Canny Believe It?!!

If you look for them, they are not hard to find. YouTube videos of five-year olds billed as the next Maradona, the next Messi, the next Ronaldo.

Some of these kids show hints of brillance, but most are bloody useless. Like this one: Soccer Phenom.

Freddy Adu? Good, but not a prodigy. Probably 37 by now. Here's Freddy's highlight reel.

So imagine my astonishment and delight upon coming home from work today, when Jack - whose ability to date has been flashed only in the bath (with kicks of the rubber ducky) - put on a tantalizing display of future footy mastery, causing the father to swoon, future Premiership highlight reels flickering in his mind.

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Note: These photos have not been Photoshopped or doctored in any way. Jack's birth certificate is available upon request.

Going to the Mat(tresses)

"Monday, Tuesday, Wednesay Thursday..." Here's Jack and Evie doing their thing on the play mat this morning. Evie showing she is not only the smartest baby on the block, but also the most flexible (gets that from Paul). Jack showing he is not impressed (though he really is). "They're built differently," he explained, not having any idea how true that really is.

So You Think You Can Dance?

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After work, Jack likes to entertain the 'rents with a little soft shoe. Wouldn't this make a great flip book?

Banana Hat

When there's action in the kitchen (and mommy and/or daddy are in the kitchen and he's not), Jack does not like to be anywhere else. Here, he gets his way with a front row seat on the counter. Over his right shoulder are his bottle tops. To his left is the pot-kettle contraption we use to heat his milk every night. And over his head are bananas in yellow to match his get up. Nice paunch, little man!

Buy ONE Stuff!

It was inevitable. Jack has been enlisted by nefarious, cradle robbing ONE marketeer, Ivey Helmick, as a male model for ONE gear. In the second photo, Ivey can be seen closing the deal with a much younger (and obviously naive) Baby Jack. "Stick with me, kid, I'll make you famous on the interwebs."

Seriously, you can buy ONE stuff here: ONE Store

Bumbotime!

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Jack's newest perch is the Bumbo, an ingenious chair that helps babies sit up and view their world in a whole new way. As you can see, this can be very entertaining for the adults (and the dogs), too. Editor's note: No Jack is not naked in these photos. Yes, those are man boobs.

Puppy Love

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Floor time means conversations with, and kisses from, the pups. On the left, Jack does his best to convince Maddie that he is, in fact, her blood brother. On the right, Jack takes one on the ear from Parker.

Turning at Turnberry

Born on a Masters Sunday, it is perhaps fitting that Jack's first look at the television should be to take in a few holes at the British Open. Jack is barely three months old and already has three Majors under his belt. Is he on track to dislodge the real Jack before Tiger does?

Why Does Daddy Work So Late?

To pay for diapers and college!

Here's Jack asking the question he hopefully won't have to ask too often - and looking at the front door to see when daddy is coming through it. Sorry Bug! Be home soon!!

Sonya

So many of you have been wondering, with Stephanie doing the Supermom thing - working, pumping, mothering, wife-ing - where does Jack go during the day and who does he hang with? We'll, here you go: no doubt the first of many photos of Jack with his two best pals, Sonya (center) and Evie (right). Here, Jack is wondering whose foot is in his crotchal area while the owner of said foot looks wistfully into the distance, perhaps dreaming of more recycling loot.

Three Months Old (100th Post!)

"I'm how old?"
Yesterday, Jack turned three months old and it was a happy day, complete with a big birthday poop and visits from Auntie Maija and Auntie Claire. Here, he gives us another one of those looks that suggests he is much older than his chronological age.

I Believe I Can Fly

Jack's first airplane ride is not for another month (to Maine!), but here he gets some practice in on Air Mommy. Nice cargo pants, little man!

Auntie Maija

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Maija's long awaited (but too short lived!) visit finally arrived this weekend. In between cuddle sessions with Jack, Maija enjoyed tasty summer food and wine (see previous post), a rom com (Sex in the City - for the 17th time, no doubt), and a bit of light reading (Real Simple!). Big thanks the boys for loaning us their favorite gal - and kudos to Jared for holding down the fort for 36 hours! We miss you already, Maija!

Weekend Spread

Some of you may be becoming concerned that this baby blog is venturing into food blog territory. This is untrue (well, mostly untrue), but we do want you to see a) what Jack is getting in his breast milk and b) how happy we are here at Camp Jack. This is skirt steak marinated in tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice with a grilled tomatillo, yellow pepper and avocado salsa. Served with wild and brown rice and grilled corn and green beans and shiitake mushrooms. With a nice rose, of course!

Friday Night Bites

Have a kid, you'll never go out again, they said. No more dinner and a movie, they said. Well, Jack proved them all wrong last night, by napping thru a meal at 2 Amys, probably the loudest restaurant in town. Then he ate and went to bed. Then mommy and daddy watched a movie (well, daddy watched it, mommy was asleep after 11 minutes).

Vanity Fair In Character - Part IV

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Inspired by Jeff Daniels awesome "In Character" in this month's Vanity Fair, here's Jack back in action.

From left to right:

Left: It's July 5th, 2009 and the interviewer asks, "We're you moved by the fireworks last night in Washington? Did Barry Manilow's appearance make you feel patriotic?" "It did," you say, "It hit me right here."

Center: You've just been told Warren Buffett says he'd support a second stimulus. CNBC is on the line and they want to know if you agree with the Oracle.

Right: Someone's grabbing your shirt and telling you how cute you look in it. You're not sure you appreciate the "hands on" approach. "This is a $3.99 shirt," you say.

If You Were a Nose...

...I'd still pick you to be my friend. As Jack discovers and hones his fine motor skills, what better use for them than to pick his nose. Here Jack unabashedly goes for the gold - and wins!

Jack 'n' Jackie

When she's not rebuilding the finanical sector one ego at a time, or helping the jetset get in touch with their inner Pilates, Auntie Jackie makes time for Baby Jackie, looking fashionable here in his prison garb.

Puttin' on the Pork

Depsite the demands of fatherhood - to say nothing of the dietary limitations of motherhood and breastfeeding - dad is still doing his best to crank out the good stuff (for those of you lying awake at night wondering). This is a little roast pork tenderloin, with garlic, fresh thyme, and peaches. The sandwich is toasted country bread, mayo with mustard powder and hit of Tobasco, plus the roast pork, plus grilled peaches, plus dressed watercress. Now that's lunch. Chef Dan would be proud. Chef's note: This sammy is also great with an apple and pear slaw (instead of the peaches).

Five for Fighting

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Just as John McEnroe so eleoquently put it yesterday - about a 5th-set volley (winner) by Roger Federer - "What can you say about that?" we are sometimes at a loss of words to describe how cute Jack can be. Here he goes from demure to Deniro in the blink of a long eyelash, "What did I tell you about sticking that thing in my face all the time? I told you FIVE times. See if you can count my fingers."

Diaper Dandy

Back in time for a few more pics from the week in New York (July 4th weekend photos coming soon!). Here's Jack acting cool on a boppy, which he thinks doubles just fine as a baby flotation device. To Jack's left is the Upper East Side morning light, something that mesmerized him each day.

Born Good Natured, Loves to Rock the Boat

Jack is an Aries and that, according to this shirt, means he was "born good-natured" and "loves to rock the boat." He knows he looks good in brown (thanks Gretchen!), but he's not so sure on the astrology bit. Happy 4th, everyone!