Sometimes Baby Jackson look like this (post bath). And sometimes he looks like this:
Guess which I prefer!
You Take the Good, You Take the Bad
Next Post: “Should I Give My Friend’s Parents a Gift?”
Previous Post: Reader of the Week: Meet TheOtherMe
![\"\"](\"https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=r/y/j1a0Sn00OI\")
TheOtherMe November 15, 2011, 2:33 pm
He’s so perfect, both ways
Eljay November 15, 2011, 2:38 pm
Oh my goodness, I could smooch that face all day!
SGMcG November 15, 2011, 2:49 pm
I officially have baby envy. He’s absolutely adorable. That second picture – you can TOTALLY see he’s Drew’s son.
MissDre November 15, 2011, 3:16 pm
MAJOR BABY ENVY! Somebody please tell my boyfriend to hurry up!
LSS86 November 15, 2011, 4:34 pm
Seconded.
bethany November 15, 2011, 2:50 pm
So cute! (and good swaddle!)
Addie Pray November 15, 2011, 3:09 pm
Ok, I’m ready for babies now.
FireStar November 15, 2011, 3:16 pm
Me too! This site is dangerous.
PFG-SCR November 15, 2011, 3:25 pm
I have three “slightly older” than babies if you’d like one now! 😉
Addie Pray November 15, 2011, 3:33 pm
I’ll take one!
Tax Geek November 15, 2011, 3:53 pm
Yeah, but they turn into the terrible twos, and then later know-it-all 7-year-olds…
PFG-SCR November 15, 2011, 4:12 pm
I said “slightly older” than babies…my youngest is 8 years old!! 🙂
Tax Geek November 15, 2011, 4:33 pm
So just past the know-it-all stage…
PFG-SCR November 15, 2011, 4:59 pm
Ha!! Their belief that they know-it-all gets worse every year…middle school has been quite “enlightening” as my oldest likes to constantly remind me how little (he thinks) I know.
Take him, Addie Pray!!! Take him!!!!!
MissDre November 15, 2011, 5:05 pm
I didn’t grow out of that til I was 21… sorry to say…
Budj November 15, 2011, 5:07 pm
My parents probably don’t think I will ever grow out of that phase.
lets_be_honest November 15, 2011, 5:17 pm
Stop scaring us! Mine’s 8 and knows EVERYTHING. I am only an idiot who thinks teeth brushing is important.
AKchic November 15, 2011, 6:49 pm
lets_be_honest – I solved the teeth brushing thing real easy. I got my wisdom teeth pulled. I hadn’t seen a dentist until I was 26 and man were my teeth a wreck. I got my teeth pulled at 27 and the amount of work to be done on my mouth is extensive and on-going. I kept my wisdom teeth and an extra broken tooth that they had to pull, and it scared my boys into brushing ALL the time. If they forget, I bring the nasty teeth out!
L November 15, 2011, 9:27 pm
Totally invading this conversation, but I love middle school kids!!! They’re so goofy and awkward and quirky and oddly adorable in their own way. Of course I say this as a teacher and not a parent, so this may change down the road…
Addie Pray November 15, 2011, 10:10 pm
Aw you’re a teacher? That’s my dream job, btw! Tell us more. Tell us how much you love it and could not think of anything else to do! I would love to teach middle school math. That’s my dream. Love kids that age.
Painted_lady November 15, 2011, 10:22 pm
Oh dear. That’s my every single day, 20 little geniuses at a time. Don’t envy you though, I get to tell mine to go away at the end of the day. I love them, though. But the best part of my day today was calling a parent to tell him his son had said, “Yo mama takes steroids in her titties.” That’s a direct quote. Watching this kid try to melt into the floor was hysterical.
Addie Pray November 15, 2011, 8:53 pm
8 year olds are my favorites! I have twin 8 year olds nephews. I’m enjoying them so much at this age because: (a) I can’t break them; (b) they’ll play with me all the live-long day; (c) they can dress, bathe, and wipe themselves; (d) they like Home Alone and other movies I still secretly enjoy; (e) they want Mac & Cheese and chicken fingers (and other food like that that I secretly enjoy); (f) they don’t judge me for not showering all weekend when i visit them; and … I could go on, but, in short, yes, PFG-SCR, I’ll take your 8 year old.
L November 15, 2011, 9:30 pm
I’m with you, Addie Pray. I love kids that are old enough to do things themselves (bathing, dressing, all the other things you mentioned), but they still love kid things!! 🙂
Addie Pray November 15, 2011, 10:12 pm
Aw you’re a teacher? That’s my dream job, btw! Tell us more. Tell us how much you love it and could not think of anything else to do! I would love to teach middle school math. That’s my dream. Love kids that age.
Painted_lady November 15, 2011, 10:29 pm
Oh Addie_Pray if that’s what you’re thinking of doing, GO FOR IT!!! It’s some of the most fun I’ve ever had, as long as you have an intact sense of humor. Yes, they’re snarky and mean to each other, but they’re so funny and goofy and occasionally heartbreakingly sweet.
I had one of those “totally worth it” moments last Friday when one of my boys I’d been fighting all semester decided just for the hell of it that he was going to give it a shot and try participating for once – he surprised himself how smart and talented he is, and he came to me after class and gave me a hug and told me he was so glad he did it because he had so much fun. He walked out and I sat down and cried – he’s like a completely different kid this week.
L November 16, 2011, 12:24 am
I’m actually a substitute teacher — I’m a recent grad with an education degree who hasn’t found her first full time teaching job yet. So I get to teach pretty much everything, K-12 (I draw the line at full time K-2 teachers, middle and high school gym, and industrial tech…nooo way could I teach any of those classes effectively!!). Every day is different and typically have NO IDEA what I’m getting into.
One thing I’ve learned is that I do love (most) every aspect of teaching. I love that every day is different and that in many ways the kids are teaching me things daily. I’ve learned that in full time teaching, you will get out of it what you put into it. If you are passionate about your work and you work hard and you do what you need to do for the kids, you will find absolute joy in teaching. Kids will be obnoxious at times, and they will test you, but if you genuinely care about them and genuinely want them to succeed, many if not all of the students will meet or exceed your expectations of them. They will be goofy and they will do stupid things that crack you up… I agree with Painted_lady — as long as you keep your sense of humor, you will have an absolute ball!
Also, what’s awesome is kids never cease to amaze me…yesterday I was in a high school physics classroom and they were designing Rube Goldberg machines (machines that use a bunch of different steps to do a simple task — example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ve4M4UsJQo ). In talking to one group of girls, they showed me this crazy complex step-by-step process with the end result being to dunk an Oreo cookie in a glass of milk! Seriously, pure genius. 🙂 It was so cool!
If teaching is your dream job, Addie Pray, DO IT. There’s ALWAYS a need for quality, passionate teachers who will have an undying love for their students.
AKchic November 16, 2011, 11:45 am
7-9 year olds are fun.
Once they hit the 11 year old pre-teen stuff – ugh. Attitude city. Although, the innocence is still there.
My poor 11 year old is really getting fun, and funny. He started playing the violin this year (6th grade). I’ve played the violin since 6th grade, and own two myself (one standard brown, one purple). He came running into my room last week while I was finishing up getting into my pajamas and getting the youngest (Eryx, 2.5 years old) calmed down so he wouldn’t pester the others so THEY could get ready for bed. He says in a panicky voice:
“Mom, I need to borrow your ‘g’ string for school tomorrow!”
Me, in a very confused voice: “What?!”
Him: “You have a spare ‘g’ string in your purple violin case, mine broke, can I borrow it for school tomorrow?”
It dawns on me – he doesn’t want underwear, he wants a ‘g’ string for his violin. I, of course, start laughing. Both in relief and at his innocense.
This is a common joke among string players. Especially since many of us have “Dominant” strings.
I will be framing his “Dominant ‘g’ string” as commemoration of his “first broken ‘g’ string”. A boy should never forget his first. *snicker* He now also knows to specify “for my violin” when discussing ‘g’ strings vs. g-strings!
callmehobo November 15, 2011, 3:10 pm
D’aaaaaaaaaawwwww.
rangerchic November 15, 2011, 3:15 pm
Awwwee…..so cute!
AKchic November 15, 2011, 3:15 pm
*giggle*
I always loved it when they’d pass out DURING the bath. Just wait until he “discovers” himself during bathtime. That first time he grabs his little *cough* and won’t let go and turns red/purple in pain and then YOU turn red in embarassment because you didn’t realize what he was doing.
Tudor Princess November 15, 2011, 3:22 pm
My son, for some strange reason, used to try to push it back inside. He would push, then get confused when it popped back out. I try not to look embarrassed, or tell him to stop, but it just looks so weird! Boys. They do the strangest things. 🙂
AKchic November 15, 2011, 4:15 pm
They all do that. It’s common, so don’t worry. They can’t “break” it by doing it, either. Bruise it, yes, but it does take a lot of poking, prodding and general abuse before it bruises.
My 3rd son used to call his testicles his “grapes”. That caused a little bit of confusion one day, I tell you what!
Robin November 15, 2011, 4:43 pm
We always stuck a baby washcloth over that area so that we wouldn’t get wet ourselves when bathing the boys. For some reason, the bathtub always made them have to “go”.
But I love both pictures!!!!
PFG-SCR November 15, 2011, 3:26 pm
Both pictures are precious, Wendy!
Either you or Drew are very good swaddlers!!!
GatorGirl November 15, 2011, 3:42 pm
Wendy he is beautiful both ways! You’re making a whole lot of us want to have our own screaming little bundles of joy!
Budj November 15, 2011, 3:54 pm
Very cute baby.
Fortunately I am immune to procreation instinct stimuli.
TheOtherMe November 15, 2011, 5:23 pm
LOL! My “baby” window is quite over by now.
L November 15, 2011, 9:37 pm
Hahahaaa. I’m definitely not feeling baby fever either…I love cute babies when they are sleeping, but then I can give them back when they wake up cranky. 🙂 Jackson sure is a cutie, but right now I’m definitely not ready for one of my own. Maybe it has to do with the fact that every day I work with students anywhere between ages 5-18…and I love coming home to the peace and quiet.
Oddly enough, every time my boyfriend sees a cute baby or child, he will point it out to me. I think he’s got more baby fever than I do right now — is that weird??
Painted_lady November 15, 2011, 10:35 pm
Not at all. Painted_dude is chomping at the bit to procreate. I’ve already asked my principal if I can use him as a classroom volunteer the week before Christmas when they all go coo-coo. She’s awesome so she said yes – partly because she knows the longer I go without getting knocked up, the longer she gets to keep me. We both figure two days of dealing with ADD tweens will hold him off at least another couple of years.
L November 15, 2011, 11:36 pm
Haha! GREAT idea, Painted_lady!! They’re INSANE before Christmas. I’m in education, as I believe you already know, and my boyfriend is also in education…in the same content area, no less. The difference is I’ve been in the classroom pretty much daily since September of last year and he’s still finishing up his degree and will be student teaching next semester. It doesn’t help my lack of baby fever that I have almost zero patience for elementary kids. Zero. I can’t stand the neediness. I’ll take the attitude and “why do we have to do this??” crap from middle and high schoolers ANY DAY over “I hurt my finger!! I need to go to the nuuuurse!!” Don’t get me wrong, I love little kids — but in small quantities. Like, one at a time instead of 25…
melikeycheesecake November 15, 2011, 4:25 pm
PRECIOUS!!!!!!!!!!
Calliopedork November 15, 2011, 4:28 pm
I like the screaming picture, maybe it is because I dont have any but a screaming baby makes me giggle. I think it is amazing that such a tiny person has so many feelings.
AKchic November 15, 2011, 4:44 pm
Whenever I see those kinds of pictures and KNOW it’s from a bathtime, all I can think of is “Drama Queen!”. My youngest is a drama queen (even if he’s a boy). If he doesn’t want a bath, he howls and screams and pretty much acts like he’s being beaten and drowned. And that’s before we get so much as a sock off of him before the actual bath!
phoenix28 November 15, 2011, 4:48 pm
Either way he is beyond adorable!!! Congrats wendy 😀
Nadine November 15, 2011, 5:32 pm
To cute! and nice swaddling! No wonder he is so calm…. at that point.
Carolynasaurus November 15, 2011, 6:33 pm
Is the title intentionally a quote from the “Fact of Life” theme song? Because if it is, besides the picture of your cutie, it’s the highlight of my day. (And I mean that in a good way, not in a my-day-is-so-crappy-a-kind-of-“Facts of Life”-reference was the highlight)
Addie Pray November 15, 2011, 7:02 pm
Agreed! Ok, from memory, here I go:
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have the facts of life… the facts of life
There’s a time you got to go and show you’re growin’ and now you know about the facts of life… the facts of life!
When the world never seems … to be living up to your dreams… and suddenly you’re finding out the facts of life are all about you. Youuuuuuuuu.
[Or something like that — I loved it!]
TheOtherMe November 15, 2011, 8:04 pm
I’ve had that song in my head ALL DAY !
AKchic November 15, 2011, 8:24 pm
Thanks – now I’VE got the song stuck in my head. Now I’ve got to go put in some Hong Kong Phooey to combat it. Evil. Just evil. 😀
FireStar November 15, 2011, 8:44 pm
LIKE
Wendy November 15, 2011, 7:10 pm
Yes.
JK November 16, 2011, 7:01 am
I did rhythmic gymnastics when I was little, and the music for my ball routine was the Facts of Life theme, as soon as I saw the title I couldn´t stop singing it! Now my daughters are looking at me as if I´m crazy. 🙂
fast eddie November 15, 2011, 8:18 pm
I’ll be honest and say that an infant is smarter then me and doubt that I could handle one all day (and night) long.
Jan November 15, 2011, 9:35 pm
Bundled and sleepy! Too cute.
Painted_lady November 15, 2011, 10:38 pm
So, so, SO cute! Also, that screaming picture is one for the album that you whip out in about sixteen years when he starts bringing dates home.
Dennis Hong November 15, 2011, 11:12 pm
So what you’re saying is that you take the good, then you take the bath?
Jess November 16, 2011, 3:43 am
i love your pattern choices for the baby stuff!! soo cute. and gender neutral. 🙂 🙂
JK November 16, 2011, 6:59 am
He´s so cute!!! My eldest hated baths at first (probably had something to do with me being useless with the temperature). My baby luckily loves them!
Does he like being swaddled? Here (Argentina) it´s not used, I find it kind of strange seeing a baby all bundled up like that, not to mention my claustrophobia kicking in!
Wendy November 16, 2011, 12:41 pm
Between you and me, he Jack’s not so crazy about being swaddled. I’ve been swaddling him less and less and am now getting Drew to come around and admit that Jackson’s happier when he isn’t feeling claustrophobic.
JK November 16, 2011, 12:46 pm
I know my girls both loved flailing about all over the place!
These cultural differences are so weird. Glad Drew´s coming around. 🙂