Number one photo

Glow, Baby, Glow, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Just for fun I went through Flickr to see which photos had been clicked on the most in this blog. Far and away, the glowing tai chi baby picture shown here was the winner with 24 viewings. What a long way Jack has come from wearing this contraption! And what heady and confusing and wonderful days those first few days at home were. I hope I never forget that feeling of total happiness and exhiliration mixed with terror and gnawing self-doubt as long as I live. (If you're wondering, the next-closest photos are full-face closeups of Jack, including the gummy-smiley-baby one of a few days ago, checking in at 15 viewings.)

Feeling Goofy

goofyjack, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Had a big family night out tonight. Walked over to the Disney Studio Shop and Soda Fountain, a new store opened right next to the El Capitan Theatre in the place of the old Disney Store. More on this on my blog. Goofy was there entertaining the guests and we got a picture of him horsing around with Jack.

First Father's Day

dadjack, originally uploaded by laughograms.

This past Sunday, of course, was Father's Day. My first! And it was a beautiful, sunny day without a cloud in the sky; temperatures in the mid-60's the whole time. Genevieve had the great idea that we should head to Disneyland as our Annual Passports expire July 4gth and we can swing a renewal until the fall at the earliest. So off we went. First on the list was catching the train to Toontown, where we caight a great photo op with Mickey. Jack's adventures included rides on Peter Pan's Flight, still one of the all-time-great attractions, the Huanted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Jungle Cruise. Dad even slipped off to ride Inidana Jones (the best ride ever) and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Just an awesome, awesome way to spend Father's Day and Jack was in good spirits pretty much throughout, though he wa sgetting a little overstimulated late in the day. Funny to think that Jack is only two months old and has already been to Disneyland three times, more than many people will be in their lives!

mrhollywood, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Like any superstar, Jack treasures his privacy in highly visible social settings like Disneyland. So it was on with the shades as well as an expression that says, "don't screw with me, Buster."

dadjackjungle, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Jack and I were both impressed with the newly refurbished Jungle Cruise. Jack in particular liked the newest addition -- the attack on your boat by hungry piranhas!

maleficient, originally uploaded by laughograms.

This marvelous mosaic of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty graces the bateway from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland.

matterhornfar, originally uploaded by laughograms.

It's nice to see they have "climbers" out on the Matterhorn as in the old days (look up near the top). The sharp-eyed might spy in this shot a liederhosen-clad Mickey Mouse on the left of the mountain. He pops up there once in a while thoughout the day. There is an old, disused half-basketball court near the summit. Back in the day the climbers used to rest in there, and take a break by shooting hoops.

mickeymatterhorn, originally uploaded by laughograms.

waltmosaic, originally uploaded by laughograms.

On the way out early in the evening we stopped in the Opera House to eyeball the display of commemorative memorabilia on display there. Greeting you on entry, in place of the old photo of Walt and his brother Roy, is this photmosaic of Walt and Mickey with Walt's famous quote above.

mosaicxcu, originally uploaded by laughograms.

A closer look at Walt's brow reveals all the tiny pictures which make up the mosaic. In the case of this mosaic all the photos are either from Walt's personal life or very early photographs and concept art from the first days of Disneyland. Pretty clever idea.

dlmodel, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Inside the Opera House they have a marvelous collection of artifacts from the first days of the park, including scale models of attractions never built and this scale layout of Disneyland exactly as it was on July 17, 1955. They also have a film featuring Donald Duck and a very strange-looking Steve Martin (sporting what appears to be bizarre eye cosmetic surgery) realting the history of the parks in a strangely unfunny way. There is some great footage in there though, so if you have the time, it's worth checking out, if you can handle the not-funny "comedy" bits.

All in all a beautiful, wonderful first father's Day.

Ready for your close-up

bigeyes, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Jack and I have finally kind of settled into a daily routine around here. He has his early feeding about two hours after G has left for work; we both kind of nap until then. I watch TV, and he takes his sweet time with his bottle. Usually he will be sleepy after this, so I make myself breakfast and try to tidy up as much as I can before he wakes up in a couple of more hours for his next feeding, before which I'll walk the dog with him, change the diaper etc.

If Jack doesn't snooze after that I just put him in his little stroller and wheel him from place to palce with me -- he seems fine as long as he can see things and look at people and stuff. He'll nod off at different times and for different periods each day, and depending on whether or not he is relatively placid, which was mostly true this week, or grouchy, which is terrible when it happens, I might actually get a couple of hours eat my lunch and to do some work -- like today, I managed to catch up on cleaning off my desk, installing some software upgrades, getting some important financial stuff done for school etc.

Then Jack gets a couple of afternoon feedings/diapers and he is so bushy-tailed and bright-eyed by then he really needs to be played with for a while, so much of the afternoon we'll play a little bit if he's in a good mood.

These pictures I took trying to get a solid photo of his cute, adorable, gummy smile. I finally suceeded but my stupid phone-cam took it a really low resolution (as you can see a few entries down), but these snaps are still cute for all you Jack fans jonesing for new material.

Fun and games with Dad

smiley2, originally uploaded by laughograms.

smiley1, originally uploaded by laughograms.

It seems odd and perhaps I am imagining this behavior in an 8-week old but during the day Jack seems to be playing a little game with me. I'll offer him his Binky and he'll act like he wants it as I get it into his mouth but he'll never clamp down on it. As I draw it away he starts getting this coy little grin, like, "I got you, Daddy." I'll do it again and again and again with the same result and usually he'll eventually get bored but he smiles bigger and bigger and bigger each time and looks pleased with himself. Now, he most likely just enjoys the sensation of the binky bouncing around, but it feels rather like those games your dog will play with you -- pretending he can't see you out of the corner of his eye as you try to catch him, and then bolting away with an air of superiority. Anyway it's delightful.

sucker, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Like Mama, like son

likemama2, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Forgot to mention here, last weeked Jack went to his first party and was very well-behaved -- a classmate threw a little BBQ and after a long day of frutiless apartment-hunting we stopped by and even had (gasp) a couple of beers. Jack tried to muscle in on mommy's Anchor Steam supply, but when he gets older he realize what folly that is.

Good days

So lately, Jack has been having some good days! The last night and the night before, he slept almost the whole night through, very ittle in the way of the gas pains he was going through. Yesterday and today he has mostly been pretty jolly, only a little cranky when his bottle-warming takes longer than expected. He has been sleeping a little in the morning and the afternoon, generally allowing me enough time in the first place to have breakfast and a shower; and in the latter case to take him and the dog out for a quick walk and tidy up the house. Still not managing to get anything else done, but once things get a little more routine -- sometime after we move -- I think I'll be able to have a relatively smooth summer and be able to address some of my own issues. Until then I'm just enjoying my smily little boy.

A Picture Share!

A Picture Share!, originally uploaded by laughograms.

ZZZZZZZZ

asleepagain, originally uploaded by laughograms.

All the excitement sure took it out of Jack and his Mommy!

Birthday Boy

birthday, originally uploaded by laughograms.

On the 3d, the first full day Mom and Dad were here, we celebrated Dad's birthday with a little cake. I was gone much of the day for school duties but the late night cake was excellent.

The two J. Robert Sheehans

dadjacklaughing, originally uploaded by laughograms.

dadpointing, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Dad tried giving Jack conducting lessons -- Jack gave it his best shot -- and it was really a happy feeling to see J. Robert Sheehan holding J. Robert Sheehan and both of them clearly enjoying it. As far as I know these are the first pictures anyone has ever taken of one J. Robert Sheehan holding another.

. . . and Nanny

momjack1, originally uploaded by laughograms.

momjack2, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Jack enjoyed all the attention from his Nanny and Pop and the feeling was mutual. It was great to have all this time to share with Mom and Dad after a long spell of not seeing them, due to jobs, moving, school, etc. and especially with the new pleasures of jack in the mix. We had a great time and it was hard to prise Jack out of Mom's hands!

seaside, originally uploaded by laughograms.

While they were here we took Mom and Dad to Santa Monica. We walked the 3d Street Promenade and along Ocean Blvd., then finished our day with a nice supper at Enterprise Fish Co.

momdaddisney, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Borught Mom and Dad down to Disneyland and had a great time, though short. Dad and Mom got a big thrill out of Soarin' Over California, a kind of hang-glider simulator. We were very impressed at th efficiency of the Disney cast member in helping my Dad into his ride vehicle out of his chair. Less impressive was the handicapped access for Haunted Mansion in Disneyland, bevause of the moving walkway, but the Tiki Room was splendid. Dad and Mom especially got a huge kick out of the massive fireworks display which is the best I have ever seen, as I've mentioned. Nice to have Mom and Dad watch Jack so Genevieve and I could get on Tower of Terror, too. All in all, just a fun, fun day.

Shar-Pei

chubchub, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Last night Jack got a pre-bedtime bath. The idea was to relax him and help him sleep. But as you can see by this photo of a very chubby little sleeping baby, that was no problem for Jack. This morning at 5:30 or so when G was leaving for work he was all smiles, though, and I got a good five minutes of beaming out of him this afternoon, just stroking his little head and talking to him.

guarddog, originally uploaded by laughograms.

Just this morning I emerged frm the shower -- I'd left Jack in his little swing with some music playing so I could bathe -- to find Boris curled up at his feet, guarding him. Boris seems to do this a lot. Many times if I am going to bed late I will find Boris curled up not on his little bed but at the foot of Jack's bassinet. Very very cute.