Hoodlum

Continuing on the theme of irresistable mischievousness, Jack has been enjoying his recent status as a hooded fugitive. Today he decided he'd wear daddy's hat (that's the fake smile he's developed for posed photos). Later he pulled it down just enough to disappear into the nap zone.

Elton Jack

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The top floor at Neiman Marcus will never be the same. Jack wasted no time in drowning out the soothing piano being piped into to Neiman's hallowed floors of overpriced items, though I will admit I briefly considered liberating this instrument. Jack ripped right into his ABCs, Eric Lewis style. Grand, baby, grand.

Uncommon Criminal

Jack broke into Williams Sonoma this afternoon and immediately attempted to heist his favorite kitchen implement (note right hand). Wanted posters went up pretty quickly in Friendship Heights, not so friendly, as it turns out, to a wisk thief. Jack made for the escalator, then the elevator (he loves words starting with 'e' and involving machinery)... As you can see by the second pose, he scoffs in the general direction of any member of local law enforcment foolish enough to think they might make a name for themselves by "mixing it up" with Jack the Wisker.

Storytime with Grandma Mimi

Jack got some extra reading in - and some extra TLC - over the Christmas weekend from Grandma Mimi (Stephanie's mom), who appears to be running Jack through "Baby's Christmas," but who is really schooling him on Jim Morrison's singular brilliance (and innocence!).

Christmas Edge

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More Christmas joy, including a contractor's toolset (thanks Andrew!), an electric guitar, Euro-looking building blocks, and, of course - what toychest would be complete without it? - a Mr. Potato Head (thanks NMS Prize Closet!).

Christmas Elf

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A talking alphabet bus, fish magnets, the electric guitar (see photo, above). Each of these and more were introduced to Jack this morning, to his great wonder and delight. The irony, of course, is that Stephanie stayed up 'til midnight assembling a trainset (far right) that we never got to (it's in the basement). So tomorrow morning it'll be Christmas all over again when he lays eyes on the thing he thought Santa was bringing him in the first place.

The Santa Clause

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Somewhere it is written that parents are allowed to lie to their kids about Santa Claus. And sex. (Hopefully we're a few years away from that.) For now, it's all about the Santa yarn, consecrated here by the physical evidence left behind by Santa's midnight trip down the Weber-Copeland chimney: an eaten cookie, a drunk glass of milk, and a nibbled piece of celery (Daddy glazed all the carrots for dinner). As you can see, Mommy is selling hard and Jackie is skeptical, but he's buying - so far.

Big Boy Do It, Part II

Jack was turned loose for the first time today at Whole Foods, which thankfully was pretty sparsely populated as he tore up and down the aisles, introducing himself to members of the Tenley team and helping himself to products that caught his eye (Niman Ranch apple cinnamon sausage, Whole Foods whole grain pancake-waffle mix, Veggie Pirate Booty, and Cheesy Bugs mac 'n' cheese). He insisted on walking not riding and he insisted on dragging, then carrying, the basket. The phrase he employed - as he does dozens of times a day now - was, "Big boy do it!" Here he is getting ready for the clean and jerk.