Mr. Grabby

So you have discovered the art of grabbing. Your mom and I are constantly laughing because you will get delighted by something you see and you reach for it instantly trying to grasp onto it. Sometimes you make the connection and sometimes you don't. It's great fun for us...you're growing up so fast! Tonight you had a nice video chat with Nana & Pepere and Terry in Alabama. They were so excited and happy to see you. You were even trying to touch Nana on the computer monitor...so cute. We took some video of you at bath time tonight. You're almost too big for your wash tub, so we got some of the last moments you'll be in it. Your mom is on the phone with a colleague (Mrs Heather) who is at work tonight (it's midnight) because her job is to manage the Greek life at UCA. I'm glad your mom isn't there tonight because I love it when we are all here at home.
~Dad

Cold #2, 5 months, new bed, makin up songs

Well, you were sick again this week. It's your second cold, and you're coming out of it (hopefully) pretty well. This was a particularly taxing week for me, as I put in around 54 hours so far. We're in a phase of "mandatory overtime" because my team is behind on our project. It's all very unfair to me, but I'm hanging in there just fine. There are other more important things brewing besides work, so I'm just trying to enjoy my time with you and your mom.
We bought a bed last Saturday, and it was delivered on Tuesday. It's a beautiful wooden poster bed with a canopy. There are pictures on my website, but I'm sure you'll see it as you grow up. We like it a lot. We've never had a bed to put our mattress on, so this is a drastic change...and we love it.
Tomorrow is a big day for your mom because her favorite team the New England Patriots play the Denver Broncos in a NFL playoff game. She has you dressed in a Patriots once in awhile - it's really awful (-ly cute).

You have been video conferencing with Nana & Pepe for the last few nights, and they have been loving it. We get on MSN Instant Messenger and using our webcams over our highspeed internet access we can see & talk to each other like we were standing face to face. You flip flop between "interested" and "let me touch the stuff on daddy's desk". Either way, I know you are having the time of your life. By the way, you turned 5 months old yesterday. We didn't throw a party, but we did sing songs. Today, while changing your diaper I made up some lyrics about diaper rash to the tune of Pink Floyd's "Teacher, leave those kids alone!" song. I can't remember the real title of the song, but everyone knows what I'm talking about. "We don't need your ir-i-ta-tion....we don't need your sore but-tocks...des-i-tin between the low cheeks...diaper rash leave my Jacob alone!...hey! diaper rash!..leave my Jake alone!....All in all you're just a 'nother pain near his b***s.... You laughed the whole time.
Love you sonny boy!
~Denny

Let's catch up a little...there's so much!

So some of the events I want to write about tonight have to do with you and your cheerful disposition. I have started playing with you and making you laugh! It started when I was lying down on the couch, and you sitting on my stomach/chest. You are still learning to stabilize yourself, and sometimes you overcompensate. For instance, you started leaning to far forward, and you jerked backward to hard. I caught you as you tumbled backwards, then I swooped you back upright, and made a swooping noise at the same time. You looked at me surprised, and then you did it again. This time when I "swooped" you back upright, you giggled outright. You did it again, and laughed as I brought you back up. We did that a few more times until you were ready to stop. I was laughing, you were laughing and momma was in the rocking chair laughing along. We had such a fun time. I have been trying to recreate the "swoop" playtime with you, but you haven't been playing along since. What I have learned though is that you are ready to laugh and play, but not the same games over and over. I guess you get bored easily. Sounds like me...I tire of repetition. Repeating things over and over bores me. Going over things again and again is so.... (ha!).
I learned another way to make you laugh today. We were at Bed, Bath and Beyond getting presents for your mommy's Christmas, and I was pushing you in a cart. You were in your car seat resting on the top. You stared at me the whole time with eyes that said "I expect you to entertain me". So I tried something that I saw your aunt Tiffany do. I laughed at you. I tried several different laughs, but got no response. I think you were thinking "Oh brother!". But then I did something that got your attention: I did the wheezing laugh. You broke into an instant grin and started laughing yourself! I did it! I felt like a champion because I got you to laugh. I did it again to see if it was a fluke, and you giggled. Victory! I called Kendra over, and showed her - she was in awe of my command of you. Okay, that may be an exaggeration. She tried making you laugh and hit paydirt as well. We were so excited to see this side of you.
Now another way we make you laugh is by tickling. We don't get real far by using our fingers or hands, but if we use our mouths to "eat corn on the cob" off your belly and sides, you go nuts. It is so much fun to see you laugh.
In other news, the KC Chiefs won their game today, and would have made it into the playoffs but the Steelers won as well and ruined our chances. It's too bad because KC had built some real momentum and I think they could have gone several rounds. Your mom's team, the New England Patriots lost today to Miami at home. It's a miserable state of affairs when that can happen and they still win their division. Have they no shame? :)
I talked to your grandpa and grandma, and to your aunt Kim and uncle Phil today wishing them a happy new year. The weather was 75 degrees today which is unbelievable for January 1. I wore shorts to go shopping. Oh I just remembered...we took you to El Chico while we ate lunch. That's the first time we've taken you there, and I have missed eating there really bad. Thanks for giving us your best behavior.
Love you little man. You're my favorite son!
~Dad