Birthday Blog

Yeah!  He made it through year 1, largely unscathed, much bigger, and with lots of new tricks up his sleeve!  As importantly, we survived the colic and have been having a ball with him since then.  Now's the hard part, as I understand it:  Laurie and I now have to figure out how to be good parents beyond just lavishing him with love and play time (we've gotten good at that).  I think my biggest fear at this point is spoiling him.  Where do you draw the line between encouraging exploring his world (including learning to throw balls) and teaching him not to do certain things (like throwing the biggest, heaviest thing he can pick up)?  The good news is we have a lot of great neighbors who seem to be raising some great kids, so I don't have to just read books.  Plus, you'll all weigh in and help us, right?  (I mean that sincerely)

The birthday party was fun, though I complicated it by having a few neighbors and friends (including a few USAFA classmates and their fams) over to grill at the park in our backyard during his afternoon nap, before the party.  I think everyone had a good time, though Laurie and I realized (again) that trying to organize anything and take care of Jake doesn't really work out that well.  He woke up (Laurie thinks I woke him up - not quite true) for the birthday part.  The top pic is him making his way out to the gazebo.  Here he is not having any of his cake.  Not even frosting or rasberries.  He's been generally unwilling to try too much new in the last couple weeks -- just as well with regards to frosting, anyway. 

A few friends disregarded our no-gifts request, so Jake got some help in opening presents.  He was, as might be expected, mostly interested in the bags and the kids helping him.  But he got some great toys that he'll be enjoying over the next year (and one from my Bosnian classmate that he's already into!).





Taking the Not-Too-Far-Back Machine, I've got some good pics from the previous weekend to share.  Over the long weekend, he got to the zoo, the fair, a fun-farm (not sure what else to call it), and a hike in Tuskegee National Forest.

Arriving at the farm.  The first time since about
3 months old that he's slept in my arms.

 The corn box.  Infinitely cooler than a sand box.  I'm going to have my own some day.




















 He can't reach the pedals yet, but is an otherwise champion tractor driver.

We did elephant day at the zoo.  The outfit is from Aunt
Twyla and Uncle Greg in India.  (click on the pic for a
better view of the shirt)

Getting so big.  Yet so small.

During our hike, he got a little tired of sitting in the backpack, but he loved walking in the woods on his own two feet! Pinecones were an amazing discovery.