Christmas 2011

Howdy folks!

Wow, did you guys know about this thing called "Christmas"? Apparently they have it every year. You give each other presents and you get to see your family! It's a really awesome time! I don't know what is wrong with me, but I totally forgot about last year's Christmas. But that's okay! Now, in addition to all of the gift giving, seeing family, and tons and tons of cookies, there's this guy... His name is "Santa Clause." Three words for you: Scariest. Man. Ever. Just look at my face below.

Dude, totally scary. But then... I found out that... HE GIVES PRESENTS. He is so not the scariest man ever. In fact, he's the MOST AWESOMEST MAN EVER.

Oh man, every year, EVERY year, he just gives you presents. That's it! I mean, you have to be a good boy or some stuff like that, but I don't think Santa could ever refuse a cute little guy like me. I mean, seriously, have you seen my blue blue eyes?

So yeah, Christmas was Super Sweet and I got a lot of really cool presents, like a rocking chair from my Grandma Nancy and Papa; and I also got this play tent from Papi and Mimi (who's name is really Kathy, which I like to say when Papi says it... I don't quite get why she has two names. Isn't one good enough? It's fun to say both, though). But the biggest Christmas gift that I received is a brand new house from my Mommy and Daddy! They even bought a fence to go along with the house. Mommy and Daddy are so nice and thoughtful. They really didn't have to give me a whole new house... even though I do deserve it! And it's just for being cute.

Mommy and daddy are still in the process of unpacking, and they still need to get all of the stuff out of their old house, even though it's almost done. Speaking of which, if you know of anyone who would like to buy a cute ranch house with new hardwood floors, nice neighbors, please contact Mommy or Daddy!

And finally, I am Progressing like crazy. I'm only 15 months now, but I'm just rocking it with the Progressing. To wit: I can say so many different words now, it's ridiculous. It's also hard to keep track of all the words that I know for Mommy and Daddy. Just this past weekend, Papi taught me to say "turtle." At my new daycare I learned the names of almost all of my friends there, except ironically Jacob, but I think that'll be easy to learn. My imagination and cognitive skills are just so awesome now. I was pretending to be a chef the other day because I love food! When people ask me where somebody is and I don't know, I hold my hands out to show them my lack of knowledge. I am also walking really well (a little too well at times, Daddy says). Every day it's something new. In fact, I said something new yesterday, and Mommy and Daddy both could not remember what that word was. It was a Super Awesome word, I tell ya'.

Anyway, things are going great! Now if you excuse me, I have some new toys to play with, thanks to a formerly very scary man.

-WDJ

The Pocket Hercules: Walk this Way, Talk this Way (and We Bought a New House)

Howdy Folks!

It's been too long since my last journal entry. Lots of things have happened to the Jacob Clan since the last episode of the Days of Our Lives (like sands through an hourglass...). As you can tell, I had fun with all of my birthday toys, like the fire truck that Uncle Tophy and Aunt Alyssa gave me. I also had a lot of fun with Halloween costume, a duck! (Okay, just between you and me, it was really scratchy and not really my style. A duck? Yeah, it was cute, but I wish had something cooler... like a vampire or a werewolf... but not the ones from Twilight).

Ever since Mommy got her new job, she's been spending money like a Crazy Woman. She bought a new car, a Honda Pilot, which is Super Huge! It can hold up to four baby seats. Mom, I am expecting some siblings soon and pronto! Actually, wait. Strike that, just kidding. I like being the center of attention with everyone fawning over me. Note to Aunt Sary and Uncle Ben: Please give Bump back to the Stork when he/she comes. I'm sure h/she will be Super Cute and Lovable, but I really like all this attention!

But the biggest Purchase has been... (drum roll please) a neeeewww House!

Yes! Mommy and Daddy decided that they need a little bit more room. Actually, I was the one that really made the decision. Deborah Lane just doesn't have enough room for me and all my toys. This New Place has four bedrooms! Three of which can be used for my toys! It has a huge master bedroom, and I think that should be enough space for me to grow up in. I'm not too sure where Mommy and Daddy will sleep. It does have a finished basement, which I think will be perfect for a mommy and daddy. If the Stork ever does bring me a bro or sis, we may just have to move to another place (Daddy: "Heck no, boy. We're staying here for eternity." Me: "Father, you do not realize the space that I personally need.").

This house is only 2 years old, it has a bunch of really cool features because it was used as a model for this new development (a speaker system throughout the house (Daddy is REALLY excited about that), a sprinkler system, and a nice kitchen with Don't-Take-Me-For granite tops). We have a super nice backyard. We have about half an acre of relatively flat green space and some Lovely Woods that go back Really, Really Far. The only drawback is that we can hear the highway, but it's really far off in the distance, and it's not a big deal at all. But you know what IS a big deal? We got a great price on this house! We are all very excited about this place! You should come over and see.

For me personally, I've been reaching Milestones like it's my job. I've been becoming Super Brave and taking Unassisted Walking Steps. I've taken up to a half a dozen steps on my own, but I'm still a little Wobbly and Unsure of Myself. Mom says that if I wore shoes more, then that may help me out. But shoes and socks are icky! Shoes and Socks are Will Kryptonite. As soon as they are placed on my feet, I feel this Icky Sensation. And. I. Must. Take. Them. Off! I know everyone else in civilization wears Shoes and Socks, but you have to realize that I'm so Cute, I'm not of this World (it's Krypton, really).

I've also become a Talker. Mommy and Daddy may not understand all of my Kyrptonite Language yet. They call it Babble, but these humans are not yet sophisticated enough to comprehend all of my wise sayings. I have been able to get through to these earthly creatures, though. Here are some of the things that I love to say:

- Apple (I can correctly ID apples and point at them!)

- Ba Ba (for bottle, but on Krypton it's a Ba Ba... Silly Humans)

- Ball

- BA-lloon (this is the correct pronunciation of "balloon" on Krypton... Oh, and BA-lloons are anti-Kryptonite, because they are only the Greatest Creation Ever Known to Man (I really love BA-lloons.... When I went to visit Dad at his Work, I didn't even notice that he was there... because of the BA-lloons!)).

- I got it! (I get lots of things)

- Lola!

- Bella! (I say Lola more often than Bella, but on Krypton all dogs are referred to as "Lolas," thus Grandma's dog is a "Lola"... Silly Daddy, trying to correct me...).

- Room, room! (I say this when I see a car... I can pronounce the "K" sound, but I don't see it necessary to say the whole word for "car").

- Mom-meeeee (especially when I'm hungry and want something good for my tummy).

- I also make noises that Daddy says sound like The Predator.

I am also showing my Super Strength. Mommy and Daddy call me Pocket Hercules. These strange rays from the Sun are giving me an inordinate amount of strength... Or it may be from this magical earth food called GoGurt (this is my pronunciation of it). It contains this SuperNatural ingredient called Fourteen Grams of Protein. I can now push aside the Ottoman with ease. Mommy and Daddy like to use the Ottoman as a barrier to the Kitchen, but with My Super Strength, I can push it aside with just one arm now. They tell me no, but I look at them, pause for a second, give them my Mischievous Smile, and then I go for it! I can be a little stinker at times. But on Krypton... that's just Being Real, Yo.

Well Folks, I'm sorry it's been so long since the last journal. It's not easy balancing everything in life. You know, saving the world, taking naps, drinking Ba-Bas, looking cute, getting into trouble. It's a tough life, but someone has to live it.

I can't believe I'm turning 14 Months on Wednesday. Where does the time go?

I hope everyone can stop by and see our new place! I'm looking forward to the Holidays!

-WDJ

My First Birthday Party!

Man, am I lucky or what? Last week was my birthday, and not only did I get to have a party then, but I get two parties in two weeks! I think this may indicate that people out there like me. You really, really like me.

I like that!

On Saturday I had an awesome party at a Pumpkin Farm! It was a lot of fun! Lots of people came from all over the place just to celebrate my First Birthday! Mimi and Papi, Uncle Toph and Aunt Alyssa, Uncle Wes and Aunt Beka, Lynn and Ramona -- all of them came from Out of State to come see me! It was really nice of them! I also got to see my friend Jackson Hertlein! He's one of my friends from Daycare.

On the farm I got to go on a Hay Ride. But this Hay Ride was not any normal Hay Ride. Two horses were pulling us! These horses were huge! There was a ton of activities at this Farm, but unfortunately many of these activities were for Older Kids, like my Cousin Ron who really enjoyed it. But that's okay, because I got to have my most favorite present of all: Cupcakes!!!! I had a Birthday Cupcake last week, and this week the Birthday Cupcake tasted just as awesome as the other one! What is with these Cupcakes? They all have frosting and taste like Heaven. They are so amazing.

I also got a ton of new and awesome toys. I can't wait to bang the stuffing out of all these toys. Have I mentioned that my Grandma Nancy likes to say that I'm "All Boy"? Well, I prove this daily with my Throwing Everything that I Can and my Reckless Ways.

Speaking of being "All Boy," I went to the Doctor this week and I received my new measurements: 30.25 inches long and 27 lbs and 10 oz. That's 95th percentile in weight and 75th in height! (I need to work on the height more, to even out the weight) In addition to my growth, I am also progressing with my Standing. I can pull myself up with ease now, and I can stand all by myself for a Long Period of Time! Like, 5 or 6 seconds! I am really Progressing and mommy and daddy say that I should be Walking in no time at all!

Well, I just wanted to say Thank You to Everyone who attended my Birthday Party and for all my Presents! They were great and I will have fun playing with them!

-WDJ

My First Birthday and My First Skyline!

Hi Folks!!!!!!!

I just had my first birthday! Can you believe that? Neither can I! It was just so Super Awesome on so many different Realms (sorry, I just watched Thor). First off, I got to spend my entire day at Daycare in my PJs, and all my friends sang Happy Birthday to me. They also came up to me individually and told me Happy Birthday. I really loved all the attention! All the nice ladies there gave me such nice gifts: a few outfits, a Skyline gift card, and a Skyline shirt!

They are soooo nice!

After my day at Daycare, Daddy and Mommy picked me up to take me to Aunt Jo and Uncle Mike's house in this Realm called "Oxford, Ohio" (Thor actually was a decent movie, Daddy says, even though he fell asleep in parts). Daddy and Uncle Mike picked up the Skyline in "Oxford" and I got to have my very first Skyline. And I really, actually liked it! I took two bites of Daddy's 3-way, and then I liked it so much that I wanted to share it with the puggles.

But what I really, really, REALLY liked was the birthday cupcake that Aunt Jo got me! Oh man, was that stuff gooooood!!!! Oh yeah, I had it ALL. Over. My. Face! Oh yeah, it was good. My time at Aunt Jo's was also great because I got to hang out with my cousin Ron and Grandma Nancy. Ron showed me how to play with my new "Imaginarium" that Daddy and Mommy got for my Birthday. It's this big box that has cool stuff to do on each side, like magnets on one side, a puzzle on another, an abacus, and a xylophone that I can hit with WHACKING MALLETS, which were especially my favorite thing. I'm not necessarily a violent person, but I do like me some good WHACKING MALLETS. It's like the toys at doctor's offices, you know? It also has wires on top that loop around and you can slide stuff along it. But did I mention the WHACKING MALLETS? I whacked Daddy a couple times with it. One time in the head and another time close to a spot that I'm not allowed to mention (Mommy told me that if I would like to have a brother or sister, I need to watch where I whack with my WHACKING MALLETS).

Anyway, I had a pretty good First Birthday! The next day I got to see my good friend Jackson Hertlein celebrate his own first birthday part. I am sooooo much cooler because I was born one whole day before my friend Jackson, but that's okay. He's a Kool Kid anyway.

I'm really looking forward to next weekend, however, because Mommy and Daddy are taking me to a Farm to celebrate my birthday! I feel so cool and special because I'm celebrating my Birthday TWO WEEKENDS IN A ROW! How cool is that?

Well, I can't wait! But I guess I will have to. Darn it! I hope everyone has a good week!

-WDJ

The Cincinnati Zoo has Lots of Animals! And Other Adventures!

Two weekends ago I got to see tons of animals at the Cincinnati Zoo! This was my second trip to the zoo and I'm still amazed at all the different animals! Monkeys! Manatees! Elephants! And did I mention monkeys?!! (Monkeys are awesome, by the way)

It was kind of hot that day, but mommy made me wear a hat to help keep me cool, even though I generally dislike hats, as evidenced by my sourpuss face at the top.

I even got to go to a special section called the Petting Zoo. Mommy took me in so I could get real close and personal with all of these goats! They were pretty cool! Everyone kept feeding them food. I think they eat even more than I do at dinner! Mommy wondered if they rotate goats from day to day so that the goats don't get too fat. Hmmm... interesting thoughts, mommy. Interesting thoughts. I think you would make a great Zoo Person!

Anyway, this past weekend we went to visit Uncle Tophy and Aunt Alyssa to see Uncle Tophy's new apartment in Indianapolis. It's really nice! It's much, much bigger than Uncle Tophy's last place. Daddy drove a Uhaul to deliver a couch and a love seat to his new place. Once they brought them in, however, I thought something was missing... Uncle Tophy's yellow couch! It was in the trailor that Papi Bob brought from Peoria, and I had thought that Uncle Tophy got rid of it. Thank goodness he didn't! It smells like Augie Doggie! So much so that it makes the entire room smell like Augie Doggie! It's a wonderful smell!

On our way home to Cincinnati, we saw two lost dogs on the side of the highway. They made mommy and daddy really worried because they might get hurt. So they stopped on the side of the road and helped the doggies out. The big black lab was a very sweet natured girl! She was very thankful and jumped in the car right away. The other doggie was very scared and ran away back into the woods. Mommy called the Indiana State Police to alert them of a runaway doggie. Luckily, as we found out later, that doggie ran back to his owner.

The very sweet black lab, on the other hand, stayed the night with us! We took her to a veterinarian to make sure that she was okay, and she was! (She had a few ticks, but nothing bad) Luckily the doggie had a tag for her own veterinarian. Mommy called, left a message, and the veterinarian called back the next day to let us know who the doggie's owner was. His name was Earl and he was worried sick about losing his doggie. We took the doggie back to Earl and he was very grateful. It turns out that the other doggie -- the one who was scared and ran away -- was his, too, so it all worked out in the end!

What a week I've had! More adventures to come as I'm turning One Year Old VERY soon! Can you believe that?! It's exciting!

Make sure you get your birthday presents for me purchased soon, because I'm pretty darn cute and I deserve it. Just kidding, folks. I don't need any presents; I just need your presence. And maybe some cold hard cash. That never hurt anyone! I hope to see everyone soon!

-WDJ

My Trip to Indianapolis

I'm in great mood this weekend! I got to see my best girlfriend Ramona! I haven't seen her in over three months! For a baby like yours truly, that's like 3 lifetimes. But even though it seems like forever, the absence has only made my heart grown fonder, just like the great writer David Jacob said (I thought it was Shakespeare, but my daddy corrected me).

I also got to meet a really cool and happening kid named Louis, who is mommy's friends Lizzie and Tony's little boy! He's one of those kids that likes to sit around and chill, which is awesome! I mean, Louis has so much growing up and developing to do compared to Ramona and me. He's ONLY six months, and we are way more sophisticated and advanced at 10 months (and I'm the coolest since I'm the oldest at 10.75 months!).

So anyway, we had a lot of fun with our play date on Saturday. Louis had to go home early since he was sleepy and I guess his parents don't live with Ramona. Weird. Then on Sunday, Ramona and I got to go to the Indiana State Fair! We wanted to go by ourselves, but then Ramona's daddy Aaron said, "Not until you start contributing to your 401k without your parents' help." I told Mr. Aaron that I think I can start doing it by Tuesday, but then we would be back in Cincinnati so I reluctantly let Mr. Aaron and Ms. Lynn come along with mommy and daddy. Sheesh.

Anyway, we saw cows, elephants, lumberjacks, tractors, farmhouses, and a sculpture made of cheese! (No joke, it was a sculpture made of cheese, and it was everything I ever hoped a sculpture of cheese would be). Many of the farm stables smelled like what I do in my diaper. Dad said that we should cut the sculpture of cheese. He then started giggling uncontrollably. I think he was making a flatulence joke. Lame. Grow up, dad.

Overall I had a super fun weekend. I saw my best girlfriend in the world Ramona and I made a cool new friend in Louis. Great times!

-WDJ

My First Vay-Cay!

I got to spend my first vacation with my Mom's family in Marathon, Florida. This place is in the middle of the Keys, but for some reason they are just islands. Weird! We stayed at this huge house! It was like a mansion! We had three floors all to ourselves along with a Kick-Butt Pool!

I had tons of fun! I got to spend a lot of time doing this thing called Swimming. I've done it before, but not like on vacation. Every day we went to our pool and I got to show off my huge muscles! I had to start charging people who wanted to see my Gun Show! I loved it when Mommy would twirl me around in the water. I had my own little floating device so I could cruise around in the pool. Dad thought that the floaty was a little too girly, but I didn't care! I don't get the difference between "girl" and "boy" stuff. If it's fun, I like it!

I got to hang out with my Cool Cousin Skylee all throughout Vay-Cay (as my Mommy's family calls it). She gave me lots of Free Hugs and Kisses. We got to celebrate Aunt Sara and Aunt Alyssa's birthdays, too. Both of them are like, Super Ancient. Like in their Twenties or something Really Old.

During Vay-Cay, I learned a ton of new things. I guess I needed to get away from my stressful existence in Cincinnati to acquire all my new knowledge. The first and most exciting thing that I learned was crawling! Finally! I thought I would just roll around forever! I haven't crawled too far yet, but I can still crawl quite a few feet. You know, I need to take Baby Steps. Walk before you Run. Or in this case, Crawl before I can Crawwwwwllll. At one point, I was tossing a ball away from me and then crawling to go after it. That was pretty cool! Also, if you notice from the picture below, I twist my tongue around when I'm concentrating Really Hard, just like my Pop-o can!

Another thing that I learned was Pointing. I liked Pointing at Papi and other people. I also learned how to Scrunch My Face. Sometimes I Point at someone and then Scrunch my Face. I think it must be a stinky odor that I smell, even though no one else can possibly be any stinkier than what I can produce. I'm also saying stuff like "Tickle tickle tickle," "ma ma ma," but I still focus mostly only saying "da da da da," because, you know, Dad Rocks!

Another cool thing that I did was fly in a plane! I was very good on the plane, with very few Cranky Moments. But that was because I was tired/hungry, so nothing new. I loved flying because I saw lots of ladies on the plane! I love flirting with them and smiling at them. When they smile and wave back, I get really shy and hide my head. I guess that makes them like me more! I am becoming more of a Mommy's Boy on this trip, raising my hands up in the air whenever mom is in the vicinity. Even though I say "da da da da" more, I really am more of a Mommy's Boy. Sorry Dad! (you still rock, though).

I also got to spend a whole day with my Mimi and Papi while everyone else went to Key West. I had a great time with them! I even got to put a bucket on my head like a hat! I loved it! My Mimi and Papi are a lot of fun!

Overall I had a great vacation. I got to see a lot of spectacular sunsets like this one:

But I'm super tired today. I think I'm going to take about a 3-hour-and-27-minute nap now. Good night everyone!

-WDJ

Adventures in Chicagoland

Hi everybody! I'd like to tell you about my awesome adventure that I had last week! We drove what seemed like a bajillion hours to this place called Chicagoland. We stayed at this nifty place called a Condo for two days. It was very nice! We stayed on the Ninth Floor and had a great view of Chicagoland.

Mommy had to go to these things called Meetings for her job, so Dad and I were prepared to go both crazy AND nuts while Mommy was away. Well, I got so excited that I fell asleep by 9:00 a.m. on our first day.

That's okay! I woke up in time for some major fun Play Time on our Condo Floor. I love this new mode of transportation that I discovered called Rolling Around. Dad says that I'm ThisClose to crawling, but as soon as I'm about to crawl, I decide to do the Rolling Around. You know, that's how I roll. Mommy and Daddy are also getting quite impatient with this thing they call Teeth. Mr. Doctor told me that I was supposed to get this Teeth thing by Six Months. Welp, it's over Nine (9!) months now, and no Teeth to be seen. They're supposedly right below the surface, and Mommy can feel them, but the Teeth must be really shy and bashful, unlike yours truly. I also have a new thing that I say! I like to say, "Uh oh!" And shake my head "no" a lot. Mom says it's because of Dad. I'm just emulating what Mommy does when Daddy's around.

Anyhoo, once Mommy got back from the stinky Meeting, we all went to a Park close by. Mommy thought I would like to swing in the Swings. Pshyeah, right, whatever. I'm waaaay too cool for swings. That's for like, Six Month Olds.

On Friday, after another one of Mommy's stinky Meetings, we finally got to visit my Auntie Beka and Uncie Wes! They are definitely two Kool Kats. They're rad, man. Speaking of Kool Kats, I got to meet their cat Charlie! Apparently, Charlie is not a Puggle, but I still thought he was super sweet anyway. Charlie came within two feet of me to sniff me. I thought that was pretty cool of him, so I smiled and clapped. I was impressed by his affability.

Mommy, Daddy, Auntie Beka, and I all went to the Zoo on Friday. It was a Boat Load of Fun! It's too bad that Uncie Wes couldn't come because he had to do this thing called Work. Bleh! I hope I never have to do that! Anyway, we got to see lots of Animals, Animals, Animals! From places near and far! We saw Lions, Tigers, and Bears, but not Oh My (they seem to have left that one out). I enjoyed all the Animals that I saw. Each one seemed to be a Star (Dad says that if you don't get the reference... then your sanity will be preserved... it's this toy that I have...). I also got to ride a Lion with Auntie Beka! I wasn't scared at all! Do you see how brave I was!

On Saturday I got to go in the Pool, but I didn't like it too much since it was so Cold. That's okay! I got to Chillax in the shade by the pool with Mommy, Daddy, and Uncie Wes. Auntie Beka had to go to a Baby Shower, which I thought was weird because I take baths myself. To each his own, I guess.

So I had a fantastic time in Chicagoland! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend in Peorialand! You will get to see how big I've gotten! Even random people stop my parents to tell them how big I am. That's okay! That means there's just more of me to love!

Peace out, Homeys!

-WDJ