Mama J spent hours steaming and pureeing organic fruits and veggies for Jake’s food. And I mean hours. Sweet potatoes, white potatoes, beets, split peas, squash, apples, pears, zucchini, pumpkin, spinach, carrots and broccoli. She mashes the mess into ice cube trays and freezes them. When Jake needs a meal, BAM! Pop a carrot cube in the microwave for a few seconds and it’s dinner time!

Yesterday, he was having none of it! Every spoonful DENIED! From spitting it out, to batting it out of Mama’s hands! He looked like Linda Blair in The Exorcist! Rather than get frustrated, Mama handled it like a champ. She reverted to a couple of foods that Jake tried and loved in the past. Papaya and garbanzo beans. But, she did have to use a little mommy magic to get him to eat a few bites…. (That was before this video, obviously)

I will spit pea soup on that thing lady!!!

Thank you Jesus!

This morning at daddy daycare was a rough one. I stayed up a bit too late last night. And OK, I may have had one too many beers watching the World Series. My youthful instinct always kicks in. My brain says “You’ll be fine.” When my wife kissed me goodbye at 3am, my brain said, “What the F#@K we’re you thinking!?” Luckily Jake was out cold until almost 7am. And thank God he took a nap at 9am! I coasted through the day on fumes, feeling like I had a midget hanging around my neck. It was a glorious feeling when Mama got home at 3pm. I’m not sure who was happier to see her, me or Jake? I’ll never drink again…oh hey, game 5’s on…:)

Time for this baby to pass out too!

Take it down! Take the whole thing down!!!

I had a great conversation tonight with parents that have kids ranging from 1 to 15 years old. The consensus is: we’re all nuts! Parents with younger kids want their kids to be older and vice versa… Everyone says kids are a huge pain in the ass, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. Basically, everyone just needed to vent. Then we went back to talking about who’s having the next baby:)

I’m supposed to be a role model. A person for Jake to imitate and admire. Yet I’m asked to carve a couple of pumpkins, and… Well, what do you see?

I swear, it’s a hoot-owl and a grumpy old man!!!

Jake is unruly. He sleeps 16 hours a day. He doesn’t work. He doesn’t go to school. He throws a majority of the food we give him at the wall. And, he craps in most of the clothes we put on him. Jake is a smooth mix of teenager and a 95 year old man. Pretty impressive for a 10 month old.

Mommy, who’s that monkey in the window?

I get a kick out of pulling up the driveway and seeing Jakey in his high-chair, kicking, smiling, throwing food, etc. I’m so happy that he’s a happy kid! This boy sure can make a house feel like home.

What do you mean, NO WALK!? This is bullshit!

Jake has become quite the outdoors man. Actually, I think he was outside more than inside during the warmer months. Now that such a routine has been established, I’m curious to see how he’ll react to being snowbound all winter? The amount of walks and rides we take are already dwindling with the weather change. Jake is forced to take out his frustration on the bouncy seat and a cardboard box. I think we’re going to need some more interesting toys, or thicker earplugs.

Yes, I’m wearing a wig! And YES, you’re grounded!

I’m not sure if it’s from chasing Jake around, the spirit of Halloween, or getting clubbed over the head with a beer bottle Saturday night, but, I feel young again!? I guess it feels pretty good to raise a little Hell every now and then. This reminds me that I’m going to have to exercise patience and understanding the first time Jake tells me he took out a neighbor’s window….or pet.

What a weekend! Friday, we went scavenger hunting. Saturday, a great Halloween Party thanks to Aunt Angie. And Sunday, a trip to the pumpkin farm. Little did we know it was Sweetest Day. To celebrate, Mama and I shared pumpkin pie Blizzards while Jake blabbed away in the backseat. That seemed like the perfect gift. It was the sweetest day:)