Happy FIRST Birthday, Jack!

We're celebrating 365 days of you, little man.

Last year on this day:

We rushed around the house making sure we had everything we could imagine needing for your arrival. We trudged through a snowy drive, I pushed for over two hours, and I snuggled you for the very first time in my arms. I'll never forget that day.

Your birthday.

Our room filled up with baby blue, family and friends, and most importantly you, Jackson Charles Krieger.

We figured out the hustle-and-bustle of having a newborn. From nursing to diapers, and bottles to sleepers, we were determined to be the best mom and dad around. We lost sleep, only to find happiness in the most precious of packages.

It's funny how a mom never forgets those little moments. Seems like just yesterday...


Today, on your first birthday:
We will now call you our "one-year-old". No more counting your age in months! No longer can we call you "baby Jack", although I'll always be fond of the days when we could...

We put away all of your bottles and pacifiers -- sippy cups and regular milk, here we come! You've gone from crawling to walking, and crying to talking...

Dear Jack,

I love being your Mommy. You've given us a life with more meaning than words can describe. When you snuggle, kiss, cry, or walk around I light up with pride. Your big brown eyes can light up the darkest of rooms, and your babbles make me laugh and smile. Keep being you, boogie dude, for that's the best present of all.

I look forward to the many birthdays and celebrations we'll share as a family together.

I'll never forget the day I became a mom. You're mom.

I love you to the moon and back...and even farther than that.

Love, Mom

"How amazing, you're already one... what a precious little person you've already become."

iPhone!

I am so addicted to my new phone!

Last week, Jack and I cruised down the aisles of Jordan Creek, while Daddy signed us up for new phones. We had a blast! We climbed through tunnels, snacked on a very messy M&M cookie, and played the 'don't walk over to that lady, she doesn't know who you are!' game about a hundred times. We also rented one o the little push around cars. Holy cow Jack loved it! He rested his arms and chilled!

Hours later I was the proud new owner of a cute, white, smart iPhone!

I typed in my iTunes account info, and in seconds all of my songs and info was already there! So amazing :)

In fact, I'm writing this post from it! Who knew Blogger had an app?

"Theres an app for that!"

I love you, new phone, and all the cute pictures you take of my three-days-shy of a one-year-old! :)

Three Tree Family!

I'll be the first to admit it... I'm obsessed with Christmas.

As soon as I flip the calendar to October, my brain starts racing towards Christmas trees, sparkling lights, and the smell of cinnamon Yankee candles filling the air.

Last year, we spend the holidays snuggling our newest addition to our family from the comfort of our little apartment. My focus was definitely NOT on Christmas decor. In fact, it probably was the only year I didn't add something to my collection of snowmen, Santas, and garland.

This year is the first Christmas in our new house. All kinds of nooks-and-crannies I've never decorated before. Score! I knew we'd do it up big this year...but I didn't realize we'd end up with three, count them, three trees. Whew!

The first tree...
A tall, skinny tree to accent our living room. It's tucked right in the corner of our living room, right next to the fireplace and window facing the backyard. Small, petite, and subtle.

Tree number two...
I wanted to start a family tradition of picking out a real Christmas tree to decorate. And, we have a big window in the front of our house that is screaming for a Christmas tree to be in front of it.

Off we went...to Howell Tree Farm in Cumming, Iowa. Rows and rows of perfect little Christmas pine trees. It was simple: pick a tree, take the tag, write your name on it, and they cut it down for you! It wasn't long before we found the one. A tall, fat, green pine tree soon to become our family Christmas tree...the very first real one we've ever had.

Oh, we ran into Santa, too!

It was a great little family adventure.

Until...

We got the tree home.

First, the tree stand holder was too small. Uh-oh. It was the BIGGEST tree stand at Menard's. I finally found a bigger tree stand...

...we untied the string holding the tree together...

...and...

IT WAS HUGE! Massive. Gigantic. Literally, the tree takes up half of our little den/office room. Oh man.

Two hours later, a vacuum bag filled, and thousands of dead pine needles picked up, we had our tree!

I'd like to call it big and beautiful :)

The third tree:
A cute little whimsical tree on my new table for the entryway. Simple and cute!


PS - As I type this blog, my little man is wandering all over our house with a shiny, gold, glittery ornament singing "la ba ba mama na la ba". I'm sure he's going to share my love for Christmas...and I think his babbling is his version of jingle bells? =)

Good People

The world really is filled with good people.

I am attempting to finish last-minute plans for our big project in science this week and next.

I should be writing my grad paper since I have conferences tomorrow night and it's due Wednesday.

What am I doing instead? Stalling. Blogging about good people. I don't know why, but I'm inspired.

Today, I was watching Ellen. A cute little family of four -- a son in high school and a special needs daughter; two teachers as parents. All kinds of things they could complain about -- but did they? No. They started up a pantry for kids who don't have dinner when they get home from school. They adopted a teenager who wouldn't have anywhere to go otherwise.

Adorable.

Absolutely, utterly, unexplanably adorable. Is that a word? I'm making it one.

I am now watching Hoarders. Clearly, I watch too much tv. This is definitely not the usual...

While moving out hundreds, count that thousands of boxes, one of the 1-800-got-junk guys that helps clean out houses broke this poor little lady's vase. She was so upset. They made her move on and forced her to keep cleaning through the tears. The got junk guy came back after leaving to surprise her with a new vase filled with dozens of flowers.

Again, adorable.

Thank goodness for our world filled with good people...

{My students joke about my positivity. Today, one student said "Mrs. Krieger, of course you'd say your glass is half full, but even if you had an empty glass, you'd probably say it's soon to have something in it!" He made my day.}

Do something good.

Inspire someone.

Be the next guest on Ellen's "do something nice for someone" segment.

Walking...

Everyone with kids told us "wait until he's walking"...and I thought how can it be any different? Oh, it's different alright!

Go, Jack, Go!

Here's to finding cupboard locking devices -- recommendations, anyone?!
Here's to Jack actually getting use out of his cute, stylish shoes.
Here's to less wear spots in Jack's baby Gap jeans.
Here's to more bruises on his little cheeks when he catches his fall on his face.
And, here's to our baby growing into a toddler more and more each day.

I love you, Jack, and all of our little adventures together!

Accomplished...

A walking 11-month-old.
Freshly cleaned carpets.

Sweatpants, movies, and wine with friends.
Sparkling windows cleaned inside and out.
Dinner and two pitchers of margaritas with friends.

This weekend was about feeling accomplished.

It's been a crazy busy couple of weeks, and this weekend I was hoping for some time to catch up on my supermom duties --- tasks that even the best Mr. Mom wouldn't think of, nonetheless accomplish. So, I scrubbed every. single. window. of our house on the inside and the outside -- making sure to get every ounce of dirt off. I finished every load of laundry. And, I shampooed the carpet. It was nice to have time to take care of some of these not-so-often done tasks.

Spur-of-the-moment plans filled our weekend with friends -- my ideal way to make plans. Last minute. If we plan it in advance, you better believe I'll find a way out of it :). Plan it last minute, and I'm there! I don't know why...and I know that's weird. But, it's me!

As I was running around our house dusting off air vents and vacuuming out bugs out of light fixtures, I glanced down and saw Jack walking around the living room! No Eric, no walker, and no Mommy holding his hands -- just an 11-month-old on a mini-mission. It was adorable. Crazy adorable.

Today it hit me -- we're parents. I glanced down while getting ready for the day and saw the wipes case I bought before Jack was even here. {The best $2 we spent on him, since we still use it today!} I realized that for almost a year I've been in charge of this little guy...he's all ours. We're parents. And, not new parents, but veteran parents with an almost-toddler walking around our house.

Isn't it crazy how much can change in a year?

I'm thankful for weekends of accomplishment.

I am loving watching my little walk around for the first time.

I am needing ideas for downsizing a not-so-much-needed diaper bag?!?!?!

I love our cozy, perfect house.

I love having my new camera to snap the cutest little pictures of Jack.

I'm glad it's almost Christmas...early, I know.

A one-sock, no pants, happy little Jack

Cupboards? Yes, please. And, I'll take out all of mom's stuff one by one.

Here he comes...

Hi-ya! Kung fu baby

There he goes!