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Bath time, originally uploaded by rachelsmason.

Look at my baby’s chubbiness! I can’t stand it!

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DSC_3408, originally uploaded by rachelsmason.

Today has been a really good day so far. 

1. Jack slept for 5.5 hours in a row last night!  Then I got 1 more, then Ben took him downstairs giving me an extra 1.5.  The total is almost a normal night's sleep.
2. I wore my pre-pregnancy pants today!  Only took 5 weeks to get back into them - hurrah for nursing-weight loss.  They are slightly snug, but no worse than my "fat" days used to be.  
3. We bought a stroller for Jack - but paid less than the link and got it in green and gray.  Ben was resistant but finally agreed to let me get one.  Jack is a little young for the style.  He can't quite hold his head up for the ride.  But it's not much worse than how he sits in his car seat and he'll quickly grow into it.  I didn't like any stroller options with a bigger recline and don't want to buy TWO nice strollers to accommodate different growth stages. 
4. We met friends at Fatburger for lunch.  Mmmmm.
5. Jack slept the whole time we shopped.  Then he was happy and quiet (not crying) for a good chunk of time this afternoon.  
6. Ben picked up groceries for the fourth and pizza for dinner.  Yeah, we're super healthy these days ;-)
7. The forecast for tomorrow is in the 70s!  Even if we get rained out of our picnic plans, I look forward to the break from heat. 

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IMG_1346, originally uploaded by rachelsmason.

We didn't do a whole lot to celebrate the 4th this year.  We met some friends in the park for a picnic.  Delicious!  The rain chased us away after an hour.  We retreated to Brian's house for Rock Band.

Yes, I already posted two Jack things today.  Do I do anything else?  (Yes, today I made carnitas and cupcakes and did laundry).  But look!  Look at the cuteness!  (This is mostly a video for Grandmas.  Others may tire after the first 30 seconds.)

Pardon my dorkiness. I find my voice super obnoxious here, but Jack seems to respond when I talk this way. Whenever you hear "mmmmm" I'm sticking my tongue out at him.
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13164502&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
Stick out your tongue! from Rachel Mason on Vimeo.

I call this second video: The Master Class
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13164556&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
Stick out your tongue take 2 from Rachel Mason on Vimeo.

I caught Ben reading the classic Pat the Bunny to Jack.  But his interpretation is more authoritarian than most. 

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13191730&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
Now YOU pat the bunny. from Rachel Mason on Vimeo.

Jack can handle tummy time for a couple minutes now before having a melt down. Exercise is so HARD!  (Right after I cut the shot he completed the hiccup-cough-sneeze combo with a long fart.  He is an artist.)

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13360689&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
Tolerating Tummy Time from Rachel Mason on Vimeo.

Hot. Blech.  I really hate summer.  Tomorrow I hope to run away to my parents' house for a few days.  I'm getting burned out by being home alone with Jack day in and day out.  Sure, I had fun shopping with my sister this weekend.  Tonight I might escape for a few hours to play trivia.  But I'm building a serious case of the doldrums.  For every cute video or picture I post, there's at least an hour of fussing or crying which I didn't think was particularly photo worthy.  

I'm in Grand Junction visiting the grands for a few days.  Jack is having a great time.  We went swimming and shopping and there has been much adoration.  Last weekend I noticed that Jack finally discovered the mobile on his swing at home.  We got him one that attaches to the crib and has crisp, simple pictures.  He is FASCINATED.  He is happy to spend over an hour cooing and kicking at the pictures.  Here's some video.  Again, sorry, but this is fairly boring for non-baby lovers.  But I wanted his dad back home in Lakewood to see a how cool mobiles are. 

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13555536&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
Mobiles are Cool from Rachel Mason on Vimeo.

I needed a change of scenery.  I packed up Jack and forty times his weight in burp rags and onesies, and took off over the mountains to mooch off my folks for a couple days. 

Last weekend we had dinner at a strange restaurant called White Fence Farm.  We came up with several ways to describe it.  "Cracker Barrel on Crack."  "The American Casa Bonita." "A cross between Las Vegas and a Wyoming gas station."  The best part was the cute goats they had in the petting pen.  I ventured as close as I dared with Jack to get these pictures.  Don't bite my baby!