Updated Pictures!

Playing outside

Playing with his toys

Big boy and his bottle

Singing in the tub

Sleepy time with froggy

Family portrait in Blakely, GA

9 Months Old!

I cannot believe Jack is 9 months old today! He is such a big boy and he's growing like a weed! We have so much fun with him right now and love seeing all the new things he loves!

Well, he's trying to crawl, but it's not happening just yet. He is rolling everywhere to get what he wants, so that is fun to watch him do that. He still loves sitting up and playing with his toys, but that only lasts for a few seconds when he remembers he can lay down and roll places!

He also loves to say "Ga-ga" all day long, and even though Kurt thinks he's really trying to say "Da-da", I really think he's just saying "Ga-ga"! :-)

He's also sleeping so well now! Starting around 7 1/2 months we worked with him on soothing himself to sleep in his crib, and as long as he has his paci and froggy (thanks Conner and Ashley!), he's good to go! He may wake up once in the middle of the night just needing his paci, but other than that he's sleeping 10 or so hours! Mommy feels like a new woman!

He also loves being outside! Since it's starting to get warmer, I've taken him out in our front yard to sit on a blanket and play with toys and listen to music! He's starting to recognize some songs I've sung to him since he was a newborn, so it's fun to see his face light up when I sing them and do the motions.

Bath time is still top on his list of things he loves! He could sit in there all day and just play with the water and his toys! We also sing songs while daddy plays the guitar, and even made up a song just for bath time! As long as he doesn't faceplant into the water, he's happy the whole time!

Besides saying "Ga-ga", he's learned a new and very high pitched squeal! He loves to show it off at home, but mostly while we are out a restaurants with other people who may not think it's as precious as we do! :-)

Of course he still loves playing with other kids, and we even go to 2 playgroups a week! We have a blast learning to share and being with other moms and kids during the week. He loves his cousins more than any other kids, though! Just last weekend we all spent the day Saturday driving to Blakely, GA to be with our grandmother for her 95th birthday! We had so much fun spending time with her and playing outside our aunt's beautiful, country home. Sad thing is, we just lost our grandmother last night. She was feeling a little under the weather during the party Saturday, then she was put in the hospital Sunday night, then passed away last night. It feels so sudden, but she is in a much better place now. We will miss her greatly, but we feel so blessed to have seen her just this past weekend! The Lord is merciful!

We have some great and recent pictures, but they are on our home computer, and I'm at work right now (just filling in), so I will post those this weekend!

Jack's Favorite Things

Jack has so many things he loves to do these days, so he just stays busy! :-) I have captured some of his favorite things on camera and/or video and wanted to share!

Jumping in his Jumperoo

Playing with Weagle

Holding his own bottle

Eating his own hands

Bath time!! He loves that he can sit in his ring now and play in the bath!

Staying cool in the tub

More bath fun

He even learned a new trick in the tub...

He also likes to have crazy hair after his bath

Sitting with his toys watching Toddler Tunes

Shopping with Mommy while sitting up in the cart like a big boy

Rare snow days! He loved when the flakes fell on his face!

First trip to the park and he seemed to like the swing!

Taking walks with Mommy sitting forward in the stroller

Getting on his tummy and thinking about getting on all fours

He also likes his chunky legs, dangit! :-)

He also loves several things we didn't get to capture, including eating lots of baby food, chewing on straws, going to two playgroups a week, singing songs, and loving on mommy and daddy every chance he gets! :-)

Jack's Christening

Jack was Christened at church yesterday! He had his official Christening service at First United Methodist Church in Opelika. He did so well and was such a sweet boy! He didn't make a sound and acted fine when the preacher put the water on his head! He even let the preacher, Tim Thompson, a stranger to him, hold him and walk him around the church while everyone sang "God Claims You" just for him. We were so proud of him and couldn't believe how well he did! It was even sweeter because it was Valentine's Day! :-)

We also had a lot of family come to be a part of this special day for Jack, some traveling from out of town, so thanks to everyone who was there! We love y'all so much and we are so blessed to have so many people who love us and love Jack! Here are some pictures:

Daddy, Jack, and Mommy before the service. Jack even had a spiffy new outfit! He looked so sweet.

Tim putting the water on his head.

Tim walking him around the church while the congregation sang. It looks like they had fun!

Tim praying over Jack and our family.

After the service! Whew, we made it through! :-)

Gatlinburg!

Gatlinburg is a place that Kurt and I have visited a few times, but this was the first time to go with our new family of three! Kurt and I went as a newlywed couple back in May 2007, and that was a blast, but nothing compares to this past trip with our little man! What an adventure! We also went with our good friends Keith and Lindsey Scott, and stayed in a beautiful cabin overlooking Mt. Leconte. The weather was beautiful, with the exception of one rainy day, and we had a great time walking the strip and eating at some great places.

When we arrived on Saturday afternoon, we got settled into the cabin, and then headed out that night to eat dinner. We decided to eat at Calhoun's on the strip, where the guys claim they ate the best ribs they've ever had! We walked around for a little bit after that, but it was getting cold, so we headed in early.

Sunday started out with pancakes at FlapJack's, then walking around the strip more until the bottom fell out, so we headed back to the cabin for the rest of the afternoon and night.

Monday was gorgeous weather, so we got out around lunch and stopped by Fannie Farkle's to eat a footlong corn dog! They were so delicious! Poor Lindsey couldn't have one, so we stopped by a Mexican place called No Way Jose's for her. After lunch, we walked up the strip to play putt-putt. We were all very competitive, but Kurt had Jack on his team, so of course they won! We then stopped by Baskin Robbins for ice cream! That's only my favorite ice cream place in the world!

On our way home on Tuesday, we ate breakfast at the Pancake Pantry, the best pancake restaurant in the world.

Here are a few pictures from the trip:

Enjoying our footlong corn dogs at Fannie Farkle's on the strip.

Mama and Jack at No Way Jose's on the strip.

Daddy and Jack playing putt-putt with Jack! They won, too!

Both eyeing the hole.

Tapping it in.

We found this huge rocking chair and just had to get in it!

Jack wanted a picture by himself.

Jack loved strolling around Gatlinburg. He looked so precious all bundled up!

Here is the view from our cabin! It was gorgeous!

6 Month Update

I can't believe Jack is already 6 months old! Time sure does fly by when you're having fun with a sweet little one! He is doing so much now, too! He is rolling over, he's starting to sit up, he's eating rice cereal and baby food, and he now has 4 teeth! His 6 month check-up at the doctor was this week and he sure is a growing boy! He now weighs 21 lbs and 5 oz! Wow! He's also 28 in long and his head circumference is now 18 in! The doctor said he's doing great and is glad to see mommy's milk is still so good!

Here are some recent pictures!! More cute videos to come later!

At cousin Jake's 7th birthday party! I can't believe he's 7!

Our handsome little fellow.

Our big boy at his 6 month check-up.

Enjoying his first baby food! Doesn't he look cute in his new highchair, too?

Yummy carrots!

Not really sure about this...

After forcing vegetables down him, we still get a smile!

Sweet boy sat up yesterday all by himself for about 5 minutes! Here he is playing with his table again!