My little Southern boy!

Since we got the go ahead to feed Jack pretty much anything, we started to experiment. He likes to feed himself, so it’s been fun! Tonight he ate what we {Mark} ate-roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, mac and cheese, and sweet potatoes! He already eats a wider variety of foods than his momma! As I was putting it all on his tray, all I could think of was, he’s my little Southern boy-eating his meat and three!

Christmas Card Photo Shoot-take one

I’m so weird about our annual Christmas Card.  It may be because I love taking pictures, I love stationary, and I love Christmastime, so the combination just makes me so happy!  Even before Jack was born, I would take forever to decide which one I thought was the perfect picture and what I thought was the perfect card.  Well, for Jack’s first Christmas, it has to be even more perfect-to me at least! 

I also like for it all to be a surprise.  I almost didn’t share these, but I only have one possible winner so far, and I thought these were too cute not to show the grandparents!I love his expression in this one!  He is starting to make all kinds of new noises and sounds, and this is his ‘J’ noise face!We may try again in this outfit, even though it’s too big right now, so if it happens to be THE ONE, pretend you didn’t see these! :)

39 weeks, 6 days
(taken yesterday)

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!  Mark, Jack, and I hosted both of our families for the fourth year, and being all together definitely reminded us that we have so much to be thankful for!  Among many other things, I’m so thankful for our families who are crazy about us and our little boy-we’re totally crazy about you too!-I’m so thankful that my family is healthy, and I’m so thankful for my sweet husband and sweet baby boy!  It was an extra special day to be thankful for our many blessings!

Jack and Grandma looked too cute in their green! We played outside for a bit-Jack wasn’t sure about swinging too high!,but little mister was SLEEPY!  Check out those eyes!So we got a few pictures, and then it was nap time.  When he woke up, it was time to eat.  He had his own serving of Thanksgiving Dinner!  He liked it all but the main attraction-the turkey!  We think that was a texture issue, which Dr. Trey told us to be ready for, but the teeth that we KNOW are coming should help with that. Some of the people we’re SO thankful for-The Singers,  and the Thomases. I know these two are thankful for the baby girl that they’ll soon meet! To our families-Thank you for making the trip to Columbia!  We are especially thankful this day, and we’re so happy we were able to spend the day with you! We love you!
Mark, Michelle, and Jack

Jack found the pots and pans!

But he can’t get into the cleaning cabinet!

Nine Month Well Check

We went to see Dr. Trey today, and he gave Jack straight A’s! He’s meeting all of his milestones and is a healthy baby boy! That’s something we don’t take for granted and are SO thankful for! While we waited, Mark entertained Jack with his phone. The Hot Dog Song from The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse You Tube video is a show stopper -to all babies! And Jack is no exception-he loves is! He got a HepB shot, the first part of his flu vaccine, and was pricked for some blood work. He did not like the shots AT ALL, but as soon as Mark picked him up, he dried his tears. He handled the blood work like a champ-I only heard a little whimper!

Dr. Trey also gave us the go-ahead to try almost any food. No whole milk yet, but we’re free to try shredded meat-not just pureed-peanut butter, eggs, even seafood if we want! We’ll see!

Weight: 18 pounds, 12 ounces-25th percentile
Height: 30.5 inches-97th percentile
Head Circumference: 18.5 inches-60th percentile

Lindsey’s Baby Shower

Rachel, Karena, and I hosted a baby shower for Lindsey at mom and dad’s house and had such a great time!  She has so many wonderful friends who came to help celebrate-it was really a special day!For Linds’ wedding shower, dad mowed a G in the grass-this time he raked a K!  Thanks for your special decoration, deed!Jack napped pretty much the entire shower, but as the guests were leaving, Aunt Linds wanted for him to meet some of her friends.  He was being a flirt and cuddling with his favorite aunt!I can’t wait for you to become a mama, sees!  It’s a blessing like no other!

Nine Months Old

Happy NINE month birthday my sweet boy!  You are absolutely the most wonderful little baby boy, and your daddy and I are so thankful!  You bring us smile after smile, laugh after laugh, and because God saw us fit to be your parents, our hearts are SO full!

We celebrated your first Halloween this past month, and with that, they Holiday Season is underway!  This is mommy’s favorite time of year, and I’m so excited to be able to share it with you!  This Thanksgiving we’re going to be extra thankful for the extra seat at our table and this Christmas is going to be amazing to think about through a child’s eyes.  What a great new perspective!

As you grow, your hair is getting longer too, and this month I’m pretty sure I spied a curl!  I love SO MUCH that you got your daddy’s hair, and I’m SURE this curl was just a place we missed when we brushed your hair.  Your daddy keeps saying he’s going to take you for your first haircut, but I know he’s just kidding!!Still no sign of a tooth, and as soon as you get your hand on anything, it still goes straight into your mouth.  I know I have to get used to you playing with all things outdoor, so we might as well start now, huh?!You’re a speed crawler now-a-days, and it’s the cutest thing!  You’re also cruising along on the furniture, cabinets, doors-anything that will hold your balance.  You’ve stood unsupported twice for a few seconds, so I’m sure walking isn’t too far away! Nothing has changed with your sleep schedule this month-awake by 7 or 7:30, three naps in between, and down by 7:45 or 8.  When it’s nap time, you’ve started to crawl to us and fuss a bit.  We take you to your crib, cuddle for a minute, and then put you down.  You’re such a good sleeper which, I think, makes for such a happy boy!  You are so good natured and we are so thankful!You’re still eating ever four hours with three solid meals as well.  You’ve figured out finger foods in your eighth month, and so far you’ve had cheerios, bananas, and cheese.  A lot of it ends up in your lap, but we’re sure some of it makes it into your mouth too!   I’m going to try to introduce more finger foods to you this month-you seem to like feeding yourself!

You talk a lot more, most notably adding mama to your vocabulary!  You’ve been making the ‘b’ sound and the ‘g’ sound and making all sorts of fun noises!  If we babble with you, you’ll babble back and it’s SO fun!

So, my nine month old, you keep growing and changing right before our eyes, but one constant has been the immense love your daddy and I have for you.  Words can’t describe what you mean to us, sweet thing!

We love you!
Daddy and Mommy

Who needs toys?-part two

We used the last of the Swaddlers yesterday, so I opened a box of size three-thanks Grandma and Grandpa Thomas! Jack had fun patting on the box and pushing it around, and then we put him in it and Mark gave him a little ride! He was ready to get out, so he took matters into his own hands! Love the ‘can do’ attitude buddy!

Side note: He still fits into size 2-3 Swaddlers, so because I’m such a sap about him growing up too fast, I’m totally going to buy more! :)

Just swinging

 

38 weeks, 5 days

He’s just so fun!

Mark and I continue to count our blessings each day-this little boy is such a gift!  He makes us smile and laugh at the little things and has made our hearts so big!  He is nothing but a joy, and he is just SO fun!

Check out his new moves!

We love you so much, Roo!  You’re such a happy, good natured little baby, and we’re so proud of you!
Love,
Daddy and Mama

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

Thank you SO much for taking such great care of me while daddy and mommy went to the football game!  I had so much fun with you guys and my new toys-and I love my new swing!  Thank you!  They said we’ll get to swing on it all the time!! I can’t wait to see you next weekend too!
I love you!  Jack

This baby…

…loves to explore! Tonight after his bath, we came back downstairs to play. I followed Jack around with my camera to see what he’d get in to. Answer? Everything! Mark and I love this play time and watching him learn and grow!

First stop, magazine basket. He ended up tearing a page out and putting it in his mouth. Next! He made his way into the kitchen and learned how to open and close the drawers.Then we put him in his chair for some cheerios and so we could eat, and his daddy started acting like a clown! Seriously-physical comedy was involved, and Jack thought he was H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S! His mommy got a pretty big kick out of it, too! The things we do to make this little boy laugh—they’re all worth it because that smile and that laugh are infectious!

Happy Veteran’s Day!

We are so thankful to all the men and women that have served or are serving our great country-remembering especially Uncle Adam and Uncle Ryan!

This is at the airport when we dropped Adam off to go to the desert, here he is over in Iraq, and this was the day he came home!! What a day that was!Thank you for your brave service, brotho! We love you!