6 months (again)

Little Robert
Originally uploaded by bedlam2317

It's hard to believe that 6 months have already come and gone. It's weird, too, because I still see him as a fragile little baby and then I look at the MILLIONS of pictures his mother and grandfather have taken of him and see how much he's changed. There are so many subtle changes that appear every day. Whether it's his body getting longer, or his cheeks getting fatter, or the fact that he has cankles. Seriously, monstrous cankles, it's insane.
But more than the physical changes that seem to go unnoticed from day to day, it's the capabilities his acquired and the behaviors he's learned that really open my eyes to what an amazing and rapidly growing son I have. He knows his name, or rather names. He knows to look at someone when they say either, Jack, Jackson, or son. He's learned how to sit up on his own, how to roll around, how to roll his tongue. He recognizes family in pictures. He responds to familiar voices on the phone. He's amazing.
Most importantly, though, he's learned to say "da-da." Jack will sit there, either on the floor surrounded by toys, or in someone's lap, and just say "da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da" over and over and over again. It's truly glorious. I don't know what it is about name recognition, but it just makes me feel good to hear my child call out my name (and yes I know he's not really associating that sound with me, but I don't care. It's still awesome).
I must admit that I'm a bit anxious for the next coming months. I know most parents would want to slow things down and soak up every moment with their child, but I can't help finding myself wishing he were a little bigger and we were at the next big milestone. I just can't wait for the next new experience to see his reactions. I always try to imagine what the world looks like through his eyes. I love this boy.

Six Months

Happy hiker
Originally uploaded by bedlam2317

Saturday we celebrated Jack's six month birthday. It is so hard to believe that he has been in our lives for half a year. In some ways it feels like time has flown by, and that he just got here yesterday. But it also feels as if he has been here forever, that our lives never really started until he came into them, and that things are just naturally complete with him.

8 years ago, before Robert and I "officially" started dating, he picked me up and took me to see the sunrise, at my request. Unfortunately, he didn't really know a good place for us to watch the sunrise, so we wound up basically in the middle of a forest with no real view of the sun as it rose into the sky. However, it was on this particular occasion that he finally got up the nerve to ask me out on a date, making the event one that I will always cherish, regardless of the view.

The morning after Jack was born he and I shared a similar sunrise. Looking out the window of the hospital room, before any guests arrived or his father awoke, we watched the sun rise through the trees and buildings outside the hospital. It certainly wasn't the most picturesque of scenes, but it is one that I will never forget. Holding my son as the world awoke for the first time with him in it was more special and beautiful than anything I could have hoped for in my life.

And somehow, every day since has managed to be more wonderful than the last.

He amazes me constantly by learning new things or showing me a new facet of his personality. I can already see that he is tender and caring like his father, and he definitely has a sense of humor. He studies people just as I do, and he seems to understand our basic emotions by our expressions and actions now. He also models behavior like crazy. I can make a noise or a facial expression one time, and a few days later I'll notice him practicing it.

Six months. Looking back six months ago, I can't imagine how I woke up without going to him, seeing his arms outstretched, ready for me to hold him. I can't remember not hearing his laughter and seeing his smile every day, making even the most difficult days bearable. Most of all, I can't think of our family without him. To be cliche, he completes us. And each day we have with him is a day of blessing and hope.

Monkey talk

Monkey talk
Originally uploaded by bedlam2317

I learned something new about my husband. He has an uncanny ability to communicate with animals. I honestly don't know how he does it, but I'm calling him the BeastMaster now.

He somehow managed to get this chimpanzee to come over to us at the zoo, and he sat down right in front of Jack and just looked at him. It was really neat to see Jack observe him and try to interact with him. I think his favorite animal at the zoo was this crane that was brightly colored. It would walk over near us and Jack would start shrieking with excitement.

I love seeing things through his eyes, and I can only imagine what he thought of all the animals.

The knowledge of what's ahead

Robert and I went to Six Flags yesterday, and we learned several things.

1) Going to Six Flags the weekend after school starts is really smart. There were like no lines. The only down side was how HOT it was.

2) We are OLD. I used to insist on arriving at amusement parks before they opened, so I could be the first to run through the gates and get in line for my favorite ride. I would drag Robert from coaster to coaster all day, nonstop until they stopped all the rides. Yesterday, we meandered our way down to Atlanta, arriving at the park a leisurely two hours after it opened. We made it through four rides before giving in to exhaustion and stopping to eat. Eating was apparently a bad idea because one coaster later we were both sick and had to take yet another break. Somehow this break wound up lasting an hour, as we sat on a bench, too hot and tired to move, instead happy to sit there and people watch. We made it through a couple water rides and a few more coasters before finally admitting that we were exhausted, and we actually left the park before it closed - I never do that!

3) Jack is what makes things fun for us now. Don't get me wrong, we had a great time together and we definitely needed a day to ourselves, but we both found ourselves talking about what it will be like when we can bring him. I kept pointing out the kids areas, like the Thomas the Train playground, and the giant water play area. And Robert kept looking at little kids running around all excited, and talking about how he can't wait to see Jack like that.

I guess its safe to say that our perspective has changed. Seeing things through his eyes is going to be so fun. Plus he's a great excuse for slowing the pace and taking more breaks, so Robert and I won't have to admit how old we really feel!

This is his rocker face

This is his rocker face
Originally uploaded by bedlam2317

I have been avoiding this blog...and I don't know why. I guess between the chaos of school and home I just needed to push it to the side for a while. There were actually times that I thought about signing in, and then the idea of trying to get out all my thoughts, all my news about Jack, just overwhelmed me. He is literally changing every day, and it has been hard to keep up.

I have several stories in the works so and a couple weeks off from school, so hopefully more will be posted soon. I promise I won't let the cobwebs overtake this thing....in the meantime hope you enjoy the photo!