No It All

We had to pare down our card this year to make it fit, so here’s the full version with a few extras that didn’t make it onto the hard copy! We’re list people.  If you’ve received any of our past cards, you’ve noticed we like to commemorate the holidays with a wrap-up of the year’s most memorable experiences.  Last year was the “Year of Travel.”  And as luck would have it, the gods of Machu Picchu blessed us with the spirit of Pacha Mama and we invited a new little one to partake in our adventures… which are all a bit closer to home these days.  So without further ado, here’s what we’ll remember most about 2009, aka, the “Year of  Baby Jakey”:

1) We brought in the New Year with a celebration of love at the Pie Ranch “Party”!

2) We splurged and enjoyed all the tweezer food Thomas Keller had to offer at Theee French Laundry during our last kid-free getaway.

3) Ten days early (but still miraculously timed between quarters), on March 14^th, we welcomed Jacob James Fucillo into the world.  Yes, we could only agree on Jake and thus became one of “those families” where everyone starts with “J”.

4) Jaimie finally got to drink that beer she’d been craving for 9 months.

5) After the trauma of the glow worm and the tanning bed, we told Jakey’s jaundice buddy, Billy Ruben (bilirubin), to hit the road!

6) We continued our commitment to eating locally and feasted at two Outstanding in the Field dinners.

7) We relished our new found ability to dress-up an unsuspecting baby in accessories and costumes.  Easter gave us “Easter Bunny Face.”  Halloween gave us “Giraffe Treats.”  What’s in store for Christmas??

8) We had way too much wine and wished there was more food at Bonny Doone Winery for James’ birthday.

9) Jacob was ¾ angel baby, ¼ devil baby on his first of many trips to Flatrock.  He was first to spy Juan the Bear at Sutton, take a turkey roaster bath, watch his Dad and Granddad nearly blow-up the dock, and toast the engagement of Uncle Geoff and Auntie Angela.

10) Jaimie started her blog, “Jake: A Mom’s Opinion” at www.fucillofamily.com.  She’d like to thank her loyal fan.

11) James continued his pledge to “Habitat for Jaimie” and moved everyone and everything into a Spanish Revival Bungalow.  Jaimie remembered too late that she hates moving, but pleads insanity based on the lure of 7 closets and a garage.  Please note our new address: 1474 Shasta Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126

12) We turned our lights out after the candy mania of 700 trick-or-treaters on our new street.  Thank goodness the neighbors warned us…13) Jaimie finished her MBA at Santa Clara University.  Now she’s a master of administering business, or something.

14) The death of Longs Drugs.  We’re still in mourning.

15) It was the year of the freakin’ Swine Flu– who could forget?!

16) Sliders became the new Cupcake.

In less than 9 months Jake went from a quiet little baby to a rolling, crawling, tongue-clicking, clapping, standing, flirting, waving, quacking, rubber-ducky eating monkey!

Happy Holidays to our dearest friends and family—may 2010 be filled with equally thrilling memories. 

Love,

James, Jaimie, & Baby Jake

So today is the last day of Jake’s very first Christmas vacation.  I’m not sure he relished it as much as he should have…  Yes he slept in a couple of times.  Yes he enjoyed some Christmas cookies and other indulgences.  But really, it didn’t seem like he relaxed at all.  And no, he didn’t take care of any of his unfinished projects…  but, here’s a recap of what he did do over his two week holiday.  Which I guess is a lot given he’s 9 1/2 months old…:

* Visited the toy store with his mommy and daddy to pick out a truck.  Was not interested in the $20 dump truck.  Was interested in banging two $.5o pieces of wood together.

* Wrapped presents with Mommy from the comfort of his Baby Einstein.  Sang the same Christmas carols One Miiiiiiiillion times.

* Enjoyed his first Christmas dinner at his Grantmother and Granddad’s house.  Loved Pennsylvania dried corn.

* Attended the Harbor girls Holiday Hoopla at Mel’s house.  Potentially put the moves on Baby Chloe during the group picture.  Tortured little Mayme with her string of beads in a rendition of an elephant and a mouse.  Seriously stunk up the living room.  Met Jenny’s boyfriend Steve for the first time (who I thought looked justifiably frightened)…

* Thought Christmas Eve morning present opening was clearly to celebrate the Baby Jakey, not the Baby Jesus.  Crashed before it was over.

* Stared in wonderment when the Jantz’s Mennonite carolers paid a magical visit to his Nonno and Papa’s house and sang ten rounds of Joy to the World (who knew it had so many verses… and that people actually knew the words to these verses?) and Silent Night.

* Was surprised by another Christmas morning present unwrapping event.  Enjoyed the paper, ribbons, and boxes more than the presents.  Crashed before it was over.

* Hit his Christmas party limit at Aunt Laurie’s house.  Crashed before it began.

* Chased his cousin Covi around under the dining room table.  Tortured Covin as he tried to protect all his cars (Lightening McQueen and Mater) from “Baby Jakey.”

* Maybe ate cat food at the new renter’s house.  Ate dill pickle with his Granddad.

* Learned to stand on his tippy toes to see on top of tables, figured out how to flush the toilet at Disneyland’s Paradise Pier hotel, perfected the art of rolling a ball back and forth to Mommy.  Oh, and now “dances.”

* Enjoyed Mommy’s heavenly beignets in Downtown Disney.  Get your own bag!

* As we went into the hotel restaurant for the Mickey & Friends breakfast, Covin announced gleefully, “It’s Tits!  It’s Tits!!” (translation: Stitch).  Jakey was sure Tits was definitely an alien and wanted his mommy to protect him.  Mommy wanted Jakey to protect her– an alien wouldn’t hurt a lady with a baby, right?

* Went on Pirates of the Caribbean,  Buzz Lightyear (twice), Toy Story 3D (twice), Jungle Cruise, It’s a Small World (Christmas version), the Choo Choo (posed for two pictures by a Japanese tourist), and A Bug’s Life 3D.  Pirates didn’t phase him… but was a teensy bit scared by the bugs.  Mommy was really scared by the bugs.

* Papa fed him an organic cereal puff and said he felt like a priest.

* Developed a drool induced rash goatee.

* Crawled all around the Grand Californian hotel lobby with Auntie Alesia.  Never once looked around to make sure his mommy and daddy were still there.  Made three little girlfriends: Livy, Rose & Shay (who gave him his first sticker).

* Seemed relieved that Christmas vacation was over and he could finally get back to his Caltrain naps, favorite school, and his own bed.

As a follow-up to the pine needle incident…

That evening Jake was super happy and crawled and played and wrestled with abandon.  Yet all of that exercise and happiness did NOT lead to joyous, uninterrupted slumber.  It felt like Jakey woke-up every two hours.  Crying and sputtering.  In the fog of sleep, all I could think about was maybe he can’t sleep because there’s a pine needle lodged in his throat?  Maybe it’s stabbing into his little esophagus…  Could it puncture the lining of his stomach?

James thinks it’s hilarious that he knew this is exactly what I was thinking.  HA HA.

My son just ate a pine needle.

It’s Sunday, January 3rd and our Christmas vacation is coming to an end *sigh*.  Fortunately I go back to work for one day and then we’re going to Disneyland!  N-e-way, James and I were busy taking down the tree.  The teeny little tabletop tree we chopped down at Culver’s with my mom this year.  As always, Jakey is playing underneath us, having a grand old time with the silver bead garland.  And then… I see his wet little hand grab a big pine needle.  You know, he palms it off the floor since his finger/thumb combo isn’t that reliable yet.  And then he deftly shovels it into his mouth in the exact same motion he uses for organic cereal puffs.

I quick try and get his mouth open but he won’t budge.  It’s very much like the scene in my favorite holiday movie, Elf.  Will Ferrell eats cotton balls at the doctor’s office like marshmallows.  Gulp!  This is exactly the image of Jake with pine needles.

All right then, if I can’t get it out then let’s wash it down with some water.  Apparently washing down a dry pine needle with water insights significant gagging, gurgling, and gutteral noises.  But fortunately not the insta-tears from Friday when I took dried cat food out of his hand.  I’m pretty sure he got a piece of that down the ol’ hatch before I noticed, too.  You’d think I had literally taken candy from a baby… not salty little tuna-flavored kibble.  This kid will eat anything… more on that later.

I’m Jakey Jakesmom.  We’re up to the fifth biggest song of 2009, it hit #1 on two major charts, diaper changing and bath time.  Normally it’s sung with an introduction of She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain by Lady Mama (who has just realized these are two different songs).  This year’s hit at #5, I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNrLN5tYd2M

This is Jakey’s Top 40.  I’m Jakey Jakesmom.  And now we’re up to the #4 song of songs for 2009.  It’s a record that went to #1 in the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, and Australia.  This was the song of the summer of 2009 and is known to put a smile on the face of the crankiest of cranks.  The #4 song of the year–Surfin’ Safari by The Beach Daddy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS7SUFz36lg

Next up on our count down, coming in at #3 is a song named #1 single of the year by Billboard North Pole.  It spent 9 weeks at #1 on the carols chart.  In a duet by George Clooney’s Aunt Rosemary and Santa’s Helper, Mommy, here is Suzy Snowflake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL3F2Zh4s10

This is Jakey’s Top 40 Count Down for 2009.  I’m Jakey Jakesmom.  This year’s second biggest song has been featured in the shower, and every room which that international sensation, Mama, departs.  Sung by Daddy Dithers with back-up vocals from the Crab Cake himself, this year’s #2–Ain’t No Sunshine (when she’s gone):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIdIqbv7SPo

We’re up to the #1 song of the year on Jakey’s Top 40 Count Down.  This song has been played at such prestigious locations as the dining room table, the back of the car, and the front lawn.  This song was also the title song of a recent Baskin Robbins commercial and has been adapted to the more popular version, Ice Cream & Jakey Cake.  Topping the chart for 2009; the #1 song of the year; this year’s biggest hit; At #1 for 2009 sung by the hip new version of the Mamas & the Papas–Ice Cream & Jakey Cake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC_gkcplz_4

And that wraps-up Jakey’s Top 40 Count Down of 2009.  I’m Jakey Jakesmom.  Join us next time with the best hits of 2010.  Till then, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

AGE: 9 months and 2 weeks… it’s about time for a vocab round-up.

A:  Aye Aye Aye!  Imagine that stereotypical scene of a Mexican cowboy shooting his pistola in the air as his horse stomps and bucks…  That’s what Jacob sounds like at 4am.

B: Ba Ba, BA BA.  This sound reached its pinnacle on moving day.  Consonant #3.

C: No sign of the letter C.  But he gets the most bashful smile when you say it.

D: DA DA!  Almost always yelled with total glee.  Over the last two days, this has morphed to Die Die!  Why is my innocent little baby making death threats?  Consonant #4.

E: No E.

F: Ffffff.  This sound is still fun to make.  Infrequent but especially effective on an especially drooly day.  Mmmm, bubbles.  Maybe tied for Consonant #3.

G: Goo Goo.  Jakey’s first consonant and the reason his Mommy still calls him Baby Goo Goo.  If he could, he’d probably tell his mom to stop calling him this embarrassing name. MooooOOOOM.  Consonant #1.

H: Ha ha!  I love when Jakey laughs.  I’m so much funnier.  Almost everything I say is a knee slapper…. literally.  Consonant #2.

I: No I.   Yet it’s still all about him… Let’s talk about me, let’s talk about I, let’s talk about number one oh my me my.

J: No J.

K: See C.

L: No L.  I’ve been trying to get a La La for ages.  Nada.

M: Ma Ma.  A new phenomenon as previously described.  I don’t think it actually means mama.  Though it’s interesting how it’s almost always said in a slightly tearful, slightly resistant tone.  Consonant #5, tied with N.

N: Na Na.  Nigh, Nigh.  Jakey Nigh Nigh. Is he saying this because I’m saying it and he’s tired or is this just wishful thinking?

O: No O.

P: Maybe?  Puh Puh.

Q: Does the duck quack count?  It’s not so much quack quack as Bachhqua qua quaaaa.

R: No R.  I’m sure.

S: No S.

T: No T.  But he sure loves sweet tatatoes.

U: U?  Not so much: See I.  Unless you count Uh Uh Uh.

V: Va Va.  Jacob’s first Spanish.  He, she, you (formal) go.  Wow, how advanced.

W: Wa Wa.

X: What would X even sound like?

Y: No Y.

Z: No Z.

!: Isn’t this the symbol they use for that tongue clicking sound used in southern Africa?  Yes, Jake is well on his way to mastering foreign words.  English?  No.  Zulu?  Yes!

Two weeks ago…

One little monkey playing on the bed,

He fell off and bumped his head.

Daddy called Mommy in a tearful voice and Mommy said,

No baby monkeys playing on the bed!

I’ll take “Baby Milestones” for 400.

Answer: 9 months.

“When does the connection start between men and their remote controls?”

Today is Jakey’s 9 month birthday.  And tonight we watched him creep along the ottoman, 4 or 5 steps, to get to the remote control.  He then managed to change the channel from a riveting episode of House Hunters International to Jeopardy.

I thought I read something about walking at 13 months in one of those questionable parenting magazines?  That’s still 4 months from now.  Almost half Jake’s current age.  I still have 4 months before I have to chase around a toddler, right?  Right?  Hello, Alex?

Last week Teacher Linda C. says, “JJ is making a sound all day like Donald Duck.”

Wow, I can’t believe you think that sounds like a duck?  Yes, that’s his duck quack.  He learned it from his granddad.  Or maybe the stuffed duck at his grandparents house that yells AfLaC!!  His new favorite snack?  Rubber duck.

HIGH:

Teacher Noemi: Jaimie, how old are you?

Jaimie: 32.

Teacher Noemi: Wow, I was going to guess 22.

Jaimie: Forget Teacher Linda C., you’re now my favorite teacher.

LOW: I’m on the train with Jakey in the front pack.  He immediately falls asleep.  Something smells horrible.  Great, am I now on a jam-packed baby bullet train strapped to a poopy diaper and absolutely no where to change it?  A guy gets on the train and says into his cell phone, “Ewww, it smells like Chloe’s diaper on this train.”  I would like to disappear.  Jake continues to sleep, completely oblivious to any embarrassment.  We get to school and I immediately send Jake to the changing station.  He is unequivocally absolved of guilt.  So who was responsible for that train ride?!  I was relieved that I wasn’t actually responsible.  James pointed out that it doesn’t matter… everyone thought it was the girl with the baby anyway… great.

HIGH:

After a solid week of nightly sleep training, Jacob slept from 8 to 5.  One night.  It’s a small victory.

LOW:

We’re all sick with a cold.  James -> Jake -> Jaimie…

HIGH:

Wednesday, December 2nd.  After months of DA-DAAAA!  DA DA!  Jacob says MA MA.  He doesn’t say it in his gleeful DA DA way… more like when he’s kind of crying.  But it’s definitely MA MA.  Just before his 9-month birthday. 🙂

LOW:

I’m not loving work.

HIGH:

The 100 page P.F. Chang’s paper is done.  I am officially a Master of Administering Business.  If only I had some interesting business to administer….  3 years and I finally get my life back!  What am I going to do with myself?