Windy City

This is Eric's friend Kai who was in Chicago recently...notice what the building in the background spells..."Sox win" could be seen in buildings all over downtown--it looked to neat!

New Developments

Well, it's been some time now, but Jack is now a full-fledged crawler! All of a sudden, one night, all the limbs started to work in perfect coordination, and he made his way across the room...ok, so it's a small room...but out came the video camera and the silly parents clapping and cheering him on.

At first he would just crawl slowly across our little living room, and then flop around until he was facing the other direction, and crawl back across the room...then last week I turned away for just too many seconds, and found him in our back bathroom...right next to the toilet bowl cleaner and bleach product...way to go, Super Mom!!

After the crawling got underway successfully, he began to pull up on things, usually things that aren't very sturdy--and he just topples over. But he finally found a few items that are just the right height and are steady enough that he can pull himself up to a standing position. He can also climb up steps now! He pulls up to standing, and then lifts his knees up on the step...

It's just amazing to me to watch all these developments occur. I realize that every baby in the history of the world has reached these same milestones, and that they are not unique to my son. But somehow, it is still amazing and brings such joy to my heart.

Recently he was crying and crying after we put him down for the night, and when I finally went in to check on him, he was standing up in his crib holding on the the rail. My little baby, pulling himself up without my help! Out came the video camera. (I'm afraind he's going to grow up thinking that everytime he does something special there will be a camera there to document it...which is actually possible, :) but I'm sure with the arrival of siblings he will be in for a shock when he realizes he is NOT the center of the universe after all!!)

Of course now, he pulls himself up in his crib all the time, but hasn't yet figured out how to get down, so he gets up, has his fun, but then cries and cries until we come lay him down. It's not a fun game, I assure you.

Right now I can hear him in his crib, playing with the Ocean Wonders Aquarium that was recenly installed. It's so funny to hear music suddenly drifting from his room, along with coos and giggles from him... I know it's slightly pathetic, but in some ways I'm already experiencing the motherly lament of "my child doesn't need me anymore!" There's something wonderful (and yes, sometimes exhausting) about being needed so fully in the beginning, and it is such a joy to give of yourself in such a self-sacrificing way.

On the other hand...I also feel like, "HURRAY! He doesn't need me every waking minute! He can entertain himself!! I can actually get something done!!" It's also amazing to me the things that he is entertained by...someone recently gave us a belated baby gift...but Jack has spent WAY more time playing with the paper bag that the toy came in than the actual toy itself! And this morning as I folded laundry he sat beside me in the pile of mail and played with the newspapers for quite some time...even though his box of colorful baby toys sat a few feet away.

And, I'm slightly embarrassed to admit, he loves his Baby Mozart video. (I swore I would never let my babies watch TV when they were this young!) He sits in his high chair (or a laundry basket! :) ) and watches with great interest. It's actually kind of neat because he's beginning to react to what's happening on the screen, and sometimes he even giggles. I feel guilty sometimes that it's not ME, his mother, a live person, interacting with him...but there are just those days... you mothers out there know what I mean... And to be totally honest, I'm thankful that there is something made specifically for babies, with their developmental stages in mind. The added bonus is that I enjoy the music, too. :)

Hope you are having a happy fall, whatever part of the world you are in. The colors here are so beautiful right now, and we are loving every cruchy leaf, smell of the earth, and crisp morning. While there are days during the frigid winters that I wish I did not live in the Midwest...these fall days make it worth bearing the cold!

I better go get Jack before he figures out how to climb out of his crib.

Our Little "Jack"-O-Lantern

Sitting up all by myself!
Are you kidding me? Leaves are much better than candy!
Hanging out with Grandma Whitaker.

We visited the school where I used to teach and Jack got to sit in on a reading of "Stella Luna" (with one of my fellow first grade teachers). I think he was more interested in how the book would taste.

First Kiss, Lasting Love

Hi, all. This is the patriarch of the Durbin family trying out a couple new blog-assistance programs. I do love this picture, though; I’m not sure it ever made it on the Durbin Family Blog . . .

Mommy and Jack -- a First (week) Kiss

This is Annika as a brand new mommy, and Jackson at – still – one of his favorite places: the changing table. Where else can man be himself, but at the changing table? He is naked and honest at that place; his newfound rolling technique is challenged anew by the sloping sides of the foam pad; he is free to express both the vulnerability and the ecstasy of a refreshing wet-wipe, a new diaper, and the occasional baby-boy urine fountain. Even if a man tastes not triumph in the wrestling match that encumbers every new outfit, he is at least privy to some of the dumbest faces and most senseless songs his dignified parents will ever manufacture in desperate attempt of distraction. Where the snaps of a onesie are at their most formidable, where a magic genie supplies an endless amount of olfactory wishes, where the tummy is at its most ticklish, where the lotion is heaven and the snot-bulb is hell . . . where else, but at the changing table?

Actually, Jackson likes it so much there, we’re thinking of naming the hangout and possibly commemorating it with a plaque. We are certainly open to suggestions, but the top-runners are:

• The Happy Halfpipe,
• FlatuLand,
• The InfeStation,
• King of the Ring, and
• Momma Said There’d Be Days Like This

Hats and Mittens

A Sunday afternoon

Jack and Papa

On the go...sort of

Jackson's Nursery

We had hoped to have this nursery finished before Jack was born, rather than by the time he was six months old! Nonetheless, we finally finished and wanted to share some pictures.


The duck and sheep are characters from the "Click-Clack, Moo" books! (Unfortunately, they were sold out of the cows)
We painted this rectangle behind the wall letters, because the letters didn't stand out very well by themselves. It turned out a little bit bigger than we imagined, but it's a definite improvement.
Top picture: our first Mother's Day. Middle picture: Eric and his friend Rishi, with Jack and Rishi's son Ellis at the boys' first Cubs game at Wrigley Field. (Jack was 2 months old!)
Bottom picture: My dad, "Papa," holding Jack when he was just weeks old.

Some of my favorite pics (including our first ultrasound picture) and my first baby shoe.
The silver cup was Eric's when he was little, and his tiny ID bracelet from the hospital is inside it. The picture is one of my favorites that my dad took in Europe of Jack's profile.
You can't see it, but there is a beautiful tree right outside this window.
The long-awaited chair (took five months to arrive!!).
Some favorite books...we read "Good Night Moon" almost every night, but Jack prefers to chew on it these days. I'm saving "The Polar Express" until he's willing to sit and listen. :)

Jack takes communion

This morning was communion at church. I love the way we do it in our service: they have tables up front and everyone comes up and sits down at the table and is served, even the pastor and deacons and elders. Anyway, another thing I love is that you can bring your children to the table with you and the elders will pray for them. So I got Jack from the nursery today and stood in line.

This is always interesting, as he is no doubt a distraction for many (mainly his grandparents!!) as he coos, watches the ceiling fans with much intensity, and gives the congregation enormous smiles. He loves the singing, and listens intently. Unfortunately, he often chooses the silent moments to noisily express himself.

So we finally made it to the table, and once we were seated the elder leaned down to pray for Jack. She took his hands and I closed my eyes. It was very sweet and my heart swelled with gratitude for this blessing. She said "Amen," and I opened my eyes, kissing Jack on the head. As she stood up I noticed her kind of wipe her finger on the table cloth, and I felt bad, thinking maybe his hands were wet from being in his mouth.

I struggle with taking him to the table, as it is not quite as deep a time for me as I hold his wiggly body and keep him from pulling the table cloth off the communion table. Also, I know he is a distraction for other people...but at the same time, he is part of the church family and I love that people love to see him and that they pray for him.

So after the church service today I had numerous people come up to me (including Jack's grandma) and say, "That was so funny when he started to suck on the elder's hand!" Oh my gosh. Poor lady! I just hope he didn't try to bite her with his new teeth!

I hope that as he grows older he will learn that when someone lays hands on you to bless you in prayer, it's best not to try to eat their hands.