Korea Onesie

My family found this onesie down in Florida. It actually says KOREA: RA RA RA, which Taylor says just means a Korean person designed it trying to say LA LA LA. Oh well. It isn't "choice me" but it is close.

Sister Jack

My sister, Samantha, and my son, Jack. I love this photo.

Cute vs Not So Cute

Which of these two children would you rather have? My parents, in town for Jack's 100th Day celebration, brought him a "Billy-Bob" pacifier. I think it is hilarious! Even with gigantic buck teeth, Jack is still the cutest baby ever!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays to everyone from Jackson Andrew and the rest of the Maidys!

Christmas Eve

We went to Christmas Eve service today. Jack was very well behaved and only got a little grouchy when Grandma Park decided to show him off to everyone. He was doted on by each person and Grandma was beaming with pride. Jack even had a blessing from the pastor (plus an extra one on his "spit up"). On to tomorrow and Christmas!

Jack Being Lazy Jack

Jack's First Hanukkah - Night 8

Tonight was the last night of Jack's first Hanukkah. He got a great outfit from his Great Grandmother and a bunch of neat toys from Grannie Annie. Jack is a lucky boy to have so many loving family members. On to Christmas and 2007!

Jack's First Hanukkah - Night 7

Look at the cool piggy bank I got!! From this day forward, he will be known as Jack's College Fund - Semester 1!

Jack's First Hanukkah - Night 6

Jack's First Hanukkah - Night 5 / Constipation

No photos of Jack opening his gift tonight (it was a cute pair of baby blue overalls, by the way). Jack has been extremely constipated the last few days. He has been spitting up a lot and freaking us out. This is the most he has spit up since his surgery, so we are on edge. Several calls have been placed to his pediatrician and techniques are being tried out. Hopefully it is just trouble pooping and nothing else.

Jack's First Hanukkah - Night 4

A Hard Day to Be Jack

Jack had a tough Sunday. Despite sleeping in from 11pm to 8:30am, he was still cranky throughout the day. He tried to nap, but kept waking up. He then had trouble pooping, so he was constipated throughout the day. We went to visit Wany and Jae, where he finished an 8 oz. bottle (!). But, screams and spit up soon took over and we had to cut our visit short. As soon as we got home, he calmed down. Or so we thought. He kept complaining and screeching and spitting up, putting both of us on edge. Eventually, he went to sleep for about an hour. When he woke up at 9pm, he ate another 6 oz. and proceeded to poop. It was very thick, which may have been what made him so uncomfortable. Silly kid peed so much his poop was like concrete!

He went to bed around 11pm and was starting to get fudgy around 7:30 this morning when I left for work. Hopefully he will feel better today.

Our apologies to Kate, Ellie, Wany, Jae, and Chloe. We wanted to stay longer but Jack had other ideas. :-)

Hanukkah - Night 3

For the 3rd night, Jack wanted to open his own present. How he was able to do it without sitting up or lifting his arms, I will never know. But, the kid was like a whirlwind, sending wrapping paper in every direction. Look at the cool mirror toy and outfit! Jack already had the matching bib! Hooray Hanukkah!

Jack's First Hanukkah - Night 2

Jack was excited to see what he got for the second night. He was not "thrilled" to see his Mr. Fancy Pants outfit. We told him it looks very cute, but he complained and demanded his Hanukkah Bear. Still a crank, we told him if he didn't want the gift, we would give it to another little boy. Jack stopped complaining and said he would wear the outfit. Thanks grandma!

Jack's First Hanukkah - Night 1

Last night, Jack celebrated his first Hanukkah! Despite not having a baby-sized yamulka, Jack said the prayer over the menorah with me and we then opened his first batch of gifts. Look at all the great stuff: a hanukkah yo-yo, a new outfit from Grandma, a new outfit from Mom-moms, and lots and lots of gelt! Too bad he can't have the gelt yet. I am sure Mom will enjoy the chocolate.

Look-A-Likes

The image in the middle is Jack and the other two are Taylor as a baby. She saw these photos and her fears that Jack doesn't look like her were finally put to rest. The similarities are striking. The coolest part is that when you look at my photo next to Jack he looks like me and next to these, he looks just like her. I guess the blending of our two faces couldn't have come through any better. Lucky kid!

Could You Leave This Face at Day Care?

In about three weeks I go back to work. In about three weeks, Jack goes into day care for about 9.5 hours. In about three weeks, I will be a nervous wreck.

But yesterday, I had a freak out...otherwise known as a panic attack. Why? Day care scared the living day lilghts out of me. What were the things I was scared about? Nothing legitimate, I assure you. When Alex and I visited the center, all the kids were well cared for, and the place had a real family atmosphere.

My fears, however they may seem unfounded, to me were very real yesterday afternoon. Will they just do the bare minimum?

1) Change the diaper, but not check to make sure his diaper isn't pinching him anywhere

2) Feeding time, just feed the Fudge and not talk and coo to him, or touch his feet in a loving way

3) Burping - this scares me the most. Will they burp him right? He needs to be kept upright for 45 minutes after a feeding at minimum.

4) When he wakes from his naps, will they play with him? Make faces? Talk to him? Or just leave him down in his crib and let him stare up at the ceiling?

I wished so much that one of the grandparents could watch him instead. Yes, it's day care, which means he will not get that one on one attention. Even animals need one on one attention.

I called my sister and cried. Mostly to vent and ask her when I can start dropping him off at her place since she's a stay at home mom. But I know it won't be for a while longer. Also, she's got Kate to contend with...feeds every two hours.

I will be making at least two dry runs of dropping him off at day care this month, but I think I will stick around those two days at the day care and see what kind of care/activities go on in the infant room just for my peace of mind.

In the meantime, I am devising a way to have Jack cared for at home with a family member. I didn't think I would feel this way about day care. I know they will take good care of him. The place came highly recommended by a co-worker who has two sons there and has been using them for years. She loves it.

It's not that I don't want to return to work. I just want Jack to be with family if at all possible instead of total strangers.