Jack's Newest Feat...

It's been almost a month now since Jack can 'sit up'. He's really just learning how to master this skill. It's adorable to see what poses he ends up in, and where he lands when he falls!

It's been a nice little milestone for Jack, as he gets really bored with just laying underneath something or on his tummy. This whole sitting up thing has opened a whole new world of reading and actually playing with some of his musical and colorful toys.


For now, Jack sits up for about ten minutes or so. Then, he's falling like the London Bridge! Once he falls he rolls and rolls until he gets where he wants. It's so adorable to watch him attempt to be mobile. I have a feeling it won't be too much longer and he'll be in to everything...


I just love his face here. He starts sinking...and sinking...

And he ends up on his back {long enough for Maggie to give him a few kisses}!

Then he's off to rolling 'round and sticking everything he can find in his mouth! I just love this picture. Don't you see the determination in his eyes?

Soon I'll be writing about scoots, crawls, and walking! Jack will be 5 months old in just a few days. I already love looking back at old pictures from his delivery day and his first weeks as our little man. We were {and still are} so proud of our little guy. Love you, big man!

My Newest Obsession...

...other than my adorable almost-5-month-old of course. FiEsTa WaRe! =)

It's amazing that a simple switch from chipped and worn out dishes to these bright and cheery new dishes can inspire me to cook at home more often.

I've always been practical when it came to 'things in the kitchen cupboards'. For one, the cupboards are always shut. For two, if it ain't broke, don't fix it...right? WRONG! I decided to go through a lot of my old stuff (while I still had a dumpster at my fingertips). One of the "to buy" items on my wishlist: Fiesta dishes. I remember seeing a cupboard full in my friend's kitchen...and as always I decided someday I'd be able to have them, too.

If you don't know anything about Fiesta dishes...they come in about every color you could ever imagine. Leaving me -- mrs. not-good-at-making-decisions -- to have to decide on which ones I want in my kitchen. Paprika (or burnt orangish) was the first choice, as it's my kitchen paint color. Next came chocolate, ivory, and on an on. I'm up to six sets, which makes for a colorful cupboard!

I'm enjoying showing off my new stash of china. I can't wait to stock up on bigger serving bowls for future parties. Oh, the little things in life...

Fiestaware Website

Big bed...

...little baby!

Lately my life has been filled with uncrossed off to-do lists that are seemingly never-ending. Today I vowed to skip the gym {gasp!}, throw on my sweats, and soak in my not-so-little man.

It was just what I needed.

I grabbed a soft blankie, a new book about a sheep, and Jack. We giggled together, snuggled together, and soaked in the fresh new cardboard smell of Jack's book (which has quickly been replaced by drool). I snapped about a hundred pictures, gave about a million kisses, and we soaked up the moments together.
As I look at the newest pictures of Jack, I am amazed at how fast time has flown. We've kissed goodbye to the days of 10 naps, silent snuggles, and size 1 diapers. Jack's grown too big for his once-loved bouncy chair; a gigantic jumparoo has become our newest addition to our living room. Our tiny little munchkin is now a towering, babbling, real food eating little person.


I'm so thankful for my little Jack...

Bubble Bath Jack!

Throughout my entire pregnancy -- and still to this day -- I took at least one bubble bath each night. My hopes: Jack would be a water baby and I could spend all summer long relaxing at the pool with my little man. My reality: just that. Jack indefinitely LOVES the water.

The doc gave us the 'ok' to give him baths in the BIG BOY tub since he is able to prop himself up to sit. So, we gave it a try -- and he absolutely loved it. We've yet to get his adorable splashing and laughter on our video camera {first we couldn't find our camera, now we can't find our charger -- good ol' moving will do that to ya!}. But, I can't wait to catch it on film and laugh about it years from now with Jack.




He splashes like crazy and slams his hands down in excitement. He rolls over and realizes it wasn't a smart move. Jack loves to squish onto things, so tonight I gave him a washcloth in the tub. He cuddled it and then shoved it in his mouth -- his new favorite spot for anything and everything. It's so much fun to watch him grow!

I can't Jack is almost five months old.

I can't believe he's taking big boy baths in the bath tub!

I can't wait for more splishes and splashes this summer at the pool...

Adventures in Baby Food...

As a kid, I remember renting Adventures in Babysitting books from the public library. I was obsessed with babies and stories that went along with them. Now, I'm enjoying my own adventures in baby raising. The newest feat: homemade baby food!

During Jack's four month well-baby appointment, the doctor told us Jack's very much so ready for real food (months before he technically should =). She said we could try whatever we'd like, we just had to stick with one thing for a few days to check for any allergies. So far, so good (which is a huge deal - I'm allergic to everything from peanuts to artificial sugar). He's finally figured out that food isn't something to spit out, and is actually helping by grabbing the spoon and shoving it into his mouth. It's his newest, most adorable little milestone ever.

I experimented with homemade peas and carrots before we moved, but I had a gigantic food processor. The job seemed overwhelming and annoying. So, I stepped up my baby food making game and bought this handy dandy gadget:

My new knock-off Magic Bullet! Works like a charm...

We bought bunches of bananas and a huge bag of mini carrots for $4.00 total! (Thanks, Jill, for the great, healthful ideas for making homemade baby food. I love my expert mommies who give me all kinds of advice!) It's actually much cheaper and better for Jack to have homemade baby food, who knew? Now, of course my cupboards are stacked with Gerber packaged baby food for the days when we're on the go or in a hurry. I refuse to be one of those crazy, obsessive health-nut moms -- but I will try my best when I can!

Jack loves bananas mixed with his cereal.

All frozen and ready to go for months!

I'm sure all of you mommies out there can relate to this, but I love what life is after baby. I feel like we've figured out Jack...and how to be parents. We balance everything out (including having a social life, we just have one at home while Jack's sound asleep in his crib)! I love our adventures -- from rolling, to cooing, to standing, to eating. I love that every trip to the store lands us one more thing for Jack, which usually means one less thing for me - and I'm totally okay with it. It's funny how I'm exactly where I thought I'd be as a grown up. And, I'm still growing up. I love my life. I love my stacked freezer with homemade baby food. I love Jack. And, most of all, I love Eric for helping me reach my dreams.

"You have brains in your head,
you have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose." - Dr. Seuss