Happy Birthday to YOU!!

Labels: , , - Tuesday, September 14, 2010

I absolutely can not believe Jack's had his first birthday.  I literally sat, looking at him this morning, and thinking to myself, when someone asks me how old he is, I will have to tell them he's 1!  Not almost 1, not 11 months...but 1!  Where did the year go.  Seriously. 

I think about the first 3 months of his life...and know I can't remember those due to the prisoner like sleep deprivation and  breastfeeding struggles and just trying to keep the little peanut alive.  I think about months 3-6, where we were formula happy, but not entirely entertaining...and still really tired.  Then things took a turn for the fun-ner in months 6-9, where he started sitting up and could play a little more, started on solid foods and consistently slept....through....the...night!  Praise Jesus!  And then...months 9-12?  Absolute fun.  I'm not kidding.  Serious fun.  Like, the most fun ever.  The crawling began at 9 months...which everyone said in their cheery little snarky-ish voice, "Oh, now the fun really begins!"  And it truly, truly did!  I LOVE watching him move.  I love watching him choose his favorite toys.  I've loved watching him fall in love with Monk...and learn to show his love for Mama and Dada.  I love how excited he gets when he sees Jeff or me.  I love that when we go to pick him up in the nursery at church, when he sees us, he basically starts crying because he realizes how much he's missed us!  I love that he walks over to the window to watch Jeff's car drive away when he goes to work.  I love that he's (finally) learned to clap...and gets so excited about it!  I love that he's a little naughty.  Yes, some days I love it more than others.  :)  I love that he can eat whatever I'm eating, that meals don't have to be so planned.  But one day, Jack, you will have to eat a vegetable...any vegetable will do...seriously...pick one and I'll be happy.  I love that he will eat an entire kiwi in a sitting, that he'll snarf down half of a mango for lunch.  I love that he is frantic for a cheese quesadilla...um, hello!  At least 3/4 of our eating out is at a Mexican food joint...and now he can join in on the love!!  He's even started sampling tortilla chips!  He is totally our son.  He's in love with milk...and I think is as glad we're done with formula as I am.  I love that he knows just what to do to bug Vincent...and how to play with Vincent.  I love seeing him explore the backyard, and seeing how proud he is when he walks a long distance.  I love watching him walk straight for the bedroom for a nap when we ask, "You want to go see Monk?"  And I love that he throws his pacifier in the crib when he gets up for a nap...and I love it when I walk in his room when he's playing by himself for a minute and he's snatched the paci out of his crib for a quick fix.  I am absolutely in love with him. 

It's so crazy to think that one year ago today, we brought him home.  Put him in his lamb swing and were FREAKING OUT with the fact that they actually let us go home to do this on our own.  We were exhausted, overwhelmed, and I'm willing to bet I'd had a few breakdowns already.  I had no idea what it would be like to be a mom.  And as cliche as it sounds, it the freakin hardest and most wonderful thing I've ever done. 

I've learned this week how much Jack can do.  He's not totally reliant on his morning nap anymore...which he showed me when he stayed awake and played for two....hours....in his crib for a few days last week.  He is a trooper and can go visit another church for a Sunday and do absolutely wonderfully in the nursery.  He can explore in the children's museum, even go where he can't see me, and be ok with that.  He can stay up really late for a few days in a row...and be just fine.  I am learning that he's not totally dependant on a schedule anymore.  At least not as much as he used to be.  He is pretty much amazing.

As I've wrestled with Jack growing up, I've just been reminded that he is not mine.  He is a gift that the Lord has given Jeff and me, and it is a privilege and joy to raise this little boy, not just to put up with him, and "do our best" but know that it is such an honor to be able to be his parents.  And realizing what a responsibility that is, not just to make sure he stays alive, but to raise him into a Godly man!  And how hard that is, how intentional we will have to be...and of course how we'll fail...and by God's grace alone, will he end up making it.  Man, we are blessed to be able to walk with him. 

Now, for some birthday pictures!

Jeff gave him this cute lawn mower.  And Jack loves it!



I got him this trike, which is obviously too big now...but not for long!

And what would a first birthday be with out a cake?

I'd say he liked it. 

Is this love, that I'm feeling?

Labels: , , - Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Is this the love, that I've been looking for?

Today I introduced the snack trap to Jack. 

The snack trap is this ingenious little cup that has a slotted type lid that allows kiddos to reach their hand in the cup and grab a snack, but doesn't let them spill it all out.  And I think it's about time for a little snack trap in our lives. 

Jack was a little unsure about it in the beginning...but Vincent was sold the minute Jack started flinging the cup around and a few goldfish escaped the trap. 

At first, Vincent just hung around in the background, waiting to catch those flying fishies.


But then he got a little more daring. 


Is this love?

Labor Day

Labels: , - Tuesday, September 7, 2010

I remember last year, wondering if I'd be in labor on Labor day.

I wasn't.

This year, Jack helped Jeff grill some delicious hamburgers...which is probably what I ate last Labor day, too.



JBF

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I'm not sure how you feel about consignment when it comes to kiddie type things.  I feel like some people love it, and some people...not so much. 

I am of the camp of loving it.  Now, I am a picky consignment buyer.  I really only buy things with tags on them or dressy clothes...things that are smocked or embroidered don't get worn a lot, so they look like brand new, even buying them used! 

This week is the Fort Worth Just Between Friends consignment sale.  It's a massive, MASSIVE, consignment sale and I am completely in love with it.  When I was working on Jack's nursery, I found an amazing changing table that I painted and spruced up.  Last Fall I went I found all kinds of precious bubble suites that Jack wore for his dedication and Easter.  Last Spring I went and found some good toys and a few good clothes finds. 

This year I signed up to volunteer so that I could be among the first people to pick through the sea of goodness. 

Look at tha sea of goodness!

I mean, are you kidding me?

So, early Saturday morning, there I was.  I brought a cart, which I'd never done before, and got BUSY!  I'm not kidding, you guys.  I walked out of there with over $300 in clothes.  Everything from jackets to sweaters,  a huge pile of footie pajamas, tons of pants and jeans, 5 pairs of shoes, and about 6 pairs of embroidered or smocked overalls.  After freaking out a little bit when I heard the total, I reminded myself that if I were to buy all of the Gymboree pants, sweaters and jeans that I'd picked up brand new, that alone would be well over $300!  Not to mention the overalls and JonJon's I'd snagged!  And, I found a Halloween costume!  Jack's gonna be a frog...sooooooo cute!  Just you wait. 

Jack showing off some of his new pajamas.

So, chances are, if you see Jack in the next few months and he's wearing something cute, it was a JBF buy...and I love it!!

Rah Rah TCU!

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This weekend was the season opener for TCU and we decided it would be the perfect time to take Jack to his first football game! 

They played in the new Cowboys Stadium, and we also figured it would be a good time to check out Jerry's World...seeing as we won't be paying hundreds of dollars to go to an actual Cowboys game.

Jack put on his jersey and we geared up in our purple (is my shirt actually purple?  I know, it's up for debate.) and headed out!


My sister, Katherine, got us the hook up for parking...at CiCi's right across from the stadium.  Best part?  It came with a coupon for a free pizza!  Perfect, right?  Especially seeing as though a hamburger inside the stadium is $9.  Seriously.

The game was good, Jack did pretty well!  With the exception of the jackhole sitting behind us who was drunk and yelling so loud that it made Jack cry.  There might have been a slight bit of anger coming from Jack's daddy...and there might have been a little worry from Jack's mommy about what was actually going to go down...especially seeing as though the offender bared quite a resemblance to the Hulk (who was, at one point, explaining to his 7 year old son how the defense needed to "run the ball up their ass"). 

All's well that ends well, right? 

Outside time!

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Since the weather's been so nice, we've been spending some time outside...and of course, taking pictures!

Now, Jack doesn't really like the grass...he won't crawl or walk in it.  We're working on that...

He does love leaves, loves to pick them up, shred them, and hand them to me in tiny little pieces. 

And sometimes try to eat them.  Which doesn't end well. 

And sometimes Vincent graces us with his presence. 


Will you look at those eye lashes???

Birthday Month

- Wednesday, September 1, 2010

It's September!!! 

Yay!

Jack's birth month.

One of my favorite things to do right now is think back to what I was doing a year ago at this time. 

I was LARGE with the thickest ankles in the neighborhood, bloated sausage toes, eating an obscene amount of hamburgers, waddling around thinking to myself, "Any day could be the day!"

Now I know why my mom always wanted to tell me all of those "boring" things about her pregnancy and me being born.

Come to think about it, shouldn't birthdays actually be a celebration for the mothers? 

I mean seriously.  That was hard. 

And soooooooo worth it.

Happy birthday month, Jack!
(and by "Happy birthday month" I really mean, will you please get back to taking really good naps?  Morning nap, don't leave me now!!)

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