Dad's Week

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Today concluded Ken's first week "alone" with Jack, five straight days from 8ish in the morning to 6 or 7ish in the evening. (This was Ken's "week off.") Everyone surived - and Ken's mom came to town for the big assist - but we thought you'd like a day-by-day recap of how things went.

Day 1: "You don't think I can do this, do you honey?"

Day 2: "Honey! I can't do this!!"

Day 3: "OK, buddy, we can do this!"

Day 4: "How the hell does anyone do this?"

Day 5: "Congratulations, you're amazing. Now do I get credit for the three-and-a-half months I did this?"

Do Me A Solid

Jack's first foray into solid food territory left no doubt, he was ready for big boy fare at four and a half months. On his third spoonful, Jack attempts to take charge completely. Oatmeal hilarity ensues.

Laughter is the Best Laughter

With each day, Jack seems to spend a little more time smiling and laughing and, most days, we are treated to an all out crack up. This is one of the first times he really let loose - a few minutes after turning over for the first time on his own. This was shot in Maine using a Flipcam - of which he is generally very aware. (He also likes to stare knowingly into the baby monitor camera - spooky!)

Art School

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Jack had his pre-admissions interview with artist Rebekah Raye last week, visiting the Maine School of Fine Art's East Blue Hill campus (of which she is dean). Jack found a house and studio full of warmth and beautiful art, some of it Rebekah's, some of it by other greats, such as Leonard Baskin. Jack took a particular liking to these playful hares, aka, "Honey Bunnies." Thank you for the wonderful visit, Rebekah and Ken!

Fashion Bug

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Vacation is a time to showcase the wardrobe and Jack took full advantage, wowing fellow travelers and locals alike with a stunning array of accoutrements. As serious as Tom Ford (and some would say, sexier), here's Jack in three of our faves. Note the accessorizing with toys. ;)

East Blue Heaven ctd.

With the evening tide gently lapping up, and the wind building in whispers, mama held Jack close. He was startled from his afternoon nap by the beautiful brown pointer, Macy, who came bounding in from the rocks with a three-foot stick in her maw. Macy was wiry from her long days of exercise with no boundaries.

We enjoyed the cottage at the end of Bayfront Lane (near Curtis Cove?), inside and out, until the sun dipped down over the treeline on the opposite shore. Then we packed up and headed home to Acadia with Jack sleeping the whole way, through darkness under a new moon, 4.8 miles of construction lights along Route 3, and a stop for a hamburger in Northeast Harbor.

East Blue Heaven

Some say Blue Hill is where the action is at - the Co-op, Fish Net (best lobster rolls around), the galleries - but East Blue Hill is home to true artistry and tranquility. Here's Jack, happy as a Blue Hill Bay clam, making grass angels to prove it.

Jack 'n' Jill

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Down at Colonel's, where breakfast is, er, available (a competitive advantage in Northeast Harbor), Jack did his best to impress the waitress, Jill, with his cube toy. As Dave Barry says, we swear, we are not making this up.

"You see," he said, "this is my cube toy. If you really want to know, it's called the Lamaze PeekaBoo Clutch Cube, and it's pretty great. Here's how it works. You can do this, you can do that, it has a lion, it has a monkey, it has a panda. Not bad, eh? You wanna try? OK, wait, I didn't mean you could actually have it. And what's with the black fingernails? Sheesh, what kind of town is this, anyway?"

Beach Bum II

What's a summer without a sequel? Here is "Beach Bum II," the second and (for now) final installment in the Beach Bum series starring Baby Jack. Now you all know why one of his (200) nicknames is "Juicy Butt." Apologies to those of you we have offended with such unbridled nudity.

Beach Bum

Jack has taken advantage of the unseasonably hot and sunny weather here in Maine this week to break out the beachwear. He is also obliging requests for "more pictures of Jack with his toungue out." Stay tuned for a photo of Jack's actual beach bum!

Dude, Where's My Mom?

Dateline, August 17, 2009. Echo Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine, USA. Jack's first day at the beach was an entertaining mix of high style (Jack) and "Americana" (everyone else). Families Griswold everyhere. Jack made his strong preference known NOT to be dipped any further into the cold mountain water. Stay tuned for hilarious video of that. Many more pics to come, too - just thoguht we'd get this one up to let you know we're here, but definitely on vacation.

Jack 'n' the Hat

Couldn't resist putting this one up, on the eve of Jack's first flight to Maine - where he will wear six different outfits a day b/c that appears to be how many Mommy packed. Bon weekend, everyone!

Double Shot - 15 lbs of Juicy!

Literally.

Jack got two more shots this morning at his 4-month check up. He wailed briefly, but was back on track 60 seconds later. Dr. Snow declared him "thriving" on sight and we came within 3 ounces of our goal of 15 pounds, which he addded immediately after the appointment with a feeding. I know, I know - I said I wouldn't get into percentiles, but we're family here... Suffice it to say we climbed 25 spots to the midpoint of the the spectrum and that's worth celebrating. That's the last we'll say about it - until, of course, he runs a 4.5 40 or produces Andy Isidore-like test scores. ;)

Turn Win!

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A few days before turning himself over completely in his crib, Jack turned most of the way over to take a look at his furry brown, napping brother, Parker (aka "Pook"). Scorning his activity mat friends (Quintipus, Papillon, Turtle, and the Bells - whose idea were the bells?), Jack is starting to take more of an interest in natural occuring stimuli, ie, not just what we put under his nose and wiggle insistently. As many of you know, Parker is a well trained dog, showing here he respects the edge of the mat, which has been pointed out to him a number of times.

Mr. Personality

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Tyler Fletcher has it. He might even have it all - the good looks, the doting parents (pictured here with dad), the new crib (complete with covered ball hockey rink), the sports fields awaiting athletic greatness just half a block away. Plus he has those squishy blocks.

On the brink of crawling - put a Blackberry just out of reach and watch him go - Tyler turned 7 months this week, on the same day Jack turned four months. Hopefully, we'll get together soon, guys. Then we'll really have it all.

Pizza Interruptus

Tonight we experienced our first retreat. After ordering a beer (to share) and some pizza, Jack seemed to be settling into his easy-come, easy-go, cafe personality. Here he eyes the chile flakes with appropriate apprehension. But he soon got bored, or bothered - or perhaps he was unhappy we were not at Two Amys - and all bets were off. Dad quaffed the beer (oh, the sacrifices he makes) and asked for the pizza to go. And we went. And now Jack is back home and happy again.

Jack's Crib, Day 3

Jack slept through the night his first night in his crib last night - though obvioulsy not at this house! True to form, he wasted no time in wriggling from the middle to the top right corner - where he nestled snugly all night long.

Meanwhile, Jack's other crib - 3816 Windom Pl NW - continued to be dismantled. Here's a shot from the back of the house today, from where the garage once stood.

Our House

Or what used to be.

After just one day of constrcution - err, demolition - our house is empty on the inside and getting naked on the outside. The side porch and back porch are gone, as are nearly all the plantings that surrounded the house. (We saved the butterfly bush and the boxwoods.) More photos to come, but here's one of the west side of the house - where the side porch used to be.

Sweet and Sour

Serious and shy. Of the he many faces of Jack, here are a contrasting two. On the left, his neighborhood tough posture (see below post) on the right his shy guy/mama's boy look. On the patio of the new place, with mom. Oh, and of course, ample drool in both shots.

Neighborhood Toughs

Sweet, innocent little babies, right? That's where you'd be wrong. Apparently, Jack and Evie have been spending their days cruising the neighborhood - the mean streets of Brandywine - looking for trouble and collecting "protection" money. In their double stoller. IN THEIR BIBS. Turtle Park will never be the same.

Chef Jacques

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Some have recently accused the father of imposing his dreams on the son. Of pressuring him into soccer. Bollocks, I say! The Kid has a natural instinct for the ball. He practically levitated it into his bouncy chair!

Now, he's gunning for the kitchen. Last night he gave (rapacious) elevator eyes to every bite we took at dinner. And this morning he grabbed hold of this common cooking implement. He says, waiting six months for solid food is "old fashioned" and that "these things are averages anyway." He also may have muttered, "There is no spoon," another hint he is the Chosen One.

Change of Scenery

To prepare Jack's house for the rest of his life (and to prepare his dad's kitchen for better, less backbreaking, meals the rest of his life), the Copeland Webers have taken up temporary residence at Camp Chevy Chase Circle. First photo is of the house from the street, with big old trees and lovely front yards. Second photo is of Ken getting dinner ready, from nearby Parthenon. Lamb, lamb, and more lamb. Over Ken's head you can see the pups' portrait already on the wall. This is their room during the day.

Jack 'n' Evie Catching On

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Catching onto their parents, that is. In the first photo, Jack says to Evie, "You know they're only doing this to save money. I heard 'em talking about it." Then Jack waits patiently, knowingly, while Evie tests the veracity of his outrageous claim with Sonya. "Is it true?" she seems to be asking. "But I have a spatula AND a spoon (which I am holding with my toes)." In photo three, Jack can be heard saying, "I told you so. They tried to get me to clam up by putting one of those sucky things in my mouth, but I know better. No way, not me."