Jacob Loves... - Month Five Version

While Jacob still loves almost all of the things on his first "favorite things" list (ceiling lights and ceiling fans, music, looking at picture books and listening to stories, Daddy), he's gained a few more over the past few months.


1. The Great Outdoors

Jacob loves being outside and even just looking out the door. He watches the leaves, flowers, and grass blow in the breeze and loves watching cars and trucks go by as well as kids on their bicycles or skateboards. He likes touching the flowers and their stems and playing with them with his feet. He gets a little anxious when I start to put his bare feet on the grass (tenses up a little and makes a little shivering/gasping noise), but then he'll squish it between his toes and start taking steps across the lawn. Sometimes I take him out after the sun goes down and he'll look around at all of the streetlights and the lights at the neighbors' front doors. I take a blanket outside with us when it's not too hot and humid and spread it out beneath the shade of the tree in the front yard (since there aren't any trees in the backyard). I'll play with him and try to get him to do Tummy Time on there, and he does alright. Mostly he likes just laying around gazing at the sky and clouds or being held and walked around to see everything. Our little nature lover. :)

2. Wind Chimes

I love wind chimes and have several of them outside and one inside. We hold him close to them to try to get him to hit the decoration (or "windcatcher") to make the striker hit the rods. His coordination is improving, but mostly he loves just watching the decoration sway back and forth, watching the rods dance around, and listening to the chimes. Sometimes he gets super excited and spits up. :P

3. Grandpa Nick

We're currently living in my dad's house (my old childhood home), and my father comes back to stay every year from April until the end of September. This April was Jacob's first time meeting his Grandpa Nick. Grandpa loves making silly noises and funny faces which almost always elicit a big smile and sometimes a lot of giggles from the little guy. I say "almost" because there's usually NOTHING that calms Jake down when he's hungry or tired except his bottle and a nap. :P

4. Anything he can shove in his mouth... especially fingers

No teeth yet... but Jacob's been sucking on things like crazy for about two months now. Since his hands are always accessible, that's what's in his mouth the most right now. Next in line are towlies (basic cloth diapers that we use as burp/spit-up cloths), Mommy and Daddy's fingers or forearms, Mommy's hair if she forgets to pull it back in a ponytail, and whatever toys he's playing with. For the longest time, he alternated between a simple orange link/ring and a birdie toy that had a ring and beads attached (that came with his activity mat)... but he's not favoring them so much anymore.


5. Bubbles

Whether riding in the car or sitting around the house, Jacob calms from being minorly fussy when we get out the bubbles. He doesn't really get excited about them, but he *has* started smiling when I get ready to blow on the wand. He just watches them with a puzzled or wondering look and then waits for more. The cats find them fascinating, so Jakey gets to watch them pop the bubbles, too.


6. The "puppy" and the "kitties"

The most excitement came about three or four weeks ago and lasted for a good week or two, but Jake still loves watching and petting the furries. A couple of highlights were the first time Sage (cat) jumped up on my lap while Jacob was sitting there and the first time Goliath licked Jake's face. He loves watching Goliath chase and shake his stuffed tiger. I think it's time for another visit to the dog park to watch the more active dogs.

7. Other babies

At Jacob's four-month check-up, he noticed all of the other babies and just looked and looked and looked. Ever since then, he usually gets a big smile and checks out any kid in sight. He loves it most, of course, if/when the other kids interact with him in any way and seems a little dejected if they don't approach him.

8. Busy Tumble Top

I took Jake for a walk to the Hallmark store one day and then stopped in Dollar General afterward. They had a baby toy called a Busy Tumble Top, and Jake was instantly fascinated. Money's kind of tight, so I didn't buy it for him but I posted a message on my facebook page for anyone who might want to get Jacob a "Happy Jacob Day" present. His Uncle Derek came through and it arrived on May 5. Since then, we've played with it almost every day. Jake loves watching the balls pop up and spin around inside the toy and even tries to reach his hand up to push the top to make it work... he just doesn't quite have the strength and coordination yet. Maybe in another month or two.