Movin' On Out

Jovonna and Jake at the zoo.
Those earings are in pieces now, sadly.

Time here is growing short, so I'd best get another entry in before we hit the road!  That, and Jovonna sent me some great pictures of Jake that I can't resist posting.  Jovonna, by the way, is taking care of Jake during these final weeks before we leave town, as Lindsay has already left to start nursing school.  Jovonna is also in school - but studying in Montgomery.  She's taken care of Jake quite a bit previously, and he is highly fond of her - as are we.

Hawkeyes and farm animals.
Happy, Greg??

Jovonna and Jake went to the
Montgomery Moooseum. . .

. . . where Jake decided on his life's calling.

I am essentially done with school - all papers/ tests/etc are complete, and this last week is low stress wrap-up.  Or perhaps I should say even lower stress wrap-up.  As noted previously, we now head on to Germany!  So, of course, I hope to keep the blog updated periodically (even if that period is bi-monthly) - lest Jake grow too much between sightings.  Or lest I forget too much.

Omens of Attitude

I'm not sure I have a lot to report about the last two months, other than the changing of the guard mentioned above - which is okay since the pictures are more interesting anyway.  There have been no trips - just local fun, he's still at 12 teeth, still holding out on talking for the most part, and still running around like mad.  But there are myriad changes I take for granted on most days:  his running around isn't nearly as out of control; his toy interests have broadened beyond balls (puzzles are big now); he's very much into picture books and identifying all the things in them (he certainly knows a lot of words, even if he won't say them); Mom and I now get authentic kisses on the cheek at bedtime (sweetest thing in the entire world, truly); he's added elephant, sheep, and alligator to his animal impersonations; and he's certainly feeling out his independence.  He's also working hard on 'big boy' games, like helping to put his own clothes and shoes on, and cleaning up after himself.  If anything, we probably hold him back by not letting him do enough on his own.  But we're trying.

Oh, and he keeps getting bigger - funny thing, that.  Jake has even outgrown his bucket helmet.  He's also now in a front facing car-seat, which he likes much better since he sits more upright and can look out the windows.  When no one's in the passenger seat, we take off the headrest so he can see forward - he seems to like it.

This photo, by the way, was our attempt at a passport photo.  We thought we'd have better success at home than in a studio or at the post office.  Nada.  Took a whole lot of shots to get this one off.  At the studio, he looked like an angel for shot #1, and smiled huge for shot #2.  Go figure.  His new passport is crazy cute, but I still like this shot - taken 10 April, for the record.


And now, if you're ready, this entry's super-cute closer shot:

Jake being cheeky with the neighbor girl, Abby.  Little does he know that she won't be interested in younger boys
for at least 30 more years, if ever.

That's it for tonight, but if at least a couple of you remind me I'll get a video addendum posted.  Auf Wiedersehen!