrified of the thing. While Brent was drilling into the cabinet doors I had to continuously reassure Jack in the other room. I guess I can relate to his fear of small appliances. When I was a child, I had a debilitating fear of the blender. I still have no idea why. My mom would have to yell "Blender!" each time she wanted to use it and I would run and hide under my bed. I'm okay with blenders now, but I still do get a little anxious around the garbage disposal...

Bath Time

"[They] take a bath in one big tub
With soap all over
SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB!"
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

The Long Weekend

This weekend was one of the best weekends of my life. We didn't do anything terribly exciting, instead we just spent time at home as a family. Usually we have plans for the weekend and end up cramming several activities/social events into those two short days. But not this weekend. We had plenty of time to relax and enjoy spending our time together. Jack has started to say "mama" to me. It is so very sweet. He calls for me if I'm in another room and greets me when he sees me. Interestingly, I've noticed that he also refers to milk as "mama" as he is tugging at my shirt to nurse. How very apropos.

Of course, there were still groceries to be bought, meals to by planned, laundry to do, floors to clean, and all those other household necessities to attend to. Once that was taken care of, I got sudden inspiration to bake some bread (something I really enjoy doing, but don't find time to do very often) and whipped up some whole wheat rolls and a loaf for sandwiches. It smelled divine and looked so lovely in the oven that I just had to take a picture.

And while we're in the kitchen, I should point out that we have a brand new beautiful kitchen sink and faucet!! Anyone who ever had the misfortune of using our old sink can tell you it was about time for an upgrade. Brent and his dad installed it last weekend and we just love it. The best part is the detachable nozzle. Such luxury!

I spent some time working on a sewing project (a bag for Jack, photos coming soon) and reading with Brent. Yes, reading with Brent. Let me explain. I am what you would call a "reader". Brent is what you would call a "reluctant reader". I got inspired watching an old Christmas video of Brent as a child opening up one of those "choose your own adventure" books from the 1980's. He was ecstatic to receive it, which struck me as funny since the adult Brent that I know does not usually show enthusiasm for books, and sometimes (often) mocks me for mine. So I searched high and low for a book to give Brent for Christmas that might make him utter a cry of "rad!" like he had in the old video. Although I did the exact response I was hoping for, he did say something along the lines of "Oh, cool" when he found his copy of Into the Wild in his stocking. He has since moved on to The River Why which he got from the library on Sunday. So now Brent is reading, and I am still reading, and even little Jack has taken up the hobby (in French, nonetheless!).

Just when I thought my sewing/baking/reading/relaxing weekend couldn't get any better, it did. Monday morning at 5:30 my phone rang. Any teacher will tell you that an early morning phone call is one of the sweetest sounds to hear. No school due to snow. It just doesn't get any better than this...

Happy New Year

Goodbye to 2007. What a big year for our family!

As usual, we spent New Year's Eve at our friends' house having a "formal" dinner followed by a rowdy party (Jack and I left after the formal dinner part but Brent stayed for the additional festivities). I made my famous ceasar salad for 16 people. Whew! But I was not hosting a formal dinner for 16, so I really can't complain.

Jack and I were home and in bed by 10:30. He was kind enough to sleep in until 8 this morning. What a great way to start 2008!

Merry Christmas!

We had a nice, non-hectic, family filled Christmas. We had Doug, Mary, Nick and Mishaun over for Christmas Eve dinner and then went to Grandma Linda's house the next day to see Brent's family. Jack made out like a bandit, despite the fact that his own parents only got him one gift (!). We had a marathon session of opening Jack's presents and our living room now looks like a very messy aisle in Toys R Us.
Opening presents takes a long time when you have a 10 month old doing it. Jack really liked the wrapping paper and the bows.

The tongue comes out during times of intense concentration.

Glad these toys aren't made in China! Thanks Aunt Tracie!

He FREAKED out when he saw his rocking horse from Nick and Mishaun. It nods its head and wags its tail and makes galloping and neighing sounds. Jack just can't get enough of it.

Barf-O-Rama

Here's a shot from a few weeks ago. We haven't had any photo-worthy moments for awhile due to the projectile vomiting and explosive diarrhea episodes of late. Seriously, this is so gross. I thought it wasn't supposed to be that bad when it's your own kid...

Tonight's upchuck actually hit the wall with a giant splat. It was all I could do to keep my own dinner down and immediately I was reminded of that part in Stand By Me where the whole town barfs pie all over each other. It really shot out of his mouth like a hose. I have never seen anything quite like that before in my life. We Mitchells have notoriously weak stomachs (Nick used to gag on toothpaste!) and I just don't know how much more of the barfing and liquid diapers I can take..

Oh, and Brent has it, too. Fortunately he can actually take care of himself. Mostly.

Hiking the Butte

We all hiked the butte the other weekend. Jack likes his pack and enjoyed his free ride to the top. It was an amazing day!

And check out those teeth. He's getting three more on the top. Yikes! Those suckers are sharp...