Jim is 59! No wonder he’s crotchety.

Seriously – Happy birthday, Jim. Hope it was a good one.

Cooper Photos!

Like Adam, Like Cooper.

On New Year’s Day, Coop wore his special sweater – a baby blue knit sweater that his grandma, Phyllis, made for his daddy to wear when he was eight days old. Can you believe that Adam was ever tiny enough to fit into this little outfit? It took Cooper a little while to grow into it, but we’re sure glad he did. Handsome devil, huh?

Help us choose!

So TurboTax is giving away $5,000 to the parents of “America’s Cutest Last-Minute Tax Deduction.” And, obviously, Coop is the cutest thing ever, so we have to enter him.  But we can’t pick a photo!

So we leave it in your trusty hands. Below are 9 pictures for your voting pleasure. You can click on each image to enlarge them and then vote in the poll just below.  And, if you’re feeling feisty, you can check out Coop’s competition here.

ABBA? Really?

So Political Wire, via Blender, published a list of the candidates’ favorite songs.  Hmmm…

1. Ready or Not Fugees	1. Dancing Queen ABBA
2. What’s Going On Marvin Gaye	2. Blue Bayou Roy Orbison
3. I’m On Fire Bruce Spingsteen	3. Take a Chance On Me ABBA
4. Gimme Shelter Rolling Stones	4. If We MakeIt Through December Merle Haggard
5. Sinnerman Nina Simone	5. As Time Goes By Dooley Wilson
6. Touch the Sky Kanye West	6. Good Vibrations The Beach Boys
7. You’d Be So Easy to Love Frank Sinatra	7. What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong
8. Think Aretha Franklin	8. I’ve Got You Under My Skin Frank Sinatra
9. City of Blinding Lights U2	9. Sweet Caroline Neil Diamond
10. Yes We Can  will.i.am	10. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes The Platters

Tourette’s for Preggers.

So this morning I had what I would categorize as my first truly unreasonable emotional outburst – over a YouTube video aired on The Today Show – and then I got mad at Teddy for not understanding.  Yep.  I’ve lost my mind.

But, before you get all judgy, watch the video – with the volume up. The music makes it and you’ll think I’m a crazyhorse for losing it if you watch with your sound off.  I would like to point out, though, that the cheesy ending ["get back in touch with someone..."] was not on the original video I saw on the news and may have actually caused a spontaneous vomiting effect that would have counteracted all the crying.

I mean come on. If you didn’t tear up at that, you’re just the most heartless of the heartless.  Plus, did you happen to notice the striking resemblance that the lion bears to our Teddy?  Well, I see it – and this is where the story turns unreasonable.

So I’m crying – probably more than I ordinarily would.  But I don’t feel that unjustified because the news crew on The Today Show is also crying over the piece.  And then, I take a turn for the worse.  I make the connection between the lion and Ted – which leads me to notice that the lion jumps up and stands on his hind legs just like Teddy.  They move in a very similar way.

Then I realize that my Ted can’t really do that right now because his legs hurt him – which turns into – “He’s just a BABY!  What if he is unhappy for the rest of his life – or even dies, for that matter?!”  Which turns into an uncontrollable need to hug him and pet him.  So I get down in the floor to hug him, and he looks at me out of the corner of his eye like I’m a disgusting freak.  I extend my hand – and he LEANS AWAY FROM ME like I have the plague.  Are you kidding me?!  I feed him medicine out of my hand covered in peanut butter.  I pick up his poop and brush him and lay in his bed with him when he feels bad.  I sneak him treats.  I don’t kill him when I wake up in the morning to find he spent the night on the sofa – the evidence being a hairy spot of the sofa and a huge dark drool stain to match.  Just this morning I brushed him and scratched him and opened the door for him so he could lay down and still see outside.  And I can’t even get a little lovin’ when I’m visibly upset…over him?!

So here I am, sobbing, and now I think my dog has deliberately hurt my feelings.  Totally irrational.  And I know it’s totally irrational.  But that knowledge does nothing for me.  So I call Adam to tell him about it.  He is adorable and sweet and understanding, only mocking me for a second until he realizes I’m serious.  And then, hearing myself say these things aloud, I realize that I have absolutely become a cliche.  Ugh.

Hi there, Layla!

JT&U is pleased to welcome the newest Gold to the world.  So world – meet Layla Wynn Gold, born this morning and weighing a svelte 7lbs 9oz:

Welcome, Layla.  We’re glad to have you.

Rumor has it that the whole clan is thrilled and has been updating their Facebook statuses about it all morning – Tayler apparently sounds tired, but assures us that both Jaime [who is already on IM] and Layla are happy and healthy and it’s a good day all around.

Congrats, Jaime & Tayler!

Proof.

Need proof that Adam and I have been together far longer than the five years [today] we’ve been married?  Well, here it is:  We went out to an anniversary brunch this morning at one of our favorite restaurants.  We called ahead ’cause it’s a crazy busy place – we sat down, ordered – and were in and out in 20 minutes.  Seriously – are we an old married couple or what?  It’s not even like we just put face to plate and ignored each other in favor of our meals.  We shared our DELICIOUS brioche french toast and scrambled eggs, drank sparkling cider [I know - lame, right?], and talked about all kinds of stuff – from work, to last night’s performance of The Lion King we saw at the Kennedy Center, to inappropriate themes for a baby’s room, to the fancy necklace Adam gave me to celebrate our fifth, and I’m sure much more.  I guess with time comes efficiency.

Yesterday was such a busy day and night that we’ve decided to play it super lazy today.  We’re currently laying on the blanket from Adam’s old room in Orlando, which we spread out in the floor.  Adam was reading Freakonomics, but now he’s just watching tennis [in HD, I'm sure he'd like me to point out], I’m blogging [duh], and Teddy’s in between us, snoring – which is nice for him because he’s not allowed in our bed, so he’s in heaven.  Sure – we’ve got plenty to do.  But we’re ignoring that.  It’s a good lazy Sunday.

In other news, Teddy’s legs are really bothering him.  He’s having a tough time getting out of the sit position and is sort of sitting in a way that leaves his legs floppy.  It’s weird because he’s so young.  So far, he’s been tested for Lime Disease – and was negative – and we’re awaiting the results of some other blood tests, etc.  The vets are a little worried he has some sort of auto-immune disease like Lupus.  Oddly, Ted doesn’t seem to notice there’s anything wrong!  And when his adrenaline gets going, he bounces around, runs stairs, and jumps up like his usual self.  He’s on anti-inflammatories and antibiotics until we figure out what the real issue is.  He’s still the most adorable pup ever.

Adam did get the hybrid Highlander!  It’s sweet.  Came with running boards, the spoiler that makes it look hot, some racing stripes, leather interior, navigation, rubber mats and inserts for Ted, a third row – you name it.  Yep – it’s a bunch of stuff we don’t need.  But it’s blue and it’s awesome.

And I’m starting to show a bit.  I’m like 4.5 months along and feeling fine.  Nothing really notable to tell – I just have to pee more often.  The pic is me trying to stick my stomach out so I look like a pregger and not just a chick with a gut.  I just look really…fluffy.  Not sure why I’m making a face like I’m pissed – I’m pretty sure that was accidental.

Other than that, all I have to report is that the new job is going well [a little boring since I don't have much to do yet], Becky’s gone for three weekends in a row which SUCKS, and she and Chuck and the kids are moving a few blocks away over the next couple of weeks.  If you have any cute ideas for a baby boy’s room [Thatch likes cars] and/or a baby girl’s room, write ‘em in the comments and Becky will be your best friend.

Sandy and Tony shop at the same stores…

…Sandy Marks and Tony Romo that is (QB for Cowboys/Jessica Simpson boyfriend)…wish I had better photos, but I think the evidence is pretty clear…

TedWash.

So Judith posted a pic of Lyle after his bath at the local doggywash – and some of her friends used the comments section to explain how they didn’t quite get why one would pay to wash their pup rather than washing said pup in their own tub for free. To them, I present Exhibit A:

Quick Note.

I know it’s been a while – and I’ll make up for it…but, in the mean time, here are some pics from this weekend!

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Jump For Joy — It’s Sandy’s Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday San.

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Bill Kristol Is Lucky.

…lucky to grace the pages of JackTeddy&Us, that is. And why, you ask, would I ever allot any of our precious pixels to this man? Well, in today’s NYT op-ed section, he makes a fair point. And why, you ask again, would I acknowledge this in any meaningful way? The answer is that his fair point is the point I’ve been making for months now. No, I’m not a liberal-turned-neocon. And no, I’m not excited that the only person willing to give Hillary any credit – let alone column inches – for her incredible, if not historic, victories is a neoconservative pundit who, by the way, serves as one of McCain’s top advisers.

But seriously. Check out today’s NYT op-ed section. [I know not everyone is a reader - but it's a short piece and it presents an opinion that is almost NEVER expressed in media coverage of this race. Take 2 minutes and broaden your horizons!] His article entitled Hillary Gets No Respect tells a lot of truth. Yes, it pains me to say that I agree with Mr. Kristol – and that it may appear to some that I am willing to listen to anyone who validates my own opinions. But, no matter where you stand politically, you’ve got to give Kristol some respect for being a Republican with a brain who is articulate enough to make rational explanations – even if you flat out disagree with most of his opinions. Looks like he and I have found some common ground.

Lately.

So, first of all, Passover pics are up. Not sure why, but I was really excited to sing Ehad, Mi Yodea – I am totally into my number [4 - "arba imahot!"]. Let’s just say that it started a lot better than it ended, but was, well…lackluster when compared to how it went in my head:

Secondly, how cute are all of my boys watching the Magic’s 3rd playoff game last night? Yes, they did suffer a devastating loss, but still…

By the time the game ended, we were sleepy…obviously. But we hung in there until the end.

Another Great Day.

Last weekend we went down to the National Mall for the Kite Festival – part of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s always really amazing to see so many kites in the air in such a famous place. When you think about it, it’s really the only day of the year when all of the different kinds of families that live here in the DC area come out to play. Sure, there are tourists crawling all over the Tidal Basin, but you know the Kite Festival people are locals for two reasons: 1) all of the handmade kites – I mean, who travels with crazy paper/crayon/straw structures? and 2) all of the dogs.

And speaking of dogs, Ted was King of the Mall. As is always the case when we go out in public with Ted, we were constantly asked what kind of dog he is and if he’s friendly enough to pet. I think every child in the DC Metro Area was licked by the Tedman at one point or another on that day! Hilariously, about a zillion people – most of whom did not speak English – asked to take photos of or with him – isn’t that weird? Why would you want a picture of yourself with – or even of – a dog you don’t know?

You can click on the picture of Adam and Ted to see all of our pics from the Kite Festival.