17 months

Jaybird is crazy silly. And crazy for chex mix and all snack foods. And flags. And still crazy for basketball. We went to my cousin Charlie's basketball game (he's a freshman at Hart) and it was pure torture for J. He could not believe that we weren't letting him on the basketball court with the big kids. He'd wiggle and squirm and go all limp in our arms to get down and run out there. I tried taking him outside to get his mind on something else. I walked almost clear over to the principal's office, let him down, and he RAN. He ran as fast as his little legs could go all the way back to the gym, his arm making a "shoot the ball" motion the whole way (he's actually got great form :). He ran through the doors and onto the gym floor and then freaked when I grabbed him right before he crossed the court boundary line. He was ticked. Really ticked. I love his enthusiasm for the game.

Lately, when J is tired and wants to fall asleep, he snuggles up close to Scott or me and wraps his arms around our necks. It's probably the sweetest thing ever. Then he'll rub my face or arm so gently and drift off to sleep. Heaven. 

Something not so heavenly: he's into throwing balls at our faces. Or any item that could made into a "ball." Scott got a plastic cup in the nose last night. This morning, J threw an actual ball at the camera in my hands and then the camera hit my face. Not funny. It hurts.

He's just so darn active. Going going going all the time. I can see "mischievous" written on his face  most of the day as he plans ways to get into the knife drawer or climb onto the bathroom sink. But he's such a love it's hard to stay mad. He's got a little dimple on his right cheek that melts my heart when he smiles. I love his two front teeth that I can only see if I push his top lip up. So cute and tiny. He's got a cowlick at the back of his head that's crazy right after a bath. And his feet are uber ticklish.

Words: That's cool! That's good! Kitty! Ball! Poppa! Cold! Bink! Phew! (as in stinky:) Dad! Momma! and I'm sure there are others. And actually he doesn't say "momma" very often. I think because I'm never far from his side that he has no need to haha. And though I'm with him almost 24-7, he is extremely social. Truly a little social butterfly. He'll climb onto perfect strangers' laps and just talk talk talk. People are always commenting on how outgoing he is (and tall of course.) 

And so I think I'm in for a wild ride with my jibber-jabber Jake and his fancy-free friendliness.