Cabinet hideaway

We have lots of photos and videos to sift through from Christmas in Palm Springs, and a task like that is much easier when you don't have a young child demanding your attention. But we hope to post little bits from the trip regularly over the next week or so, starting with today's cute video from the kitchen in our room at Casa Cody.

Season's greetings from Palm Springs!

Talkative

But a small example of Jasper's increasingly specific and thoughtful-sounding babytalk. (Examples of attempts at real words, of which there have been a few, forthcoming soon, we hope.)

Funglasses

Special sunglasses were handed out during a recent birthday party at Jasper's daycare. Results below.

Climbing stairs

Jasper encountered this great flight of stairs at a Christmas open house yesterday. Our favorite is the pose he strikes at the top of the stairs.

Snack tease

We were at Target, and Jasper saw Daddy picking out a treat we usually give him at home. He didn't seem to understand that he couldn't have it now.

Repurposing the cradle

Since Jasper grew out of his lovely wood cradle (courtesy of Grandpa and Didi) when he was a couple months old, we've found good uses for it -- most recently, as storage for his toys. In the past week, Jasper has found a new use for it -- and we've even taught him to stay in the seated position, which is much more stress-free for us.

Shadow play

Frustration on cue

We noticed recently that Jasper makes these cute little exhales through his nose when he's frustrated, kind of like a snorting bull -- and that he will do it on command, if we make the sound first and he can imitate us.

Outside the library

We are thankful for ... Jasper!

Happy (late) Thanksgiving, everyone!

Here's some video from Jasper's second Thanksgiving ... held in the same location as his first, in nearby Northridge, CA at the home of PJ and Elena Donnelly.

A game of cat and Jasper

They tore out an addition between our house and the landlord's house, opening up a little back patio where it will be great for Jasper to play (with supervision of course) once they finish the work. It's in good enough shape to do a little playing now -- especially when the friendly neighbor's cat is lurking ...

With my broom at my side ...

King Jasper

King Jasper sits on his throne, awaiting his morning meal.

King Jasper is righteous, King Jasper is just.

Breakfast out with Dad

Mirror, mirror, on two walls

A little fun in a Target dressing room ...

New bath photos

Just a couple cute new photos from Jasper's penultimate nightly routine.

Halloween stills

We got a request from Jasper's Aunt Melanie for more face shots. Fortunately, we can oblige!


When he couldn't keep his eyes open with the flash, we had to turn it off. Then, of course, blurriness becomes a factor:


There, that's better!

At the screen door, waiting for trick-or-treaters to arrive -- most of whom didn't arrive until after he went to bed:

Sort of imitating a monster? Or, just an accident?


Is Jasper possessed? Appropriate to have one that's a little spooky for Halloween:

Jasper's second Halloween

Bonus! He can still wear the same outfit from his first Halloween!














Of course, at the end of it all, it all comes down to the same thing ...



Happy Halloween!

Walking and exploring and climbing curbs

More/better walking

Hot off the presses ...

"That's one small step for a man ..."

Neil, Jasper ... they're both Armstrongs.

A day at the park, part 2

A day at the park

Jasper and family visited the park this past Sunday. Here's some video! Some more to come next post.

Sleep, in still life and moving pictures

"Baby steps"

We've been holding out on you -- Jasper has taken a few steps. But it's that age-old riddle ... "If it didn't happen on video, did it really happen?"

Here's something close to that ... for now.

Fun with a fish ball

Mummy noticed that Jasper has developed a very playful relationship with this ball, which has a fish design. Naturally, we had to record it.

Cute as a button

That's all I can think to say about this one.

Uncle Alan in town

We were fortunate to see Uncle Alan this past weekend, as he came through town on a business trip to San Diego. We think Jasper sees the same things in Alan that we do -- and that Alan sees the sames thing in Jasper that we do!

Pantomiming hunger

Maybe I should feed this kid ...

(Out)Standing!

This one speaks for itself ...

Big-boy bath

In the time since you've last seen Jasper in the bath, he's transitioned from a small tub, to a little plastic chair with a safety bar that allowed him to sit upright in the regular tub, to no assistance whatsoever in the regular tub. Naturally, free from restrictions, he insists on scaring his parents by standing up in the most slippery environment we can imagine.

However, that doesn't keep his father from assaulting him with letters. Trying to get a new Scrabble partner as soon as possible I guess ...

Blob-a-lob-a-lob-a-la

It can be very hard to capture Jasper's funny little quirks on film -- as soon as the camera comes out, he's much more interested in the camera than whatever cute little quirky thing he was doing. In fact, this was our fourth or fifth attempt to get this one, but we finally did.

He's taken to putting the back of his wrist in his mouth, waving, and making the funny little noise I've attempted to spell phonetically in the subject of this post. We respond to him in kind by doing the same, and he repeats. We're really communicating!

Enjoy ...

Turtle pool!

I'll just send this important email ...

It's probably no surprise that little kids really love technology -- most likely because of the value their parents place on it, always storing it out of their reach, or quickly snatching it away whenever it falls into their hands.

Well, on a trip into work on Sunday afternoon, I found a broken laptop for Jasper to play with -- and took it home for the fun to continue. Let's see how long he's satisfied with it even though it doesn't light up ...

Forward? Sideways? Whatever!

Jasper is continuing to make more progress, but not always in the directions we would expect ...

Jasper at the window

Who's the baby and who's the daddy?

Long overdue birthday videos

Have wanted to post these videos for a couple days ... they are from Jasper's actual birthday, but various logistical issues have prevented us from posting them until now. So here's a bunch at once!

Jasper's birthday in pictures

As you can see from yesterday's video, we had a small gathering in a nearby park for Jasper's birthday. There were about 12 adults, eight kids and four dogs in attendance. And we occasionally paused from mouthfuls of food and good conversations to actually take some pictures!


We took over two picnic tables -- marked by balloons -- for some sandwiches, drinks, chips, and eventually ...


... cupcakes!

Veronica and Leo wonder what Jasper is looking at.

Daddy and Fritz see each other for the first time in two years. (Fritz has been living in Southeast Asia.)

Mia, Steve and James talk about dogs ... presumably.


Jasper's candle nearly dwarfs his carrot cake cupcake!


At first things seem fine ...


... but eventually, panic sets in over this unusual headwear.


Once that pesky birthday hat has been removed, Jasper gets a small taste of sweets. (And greets it with a grimace, not pictured.)


A fun day for all ages!

Happy birthday Jasper!

The dust has settled on a number of Jasper birthday events, which we hope to be posting in the next couple days. Here's one video to get you started!

An early happy birthday

So yeah, we hijacked somebody else's birthday song for Jasper. We're not ashamed to say it.

Crawling, waving, "Aw mom!"

Little Sweeper

We call Jasper "Little Squeaker," but here it's more like Little Sweeper.

Fun with camera angles

Shoe-rrific

Okay, so Jasper has his back to the camera for over half this video. But it's still cute.

Rise of the Tickle Finger

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is in theaters this weekend. Rise of the Tickle Finger is playing only at home.

Reach out and touch someone

The will to feed oneself

I've started using my blackberry as a video camera so we can upload the videos -- the lower resolution images have an easier time uploading. So finally ... the Jasper eating videos I wanted to post -- or a variation on them, anyway.

That dang Cheerio just ... won't ... let ... go.




We knew Jasper liked his mango, but this is ridiculous!

More video technical difficulties

So I've been trying to upload a couple cute video since Friday, but once again we are having technical difficulties with uploading videos to the blog. Wish I knew why!

To tide you over, a couple photos from a recent visit to a friend's house.

Jasper turns 11 (months)

And for the special occasion, takes his first ride in a shopping cart sans car seat. Big boy!