All about Jacob

In a little over a week Jacob will be 17 months old! Yikes!! Where did the time go?

Here is ALL about Jacob:

He's around 22-23 lbs (if our scale is correct). He is on the shorter side, since he still fits into 12 month pants, but he makes up for it with his LARGER then life personality!! He is constantly running, climbing up on all of our furniture and jumping off of couches, stairs, etc!

He is very verbal. When he's in the car it is a rare moment when he's quiet (unless he's asleep of course)! His vocabulary is constantly growing. Some of his FAVORITE words include:

truck (he loves to emphasize the "ck" sound...it is very guttural sounding and hilarious!)
duck
bus (he has just begun saying the "s" sound with a little lisp)
bubble
dirt
nose
teeth
spoon
bowl
mime (mama)
dada
bebe (baby)-he now points to my stomach and says baby
milk
thank you
peese (please)
no

He also loves to use the ASL signs that he has learned from watching "Signing Time" videos.
He loves to make some of the signs just to make us laugh. For example,
the sign for cold (here's a picture) he does be clenching his fists and straining his neck...it is so funny. Some other signs he does are:
milk
please
thank you
all done
tired/sleepy
apple
tree
cheese
grass
rain
house
ball
bath
butterfly

Some of Jacob's FAVORITE foods are:
cheese
milk
bread
muffins
turkey burgers
peaches
crackers

He loves to learn how things work. He knows how the computer turns off and on, how to plug in a cord (don't worry I am watching that he doesn't get electrocuted) and how to plug in anything with a USB drive. He also finds it fun to buckle his own car seat (although if we let him do this all the time it might take 1/2 an hour or more).

He is very independent and is learning what he likes to wear. Yesterday, he wanted to wear all three of his hooded zip-ups at once! It was hilarious! He also wants to put on his own socks and shoes. He likes to hide, explore the great outdoors and he loves loud noises (vacuum cleaner, blender, lawn mowers, trucks, etc.).

Finally, he LOVES books!! Yeah! His favorite books include anything about trucks, cars, trains and planes! He also likes to read about dogs. Right now he loves to read "Good Boy Fergus," "I Love Trucks," "Road Builders" "The Scholastic Picture Dictionary"and "The Little Engine that Could." He is also learning how to swim (he's taking 1/2 hour swimming classes once a week) and he loves to throw and kick the ball outside with Daddy!

We love Jacob very much and know he's going to make a fantastic BIG brother!

pictures are coming soon!

Easter, Engagement and Entertainment

Happy belated Easter! We have been busy, busy, busy!! Aunt R. became engaged the week before Easter. She kept the surprise until we were all home together at Easter. We are very excited for Aunt R. and J.! Jacob is excited to add a third uncle to his family!

J. and Jacob at Christmas

Our model boy!
This is taken at St. Greg's, after today's Divine Sunday mass.We had a fabulous Easter gathering with both sides of our families at the A.'s house. We enjoyed a delicious meal of lamb, ham, potatoes, broccoli, rolls and chocolate cake. Jay's mom surprised everyone with a chocolate fountain! Jay's job was putting the fountain together and eating strawberries that were fed to him. Jacob enjoyed a few chocolate covered cheerios, thanks to Uncle Dean!

Uncle D. and Dad (sharing brotherly love)

Jacob surprised everyone by very clearly saying "bubble" when Aunt R. gave him some to play with. His vocabulary is expanding seemingly everyday!

Aunt M. looking on in surprise.

This week we went to the zoo with some friends from iServe! Their son is a year younger then Jacob and the best baby ever!! The zoo was crazy, since it was spring break week. You had to wait in line to get into the rain forest exhibit, but Jacob refused to be patient! He managed to squeeze his way through the long line and run to the front. Meanwhile, the 7 1/2 month pregnant momma, had to slowly work her way through the line while enduring many evil eyes and weird stares. Jacob was so anxious to see the anteaters and fish that he couldn't wait!! I am just glad he didn't get lost, since the crowds were chaotic.

A week before Easter we went to the Explore and More Museum in East Aurora, NY. It is the perfect sized museum for a toddler! Jacob loved it and as usual he was off and running in every direction.
Jacob is such a happy little man!

Disclaimer: Sorry family that I didn't take more Easter photos...I'm trying to be better about taking pictures..it isn't my strongest forte!

Jacob and the egg

Lately Jacob likes to play with anything that he can take apart and put back together. Plastic Easter eggs he has found especially fun (as well as trying on Mommy's shoes).

Have a blessed holy week!

A week without Dad

Jay at the University of Tennessee medical center.

For his spring break, Jay headed to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he spent a week with the oral surgery residents. He had some 20 hour days and also was able to squeeze in some time to look around the city. In Knoxville, spring is well in bloom and apparently it isn't so unusual for patients to come in and talk about eating "coon" (racoon)!

Jacob and Grandpa K. with the "ba-ball."
Jacob and I decided to pack our bags and spend a long weekend in Ithaca. The weather was surprisingly pleasant and Jacob enjoyed running around outside. His new favorite words are"ba ball" (basketball) and "bu" (bus). My Dad has at least half a dozen basketballs lying around the garage so Jacob was in seventh heaven! Jacob also enjoyed a wheelbarrow ride from Grandma A., wearing Poppa A.'s fishing hat and swatting the dogs (he's learning how to be gentle). He also couldn't understand why Tang the cat wouldn't stay in one place so he could pull his tail!



Aunt L., Uncle D. and Jacob

Reading "Go dog go" with Poppa A.

On St. Patrick's Day Jacob walked around with my great-grandfathers's Irish shillelagh (walking stick) and loved corned beef and Irish soda bread (go figure!). We also visited Michelle and Cornell University's archives (where Grandma K. works). Jacob was showered with attention and is beginning to learn how to be quiet in a library (well almost). Happy St. Patrick's Day

Later in the week Jacob played with his friends in daycare while I went back to work and to a one day conference. The week went surprisingly fast (although it did drag near the end). Jay brought us back some Tennessee gear! Too bad the University of Tennessee's basketball team didn't make it past the first round of the NCAA tournament. Go Volunteers!

Jacob resting after a busy busy week (so very precious).

Visits from family

We have been really blessed lately with visits from many family members. Grandma and Grandpa K. visited the end of February. When the arrived on Friday, they watched Jacob while I (Mom) went to work for a couple of hours and then we all sat down to some homemade pizza.

Grandma, Grandpa and Jacob outside the craft mart.

We are a family of readers (I love it)!

The next day we enjoyed going to Niagara Hobby and Craft mart to look at the trains. Grandpa K. is thinking of possibly fixing up his old train set sometime in the future. Jacob loves trains and recently started making the "choo choo" noise every time he sees one in a book. We also walked around the Galleria mall and enjoyed some Tim Hortons (who doesn't love that place)! Later in the evening we met Aunt M. and E. for dinner at Brennans. It was great food and company!

Jacob playing with Thomas the tank engine.

This past week Grandma A. and Uncle D. came to get their teeth cleaned and spend some time with us. We had a pizza lunch at Zetti's on Wednesday and Jacob got to roam around the first floor of the dental school. He was enamored by the display cases, the never ending stream of people (he's a people watcher) and the giant buffalo in the lobby! Jacob spent an entire day with Grandma and Uncle D., on Thursday, while Mom and Dad were at school and work. Thursday evening Grandma A., Uncle D. and Jay went out together and brought back some treats from Dessert Deli. On Friday, Uncle D. was a trooper since he got two cavities filled without anesthesia (per his request)! He sure is tough!

This isn't a great picture, but it is the only one I have with Uncle D. in it!

Next week Jacob and I are making the trip to Ithaca while Jay spents a week in Knoxville, TN doing an oral surgery externship. I hope the week isn't too stressful for him and that he does not come back competely exhausted. I guess it will be good practice for what the life of a resident will entail!

Grandma A. played and read with Jacob non-stop!

Jacob loves brushing his teeth! We bought him his own tooth brush and we have to prey it from his hands! Couldn't he be the poster child for children's dental health month).

p.s. Yesterday I placed some size 1 diapers in Jacob's room (I am beginning to prepare for baby #2). Jay changed Jacob's diaper and put a size 1 diaper on him instead of his usual size 3. I couldn't believe they "fit" and that Jay didn't notice something was a little strange...it was comical!

Jacob, in a size 1 diaper!

A visit from the city girl

Aunt M., who lives in NYC, came for a three day visit! She took time out from all of the chaos of medical school, fellowship preparation and poster writing. She also opted to visit Buffalo instead of a tropical haven and for that we're grateful. Her visit was a lot of fun! We went to the Strong Museum of Play, enjoyed brunch with Grandma K., Aunt D., Aunt MT. and R., shopped at Wegmans, drove non-perishables to the Little Portion Friary for the heart to heart food drive (we couldn't have done it without her.), cooked dinner and of course enjoyed each others company! Jacob thrives on having visitors so he was constantly smiling, laughing, screaming (a happy scream mind you) and showing off!

Mommy and Jacob (two little trolls)

Sesame Street!

Aunt M. graciously watched Jacob while Jay and I went out for a casual Valentine's dinner at Coles. They have the best burgers!

The sistas

Our blue-eyed son

Jacob likes to wear his cool shades and hat around the house! He's thinking spring.

This is the Valentine's Day craft I made for Jacob's daycare buddies. They are matchboxes I covered with festive paper and then tagged with a note. I copied the idea from Inchmark Journal, except that I filled the boxes with Cheerios instead of chocolate. Happy belated Valentine's Day! We hope you were surrounded by your loved ones!

Winter in Buffalo

Considering the weather hasn't been that stellar and it's winter we've been staying busy. We hosted a Super Bowl party, went to the January MOMS meeting, enjoyed a few play dates and have been taking trips to the library. Jacob is learning new words (and signs) constantly and is exploring the world like a scientist. He is very observant and already he doesn't seem to miss a trick! His favorite words are ball and dog. He also likes to make the "ooo" sound for a monkey and snort like a pig, which is pretty funny to hear!
I love this picture! It looks like Jacob is asking God for a great favor!


Here's a picture of my 20 week belly! Aunt D. asked me if I was having twins!! I know I look big, but I looked about the same with Jacob. When I was delivering Jacob the doctor, said she wouldn't be surprised if I delivered a 9lb + baby (luckily that wasn't the case)! I finally have a sonogram on Tuesday so I'll let you know if we're having more then one (highly unlikely)!

We miss all of our far away family and friends. We're looking forward to seeing Aunt M. and the grandparents soon!! It has been too long!