Quarantined!

Ok, here's the rundown:

Sheryl - bad cold
Bear - bladder infection
Jim - pinkeye, sinus infection, chest infection
Jasper - pneumonia, just finished with pinkeye

I'm not kidding. I wish I were. The whole family is on antibiotics but me. Yikes. But enough doom and gloom. We are all getting much better. Jasper is probably feeling the best out of all of us- which is great. Here's the other good news...

Jasper is really into standing! He pulls himself up easily onto the coffee table by himself and will walk along it if so motivated (for instance if there's a phone in reach). He has also started playing "catch" with Papa by rolling a ball back and forth. He doesn't really have any aim but he seems to get what he's doing.

That's about it from the sickos. Happy Thanksgiving to all. We are thankful for so many things- wonderful friends, loving family, our dear Jasper, our furry Bear, and of course, antibiotics.

This was the first morning he was figuring this out last week- he's much more efficient at getting up now... Go Jasper GO!

We tried to capture the funny face he makes when eating his pears. Not quite successful but maybe you get the idea...

Well? Who doesn't think an alligator barfing up links is funny?

Looking like a Norwegian Fisherman

Grandma Sandy knitted this hat and sweater for Jasper last Christmas (they were the first hat or sweater that she had ever knit!). Leave it to her grandbaby for inspiration. They are so cute and they fit him perfectly this winter! Thank you Grandma!

This week, Jasper is into bouncing, faking that he doesn't like his food so that we laugh at him, and playing the "uh-oh" game of dropping things so we'll pick them up. He also has a nasty cold and pinkeye. Daycare is great for many reasons, but the giant petri dish factor is not so good.

I couldn't decide which picture was the cutest so I'm posting all three of these. I'll take votes if anyone has an opinion...
Cute #1


Cute #2


Cute #3


Grandma with her inspiration


Papa and Jasper reading

Standing!

Little Climber

Jasper is so mobile these days. He learned how to climb up the stairs last Tuesday and has spent many an hour at this task this week. He brings one of his balls (his favorite toy) with him and puts the ball up on the stair then climbs after it, then puts it on the next stair and climbs after it etc. Very funny. He is also into bouncing a lot (see video) and doing his best to get into trouble (see video). He loves his swimming lessons and is the best little kicker in the class. It snowed here this weekend but we still played outside.

Here is Mr Rosy Cheeks after a hike in Lester today.


Bear, Blimey and Oso in Lester (orange vests because it's hunting season!)


Jasper loves to bang things together to make lots of noise.



Hiking in the snow!



Here are a couple videos of our mover and shaker.

Thank You Mr. President (Elect)

It was an amazing experience- to walk to our polling place on Tuesday, on a beautiful fall day. Jasper was in his backpack, happily jabbering at Bear and just happy to be outside. He was totally unaware of history in the making. I am honored and proud to know that the first presidential election of his lifetime brought into office a man of integrity, intellect, and plans for a better way. I am glad that Jasper will grow up and think it's just normal that the President is an African-American. I am hopeful that the country he knows will be better than it has been recently- a better neighbor, a better caregiver, a better educator, a better listener, and a better steward. The United States that elects Barack Obama is a place I want our son to grow up. Thank you Mr. President.

Leaves and more leaves

Our beautiful trees are finally shedding their coats- so we spent the weekend raking leaves! It was a beautiful time to be outside though so it was nice. Jasper enjoyed the view from a variety of different baby carrying devices...

The Raking Crew Take 1


The Raking Crew Take 2


Jasper and Papa on Halloween. We took our little lion to a family thing at the co-op. He was in awe at all the costumes and lights.


What does dinner out with 6 adults and 6 children under the age of two look like? Let's just say we decided the college could hire us out as birth control... (: