Jack's Antics

At 8 months, Jack continues to stray from the cautious ways of his older brother. Knocking over house plants isn't the half of it. He rolls, dunks and splashes in the bath (Rocky still cries every time I wash his hair because heaven forbid a drop of water land on his vulnerable little face), he climbs everything, and he throws himself haphazardly into people and objects, sometimes sharp and solid ones, just for the fun of it. He's always bouncing, twisting, grunting or drumming. He has recently been referred to as Bam-Bam. Perhaps it's because his mom utilizes the Guitar Hero World Tour drum kit as her daily method of stress release and jamming is a nightly family ritual. Or it's because Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Corey appropriately gave him a toddler drum, sticks and other percussion instruments for Christmas. Now, he carries at least one of those sticks with him wherever he goes. Notice the picture from the last blog post. His drumstick must accompany him to all meals, so he can bang it to summon more food. He drums on everything but prefers Rocky's head. It seems to make the best acoustical sound. It actually serves him right for all the times he has head butted me in the past with that solid noggin' of his. It's like an orange on a toothpick. Ok, I don't condone drumming on Rocky's head but Jack is unstoppable. I've never seen such determination. Rocky has learned to keep a safe distance when Jack approaches him with a stick in hand. The boy is good with his hands. He typically totes a handful of binkies, flipping and popping them in his mouth like a cowboy slings a gun around his holster. He usually keeps one handy to pop into his mouth between meal bites. It happens so fast! He thinks it's hilarious. Try to feed me now Mom! His teasing nature is emerging. He's always splashing Rocky to get a reaction. Changing his diaper is nearly impossible. He wriggles, twists and rolls effectively insuring that if a diaper does end up on his bottom, it is contorted and off-center enough to guarantee leakage... and another impossible change. Once, I was so frustrated that I scolded him in the sternest voice I could muster. He looked at me and laughed out loud. Yeah. He laughed at me! I can only imagine what disciplining him is going to be like in the years to come. Does anyone have diaper changing suggestions short of recruiting an assistant to pin him down? Rocky has tried.

Rocky's favorite activity is playing "Jack in the Crib." Every time we put those two to bed, Rocky lays in anticipation of Jack's head popping up. When it does, they both giggle, then Jack throws himself back down for another pop-up. This can go on for an hour. Sometimes, Rocky sings the "Jack in the Box tune" until the mischievous little head emerges. He will do anything to make Rocky laugh, even falling backwards and hitting his head on the crib wood. I wasn't prepared for such an aggressive, ambitious baby. I predict he will be walking within the month. Isn't there a stage where the baby just sits there and plays quietly? That was Rocky until he was one. Man, I miss that baby.

Here's a little video update of the boys.