Lots Going On!

Jack got his first tooth last week! It is coming along, and he is now working on his second!


Things have been a little crazy around here! Last week, Josh left for a business trip for 6 days!! I had to really gear up to take care of both boys with no helper! The Lord really blessed me with some energy though, despite the fact that Jack woke up between 4 and 10+ times a night...and I discovered on Friday that I had been making DECAF coffee all week long! Josh is the coffee maker in our house, and I just thought that I was pulling out the regular all week! Looking back over the week, I realized why I had bad headaches and extreme tiredness in the mornings. I have decided to give up caffeine for good though, because I feel much more refreshed now when I wake up in the morning without needing my caffeine jump-start.

While Josh was gone, we were very sad to discover that they were having "Donuts with Dad" day at MDO. Deedah gladly volunteered, though, to take him and represent. James was so excited to get to ride with Dad to school. Dad told me that at school, James had eaten 2 whole donuts and wanted a third. Dad told him, "You're going to have to oink like a pig because 3 is a lot!", and James immediately started oinking! They had a lot of fun together!

I also had a lot of help from wonderful family and friends! My ultra helper of the week was Matthew, aka Manny! He spent the night with me Sunday night and Friday night and was just as helpful as a hired nanny! He entertained the boys while I cleaned at night, held Jack while I bathed James, read James' bedtime stories to him while I fed Jack, went right to bed without me telling him to, and was just such a fun addition to our house!

Matthew had boots on when he came over, so James ran and got his boots on. This picture was not posed. I even caught James looking at Matthew and putting his hands up exactly the way Matthew did. They are so sweet together!

Saturday, Aunt Jo Anna, Uncle Billy, Hannah, Jacob, and Tate came to visit and are here for the week! Every year, around this time a year, they load up the car and drive 14 hours to come see us! This year, they have their two new additions with them, the boys they are adopting! We are enjoying them being here so much, and it has just been a constant cousin party for them! James is having the time of his life with all of these playmates. Last night, Billy, who's an incredible chef, made us an outstanding meal, and my parents and sister and fam came to eat with us. All 8 kids had a ball playing outside while we stuffed our faces with some of the best food I've ever eaten.


James, the N*ked Chef




We are thoroughly enjoying just leisurely hanging out together, and had a fun Memorial Day cookout today. We have a fun week ahead, with James' MDO graduation program, a San Antonio trip, and just lots of family time together.

Introducing Lydia Kay!

I'm very proud and excited to introduce my new niece, Lydia Kay!  She was born on Tuesday, May 12, measuring 21 inches long and weighing a whopping 11 pounds!!

Elizabeth, Mary Beth, Jack, and I all went up yesterday to be there for her arrival.  She was born via c-section and is as healthy and adorable as can be!  I am already in love and can't wait to see her again!  She looks like a perfect mix between Michael and Jilinda.  She looks a lot like Michael did in his newborn pics.

Here are some pictures from yesterday.  I'm sure there will be more to come in the next couple of weeks, because I'm not going to be able to stay away for very long!

A Picture Blog of the Week

Dinner at Moon River Ranch

Mother's Day Tea at MDO

One of my dearest friends, Christine was in town and came over for a visit!

The boys absolutely loved her!

Jack ate cereal for the first time Saturday night!  He ate a few bites and then was fussy.  James was very excited for Jack.

Look where James came to sit while Josh was playing with Jack...

Silly face...

Mischievous face...

Mother's Day 2009 pictures   James was not in the mood to take pictures, if you couldn't tell!

Mug Shot

I took this picture today, and I couldn't help but think it looked just like a mug shot. Should I be worried, earlier this week, someone told me "He's going to be a murderer!" (I think she meant lady killer??) I was stunned and speechless and just gave an awkward laugh! I, at least, don't foresee this in his future. :)

5 Month Photo Session with Jack, Courtesy of Aunt Bibi

Bible Stories from James

(In a high-pitched teaching voice, holding a poetry book that looks like the Bible.)

"In our Bible, here's a story 'bout God, Jesus, goin' to front yard and crash into weabs (leaves)!!"

"God crash in the car and bunked his head!"

Jack at 5 Months Old

Jack is 5 Months old today. I have forgotten how much I love this age! He has such a sweet personality that is really coming out lately.

Jack is so flirty! He raises his eyebrows, smiles so freely, and just lights up when he is smiled at all day long. He flirts when anyone, everywhere we go. He makes ladies around town melt on a daily basis.

He has the cutest little tuft of hair on top of his head, that gets talked about probably more than anything. It is really long right at the top of his head, and almost bald everywhere else (with the exclusion of his little rat tail going on in the back:)). Just last week, though, his hair really started growing back, more and more every day.

He has a gorgeous smile that lights up his entire face, up to the top of his forehead.

His blue eyes are like sparkling pools that dance when he sees someone he loves.

He is sitting up like a frog pretty well now.

He loves his exersaucer, looking at himself in the mirror, grabbing toys and putting them in his mouth, watching his brother, swinging, and laying on the floor with someone with him.

He makes a smacking noise and his mouth looks so cute. He sucks in his bottom lip and his big cheeks get even rounder.

He scoots backwards when he is on his back and forwards when he's on his belly.

He loves to be sung to and watches our mouths.

He stands really sturdily and can stand for a while with me barely holding onto his hands.

He is almost ready to roll over, but hasn't there yet.

He likes to be held a lot. We probably hold him too much, but it is easier to carry him along with me wherever I go with his big brother James.

He is still waking up to be fed in the middle of the night. Lately it's been reminiscent of the newborn days!

He loves the stroller and being outside.

When he's upset, he can be calmed pretty easily by going outside or by walking around.

He likes to suck his thumb or fingers, and it's so adorable!

His eyes are glued to me a lot right now and he stares at me so lovingly. One of the sweetest parts of motherhood!

The way he holds on to us is like a little Koala bear.

He is happy being passed around, but he's just started getting hysterical when he's with someone else and gets scared. He did this at the Ladies Retreat recently. One of the sweet older ladies held him for a long time. She was really good with him, and he loved her. I left to go put my things away in my room. When I came back, he was crying really hard from a lady walking by with a boisterous laugh. No one could calm him down, but the second I picked him up, he stopped crying. I love being his safe person who he stops crying immediately with! He just grabbed my hair on both sides and buried his face into mine. Another sweetest part of motherhood.

Jack weighed 17.6 lbs at the doctor last week. He has enormous thighs, big feet, big hands, and just looks solid!