Picture Time!

Hi everyone. I wanted to share some new pictures with you. A few weeks ago, Uncle Todd, Aunt Rebecca, and Cousin Callie came up from Louisville and a photographer hung out with us for a little while.

First, we just hung out in the lobby out of the condo. I was allowed to stand on the chair for some reason, I didn't ask too many questions, I just went for it.

Then I actually sat on the chair the right way, first with Callie:


and then with Mommy and Daddy:


After that we went over to KMK for a little while to snap some pictures over there.



Here I am looking down on the big city from 14 floors above.



I should mention, in the spirit of full disclosure, that I wasn't in the best of spirits on this day. What can I say? I'm more of a free spirit, and they wanted me to sit and pose. That's not my forte right now. So I had to let them know from time to time:

But I recovered and here's a picture of me and Daddy sitting under great-Grandpa's picture.


Some other pictures just hanging around:



Our next stop was in the Cincinnatian lobby. Daddy and Mommy evidently thought it would be a picturesque place for pictures. I thought it ideal given all of the stairs to climb. So, a slight difference of opinion there. Finally we combined ideas and took a picture on the stairs.

Finally we stopped in the Westin lobby, a favorite place of mine, as those that know me best know. So many stairs and ramps to climb. Here's an action shot.


So, that was a fun day. Speaking of fun, I have had lots of fun recently. There is a fun train display in a building a few blocks away from me, so I have been going down to see it a fair amount. It's some sort of Nirvana-land, filled with trains, cookies, revolving doors, and ramps. In other news, I spent 4 days with Papaw and Mimi a few weeks ago, that was a lot of fun. Mommy and Daddy snuck away to somewhere called New Orleans. And then a few days later I was right back with Papaw and Mimi, and the rest of the gang, for Christmas. I got lots of fun presents, it was really great. I have also, of course, been hanging with Grandma, Grandpa, and my aunts here in Cincinnati too. I am looking forward to Christmas with them soon.

In other news, I have had lots to say recently. I have always been free to express myself in poetry or prose here on the internet, but as many of you know, I have sometimes used nonverbal communication instead of speech to achieve my ends on a day to day basis. No more. Now I have lots of words down pat and am adding more every single day. Mommy and Daddy say that it has been really fun to watch. I also like to do my ABC's (with a lot of help) and to read lots of books (over and over and over again). That book shower from before I was even born is looking like a better idea every day. Some of my favorite books are:

Where the Wild Things Are (Mommy and Daddy switched the main character's name to Jack, which I really love. I have memorized the book, and add parts from time to time, and I have also added sound effects to certain parts).

Sheep in a Jeep (Beep! Beep!).

Five Little Monkeys.

Anything by Dr. Seuss.

But don't think that I have simply turned into a book reading, talking baby. I still making plenty of time for more active pursuits, be it sliding lots of cars down my rollercoaster ramp, kicking balls, running through the house, or anything else I can get in to. I've been having lots of fun. My friend Lauren has still been coming down to help me play while Mommy and Daddy go to work, so that remains lots of fun.

So, anyway, that's an update in both picture and word form. I hope to see lots of friends and family over the next few days.

Love,
Jack

Posting like a 2 year old...

Hi everyone, and happy thanksgiving!

I wanted to tell everyone what I have been doing.

Like always, I like to hang around the house. As I said a few weeks ago, I really like my rain boots. Here I am wearing them around, with my "World's Best Boss" shirt that my good friend and former nanny, Jane, got me.

About a month ago I went down and spent the night with Papaw and Mimi, we went to a hayride and a concert at a barn. It was just like one of my favorite episodes of Jack's Big Music Show. I had such a good time, here I am listening to the band play.

A few days later it was Halloween. I would say that I liked Halloween, but I didn't love it. I dressed up as a Treat-osaraus Rex and was supposed to go trick or treating in Grandma's neighborhood.

Well, I made it out of the yard and all the way to Uncle Jim and Aunt Beth's house. I got some candy there and Mommy and Daddy were thinking we would go to a bunch of other houses.

I had other ideas. I recognized where I was and just started walking back to Grandma's. I told them they could come if they wanted, but that I had some playing to do back there.

Ah, this is better.

A few days later it was time for my birthday party. Such fun. So many nice people came to celebrate with me, and I had such a good time. We went to Johnny's Toys playland.

Here I am going down the slide.

Playing at the water table.


One of my favorite things that they had there was a conveyor belt that I could operate just at the push of a button. Here I am at the button and admiring my handiwork.


Then we went on a train ride outside. And you know I love trains.

And it just got better. Then we went into a big room that had a firetruck, and I could dress up like a fireman.


And then (would you believe it?) all my friends and family were there and I got a bunch of new toys. You really can't have a better day than that.


Last weekend we went to Papaw and Mimi's house for Thanksgiving. I was so busy that I forgot to take pictures (silly me) but the way that you can know that I was busy is that on the way home I put my blanket over my face and went off to sleep.


Mommy and Daddy tell me that we are going to see lots of friends and family over the next month or so. I am so excited. Check back often for pictures.

Happy Birthday to me!

Hi everyone, today I am 2 years old. Can you believe it? I woke up to a fantastic surprise this morning, my very own rollercoaster. It's fantastic.

More later.

Love,
Jack

P.S. Happy birthday to Papaw and Bella too!

I'm Going to be a Big Brother!

I have some news that I have been keeping a secret, but I can't do it any longer:

Yep, that's right. Mommy and Daddy told me a little bit ago, and when they went to the doctor today, the doctor said that I'm going to be brother to a little boy. I'm so excited. I'm going to teach him how to throw a ball, play with trains, and everything else us little boys like to do. It's going to be great. And I plan to use my blog to both tell my stories as well as to keep you up to date on everything my little brother is doing, since I doubt he will be as advanced as I was (recall, after all, I could blog from the womb).

More to come.

Love,
Jack

What I did on my summer vacation...

I did it again. Despite my promise to post more, I inevitably slip into more playing and less blogging. But I am back now to tell you what I have been doing.

A few months ago it was Grandpa's birthday, I went over to the racetrack to throw him a surprise birthday party. How fun. Here I was hanging out there.

A little after that Kyoko Obchan came into town to see me. Here I was hanging out around the train table that she got me.

Grandma got me some rain boots last spring and I wasn't really that interested in them for a while until they became the greatest shoes in the world. I have to wear them as often as possible, I mean it would be silly not to, right?

I made it a point to go to all of Daddy's softball games. Here I was running down third base line after the last game ended. I think I was the only person from Daddy's team that rounded third that night, it was not pretty.


I have been trying to help Mommy with her yoga. Whenever she lays out the yoga mat, I like to get down and show her how it's done. What I like about this picture is that I really am doing what was on television in the background.



I continue to love trains and cars and everything else with wheels. Here I am running my trains down Daddy's leg.

Of course, I love to hang out with Bella and the Cioffis.


Here I am jamming with the headphones, likely to Mickey Mouse or something like that.


This last week we went on vacation in North Carolina with Ed and Kyoko Obachan. It was such a great week. Here I am reading on the porch with Daddy.

We went to an aquarium, here is a shark getting little too close for Mom and Dad's comfort. Thank goodness for the glass.

This seemed like a nicer fish.

Here I am back on the yoga mat with Mommy.


And getting squeezed by Mommy.

We had some bad weather, but finally it broke and we went out to the beach.


I loved letting the waves run over my feet.


Meanwhile back in the house I slipped on Uncle Todd's shoes and bounded around the house.

Here's me, Callie, and Kyoko. Mommy and Daddy wanted me to tell you that I really did wear clothes on the trip, these pictures just happen to be the exception.

We drove straight through on the way home. I stayed up for a while, but finally put my blanket over my head and told them to tell me when we were home.

The trip was great, but I am happy to be home now. Summer is over, I am looking forward to a fun fall where I hope to see you soon.

Love,
Jack