Hey, I'm walkin' here!

Ok, I know I was supposed to do this earlier, but I got here 5 1/2 weeks early, so I think I've put in enough overtime, don't you?

Today I started walking. That simple. Mommy and I were playing in the library and she was making me stand by myself and balance. I don't generally like to do that, preferring to sit on my butt (I get that from Daddy) or walk behind some of the bigger toys with wheels. Anyway, today Mommy thought it'd be fun to torture me by making me balance without holding on to anything, so later this afternoon I started walking. I only took 3-4 steps at a time, but I did it a few times so no one would think it was an accident.

When Daddy came home Mommy tried to show off, but I was too tired. Mommy worked me hard all day, so I just didn't want to do anything but play with the phone. When Mommy went to school, Daddy and I went up to the playroom. After fighting with this really big rubber duck, I decided to go stand next to Daddy. Then I figured I might as well let him see me walking, too. I got up to seven steps, but I get excited and keep falling. I'll get better, don't worry. I have to, because those dogs and that silly cat keep running away from me, and we can't have that.

I'm also bigger now, obviously. I'm almost 14 months old, weigh about 23 1/2 pounds, and am more than 30 inches tall. In Arizona, that means no more riding backwards! I have a new car seat and I can watch where Mommy is going now instead of where she's been. I'm also eating more solid foods, and while I still like pears, I LOVE pretzels! You can give me a few pretzels and go take a nap if you want; I'll be fine for half an hour.

I still like watching Jeopardy! Maybe it'll stick and I'll grow up smart like Mommy. I love all the books in the house, but for some reason Mommy and Daddy won't let me play with most of the ones in the library. Hey, if they didn't want me to read them, why'd they put them on the bottom shelf?

I'm still wearing my helmet, too, but maybe not for much longer. My head's almost completely round now, so maybe I can stop soon. Too bad, though, because now that I'm walking, I'll probably need it even more...

- Jordan

Hello again!

Yes, it's been a LONG time since I've written anything, so let me catch you up.

First, Daddy & I both got very sick in December. Mommy got a little sick, but Daddy & I took weeks to get over it. We're all better now, though.

Next, in case you don't remember when all this started, I'm one years old! Mommy & daddy gave me a party, and I love cake! You can see me eating cake and opening presents in the photo albums for 12-15 months.

I have six teeth now, too. I'm over 20 pounds, which means that I finally weigh more than Jasmine, the cat. Maggie the dog's still bigger, though, and she's still faster than me, too, but I chase her every chance I get.

I'm still not walking much on my own, but I pull myself up on things and "cruise" around on furniture, animals, mommy & daddy, whatever. I wave hello and goodbye, and when I wake up in the middle of the night I call for my daddy to come get me out of my crib. I say "hi" a lot, whenever anybody says it to me. I can tell the doggies that they're "bad" and can say "pat pat pat," which is how mommy thinks I'm supposed to act around the doggies. I prefer pulling their ears, collars, or hair. Lucky for them, I'm not very stealthy, cuz I usually scream just before I sneak up on them.

I still love pears, but I'm eating more stuff like real food now. Mommy cuts up grapes and other stuff for me, and I love cheese.

I also love Jeopardy. We watch it when daddy gets home, and if anyone says "jeopardy" around me, I'll look around to room to find a television. I know what that word means! I also like to clap when I hear people do it on TV.

I started climbing stairs until mommy caught me halfway up to the second floor, so now there are these really big gates blocking the way. I still play with them, though, and push blocks and magnets through the bars, then get mommy to get them back for me.

I'm wearing my helmet more often now. I'm supposed to wear it 23 hours a day, but I don't really like it. It's nice to have when daddy takes me biking behind him or mommy puts me in the jogging stroller. I think it makes me look like Speed Racer. Mommy says it'll make my head nice and round, but it's just hot and annoying. At least I can sleep in it.

Anyway, not much else is happening around here. I'm just getting bigger and bigger, and eating more and more. I love talking on the phone, and I love playing games with other kids. Come visit me and we can play together!

You can click on the links to see my photo albums (daddy's a bit obsessive), and to read my earlier messages.

- Jordan